smm4jrm

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

5/8/08  I met with my surgeon today. ... he also brought in a Med. student to listen to our conversation in which I had approved of.  Anyhow, the good news is, I lost 12lbs by his scale.  He was very impressed.  So impressed that he waived the preop rule of "liquids ONLY for 2weeks prior to surgery date".  He asked me to substitute 2 meals with the Bariatrix protein shake and one sensible meal per day (I do think that I still need to have clears only the day before surgery).  I am actually very please with that and will start tomorrow.  We are shooting for 2-3 weeks from now for surgery.  This will go by very quickly for me.  I am pretty excited.....not even a bit nervous right now.  If he had O.R. time tomorrow, I'd take it!  I asked to look and touch the device so he did go get one.  He said the one that I will get is a 10cc/ml and a newer & improved version.  That got me a bit worried to maybe be a guinea pig but he assured me that it was a safer model that tries to prevent stomach erosion (scarey thought).  I signed a contract which basically said that I will eat properly, exercise regularly and attend follow up visits. I can't believe I lost 12lbs.  I have been working at it but not 100%, maybe 60%.  I probably should give myself more credit.  I do feel a little better.  My clothes feel a little looser.  I feel a little more energized.  My knees feel a little less painful.  Can't wait to know what it feels like to be under 200lbs again.

5-3-08  I have been to the nutritionists office this past week.  She collected my weight history, info on my eating habits, gave some suggestions for my upcoming surgery and got my weight.  I guess I am down 6lbs total now.  My surgeon's secretary has collected all the information including the consults, tests and labs.  I have an appt with my surgeon next week where we will have a Q&A session, I will sign a consent and get weighed to make sure that I did not gain anything.  I have been doing OK lately.  It is definately hard to cut out the sweets and I really haven't altogether.  I have days that I do pretty good and days that I am doing terrible.  I have been trying  hard  to get daily exercise in.  My goal the next 5 days is a liquid calorie free breakfast, normal lunch, and Bariatrix shake for dinner, this plus no cheating in between.  I am trying to speed up the weightloss before seeing the surgeon and at the same time trying to get used to the preop diet.  I have a feeling my surgery will be in the beginning of June sometime. 

4-24-08  A couple of people mentioned that they thought I lost weight.  I don't believe them, although I did lose 4lbs.  I mean, 4lbs can't actually make a difference at my weight!  Anyhow, I wanted to take and document my measurements before any more weightloss, so here they are and they don't look pretty:
bust 48"
waist 43"
hips 50"
thigh 28"
calf 16"
upper arm 16"
forearm 12" 
neck 15"
I am losing a little motivation lately.  The past 3 nights I really just didn't want to drink that protein shake.  Lightbulb moment here....Those are the days during the week in which I work!  I do better when I have had the day off.  I am gonna try and switch it up here.  Next week, I will take the protein drink to work with me and eat dinner at home with my daughter.  Also, I know I said No Papa Gino's but my daughter really wanted a slice of pizza last night so I caved in.  I did NOT eat fried food or pizza however, I had their steak ceasar salad which was not bad!  I am getting exercise in but slacking on the water.  I am gonna try to give up the goodies now.  It's about time.  I need to start and get serious here.   It's hard to let go of my food friends.   

4-18-08. Yesterday, I underwent a battery of tests.  Labwork is done - Fasting Serum Cortisol, TSH and H. Pylori.  Did the Upper GI - That wasn't too bad, just drinking a lot of gross stuff and taking of a lot of pictures of my stomach.  I guess they are checking for Hiatal Hernia.  Pulmonary Function Tests - Not too bad either, just doing a lot of breathing tests through a tube.  She said my results were "perfect".  I guess here they check for any signs of asthma or COPD, precautionary stuff for anesthesia.  I did my Arterial Blood Gas - involved a needle prick in my wrist.  It hurt a little more than the average labwork, possibly for where they need to stick you or maybe cuz it is in the artery rather than the vein.  She said my results were "testbook".  Lastly, I had the Cardiac Echo - My heart is in excellent condition.    All this is behind me,  Just waiting to see a nurtritionist in 2 weeks and then all my preop is done.  I've been keeping with my word to not eat fast foods, exercise daily and replace 1meal a day with the protein shake.  I may have lost a few pounds already but my scale may be different than my doctors.   I am now adding a vitamin daily, drinking more water than ever.  I do need to make better choices for meals and cut out the candy.  My biggest drawback - A Sweet Tooth!

4-14-08 3 days ago I vowed to eliminate fast food restaurants....I'm saying no to my 3 times a week Dunkin Donuts coffee (large with cream and sugar) and bagel w/ cream cheese, No to my weekly Papa Gino's (pizza and more).  No to my every other week McDonalds.  This morning instead of DD, I had tea and a banana!   3 days ago, I also vowed to get in some daily exercise.  The last 2 days I took a walk with my daughter.  Today she is ill so I managed to do some sit ups and leg/arm exercises while watching TV in my pajamas.  Last night I started to supplement one meal per day with the Bariatrix drink.  It was the chocolate and let me tell you, it was very good.  Very chocolatey and it didn't taste like medicine at all.  I also have been trying to get more water in my diet.  Just bought a bunch of Crystal Light as I understand that post op I will need to give up my very favorite Diet Coke.....so, I am experimenting with them now to see what I like. 

4-10-08 I am in the process of getting through my preop check list.  I have ordered and already received the Bariatrix Powder as suggested by my surgeon.  Today I met with Psychiatry and Cardologist.   For Psychiatry the appt went fine.  I think she wanted me to divulge some secrets to why I have become so obese.  We had a nice discussion but I am not ready for touchy feely therapy.  It was something I needed to do to get my surgery, a stepping stone is all.  Therapy later......maybe.  For the Cardiologist,  I have a history of murmur so I am going to have an echo next week.  My surgeon has asked that I start replacing one meal a day with the Bariatrix Powder to jump start my preop weight loss.  I think he would be happy with a loss of 5lbs but my personal goal is 10lbs. I have an appt with a nutritionist already.  I am waiting for my surgeon's secretary to schedule me for PFT's/ABG's, an Upper GI and bloodwork.