Kathy H.

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

Well, I haven't blogged in a long time, since I went back to work the last thing I wanna do when I get home is get back on the computer. I'll try to do this at least once a month so you can read about my progress.

I just had my 3 month check up and I've lost a total of 64 lbs. That means I'm finally at 200!!! I can't wait to vbreak the 200 mark. I am really excited about that but I still have a long way to go. The doctor says all my labs are good and I should expect to loose another 60-70 with in another 15 months then it should slow or stop.

I'm in a size 14, almost a 12!! so happy about that, but don't want to shop just yet since I want to loose more. I still don't feel I look good in clothes either so it's hard to shop. I still see a fat person. the doctor said that's normal though.

I hope everyone is doing well, and for those of you struggling in your first few weeks, I promise it gets easier!! hang in there.

Well, I went back to work on August 10th.........about 6 weeks after my surgery. It's been hard to remember to drink alot of fluids so I'm working on that now. As of August 9th which was my last appointment, I was down 40 lbs! still have a long way to go but not bad for 6 weeks. The doctor was very pleased. All my labwork came back good except for my protein level. She said it was a little low so I have to try and get more protein in my diet. UGH!! that's the hardest thing for me!!

I feel pretty good other than my incisions are still tender and sometimes if I don't chew well I feel like a big lump on my left side inside. Not sure what that is? is it my food? or is it stool? I have no idea. I have to ask the doctor. I told her last time and she made my lay down and she pressed and made me sit up. She was checking for a hernia but nothing! so who knows!

My next appointment is in September so we'll see how much I've lost by then. Fingers crossed!

So it's been one month and 6 days since my surgery and I've lost a total of 33 lbs. i should be happy about that but I've got so far to go it seems like a drop in the bucket. Trying so hard to remain positive but my emotions keep getting the best of me. It's very frustrating knowing you can't eat. it's not even that you're hungry!!! that's what's so frustrating>>>>>>>>> it's that you remember how it made you feel and what it tasted like and how much you loved it and now you can't eat the same way so it makes you angry and depressed. I'm sure not everyone feels this way, but I sure do. I have good days and really bad days.

I have one more week off before I have to go back to work. I think, thinking about that is getting me down too. Having to deal with the questions the remarks the looks....all this really phsycs (sp) a person out.

One day at a time.......it's gotta get easier.

I can't beleive in 4 more days it will be a whole month already since my surgery. I'm ALMOST feeling 100% again. After my visit to the doctor I was told I can't get in the water yet for another 3 weeks so that bummed me out since I have a pool. I was hoping since I really don't have the energy to walk a whole lot and it's been so darn HOT here that I could get some excercize in but swimming or at least walking in the pool but she said no. I guess my incissions are still not completely sealed, not sure. I should have asked!
On the 24th she said I can start on soft foods/pureed foods like cottage cheese, tofu and deli meats. I can't wait!!! I don't like cottage cheese or tofu very much but it's better than my alternative which is "nothing" water! I can have creamed soups right now, just not potatoe or celary. I tried it but it's not satisfying at all and very little protein. I'm pretty much living off sugar free popsicles right now and water. it's very boring!!!!!!!!!! I try to keep busy but it's not easy when you have no energy or the stuff you want to do you can't yet.
Trying to stay positive and looking forward to it getting easier....

So it's day 19!!!!! and it was my first doctor appointment since the surgery. I'm down 27 lbs!!!!!! All my labs came back good but when she asked what I was getting down, I told her the truth which is maybe 8-12 oz of water and maybe 40 oz of protein a day and she was not happy!! she said I need to drink more water and get in at least 100 grams of protein a day!!! I don't know how I'm going to do it. I hate all the powders I've tried, the hard boiled egg whites and cheese I'd been surviving on she said I shouldn't be eating yet!!!

She did progress my diet to creamy soups, which I'm not fond of. I'd rather not eat. but she wants me to sprinkle protein powder on everything (which I HATE) so I'm having a really hard time with it. On July 24th she wants me to move to soft foods, so that means pureed meats (lunchmeats), scrambled eggs, tofu, cottage cheese, pureed veggies and some fruits. No berries and no corn or certain veggies like celary and stuff. Which I don't like anyway. Not sure how I'm gonna do it but I have to try.

Anyone have any suggestions?? Strangely, I'm still not hungry but I am bored and I want to eat. This emotional rollercoaster is something else. Called my therapist today and making an appointment this week!!

So the doctor looked at my incisions, said everything looked good. Still can't swim for another 4-6 weeks!!!!!!! and she wants me to excersize more. As in walk further and longer and try little weights. I'm so not ready for that!

Ok so it's day 16 and I'm going stir crazy. Now that I'm feeling a little better I want to clean and cook and go places and ummm well you can't!!! it's still hard bending down to get the close out of the dryer, you still aren't supposed to lift more than 10 lbs at a time, cooking is hard because you can't have it! and cleaning well, you just get so tired so fast. So I do little things like the counters, and load the laundry and fold. I don't go anywhere to far. Maybe Target or Wallmart and then have to come home and lay down or nap.

My post op appointment is on Monday so I can't wait to see what happens. Am excited and nervous. I'm sure they are going to weigh me and I'm a little scared, I don't even know why. I know I've lost because things fit me different but I know it's nothing really significant. i have such a long way to go. It's hard not to look at where you need to be, but I know that i have to focus on short term goals.

Eating is better. I mean, I don't really eat but I can drink my protein shake (30gm), I can eat an egg white (9gm), and I can eat cheese (most are 9 gm) but still not enough.....It's hard still to get my water in. Not doing good in that area and my back is killing me. not sure if it's my kidneys from dehydration or soreness from lying around. I'll have to talk to the doctor about that on Monday.

thank you for those of you that have left comments on my posts or emailed me with encouraging words or stories. It's been really helpful!!

Every day is getting a little easier. I do find that I am wanting food more though. I don't know why exactly?? still trying to figure that part out. I'm still not hungry........my stomach has never growled since this surgery. I am really thirsty all the time and it's hard still to drink alot because you just want to down it and you can't. I have this incredible earge to cook so I've been watching cooking shows and reading receipies online but it stinks because you can't eat it or even taste it!

I have sneaked a nibble of turkey and bread and it was ok but litterally it was like the size of a piece of corn. I did buy babyfood and tried the pears. The jar took me about two days to finish. But it was so good......you just crave stuff with flavor. At least I am. I just want to taste something. I can eat one slice of Munster cheese which is delicious but it's high in fat but also has around 9 grams of protein! which is good since it's hard to get all the protein in. It takes me almost all day to eat the slice. I'll come have a bite and go away. put it back in the fridge and go do something else. Come back around 30 minutes to an hour later and take another bite. Of course you want to shove the whole peice in your mouth but you know you can't so small bites work. I just hold it till it liquifies and swallow. It's such a soft cheese that it melts in your mouth. That's litterally all I've been eating. Some days I just have my protein shake and water or vitamin water. I bought an ice cube tray that makes tiny ice cubes and put vitamin water in there to freeze and that is a nice treat.

My doctor appointment is coming up and I'm anxious to see what he does and what he has to say.
I still get really tired and am a bit achy still.....still pretty bruised up, but moving a whole lot better and can walk a longer time now.

I hear from friends that my hair will start falling out. I haven't experienced that yet but I have tons so I don't mind. :)

Starting to get leg cramps at night. Not sure if that's dehydration or lack of potassium, so I had about an ounce of a soft bannana this am to see if that helps.

Another day down........I'll keep you posted on the Dr Visit......

Moving ALOT better today..........my hips are actually sore from sitting or lying around so much. Been pushing myself to walk more. You get so tired easy and dizzy!

The weird thing is I'm still not hungry!!!! I mean that's a good thing I guess but I know I have to eat!! and I'm having a hard time getting all my required protein in!!!  Even my water has been hard. I'm not getting half of what I need. I know that's not a good thing........but I don't know what else to do. If anyone has any recommendations please let me know.

I hate the protein powder.......I don't like the protein drinks other than the one I found by PREMEIRE at COSTCO. But as good as those are, I'm getting tired of them FAST......

Another day down.........can't wait to feel 100%

Today is really hard.........not because I'm hungry or want to eat but because emotionally I'm a wreck!! Everything makes me cry or just sad. I can't control it. Today is really bad........want to just crawl back in bed and not come out. Feel extremely depressed and can't shake it.

The upside......I'm not hungry. I am still managing to get in at least one protein shake which is 30 grams of protein (still not enough) but it's more than the zero I was consuming. Also, my incision looks ok. Still a little brown stuff but nothing bad.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.........hopefully a better day emotionally.

Anyone else struggle with this??

If I'm off on my days, my apologies. I find that not enough protein or nutrients tends to make your mind fuzzy and it's hard to concentrate.

Well, each day is a little easier, but still get really tired right away. Still really bruised up from the IV and all the Heparin shots in the hospital. Hopefully those go away soon. Maybe I'll post some pics,

Sleeping alot better now, thank goodness. So hard to sleep on your back all the time. I want to at least turn on my side and it's really hard to do that without being uncomfortable or afraid you are going to mess something up inside.

I tried putting my protein powder in my bean juice and it was disgusting!!! I resorted to introducing my milk shakes (protein drinks). Since I haven't been able to get basically ANY protein in I knew i was getting desparate and had to do something. I remembered I had bought some shakes for later down the road and decided to try one. They are called "Premeire" protein shakes and they are from COSTCO. Well, they are DELICIOUS!!!...........and they are 30 grams of protein which is great. So far I can only get down one a day........so I have to litterally take a drink and put it back in the fridge, come back, take another drink and put it back. It takes about 3 hours to get one shake down. But its so worth it.......they are creamy and chocolaty and smooth.......and only 1 gram of sugar and 3 grams of fat. They are about 29.00 a case at COSTCO.

Today, I'm going to try the sugar free pudding...but that's only about 2 grams of protein so it's best to stick to the drink. The drinks only 160 calories so that's litterally all the calories I've been consuming. You will LOVE them though!!! i promise. If you like creamy, smooth, sweet and chocolate!! this is your shake.

My post op appointment is not till July 12th. I'm really curious about what to expect and what they tell me.........anyone know what goes on?? is there blood work? because I'm not sure I can spare any lol...

Thanks for all your blog posts!! you guys are great........