erin_akey

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I am so nervous right now, I can barely sleep!  Tomorrow at noon central is the premier of my radio show, whic is also streamed live online, called Fit LIving.  I want to make sure to represent our community well and to also make my sponsors like Bariatric Advantage proud.

It has always bugged me that there were such stereotypes associated with WLS.  I truly want my show to dispel some of those and show the REAL STORY.  The real story is that the surgery is just a tool.  Keeping the weight off and getting healthy requires a commitment to change and to exercise.

The guests we have coming on the show in the next month are awesome!

MUST TRY TO SLEEP!

It has been a long nine days since my surgery, but I am feeling really good.  I am on no pain medicine at all and am finally sleeping comfortably at night.  I am having no problems keeping water and other liquids down as well as jello and SF pudding.  Tomorrow I progress to the puree phase of my diet and I must admit I am a little nervous. 

I tried some really runny grits and that just didn't agree with me.  I am thinking grits are a bad choice for my pouch.  Runny mashed potatoes did great for me though.  I am also keeping protien shakes down well.  My biggest struggle right now is getting all of my liquids in!  I am not getting the whole 48-64 oz in at all.  The best I have done in a day is about 36 oz. 

My goal right now is to really make it a point to hit that 48oz mark.  I go back to work Monday, so I am reallllly going to have to work hard to get it all in! 

I am really battling wih fatigue, but know it will get better once I start my vitamin regimen.  Hopefully at my appt. next week I will get the all clear for that.

All in all, I feel a lot better than i thought I would and am so grateful that so far I have had no complicatons!

Well, i got home today.  I was hoping to only spend one night in the hospital, but Dr. Nye kept me two.  I am sure it was a good thing since I live an hour and a half from the hospital. 

How do I feel?  Sort of like I have been hit by a truck, but that is okay and understandable.  My procedure went off without a hitch.  Dr. Nye and his team did such a wonderful job.  The day of surgery, the 14th, I was able to get up and walk five times.  It hurt yes, but I am determined to work hard and use this tool as much as possible.  Yesterday, the second day, I walked more times than I can count.  I swear I feel better when I am walking.

Worst part of the experience?  Definitely the NG tube.  I was able to get it removed after I passed my grape juice test about 14 hours after surgery.  I felt like a new person once i got that removed. 

The nurses and everyone at Baptist were amazing and wonderful.

The JP drain is bothersome and so is the awful gas.  I think once I can get the drain out and lose the gas pains, I will be on my way to feeling a lot better.  My poor husband has been such a trooper, emptying the drain etc.  I actually slept for almost four hours today which was amazing.  I am trying so hard to walk away the gas, but no luck. 

I never in my life dreamed I would be so anxious to pass gas!  I am at least burping after my walks so that is good!

All in all, I feel a lot better than I thoguht I would.  I think once I get the drains out, life will get easier.  Well, ?I am off to eat my ounce of orange jello.

More to come in the coming days. 

It is so hard to believe the day is almost here.  I am such a bundle of mixed emotions right now.  i am really excited, and also really scared.  Scard of the unknown I guess.  We spent two weeks  in Disney World, so the time has flown by and all of a sudden I woke up and realized surgery was a week away.  WOW!

We go to Disney every year and this year was a really strange experience.  We have really long busy days there and walk at least seven miles a day.  By day five my feet were killing me in the evenings and sometimes my knees too.  I kept asking myself if this was the last time I would be in my favorite place on earth and deal with all that soreness at night?

I kept saying, as I looked at all of the healthy people areound me, that when we go back in October, I will be able to walk around feeling comfortable in my own skin and not worried that everyone is looking at the tall handsome athletic guy with the "big fat wife".    The theme for Disney in 2009 is "What will you celebrate?"  I definitely hope that I am celebrating at least a 100lb loss when we return!

I want to ride roller coasters that I have always been afraid to try and get on for fear that I wouldn't fit and be embarassed.  September 26th trip will definitely be a new experience for me for sure!

I feel so blessed right now to have such a supportive family and group of friends.  My husband is amazing and has held my hand all along this journey and will be with me in the hospital while my mom is here at home with my kids.  My good friend Erin, who went through this five years ago has been awesome and full of wonderful information.  She is amazing (and not just because her name is Erin  ;) )

The friends I have made on this site and their knowledge have been so valuable.  i feel like i am ready and have all the tools I need to start my transformation.  God has been so good to me and opened the doors and made it possible to have this surgery after only two months.  He is the reason all of this is happening and i am so thankful!

I have so much faith in my doctors and know I am in good hands. 

Let the ride begin!!!!!