jenjenor2

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One month since last written.   Only lost 11 pounds this month.  Things are really slowing down, but I guess that's okay for a couple of reasons.  First, my skin will have a chance to adjust and be less saggy.  Second - I've lost almost 70 lbs. in only 2 months and 3 weeks.  If things were to continue going that fast - I'd look like a walking corpse a year from now. 

I am still having trouble eating any regular foods.  The things I can eat are yogurt, (Oh, by the way  . . . . if you haven't heard, get Greek yogurt like Chobani or Trader Joes.  They have great flavors and there's 3x the protien than regular yogurts, 14 or 15 grams!), mashed potatoes, turkey chilli with beans, beets, peaches, my body loves milk.  Another tip - add Carnation Dry Milk (NOT Carnation Instant Breakfast, too much sugar!!!) to your milk for a huge boost in protien!  1/3 cup adds 13 grams!!!.  Can't stomach any crackers or breads or noodles yet.  I find I suddenly am grossed out by any meat products, except for the Turkey Chilli. 

I do have some concerns about sudden depression.  They warned (oh how they warned) me about this and unfortunately, they were right!  I have been extremely depressed and can only attribute this to the fact that I can no longer use food as a means of boosting my seratonin.  Bad habit!  I don't find myself wanting to binge or eat, but it's one of the only reasons I can think of that's causing this depression.  Other than major lonliness, unemployment, losing my home to forclosure after 17 years, chronic illness (Fibromyalgia and recently diagnosed with Lupus), kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, etc.  Okay - maybe I do have many other things to be depressed about.  For those of you thinking - get some help - I am.  I am seeing a psychologist on a weekly basis starting today!  I'd be curious to find out, though, if any of you are also experiencing depression since your surgery.  I always thought I'd be happy losing this weight, but it has had no effect on my affect!  (lol!)

7 Weeks Post op.  Things are going really well for the first time in a while.  Between 3 - 6 weeks, things got really tough.  I think they were related to stress and the terrible fact that I made a huge mistake and started smoking again.  Smoking irritated my esophagus and I already have huge isssues with esophagitis.  With that, food sat there and would not go down into my stomach.  I kept throwing up every day, all day for weeks.  I have finally cut down on smoking, still need to completely quit.  However, I am able to eat and haven't thrown up for a week.  I am just now moving beyond phase III onto real food.  Yesterday I had a Spring Roll and it was Sooooooooooooo Good!  I also had a small grilled tuna steak with grilled carrots and a little red potato.  Yummy!!!!!  My first real meal since surgery.  I went to bed feeling so satisfied cuz I was expecting it to come back up and it didin't.

I have lost 55 pounds and 29.25 inches!!!!  It's amazing.  I need to take pics of the newer me, but due to being unemployed and having no income right now - I don't have a camara or cell phone.  :(  So, nothing to take pics with.  I love trying on old clothes that I had saved prior to gaining all this weight (old faves that are classic and still in style.) and discover that they fit!  What an amazing feeling.  I used to have to take 7 - 10 shots a day of insulin, now I take maybe 3 a week!!!  That is a miracle in it self.  My stomach used to be full of bruises at all times from so many shots.  No more bruises!  Well, there is that big ugly scar from my chest to my pelvis, but hopefully that will lighten up some day.   I had the open RNY. 

For those of you just trying some new foods for the first time after phases I and II - here are a couple of good ideas others shared with me:

On a plate - put a table spoon or so of FF Refried Beans, Chopped Lettuce, Sour Cream and Top with some Sprinkled Cheddar cheese.  Take one Tortilla Chip and don't eat the chip, but use it to sort of suck off the dip.  Tastes really good and it's loaded with protien and some healthy fats, but most of all that much needed fiber.

Get Petridge Farm Whole Wheat Extra Thin Bread and Philadephia Cream Cheese and Sliced Cucumber Very Thin.  Cut off the crust and eat very slowly.  Tastes very good.

Get Turkey Chilli in a can.  Add a bit of sour cream and cheese.  Again, you'd think your tummy would reject, but it seems to love it.

I am still unable to eat any meat of any kind.  Eggs don't stay down either.  These seem to be common issues.  I have okay energy - still a little sluggish at the end of the day, but that's typical after having such a huge surgery.  I am walking 1 - 2 miles a day.  Climbing stairs is so much easier.

I got whistled at the other day and I kept looking around for who they were whistling at before I realized it was me!  That felt really good.  I haven't felt attractive in such a long time.  Good for the ego.

I started my own company making jewelry while recovering and had my first show at an art fair this past weekend.  I did great.  Feel free to look at my website if curious.  jewelrybyjen.vpweb.com.

I hope you are all doing well and I will check in as often as possible.

Things are going pretty well.  I had some difficulties at first learning how my stomach handles food.  A tip - avoid very cold foods at first.  I was eating cold pudding, cottage cheese, drinking ice water.  These caused me to vomit.  I found out from others who have had this surgery that very cold foods upset the pouch.  The reason is that at first the pouch is very swollen from the surgery itself and cold foods cause the tissues to shrink a bit - thereby rejecting the food.  I microwaved some pudding to make it warm - not hot - and the nausea and vommiting stopped right away.

I am down 16 pounds in 15 days!  Gotta love that!  I had lost 14 before surgery - so a total of 30 pounds.  It already feels great to lose some weight.

I have not yet advanced beyond the Phase II eating plan of full liquids, but am getting close.  I am on day 4 or 5 without throwing up.  I'll wait a full week and then introduce some pureed foods.  So, so far - just eating pudding, cottage cheese, cream of wheat, broths and pureed soups; i.e. cream of chicken or cream of celery.

I have a hard time with the 30 minute rule with regard to drinking prior to or after a meal.  I bought a couple of timers and have set one next to me when eating a meal - this has helped me stay on track. 

So here it is, the 4th of July.  I remember wanting this day to be here and over with just a couple of weeks ago.  Now it is here and will be over with soon.  I had my surgery on the 28th.  It was a rough road.  The 29th was the worst day - I was reacting to so many meds and hit a temp of almost 104.  I was in so much pain, was so tired and they kept getting me up and out of bed to walk and do my vitals.  I never got any sleep!  It was torture.  I finally was able to sleep on Thursday and can barely remember the day.  I slept it all away and I needed that!  Felt so good to get some rest and it made my temp go down to normal and I started to heal. 

So, here I am!!!! The night before surgery.  It's actually going to happen this time!  I was supposed to have had the surgery June 8th - but the nurses strike but the cabosh on that.  So disappointing. 

I am very anxious and nervous.  I know it's not going to be easy in the next week.  This is a major surgery and I've had them before, not a bypass, but major surgery.  They're no fun.  But, I'm very excited to start a new life.  I haven't been living for a long time.  My weight has literally enclosed and jailed me and my desire to do anything.  I have hated every minute of being obese!!!  I have lost 100 pounds twice before and gaining it back; well, there are no words to fdescribe that disappointment.  Pure dismay and sorrow.  I have been preparing for this surgery for 3 years.  This is not something I take or took lightly. 

I started the fast today and am on clear liquids.  I took one of two showers and used the hibacleanse.  I set the alarm for 5:30 a.m. tomorrow and need to be at the hospital at 7:00 a.m.  Pic line goes in at 8:00, surgery isn't until 1:00.  Have 4 or 5 hours to kill but they won't let me leave the pre-op unit.  It's going to be a long one.

I am hoping they make me very comfortable since I also have had a couple of spinal fusions and also have Fibromyalgia and Diabetic Neuropathy.  I get very stiff and sore easily - and laying on one of those temporary gernies for 5 hours will guarantee pain and getting off to a bad start.

I will write again when I return home from the hospital.  I have great support from my mom and dad, thank God.

Here I go . . . . . . . . .starting a new journey!  :)

I finally have a date for surgery, June 8th!  I started this process in December of '07!!!  It's been a 2 1/2 year journey just to get to this point.  A long and difficult journey.

I'm very excited and also scared to death.  I worry that I am not ready or that I will fail.  I'm not looking forward to the first 2 weeks - I hear they are difficult.  I'm having an open RNY.