Ptown2ATL
Slowly Adjusting
May 03, 2007
It seems like its been a really long time since I've updated. I'm back at work. I had to switch from 10 hour days to 8 hour days because I was so tired. I feel better. I'm actually walking on the treadmill in the evenings now and I added weights to the workout. I went to see Dr. Rashid this past Monday and I had lost another 7 pounds making my grand total 26 pounds in 21 days! I can kind of see the difference in my face, but I can feel the difference in my thighs and hips. I'm a dress size smaller in pants but not in tops. I still seem to be swollen n the midsection (don't know if its gas or what.) I'm going to load some new pictures. I go back to the doctor's office on May 14. My goal is to be less than 300 pounds by then. That means I have to lose another 11 pounds in 2 weeks.
I'm doing better at eating. I've added meat to my diet and it stays down well. I'm still not hungry but that's fine. I've gotten better at drinking water (I still have to do it with a straw). I bought some flavorless protein (which still has a flavor) and I add it to yogurt with ice to make a smoothie (it still tastes gross) and I can get in about 1/2 a smoothie a day. I know that's not enough protein but I make sure all of my meals are protein heavy. I'm still a work in progress but at least I'm a shrinking work in progress!
Back at Work
Apr 25, 2007
I'm back at work after two full weeks at home. When I was home I walked 30 minutes on the treadmill everyday and walked around the malls/stores. I had so much energy at home I thought for sure I was ready to go back to work. I work 4 ten hour days a week. I work in an office setting where I sit all day so I thought I would be fine. WRONG!!! Tired is the only word I can use to describe how I feel. I was so tired the first day back that I came home, showerd, and was sleep by 8 and didn't wake up until the alarm went off at 5 the next morning. I was too tired to even do treadmill for 15 minutes. Its been like that everyday this week! I'm taking all my vitamins even though they make me gag. Maybe I would have more energy with the b12 shot instead of the pills.
As far as what I'm eating; I hate everything! Nothing tastes good. I eat only because I have to. I can't stomach the protein drinks so I eat a lot of cottage cheese and scrambled eggs. I am still having a bery hard time getting liquids down but I have come up with 2 ways that work for me. 1. I use a straw. I know this is a big no no but a little gas and a slightly streched pouch is better than being dehydrated. 2. I suck small ice cubes all day. Both have helped to get me up to about 30 oz aday. I know that's not a lot but I was hardly getting any in before.
I don't have my post-op appointment with my surgeon until Monday So Iwill discuss all of my issues/concerns with her. I will keep you posted.
Post-Op
Apr 15, 2007
I apologize for not doing this sooner. I thought I would be so nervous that I would do a post the night before surgery telling you about the two-day stomach/intestine cleansing (absolutely as horrible as you can imagine, especially when everyone else around you is having Easter dinner!). Anyway, I managed to survive the cleansing and make it Monday morning to the hospital without any trouble. I will admit that I was starving! (Try surviving on jello, propel, and water for 2 days while emptying your contents constantly.)
Day of Surgery
I arrived at the hospital around 6:00 am. My surgery was the second of the day so I didn't get my IV and all until around 9. That went well with the exception of the IV needle. The first time the nurse tried to stick it in the middle of the back side of my right arm. Well she wasn't successful, I had to ask her to stop because she was digging in my arm (under the skin) with the needle looking for the vein. After using the vein I suggested (in the back of my left hand) she was successful. I still have the bruise on my right arm from her digging. That was truly the worst of my day of surgery. After that I was rolled down to the pre operating room where people having surgery lie around in their beds waiting for the surgeon and anesthesiologist to come around and say good morning and reassure you that everything will be okay. Even at this point I'm still not scared. I trust Dr. Rashid so I wasn't worried. My only concern was that my liver would be small enough so that the retractor can hold it up so they can get to my stomach. I was told during my surgeon's visit that if my liver is too heavy they will wake me up without completing the surgery and I will have to loose some weight before they can reschedule. MY fear was invalid. I went into surgery around 11 and around 3 I was waking up un the operating recovery room with other post op patients. I must admit when I woke up I panicked. I didn't feel any pain or anything weird around my abdomen so I thought maybe my worst fear had come true I DID HAVE A FAT LIVER!! I felt my stomach until I could identify any sign of bandages. I finally found them and calmed down. I remember asking the nurse if they were finished. Next thing I know I'm in my private room with my friends and family. The next 24 hours were euphoric. (I wasn't aware until Wednesday that the euphoria was morphine induced.) I walked that afternoon with no problem. Didn't sleep too well not really because of pain but because the nurses kept coming to check on me, take my vitals, and bring me my allowed 1oz of ice every two hours (that's right 1oz of ice every two hours). Getting the ice was like an incredible treat because you will be very dehydrated after surgery (make sure you pack carmex or chapstick).
Days after surgery
Tuesday at 2 I was released from the hospital and made it home without pain or problem. I walked about a ½ mile that afternoon just around my neighborhood. I didn’t walk fast or anything just kind of strolled. I wasn’t hungry at all. That was especially weird because I was starving on Monday and here it is 36 hours later and I have no hunger sensation at all. I had a half an individual sugar free jello for dinner and it stayed down fine. I weighed myself and I was heavier than before the surgery. Not much heavier, and I know it is from the gas and swollen insides, but still having gastric bypass surgery you don’t expect to come home weighing more than when you left. I took my pain medication because I wanted to sleep and went to bed around 9.
Wednesday may as well have been called horrible day. I didn’t sleep very well Tuesday night. I had terrible gas pain. It was raining terribly so I couldn’t walk outdoors, so I just paced in my hallway to try to walk away the gas and pain. I didn’t want to eat but I had to. Everything fruity tastes bad. It’s too sweet. I had jello again and about 2 oz of broth for lunch and dinner. I took pain meds in the afternoon and before bed so I slept most of the day away.
Thursday was a better day. I was passing gas, so the pain was lessened. My mother was on her way to visit so I felt better. I got up, got dressed, and ate, I had broth because I just didn’t feel like having anything sweet. Walked around outside and inside the apartment. The gas was almost completely gone and so was the pain. The day was 100 times better than Wednesday.
Three days post-op and I feel well.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday went by quickly. I spent alot of time at the mall with my family. It was good because I walked alot without thinking about it. I also went shopping for new clothes (in smaller sizes). I was so excited! I drove for the first time with no pain. Not very far just a 15 minute drive to the mall.
It's Monday now and I'm feeling great. I haven't weighed myself yet but I will soon. I will post pictures with descriptions and weights as soon as possible.
Pre-op
Apr 05, 2007
After leaving the surgeon's office I was sent downstairs to the hospital. I had tohave bloodwork and a chest x-ray. It took almost 3 hours! Everyone at the office has been great; my only complaint is that I don't think they communicate details clearly or comepletely to patients. For example; I was informed that today's appointment would only take a "couple" of hours.
Anyway after all is said and done; I am very excited to finally have everything done. It seems like it is really official. I'll probably be nervous Sunday night so I'll leave a blog. If not; the next time I talk to you I'll be on my way to being a thinnner, healthier me!!!!
Liquid Good (so far)
Apr 03, 2007
The protein powder isn't bad. I got Vanilla flavor. I also bought DaVinci's brand of sugar free syrup that mixes pretty well so I can add a tsp of syrup to give the shake a different taste. They have everything from malibu rum to peanut butter. I ordered peach, caramel, and vanilla. (I know, why vanilla; because I thought the shake wouldn't have a strong enough vanilla flavoring on its own.) I'm kind of tired of the shakes and am hungry often. They say the hunger goes away after the surgery. I hope so because I don't want to spend the next three weeks hungry.
Meeting with the surgeon
Mar 29, 2007
After Lori left Dr. Rashid came in. If first impressions mean anything to you I would: she's very friendly. She also seemed kind of young, but who am I to judge? She took the time to address each of my questions. Her complication rate is 0. Her morbitiy rate is 0 as well. She's completed 200 of the laproscopic RNYs unassisted so I feel pretty confident in her abilities. She talked about the diet and mentioned what would be covered in pre-op (all of the medical disclaimers, post-op diet, and post-op activity). That was the end of my appointment.
I was told where I could buy my whey protein for the shakes (referred to from here on out as breakfast and lunch). Lori suggested Body Fortress pure whey protein from WalMart ($12.99). Which is great because some of the others are $30.00and up. As for taste we'll have to see.
