Bubbles314

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I am now 108 pounds down and 88 pounds to go. 

I am having food issues, I have been having a lot of diarrhea.  I am now on meat and water for 5 days to clear my system, per Dr.   Then adding like milk, for 2 days.  If that goes well after a couple days I move on and add wheat, or sugar substitute like Aspartame, natural sugars, vegatables etc.  If I have a reaction when adding something new I stop and go back to meat and water for a couple days.  Let's just say it has been interesting, and has enabled me to walk the 5K.  I was so afraid of having an accident if I walked that distance.  I'm afraid to go anywhere if I don't know where the bathroom is, so we will try to get to the bottom of this.  No pun intended.   This is the only problem of concern for me now and I had this issue before surgery and was told it may go away after surgery.  Still a work in progress.   Oh, going back to meat and water I thought was going to be rough but I dropped several pounds and when I add food back I will be able to do it differently this time.  ie. smaller portions, they were creeping up.  Also since I was eating meat (measuring it) it was courser and it kind of feels like I am full longer and my pouch feels better with smaller portions.  Kind of like my pouch is smaller.

I am feeling really good physically.  I just had my 6 month check up with the WL surgeon.  My labs came back and they are all in the normal range, first time in forever.  My diabetes, cholesterol, so far so good.  The Dr was proud of my loss and urged me to up my exercise level.  He said I need to exercise like a 232 pound person.  I am also doing fit bit and so I upped my daily steps to 11,000 daily.  I rode a stationary bike until this month for exercise.  I am now walking outside since the weather is nicer, trying to increase my speed.  I will ride the bike if I can't get outside or its raining. 

I did my first 5K on Saturday, April 11, 2015.  "The Color Run".  I did it with my sister Diane, niece Samantha and her two daughters Riley 6 years and Raegan 3.  I walked it, it took just under an hour.  My team "The Dynamite Dashers" could have gone faster but they said if I went they would walk with me.  "We leave no man behind," they said.  I was so proud of myself.  I still can't believe I did it.  Except when I see the t-shirt, medal for participating, the headband and pictures that are posted on here,  I believe below this post.  Ray kept saying "we look like rainbows".  I am doing another 5K next month, "The Hardy Hussle".  I may be going to a Super Hero 5K too.  Who knows?  I never thought about doing a 5K in the first place.  I read about all of the OH peeps that race and I thought that will never be me, good for them.  I am not a runner.   Then my sister asked and I thought I should be able to walk it, I walk over 10,000 steps a day, so I went.  Best NSV ever   hooray for me!  Now I am going to try to increase my walking time.   I will never run it, I hate to run I never figured out the breathing thing.  Enough said, Not bad for a 57 year old, obese woman.  lol

I also wanted to mention that I got off track a couple times and my eating got out of control.  My friend Mary had to have surgery 2 times (this year) and has no family here.  So I went with her and stayed with her until she was able to be alone.  My eating was out of control.  The hospital does not have many food options for WLS patients to eat, I made some bad food choices.  I also had emotional/stress eating problems, you know for that  "feel full, good feeling".  I happened to run into the WLS Dr during one of my friends surgery and he was on his lunch.  He saw me walking to get in my 10,000 steps and asked what I was doing and could he walk with me for a few minutes.  It was a half hour, and we talked like friends and I got to know him better.  He gave me a few tips about emotional eating but mostly was glad I was exercising.  He is learning to ice skate, and has weak ankles so he does exercises for that.  My impression of him is so much higher and it was already higher that any of my other surgeons.  I am now back on track with the eating.  Doing a phone support group, OH, and going to Bronson hospital support groups when I can.  Not having a car right now blows.

Size.  I have gone from a 26/28 (3X) top and bottom to a 1X for the most, it depends on where I shop.  The stores like Target, Old Navy etc. the clothes run a little smaller than at Catherine's.  What a difference in the way I look, with all the weight loss.  Even my shoes are getting looser, who knew your feet got fat.  I am working on wearing clothes that fit me correctly, I want to by baggy clothes cause that is what I am use to.

This journey has been amazing for me and I have about half of it to go.  I have had a rocky road at times, and had to tuff it out.  I have also had many NSV's, good times and laughs, I am also learning a great deal about me.  This has been so worth it.  Hooray for me

It has been a while since I have written in my blog.  I have the time now so here it goes.

The holidays were different for me this year.  I focused on the socializing and not so much the food, a first for me.  I brought food I could eat to events that I could and that helped me stay on track.  Shrimp cocktail is my friend and I brought that the most, other people ate it too and thought nothing of it.  I lost through the holidays that is also a first for me. I am so proud of myself, I lost 17 pounds in December 2014.  I bought myself a gift for Christmas too, I got a fit bit.  I started, and I am continuing trying to get my 10,000 steps or more per day in.  I am doing surprisingly well if I do say so myself.  I am at an all time low in my weight.

I saw the WLS Surgeon for my 3 month check up Dec. 30th, 2014.  He was very happy with my progress.  He liked the fit bit and said he gave those for gifts to his staff.  At the time I was weighed I think I had lost about 75 to 77 pounds total.  We talked for awhile about issues I have had and what to do about it.  I mentioned that I made a bad choice (told him what it was) and wrote about it on OH.com and I had all kinds of feedback that I was pissed about.  It was like people were bashing me for being honest about a bad choice.  Then more got on the band wagon to bash me not really helping me get back on track, more or less talking about how I doomed myself, definately not real supportive.  He reassured me that not everyone is perfect and they just don't mention there failures and they do have them.  I moved on anyway and have been on track since.  He also reminded me that we are all trying to make good habits since wls, but it is normal to slip back in habits that many have had all there lives.  It is the way we deal with the issue at the moment it arises. 

I had all my blood work done again.  The results were good.  I can't tell you when the last time was that my diabetes, cholesterol, etc was in the normal range.  Taking my vitamins has helped.  All my vitamin levels were in the normal range except my Vit D.  Vit D level has increased considerably though from what it was in April 2014.  My Iron went up to the low part of the normal range.   Since I have lost this weight I have more energy, it is easier to get around, no shortness of breath and I am exercising  twice a day for 5 to 6 days per week.  I feel great and will feel even better when I lose the rest of my weight.  My goal is to lose 100 pounds by my birthday in the middle of March, which I think is very doable.

I started out in the Super Obese BMI range over 50.   I have a BMI of 39.9 today and am now just obese.

I have lost a total of 86.4 pounds as of today (Jan 20, 2015).  I want to lose another 110 pounds.  I wore a pant size 26/28,  top size 3X when I started my journey.   Today I wear a 0X or 1X for tops, and a 22/24 pants/jeans size. 

January has been a tough month for me.  A best friend had a diagnosis of uterun cancer and it has brought back a lot of feelings I had when I was diagnosed with Non Hodgekins Lymphoma.  I took her to get a biopsy.  Then went when she had her surgery to remove her uterus and stayed with her in the hospital.  When she went home I stayed for 5 more days to help her out since her family lives out of town.   She has never had surgery in her 65 years and was terrified.  Most people are when they hear cancer, I was.  She is waiting for her test results now.  All this hurry up and wait brought back a lot of memories for me.  I have treatable cancer not curable.  Her cancer should be removed by her surgery.  Maybe no chemo or radiation.   I had to watch myself every minute, the urge to eat myself into oblivion was with me every step of the way.  I eat when stressed and emotional.  This is what I found out about me and the hospital, the hospital has very little food that I can eat or like that is protein forward.  I chose the best I could and one day I ate turkey taco meat, refried beans, sour cream, and salsa for 2 meals. (I wanted pizza, chips, pop, etc.)  The gift shop had protein bars that had little protein "Kind bars"  6 protein per bar and 190 calories more like a candy bar.  I chewed a lot of gum and drank a lot of water.  I will take food along if I have to go back to the hospital.

I ran into my WLS Dr when I was at the hospital with my friend.  The Dr caught me walking the halls (when she was in surgery) and walked with me for about 30 minutes.  I was trying to get in my 10,000 steps so he asked how many more steps I needed and we walked and we talked.  It was nice, we talked about what we have been doing for exercise/life.  He went skiing :)  It was nice to see him in a normal situation rather than Dr to patient.  He appears more normal to me now. 

I also joined a phone support group for WLS, my first time was last night.  I think it will help.  My car died and can't be fixed so getting to the hospital support group meetings is not always possible. 

So all in all, I am trying to be much more active, I get my 10,000 steps in most days if not more.  I pre-plan what I eat and that works best for me.  The support group gave me an idea to pack a snack bag to take where I go or to keep in my car.  I like to add my menu on the OH  "what are you eating today RNYer's"  it helps  keep me on track and gives me ideas of what to eat.  It is also the most positive part of OH.com as far as I am concerned.  Now that I am back home I need to get back to that.  Good luck to us all

I'm now 7 weeks out today and have lost 55 pounds.   Yay for me.  I like the way my clothes are getting so loose and I have a lot more energy.  The weather is either rainy or snowy so I have added to my exercise, I now ride the bike for 45 minutes in the morning and 30 to 45 minutes at night.  I also increased the tension.  Walking outside is just to cold.  I use to be the one sweating all the time, what an adjustment.  

According to my plan I can add a lot of new food, but it is still at a 1/2 cup measure.  Still can't eat steak. Will try it again in a couple weeks.  I eat more fish, scallops, and shrimp than I use to but I do like it.  I never made chili previous to WLS because I didn't use to like it, but now I love it, go figure.  I have made it 2 times.  I think my favorite is refried beans, salsa, and cheese.  I miss Mexican food.  I think good things come to those who wait, at 1/2 cup measure.  It does fill me up though so I am happy.  I tried bbq ribs, chicken, turkey, ground turkey, ground beef (not able to eat 4 oz).  It is slow to add a lot of new food, I find myself eating it for days at 2 to 4 oz.

TMI, I have found that Lactaid works for the most part.  This helps with my intolerance for milk.  Not having as much diareah.  I still drink protein shakes to get my protein level up.

This is Thanksgiving week.  I plan to bring green bean casserole for a dish to pass and make some Flourless Chocolate chip zucchine brownies in case I want a dessert.  I don't know if I will even want it, the dense turkey takes up more space in my pouch.  I will have 2 oz of turkey, a spoonful of dressing, a spoonful of green bean casserole,and gravy and I will be full for quite awhile.  Just trying to pre plan to avoid making bad choices.  I'll also talk more.

So I am very happy with my weight loss and am feeling a lot stronger from exercise.  All in all I am so happy I had the surgery.  I still struggle with portion sizes and realize now that when I thought I was eating correct portion sizes I was so off.  Measuring all I eat will be my best bet.  Just need to get through the holidays making good choices.

So I went to the Dietition yesterday (11/3).  I have lost a total of 47 pounds since the liquid diet (9/16).  I lost 14 pounds the first month after surgery.  I feel pretty good.  Still working on getting in all the protein and water I am suppose to.  Some days I meet the goal no problem and others I can't seem to drink or eat enough.  I am never hungry though so I feel fortunate about that so far.  I have only had to deal with head hunger when the people I live with bring in food I can't eat.  The smell is killing me.   I have also been ok with all the foods I have added to my diet.  I have not gotten sick.  Knock on wood.  Water goal is 64oz  or more daily, and 60 to 80 grams of protein.   Will keep working at it.

I have also made it to the next phase.  No more Puree I have made it to Soft Food.  My first meal was scallops saute, delicious and a lot of chewing.  I also made Eggfaces Sausage pancake bites, yummy.  Tonight I am going to have shrimp cocktail or my favorite ocean perch with a little sweet potato mashed.  I am looking at a lot of recipes to try new and healthy foods.  I don't want to fall back into bad habits.  Can't wait to try this recipe for Crabmeat and Swiss cheese quiche, I am going to alter the recipe and delete the pie crust and just pour it all in the tin like an egg bake (I don't really care for pie crust).  We'll see how it goes.  I have to be honest I have been following my Dr plan and this step of adding food you chew "rules" I was so ready for something good to eat.  I will still have to drink a shake to get my protein up but I can deal with that.  I have a 1/2 cup serving size per meal.  So if I have fish I have to leave some room in the half cup for the sweet potatoes.  I may try steak this week too.  I want to add a few foods I have missed.  It's all good, I know I can do this.

I see the Dr later this week too.  I will start on an unrestricted diet on the 24th (just before Thanksgiving).  The Dietition said I will remain at a 1/2 cup of food for a couple more months.  That is ok, I couldn't eat the whole 4oz of scallops anyway and had one happy dog who got left overs, so I can do this.  One step at a time.

Puree food has been a blessing.  By my second week of protein shakes I was hungry for food and exercising.  The people I live with were killing me with the smell of there food, pizza, chinese, bringing home fast food.  I asked people on OH what there favorite puree food was and they gave me a couple of ideas, bless those who helped.  So I have had refried beans with cheese and sour cream, chicken salad(miracle whip only), chicken thighs(no bone or skin) with mashed potatoes and gravy, panera soup, progresso soup, scrambled egg, riccota bake, chili and keep in mind I am pureeing and aloud a 1/2 cup only.  It was fricken delicious.  I still am having a little trouble wrapping my head around being full with a 1/2 cup serving, but I believe it is because I am so use to eating more than a serving.  Measuring everything is the key.  I am still having a Fuzzy Naval protein drink a day to help keep my protein up argh!  I can also have applesauce, greek yogurt, sf pudding,  and baby food fruit and a few more things.  I am suppose to eat 800 calories a day, and keep the carbs 17 or below per item of food.  I have days when I find it hard to eat 600 calories.  Never thought I would say that.

So far I have lost a total of 43 pounds, my BMI went from like 53 down to 46.  I am no longer super obese, now I am morbidly obese.  All in the 6 weeks that I started to do the liquid diet pre op til today.  What I do know is people have noticed that I am losing weight.  I am no longer  huffing and puffing walking or taking out recycalbes.  I am on one BP med to help keep  my heart beating regular for my sleep apnea but they cut that dose in half.  Other than Protonix for my pouch and the vitamins that is all I take.  Hooray for me.

I am happy to say that this was what I had hoped for.  It just happened sooner than I thought.  I was told I had the BP of a little girl, that made me grin since I am 56.  Now all I have to do is stay on the Dr's plan and keep exercising and hopefully lose all my weight.  I have friendly, great examples on OH to help if I need it.  This is a great journey so far.

I am so excited, today I get to eat puree foods.  It sure beats the protein shakes (I was getting very tired of protein shakes).  So far I have had cream soups pureed of course and no problem.  I also ate a scrambled egg this morning and it took a while but it was all good too.  I was afraid I would be one of those people that had trouble with eggs.  I seem to be ok with what I have added in how fortunate I feel.  I don't want to get sick if I can help it.  Supper is going to be some refried beans, light sour cream and some salsa.  I am measuring everything so I don't over eat.  It tastes so good...

I started riding my stationary bike, but I think I may have to go out and walk.  Michigan the weather is always iffy.  It has been raining here alot so I haven't gone out.  Truthfully I did not think the Dr was serious when he told me I could exercise after one week out but he assured me nothing I did would hurt the surgery.  I read the posts on the other forums and the people don't mention riding a bike much.  I am also going to add Tai Chi for beginners, my balance is off and this might help.  I am going to have to move more I just don't know what else to do other than mall walk and try the YMCA (if my car holds out) or walk outside. 

I just want this to work so I am stepping up.  I am picking healthy food from the Dr list to eat and I might need to exercise more.  Working up to that and hoping to be creative I don't have alot of money so doing what I can.  We will see what works.

Well I made it thru surgery.  I had one day that I felt awful, people commented on my green color, I had nausea so bad, they fixed it with meds.  The other days I have felt sore but ok.  Just trying to sip, sip, sip and walk, walk, walk.  I thought the pain would be worse because of my age 56.  The Dr did 3 surgeries that day.  One went home the night before me but he said she was in her 20's and they usually go home quicker than someone my age.  So I was ok with that.

When I went home I was so tired.  I thought I would sleep non stop, but I couldn't I had to focus on drinking and protein.  Couldn't wait to move on from the Clear Liquid diet.  I felt hungry for substance (must be head hunger).  I got to move onto a Full Liquid diet, for what its worth.  Thank God I had my Dr appt for the one week check and he said I could start the Puree diet on the 21st.  I was curious why such a wait and he said he has his patients adding food back in slower to give their stomach a chance to heal.

So I am following the plan.  Making plans to try new food puree. So far adding protein into things gags me.  I am getting about 55 oz of liquid a day and about 54 protein.  The Dr was happy with that and told me to drink more as I can fit it in and reassured me I was doing great.  I am down to 308 as of today, that is down 33.4 pounds(from my highest weight) since the start of my 3 week liquid diet pre-op.  I was also told to start exercising that walking or riding a bike would not hurt me. 

So, I got a good start and I am going to exercise.  I watch and read the vets stories and the ones that are successful do exercise, count calories, protein, water, exercise, vitamins. I am already on My Fitness Pal so by the time I add Puree food I will be in the habit of logging my food.  I am also waiting to add my menu to the "RNY what's on the menu today".   I want to keep coming back to this site OH to stay accountable.  I don't know anyone (in person) who has had this surgery other than the people I meet at the support groups and I don't know them well but I will eventually.  The support on OH has been great.

I am so pleased that I did this most of the time.  Still recovering.  My blood pressure has dropped to a good level without meds just like my diabeties.  I am off almost all of my meds and can start my vitamins now.  Not to mention the large weight loss is just the boost I needed to keep on going, I am so happy.  I no longer feel like I am going to pop if I get poked, that is the way I felt about the last 30 pounds I put on I was so uncomfortable and was sure it was only days before my body gave out.

So I am off to eggfaces and bariatric buddy for puree ideas.  Hoping to set myself up for success as best I can.  I tell you greek yogurt and sf pudding and puree cream soup never tasted so good...

So as I sit here drinking my white grape juice out of a christmas mug in my pajama's, I am getting a little nervous now.  I drank all the clean me out stuff so off to the bathroom every few minutes.

  Somehow, packing a few things I'll need for the hospital, is making me realize its almost time to go.  That and the loud noises coming from my stomach, clear liquids do not fill you up. I am actually getting use to that not full feeling.  Can't go out today gotta stay close to home and I'm ok with that.  Will be home tomorrow too, washing, drinking water/juice/tea and packing last minute stuff.  (you would think I'm packing for a long trip, really only the hospital) I'm just bored.  Usually I eat so I am at kind of a loss at what to do.  I am going to try reading to keep my hands and mind busy.  Good practice for post surgery I'm thinking.

I leave for the hospital Monday morning at 8 a.m. Have to check in at 8:30, and surgery at 10:30.  Dr said it would take about 2.5 hours give or take a half hour.  He will also fix my hiatal hernia.  I hope my liver has shrunk enough.  I have lost a total of 22 pounds on this 21 day liquid diet.  Pretty good, one pound a day. I have waited for this wls and worked toward it for almost a year.  It's finally almost time, I need to do some deep breathing to calm myself. 

Wish me luck and say a prayer for me, I'll post again from the loser's bench

   Well now I have only 3 days left on the liquid diet before surgery.  It has been a struggle to stay on it.  The people I live with eat and have popcorn for snacks and omg does it smell good. The good part is the surgery is so close and I haven't cheated.  The bad part is that the liquid diet changes on Saturday to a clear liquid diet(no protein shakes) of no more than 800 calories and no red dye.  I also get to take the same stuff you take before a colonoscopy to clean you out (I know TMI).  The Nurse laughed at me when I cringed.  I'll do it.  The part I worry about is the hunger and I don't want my blood glucose to jump up.  I'm pretty lucky my insulin Novalog has been stopped altogether and my Lantus is down to less than 25% of what I was doing before the liquid diet.  I have lost a total of 22 pounds and people at starting to notice.  Yea me

   One thing I have noticed about friends and family around me is that whatever they think about me having surgery it has motivated them to do something.  Start the new diet, exercise, communicate more about it.  That isn't so common around our family gatherings.  There is some concern if I will be able to participate, I assured them I could bring a dish to pass and I may even be able to eat turkey.  It just won't be a dessert and what I do bring I'll try to be healthy or abstain.  Probably talk more.

   So I have anxiety,and am so nervous about surgery and then out of no where I feel really calm.  It's kind of strange but I really like my Dr Weaver and trust him to do what he has to do.  They said it would take about 2.5  hours give or take a half hour.  Depends on what my innards are like.  It's the gas man I am leary of, I have had several surgeries in the past and have vomited all but 2.  I can't imagine doing it on stomach surgery.  I talked to my surgeon about it and he made a note and I will remind the guy when I meet him.

   So I am really going to do this RNY.  I got my note about what meds to stop taking and what to take the morning of surgery and a list of items to take for my hospital stay.  I have been advised not to bring my kindle if no one is going to be in my room while I sleep.  I was also told to keep visitors at a minimum that I probably would sleep a lot.

   I updated my Patient Advocate form and gave all my Dr's and hospital a copy.  I also wrote a note to my family just in case and will leave it in my dresser.  I know that is kind of morbid but I want them to know for sure I chose to have this surgery to prevent my early death, I couldn't do it on my own.  So if something happens and I die it is just earlier than I had hoped.  I don't like thinking about that.

   So I may not write again for awhile.