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I intend for this to be a post I update throughout my weight loss journey.  I just don't want to lose track of all this cool stuff that's happening to me :)

1.  Being able to wrap a towel around myself
2.  Having my old clothes hang off me (off to Salvation Army they go!)
3.  Being able to cross my legs again.  I almost shouted out loud in church this morning!  (I could have used an Amen from the congregation--ha ha.)
4.  Walking up steps and not getting winded
5.  Not hanging over the sides of my driver's seat
6.  Having 2" of slack in the airplane seat belt
7.  My super cool rings fit my fingers again
8.  Little to no foot pain
9.  Not hot and sweating all the time!
10. Much easier to get out of bed in the morning
11. When I sat in my colorist's chair I noticed that I didn't take up the whole chair!
12. When I stepped off the elevator I noticed it didn't rebound!
13. Able to fit into my True Religion and Antik jeans again
14. Walked in between the "no grocery carts beyond this point" barriers without turning sideways
15. Got hit on today by a really hot dude and was asked out on a date
16. Wearing high heels and not having my feet hate me for it
17. Signed up for tennis lessons today
18. Signed up to run the Cleveland Rite Aid 10k and the Denver Half Marathon.  Getting back into running-my passion!
19. Sitting in a restaurant booth and having AT LEAST a foot of distance between my boobs and the edge of the table :)

I was walking down the street this morning and caught my reflection in the window.  I literally had to stop and wonder if it was me.  The person in the reflection looked taller and thinner.  And then it dawned on me that I had stopped looking at my reflection in windows a long time ago.  Just a little something to celebrate on a Friday!  

This morning I woke up, showered, and went into my closet.  None of my clothes fit :)   I mean, they were hanging off me, making me look like a Depression-era child in an oversized blazer and hat.  I scrambled to find something to wear.  And then I stopped.  And I smiled.  This is one of those milestones I never want to forget :)

A week before my surgery I injured my back.  I took Vicodin so I could be semi-comfortable and get up and move around.  My primary care physician warned me that the pain meds would cause constipation.  I shrugged my shoulders and blew it off.  The night before my surgery I took a laxative per the guidelines of my surgeon.  Well, NOTHING happened.  I was really worried.  So, fast forward to yesterday (10 days later, mind you).  I hadn't had a BM in 10 days!  I decided to take a little milk of magnesia (again, per instructions from surgeon's post-op guide).  Well, without getting too graphic, let me just tell you it was THE most painful experience.  My body couldn't pass what it needed to pass.  I started shaking, I had sweats and chills, and I knew I was dehydrated.  I debated going to the ER because I thought I had an obstructed bowel (Yeah, it was that bad).  I called my surgeon in a panic at 4am and he told me to go buy an enema.  So, I went and bought one this morning.  It took 30 minutes to work, and on the pain scale, passing what I needed to pass was a solid 10.  I started crying because it hurt to so bad :(  In hindsight, I wish I would have listened to my primary care doctor and not taken the pain meds before surgery and instead used a muscle relaxer.  From now on I will stay regular because I don't want to go through that again!  Exhale.

I cannot believe how quickly the weight is melting off me.  It brings a smile to my face.  That smile is enough to overshadown the pain in my largest incision.  Having a great attitude about the process is the key (I think).   My little Gargamel (the gurgle in my throat/esophagus) likes talking to me.  I think it's funny and it doesn't bother me one bit. I am chooing to make this a fun process for myself.  Dare I say I am savoring each minute (and sip!) of it all.  

As promised, here are the details of my VSG procedure...

Day and Night Before Surgery
Mom and I flew to San Francisco.  I was so excited to go back to that city because I used to live nearby.  I couldn't think of a better place to have surgery. As a self-pay patient, the hotel stay is included in the total bill.  Well, I don't like the Hotel Kabuki.  Being the hotel snob that I am, I asked the office to refund me the hotel portion of the self-pay contract and I booked us at the Palace Hotel.  I have stayed there before, and hey, I'll be honest, I'm a hotel diva who wanted to recuperate in comfortable surroundings.  Because I have a high level status for Starwood Preferred Guest, they gave us a corner 2-room suite and bent over backwards for us while we were there by giving us fresh juice, tea, water, extra pillows, you name it.
5 stars for them!  And so it came time for me to take a Dulcolax the evening before surgery.  I waited 2 hours and nothing happened.  And then it dawned on me--because I had been taking Vicodin for a week prior because of back pain, I was extremely constipated.  So not even a Dulcolax could shake anything loose.  I had visions of bolting upright on the operating room table the next morning and yelling, "WAIT!  I HAVE TO USE THE RESTROOM!"  That would make a great cartoon, right?  ha ha  But truth be told, nothing ever came out, and nothing still hasn't come out and I'm 7 days post-op.

Day of Surgery
Mom and I headed to California Pacific Medical Center at 8am on March 11.  I was really impressed with the facilities.  Hardwood floors, extremely clean, and not as much fanfare and noise like all other hospitals.  I was taken into a curtained off room and greeted by Bella the intake nurse.  She started my IV and asked questions about the last time I ate or drank anything.  I changed into a Bair Paws gown and she hooked me up to a hose that blew warm air into the gown.  It felt kinda nice.  Then they asked me to step on the scale.  Why, of course!  I was excited to jump on that scale because I have been busting my ass to lose weight.  YIPPEE!!!  Not only did I meet my pre-surgery weight loss goal (that I set by myself) but I exceeded it!  My weight that day was 245.6 lbs.  I had lost 30 lbs. before surgery and my goal was 25lbs.  The nurse did something VERY cool in my opinion--on the dry erase board with my name on it they recorded my weight in kilograms.  Talk about being discreet and respecting a patient's privacy!  I lay in the bed talking to Mom, waiting to be called into the operating room.   I finally started to cry.  It was the first time I had cried about the surgery.  Part of me felt ashamed that I let myself get to this point and that I was resorting surgery.  The nurse wrapped neumatic/hydraulic compression socks around my lower legs to keep the circulation going and to avoid blood clots.   I wasn't nervous at al before surgeryl.  In fact, I lay there counting my blessings and sharing a few laughs with my Mom.  Mom mentioned to me how proud she was of me.  One of the male nurses came and got me and said it was time to hug my Mom.  My Mom whispered in my ear, "Jen, there are so many people praying and rooting for you."  That made me smile.  Then Mom turned to the nurse and said, "Take good care of my baby."  The nurse took me into a holding room where I met briefly chat with Dr. Cirangle and the anesthesiologist.  Dr. Cirangle reviewed my chart briefly and asked if I had any questions.  He mentioned that he doesn't use a drain or a catheter.  He literally closes up the incisions with Super Glue!   And then the anesthesiologist( Dr. Weatherill)  came in.  She explained how everything would work in the OR and what I will feel like after the surgery.  I appreciated that preview!  Within a few minutes, I was called to walk into the operating room.  Then my heart starting beating rapidly.  It was show time!  I vaguely remember looking around the room and thinking how clean and shiny everything was.  I lay down on the table with my arms outstretched.  The anesthesiologist played some soothing music and then said I should start to relax within 20 to 30 seconds.  Poof.  And then I woke up in the recovery room.  My first thought was, "i'm alive."  Then I asked the nurse what time it was.  From the beginning of my operation to when I woke up in recovery was 3 hours.  I was wheeled into my own private room and saw my Mom. with my new friend Jessica that I met on OH.  It was so good to see both of them!  Mom said Dr. Cirangle met her in the waiting room and told her everything went really well.  There I lay in my hospital bed, staring at the tray of liquids--chicken broth, beef broth, orange popsicle, and protein drink.  Being heavily popped up on Dilaudid and Morphine nothing looked good.  I took two licks of the popsicle and immediately was nauseous. It tasted SO sweet.  Many OH'ers have said the same thing.   I asked for the bed pan and just spit it out.  Clearly, nausea was  an issue for me!  I started on a slew of anti-nausea meds. Whether I was tried to sip something or just move around in bed, the bach of my mouth started to water like I was going to throw up.  I walked the halls almost immediately following surgery.  In fact, I walked 5 times the day of my surgery.  The worst parts?  How sore my throat was from the anesthsia tube.  WOW, that was really painful.  But THE WORST PAIN was the gas pain.  It literally felt like someone was squeezing my heart and lungs.  And they kept telling me that no pain medicine would get rid of gas pain and that walking would help.  Well, bullshit on that.  I'm extremely impatient and so I popped a few Gas-X strips.  Thanks OH members--that was the ticket!  It totally got rid of my gas.  My mouth was so dry that all I could do was use one of those little sponges and moisten my teeth and gums.  They added a few more medications for me and I seemed to adjust better.  Geting comfortalbe in that hospital bed was virtually impossible for me.  I injured my back the week before surgery and so the stomach soreness combined with the back strain was too much.  I tried sitting in the chair, standing, or going for walks just to avoid that tortureous hospital bed!  I had OUTSTANDING nurses--Bella, Steven, Alex, and Susan.  They went above and beyond to make me comfortable.  Plus, whenever I rang the call button they arrived within 10 seconds. 

Days After Surgery
I was discharged at 11:45pm March 12.  Mom scrambled to get all my pain and nausea meds filled while the nurses prepared my discharge paperwork.  We headed back to the Palace Hotel where I crawled into bed and made a perfect nest around me of 6 pillows.  Geting the pain meds down was no problem for me at all.  I was given both liquid and pill form.  Here's something crazy--there is a weird gurgle in my esophagus when I swallow.  So I've nicknamed my esophagus, "Gargamel."  I think Gargamel gets upset with me when I drink too fast.  Luckily, the gurgling noise is the only feedback he's given me--no vomiting.  I can deal with that.  The look of my cats' faces when they hear it is hilarious.  They think there's a gremlin or something inside me.  After the surgery I spent the next 5 days in San Francisco with Mom, doing some light walking, shopping, and having an office visit with Dr. Cirangle.  Dr. Cirangle told me that water should be the #1 priority and then protein at this stage just so I don't get dehydrated.   He was pleased with my progress, and that by looking at me he'd never know I had surgery.  i agree.  And my incision cites look AMAZING.  You can just tell he's a perfectionist.  

Today I received a HANDWRITTEN card from all the nursing staff that took care of me.  Each of them wrote a personal message to me.  That made me smile!  All in all, I couldn't have picked a better surgeon, a better hospital, or a better time to have this surgery.  Cheers to a healthier, happier new version of me!

So I was thinking I could relax these last few days and ease into my surgery on Thursday.  But nope.  I strained my back.  Perfect.  I just moved a few days ago, and me thinking I am Wonder Woman, clearly lifted some boxes that were way too heavy.  Ouch--I can barely walk!  Or, as I like to say, I got a little hitch in my git-a-long.  My PCP put me on Vicodin (yippee) and told me to put a heating pad on my back and take it easy.  I hope the pain at least subsides or better yet, goes away before I get on the flight Wednesday to sunny CA.  I cannot imagine having this back pain AND having the soreness after Thursday's surgery.  But...I am a tough chick.  I will take it easy the next few days and take it as it comes.

I finally told my brother about my surgery.  As expected, the first words out of his mouth were, "That's dangerous!"  I said, 'Actually, being overweight is more dangerous."  Then he was quiet.  I held out tellling him because he's made some hurtful comments about my weight to me over the years.  But, I figured I might as well tell him since he and I just lost our Dad 6 months ago.  And god forbid I have a complication and my Mom would have to call and tell him about the complication AND the fact I had surgery.  I didn't think that would be fair.  Am I glad I told him?  Yes and no.  It's up to him as to what he wants to do with the information...

I had additional mammogram views and an ultrasound done this morning.  I received a call from my gyno who said I only have a cyst in my right breast.  WHEW.  Seriously, I was mentally prepared for her to tell me I have cancer.  Cancer runs in my family, and I just watched my Dad go through cancer the summer of 2009.  But the big man upstairs wants me to be skinny :)  ha ha.  I went for a long walk along the lakefront today, breathing in the crisp winter air and counting my blessings. 

I am officially down 21.6 lbs. and I just noticed that my BMI begins with the number 3.  WOO HOO.  Now I'm not so upset that my cats woke me up at 4am...I have the biggest smile on my face and I probably won't be able to go back to sleep.  I knew I would lose quite a bit this week because I was packing and moving.  Despite the stress of this, I still worked out and took good care of myself.  Yippee!  I chatted briefly with Dr. Cirangle last night and all systems are go for my surgery on 3/11.  I cannot wait.

I finally got through the hoops of all pre-op testing.  But I got a phone call the other day that kinda rattled my cage.  I received a call from the mammography department saying they need to take some additional views of my right breast.  And they went ahead and scheduled time for an ultrasound following the additional radiographs just in case.  Am I worried?  Kinda.  There is a long history of cancer in my family.  I just hope and pray it's a cyst and nothing more.  But if it is something more, I am strong and I'm ready to play whatever card is dealt to me.