Jen R.

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http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/ericklein/

On this eve before Mother's Day , I think of my momma and how much I miss her. Four and 1/2 yrs ago we lost her so unexpectedly. She neglected a UTI--she thought colon cancer had returned and spread. Mom was found on the floor in her house alive, dehydrated and in severe pain. Her beloved dog Maggie, the same one I had to put down in March, was by her side. The person who found Mom gave her double the dose of painkillers at Mom's request. FOr  as long as I can remember, my mother abused painkillers. She had many faults but she was my mom. During her week in the hospital, she became septic. Originally the antibiotics and all the treatments worked. Then her frail little body 5' 96 lb gave out. None of us ever got the chance to say goodbye to her. She did however say goodbye to me. At 4 AM on November 17 2002 as I slept, Momma came to be and told me to "come on, I have to leave now" She shook me from my sleep kissed me and when I woke up I thought I was just dreaming. At 7AM my younger brother called to say our mother passed away at 4AM.(My parents like to die at 4AM--March 27 1976 my father came to me and kissed me on my forehead. I then got up and told the people I was staying with that my daddy just died)

I think of women in my life who are mothers. My wonderful sister, my great mother in law, an amazing sister in law fighting breast cancer. My friends--some who are good moms, some not so good.
I think of Natalie Blaum and her mom, of Jane and her mom.
I think of women who are yet to become mothers.

I think of my children. My son Doug who made me a mom by adopting him. My stepdaughter and my stepson and my soulmate who made me their mom.
I love you all.
Happy Mother's Day

going tonight to Verizon Wireless Ampitheater to see Brooks & Dunn and Alan Jackson!!
I'm sure I will have no voice tomorrow from singing along( come on you know you do this too!)

As you can guess not everything will apply to everyone, however, the following are my observations for the last few years

By 1 week preop: 

Panic sets in – much like the panic before having a baby.  What to take to the hospital…pack and repack.  Arrange everything you can before going into surgery (cook meals, write letters, read the memorial pages and then go to the message boards to get reassurance, confirm baby sitting, postop help, time off work, travel arrangements, etc.).  Dive into whatever final foods you’re just SURE you’ll never eat again.  Ask the MB what foods you’ll never eat again.  Insomnia!  Mood swings.   Preop testing, nasty bowel preps (btw, there are NO easy ways to get this stuff down.  Just do it!).  Wonder if you’re weird because you ARE NOT scared.  Wonder if you making a mistake because you ARE scared.

 

Postop Day 1 through Week 2:

“What the hell did I just DO to myself???” 

“Why am I/am I not hungry?”

“I’ll NEVER be able to get in all the fluid/protein/food they want me to.”

“I can eat TOO much – did I break something?”

“I can’t eat enough…will I die of starvation?”

“I can’t believe how badly this hurt!  ~OR~ I can’t believe I even had surgery, because there’s so little pain!”

“Why do I have no energy?”

“When can I eat….fill in the blank?”

“Will I ever be able to gulp water again?”

“Why did I GAIN 10 pounds???”

“Wow, I’ve lost 10 pounds!”

You think you've hit your first plateau.  Nope.   Odds are VERY good you haven't :-)

 

Postop weeks 2 through 12: 

Post op remorse usually fades during this time period.  What a relief that is!

You TRY hard to stick to your doctors diet regimen/protocol and wonder if you’re evil when you slip off the wagon by eating….fill in the blank.

You think you've hit your first, 2nd or 3rd plateau.  Nope.   Odds are VERY good you haven't :-)  Nearly everyone experiences a stall during the first 3 months.

You accidentally gulp water and freak that you’ve broken your pouch.

You accidentally forget to chew something to death and fear you’ve plugged your stoma.

You FEAR strictures, fistulas and leaks every time you burp, get nauseated, have diarrhea, feel a muscle cramp, etc.  This fear is not abnormal and you ‘could’ have one of these since this is the prime time for it – however fear is no way to live.  There are common symptoms attributed to these.   Hopefully you’ve researched them postop and can shelve the fear and keep a reasonable eye out for them.

You discover that you vomit or burp mucus, foam or fluid occasionally.   This is called frothing, the foamies, or just mucus.  It typically IS just mucus, caused by your healing pouch.

You discover your body has weird ways of telling you that you’ve eaten enough/too much (i.e., sneezing, sniffles, runny nose, hiccuping, etc)

You wonder if it’s normal to poop once, twice, three times a week.

You discover one day the scale is evil (you’re loosing too slow) and the next day its your friend when it rewards you with 1, 2, 5 pounds gone. 

You wonder if you’re losing too fast and how will you stop it when you get to ‘goal’.

You wonder if you’ll EVER get to ‘goal’.

You try numerous types of protein drinks/bars, etc and wonder if protein is ‘for life’.

You swear you will never eat or drink….fill in the blank…as it is evil or forbidden (pop, cookies, popcorn, gum, etc.).  

You discover that many (not ALL) long-term postops have discovered that very little is forbidden or evil to them in moderation and with care.

 

Months 3 through 18:

You worry you are a slow loser and have days you doubt the tool will work, or wonder if it’s broke.  I am NOT mocking.  Some people’s tools DO break during this period of time, but it is in the minority, not the majority.

You wonder if you’ll ever get to goal.

You made goal and worry you’ll not stop losing.

You worry because you can eat TOO much.

You worry because you still eat too little.

You worry about getting in enough protein.

You worry you’re getting in too much protein.

You ponder whether carbs are evil or not.

You question again whether diet pills are evil.  (They ARE!)

You compare your losses against everyone else’s.

You discover that you had an exercise guru hidden within you and are now an exercise maniac.

You discover that you HATE exercise and try and force yourself to get moving.

You may have hit your first plateau.  Don't panic!  - Have you noticed a reoccurring theme? :-)

 

Months 19 and beyond:

You may hit a  plateau.  Don't panic!

You reach goal and worry you'll regain.

You wonder if you'll stop losing!

You wonder if you'll EVER make goal (you've likely heard about the dreaded window and fear it closed at 18 months - be aware, I continued to lose to goal for 20 to 22 months).

You may  find yourself sliding; eating the wrong foods; slacking on exercise; and freak when you regain 10 pounds.  Time to get back on track! 

This is NOT to discourage you from asking questions.  If anything this is to encourage you to.  This is to show you that all your fears, doubts, worries and hopes are VERY normal – and to not be afraid to ask that question that is eating at you.   I have purposely not provided ‘answers’ to most of the above questions, because we all need to discover our own path on this long loooong journey and everyone’s answer will be slightly different, as will their journey.  So if you’re worried, curious, knowledgeable or just flummoxed…ASK, TELL, RESEARCH! 

Good luck to all – preops and postops and just the curious.

Permanently warehoused on www.bariatricbytes.com

http://www.frontiernet.net/~jimdandy/specials/onedayatatime/onedayatatime

I got a preop date with my surgeon. It's not until May 17th :(  Maybe there will be a cancellation and I'll get in earlier.

My surgeon now provides a letter for all postops to give to their PCM. THe following labs are recommended at 6 and 12months then yearly after Gastric Bypass surgery. CBC,CMP,IRON,VITAMIN B-12,THIAMINE,25-HYDROXY VITAMIN D,PARATHYRIN,FOLATE,LIPID PANEL,TSH AND HEMOGLOBIN A1C (If formerly diabetic) I thought this info was worth posting on my here. I love my surgical team. They are Naval trained docs and I have received wonderful care from Portsmouth Naval Medical Center.

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Hope you enjoy!

My Gyno called me today with results of my pap smear. My cervix is fine..no signs of displaysia or cancer.  It seems that I have endometrial cells showing. Endometrial hyperplasia is what he called it.  I have to get a referral from my PCM to the gynecology dept of Portsmouth Naval Hospital. I have no problems with my periods. Light, cramp free and short lasting. I just want to go get checked in a hurry. As strange as it may sound I don't think there is a problem.   I want my wls surgery.