slowestone

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

Well, I'm back to work just two days shy of four weeks from surgery.  Everyone seems to think that's too early, but I just couldn't spend another day at home.

Mid-afteroon now and I'm a little worn out, but I haven't been sitting up this long for a few weeks, so I guess that's part of it.

Had breakfast (oatmeal) when I got up.  That's unusual for me.  On a typical workday, I'd normally stop at MCD and have breakfast at my desk.  No more... I've got a new schedule now.

Brought lunch (quarter cup of egg-salad) and two Profect tubes of Protein drink.  I purchased two sample packs and am trying to find out which has a tolerable taste.  So far, the orange-pineapple is ok and the ruby melon twist is ok.  I'm drinking the mango this afternoon and have high hopes for it as well.  As soon as I can find a couple that I like, I'll order more.

Keeping up well on my water intake and just remembered to take my second centrum silver.  So the first day (without a work crisis) is going ok.  I'm sure there will be days when I can't follow the strict schedule of intake that I've set for myself, but I'll deal with that as it comes.

...and on we go...

Well, 3 weeks post op and I'm back to the surgeon's office for a checkup.  First things first - weigh in.  I think I said I'd be happy with a loss of 20 lbs.  Actually ended up down 23 lbs.  I was pretty happy with that.  Was told to stay on pureed foods for another three weeks and to make an appt for a month later (1 Feb).
So I'm on my way down and it feels pretty good...

Lunch today and supper last night, I ate too fast.  Felt like everything was getting backed up and felt stuffed for too long.  I need to get back to taking small, small bites and pausing between bites.

Tomorrow is my 3 week checkup with Dr. Tran; Dr. Halmi is off.  Am anxious to see what my weight has done.  Don't know and can't tell very well, but I know I've lost some.  Would be happy with 20 lbs but I have a feeling that it's less.

We'll see.

Well, had my first (semi) dumping experience yesterday.  Was having my supper.  Forgot and left a bottle of water sitting on the table open.  Force of habit; I took a few sips after eating.  In my own defense, as soon as I took the bottle away from my mouth, I thought to myself, "WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING?".  But it was too late.  Didn't get the results immediately, but about a half an hour later the trips to the bathroom started.  Wasn't dizzy or light headed or sweating.  But it went right through me...

Slowing down a little on the protein and am feeling the effects.  Very run down today after a 20 gram protein yesterday.  Gotta get back to doing my best to get enough in.  Water's no problem, but gotta do better on the protein.

Walking either once or twice a day - 20 min at a pop.  Not feeling any results other than the ability to walk longer than I used to.  Will find out how I'm doing with the weight on Jan 2 which is my 3 week checkup.  I have a scales but over 330 the display shows ERR!!!  What an insult, huh?  So at least I know that I'm somewhere between 370 and 330.  If I had to guess, I'd say i was somewhere around 360.  We'll see.

Getting around very well now.  Got clearance to progress to pureed foods.  I've been walking twice a day every day this week (it's now Friday), except today.  Had an appt for a sonogram to determine if the clots in my arm are reducing.  No initial indication from the technician; will have to wait to hear from Dr. Halmi's office.
Am tolerating all foods that I've tried well.  Trying to get proteins and water in every day but not able to get both.  Proteins are close to what I've been directed but always fall a little short.  Probably why I'm a little tired (low energy) when I wake up in the morning).  Water is harder; seems like I'm always trying to remember to sip that bottle.  The only thing that bothers my stomach even a little is cold water - don't know what the deal is there.
Christmas is Monday - Hope everyone out there has a wonderful Christmas and an excellent New Year!!!
Thanks to all that have been and continue to be concerned and so caring for me.

Wanted to mention that on the day I was supposed to be discharged, Dr Halmi stopped by to see me.  When we shook hands, he asked why my right hand and arm were swollen and very puffy.  I told him that it was the first time that I had noticed it.  He became concerned and had me taken to radiology for a sonogram of my arm to check for clots.  They did find several small clots in small veins and he decided to keep me for another day to allow me to elevate and apply heat to my arm.  He also decided, after discharging me the next day, to double the dosage of blood thinners for two weeks following surgery to get the blood clots to break down.  He also asked me to get my arm sonogrammed again after five days to check on the clots.  I don't think that there was anything that I could have done differently to avoid the clots.  I walked as much or more than I had read about others doing and I was crazy about doing the breathing exercises.

Surgery went well. Spent a long time in recovery because I couldn't remember to stay awake...  Kept falling back asleep and then my blood oxy alarm would go off and get me in trouble.

Expected to be discharged either Friday or Saturday, ended up being Sunday because of some small clots in my right arm.  Will be on blood thinners for the next two weeks to break them up.  

Back at home now and on pain meds or I wouldn't be typing this much.

I'm on this side of the surgery and hope to get better and better all the time.

Had lots of family and friends checking up on me and really feel the support that I need to get through this all.

Hope it continues to go smoothly.  No hunger yet...

...I'll be deep into it.  I'm very anxious to get started and get on the other side of the surgery and the recovery.

I've got to be there by 0800, so I'll be on the road at 0500 or so.  Hope traffic is good to me.

Lots of friends offering lots of help after the surgery.  I'm crossing my fingers for no complications so that the recovery goes smoothly.

I'm ready to treat food differently.  I've heard people say that they "eat to live" after the surgery instead of "living to eat".  That's where I want to be and will be with any kind of luck at all...  I'm hoping the odds are in my favor for this one...  Just gimme that Ace of Spades, Man!!!

My surgery was changed from 1400 to 1100.  The Dr's office initally forgot to change the scheduled GFF procedure, so they're going to let me know if there's any problem with that scheduling.  I've got to be at the hospital at 0800 on Wednesday to get the type & screen and then, sometime between 0800 and 1100, I'll get the GFF.

I was nervous when I got the message from Ruth, Dr. Halmi's surgery scheduler that the schedule had changed but I was glad to hear that it was moved up rather than moved to the right.

Now I'll be through it all even sooner!!!  COOL!!!

Got one more weekend to go.  Will do my food shopping this weekend so that I have enough liquid and puree foods to get me through the first couple of weeks.  Gotta finish packing for the hospital.  Am driving myself there and a friend and his wife will be picking me up when I'm discharged.  Plan to be at the hospital several hours early to avoid the traffic last minute - would hate to be late for my own surgery!!!

Not worried at all about the surgery - gotta put my trust in Dr. Halmi and Dr. Tran and let them do their "thing".

Just want to get it all behind me and get on with living life a different way that I have before.

Will be interesting to see how TC and I deal with being around each other day-in and day-out for two or three weeks straight.