Carlie

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It will be 6 weeks on Monday and I am down 39 lbs as of today.  I have only lost 9 lbs in the last 24 days.  The weight was falling off me the first 2 weeks but now it has slowed way down.  By Monday I hope to reach the 40 lb mark and 40 lbs in 6 weeks is nothing to turn your nose up at.  BUT, for all the more I eat I would think the weight would still be coming off faster. It is difficult to watch TV with all the food commercials.  Night was my time to munch.  I miss eating a meal (volume).  I am on regular food now sort of.  I eat so little that I guess I just don't get the satisfaction of eating dinner.  I'm not at all sorry that I have had the surgery.  I've given away a ton of clothes and can fit in clothes I haven't worn in a loooong time.  I look so much better already. I guess I just miss food and I'm afraid that since I am losing slowly, I won't  reach my goal.  HOWEVER, I feel great and am thankful for what I have lost.  I guess I need to stop whinning.

Well it will be 4 weeks on Monday.  I am still on full liquids.  Not very exciting to eat, but then I'm not too interested in eating.  That has been a nice change since the first week when I was sooooo hungry.  I drink my protein shake, take my vitamins, drink a V8 and have a few mashed potatoes, yogurt or soup and that about does it for the day.  I need to drink more water but it doesn't sit well with me.  I've lost about 32lbs; only 2lbs last week and a half.  I hope the weight loss starts up again soon.  30lbs in one month is fantastic, but I am concerned that it has slowed down so much over the last week and a half.  Next week I get to start pureed foods and I am looking forward to some variety in my food choices.   

Yesterday my Dr said I could start the Phase 2 diet.  This allows for cottage cheese, mashed potatoes and creamed soups - strained as well as all the liquids from Phase 1.  I was sooooo happpy.  My DH went to KFC and got me a little side of mashed potatoes.  They were wonderful.  I had plenty left over for tonight.  But the best part was my hunger was gone.  WOO HOO!   I do find that I am not sure how much to eat.  I don't want to over do that's for sure, but I don't get a full sensation either.   I will be on Phase 2 for another 2 weeks.  I believe I can live with that. 

I have heard over and over again, how after you have RNY you don't get hungry.  How you have to remind yourself to eat.  Well that's not what I am experiencing.  I am hungry, NOT head hunger, I know the difference, but stomach achey hungry.  I can't take in much and am still on full liquids.  I am hoping that once I can eat pureed or regular food this nagging hunger will subside, but in the meantime - yuck.  I was never this hungry before surgery.  Oh well, no choice but to hang in there and adjust. 

Today was my one week post op check up.  I had the staples removed and the JP drain taken out.  The JP drain was what I was dredding, I was prepared for pain, but it just was a weird feeling when it was removed.  It didn't hurt, all that worrying for nothing.  Isn't that the way it usually is.  Today I get to add milk to my diet.  WOO HOO!  So I am throuroughly enjoying a chocolate protein shake mixed with milk.  Funny the things that make me happy now - MILK!   I have to admit the fruit protein shakes are not my fav.  Fuzzy navel (peach) isn't bad, but the rest are just okay.  I've lost 20 lbs since my pre-op weigh in.  I am thrilled.  I feel great.  No more Lovenox shots!  WOO HOO!  I'm a nurse and give pretty good shots, but giving yourself a shot is a bit different.  I guess I'd rather do unto others.  LOL My BP today was 111/75, great for me since I have been off my BP med since 6/28.  I go back to work on Monday, but that just means I use my other computer as I work from home for a Medical device company doing research.  I don't have to travel again until August. 

Well surgery was Monday.   I got to come home on Tuesday.  The doctor said there was a little bit of difficulty with the proximal connection and it leaked, so they had to put in a few extras sutures before closing up.  I have been on ice chips and SF popcicles since surgery because he is taking it a tad slower.  I had an upper GI yesterday and things looked great.  I can start my Phase 1 liquid diet tomorrow.  My doctor has been incredible.  He calls me twice a day to check on my progress and met me at the hospital for my upper GI so he could see the films.  This is his standard of care for all of his patients.  He is a very caring person.  He truly takes a personal interest in every one of his patients.  Every day I feel better, this week was not as bad as I was expecting it to be.  The staff at the hospital was wonderful, very attentive.  All in all this has been a positive experience and the best is yet to come.  
I lost 9 lbs on the pre-op liquid diet and regained 9 lbs in IV fluid, but I've lost that now.  Although I am not hungry, I am looking forward to when I can start having some eggs or cottage cheese.  LOL. 

Surgery is tomorrow.  I have to be to the hospital at 5:30am and surgery is scheduled for 7:45.  I am sooooo excited.  I have been on a liquid diet for a week and today clear liquids only.  Today I'm hungry.  I would love some real food.  A salad or chicken would be awesome.  But no worries, in a few weeks I can start having those things again - only in smaller portions.  I'm not anxious, I trust the Lord to guide the surgeon and the staff and I am safe in His hands. 
WOO HOO!! Loser's bench here I come! 

Well I have 6 days to surgery.  I had my pre-op visit yesterday.  I saw lots of people, got lots of info and had lots of tests.  Then I got a little surprise, they put me on a liquid diet.  I shouldn't be surprised because so many people have this but my daughter had this surgery by the same doc and she didn't have to do the liquid thing.  Anyway,  I started my liquid diet today. My birthday is Saturday, so no birthday cake for me.  No big deal, the WLS is the best birthday present ever.  I think I am all set for surgery.  I've cleaned the cupboards of all the "no, no" items.  My husband is worried I didn't leave anything for him to eat!    I am totally off caffeine.  I'm excited and so far the nerves are under control.  I've done what I can do and the rest is in the Lord's hands.  (Actually, all of it is in His hands, always was and always will be). 

I have 2 weeks to go until surgery as of Monday.  The last few weeks have flown by since I got my date.  I thought it would drag terribly.  One thing that worries me is that I still want to eat at night.  I'm not hungry, just want to munch.  I know I can eat, but want to start those good habits before I have surgery.  It was hard tonight.  I ended up having a snack, much less than I would have normally ate, but it worries me that it had nothing to do with actual hunger.  It concerns me that I may not be successful in my weight loss if I can't conquor this.  I travel 2 weeks out of the month for work and don't seem to have the night eating problem then.  It's not available and I don't think about it, but when I am home it is another story.  I just want to graze at night.  Some of the things I try to remind myself about is how miserable I am on a plane.  I know what people think when they see me coming down the aisle.  They are hoping I am not sitting next to them.  I know, because I think the same thing when I see someone heavier than me coming down the aisle.  The seats are so crowded together that any extra bulk makes the ride even worse.  The seats are to snug and I always choose a window seat so I can scrunch to the side so I am not infringing on the middle seat persons space.  When I walk I get short of breath.  When I climb stairs or try to vacuum my hip joints burn like they are on fire.  I look fat.  I have high blood pressure, sleep apnea and GERD.  I can't wear stylish clothes.  I can't cross my legs comfortably.  If I get on the floor, I have a hard time getting up.  I can't move freely.  I tire easily.  I am miserable fat.  I have fat clothes and fatter clothes.  I can't wait to give them away.
All this said, it seems ridiculous that I can't leave the night time eating alone.  Food is NOT my friend.  It does not comfort me to be fat.  I need a better hobby! 
I can't wait until June 29th!  I'm ready for a new beginning.
Oh yeah and I updated my photo to show the current me.  I was shocked to see the change from 2007 to 2009.  What a difference another 20 lbs makes.  I didn't realize I had changed that much until I saw my most recent photo.

I was told that I would not be able to have caffeine after surgery, so, since I am a big coffee drinker, I decided I better begin to wean myself off now.  I never really kept track of how much coffee I drank a day, but know I pour more than I drink.  I do a lot of re-heating too.  My best guess would be 4 - 6 full cups a day and since I have been drinking coffee since I was a teenager and  I will be 61 yrs old this month.  That's a long time for caffeine to become part of my system.  Last week I began decreasing the amount of regular coffee I drink.  I start my day with a cup of 1/2 reg & 1/2 decaff and then stick with decaff the rest of the day.  The last 3 days i find I have a low level of nagging anxiety and general 'not good' feeling physically.  I couldn'f figure out why. since I didn't feel sick, but then I realized it must be caffeine withdrawal.  I guess you can't go that many years without your body getting used to having it.  I remember when I did Adkins diet and the sugar withdrawal I went through for about a week or 2.  I not sure if I should just quit the caffeine or continue to taper off.  Maybe giving my body just a "taste" in the morning is harder on it then stopping completely.  I think I'll post on the board and see what others have done.