Linda T.

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I never thought I would make it through that first week.  I was surprised at how bad I felt.  I guess since this surgery has become so prevalent, I started thinking it was no big deal.  Well, its a big deal.  I had a few minor issues in the hospital, rapid heart rate, fever. So they made me stay and extra couple of days.  I thought it would be more relaxing at the hospital but I was wrong.  Every 15 minutes or so someone came through my door, just as I started to doze off.  I started losing track of who everybody was.  The meds had me really fuzzy and I couldn't keep my eyes open even when I talked to people.  And, of course, the incisions.  I had seven due to a gallbladder removal as well.  My husband stayed with me most of the time and he was awesome.  Very patient and helpful. 

By the time I got home all I wanted to do was sleep, but I had to keep drinking, drinking, drinking. :)  I started walking a couple of times a day for 15 minutes each on the 5th day using my treadmill.  That went well.  Then I upped it to 3 times a day which also went well, but when I tried to increase the time, it was waaaay too soon.  Nap time.  During all this it didn't help that I had an allergic reaction to the Lortab so I was covered with an itchy rash.  Quit the pain meds.

Today is day 16 and I'm feeling so much better - I can see light at the end of the tunnel.  I've kind of gotten in a rut with the "pureed food" phase because I'm scared to try tuna or to try pureed chicken.  I've been sticking with cottage cheese, yogurt, eggs, refried beans, and a little cheese.  I need to expand my choices a little since I've got another week of this to go.

I took my first outdoor walk a few days ago which was great.  Walked for 25 minutes.  I am headed out there again today since yesterday I didn't exercise at all.  I still have two incisions areas that are swollen and sore but the other areas seem to be doing great.

There's one thing about this site that bothers me.  I see soooo many posts about desserts and sweets and people trying fried foods.  I had this surgery to help me learn to eat healthier foods, but it seems like a lot of people want to continue to eat like they did before, asking when can I drink soda and when can I try cookies, etc.  That scares me.  I don't want to concentrate on how to make sweet desserts or drinks.  I want to lose my desire for those tastes. 

Hope everyone is doing great today!  Heading out for my walk.

I guess its time to put my story out there and try to connect with some of you who are going through this same scary process.  I started having a secret affair with food (especially candy) when I was about 10 and could finally go to the store alone and buy whatever I wanted and then hide it in my dresser drawer.  That same pattern (with a few variations) continued for the next 30 some years.  I didn't really start gaining weight, tho, until I moved away from home and no one controlled what I could and couldn't eat.  I could go to Del Taco whenever I wanted; I could eat chips and cookies, etc.  We didn't have a lot of that when I was growing up.

I always thought I was fat when I was in high school, but years later when I looked back at photos, I was surprised to find that I was only a size bigger than my sister and she was about a size 3.  Its kind of sad that I convinced myself that I was fat and then ate myself there.  Same as everyone else here, I've had lots of dieting successes and lots more failures, but I swore I would never have surgery to lose weight.  The whole idea seemed ridiculous to me.  Talk about failure - to have to have someone cut me open and rearrange my insides just to lose weight! 

Well, about six or seven months ago, I started to realize that my life was just moving ahead without me.  I knew that if I wanted to enjoy any part of my time on this earth, I needed to do something about my health.  i started researching (again) and finally went to a seminar.  I also found out that a very good friend had had surgery without telling anyone and he was ecstatic.  I really got a lot out of the seminar at Vanderbilt and decided I would start the process and do whatever the next step was and make the final decision when it was necessary.  Turned out my insurance was very easy to deal with, didn't require a lot from me.  Vanderbilt had a whole process to go through, but I got through that.  Now here I am 4 days away from surgery.  I'm still really surprised to find myself at this spot, but I'm going through with it.  I want to actually live the rest of my life not just exist.  I'm sure most people on this site have been through many of these same issues and feelings and I want to wish you all lots of luck in the coming years!