JanM

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What a week!  I returned to work on Monday.  It wasn't too bad.  I was a little more weary in the evening but it didn't affect my insomnia!  I would lay down exhausted and it is like someone turned of my sleep switch.  I still have to take my Ambien every night.  I am just glad it doesn't give me a hang over the next day like it did before surgery.

I did well with my protein, vitamins and water.  I missed one day of walking, Thursday, but otherwise I got in at least 30 minutes a day.  Thursday was one of those days.  I was exhibiting at a conference, marketing for clients and recruiting nurses.  I had to be there at 7:30 a.m. and at 9:00 a.m. I got a call from the office reported a state surveyor was there and I needed to get back immediately.  I have the worst luck when it comes to state surveys.  In January they came on the first working day after the holidays.  During the holidays we take turns taking some extra days off so we definitely had some catch up to do on our charts and there they were.  Then for resurvey, I am off 4 weeks and they come back my first week back.  Everyone else was glad that they waited until I came back, of course.  Thank goodness we passed with flying colors so now we won't have to see them for a couple of years unless there is a complaint or something.

Friday, both my husband and I took off at noon to get ready to go see my son and his wife for the weekend in Chicago.  We rented a car as mine isn't in the best shape and we would put about 1000+ miles on it.  I took my walk and packed.  We waited in the car in the driveway for my 18 y/o autistic, mentally disabled child to get off the bus and then take him to his respite weekend.  He got off the bus and he was sicker than a dog with a sinus infection.  He doesn't understand how to blow his nose so the snot just bubbles out of his nose.  He told me he wanted to "snuggle blanket" which means go to bed.  At first we thought, "well if we give him some NyQuil he will feel better and we can still go".  So we tried that and started off to the place he gets respite.  We didn't even get a mile from home when good sense took over and we knew we couldn't go - he needed to be home with us!  We were both so devastated.  We only get to see this son 3-4 times a year and he doesn't know about my weight loss surgery.  I planned to surprise him once it was over and it was clear I was doing well.  I was so excited for him to see me 36 lbs. lighter.  I cried for about an hour and refused to unpack the car.  I got it out of my system after an hour and unpacked.  My sick son took medicine and then laid on the family room floor with a pillow and blank and slept from 5:00 p.m. until we took him up to bed and then until about 11:30 the next morning.  On Saturday we took him to the doctor and he prescribed an antibiotic.  He was still pretty snotty on Sunday so I don't know if he will go to school Monday or not.  I guess we will find out in the morning.

I have the day off Monday for a company holiday.  I guess if he is sick that is lucky.  If he goes to school I may clean out my closet and get rid of some winter clothes I know will be too big this fall!  That would feel great.

I have started on regular foods.  I ate the topping off a pizza last night and that was wonderful.  It took me forever to chew, chew, chew!  Tonight I tried the meat off a grilled chicken leg and while it tasted great going down I burped for 90 minutes afterwards and finally chewed some papaya enzymes to help digest the stuff!  I don't think I will be eating it again anytime soon.  I don't like an upset pouch!  I also ate some turkey jerky today - chewing, chewing, chewing!  It tasted great and didn't bother my pouch.

I still need to make my bed and shower - I washed my sheets today, so I had better close.  Tomorrow will be 5 weeks and I have lost 37 lbs.!  Cannot complain about that!

Four weeks post-op today!  AND I returned to work.  I have lost 32 lbs. now.  The hardest part about returning to work was getting up early.  I have been spoiled sleeping until 8-10.  I still cannot fall asleep without Ambien. Maybe returning to work will help.  I still haven't dropped a size but clothes are much looser and some things that were too tight now fit comfortably.  I managed to maintain my eating habits and take all my vitamins and water today.  I walked after work.  It would have been easy to just come home and veg out but I didn't.  The 20th is my official date to advance my diet but I have started eating a few things, like my tuna, without pureeing it.  I told two of my sons about the surgery this weekend. They seemed surprised that I could have had surgery without them knowing.  One told me he was proud of me.  I also had a WOW moment.  We went to church Sunday at a local auditorium downtown and in the past the folding seats were so tight I would be miserable the whole time I was seated.  This time I fit in the seat with room to spare!  Next weekend we go to Chicago to see my oldest son and his wife.  I will break the news to them at that time.  I have no plans to tell anyone else that doesn't already know.

The scale finally started moving again on Friday.  As of today I have been UNDER 300 lbs. for three consecutive days now so I think it is official.  I was 298 lbs. this morning.  I don't want to ever have to move that weight on my scale to the 300 lbs. spot again.  Watch out Onederland!  Here I come! 

I am feeling great.  Still cannot fall asleep without my ambien but I bet that will change when I return to work and I am putting in longer days.  I am walking 40-45 minutes a day and it is getting easier.  I have increased my distance to at least a mile and a half in that time.  I cannot believe it has been at least 2 years (probably longer) since I could walk that far and enjoy it.  Spring has sprung here and I saw my first crabapple tree in bloom today.  The daffodils, crocuses and hiacynths have been up all week.  I have even seen a few wild violets blooming.  Soon all the trees will be in bloom.  I am getting in 80-90 gms. of protein a day, all my vitamins and calcium and water.  I had pureed roast beef and carrots tonight and 3 lbs. filled me up.  I do still miss my caffeine-free diet coke though.  That is the only think I really miss. 

Next weekend is my birthday and we will have all but my son in Chicago over for dinner.  I will have to spill the beans to them then as they will freak when they see how little I eat and I will still be on pureed.  It will be interesting to see their reactions - especially my son who has seen me at least twice a week and doesn't seem to have a clue.  Tomorrow will be my 3 week anniversary.  One more week and back to work!  Why can't we pick that winning lottery ticket!  I love being home everyday and being able to take time just for me for once.

I am having lunch with my in-laws tomorrow.  They have no clue I have had this surgery and I don't intend to tell them.  I figured I could eat somewhere where I can have soup and then I can drink water too so it won't be that obvious that I am eating differently.  Just hope I can find a soup that doesn't have too much fat or sugar as I don't want to dump - haven't done that yet and have o urge to experience it.

Well the scale still hasn't moved but I am feeling great and I AM MOVING!  I went for a walk twice today for a total of 1 hour and just over two miles.  My goal is to be walking twice a day regularly by the time I return to work on the 17th.  I walked at noon and again about 7:00 p.m.  I need to gradually move my first walk to morning so I can do it before work.  All my steri-strips are off my incision now and it looks good.  I got my medical alert bracelet today from Lauren's Hope and it is very pretty.  My husband didn't even ask me how much it cost like he usually does with anything I buy!  It is suppose to storm tomorrow so I may have to walk inside!

I am feeling much stronger and more like myself, actually better than I felt before surgery.  The scale hasn't moved since a week ago Monday but I know that is normal.  Still discouraging after such a big start!  Last night I walked close to a mile with my husband.  My knee is holding up okay so far but I feel it getting stiffer.  The weather here is beautiful which is great incentive to get out and walk.  I probably could have gone back to work this week but in the long run I know it will be healthier for me to wait until the 17th.  I have talked to my co-workers and it sounds like they are getting slammed at work but they say they are okay.  I have offered to do anything I can from home.  I am really getting tired of the same old foods.  Today I mixed my tuna and mayonaise with cottage cheese and that was good for a change.  Got my haircut today and thought my sister-in-law who is my stylist might have noticed my weight loss but she didn't.  I had loose clothes on but thought she might have seen the difference in my face.  I am getting in all my protein and water so hopefully the scale will move soon.

I threw up for the first time today.  I don't know if it was due to a change in my routine or if it was the chewable tylenol I tried to take last night.  I had a headache at bedtime and tried to chew the tylenol and it was so gross I almost threw up after chewing just two of the dose.  I had that taste in my mouth all night and I really think that is what upset my pouch.  I woke up and got ready to go to my support group.  I knew that it would be over 3 hours before I would be home so I thought I should eat an egg instead of the shake and then take the shake along for my snack.  On the way their my stomach started growling like crazy and I burped all the way their.  During the group my stomach started really hurting.  On the drive home I started feeling like I was going to vomit and as soon as I got home I did.  I remember thinking that this was much easier than vomiting with a real stomach - no gastric juices and only about 2 oz. of shake and calcium came up.  No egg so I don't think it was the egg.  I put myself back on clear liquids for the day and felt better after about 1 hour.

Went for my first post-op check-up.  My scale showed 300 lbs.  Theirs showed 306 but that represented a 20 lb. weight loss so I will take it!  They took out all my staples, said I was doing great and to come back in 4 weeks.  I get to start soft foods the week before I go back.  The nutritionist told me she wants to use me as a support buddy because I am doing so well.  Dr. Eibes said the weakness was normal.  He said my gall bladder pathology report showed chronic inflamation and there was a polyp in my GB which can be pre-cancerous if not removed so it was a good thing he took it out.  The walk into the office wore me out.  He said he would really like to see me take 4 weeks off but it was up to me.  I think that is what I will do.  I stopped by the office and they all thought I looked great and that my face already looked thinner.  They said they are doing fine so if I want to take 4 weeks they will be fine.  I really want to feel stronger so I went out for a walk again in the afternoon.  I made it 4 blocks more than yesterday without exhausting myself.  I want to increase by at least 2 blocks daily so that is my new goal.

Tonight I was really hungry for something different and flavorful.  I had pureed tuna for lunch.  I called and asked my husband to pick up a seasoned rotisserie chicken and potatoes to make masked potatoes.  He said he would.  I was just waiting for that meal. He comes home and I ask, "where's my chicken?"  He gets a left over grilled chicken breast out of the frig and said, I had chicken last night and this is left over so I thought that would be okay.  I blew up.  First food I have asked for in 10 days and he decides a substitute is okay.  Grilled chicken is so dry anyway I would have to have flooded it with broth to puree it.  The rotisserie chicken is always so moist and tender.  I will just pick it up for myself tomorrow.  I had more tuna for supper.

I am so thankful I had this surgery.  I am looking forward to each month of this new adventure!

Lazed around this morning.  I watched Pride and Predjudice again before getting up and showering.  I may have to buy that movie.  Only 300.2 today so I didn't break 300 lbs. yet.  This week for sure!  I cannot wait to get the staples out tomorrow.  I didn't take my atenolol today to see if it helped.  I started checking my BP yesterday and the upper number (systolic) is only in the upper 90's which is really low for me!  No wonder I feel a bit punk.  I will be curious to see if it makes any difference.  It was sunny and warmer today so I went out side and walked about 4 blocks (15 minutes).  It is amazing - my knee isn't hurting (got cured in the hospital!) but my hips ache when I walk and I just feel weak.  I don't know why I am so surprised - I couldn't tolerate walking further than from a building to my car or around a store before surgery so it isn't like I was athletic!  I will ask Dr. Eibes what is up tomorrow.  This evening when I was sitting here updating I got a sudden sharp pain in my right upper abdomen just under the ribs.  Deep breathing, splinting, nothing helped - it just seemed to run its course.  First time I have had that type of discomfort!  I don't have a clue what that was.  Hope it was a one and only deal.  Kind of got behind on the eating and drinking today.  I still need one more meal and shake and I think I will be okay.  Got calls from my HR person and the owner of my company this afternoon checking on me.  Anxious to hear what Dr. Eibes has to say tomorrow!

Can't wait to get my staples out in 2 days! Still feel woozy today. Will ask Dr. Eibes about the atenolol Thursday. Scale said 302.2 today. Maybe I will break 300 lbs. tomorrow! I slowly got dressed and did my hair and went out to run errands. I even shaved my legs today! I picked up 3 movies and went to Walmart. Even before going into Walmart I felt spent. Barely made it to the back of the store before having to use to bathroom for loose stools. I just felt weak. I got the items I came for, ran an errand to the bank and went home. I watched Pride and Predjudice and absolutely loved it. I am a sucker for those romance stories! Just kind of lazed around for the evening.

I stepped on my scales this morning and it said 305.2!  I haven't been that close to 300 in over 3 years!  I had every intention of walking but it rained all day.  I was still kind of worn out from yesterday and felt a bit "woozy".  I wonder if the atenolol I take to prevent migraines might be lowering my BP too much.  I know I am getting enough fluids and proteins and my urine is pale yellow so I don't think it is fluids or protein.  One of my co-workers stopped by and brought me cards and a gift certificate for Catherine's.  That will come in handy when I run out of clothes.  She is having this surgery once I recover and get back to work and was excited to see me looking so well.  Around 5:00 p.m. my second son showed up again with his roommate to pick up our old freezer.  I didn't know he was coming so all the flowers were out and I was sitting in my recliner in casual (not work) clothes.  I figured for sure he would ask questions but he didn't.  Men are so clueless!