KatFord

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Whoopsie Daisy!  I looked and it's been a minute since the last time I actually blogged on my site here.  And with my great success, I really need to have a record to track my journey.  

As of this morning, the scale said I weigh 196lbs.  That's 55lbs gone!  I started out at a tight size 22, and now I wear a 16.  My shirt size has gone from 2X/3X to a L/XL.  I can actually shop in regular women's dept instead of the plus size dept.  It is sooooo surreal!  And I can eat spicy food again for the first time in forever :)  No more acid reflux, and I can sleep on any side in bed instead of only on my left side.  I love my healthier life!!!!!!!  

I take a buch of vitamins every day, a chewable adult Centrum multivitamin, 3 500mcg of b-12 sublingual, 2 Citracal 600mg vitamins with vitamin D 400iu, a vitamin E 400iu, an Omega3/Omega 6 softgel, potassium, zinc, biotin, folic acid, iron, vitamin C.... ummmm I think that about does it.  But it's doing the trick.  I don't think my hair is thinning, and I get some low energy, but I'm still working full time, taking care of the kids, and holding down the housework.  Of course my hubby helps around the house, but he's working full-time plus at his factory job on 3rd shift AND working his tree service when the weather's good.   

My darling hubby got us tickets to see George Strait with an opening act by Little Big Town early last month!  I'm still totally stoked by that stroke of genius.  The seats were great, and I am a HUGE fan of LBT.  They totally sound awesome live, the harmonies rocked "In the Boondocks"  I jokingly told hubby we could leave after LBT before George took the stage!... But I'm glad we stayed, because George is classic country, and I loved his new hit "I Saw God Today"  He got me a concert shirt in a size Large... and it fits ME?!!!  Never before!  I would have had to have at least a 2X before, and it would have been tight!  

I just hope that in a couple of years I will have hit my goal weight and maintained it for the long haul.  I know I'm still in the "honeymoon" period, and losing weight is relatively easy.  

I have been able to eat some sweets with the worst side effect being gas (ewwwww).  But that kinda worries me, because I don't want to be tempted to eat foods that don't support a healthy habit.  But I usually satisfy my sweet tooth with protein bars in chocolate or chocolate chip cookie dough flavors.  I also found some Slim-A-Bear ice cream bars and Skinny Cow dippers that are yummy and low in sugars and carbs :)  So they make a good-choice snack.  Well, I'm typed out, so ta ta for now!

Valentine's day was my 2 month Surgiversary, and I have now lost a total of 38 pounds since surgery day. 

I am 213 lbs today.  I am excited because every pound gets me closer to my goal.  I have also dropped 2 pant sizes.  When I look down I see my boobs and not my boobs and the bulge beneath that is my stomach :)  *but my boobs HAVE shrunk some since surgery, I'm just not sure how much.... but I'm thinking bra shopping might be in my near future.  And I am NOT really complaining bc I started at a size 42DDD, so I would be glad to drop to any size smaller than that!  I just wish they were not so "baggy" ugh!  But that's what bras are for.

My legs still don't fit into boots, but I'm thinking they probably won't until: A) I get below 200 lbs, or B) I incorporate more exercise into my daily program, to help tone the darn things.  I have the equipment to exercise with at home, I just need to motivate myself to make time for a workout at least 4 days per week.  This is my next goal, now that I am cleared for full exercise.  

I have to get a new freezer, because our drain backed up in the basement and killed our freezer about 1 1/2 weeks ago.  It sucks, because we got a 2nd hand freezer after the flood, but it didn't work, so we lost everything by the time we figured it out   But on the plus side, we got rid of a bunch of junk in the basement that we've been planning on clearing out for a long while.

I got hubby the BEST Valentine's Day gift this year!  We do a lot of driving to get bargains on big items, so I got him a GPS Navigation System.  Frankly, it's not one of the expensive models, but all you do is put in the address of your destination, and it gives you turn-by-turn directions to get you excactly where you want to go.  In the past, we would MapQuest our destination and print out directions, and hope for the best.  With the GPS, it tells you where there are restaurants and gas stations, and if you make an unplanned stop, it will automatically adjust to get you back enroute :)  What a NIFTY little tool!  And we already used it Friday to drive out to the Youngstown area, so he was able to check it out.  Even the kids were impressed (between bouts of watching their movies on the portable DVD player we have to keep THEM occupied on road trips).  

I tried some beef jerky today, since I hear tell it is a good source of protein.  UGH.  I didn't like it before my surgery, and apparently I still don't like it.  Just the texture/consistency, it didn't mess up my pouch.  But I did find some soy crisps at Trader Joe's that are real good, and they have about 6grams of protein per serving, so it's not just empty calories.  I have to get back out there and get some more.  So that's my world in a nutshell.  

I'll post again later.  Hopefully the next time I will be at, or at least VERY close to, 200 lbs.

Happy President's Day!
  

It seems like a long time since my surgery, but I look at the calendar and realize it has ONLY been a little over 6 weeks.  With a total of 30lbs lost since my surgery date, I feel blessed!  Oh, I know others have had more weight loss in a shorter time, but starting out as a "lightweight" I don't know of any other tool that would give such amazing results in such a short period of time... and not leave me constantly craving, or cheating the program.  
Now I am full after consuming only a small amount of food.  This tool reminds me to be mindful of what I eat.  I never imagined my "problem" would be trying to eat enough... or worrying because I have not gotten in my recommended calories for the day (which I don't sweat right now, as long as I get in my protein and liquids).

I'm down to a size 18/20 from my starting size of 20/22.  I don't see a big difference, but I feel better knowing my size is smaller.  My friends call me "skinny" or "the incredible shrinking woman".  I know they are being supportive, but I feel uncomfortable accepting their compliments.  I think I am still thinking that this is only temporary, and I'm about to start gaining all the weight back any time... after all EVERY other diet program I have used has resulted in regained weight.  I really need to adjust to that!

I have found a yoga DVD that I like to use.  It is "Kundalini Yoga for Beginners and Beyond" by Ravi Singh and Ana Brett.  It is pretty simple and easy, but I find that it works like a laxative!  If there's anything to move through me, all I need to do is use my DVD and within 30 minutes I'm having a very "moving" experience.  Sure beats laxatives or fiber addatives :)

I am experimenting with adding more foods to my diet.  I am fortunate that I can tolerate my 1% milk and chicken.  If I have eggs, I have to have something in it, like meat or mushrooms, otherwise I feel nauseated eating them :(   But I can eat more meats, and now I add a little lettuce sometimes just for a crunch.  I am hoping I can avoid adding "bad" carbs to my diet.  So far I have just had a spoon of mashed potato occasionally, but it is in addition to my protein, not in place of it.

On the urology front... I am HEALED!  Yaaaaaay!  That means no more dilating now.  Sure, they have me coming back in 6 weeks for a checkup to make sure the strictures are not coming back, but everything is functioning like it should now, so "Hakuna Mutata!"

  

 

Today I am one month out, and so far I have lost 23 pounds.  It doesn't seem real to me.  I look in the mirror and don't see any change, but my pants are definitely looser on me now :)

I am still learning how to eat.  Sometimes it goes down fine, and other times it makes this tight painful little ball in my chest that requires a bit of work.  I will walk around and once I took a hot bath.  But overall I have not had problems.  My energy is great and I am back to work full time since last Monday.

My co-workers have been super supportive and ask me all kinds of questions.  I am glad to answer them, but sometimes feel kinda guilty that I got to have the surgery, but MY insurance doesn't include WLS, so they can't use this wonderful tool too :(

I FINALLY got the Christmas tree taken down and put away YESTERDAY... boo me, I really need to work on that.  Usually I have the tree and decorations all put away New Year's weekend.

Now if I could only hit the lottery and resolve my financial problems!

soooooo, I feel like a boring person today.  I am outta here!


EDITING ON 1/15/08
Well, I was reading this over and realized I TOTALLY forgot abut my Urologist appointment.  Boy was THAT an adventure I'd rather forget about.  Here's the scoop...
When I went to the hospital for my surgery last month everything was going smooth until (dum dum dummmmmm) they went to catheterize me.  I was already "OUT" so I didn't feel a thing, but the story is that they tried to, but it wouldn't fit!  So they went down a size and... it wouldn't fit!  So they went down to the smallest size and... it STILL wouldn't fit (so much for the 3 bears theory).  Well, they called in the urologist and he MADE it fit (thank GOD I was out of it, YIKES).  Anyhow, they strongly recommended I follow up with him after I got home, so being the compliant little girl I am, I did just that... just this past week on the 10th.  Boy Howdy Doody was I in for an experience.  Everything was going smooth... I got there on time, I peed in a cup, I sat in the room flipping through a mag til the Dr came in.  He told me I should be "dialated" to fix the problem and he could do it right now if I had the time.  Okee Dokee, lets get this done with, right?  So the nurse/aide preps me with some numbing gel (and I use that term VERRRRY loosely) and lets it set for a couple minutes until the Dr comes in.  Well he proceeds to tell me that my bladder did NOT empty out when I filled the cup and did my business, and that's because I'm SO closed up.  He takes his tools and goes to work.  AAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII  I felt everything... like a roto-rooter-drain snake was being shoved up my who whoo.  I didn't scream, but I was leaving nail marks in my palms an inch deep :(  Well he gets done and says "there may be a little blood"... as if I hadn't already figured that out.  He also gave me some Urelle to take.  Here's the kicker, it makes me pee BLUE!!! I feel like an alien, or an instant 2000 Flushes Blue... EVERY time I pee.  But it does minimize the sting, and is supposed to help prevent any infection.   So I "think" I'm peeing better, and I go back next week, so maybe I'll ask him what he can do so I can jump on a trampoline without wearing Depends (I blame my 4 gorgeous children for that little inconvenience)
So Long!

  

OK, it is officially 3 weeks since my surgery date and I am down 18 lbs.  I have been at a standstill on the scale all week, but I figure this is the "adjustment phase" that everyone talks about.  I can't see it myself, but my size 20W jeans fit a little better now (I'm used to always having the button undone & tucked in so it doesn't hurt my tummy), and now I don't have to unbutton them for a comfortable fit. YAAAAAAY ME!

I'm getting my protein in and my fluids.  For fluids I have found that SF popsicles and hot herbal tea sweetened with just a tsp of honey works best for me.  It's frickin freezin outside, and we keep our house temp at 68deg to help with the mondo gas bill, so I suppose that's why the hot tea is soooooo good right now :)  I have powder protien supplements that I add a scoop of to a lot of my food now to get all I need every day.  Things like SF pudding, hot cocoa, soup, and my FF refried beans that I also put salsa, LF cheese and FF sour cream on.  I have also started eating some soft scrambled eggs with some sauteed mushroom and LF cheese in them.  I tried plain eggbeaters without the mushrooms and they were kinda gross to me... I guess the mushrooms add a bit of texture and flavor that helps them taste better.

I went back to work on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 right after the New Year's holiday.  It was only 4 hours a day this week, just to be sure I'll be able to handle it.  Well, I think I'm ready for full time next week :)  I told my co-workers what I had done, and everyone has been so supportive and encouraging.  I swear it's like a big family and I feel so greatful to be able to work in such an awesome environment.  The girls in my department really pitched in while I was gone and managed my files so I came back to a clean and organized desk, which was my BIGGEST RELIEF EVER!  I was so worried I'd have all kinds of work to catch up on "WHEW!"  I have been real lucky that my recovery has gone so smooth.  I really feel good.  I do still have some pain in my left side, but it is VERY manageable, and no pain meds have been needed for over a week now.

I've been careful to eat what I'm supposed to, so I haven't had any dumping.  However, I DO feel super-full to the point of being semi-painful sometimes when I finish eating.  So I'm learning to be very careful and stop when I feel like I should, not trying to eat a full couple ounces in my teeny weeny bowl.  This is hard since I was raised to clean my plate... even if it is now 1/2 a ramekin bowl instead of a big ol' plate!

I get plenty of walking in at work, so that has been helpful.  I've been doing housework since I got home post-op, and over the weekend I pitched out my horse's VERY mucky stall.  Hubby ran the wheel barrow back and forth to the manure pile, but I think my Dr still wouldn't approve of the weight I was lifting.  However, everything felt fine.  The only thing is toward the end I was feeling a little nauseated, maybe I was a little dehydrated??? I drank some water from the bottle I brought with me a felt just fine a couple minutes later.  I ordered two yoga dvd's from Amazon that are supposed to be good for beginners and advanced, so I'm excited to see how they will be.  I thought yoga would be a good exercise since it is low-impact and includes some great stretching and toning benefits.

OT: Hubby had to get 5 teeth extracted yesterday.  He's been in so much pain the last month that I'm very glad he finally got them taken out.  He's had to take antibiotics and pain meds just to maintain!  I think he's starting to feel a little human again just today.  It's hard to tell though, 'cause he works nights and so he's sleeping right now.

TTYL!

 

Well, it's officially 1 week since my surgery.  I went for my post-op visit, and I've already lost about 12 lbs!  They took out my drain tube (yaaaaaay!).  That tube was such a pain to carry around (I wore knit pants/sweats with pockets so I could keep the tube tucked down my pants and the ball stuck in my pocket).
I am on full liquids and will be able to step up to pureed food on Christmas Day!
  

Well, I re-read yesterday's blog, and I am happy to say that most of my "issues" have resolved themselves.
My hubby and I had a real heart-to-heart yesterday afternoon and got everything ironed out... he's sorry the house was a mess, I'm sorry I lit into him about the house being a mess, turns out he's working so much at the 2nd job to get me and the kids some extra Christmas gifts without dipping into the household budget.  The house IS straightened up now... and last night our youngest got SICK  in the middle of the night, and hubby is the one who got up and cleaned up the BIG (gross) mess in the middle of the kids bedroom carpet, while I got to stay in bed (boy, does THAT earn him credit :)
I am really glad everything worked itself out, 'cause I really SUCK at being upset.
I made one of my protein smoothie recipies with Peanut Butter, Chocolate protein powder, 1/2 a banana, a pkt of sugar substitute, 2 ice cubes and 1/2 c. of FF milk.  It's really good :)  I'm kinda worried about getting all of my protein and water in, but at least I'm sipping away and taking all of my vitamins.
I am sooooo glad I have this site to post to.  Even if nobody reads/responds to my posts, I have a place to vent... or just put my thoughts down (even though I DID get very supportive responses to my rant yesterday... thank you sooooo much)  I think it's important to chronicle my journey, just so I have some type of "reality check" when I'm 2 + years out and telling everyone how smooth everything went.
Frankly, the physical part really is smooth for me.  I think because I was moderately physically active before the surgery and I started out at the low end of the MO scale, it might be a little easier on me.  I also chose a great surgeon/staff, who have been very supportive and helpful every step of the way.  Also, I normally don't need my pain meds until late afternoon/early evening, which is good 'cause it tastes like cough syrup, which I have ALWAYS thought was gross (no worries about addiction there!)  I've also been doing plenty of walking (I THINK going shopping counts, and I hold onto the cart in case I need support)
Now I just wait for my appointment Friday to get this drain tube taken out of my chest.  I feel kinda like I have an alien baby in there or something, it's pretty gross, but I understand the necessity, because I AM still getting a bulb full of fluid every day.
I guess that's enough for now.  I am just so very glad all the drama from Monday and Tuesday have finally resolved themselves.

Well, Friday morning was my procedure.  I'll include as much info as possible, so anyone reading this who hasn't gone through it knows what MY experience was like... and so I don't forget myself ;)
I got to the hospital surger admission about 6:30am.  They got me into my gown and socks and put me on a bed (my gown was cool!  It inflates with a warming hose that kept me nice and warm for the surgery... and the bed I was on had a HOVERCRAFT mattress!  All they had to do was inflate it and push me onto the surgery table... no uncomfortable "try to lift the fat chick" process, hahahahaaa)  They asked me a million questions I had already answered about prescriptions, glasses, mouthpieces, etc... They put an IV in my hand (I got to pick the hand, so I chose left, since I'm right handed).  Everyone who spoke to me asked me my name and DOB to make sure they were talking to the right person.  I got a hairnet put on me.  Everyone was super nice and very friendly.  They answered all of my questions.  I went into the surgery room about 7:45am and it was "lights out" for me.  The next thing I remember is the nurses asking me if I was going to wake up, and putting the morphine button on me, so I could manage my pain, but "PHEW!" I was really out of it!  I was in my hospital room by 12:30 that afternoon.  My husband was there the whole time, which I really appreciate 'cause he really didn't want to be there, from what he was saying the day before... he wanted to go do a job from his 2nd job doing tree service work.  I had to tell him about 20 different ways that I really wanted him there with me that day.  My sister watched the kids for me, and my folks are out of the country until right before Christmas, or I'm sure my Mom would have been there for me, so I really did need him.  They had the air boots on my legs to keep me from getting blood clots.  They kept giving me heparin shots in the stomach to prevent blood clots.  I got antibiotics in my IV drip, and the pain control was push-button through my IV drip.  I had the catheter and the drain tube in when I woke up too.  The catheter came out the next morning, and the drain tube should come out on Friday the 21st.  
So my husband came up to visit with the kids on Saturday.  They brought me a nice flower arrangement and stuffed animals.  My husband got me a lovely necklace, that he said was part of my Christmas present.
Sunday, hubby stayed home to work his 2nd job, and spent the rest of the day in the garage, so I was by myself that day.  The weather was terrible with lots of snow and ice, so I didn't go home that day, but they did remove my IV, and I was able to get around a LOT easier without all those tubes stuck in me :)
Monday, hubby came up after getting the kids off to school and doing a little running around.  I finally got released and left the hospital around 1pm (yeaaahhhhhh)....
We stopped at the pharmacy to get my prescriptions for my pain med and prevacid filled on the way home.  Well, the insurance doesn't want to cover Prevacid, they want me to take Nexium because the D@*& pharmacutical companies make a crappy product like Nexium that DOESN'T work as well as Prevacid, so they pay off the insurance companies to force their insured to use the crappy stuff and make money off of it, instead of letting us get the stuff that really works, so I didn't get my Prevacid... and they were out of the pain med, so I had to go home and call around to find a pharmacy that DID have it.
Well don't cha know that when we get home everything is covered in snow, you'd have thought that working on the plow all day meant I would be able to at least NOT have to wade through snow to make it to the back door :)  Then I got in the house.  It was a total mess!  WTF?!  EVERY SINGLE ROOM was a MESS!  So I kinda freaked out a little.  Who wants to come home from major surgery to a filthy house?!  
Well, needless to say, I've been doing housework since I got home: laundry, cleaning kitchen, straightening messes, cleaning up the bathroom, picking up toys, etc since I got home.  The thing about it that really kills me is my "DH" sat his ass on the couch and fell asleep watching MR RODGERS NEIGHBORHOOD rather than help me straighten up.  And HE'S PISSED AT ME because I should understand that he was in the garage getting his 4-wheeler set up so he could do jobs with his buddy all day Sunday, and he didn't have TIME to take care of our 3 children under 11 who were trashing the house all day Sunday.  I should be more understanding.
So I went upstairs and sat on the damned toilet seat and cried my eyes out.  Then I put on my goddammed big-girl panties and cleaned the fuc**ng house by myself.  
So I get over it and start feeling a little better, cause I did get things straightened up (thank GOD for pain meds).  Well, we CAN'T have that, so he gives me the pissy-silent treatment, until I ask HIM what's wrong.  Well he vents all over me about how crappy MY behavior is until I'm totally undone again.  Well, he must like me depressed, because he's FINE now, as long as I'M a wreck.
OH MY GOD!  Maybe I'm totally wrong for being upset.  Maybe it's just the pain, or the anesthesia wearing off, but I had to vent somewhere, so I'll do it here, cause right now I feel like nobody gives a rat's ass, and I'm just so alone right now.
Of course, he's not here now.  He's off at his second job... after all that's why he took a week off of his work to "help me recover" although he hasn't lifted a damned finger to help me.  And the 2nd job??? Not a goddammed red cent of that money goes into the household fund.  That's his discretionary spending unless we're in a REAL tight financial pinch.
Well Fuck Me anyway, right?
I'll get over it... eventually.  But right now I'm just to hurt and pissed about being stupid enough to expect any real help anyway.
On the plus side, at least I'm feeling well enough to do for myself, and I 
DON'T have to actually require his physical assistance.

Yesterday, I had my pre-op testing.  They drew blood, did an ekg, weighed me and measured my height, did a general exam including bp and temp.  All systems are go, and I am cleared for takeoff!
I also got my yucky anti-bacterial soap (only yucky 'cause I CAN'T moisturize afterwards, and I NEVER bathe without moisturizing after... I'm just too old and dry for that!) and my "suck a ball" toy to keep me breathing right post-op.

I don't have all my work DONE at work (YIKES!!!) but I'm trying :)
Just a couple more things to buy (like that yucky "blow all the hatches" liquid I gotta drink Thursday afternoon to prepare for my Friday surgery)

I don't really care if I don't have everything done at home, at least I got the Christmas tree decorated and most of the laundry done.  I just need to do a couple more things..... what?  who's there? is it?... YES! That dastardly pillow up on my super soft/ultra comfy bed is caaaaallllliiiiinnnnng meeeeeee.  Maybe it wouldn't hurt to rest my wittle head for juuuust a moment...

 

So I got the notice that my insurance approved me.  I just had to wait to see how soon I could be scheduled (hopefully before the end of the year, due to expiring vacation time at work).  My doctor is way booked up, but the office assistant, Cheryl is trying to see if there is any way Dr Eyman can fit me in to his busy schedule before the holidays.  The Dr's office has been GREAT about working with me, but I've been on pins & needles trying to be patient and NOT bug them unneccessarily every 2-3 minutes... it's been hard hee hee hee... 
So this morning I go to work and forget my cell phone at home... like only a true bonehead can.  Of course, the one day I leave my phone at home is the day I get THE CALL!!!  I am scheduled for the 14th of December!!!  I am sooooo very greatful they could fit me in that I could just give them a great big hug and smoochies!!!  Of course in the interest of preventing them from socking me in the nose for "taking liberties" I will attempt to control my excitement :)
And, in addition to this great news, I have the opportunity for some overtime at work these next two Saturdays, so I can get my work in order before leaving the office for several weeks.  I work with a great group of folks who will all help out, but I hate not doing the "necessary work" myself.
I'm super excited (as if you couldn't already tell) and I have tons to prepare for (like everybody else who has had their surgery) but I'm so happy that it's my turn now too!