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Yesterday I went to Busch Gardens with my Dad and Step Mom to enjoy the Christmas decorations and shows. I am so proud of myself that I got all my water in and didn't even feel tempted by the junk food all around. I'm not saying that a pretzel didn't sound amazing but I didn't feel an overwhelming need to try one so yeah me! We went to the Colony House Restaurant where they have a buffet and the adult price is $16.99 so I asked them if I could get kids price if I showed them my bariatric surgery card and they said sure, no problem. It made me feel good because my Dad paid and I didn't want him to have to pay full price for the small amount of food I ate...a little roast pork with some squash and green beans. It was pretty good for park food and not unhealthy. We walked 3 miles in the park and my feet weren't killing me by the time we got back to the car so I'd call that a NSV. Now back to my Christmas crafting and laundry.

It has been a couple of months since I have added anything to my blog, nothing much exciting to report until now. Last week I experienced an episode of vomiting...too much chicken for dinner. Still having a hard time with denser proteins anyway immediately after I experience an acute swelling in my groinish area. It was very painful and sent me to the ER. The ER doc was convinced it was an abscess even though I told her it was acute and she lanced it to drain it, turns out it was a hematoma but from what?? She obviously didn't know and sent me to follow up with my colorectal surgeon who said everything was fine n his end but he felt something in the vaginal canal. So off to the GYN I went, he said he wasn't sure what it is maybe a cyst but its deep and we should just watch it for now. No one else however seems concerned about this golf ball sized hematoma that appeared from no where...except me of course. I went today to have my blood drawn for my 3 month follow up. My monthly visitor has impeccable timing as always and struck on Sunday....hope that doesn't affect my iron and ferritin levels too much. I go to see my surgeon for my 3 month follow up on Tuesday and will mention the hematoma to him too. I guess I am more concerned because my grandmother died from a post of blood clot in her 30's. Weight loss has been stead and I just updated my measurements. I need to take this month's photos but I just updated my day of surgery, 1 month and 2 month photos today. The only other issue I have had is the extreme hair loss, it is so sad how thin my hair has gotten but still totally worth it. I started at a size 30 and can fit into some size 18 pants now. Tees went from 4xl to Large.

Wow, it has been almost a month since my last post and I went back to work. Work is stressful is always and I am playing a wicked game of catch up but I had tons of fun at my team meeting and everyone that hadn't seen my in awhile was blown away with my weight loss...today I am at 120 lbs. lost, 38 since my official pre-op weight. I saw my PCP today and had my first post op blood work (no vitamins levels just cholesterol, A1C, etc.) I am pretty stoked because my A1c is 5, glucose was 84...yippee!! Also my cholesterol is 119 was 233 last year, triglycerides 70 and considering just over a year ago they were 763 that is amazing. I am kind of excited about seeing my cardiologist next week.I am a huge nerd I know. I am still trying to get into a regular exercise routine, sometimes work is really physical so I am working on that balance. Also struggling to get the water in like I should. I did get sick once when I ate too much tuna ...lesson learned and I've lost my taste for tuna for awhile. I feel really blessed that I haven't really struggled with eating and only got sick once. Oh one last thing I was so excited when I flew to Maine...no seatbelt extender and I could use the tray table. That's all I got for now.

Yeah, today I got my stomach tube pulled. It was a little uncomfortable but not as bad as the other drain they pulled at the hospital. Although it is burning a little. I lost 10 lbs in the last 2 weeks so that now brings my official total to 108...I am so excited to have lost over 100 lbs!! WOOHOO!! I still have at least another 100 to go. I asked permission to follow up with the surgeon instead of the NP and he said that was fine so I am very happy about that. Again nothing against her, the co-pay is actually less with him, go figure.

I also got my release to go back to work so Sunday I am hoping a plane to my annual team meeting. I have sent several emails to the planner about food and meals. Hoping all my planning pays off. Had to go shopping because my clothes are falling off and bought jeans in 20 and 22...holy cow, I was wearing 30s at the beginning of the year. Shirts are now XL...that is right, regular XL...it's crazy but the options are endless. Going shopping again tomorrow, I need a whole week's worth of clothes. Maybe I won't need the dreaded seatbelt extender this time...fingers crossed.

Yesterday I saw the surgeon and he took the staples out, he agreed it was best not to wait until my next appointment. Already it feels so much better. He would not take the stomach tube out but he did remove the stitch that was rubbing so actually it feels a lot better. Plus he promised to still see me on the next visit to pull the tube so yeah! Maybe I'm the only one but I trust him, I let him operate on me, I met with him before and during the process so for me seeing him after was just as important. Admittedly my communication skills aren't the best, although I am working on them and they are better then they used to be, so it is really important that I am seeing someone who gets me and understands what I am saying and I am not sure I have that with the NP. Anyway, he was happy with how everything looked.

I went straight from there to support group which I really enjoy. I think that was the longest I have been out of my place since surgery. I felt good. I lasted the whole day without a nap even. Today I have a few errands to run and tomorrow I am finally getting the recall fixed on my Chevy so I can sell it because I am getting a company car when I get back to work...yeah!

Things are a little stressful on the parental home front. I am not sure if I mentioned it here but my stepdad had a heart attack in May and quintuple bypass, he is slowly regaining strength but I think he is doing well. His son, my step brother, had to have emergency surgery a week ago because he perforated his bowel. He has been having problems since May and they hadn't been able to diagnose him until surgery. Turns out he has stage 3 colon cancer. He is a contractor and has not insurance so this is taking a financial toll also. We are all concerned but trying to keep positive thoughts because he is a fighter. Amazingly none of this stress is making me want to take up bad habits so at least their is a victory in there for me.

Time to go flush the stomach tube.

I have always had problems getting shoes due to needing a wide shoe, sometimes I get lucky at Payless in there wide shoe selection. Today I went to my normal section 9W and tried on a pair. They were too long, so I went down to the 8 1/2...nothing interesting in the wide selection but I saw these cute white wedges in regular width and thought why not try them. They fit!! I walked around in the store for a few minutes in disbelief and then found another pair of regulars that fit also. To top it off they were on sale, it was a done deal at that moment. I can't wait to wear them.

I did have to call and schedule an appointment with the surgeon's office tomorrow because the suture holding my stomach tube in place has finished ripping thru the skin and it now rubbing in the open wound. Plus it has been 3 weeks and my skin on my stomach isn't happy that the staples are still in. I guess I should have mentioned my body expelled my naval piercing not due to weight but due to it being metal. Luckily there was an opening tomorrow with the surgeon so I can get them taken out before my body starts pushing them out. Is it too much to hope that he will say I'm doing great and pull the stomach tube, it will only be 3 days shy of a month? Thinking positive thoughts about that now.

I posted a progress pic also since I haven't figured out how to put them in here. A side by side of pics at my highest weight with pics from the mornings of surgery. I lost 80 lbs prior to surgery and wanted to document that along with my post op success. I have not been weighing myself at home so I am excited to see what I weigh tomorrow. That's all for now, time to drink lunch.

I haven't posted an update in a week so I thought I'd share a little. My last post I mentioned I saw the nurse practitioner and not the surgeon but since I had so many questions specific to my surgery she did have him call me. This one more example of how I know I picked the right surgeon for me. He called me at 7pm and patiently answered all of my questions, relieved my fears and generally put me at ease. On top of that he promised to see me at my next visit, he said he was upset that they didn't schedule me with him on the last visit because he likes to check the post-op himself. I have been plugging on counting the days until I can eat soft foods, I am on day 20 of 28 of full liquids. Which brings me to the stomach tube. It is irritated which I get can be normal, but last night I noticed I have a blister on the lower edge of the opening that is where the burning pain was coming from yesterday. I understand why they leave it in for a month but next appointment isn't for 3 weeks...ugghh. That said without it I don't know how I would take me meds since I have been told they need to be crushed until the tube comes out and then I should be able to take them whole, especially since I don't have any problems swallowing. (End mini rant).

In an effort to keep some variety on my taste buds and since I had such a bad reaction from broth I have been trying some new and interesting soup flavors, Thai Curry with red lentils. It was very tasty low in fat and sugar and has protein. Came completely blended and wasn't too spicy hot for me. I have also enjoyed the cheesy chicken enchilada soup, strained of course. For someone who doesn't eat spicy foods I would have never thought I would enjoy these. I also got a butternut squash soup, this was goo but a little harder on the intestines then expected.

Time to go take some vitamins and then go for a walk!

Today is day 13 and I had my first post op exam. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to see my surgeon but now all my visits with be with the nurse practitioner, nothing against her but she is not him. I had some specific questions so she said he'd call me to answer them. She said my color looks good and I look great. I weighed in 10 pounds lighter then my official surgery weight which is great! I haven't weighed myself so it was a surprise. My peg tube is irritating my skin a little but there is not much that can be done about that it says in until my next visit. I got the green light to start vitamins so I need to make a new chart for those. Also one of my neighbors knocked on my door this morning, he hadn't seen my car move in a week and was concerned. Awww, that was so sweet.

I just got back from Walgreens, had to get more bandaging supplies for the peg tube. It was a little uncomfortable getting in and out of the car, otherwise OK. I haven't had anything for pain including Tylenol since last night so progress is being made. I am drinking plenty of fluids and measuring my soups, etc. so far so good. Although I still don't have much appetite for broth since the heartburn incident in the hospital. My steri strips are starting to peel off and my belly is a little itchy. I used the stretch bandage to make the peg tube lie more flat yesterday and it helped a lot, wish I would have tried that sooner...live and learn I suppose. I am actually feeling good enough to get into my sewing room today and work on my next project...a dragon. My Mom asked me yesterday if I did anything exciting and all I could think of was that I had emptied the dishwasher, today I will have a better answer. Then she says he is worried I am not eating enough, to which I responded "That was kind of the point of the surgery Mom." She is still learning and is very confused about what I can and can't eat but I will teach her. The rain is coming in now...glad I am not out in it. 

Today marks 1 week since surgery and the first night at home I was able to stay in bed all night . I have been struggled with an irritation in the back of my through and thru a process of illimination have it may be my allergies causing post nasal drip. As most of you know coughing is not pleasant which means constantly clearing my throat has been a test of my will and endurance. I think my allergies may be worse because I'm spending more time outside walking, still need to determine the best course of action to decrease the irritation in my throat during the day. Last night seemed like such victory. My days have been getting better and better. I have made a chart to monitor my fluid and protein intake, along with walks, breathing treatments and frequency of pain meds. I would normally be off these by now but the coughing has been very irritating to my insides. I have been able to taper from 4 x a day to 2x a day and am hoping 1/2 a dose will get me thru the day . I would like to be able to drive  in time for my follow up appointment next week. just so this doesn't sound all negative, I have not had any nausea and am tolerating the liquids I've tried (not a fan of protein added to soup) but otherwise everything else has been good. My poor little dog  is such a nervous wreck the other day she was suffering from acid reflux and coughing and foaming because she hadn't eaten. She only eats when I do. So she finally ate when I cooked some soup and is doing much better. She however enjoyed having all 4 grandparents over loving on her and taking her for walks when I couldn't. We are both settling back into a more normal schedule and looking forward to the changes ahead. I would like to thanks everyone for their encouragement and positive thoughts when I was really struggling. A few kind words really go a long way.