jennifer K.
3 weeks post-op
Aug 04, 2011
Yey finally had my first follow up visit with my surgeon. He says I am doing great and that I am down 25 lbs since the last time I was at his office (2 weeks before surgery). It took me 3 months to lose 20 lbs and here I did it plus more in 3 weeks. That is crazy! It has been pretty smooth sailing and I hope it stays that way! Doc says my incisions look good and that I shouldn't have to take the PPI for much longer that the acid gurgles in my stomach should go away in a few weeks. I have been off pain meds for about a week and a 1/2. He says next week I can start phasing in soft foods - so basically no more blending and using lots of mayo in my "salads" - plus I can eat a cheese stick (so excited) even scrambled eggs (w/bacon maybe) and I could try crackers with my "salads" - feels more like real food - I can't wait :)
So far I don't feel hungry - but i do confuse hunger for just acid gurgles. I have thrown up twice (due to med issues) but it didn't hurt and wasn't a big deal. BM's vary - it took me a week to go the first time - now it is really soft or the big D. I stopped taking the liquid colace - it is gross (med that made me sick).
Last night I was able to sleep in my bed and attempted to sleep on my side/stomach with the help of a body pillow - i tossed and turned to find the right spot -but once I did I was out! Thank goodness I was tired of sleeping on the couch.
Still just walking for exercise - go shopping a lot and just walk up and down all the aisles - especially at target! Doc says no go for heavy exercise for at least 2 weeks and even then to take it slow.
Technically I am in the pureed stage - but have been kinda straying toward mushie.
So far no food issues..I have tried
Applesauce
Egg salad
tuna salad
chicken salad
re-fried beans w/cheese
milk
mashed potatoes w/gravy
fudgecicle
pudding with peanut butter
tomato basil soup
chicken/beef broths
cream chicken soup (gross)
eggface - no noodle lasagna bake with ground up meatballs - delish!
1-meatball - soft and took 5 small bites - weird - before I could have eaten it in 1 bite LOL
I have eaten out 4 times so far
Mexican - taco salad ( re-fried beans, ground beef, lettuce, cheese, sour cream) - mix it all together it becomes like a runny dip. I used the salsa cup for my measuring tool - only ate 1/2 of what I put in and had tons of left overs! Next time I will just eat off someones plate.
Hometown diner - tomato basil soup - picked off the croutons, and avoided big chunks of tomatoes - ate in between 1/4-1/2 cup of it.
Wendy's - kids size vanilla frosty - added 1 tbl of Justin's pnut butter from the mini pack - I only ate like 4 bites and it was still more than 3/4 full. thank goodness it was only $.79!
McDonald's - small mango pineapple smoothie - had like 3 sips - put it in the fridge for later - once it was more liquid I could drink 1/2 cup - counted it as a milk.
This makes me happy because it feels do-able - like I can still go out with friends and not screw up. Hopefully it will stay easy to find foods at restaurants - trying hard not to make them a habit though.
Next doc visit will be end of the month 8/23 for 6 week visit. I will re-post then :)
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So far I don't feel hungry - but i do confuse hunger for just acid gurgles. I have thrown up twice (due to med issues) but it didn't hurt and wasn't a big deal. BM's vary - it took me a week to go the first time - now it is really soft or the big D. I stopped taking the liquid colace - it is gross (med that made me sick).
Last night I was able to sleep in my bed and attempted to sleep on my side/stomach with the help of a body pillow - i tossed and turned to find the right spot -but once I did I was out! Thank goodness I was tired of sleeping on the couch.
Still just walking for exercise - go shopping a lot and just walk up and down all the aisles - especially at target! Doc says no go for heavy exercise for at least 2 weeks and even then to take it slow.
Technically I am in the pureed stage - but have been kinda straying toward mushie.
So far no food issues..I have tried
Applesauce
Egg salad
tuna salad
chicken salad
re-fried beans w/cheese
milk
mashed potatoes w/gravy
fudgecicle
pudding with peanut butter
tomato basil soup
chicken/beef broths
cream chicken soup (gross)
eggface - no noodle lasagna bake with ground up meatballs - delish!
1-meatball - soft and took 5 small bites - weird - before I could have eaten it in 1 bite LOL
I have eaten out 4 times so far
Mexican - taco salad ( re-fried beans, ground beef, lettuce, cheese, sour cream) - mix it all together it becomes like a runny dip. I used the salsa cup for my measuring tool - only ate 1/2 of what I put in and had tons of left overs! Next time I will just eat off someones plate.
Hometown diner - tomato basil soup - picked off the croutons, and avoided big chunks of tomatoes - ate in between 1/4-1/2 cup of it.
Wendy's - kids size vanilla frosty - added 1 tbl of Justin's pnut butter from the mini pack - I only ate like 4 bites and it was still more than 3/4 full. thank goodness it was only $.79!
McDonald's - small mango pineapple smoothie - had like 3 sips - put it in the fridge for later - once it was more liquid I could drink 1/2 cup - counted it as a milk.
This makes me happy because it feels do-able - like I can still go out with friends and not screw up. Hopefully it will stay easy to find foods at restaurants - trying hard not to make them a habit though.
Next doc visit will be end of the month 8/23 for 6 week visit. I will re-post then :)
Surgery Day!
Jul 17, 2011
Wow, I can't believe I am 6 days Post OP! Here is my surgery experience...sorry if its too long!
Was at the hospital at 5 am - by 6am I was in my gown and waiting to head to the holding area. I was in the holding area for 30 minutes and spoke with the anesthesiologist and got my IV started. I didn't freak out or cry until I was being separated from my mom I did cry a bit. They gave me a sedative to calm my nerves. The pre-op holding area was busy- lots of people buzzing around. It made me feel a little less nervous because there were so many other people having surgery too! Then we finally headed to the OR - it was very bright and a little chilly - but state of the art equipment that made me feel safe. I met a few of the people working on me and they were all so nice and made me feel at ease. I moved myself over to the operating table. They put a mask on my face and told me to breathe. The next thing I remember was waking up in recovery - holy crap it was over! I had some pain but not nearly as bad I thought it would be. I was mainly sore and tired. i was pretty dopey the rest of the day Wed and slept a lot.
On Thursday I was feeling a little better. I was taken down for the leak test - it sucked! I had to drink 2 different kinds of fluids - the first one was in case there was a leak it wouldn't hurt my body and would be easily absorbed. Then I drank the chalky lemonade tasting stuff - i didn't puke which was great! The table was little and I felt really claustrophobic. They rotated the table so I was almost vertical. That felt good - gave me the confidence to want to stand up and maybe walk around. No leak! YEAH! I was awake a little bit more during the day and sat up in the recliner most of the day - they removed my catheter that afternoon and cleaned out my JP drain daily. I took a small walk Thursday evening. My throat was pretty raw and sore wed/Thurs. Every hour on the hour they checked my vitals (temp, blood pressure, pulse ox. I also wore a heart monitor while I was in the hospital. Most of the nurses and aids were great - i tried to be a low maintenance patient.
Friday I woke up to a swollen hand and wrist. There was an issue with my IV - so it got moved to my left arm. they drew blood everyday - I am pretty bruised up from the many times I was pricked.Friday I was given some broth at lunch and then for dinner I got mashed potatoes and tomato soup. I pushed the pain pump every chance I could - I didn't want to risk feeling too much pain. on Friday I walked like 3 times and was feeling OK. The hardest part was getting up to go to the bathroom on my own and lugging around all the equipment. I was also given blood thinners and an anti nausea shot daily. Friday I was feeling better and did a stand up sponge bath and brushed my hair and put on makeup. Then on Friday afternoon I was given the all clear to go home. I was discharged by 8pm. I was sent home with all kinds of meds. Pain meds, anti-nausea, anti- acid reflux, liquid colace. Oh man that liquid colace is awful! It burns the whole way down. other than that no issues with meds. once I am eating more foods - I will start to take my vitamins.
I have been focused on fluids and protein these past few days. I am living on water, propel water, and isopure protein drinks. In the evening I try one new food - to see how my tummy can handle it while following my step 2 diet. So far I can tolerate milk, pudding, eggs, mashed potatoes. I spent Friday & sat night on my recliner couch. Sunday I even tried to put a bra on no issues. I slept in my bed last night - still hard to sleep on my back but I have been managing. Today is day 6 and I feel like I am turning the corner and feel almost human. I can drink a little easier and want to be awake and do things. i might even attempt to go walk around the grocery store this afternoon! I got up this morning and was showered, dressed, makeup done. By the time I was finished getting ready I was tired. I took a break and drank part of my protein drink and might take a little nap. I weighed myself the night before surgery and then hid the scale. I am not looking at it again until after my Dr.s appointment on 8/2. I also will take my next measurements tat day and see what improvements I can have. I will post an update then!
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Was at the hospital at 5 am - by 6am I was in my gown and waiting to head to the holding area. I was in the holding area for 30 minutes and spoke with the anesthesiologist and got my IV started. I didn't freak out or cry until I was being separated from my mom I did cry a bit. They gave me a sedative to calm my nerves. The pre-op holding area was busy- lots of people buzzing around. It made me feel a little less nervous because there were so many other people having surgery too! Then we finally headed to the OR - it was very bright and a little chilly - but state of the art equipment that made me feel safe. I met a few of the people working on me and they were all so nice and made me feel at ease. I moved myself over to the operating table. They put a mask on my face and told me to breathe. The next thing I remember was waking up in recovery - holy crap it was over! I had some pain but not nearly as bad I thought it would be. I was mainly sore and tired. i was pretty dopey the rest of the day Wed and slept a lot.
On Thursday I was feeling a little better. I was taken down for the leak test - it sucked! I had to drink 2 different kinds of fluids - the first one was in case there was a leak it wouldn't hurt my body and would be easily absorbed. Then I drank the chalky lemonade tasting stuff - i didn't puke which was great! The table was little and I felt really claustrophobic. They rotated the table so I was almost vertical. That felt good - gave me the confidence to want to stand up and maybe walk around. No leak! YEAH! I was awake a little bit more during the day and sat up in the recliner most of the day - they removed my catheter that afternoon and cleaned out my JP drain daily. I took a small walk Thursday evening. My throat was pretty raw and sore wed/Thurs. Every hour on the hour they checked my vitals (temp, blood pressure, pulse ox. I also wore a heart monitor while I was in the hospital. Most of the nurses and aids were great - i tried to be a low maintenance patient.
Friday I woke up to a swollen hand and wrist. There was an issue with my IV - so it got moved to my left arm. they drew blood everyday - I am pretty bruised up from the many times I was pricked.Friday I was given some broth at lunch and then for dinner I got mashed potatoes and tomato soup. I pushed the pain pump every chance I could - I didn't want to risk feeling too much pain. on Friday I walked like 3 times and was feeling OK. The hardest part was getting up to go to the bathroom on my own and lugging around all the equipment. I was also given blood thinners and an anti nausea shot daily. Friday I was feeling better and did a stand up sponge bath and brushed my hair and put on makeup. Then on Friday afternoon I was given the all clear to go home. I was discharged by 8pm. I was sent home with all kinds of meds. Pain meds, anti-nausea, anti- acid reflux, liquid colace. Oh man that liquid colace is awful! It burns the whole way down. other than that no issues with meds. once I am eating more foods - I will start to take my vitamins.
I have been focused on fluids and protein these past few days. I am living on water, propel water, and isopure protein drinks. In the evening I try one new food - to see how my tummy can handle it while following my step 2 diet. So far I can tolerate milk, pudding, eggs, mashed potatoes. I spent Friday & sat night on my recliner couch. Sunday I even tried to put a bra on no issues. I slept in my bed last night - still hard to sleep on my back but I have been managing. Today is day 6 and I feel like I am turning the corner and feel almost human. I can drink a little easier and want to be awake and do things. i might even attempt to go walk around the grocery store this afternoon! I got up this morning and was showered, dressed, makeup done. By the time I was finished getting ready I was tired. I took a break and drank part of my protein drink and might take a little nap. I weighed myself the night before surgery and then hid the scale. I am not looking at it again until after my Dr.s appointment on 8/2. I also will take my next measurements tat day and see what improvements I can have. I will post an update then!
My story
May 24, 2011
I am almost 30 years old and my highest weight was 330lbs. I am short only 5'5 so that is a lot of weight to be carrying around. Knock on wood, I am a healthy person - no major medical issues and I want to keep it that way. For my height BMI says I should be 125lbs that seems like such an impossible number! I have gone through the beginning phases of the whole WLS process. I successfully completed the 3 month program, my insurance has officially approved my surgery, I have my preop appointment June 7th and hopefully have a surgery date soon after! It felt like such a long process in the beginning but now everything is going so fast! I will be sleeved before you know it. I have been stalking this site for about a month now and I am so glad to get real life - no BS advice about the surgery and life after - which I wasn't getting in that 3 month class. Thank you OH for being here for all of us!
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About Me
OH
Location
29.1
BMI
Surgery
07/13/2011
Surgery Date
May 19, 2011
Member Since