Nitayoung

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So, it's been an entire month since I wrote anything. No excuses other than just being busy as heck! I have gotten used to getting in plenty of fluids. I've also discovered the JOYS of protein packed smoothies. I think I now know the location of every juice/smoothie bar within 50 miles of home! lol I'm down from a women's size 22 (tight!) to a juniors/misses size 16 or 18 depending on the cut. My shirts sizes are down from a women's size 3 to 4X to a juniors/misses XL. Shirts aren't going to go down much more than this since the girls are a DD :) I have finally, after 2 years, removed the bra extenders from all my bras and they FIT ME AGAIN!!! Comfortably I might add!! OMG so many changes, so many joys, I cannot even begin to describe it all.

I will say this one thing to all prospective WLS people out there. I had the Roux En Y surgery because I have suffered from GERD most of my life. I can't tell you how grateful I am for having made THAT decision!! I have heard SO many sleevers out there talk about how they've developed mild to serious acid reflux. Knowing how miserable that is, I feel so deeply for all those folks. I haven't had a SINGLE episode of acid reflux, indigestion, or heartburn since surgery. For that alone, I am eternally grateful. Finally! After so so many years of misery, RELIEF!! Just some food for thought for those of you considering sleeve WLS. I understand that the sleeve is MUCH less expesive than RNY but, wow, if you only knew the horrid feeling of GERD. It's so worth the extra money and the extra effort of talking to your surgeon about it!

Hope you all are having a lovely summer so far! I've set out my garden boxes and they're growing full force. My front porch and back deck are full of beautiful flowers and bird feeders. I get to watch the chickadees feed on mealworms, the humming birds feed on necter, and even the occasional squirrel comes up to our railing and cracks open a walnut for our viewing pleasure. I am such a happy, energized, busy gal now compared to even 6 months ago! God is GREAT!!!!

I'm 1 week 2 days post op now. Back on full fluids diet :/ OMG Liquids is a doable diet for a week, maybe 2 but it's been over 3 weeks now and boy am I liquided out! lol I'm down a total of 21 pounds since my pre op weight of 236, 10 pounds since returning home. I'm very happy with the operation, the healing process and life in general :)!

I still have an enterocele (google it) that will need surgery eventually, but I want to be down at LEAST 50 pounds or more before trying that. My gynecologist went in robotically December 31, 2014 to fix the enterocele and said my aorta was too big and back back out of my stomach. When I asked him about WLS, he said that if I had that done and lost a significant amount of weight, he would be happy to go back in and try the repair work. SO, I have 5 long ugly dark purple scars and I still have another surgery to go through......NOT something to look forward to. Esp considering that Dr Kelly made 4 or 5 incisions half the length of my U.S. doctor, and they're healing up with little to no visible scarring. Why is that so difficult for the American doctors to be more considerate of how our skin looks after they're done with surgery? IDK, it's a mystery to me. A mystery that pisses me off and makes me NEVER want to have surgery in the U.S. again! Just venting.

HAPPY EASTER Y'ALL!

XOXOX

Nita

Okay, let's catch up! I left the states Thursday March 26th, flew to San Diego where I was picked up by my surgeon's driver. These last few days of clear liquids have absolutely worn me out. I was so very happy to have arrived and to be able to settle in and relax. The hotel sent me up some broth and jello. I watched television and chilled for a few hours till hubby flew in. Met the doctor down in the lobby that evening, as well as a few patients that were already there.

Early the next morning the driver picked us up and drove us to the clinica/hospital to check in for surgery. The nurse put a GIANT hospital gown on me and started an IV and the wait began....... The other 2 girls having surgery that day were having sleeves done so they went on ahead of me. Turned out that the driver forgot my xrays back at the testing clinic and he had to go fetch them before my RNY could be done.

Looking back, I can remember getting out of the wheel chair and climbing up onto the operating table. I remember the anesthesiologist putting something into my IV, and I said bye bye and giggled. The next memory I have is a nurse prodding me to go take a shower. WHAT? I'm done? lol It was the next morning? Wow! I was laying in a pool of blood and was stiff and sore but I was now a member of the loser's club! YAY

2 days recovery in the clinic and we were back in the hotel for a couple days. I'll be eating clear liquids for another week then I'll be able to go back to full liquids.....thank God!

Highest weight 256 lbs

WLS decision weight 237

Presurgery weight 225

Postsurgery weight 239 (lots of IV fluids!)

After much shopping and walking per doctor's orders, it was time to go back across the border and fly back home Tuesday afternoon. The driver took us back at 10am because he had to pick another couple up that were flying in. Our flight out wasn't untill 3:43pm so we had quite a long wait in the airport. I felt really great at the beginning of the day.......but, by the time we waited on flights, flew, changed terminals, changed planes, and FINALLY arrived at our home destination, I was WORN OUT! Another 45 minutes drive home and tada, DONE!

I slept in pretty late Wednesday. Had a town meeting that evening that I fully expected to make. However, by the afternoon, I realized I just didn't have the stamina to go to a town meeting. Oh well, they promised to email me a copy of the minutes so I'm okay with it. Since it stormed all day, I didn't get to walk. So, hubby took me to the grocery store and we picked up a few things and we WALKED. Great day!

So, I've been on liquids for 4 days now. Feels like an eternity! And the good (sarcasm) news is I get to switch to CLEAR liquids......can't wait. BLAH! lol I have to say however, that even tho' I never really feel full, after the first couple of days, I haven't been shaky and weak. I AM foggy headed as all get out tho'! eh..... This will all be totally worth it and over with very very soon!!

BAD BAD BAD DAY! Hungry, eh I can deal with that. Got a lot of last minute errands run, good...... BUT, picked up my cashier's check then discovered we'd done it WRONG after I got back home. Then I got to drive BACK into town (45 minute drive done in 30) to the bank to REconvert monies and REpurchase the correct checks.......I just want to go to bed and start the day over. BLAH!!! Thank God for Heath! He calmed me down and walked me thru my panicked afternoon trip back to the bank. He made me laugh, and told me I'd be laughing about ALL this in a couple weeks. Thank you Heath Townson!!

Today's my last solid food day. WOW Last day for nearly a month if I'm counting post op time as well. Not gonna lie, I'm getting really nervous. Having (last) lunch with a dear friend today. She's more than a dear friend, she's also an RNY patient 9 years out! She has been sooooo supportive for me, and always full of answers and help! Love you Lisa!!

So I'm starting my second week of preop diet now and I'm already down 13 pounds. WTH? I'm getting more and more excited with the passing of each day. I've begun to gather up the suggested things to pack for my trip. GasX strips, Tylenol, Pads, Wipes, etc. I've purchased a new hard side suitcase that I can pack hubby AND myself in for a 6 day trip.

I'm actually doing better eating correctly than I expected. I guess this comes with commitment!? The hardest thing is going to be liquid diet during my last week at work before surgery. I just think this is going to be weird, but I'll manage I'm sure.

11 More days!! Woot woot

Nita

OMG the unbelievable pain I"m living with since I stopped ibuprofen! I feel like my bones are going to break and my head is going to explode any second. I know I'm whining, sorry y'all, I just feel like I can vent on here! Okay, that being said here's my menu for today. 2 hard boiled eggs for breakfast, 1 banana and 1/2 an avacado for lunch, fish taco salad for dinner, and a 1/2 cup yogurt and 10 black berries for dinner. I've had 2 bottles of water and 1 can of sprite so far today. That's all I've got today. Maybe a soak in the hot tub tonight will help

Well, I had a better day today! I didn't work today, had a Dr appt so I slept in a little. I'm so pleased my PCP is onboard with my Mexico surgery! He wants to see me 2 weeks after I come back home so he  can check my blood levels on meds and niutrition. I cannot express how much this means to me to have a medical professional on my side! FEELS GOOD. He's exciited, along with me, about getting me off some of the meds that I'm currently on. OMG.....I get more and more pumped every day. I feel like I may explode before my surgery date gets here!

When I got home from the Dr, I had 3 scrambled eggs with cheese for brunch, a cup of decaf coffee and a glass of water. Didn't accomplish much during the day, mostly just caught up on the recordings on the DVR lol. I cut up a chicken breast and sauteed it in olive oii with some Zataran's blackened seasoning and had about a 1/2 cup mashed red potatoes for dinner. Drank a gin and tonic :) (remember, I don't REALLY have to get down and dirty till next week!). I have a city council meeting tonight so my snack plan is 1/2 an avacado or some black berries with greek yogurt, IF I feel like a snack when I get home. Hope everyone had an amazing day.

Yesterday got away from me before I posted. For breakfast I had a bacon egg and cheese biscuit with an extra egg (just gotta drop that biscuit!), and a coke. Midmorning snack consisted of 1 blood orange, 8 or 10 raspberries, and a bottle of water.  I cut up half a chicken breast and sauteed it in a teaspoon of coconut oil with chili powder and lime zest. I had about 1/4 cup roasted butternut squash with NO ADDED SUGAR :( lol Oh how I would've loved to put brown sugar on that baby!! I had a few drinks of 7-up and a glass of water while watching tv. Before bedtime I had a scant 1/4 cup plain fat free greek yogurt with a few black berries and a bottle of water.

I had ZERO ibuprofen yesterday, and the same so far today. My pain levels are actually getting better, although my blood pressure says there's pain in this body somewhere! Can't hide it. Just gotta work through it!