scorer14
It's amazing!!!
Sep 20, 2010
much time flies by when you have alot more energy to do things, except sit on the couch and watch TV!!! Alot has happened since my last blog, but life is grand and I can't complain.
I still struggle almost daily with eating. My new little stomach has decided to produce way way too much acid, so even when I look at food it starts to turn and gargle. You should hear it!!! My family doctor has put me on a proton pump inhibitor, it is working somewhat. The acid has settled a little but not quite gone, and I still get the foamies but not as bad.
I have a new job!! Bath and Body Works finally got smart and promoted me to Co-manager!!! It's hard being on my feet all day, but at least I'm active instead of sitting on my behind answering a phone all day. Also the scale has decided to move again and in a big fashion this week. For the past 2 weeks the scale was only moving a few ounces, however this week I'm down 5.8 pounds - holy cr***. This means I'm down over 81 pounds since my highest weight last summer and down almost 60 since surgery.
The racing session is almost finished and I'm looking forward to the break, although I will miss it by the end of November. I will try to update in a few weeks, but right know I'm off to bed as I'm exhausted.
Oh my it's been over a month
Aug 05, 2010
I'm so bad, it's been over a month since my last blog, please don't hate LOL. This has been quite the month for me. Surgery is truly a learning process that is still going on and I expect it to continue for some time.
I will start with the good things that have happened in the first month of surgery.
*I have lost 60 lbs since my highest weight and 38lbs since starting Optifast
*I have lost 29.5 inches
*Going to the movies is much more comfortable
*The steering wheel can go all the way down and not touch my stomach
*I don`t have to pee all the time and can sleep thru the night
*Sex is so much better
*I can shave my legs with ease
*People are giving me compliments on how great I look
I can`t wait for this list to continue to grow and it seems like everyday there is something new. Seeing this list certainly makes all the bad things seem not so bad.
Here is a list of issues I have had since having surgery.
* I couldn't drink milk until week 5
*I have struggled with getting in at least 60 grams of protein per day,
* I have had an awful time with the foamies, it`s very hit and miss. I know sometimes it is because I have eaten to fast, other times it doesn`t matter. I have avoided eating because of the fear of getting the foamies.
*Been struggling with constipation also, the last few days were horrible. Constipation and foamies together really make you not want to eat or drink.
The good news is the constipation has broken and I have started to take fiber pills in order to help. I haven`t had the foamies for the past few days so I have decided to try and eat again. So I am hoping that the major foamies are behind me and I can start working on getting in my protein. All in all I wouldn`t change it for the world, I love my RNY.
Made the Bench!!!!
Jun 28, 2010
Hello Everyone,
I'm finally on the bench and loving every second of it!!! Surgery was on Friday June 25th and everything went perfect!!! Dr. Klein told my husband he couldn't ask for a better surgery, no bruising and no drainage tube. Woke up in recovery and remember saying did they do anything, because I don't remember anything LOL..
Up to my room and I was kinda out of it, blood pressure slightly evaluated, but they gave me some morphine for the pain and then the blood pressure stablized. I had excellent oxygen rates, temperature was okay. The nurses were so happy with my stats and kept saying you are doing amazing. Didn't sleep the first night at all because of the other person in the room. Saturday I was tired and a little sore, but felt better as the day progressed and as the gas passed. By Sunday I was ready to go home, I was dressed and ready to go before the nurse checked on me, she was quite shocked. She told me I was a "prize patient" and will do great with the surgery. The Dr. releasing me got called away on an emergency so didn't get out of there until 1:30pm 
Ride home was okay, big bumps hurt somewhat and had a nap on the way home. I felt better as the day continued slept on the couch for most of the evening, a few hours on one side and then the other side (I'm a stomach sleeper so I was worried about sleeping) around 6:30 am when hubby woke up I went into the bedroom and was able to sleep on my tummy for a few hours. OMG it was heaven getting some real sleep, I feel so much better today. Still taking it easy, and eating some full fluids slowly and trying to get my water in. I think getting my water in will be my struggle for the first bit.
Anyways I'm so ready for the wow's to begin, look out world here I come LOL!!!
Cheryl
Optifast Journey
Jun 15, 2010
Well I have been on Optifast for a few days now and it's going okay. I don't mind the chocolate at all, just mix it with some syrups, however Vanilla was another issue. So I went online and looked up some ideas, someone mentioned mixing the Vanilla with Raspberry lce Crystal Light, oh my what a difference, it was sooo good, drink it down in a minute. Know I'm wishing I had a few more Vanilla packets, oh well...
Headaches have been a bit of an issue although, they are slowing down somewhat and I'm finding that the evening is difficult time for me. That is when I crave something to eat, so I usually have my broccoli or cucumbers then. Last night I tried some chicken broth, not bad at all. Who thought I would enjoy drinking broth instead of some ice cream, I guess I'm ready for this surgery, because I have been questioning myself daily is it going to work, will I fail, will I die, will I have complications, what will I look like (really having a hard time with this one) etc etc etc..
Anyways I only have 9 more days to go and I can do it!!!
Getting so much closer
May 14, 2010
I was able to get some sleep not sure how much, and closer to the morning I slept on my side because my back was starting to hurt. The only thing that bugged me was that someone was watching me sleep. They woke me up around 6am and said I did okay, I asked if I got any REM sleep and he said yes, but that was all he would tell me. Then he unhooked me and sent me home, can you say BAD hair day, I chose to shower once I got home and that is where the crap happened. I didn't have a hard time getting the gunk out of my hair, just stood under warm water and combed it out and then shampooed. However somehow some of the gunk my have been on my eyelids or something, because after I showered I took a nap, because I was so tired and when I woke up my right eye was burning and my vision was all cloudy, quite scary actually. I flushed my eye for a few minutes, no improvement, flushed it again, little better, called my hubby and he said to make sure the eye was completely open and flush for 20 mins. That would have been a good picture me over bathroom sink, water running, hair pulled back, one hand holding eye open and other hand acting as a cup to flush the water into eye. However, after 20 minutes the vision is back to normal and the burning is gone - yeah no hosiptal trip for me.
On my way down I was able to get some Optifast from a board member for nothing (thanks again Bernie) she had 20 packets left, which helps me out because I'm only working part-time and money is tight. If I can find 8 packets from someone I will only have to buy 1 weeks worth. Now that the sleep study is done and I have some Optifast in the house it is really starting to sink in that surgery is getting so much closer. My next hurdle is my pre-op testing on May 27th, looking forward to giving up all my blood - not. One week later I have a trip, then I start Optifast and then surgery my oh my.
Anyways that's it for today, I will do another post after my bloodwork on the 27th. Take care everyone.
New job - New horizons
Apr 18, 2010
I started my new job at Bath and Body Works on Wednesday and what a great place to work. This is a brand new store opening and I have been working on setting the store up and it feels nice to be apart of it. I unloaded boxes upon boxes of product, set up displays and many other tasks.
Needless to say my feet and body ache all over, however I have already been approached about a possible promotion. I can't wait for this summer, with surgery, new job, possible promotion it is going to be a kick ass summer.
Anyways hope everyone is doing well.
Cheryl
Kicking Diet Coke rear end
Apr 06, 2010
Hope you all had a great Easter weekend
It was the first Easter where I don't have to buy a ton of chocolate as both my girls have moved out on there own. I really didn't miss the chocolate, although I do admit I had a couple of the Laura Second eggs (they are the devil 
) but I figured this will be the last time I could have them.I also started to seriously think about giving up my Diet Coke addition. I concentrated on really tasting the pop instead of just chugging it back and guess what, I realized that it is very sweet tasting and has a slight metallic taste (I know it comes in can LOL). I asked my wonderful Ontario forum freinds for some advice on how to kick the habit. What wonderful responses I got, I realized that many people had a worse addition than I and felt "In love with the DC" like I did. I got some awesome advice on how to kick the habit, so I put some real thought into this. I posted this on Sunday and Monday I got up and had a enlightment on kicking the habit. I timed my drinks throughout the day, I waited 2 to 2.5 hours in between pops. During the day I realized that I was enjoying the taste like I once had and for the first time in my life I thought I can do this. So the enlightment continued today, I got up and didn't reach for the pop first thing in the morning and it's 6pm and I have only had one DC so far. I will probably have one with dinner (caffine free) but holly cow only two DC when I normally have 6-7 a day - WOW I can do this. Right know I have a killer headache and my mood isn't the best. I realize that I might slip here and there, but I think I have about 12 cans in the fridge and I don't plan on buying anymore. I plan on taking the money I will save and buy a water cooler.
Well that it for today - oh one last thing I booked my pre-op testing today - May 27th one more step down.
I'll say it again - March what a month
Mar 30, 2010
I got my surgery date - June 25th, 2010 at 8am. I'm SO SO SOOO Happy, I had so many emotions run thru me as I was talking with Beatrice from Dr. Klein's office. I was shaking during my conversation, getting the date for starting Optifast. Once the call was done, I shouted YES (scared the heck out of the dogs LOL), still shaking, I was dancing around the house, crying tears of joy.
I was totally thrown off by the call, as I wasn't it expecting the call this soon. I haven't even seen the internist and don't see him until April 27th. I was expecting to have that appointment first get the okay and then get the call for surgery. So imagine my surprise when the call happened. So here I am still shaking my head, wondering when someone will pinch me and I will wake up from this wonderful dream. I guess I passed with flying colours with the Dietitian, Social Worker and the surgeon and since I really have no health issues they passed me right thru. So all in all from referral to surgery was 13 months, that was so much quicker than I thought. Thank Heavens.
So know I have 12 weeks to prepare for surgery and get everything in order. My surgery is on a Friday at 8am which is perfect my husband won't have to miss alot of time from work. He will take the Friday and Monday off, so he will be with me for 4 days straight and then my daughter will stay with me for a few days.
Anyways I have a few calls to make to update everyone with my great news!! - talk to everyone later
Cheryl
March what a month
Mar 16, 2010
Hi everyone,
Wow what a month of March I have had and it's only half way thru the month. Let's see it all started with the lost of my job. Which was kinda of a bummer, but a good thing because I totally disliked my job. To be honest I'm glad they fired me because if I quit I wouldn't qualify for EI. I was concerned about getting the time off for surgery and know I don't have to worry about that. So my plan is to collect EI and work part-time for most of the summer, have surgery and take some accounting courses and be ready to start looking for a full-time job again in the fall.
If you read my last post I was frustrated on the way things have been moving along with my surgery, that all changed yesterday. I had my appointments with the NUT/SW/ and surgeron everything went awesome. Both the NUT and SW were really pleased that I was as educated on the procedure, risk and the lifestyle changes I would need to make. The NUT was very impressed that I have already started to make positive changes in my eating habits. So the good news is that they both approved my ready for surgery. Then I meet my surgeron Dr. Klein, it was a fast meeting only about 20-25 mins, he basically went over the surgery and the risks again and asked me if this was something I wanted (I felt like saying 'no" I'm just wasting your time - of course this is something I want and need) At that time he handed me my consent form 
(I wasn't expecting to sign this form today and it somehow made it all final). The next step is to wait for a call from Dr. Glazer his internist in the next couple of days to set up an appointment with him and to schedule what ever test I need. I hope I don't need to many as I'm relatively healthy. I hope to have surgery in late June/early July. I have a vacation coming up in early June and don't want to be Optifast or recovering from surgery at this time, the doctor seemed to agree with this time frame. So like I said when things start to move they move
Anyways off to see my daughter today and then tomorrow I have an interview for a part-time admin job - really hoping I get this position - so wish me luck. Will do another post once I meet with Dr. Glazer.
Cheryl
So Frustrated
Mar 01, 2010
Well the month of Feb was awful for me. First of all I drove all the way down to Humber on the 22nd for my surgeon appointment to get told he was ill, so I drove the 1.5 hours home. Looking for the positive in this, all I could come up with is that I have all three appointments (SW/NUT/Surgeon) on March 15th. Hopefully that is the only delay I will have in this process. Then the month even got worst on Feb 26th I received termination notice from my employer (I made to much money for the store I was working in), trust me I could go on and on about the company I was working for. In a sense I'm happy to be out of there, but having to file for EI and take a big pay cut, don't care for that. I have been interviewed for about three positions in the past few months and they all say I have great credentials and strengths but someone else gets the job. On of my reasons for having this surgery, potential employers won't hold my weight against me and we all know they do it. So anyways that is my vent for the month of Feb. On the good side I have been able to lose another 2 pounds this month even with all this stress - woohoo.
