7 Weeks

Feb 20, 2009

Yesterday was my seven week surgiversary.  Things are going great.  I am starting to enjoy food agin.  My newest find is a natural foods co-op (Seward co-op) near where I get acupuncture twice a week.  I am able to buy some good protein bars and greek yogurt there.  They have a great salad bar that often has bean or lentil based cold salads.  I like to fill up a container of odds and ends from their premade salads--it usually lasts me a few days.  They also offer a variety of  prepared hot foods and soups.  I feel like I'm not eating enough yet to justify cooking a whole lot for myself, so this is a great way for me to get a variety of healthy things for myself.  I found a product called "flackers" that are flax seeds made into thin crackers.  They are actually made by a doctor I work with.  They taste great--not that cardboard taste that a lot of healthy crackers have, and it's a great way for me to get some crunch without the carbs.  I picked up some curried tuna with almonds the other day and ate it with the flackers--delish!  I'm grappling with whether or not to start eating meat on a more regular basis.  Perhaps if I get meat from teh co-op, where I can be assured that it is raised and slaughtered humanely, I can start having a little meat in my diet--for the protein.  It's a little more expensive to shop there, but since I don't eat as much (not to mention, I dont eat out any more), I can justify spending a little more for high-quality, healthy food.  

Unfortunately my pain has flared up in the last weeks and I've been on and off pain medications, which tend to make me retain a lot of water, so...  the scale is not my friend these days... but I'm not sweating it.  I know I'm losing weight, but it might not be reflected on the scale so much.  I only weigh myself once a week anyway, so it's not a huge deal.  I'm down about 35 pounds from my highest weight.  

0 comments

One month

Jan 30, 2009

Today is my four week surgiversary!  I'm down twenty-five pounds from my highest weight and fourteen pounds since surgery.  I haven't lost any weight since last week.  Not to worry--I'm not trippin'!  I'm doing what I'm supposed to.  It'll come.  It's probably that infamous first stall as my body thinks it is starving.  

I already mentioned I'm down a bra size.  Well, I'm also down a pant size and have been able to wear a couple smaller sweaters this week.  I am happy about that.  I refused to buy myself clothes when I was at my heaviest because I kept telling myself I would lose the weight, and shopping was so discouraging.  So I had a "fat uniform" (see bariatric TV).  I just wore the same pair of jeans with a college sweatshirt or a big pink sweatshirt.  Not flattering.  

Sundar is starting to tell me I look hot.  I don't think I've got my hot back, but I guess it's a relative term at this point.  Not that having the surgery is about hotness, right?  I should probably mention that my sleep apnea resolved practically immediately after surgery, according to Sundar.  He says I've hardly snored since.  I'm also noticing lately that I'm waking up a little earlier--probably because I'm not as tired since I'm breathing better when I sleep?  Now, that doesn't mean I don't go ahead and go right back to sleep.  I'm just saying.

I also stopped taking my heart medication.  I was taking it for tachycardia.  But since it was a beta blocker it stimulated my respiratory system a bit and made me cough a lot, so I just stopped.  That reminds me, I should check my pulse.  I don't feel like my heart is racing without it.  I think it's okay.  

I saw my nutritionist yesterday and pretty much got the go ahead to slowly start trying new foods.  I told her I only did pureed for a couple weeks.  I've been eating mostly soft foods and staying on plan.  As long as I chew really well, no problems.  My newest meal is ricotta cheese, spaghetti sauce, and soy crumbles (I'm a vegetarian).  I love pasta and lasagna, so this is doing the trick.  Oh... and a little melted mozzarella on top.  YES!  

I love you, cheese. 

 kb
0 comments

Three weeks

Jan 23, 2009

 Today is my three week surgiversary.  Not much to report.  No news is good news.  I'm still getting used to not eating much, and that's kind of hard.  I'm feeling pretty decent, so of course I want to eat.  But I've been a good girl.  The protein shakes are getting old, but I can do it.  Before long I'll be getting more of the nutrients I need from food rather than protein shakes.  I took a good picture of myself today.  I'm happy about that.  I had a piece of cheese today.  It was divine!  

That's it.

0 comments

Raising girls... plus... the poopie bandit!

Jan 16, 2009

 This is going to be an exciting edition.  

So... I have these ratty old Lane Bryant bras that I've had for over a year.  They are in bad shape.  Each of them has a broken wire under the right boob.  One got so uncomfortable that I couldn't wear it.  But I put off the idea of getting a new bra because I knew I was having surgery.  Why spend $40 on a bra I would only wear for a month or two?  And you guys know...  A fat chick can't get away with a cheapie little $15 bra.  There need to be excesively wide straps and reinforcements and such.  So about a month before surgery I couldn't stand the wire poking any more, so I went to LB and bought a bra.  Turns out I bought it a size too small--because I was in a hurry and didn't try it on.  So fine.  I put up with the raggedy pokey bra a while longer.  

Well, today...  I got on that one-size-smaller bra.  I'm wearing it now.  And it feels juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.  Yippie.  That must mean I've lost a couple inches, because the bra size is a couple inches smaller.  

OK, on to the next subject.  My husband is a Poopy Bandit.  He has this pavlovian response that if I'm either in the shower or drying my hair, he MUST come into the bathroom to take a dump and stink the place up.  Well....  I've been secretly waiting to take my revenge.  Now, we all know that post gastric bypass poopies are the WORST!  I mean, I've made my own eyes water.  I mean, these are the most wretched, foul-smelling poopies ever--and I'm a nurse, so I'm a trained professional poopie assessor.  

This morning my hubby was taking a shower, and I felt that special stirring within me.  I had to poop!  A-ha!, I thought.  Revenge is mine.  I ran into the bathroom and got to work.  But... it... didn't... smell.  Why?  My hopes and dreams were dashed.  My hubby finished his shower as I was finishing my business.  He flung open the shower curtain and exclaimed, "Good morning, Baby!"  

Damn you Poopie Bandit.  I will get you.  
2 comments

I got DUMPED!

Jan 14, 2009

 I think I just had my first dumping experience.  I was having some abdominal (leftover surgical) pain, so I took some of the pain medication I have left from the surgery.  Dilaudid.  Hadn't had any problems with it post op... and I didn't figure it would be a problem now.  Well, that stuff is actually pretty sweet, and shortly after taking it, I thought, "I don't feel so good," so I lay down.   I thought I was okay... but when I stood up a while later, I had this episode of feeling ill and shaky, sweaty, weak.  I felt like I needed to poop or puke or something, so I ran to the toilet.  That just returned a little gas.  When I got up from the toilet, my face was as white as a sheet.  I lay down a little longer, and now I'm fine.  Must have been my first dump.  Guess that will deter me from biting into a sugary piece of cake any time soon.  Ha ha!

Tonight I went to the support group sponsored by the Methodist bariatric program.  I didn't have any specific expectations other than to show up, find out what it was all about, and see who was there...  Some say that great friendships come from these sort of groups.  I'm glad I went.  I've been struggling the last couple days with food cravings.  Right after surgery, of course, I didn't feel like or think much about eating, but the last couple days, I've been having naughty thoughts about pizza and macaroni and cheese and just about any thing that comes across the TV screen, whether I would normally eat it or not.  But anyway, we didn't talk specifically about those sorts of issues.  We talked about stress and coping.  It was insightful for me to see that people who are a lot further along in this process have many of the same struggles we all have with food addiction--even after surgery.  It seemed like a safe environment for people to discuss some of the struggles, and some of the ways of coping with them.  After the meeting I felt much better--That I had found a place where I could go for support.  I'm not sure what exactly it is I need at this point of my journey, but I plan to keep showing up because it will enrich my journey to meet others who have experienced weight loss surgery.  I've done the whole weight watchers thing before, and I know from that experience that meetings help me to stay focused and accountable, so yes, I will continue to go.  


1 comment

I miss food

Jan 13, 2009

OK, it's finally sinking in...  I miss food today.  On the way to school, I was thinking, "It would be so nice to have some pizza later."  I don't find my food cravings overwhelming... just there.  I think this stage must be hard because I don't get to eat much even when I do eat.  

I guess that's all I have to say.  Short and sweet. 
2 comments

Day 9

Jan 11, 2009

Soon I will probably have to stop counting this blog in post op days, I guess... but I'm not creative enough to think of other snappy blog titles.  Ha ha.  Well, let's see....  I went to a party last night.  It was good.  Of course there was tons of food.  I just brought some tea and water and drank that.  Being around others while they're eating is much easier now than it was while I was on the pre-op liquid diet.  I don't seem to be struggling with it too much.  As much as I have gone off track with the weight situation to get obese in the first place, I think now that it's go time I just have this "that's just the way it is" attitude about my diet right now.  And another thing... maybe it's just easier when you can't eat anything at a party.  I mean, I've been on weight watchers before and gone over to their place for foodapalooza, and I always ended up overeating... but this way, not being able to eat anything, I just didn't go there.  Can't really overeat if you can't eat anything at all.  I started pureed foods today.  Sundar just had to have nachos today (the ones I make), so I pureed a little soy meat and refried beans for myself.  I was thrilled to read in my book this morning that I could bump up to a whole three tablespoons of food, and I tolerated that just fine.  

I've been reading a lot of posts on this site--on the forum.  Some of the long-term effects of things that can go wrong with malnutrition and hair loss are kind of scary.  Now I'm not one to live in fear or in the land of what-if, but it's good to learn about these things to reinforce the role of good nutrition and supplimentation.  My hair is my crowning glory.  Granted, I have it cut very short right now, but it's a thick head of hair.  And I'm a busy gal, what with juggling a career and education--I need to have energy and vitality...  So yeah, I have to be a good girl and be diligent about meeting my nutrition requirements.  I'm glad I have been able to get so much information here.

One thing I've noticed.  Well, it's not like it's a brand new revelation, but it's so much more stark now.  I had a lazy day yesterday and lounged in front of the TV a lot.  It really hits home now how many TV ads are about food--junk food and fast food--and loads and loads of it.  Is it any wonder so many of us are obese?  I'm all for personal responsibility.  I'm not saying TV ads are the reason why I got fat.  I know very well I shoved the food in my mouth all on my own.  But geez...  I'm just astounded when I really pay attention to what is coming onto the TV screen.  KFC has this new "meal" that comes in a box.  ("Forget the bag--Go for the box!")  It has chicken fingers, a sandwich, two sides, a biscuit, and a large drink.  And at the end of the commercial they say, "Now that's a lot of food!"  And to think, not all that long ago I was shovelling it in.  

I wonder if I'm going to be a slow loser.  I don't have a scale at home and don't really want to get one, I don't think.  I don't want to play the obsessive number game.  But I lost one pound last week and I just don't "feel" like it's melting off me.  Which is fine.  I don't care though.  It's not a race.  As long as I get to the finish line, I'll be happy.  

Tomorrow I will go get some vitamins.  


2 comments

One week post op

Jan 09, 2009

OK, where to start...  I went ahead and went on with full liquid diet yesterday.  It was fine.  No problems.  I went to see the nurse today for my one week follow up, and she agreed that it was okay since I have resumed normal activity and haven't had any problems.  My throat has been bothering me--I figured it was just from being intubated, but this morning I woke up with thrush.  I tend to have yeast problems with antibiotics, and of course they gave me some in the hospital.  Luckily I have some diflucan left over from last time I had a go-'round with antibiotics and yeast, so hopefully that will clear it up.  Oh, I've lost one pound.  I don't feel discouraged by that.  The nurse says it's totally normal to not lose much or even to gain weight during the first week.  I know from experience that I retain a lot of fluids when I'm on narcotics, and I was pretty puffy when I got out of the hospital... so whatever.  I've already noticed little things like it's not as monumental a chore to get my bra on anymore, my coat is zipping up easier, I got my seat belt on, etc...  So even if I haven't dropped pounds, things are going fine.  I'm stil having surgical pain but it's tolerable.  The nurse said I should not have much pain any more and if I do it might be from "not taking it easy."  Ha ha.  I was running errands on Tuesday!  Oh well.  I'm just glad I'm feeling well enough to be out and about, and I'm not having any GI problems--no vomiting or excessive burping or discomfort with eating or drinking.  Can't complain.  My chronic chest wall pain is kind of flaring, so I went for an acupuncture session this afternoon and scheduled myself for a couple next week.   Over and out.
1 comment

Feeling better, 6th day post-op

Jan 08, 2009

 I'm feeling so much better today.  Less pain.  More energy.  I've pretty much carried on at my usual activity level today.  I went and got my textbooks and then did a little shopping at Target.  I cleaned the kitchen, swept the floors, and did a load of laundry...  Feeling productive.

So here's the deal.  I ate some cream soup a while ago.  I'm not supposed to advance to full liquids until after I see the bariatric nurse tomorrow... but you know what?  I needed to eat something.  After feeling rather listless for a couple days and being so active today, I thought I'd just give it a try.  And guess what?  No alarms went off.  There was no puking, no excessive burping or pain.  I had some roasted pepper tomato soup, 2 tablespoons.  I took about 40 minutes to eat it.  Nice and slow.  It was SO GOOD!  Considering I haven't eaten (jello doesn't count, I'm sorry) since December 22nd, I think trash would have tasted good.  

At Target I got some baby spoons and a handheld mixer thingie.  I'm hoping that will work for pureeing my foods.  The blender is such a hastle.  Even if it doesn't work for pureeing, I have a long life of protein shakes ahead of me, and I can use it to blend those--to get the lumps out.  In addition to a couple cream soups, I also bought yogurt and some cream of wheat.  Oh, and milk.  I think I'm going to have some milk in a little bit.  

I'm really excited for pureed foods (getting ahead of myself) because I can have refried beans.  I love refried beans.  
0 comments

I don't feel so hot today

Jan 07, 2009

I just don't feel so hot today.  I felt better the first day I got home than I do now.  I feel tired.  Tired of juice and jello too.  Tired of the surgical pain.  I think I'm going to lay low today.  I went out yesterday.  Ran to Target and some other errands.  I guess it's okay to just mellow out for a day.  (I have to give myself permission.)  I don't know if this totally off the wall, but last night I started to feel a little hungry.  Not just bored-hungry or habit-hungry.  I mean hungry.  Like I really wanted something to eat.  I've been getting plenty of fluids.  I'm keeping track and I'm doing fine in that department.  Also the poopies are setting in.  Seems like every time I get up I have to run for the toilet.  Yeah... I'm just gonna stay home today.  I'm gonna take a shower and hunker down with some movies.  I feel like I'm in a holding pattern--waiting to feel better.  

Bleh. 
1 comment

About Me
Richfield, MN
Location
32.0
BMI
RNY
Surgery
01/02/2009
Surgery Date
Dec 20, 2008
Member Since

Friends 12

Latest Blog 17

×