Piwell

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I am now 5 months after surgery and the honeymoon is over. I've lost 8 lbs this month, my weight is 185 lbs. I've lost another 4 inches overall. I feel like I'm hungry now...sometimes...am I? Is it just head hunger? Is it all my bad habits coming back? I feel good, but I'm mentally going crazy. I can definitely eat more now and I think it's scary me. It's also tempting me to try things...bad things...(ok here we go). I've try pizza, chips, candies, Ice cream, cookies, popcorn, fried chicken...can you think of anything else??? I'm so disappointed in myself and I feel like I've failed myself and everyone around me... The thing is I try these things and I don't really want it, I feel like I couldn't have it for so long that I have to have it, or at least try. I don't eat much of it. I don't really have the dumping either. I did feel a little lethargic and nauseous after a couple of things, I could definitely tell that it was too much sugar or fat...So it was definitely a learning experience for me. I got on the right track again. Not cause I was feeling nasty when I was eating these things. I COULD NOT waste this amazing opportunity I was given. I could not throw away this tool I was given. I have to learn, learn, learn...how to use it, how to live a healthy life and learn how to believe in myself, I have to believe that I can do this, that I CAN change. It's not about what you cannot do, it's all about what you CAN do!

So I am 4 months post-op and doing well. I have lost 9 lbs the last month for a total of 67 lbs. My weight is currently at 193 lbs. I have lost another 9.5 inches this month, for a total of 38 inches since surgery. I am happy of the weight loss but I was hoping to lose at least 10 lbs a month...but hey I'll take it! I know it slows down after a while.
I also been bad with my necessary daily routine. I've been stress at work, maybe changing job, lots of traveling, house renovations...I know none good excuses... I need to go back to my food logging, protein shakes, EXERCISES!! I haven't been doing anything...it's horrible. I'm still losing my hair like crazy, one more reason to stick with the program you would think!!!?? I did buy the Nioxin shampoo and the Biotin. I also got the Silica Complex supplements, which are so big...I'm not sure about those yet. I also been forgetting my vitamins and Calcium...I know BAD! I need to FOCUS! I need to focus only on these responsibilities, it should always be first priority!

I've made it! I've made it to ONEderland! I cannot believe it. The last time I was under 200 was probably my first years of college, about 10-12 yrs ago. I now weigh 196 lbs, lost 64 lbs in total. I feel so good.
I've been forgetting alot of things...important things I know I should be doing. Like food logging, taking all vitamins and supplements, drinking all my water...I even forgot an HOWL meeting...I was so upset. I just remember later in the week that I had missed it. I know it's cause I'm getting back into my routine life, busy life. I've been busy with work, house renovations, family visiting and me traveling to Canada. I also know that I will have to squeeze in these important things no matter what. It's part of my life now. I decided to change my life and I am going to do it right. Everyday I try to think of a new ways to fit these things in my daily routine. I will get there, I'll find a way...I have to.
My biggest problem now is my hair loss. I was already losing somewhat of my hair before cause of the PCOS, so I though uh maybe it won't get worse....WELL was I not prepare for what I saw in the shower a week ago. It totally freaked me out. I know people say that all the time, but I started shaking and tearing up. It just wouldn't stop. Every time I grabbed my hair, big chunks would come off. Then I dry my hair and brush it...a pile of hair accumulates in the sink. I screamed. My husband came up and said it was not that bad...but he didn't see all of the hair that came off during the shower. The hair is everywhere, on my arm, on my shirt, in my car, in my bed, in my drain, in my sink, on my floors...I can't stand it. I feel it all the time, tickling me on my arms, neck, face, back...it's really driving me crazy. It's even affecting our sex life...really....the hair was everywhere!! The funny thing is I don't look like I have less hair. It doesn't feel it either...maybe it's not been long enough, but I'm hoping it doesn't get to that point. I have order Nioxin shampoo and will get Biotin. Hope it helps...I probably should shove in more proteins...I try but it's hard for me to get even 60-80g a day in. I should probably get back on the 2-3 protein shakes a day. I will start with that and go from there. So I'm getting back on track, food logging, meetings, water, protein, vitamins and supplements, Biotin and Nioxin. It should do the trick!

So I am at that 3 months mark. I am doing well. I've lost another 11 lbs this past month for a total of 58 lbs. I'm only 3 lbs away from ONEderland. I can't wait! I have lost 9 more inches this month for a total of 28.5 inches all over. I feel great. I went for my 3 months blood work and everything looked good. The only thing that was slightly low was % FE SAT = 14 (15-40). I will just continue taking my Iron everyday.
I'm doing ok with food, but I've been forgetting about food logging. I really want to start doing it again. It really helped to keep track of my protein, fluid, and calorie intake. I was out of town 2 weeks ago and my family was here last week, so it has been a little hectic. But today I am back on track. I'm still going to my meetings and I am actually enjoying it very much. I learn alot and meet wonderful people. I thank God everyday for the opportunity that he has given me.

I am still doing fantastic. I have lost another 7 lbs in the last 2 weeks. It's a little slow but I enjoy losing every bit of it! I measured myself today and I have lost an average of 19.5 inches overall. I am so excited and I am loving every minute of it. I really notice a big difference with the picture of before and now. I couldn't believe I was that big!!?? It's amazing how you don't realize these things when you just don't want to know or you just want to avoid the truth...I will promise to try 101% to never go back to my old self!

I went to the HOWL meeting again tonight. It was good. I ran into two OH friends. It's nice to put a face to the profile! I also went to another smaller support group 2 weeks ago. It was also very informative. We had a Plastic Surgeon present, talking and answering questions. Last week I attend a support group in the town next to mine. I wonderful OH friend was hosting the party at her house. I was able to meet 4-5 more OH friends there. It was wonderful. Everybody was just great! I love going to these meeting. You learn so much and you make friends!

I had a good day today. I've lost another 7 lbs in the past 2 weeks. My weight is now 218 lbs and I'm down another size, Size 18. I have now met my first goal of weighing less than my husband. YAY! The best of all is my BMI is now under 40 (39.9). I'm so excited! I also went to a group meeting today. These meetings are for post-op bypass patients. We had a Plastic Surgeon talk to us and answer questions we had. It was very interesting.

And I joined the gym today!!! I will finally start my Zumba class tomorrow. I can't wait to see how I'm going to feel...I wonder how different it will feel with 42 lbs less?

I went to a "Healthy Weight and Optimal Wellness for Life" seminar today. It was great. Very inspiring. I'm happy that I went and I hope to continue going every month. Dr Greenberg (one of the psychologist) did his lecture and then we had the opportunities to listen to post-op experiences and adjustments from the people that knows best...US! It's great to hear them talk. The experiences are so similar. You can see a little bit of yourself in each story.

I'm doing well. I've lost another 2 lbs this week. My weight is 225 lbs. I feel my clothes getting looser. I think I see changes in my face. My double chin is shrinking. My husband, family and friends, coworkers seem to thing I look different.

So I'm just about 1 month post-op and I have lost 33 lbs! I'm feeling so much better and getting my energy back! The first 2 weeks of this process were a little tough but I was able to pull through and I have great result of it! I am so happy with my decision. I don't get to wake up in the morning and think about food the first thing when I open my eyes. I don't obsess with food anymore, I mean it's not the main thing on my mind. I don't even think of food now. I know this is the honeymoon period but it feels great not to be hungry all the time. To be honest, I do have moments that I think "Oh my I'm craving this or that...or...Oh what am I going to do I won't be able to have this *food* anymore?!" I do have the mental hunger from times to times, but I try to think of something else or think or how far I've already come. The pounds off are so well worth it!

My stomach (pouch) is healing well I think. I haven't been nauseous or vomiting since the surgery...I do get "stuck" with eating too fast...i have a hard time with that. Sometimes I forget and take a huge bite, swallow and I pay for it 2 min after. There is not food yet that I was not able to tolerated. I am following the MD and Dietitian strict instruction tho. One of the hardest thing I find is my cravings for fruits. I've been craving it since surgery and I still do! I just want to peel a nice tart apple and cut it in cute little cubes and enjoy! But I can't! I was always a big fan of fruits, so this one is tough. I also find it hard to only sip my fluids. I feel like I just want to chug it up! But I can't, cause I will pay for it too! I still have a little bit of that taste from drinking water. It is getting better. I can't really explain the taste...like it was sitting there for a really long time...It's just not appealing for me to drink it. I found an apple juice (light) that I like. It's been helpful but I'm still just taking in 26-32 oz a day. They want me to have 64. I do take in my protein pretty well, around 40-60g, depending on the day. I did start my vitamins and supplements. I take Pepcid, MVI, Vit D 1000, Vit C, Vit B12, Iron and Calcium. I have the vitamins in gummies, calcium in chocolate form and pepcid and iron in pills.

I went to see my Dietitian and the Medical MD and they said I was doing everything right. They said the issues I'm having with the water is not uncommon. They also said it might or might not come back to normal...ugh! I hoping it will. I'm staying positive! They are not concern at this point for my fluid intake, as long as I don't feel any symptoms of dehydration. They said that I would be able to take more in as my pouch heals. My incisions are healing pretty well. I have no pain and I have my energy back.

I do have another 2 weeks off from work which is great. I can focus on my diet and I will start walking this week. I'm not a big fan of walking but my dog is and I love my dog! It's also been beautiful out so this exercise could only be beneficial!

So I called the Center the next day and they ask me to come in. I still had the chills once in a while and was feeling low energy. My mother in law drove me to the hospital. When I arrived to the office, they took blood, urine culture and sent me for a CT Scan again...I had to drink the contrast this time, IV contrast and...get this...rectal contrast...for crying out loud!

When my test were all done, all I had to do was wait for the results to see if I was going to be admitted again. I got dressed from the CT and walkout of the Bathroom and saw Dr Shah in the hallway. She looked at me and said "What's going on? You don't look too good...I'm going to admit you. This time you are not getting out until we figure this whole thing out!" To be honest, I was a little pushy to get out on the past admission...just want to be home and feel good....

I was admitted. Dr Shah comes by and tells my I have a gathering of fluid on my left side. It created a hematoma (just old blood, body fluids from surgery). She wants to make sure that it's not infected, so they want to culture it and put a drain in. They started my IV antibiotics and more or those heparin shots and vitals every 4 hours....I haven't had a fever since I've been admitted.

The next morning they bring me in radiology to have my drain put in. I was so scared. I was going to be awake for this and I was terrified! The staff was really nice, but it doesn't change the fact that they are cutting through my skin, muscles and digging in between my ribs to do this... They were giving me local and something in my IV...but let me tell ya...some parts of it were not numb and it felt horrible..I was not aloud to move a bit, had to hold my breath while they cut or pushed...it was hard...I was crying after 2 hrs,,,

I finally have the drain in, it hurts and it's not draining!? They are irrigating it but nothing is coming out. Oh well the MD tells me the Culture was negative. YAY! When can I have it out?

They kept the drain in until today just before I'm being discharge (just spent 5 more nights). It didn't drain much but they said the drain helped break it up. After an x-ray they told me they could see that  it was actually shrinking.  I spend the weekend here (boring) but hey better safe then sorry. I got alot of the IV antibiotics, no fever, heart rate went down and I feeling much much better!

Oh and I actually started the Stage 4, puree soft protein diet. I'm tolerating it well. I had puree chicken, turkey and beef. the gravy (fat free) help go down easier. I still have a weird taste in my mouth when I drink water?! It doesn't feel right. All I drink right now is skim milk and protein shakes. I do sip on water but not much. I have lost another 10 lbs this week. This is awesome. It so unreal. My weight is now at 235 lbs and I'm down a size, Size 20.

Hopefully this is my last admission...

It's been 4 days since my last discharge. I'm still feeling exhausted, easily out of breath, getting chills and fevers if I don't take Tylenol every 4 hours.  It's hard for me to tell if I feel that way cause I went through surgery or cause I have pneumonia or just cause I need to do nothing but relaxing...Maybe I do too much...Maybe there is something else going on...aggrr...I just want to start feeling better. The odd thing is, it really doesn't have anything to do with the bypass itself. Everything on that side of things is great. I'm tolerating my full liquid diet fine, no nausea/no vomiting, no extreme pain. Oh Oh Oh...and I lost 10 lbs this past week! I couldn't believe it. I stepped off and blink and tried it again and yep there is was, 245lbs.I'm so happy! I'm recovering well considering... I just feel beat up.

Tonight I decided to not take the Tylenol. I had talk to one of the MD at the clinic today and we discussed me having the chills and maybe trying to see if my Temp would go up if I didn't take the Tylenol. Sure enough it went up to 102.1. I called the on call surgeon and he told me to take Tylenol and if I feel worse or if my temp continues to climb to go to the ER. AGAIN? NO....I took the Tylenol. An hour later my temp was down to 99.6. I still want to know what the heck is going on. I am on Cipro (which taste so disgusting). I know the Cipro is for UTI's but is it covering my Pneumonia? Is something else going on? I'm going to call the clinic again tomorrow. Something needs to be done.