100 pounds

Jul 13, 2008

Turns out my decision to not start any kind of a blog was the right one - I never seem to have the time to update the damn thing. This, however, seems to be worth the effort.

As of yesterday morning, I've lost more than 100 pounds since starting this whole thing. Of course, the larger portion was lost pre-op, but a loss is a loss. As of this morning, I'm down a solid 102 pounds. Between Shari and I, we've lost something like 295 pounds. Woo-hoo!

 


Catching up, Part 2.

May 15, 2008

Four weeks out next Tuesday. The first few days of clear fluids weren’t bad, but the last were very hard. The thought off both Jell-o and broth made me feel ill, so I got through the last few days on (sugar free) popsicles and (sugar free) kool-aid. Full fluids were a little better, but I found that I couldn’t eat something more than twice without again feeling ill. Fortunately, protein shakes and pudding didn’t elicit that response.

Been on soft foods for a couple of weeks now, in the puree phase. My first ‘real’ food was scrambled egg beaters – and my oh my were they good. The other main foods have been protein pudding and basic meat- and egg-based spreads, run through my food processor (set on “Obliterate”). Apart from the fact that my blender is a piece of crap, while I appreciate the need to keep food moist I’ve found that the additional liquid necessary to puree in the blender reduces everything to a thin, unappetizing gruel.

I’ve gone through a couple of patches where the thought of eating whatever the puree du jour was seemed a bit nauseating. At this point I have enough recipes and concoctions that variety isn’t really an issue. I’ve tended to stick to safe things – it requires fortitude to commit to eating at least four servings of a food, and in some cases I’m not willing to take the risk.Washing those damn half-cup containers in the dishwasher is a pain, though.

Fluids are difficult, but I’m averaging sixty ounces a day. Warm things – coffee, tea – go down the best. Popsicles, surprisingly, go down easily as well. Otherwise, apart from occasional pains in the upper right incision and being tired most of the time, I feel quite well. The scars are fading and not really all that noticeable, and I don’t have any discomfort when I move.

I’d love to say the pounds are melting away, but so far, not so much. Most of the post-surgical weight I’ve lost came off in the first ten days; there hasn’t been a lot of movement since. Not yet, anyway. I am a firm believer in the eventual triumph of physics over biology, so I can’t say I’m all that concerned. Besides, at this point there’s not a heck of a lot I can do about it anyway.

Tuesday, I can haz cracker! And canned veggies! Yay!



Catching Up, Part 1

May 03, 2008

In which I discover heretofore unknown amounts of empathy for one of John Hurt's early film characters, and also learn what it would be like to be a juice box.

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Got through the clear liquid pre-op with no problems. While my weight got as low as 315.4, due to the large amount of fluids I drank on the 21st  the morning of surgery was 316.8. Heck, I touched 315 though, so we'll call that my lowest pre-surgical weight. Means I lost 64 pounds on my own.

We had to be at the hospital at 9; I actually slept pretty well. Got there, went through admitting, and then up to the short procedure unit. Waited there about a half hour, and then into the holding area. Turned in my civvies for the latest in paper-based institutional fashion, and after a check of vitals, kissed Shari and headed into the prep room. While I really feel all the water paid off, it did take three tries to get the IV in - finally ended with it in the crook of my left arm. Dr. Meilahn had just finished another surgery, so I waited there - hydrating - while he had lunch. I told him to take his time, relax, have a nap if he felt like it.

About forty-five minutes later, they wheeled me into the OR. Scooted on to the stainless-steel plank they use for an operating table, got settled, and while I was admiring more telemetry and hardware in the room than I've seen at space shuttle launches the anesthesiologist did the voodoo that he do and I knew no more.

[discontinuity]

Shari told me that when she woke up in recovery there was a guy next to her moaning and in obvious pain. Well, on the downside, apparently I was that guy this time around. Now, the good things are that I don't remember having the breathing tube removed, or the actual process of waking up. I do remember that it hurt, badly. Don't remember the recovery room at all, or being moved up to my room. Do remember hitting the morphine pump button as often as I could. When I finally woke up enough to realize it was over, it was very late in the day. I'm not sure, but I think at that point we took a walk around the floor .

Compared with the hernia surgery I'd had several years ago, getting out of bed and walking was much easier. I was very woozy and weak-feeling, though, and happy to get back to my room. I sat in a chair as long as I could, but then gratefully got back into bed. Did not sleep well that night at all – my CPAP was uncomfortable, and every thirty minutes or so I’d wake up just enough to hit The Button again.

Felt somewhat better the next morning. At that point I only had two issues – I was having a really hard time waking up, and it was required that I pee before I could leave. The first issue was taking care of by napping sporadically and not pressing The Button anymore. The second was a little more problematic. Ever try to go to the bathroom with a nurse standing outside the door, catheter in hand? Sparing the details, suffice it to say that I was eventually let go at around 9PM, with a Foley in place. Which I wasn’t thrilled about, but I was glad to leave.


Last Day of Slim-Fast!

Apr 19, 2008

Tomorrow, clear liquids only. Laid in a supply of Propel; I'm currently consuming as much liquid as I can stand. Pretty well sick of Slim-fast and yogurt.

Yesterday started with grand ambitions. I have the girls this weekend; my thought was that I would go shopping, do some cleaning, and have a light day. Not so much.

Shopping was more of an event than I had anticpated - through both floors of Target for all the last-minute prep items and all the household things we've been out of, then to Barnes & Noble to look for anything decent to read (was going to buy a book on great American hamburgers but the irony was too much for my system to handle), and finally to Acme to get all the little odds and ends I couldn't get at BJ's last night. Back home, make lunch for the girls (which was much easier since I drank broth while I was doing it), then started trying to get some cleaning done.

Ended up doing a couple loads of laundry, cleaning the fridge, cleaning the tub, putting all the food away so it's accessible (I have to do things like keep granola bars in my bedroom closet so the boys don't eat them all at once). The reason everything took so long was that nothing was simple. As an example, I couldn't just put stuff in the freezer, I had to rearrange everything and figure out if things needed to be thrown out or cooked in the next few days. Should've taken five minutes and took thirty.

Girls are going back a little early today, which always evokes mixed feelings. In this case, though, I spent all day with them yesterday and I do have things I need to get done tonight.

Weight was up a little over yesterday; 316.8. Neither surprised nor bothered; my goal is to make sure that no matter where they stick a needle they'll hit a vein.

And I'm still waiting for it to feel real...

LPoD Day 9

Apr 16, 2008

Got approved two days ago. Yay!! As difficult and as heartbreaking as getting to this point has been, is exactly how easy and smoothly things are going now. It's good to know there is balance in the universe.

As of this morning, I not only hit my mental goal of 319 but sailed right on by, to 317.6. Means I've lost 14.6 pounds in nine days, and over 60 pounds on my own since the beginning of this trip..

I was going to mention that I've been feeling a little more tired than normal in the evening, but after having typed the preceding paragraph I think that would be expected. Sheesh! I'm riding the exercise bike or walking for at least twenty minutes every night, though, and I'll continue that right up until the last day.

Food still isn't a problem, although I realized tonight (which is something I think Shari had mentioned) that I'm kind of tired of eating sweet things. Well, it won't be all that much longer.

LPoD Day 6

Apr 13, 2008

That's Liquid Pre-op Diet, not Little Piece o' Death. Although that alternative works as well.

As of this morning, I've lost an even ten pounds since I started. Been keeping the calories fairly close to 1100, with a protein shake in the evening instead of another Slim-fast. By the end of the day, even the minimal control over the flavors I get to have is a welcome change. In the same vein, buying a case of yogurt made sense economically, but the fact that you only get three flavors is a little monotonous.

Actually spent a good chunk of the day cooking for the boys. Eggs and sausage for breakfast, cheeseburgers for lunch, and turkey-and-corn burritos for dinner. Also sliced up chicken to marinate for later in the week. Even not being able to eat it, I still enjoy the process. Cooking without tasting isn't as hard as I would have thought, although towards the end I had to make sure I got the leftovers put away quickly - the pungent smell of the burrito filling was launching a full-out assault on my otherwise steely resolve.

At the end of the day tomorrow, I'll be halfway through this, and more than halfway through this food group (since the last day is only clear liquids).

In the next day or two I should also hit 319 pounds, which is a meaningful goal for me. It'll be the lowest weight I can remember in the last twelve years, and I will have lost a total of 60 pounds on my own since this whole thing started last year.

A few more days should do it.


LPoD Day 2

Apr 09, 2008

Pre-admission testing this afternoon. Talked to the anesthesiologist, had an EKG, and got blood drawn. From both arms, actually. She started on the right side, and it never occurred to me that she might have a problem. The needle slid out after two vials, so I told her to use the left side where I normally have blood drawn. No problems there.

Ended the day at 1077 calories, with 77 grams protein.

Made the boys ham and cheese omelets for dinner, which was surprisingly easy. Got all mouth-watery smelling the ham saute, but wasn't even remotely tempted to have any of it 'accidentally' end up in my mouth.

Apart from the fact that I have to go to the bathroom every seventeen minutes, I'm feeling pretty good. Of course, it's only the second day.

But no, the testing didn't make it seem more real -  Shari said the insurance approval will do it. We shall see.

LPoD Day 1

Apr 08, 2008

Well, it's only been a day, but so far no problems. I feel fine - tum's a little growly.

Today's specs - 141 fluid ounces, of which 67 was beverages. 1113 calories and 63 grams of protein.

I made pudding tonight while I made the boys dinner - surprisingly, that wasn't a problem either. Having rules in place makes it easier for me. They're going to have some interesting meals over the next few days, as I clean out the fridge of things I can't have. Pierogies tonight; I think tomorrow they're having ham and cheese omelets.

My pre-admission testing is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. It still doesn't seem real.

Diving in Head First

Apr 07, 2008

Last night of the Big Binge. I gotta tell ya, after a year of dieting this is actually tough (I'm up to the challenge, however - knew those years of overeating would come in handy for sumpin').

Part of me (the rational part, I would think) is of the opinion that since I really don't want a few slices of pizza or a donut I should just not eat them. The other part realizes that this is an opportunity I may later regret not taking. So, pizza it is (and it was good, too).

Liquid diet starts tomorrow. As I sit here right now, it actually sounds sort of good - a detox after a weekend of relative excess. Of course, this time tomorrow there's a real good chance I'll be gnawing on the edge of the keyboard instead of typing on it. Doesn't matter though - it's part of the work, and I waited too long and fought too hard to get to this point. Besides, after listening to Shari tell me how much the pre-op liquids sucked it's going to be a point of pride to just laugh it off. Through gritted teeth, I'm sure.

Current Weight Ticker

Apr 05, 2008


About Me
Location
43.1
BMI
RNY
Surgery
04/22/2008
Surgery Date
Jan 13, 2007
Member Since

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Latest Blog 10
100 pounds
Catching up, Part 2.
Catching Up, Part 1
Last Day of Slim-Fast!
LPoD Day 9
LPoD Day 6
LPoD Day 2
LPoD Day 1
Diving in Head First
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