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Tomorrow I go back in for one last (I hope) dilation to the enterance to my stomach.  I am eating, but at times things are sitting, much like they did with my band, and even water won't pass through.  It's making eating protein a chore, so pray for me that this is it!

I am still trying to figure out eating.  I feel like I eat all day, even though it's small amounts.  I'm finding that the more I am exercising (I'm working out pretty hard) the hungrier I am getting.  I haven't been sticking to the LOWEST carb but I'm averaging 3-4 lbs a week.  I think part of that is the exercising that I'm doing.  So thus far I am pleased.

I'm averaging anywhere between 800-900 calories a day now.  BUT, since I've started working out again, I'm burning 400+ at the gym.  When you enter exercise into the Daily Plate, it takes off what you did and gives you a Net.  Net, some days I am under 500.  Anyways, I do not like the NUT in our office, so I need to find one that I can discuss this with.  I don't feel deprived, tired or anything like I did with the strictures and not being able to eat and drink.

NSV's:  I've gone down from a 26/28 to an 18/20.  My feet are getting more narrow, and I can find more shoes that fit!  I bought a pair of jeans and a top from Old Navy that weren't plus size, that was kind of cool!

The downside is I am shedding, HAIR - it's mainly when I wash my hair but we're noticing it coming out.  It's not in handfuls, and it's been happening for about a week, but it's still a little upsetting, because I've always feared going bald.  My husband has been supportive, and I've been trying to use the thickening shampoos.

So, I can say now I love my sleeve. I am fighting a little head hunger vs. true hunger, but thus far I haven't thrown up from eating, but I have been uncomfortable.

That's about it.  TTFN!

I can't believe how dramatically things have changed for me over the past 10 weeks.  I am finally starting to eat now.  Drinking isn't that difficult, and I'm getting in an average of 600 calories a day.  (said in very slow, deep, breaths) I AM FINALLY STARTING TO LIKE MY SLEEVE.

 

WOW.  What an interesting 8 days this has been.  For those of you who remember my last post, I was being admitted into the hospital for dehydration.  What had started on being a 1 day stay, turned into 8.   I am going to post this because I want others to read my experience.  I hope it'll help if someone finds themselves in the same situation.

Quick Recap:  I was sleeved on 12/1 as a revision from a lapband.  I was in the hospital for 6 days after my sleeve, I couldn't really drink or keep things down, but finally had done enough for them to let me go home.  Around Christmas, I developed a stricture, and went back in over New Years and was dilated.  Since then, I still had problems drinking, and could only tolerate water.  Other than the nutrition given in the hospital, I had not had "food" or "calories" in 8 weeks.

Fast forwarding to Friday the 23 (I think that's the date I went in) after several painful attempts, they finally got an IV going.  I was so severely dehydrated, that my veins were hard to find, and quite frankly kept blowing.  That weekend was the "hydration" weekend.  My electrolytes were off, and no matter what they did, they couldn't keep my potassium up.  So Monday, same story, and my doctor comes in that night (he'd been at an Obesity Conference and I was being seen by his partner).  He says that he's going to do surgery on Tuesday and place stints in my stomach to try to keep it open.  Mind you, over the weekend they had done ultra sounds etc. trying to figure out what was going on.  Tuesday they take me into surgery (basically an EGD, but they put you under to place a stint) the 45 min procedure turned into 2 hours.  It was awful, I woke up feeling worse than I did after the original surgery!  Because he couldn't do the stints (kept breaking) he did another dilation.  Two more days of IV fluids (and some nutrition thing recommended by my nutritionist that I reacted to) they place a central line on Thursday.  AWFUL.  I cried the entire time.  Friday was better, they started me on TPN Thursday night and slowly I started feeling better.  Today I'm back home, waiting for home health to come and hook up my nightly TPN.  Apparently the dilation worked, because I started drinking water, and nothing has come back up.  I even ate some broth and jello.  For the first time, I felt full - not pain.

The long and short of it, was that the scar tissue from the band caused my sleeve to do a 90 degree turn.  So, instead of a smooth curve, my stomach turned, which was where the liquids were catching. 

My doctor is going to do one more dilation to double check the scar tissue from the band.  He's an excellent surgeon, and I feel very blessed to have the care that I've had.

Moral of the story is, when your body tells you things aren't right, they usually aren't.  It wasn't normal to spit up after having anything but water.  I lived like that for several weeks, thinking it was just an adjustment period.  It's not.

It's been 7 weeks.  I still can't say that I am in love with my sleeve yet.  It doesn't like to drink OR eat, LOL.  In fact, I have to force the issue.  Dr. W finally moved me to the pureed stage.  After two bites I feel like I am going to hurl.  I've never not been hungry before and not wanted to eat.  I basically live off of water.

I am trying to get in protein and take my vitamins.  I really don't want to have issues with my hair coming out.  It will probably seem silly but I pray over it EVERY night.  I figure it is what it is, and I don't want to stress.

Speaking of, I've noticed if I get upset, or if I stress, my sleeve tightens up.  It's so strange.  DH and I are going through "growing pains" and it's hard because food was such a common bond between us and now it's gone.  I realized we don't have as much in common.

Much love,
Sara

I was reading my previous blog - wow how things change!  I developed a stricture at about 3 weeks out.  I couldn't drink water, soup, ANYTHING.  My doctor admitted me to the hospital last week and pumped me full of fluids, and then did an EGD and found the stricture.  After dilating it, I am now able to tolerate liquids, vitamins, and I am feeling so much better.  Planning on going back to work next week.

I am still struggling with the protein a bit, but I know it'll get better.  I'm on liquids for another two weeks, and he'll probably have to do another EGD w/dilation in the upcoming months.  It wasn't until this week that I actually started to like my sleeve.  I am down almost 40 lbs.  I'm going to upload my 1 month and previous pictures here soon. 

This is like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, but I can feel my confidence coming back, and I can't wait to get back into the gym.  My goal is to be at 200 by my birthday.  (May).

It's now been two week since my sleeve surgery.  I am down almost 30 lbs. My DH keeps saying how great I look, but I don't see a difference yet.  Each day is getting better - I am able to drink more, and the protein drinks are going down better.  Physically I am feeling better, emotionally I have my ups and downs.  I have been praying a lot, and having to remind myself why I did this.  I know in time it will get better, just have to keep my faith and work hard.

This is an update I posted yesterday.

I went in for surgery on Monday, 12/1/08.  Dr. Wilson explained to us that it would take about 5 hours.  Man, the hospital was awesome, calling and giving my hubby updates every hour.  Well, to make a long story short, I ended up with the sleeve only.  After removing my band and port, the doctor realized that the amount of scar tissue and such was too much to do the entire operation.  He said that the bottom of my stomach was extremely thick and he broke two staple guns trying to close things up.  So, he ended up doing hand sewing - the good thing is that I only have one new scar!! 

I had a hard time starting on the clear liquids.  I was scared to drink.  I couldn't grasp in my head exactly how big my stomach was, and though I wasn't in a lot of pain, I was having serious remourse for what I had done.  I just thought that this surgery was going to be as easy as the band.  The truth is, even though I've been "cut up" I feel more whole, and felt a lot better knowing that my tummy wasn't being separated by some foreign object.  This is silly but I can burp!  I couldn't EVER burp with the band!!

I don't remember much until they took my morphine away, but I tell you, by the end of the week I was getting cabin fever.  My labs were pretty off, and I had to have 4 potassium drips for two days.  One thing I never let go of was my faith!!  I also started walking and walking and walking.  It got to the point that the nurses were telling the other patients to walk like me!!!  Anyways, once I finally got the sipping thing down, I drank my 64oz of water yesterday.  So today, I am home, MIL and I are going to get some Christmas lights and decorate the outside of the house. I am still a little sore, but hopeful.

DH said when I woke up from the surgery I was mad that I couldn't get the switch.  So, I have accepted that I have a sleeve now, and I am going to rock it as best as I can.  I had a stern talking to with myself and realized that God makes things happen for a reason. 

In the room next to me was a man who had a "botched" bypass.  he had gone to Mexico because his insurance wouldn't pay for WLS.  I could hear his pain through the walls!  He was having awful problems.  It was then I realized that God is good, and I am blessed that insurance covered what I needed to make a new life change.

I have so many blogs that I forget what I write where.  My DS surgery is in 3 days.  Dr. Wilson started me on the liquid diet today.  I went for my pre-op yesterday and they inform me that I have to start a liquid diet on Thanksgiving.  Man I was PISSED.  So then I get this horrible feeling that maybe this is all a bad idea.  I am scared of not being fat anymore, I am scared of not being able to eat my emotions away.  So, I pray.  I emailed my friends and asked them to pray, and suddenly I feel better.  Today I had soup and water all day.  I did cheat and had about 1 oz of cheese.  Through Sunday, I am sticking straight to what they are requiring me today.  I've drank 2 liters of water tonight, and I figure if I can keep the water going it won't be so bad.

So, I'm filled with all kinds of feelings - nerves, straight fear, etc.  I am going to keep praying.

Yesterday I talked with Connie in Dr. Wilson's office and we scheduled a date for my DS.  I've been reading, reading, reading and have started to prepare for my surgery.  I am doing things VERY much differently then with the band.  I know that this is a tool, not a cure - and I am going to use it that way. Look for updates soon.

Time really flies!!  Well, the insurance company did not approve the VSG, so I have decided that I am going to go with the DS.  I am going to attend another one of Dr. W's seminars and start walking for an hour 3-4 times a week to build myself back up.  I am waiting for Connie to call so we can schedule surgery for early December.  That way, I can take off through early January and have to recover and enjoy the holidays.  So, I am nervous, but also content with my decision, as I know something has to be done...