HeatherRN

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4 weeks out and feeling pretty good.  I am back to my kickboxing and zumba classes at the YMCA.  Really need to get motivated to start lifting some weights.  Started back at work last week and it has been going pretty good.  I am struggling to get all my proteins and fluids in every day.  I have gotten the "foamies" several times even with food that was ok the first few times.  Eggs dont seem to agree with me right now and I am so sick of cottage cheese!   I really hope I can eat somewhat normally some day and not worry about everything making me sick.  I had a stall the last week and half, the scale has just started to move again.  I think I would lose quicker if I could stick to my protein and fluids guidelines.

Officially 2 wks post op today.  Had my appt with the surgeon and he is very pleased at my progress so far.  Lost 14 pounds since surgery and 27 pounds since March 10th.  Still not quite getting 64 oz of fluids a day but am doing ok with protein.  I plan on going back to my zumba and kickboxing classes at the YMCA this week.  Got to eat my first "solid foods" today.  I had 1 scrambled egg with a half slice of provolone cheese and wow that tasted fantastic!  I also had maybe an oz of soft fish but that kind of made my stomach hurt a little.  Excited to try new soft foods, yay!!!

Feeling surprisingly good.  I have been taking walks everyday, about 1 mile to 1.5 miles.  I am walking much slower than I normally do and get short of breath easier.  Prior to surgery I was taking Zumba, kickboxing and Tai Chi classes and I feel like I am so much more tired with just walking than I was after a class!  It's been hard gettting my protein and fluids in for the day.  I am really getting tired of the liquids and am dreaming of when I can at least have some scrambled eggs!  As for the weight loss I have been losing an average of about 2lbs a day, I really need to hide my scale I think. 

I had my surgery on March 23rd.  Monday I arrived at the hospital really early as instructed.  I had to have last minute lab draws done then I was taken to get prepped for my surgery.  My time had been moved up by about 45 minutes so we were rushing a little to get done.  I only got to see my family for a minute or two before being swept into the surgery room.  The anasthesioligist had already given me some "happy" meds thru my IV at that time so I dont remember feeling too nervous, mostly cold.   I was in recovery for about 2 hours and first thing I remember is shivering and feeling really cold.  Those heated blankets are sooo nice!  My family stayed with me for a short time, I slept a lot that day.  I was woken about every hour that night so they could empty my drains and foley and check my vital signs.  I did get up for about an hour in a chair that day but I couldnt keep my eyes open, the morphine PCA is good stuff!  The second day I walked a couple of times in the hallway and went down for my upper GI.  They make you stand in front of an x-ray machine and have you drink some terrible tasting stuff and take pictures as you swallow.  Luckily no leaks!  Luckily for me I had cute male student nurses for 2 days (rolling my eyes)  but it wasnt too bad.  The worst thing I remember is the terrible gas pains and trying not to pull on my drains which hung really low.  I did have a fever the second night, the nurses took my blankets away and turned the air on in my room.  That made me a little anxious but I havent had a fever since.  On the last day, Thursday, my surgeon came in the morning and said everything went really well and it was time for me to go home.  He removed my drains, which wasnt really painful but it did feel like a "snake slithering on my ribcage" as my surgeon so aptly put it.  I had really great care during my stay by all the nurses and student nurses and saw my surgeon twice a day.  Now I am excited about healing and starting a new life!

Ok I'm not good with these things but here it goes.  I have been going thru this process for a little over a year.  I can't believe I finally will be having my surgery on Monday.  Currently on my liquid diet which has been really hard.  Not too nervous yet about the surgery, I know a few people that have had this done and they have all done really well and look and feel amazing!  My heaviest weight was 280 lbs last year when I decided to finally do something about it.  I have always been a little heavy since I was about 11 or 12 years old.  In my teens I started the diet rollercoaster and dieted my way to morbid obesity.  I could take a little weight off for a short time only to gain all of it and more back.  I am really hoping this tool will finally help me keep the weight off.  Well good luck to all of you out there just starting the process or getting ready for your surgery.  Wish me luck Monday!