CThrasher

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

Day of surgery  255  2 week post op appt  237.5...total loss of 17.5 pounds FOREVER!!!  I am excited!   Tonight will be refried beans...time for  stage II diet   YAY!!!

I am down about 15 pounds...but will be seeing my surgeon tomorrow for my first follow up. I am still on liquids...tolerating well,  no nausea...everything goes down easily. All of my steri strips are off now...and the incisions are so tiny...more like little scratches.  I looked back thru my journal to the days I was  on the Atkins diet, and it took  me 20 weeks to lose the same 15 pounds I just lost. So far I am very happy that I have had this surgery!

I feel really great. I have still not had a single complication, ache or pain. I am eating broth, cream soups, sugar free pudding, sugar free fudge bars and cream of wheat. I know it doesn't sound exciting...but when the weight starts falling off,   it will be exciting THEN!  My steri strips are starting to peel back on the corners a little...they told me they would fall off in 10-14 days..,today is day 8! I am trying to drink all of my water...but am not getting it all in. I love  Crystal Light Peach Tea...and chewing ice...so that  counts towards water too. I do get a little burping  from time to time, but nothing major. I am taking an antibiotic for an unrelated issue...so that is causing a little bathroom issue here and there. Nothing major and I would so much rather have it this way than be constipated...so it's all good. I can't really tell a difference yet...the swelling in my tummy  is going  down...but I still weigh around 250ish. I can get my scale down to 246 but that is first thing in the morning  before getting into the shower.  I can't stay away from the scale, it's like an obsession. I just got another bill from the hospital for $500 from my endoscopy...this brings my total out of pocket so far to $1660. Still not all that bad...I know there are people that pay thousands of dollars to have this surgery done. I am happy with my Blue Shield HMO, so far they have been great!

Sugery was Tuesday the 12th. We got there 3 hours early...checked in...waited for what felt like as not very long at all...then was called back alone to strip down and get into bed. The bed weighed me and she inventoried and bagged my  clothes. I brought NOTHING with me. I left all my jewelry at home...gave my husband my  driver's license in case they needed picture ID and came in just the clothes I planned to wear home. I packed a small bag with a few things and left it in the car  for until I was back in a room. The nurse started my IV and then went and got my husband to sit and wait with me until it was surgery time. Surgery was supposed to start at 11, but the surgeon didn't stop by until 11:15...he just asked if I had any questions and made sure I was ready to go. The anesthesiologist came in right after and reviewed what he was going to do and then the surgical nurse came to get me.  SURPRISE!! Time to get up and walk to the OR.  I swear!!! So she got me a blanket to wear like a cape...my husband walked all the way to the doors  right before the actual OR doors  and then had to go. She put a bonnet on my head and walked me all the way into the OR and told me to climb up on the table. They strapped me down...put the copression booties on my feet and covered me with warm blankets. It was 60 degrees in there, but it felt really good. I still had on that hospital gown and now they were covering me all up so I was worried he would not be able to see what he was doing. Yeah right...the things that go thru your head during strange moments are strange. So then the anesthesiologist came back and told me he was going to take me on a trip...first class...nothing cheap. He must have snuck something into my IV because I never did the count backwards thing...I remembered nothing until I woke up in recovery.   I immediately felt nauseated...but when I tried to talk nothing really came out. I tried harder and she put something in my IV for nausea and then I asked for an alcohol wipe under my nose because I had heard it helps. It did...they transported me to my room and my husband was in there waiting for me. The nurse immediately hooked up my morphine pump and did what he could to get me comfortable. My  roommate was the woman that had the surgery right ahead of me and she had just come back from a walk. I told her I would take a little nap and  then walk with her on her next round. We ended up walking, talking and napping on morphine all night. Zero pain for either of us...we were amazed! The next morning we both felt like we had done way too many sit ups. They took away our morphine...but actually I have not needed anything for pain. We both were passing gas by  Thursday morning...so I came home. She had to stay an extra night because of her blood sugar...but my blood pressure has been super low and so was hers. I snuck in a weigh and I am back at pre surgery weight. There is about a 5 pound  gain from the gas they put into you...my doctor's office told me to not weight until I see then in 2  weeks.  Anyhow...my first night at home last night was really good. I am in no pain...just sore when I get up and down. I am still nervous to take big bites of even broth...my roommate was eating entire jello cups...I was just scared to push it. Neither of us has had  nausea or vomiting...so   far   so good!

I had my pre op labs today...6 viles of blood ( I was told that my veins are very generous)...chest xray and EKG. All went well.  I was able to go into work for a couple of hours this morning and then a few minutes this afternoon before I had to hurry home and drink the  STUFF. All of you know what I mean about the STUFF. I chose cherry...thinking it sounded better than grape...and looked better than the "original". I drank down the entire 10 ounces...it was VERY sweet...like sickening sweet.  I put in a load of laundry, made a cup of broth since I had not had anything to eat or drink all day and it was now around 2 pm. I drank the broth and watched a little TV...and it took about an hour before round one began. I was told I would get crampy...but  I never did. I finished laundry  and packed my bag inbetween bathroom trips. After about 3 times I regretted choosing cherry.  I initially thought "oh crap...I am bleeding!"   Nope...what goes in red eventually comes out red.  Finally around 8ish I stopped going. I think I am all ready now!   I plan on wearing home the same clothes I wear in...so I am packing VERY light. I don't feel nervous...and  I am  getting sleepy...so perhaps it will be a good night and a great day tomorrow! I will post when I get back...wish me luck!!

I officially have a sore throat and sniffles! I am  feeling so disappointed. I sincerely hope I can resolve this before it  builds to a full fledged cold and I end up getting postponed. I have been drinking chicken broth...ironic that  the only thing that tastes good right now is  the thing that will become my main staple for a couple of weeks...IF   I still get surgery on Tuesday. I think I may beable to fake wellness if I don't even up with a fever and if my tonsils don't swell. My labs are Monday...so if all goes well there...I may be in the clear???  We can hope!!!

I went to  see my surgeon today for my pre op appt. He actually did not see me,   I saw his PA Brian,  who was VERY nice. He explained everything that would be happening  next Monday when I have my pre op labs and tests...and then told me everything that would be happening on  the day of surgery. I can't believe it's NEXT WEEK already!  They weighed me and I am down to 253...took my blood pressure and temp...then took my pre op photo.
I was told to try to lose as much weight this week as I can to shrink my liver. I told Brian that I am trying to not get sick...so many people are coughing and sniffling all around me...I also told him not to let Dr. get sick ; )  I am still trying to not get too excited in case something happens and  I don't actually get to have this surgery.  I am staying positive and trying to stay focused!

I started my pre op diet...2 protein drinks per day and 1 meal of 4 oz protein and a vege. My  "grazing" period has always been in the evening
when I am sitting at home watching TV. I am behind on my scrapbooking...so I  need to be working on that in the evenings to keep my hands busy. During the day at work, I have no problem with not eating...it's just dinner time and after. I lived thru day 1 without being miserable...but I  only hope I can make it to day 14!!  I currently weigh 260...I hope by my pre op appointment with the surgeon next week I can be in the 250s.  I keep thinking ahead to  family events coming up and getting excited that I will have atleast lost SOME weight by then...I always go...but always wish I didn't have to because I  am the fattest one there. Hopefully that will all be changing soon!