girlonamission

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 SO VERY thankful that I am now on the other side of this surgery.  Extremely thankful to my surgeon and his staff and all the kind people here at the hospital who have helped me.  And infinitely thankful for my husband, who has gone above and beyond to take care of me over the past three days.  THANK YOU, GOD for pulling me through!

  This day is FINALLY here.  We are getting ready to leave for the hospital right now.  I am so nervous - but very excited!

 Tomorrow is the big day!  But first...

8:30 AM
Today is the day that I have been dreading... bowel prep day.  Clear liquids only, which means none of my beloved protein shakes, pudding, or fudgesicles.  Bummer.  So for "breakfast" I had an orange sugar-free popsicle, a cup of white grape juice, and now I am working on some Crystal Light.  I am planning on going to church this morning, then afterwards hubby is going to drop me off at home so I can begin PHASE ONE of torture, while they go on to my parent's house for a delicious home-cooked meal which will not be mentioned in this house upon penalty of death.  At noon is PHASE ONE, which is a bottle of magnesium citrate, which on the bottle is described as having "a pleasant lemon flavor."  Yeah, right.  PHASE TWO is at 3:00 PM, when I take FOUR Dulcolax tablets (yes, that is a stimulant laxative, thankyouverymuch).  Then if I survive to PHASE THREE, I get to add an entire 14-dose bottle of Miralax to a 32-ounce bottle of Gatorade and drink the whole thing within two hours.  Holy diarrhea, Batman.

12:30 PM
"PLEASANT LEMON FLAVOR?"  Not really.  I put it on ice, as suggested by a prior WLS patient, and that helps a little bit.  But YOWZA that stuff is tart.  And now I wait...

6:45 PM
Well, it hasn't been as bad as I was expecting so far.  But I still have the MIRALAX to go.

8:15 PM
Ooooh, my stomach is making some freaky sounds.  I am trying to choke down the Gatorade-Miralax cocktail, with little success.  It makes me gag every time.  Surely there won't be anything left in my body after this, right?  I am actually looking forward to the 32 ounces of Gatorade that I have to drink next, that won't have Miralax in it.  And I can't stand Gatorade. 

Okay, gotta run... this will be my last update of the day.  Tomorrow is SURGERY DAY!!! 

  Woo-hoo!  Today is the day that hubby is taking me to Hot Springs! 

I am SO looking forward to a nice, long soak.  The weather is perfect, the grandparents are keeping our kiddo, and we are off for some rest and relaxation.  I will need it, since tomorrow is BOWEL PREP day!  (I am a little scared about that.)

Here is today's food log: 

 8:10 AM     BG (blood glucose): 102
 8:30 AM     Protein shake - 24g protein, 7g sugar
11:30 AM    BG: 89
12:15 PM    Protein shake - 34g protein, 14g sugar
 2:30 PM     BG: 100
 3:45 PM     NSA Carnation instant breakfast, skim milk (two servings of each) - 26g protein, 36g sugar
 6:00 PM     BG: 94
 6:15 PM     Sugar-free pudding cup
 7:40 PM     BG: 97
 7:45 PM     Sugar-free Jell-o
 9:30 PM     Chicken broth - 1g protein, 0g sugar

TOTALS:  85g protein, 57g sugar

I have been trying to wrap up all the "loose ends" and get things ready for when I will be out of commission.  I feel like there is a lot to be done, but when I make a list, there really isn't that much... it's just me expending my nervous energy. 

So... where's my Xanax? 

  I LOVE protein shakes.

They are what I am surviving on now, and probably what I will be surviving on for the first few months after surgery, until my pouch heals and I can tolerate "normal" food.  But I will have to supplement for the rest of my life with protein shakes - which I don't mind in the least!  The funny thing is that my son (almost 3 years old now) is also in love with them!  He "helps" me make my protein shakes, counting the ounces of water, scoops of protein powder, and ice cubes.  Then he always insists on having some of it, too!  (So I always make a little extra, just for him.)  He calls it his "pwotein shake."  How cute is that?

Here is today's food log:

 7:45 AM     Protein shake - 34g protein, 8g sugar
10:30 AM    BG: 78
10:40 AM    1 teaspoon of honey, to treat hypoglycemia - 6g sugar
11:00 AM    Light yogurt - 3g protein, 7g sugar
12:30 PM     BG: 81
12:35 PM     1 teaspoon of honey - 6g sugar
12:45 PM     Beef broth - 1g protein, 0g sugar
 2:50 PM     BG: 83
 3:00 PM     Protein shake - 17g protein, 4g sugar
 5:10 PM     Sugar-free pudding cups
 8:00 PM     BG: 104
 8:15 PM     No-sugar-added fudgesicles - 5g protein, 7g sugar
10:10 PM    No-sugar-added Carnation instant breakfast, skim milk - 13g protein, 18g sugar

TOTALS:  73g protein, 56g sugar

Tomorrow hubby and I are going to take a little trip to the Hot Springs for a soak.  We both need to relax a little bit before Monday!

Just two more days... WOW. 

  Just 3 days to go!  I can't believe it!

I am feeling really good about going into surgery on Monday... if I can just survive bowel prep on Sunday!  Yikes.  I must admit - the liquid diet is getting easier every day, and I am actually having to remind myself to eat regularly.  I haven't been as hungry - so maybe my stomach is shrinking a little bit.  It is making some funky noises, though!  My husband and my mom have been SO supportive of me throughout all this.  I think it is helping them that I AM so excited and positive about it!

I went by my workplace yesterday and picked up paperwork for short-term disability leave.  So I am getting the last pieces of the puzzle in place now.  I told my boss what was going on, and she was surprisingly supportive, even though she is a Skinny Minnie!  She has a friend who is 2 months into the process, so she knew a little bit about it, and not just the BAD stuff people usually know about WLS.  It's always easier to talk to someone with an open mind about it - not just trying to talk you out of it with false information.

Here is my food log for today:

 8:00 AM     BG: 104
 8:30 AM     Protein shake - 34g protein, 8g sugar
11:15 AM    BG: 100
12:00 PM     Protein shake - 32g protein, 11g sugar
 1:00 PM      BG: 85
 4:15 PM     Light yogurt - 5g protein, 12g sugar
 8:00 PM      BG: 107
 8:15 PM     No-sugar-added Carnation instant breakfast, skim milk - 13g protein, 18g sugar
10:00 PM     BG: 102
10:15 PM     Sugar-free popsicle

TOTALS:  84g protein, 49g sugar

I also got my HUGE box of vitamins/supplements that I ordered from BariatricEating.com yesterday!  So I have started my regimen - trying to figure out the best time to take everything.  Here is what I have:

Multivitamin ~ Calcium ~ Iron+C ~ Omega-3 ~ B12 ~ Biotin ~ Vitamin D

I know I am not supposed to take the iron and calcium within 2 hours of each other, but still researching the rest of it, trying to get a good schedule down of when to take everything.  I must admit that I am very happy with both the Bariatric Advantage and Celebrate products!  The chewables are much more palatable than I was expecting.  

The Calcet lemon calcium chews are HEAVENLY!  Had to share one with hubby last night - he gave it two thumbs up as well. 

  Yeah, I got a little sidetracked yesterday, and I totally forgot to log everything.  Protein shake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Snacks were yogurt, pudding, and popsicles.  Lots of water and Crystal Light and green tea.  Blah, blah, blah.  I will get back on track today...

Wednesday's blood glucose log:

 7:15 AM     BG: 115
10:45 AM    BG: 96
 4:20 PM     BG: 98
 9:30 PM     BG: 100
10:40 PM    BG: 131

Just 4 more days!  Eeeek! 

  Despite a little snow, I made the 45-minute drive to the hospital for pre-admission testing today. 

I weighed in, had blood work, urinalysis, EKG, chest x-ray... and then I met with the WLS coordinator and she showed me the floor where I will be staying post-op and answered some questions.  It is crazy to think that I will be there this time next week!  But my visit there was good for some much-needed encouragement.  I was in a wonderful mood for the rest of the day, and more excited than ever, and absolutely sure that this is the right decision for me.

Today's food log: 

 1:30 AM     BG:  110
 1:45 AM     No-sugar-added Carnation instant breakfast, skim milk - 13g protein, 17g sugar
 7:30 AM     BG:  96
10:00 AM    BG:  107
11:15 AM    Protein shake - 15g protein, 7g sugar
12:45 PM    Sugar-free pudding cup - 0g protein, 1g sugar
 2:30 PM     BG:  107
 3:00 PM     Protein shake - 34g protein, 8g sugar
 4:30 PM     BG:  107
 5:00 PM     Sugar-free Jell-o
 6:30 PM     BG:  98
 7:45 PM     BG:  107
 8:00 PM     Light yogurt - 5g protein, 12g sugar
10:00 PM    No-sugar-added Carnation instant breakfast, skim milk - 13g protein, 17g sugar
10:45 PM    BG:  140

TOTALS:  80g protein, 62g sugar

Since I had pre-admission testing today, I had to be fasting for 8 hours prior to tests... so that's why I got up at 1:30 AM and had something to drink!  I was afraid of my blood glucose dropping if I didn't have anything at all for twelve hours. 

NOTE TO SELF:  I did not take the Glimepiride (one of my two diabetes medications) today.  My only high blood glucose was at 10:45 PM, and that was only 45 minutes after having 17g sugar, so that is completely reasonable.

I have lost 3 more pounds in the past 4 days on the liquid diet.  Just 5 more days to go! 

  This time next week I will be in surgery! 

I was glad to get my lab work results in the mail the other day... my PCP has been checking it every three months to keep tabs on my newly-diagnosed diabetes and high triglycerides.  When I was diagnosed with diabetes in May 2009, my A1c was above 7.  Glad to say that it is now back to "normal" with diet modifications and medication.  Here is how my lab work has changed in the past three months:

LAB TEST                11/23/09         02/29/10         NORMAL RANGE
Glucose                    103                 92                   70-100
A1C                          5.4                  5.7                  <6
Cholesterol               218                 234                 143-200
HDL                          43                   57                    40-60
Triglyceride              258                 180                 12-150
LDL-C                       123                 141                 <100
VLDL                        52                   36                   0-50
C-RISK                      5.1                  4.1                  <6
CRP-HS Cardiac       29.46              15.23              <3

Some good progress, especially in my triglycerides and CRP!

Here is my food log for today:

 7:00 AM     BG:  104
 7:30 AM     Protein shake - 34g protein, 8g sugar
 9:30 AM     BG:  115
11:15 AM    No-sugar-added fudgesicles - 0g protein, 2g sugar
12:00 PM     BG:  81
12:30 PM     Protein shake - 24g protein, 12g sugar
 2:30 PM      Crystal Light "Hunger Satisfaction" - 3g protein, 0g sugar
 3:00 PM      BG:  99
 3:30 PM      Sugar-free pudding cups - 0g protein, 2g sugar
 5:45 PM      No-sugar-added fudgesicles - 0g protein, 2g sugar
 6:40 PM      BG:  108
 7:00 PM      Low-fat cottage cheese, light yogurt - 15g protein, 10g sugar
 8:50 PM     BG:  101
 9:00 PM     No-sugar-added Carnation instant breakfast, skim milk - 13g protein, 17g sugar
 9:30 PM     Beef broth - 1g protein, 0g sugar

TOTALS:  90g protein, 53g sugar

Tonight I made my hubby and son some spaghetti for dinner... that was much harder than I thought it would be!  It smelled SO good.  But have to keep focused on the prize!  Hubby asked me if I had cheated on my liquid diet; my reply was NO, I am AFRAID to cheat!  I have definitely thought about it, but my fear keeps me in line.

Tomorrow I go to the hospital to have my pre-admission testing done.  Blood work, EKG, chest x-ray, all that fun stuff.  Woo.  I have to be fasting for the tests (for at least 8 hours), but I don't have to be there until 10:00 AM, so I am SERIOUSLY considering setting my clock and getting up at 1:00 AM to have a protein shake!  I definitely do not want to have a low blood sugar while waiting for my pre-admission tests. 

My stomach has been growling like crazy today... and I have not been the nicest person to deal with.  (My poor husband.)  Not only am I starving on this liquid diet, but I am also PMS-ing!  Bad combination. 

  Say CHEESE!

We are meeting my husband's family this afternoon to have family portraits made.  Luckily my son is acting like his usual self today, even after getting so sick last night, so we are going ahead with photo plans.  I am hoping it was just a fluke.  After church they are meeting my hubby and my son at a restaurant for lunch, then on to the portrait studio.  I am unfortunately going to have to politely bow out of our lunch plans - I don't think I can handle watching everyone chowing down on hamburgers while I sip my protein shake.  Not yet, anyway.  I know I will have to get used to it at some point post-op, but at just three days into the pre-op liquid diet, I don't have the strength!  So hubby is going to drop me off at a store and I will do some browsing before our portrait session.

Today's food log:

 6:45 AM     BG:  96
 7:00 AM     No-sugar-added fudgesicles - 3g protein, 2g sugar
 8:00 AM     Protein shake - 34g protein, 8g sugar
10:30 AM    No-sugar-added applesauce - 0g protein, 11g sugar
11:45 AM    BG:  85
12:00 PM     Protein shake - 17g protein, 4g sugar
12:30 PM     Sugar-free pudding cup - 0g protein, 1g sugar
 1:30 PM      Protein shake - 17g protein, 4g sugar
 3:30 PM      Protein shake - 17g protein, 4g sugar
 4:00 PM      No-sugar-added applesauce - 0g protein, 11g sugar
 6:20 PM      BG:  94
 7:00 PM      Chicken broth - 1g protein, 0g sugar
 8:00 PM      Protein shake - 34g protein, 6g sugar

TOTALS:  123g protein, 51g sugar

The portrait session went great!  All the photos turned out so wonderfully, and we got a good deal on the package.  Can't wait to get them back! 

Along with all the family photos, I also had them take one of just me, a full-body shot, as my official "before" picture.  I can't wait to be an "after!"