Rexxie

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Okay where was I ? Oh yeah, it had been a while since I had posted. Seems to be the undertone of this blog. Here I am 14 months out since that very scary time in Mexico. My health is in my control and no longer running on auto-pilot. I am off BP meds, still have to take Zocor, so does everyone else in my family including parents. I take a multi-vitamin, fish oil, B12 oral drops, and Vitamin D with calcium supp. That's really about it. As you can see, most of it is for what I am having a hard time getting enough of from then normal diet. Which I need to get a better grasp of. I am never hungry. I eat primarily I run out of steam. I quit smoking and took up running and weight lifting. My weight actually dropped below 150 for the first time since I was in high school. I couldn't believe seeing 149 on the scale. I about sharrted.

I have found that SOME people are uncomfortable eating around me since I don't eat much. Going out to eat, if I stick to the plan and refrain from drinking anything like an hour before, I can usually eat most of an appetizer. The complaint I heard was it made them uncomfortable to eat a normal portion. I try to put a tempo in my dining so I start and finish about the same time as others, but breaking the habit of a hurried meal is hard and I only realize it when I get the foamies.

Life is good. Still single. If you've been following this then you know why I opted for the surgery. Probably the wrong motivation but it is done and I am content with the results. Dr. Alverez did a phenomenal procedure.

Okay, I haven't posted in a while. September is nearly here. Where has time gone? I started the year at 292 and about 9 months later, I am at 180. Woo-Hoo.

I worked out hard running, gym etc the first 4 months post op and then picked up the cigars again. Since then, nothing. The weight continues to fall off though I don't do anything, don't eat either. Usually have a pot pie at work and a cheese stick. At home I don't eat. It is a pain. Literally.

My Doc is placing me on Chantix once again as it was very successful in the past. And I will get back to the gym and running. Maybe I can re-locate my A$$.

Ahhh, Easter, Ok, the halter monitor thing went well. Followed by the OBLIGATORY STRESS TEST. I FELT GOOD NO SOB, NO PAIN. ME THINKS IT IS GERD WHICH MIMICS SIMILAR SYMPTOMS AS CARDIAC, THE ESPOHAGUS IS A SMOOTH MUSCLE AND RESPONDS FAVORABLE TO NITRO LIKE THE HEART, ALSO SMOOTH MUSCLE. THE DESCENDING AORTA IS ALONG SIDE THE ESOPHAGUS. PLUS, I'VE HAD A LITTLE REGURG IN MY SLEEP AGAIN.

I HAVE LOST ABOUT 60 POUNDS IN 2 MONTHS. I RUN 5 DAYS A WEEK AND LIFT WEIGHTS. I HAVE BEEN OUT DANCING THOUGH HAVEN'T ATTEMPTED THE 2 STEP YET. I DID DO THE COTTEN-EYED JOE, WHICH IS MORE AEROBIC.

MY DIET IS NORMAL EXCEPT, REITERATING, REDUCED AMOUNTS. I WENT OUT TO LUNCH WITH MY SISTER, ALSO A SLEEVER. I THOUGHT IT WAS IRONIC THAT WE WERE THE FIRST ONES AT CHEDDARS WHEN THEY OPENED BUT THE 2 MOST UNLIKELY CANDIDATES FOR "COMSUMING" A LUNCH. THE WAITRESS BROUGHT OUT OUR LUNCH SPECIALS AND MY SISTER INSTINCTIVELY ASKED FOR TO GO BOXES. I WAS ABLE TO EAT 2 RIBS AND A LITTLE BIT OF BEANS.

I am well. i hav been eating normal foods but in GREAT reduction. Post op, I had nausea but no vomiting. Guess there wasn't much to purge. This week alone, I have gagged thrice. I have dropped 4 inches off hips and thighs. Waist is a loose 38. I still have trouble getting in enough protein. Pretty sick of shakes. I found this drink called Naked jiuce in the convenienc store. It boasts 30 G of protein and about 900 mg of potassium. It tastes good. But, it is a lttle steep at nearly $4.00 Sure beats that nasty shake.

Since I've cut out nearly all caffeine and nicotine, lost close to 50 pounds, my heart is just waking up and asking, "what's going on?" My heartrate is hanging in the 40's-50's, and no I am not a chiseled athlete nor marathon runner. Just a few skipped beats. But waking up at night vomitting is scarey so I went into get checked out. I get a halter monitor to wear on Tuesday to see why its so slow and a few times it has cranked over 140.

 

Last night and all day today, I have been having chest pain/pressure. I ended up calling Dr. A as I feel very full all the time. Even water is looking for a way back up and out. Of course, the protein bullets as thick as they are, are horrid. He recommended that I try yogurt. I picked some up on the way to work tonight.

I really need to quit smoking. I am sure that will ease the chest pain issues also, though I haven't had "cardiac pain" since the VSG. But today upon waking, I thought I was going to die. Feeling clammy, indigestion, anxious. My blood pressure was 130/100.  I wasn't sure which was being caused by the heart or the sleeve being full. So, just to be safe I took nitroglycerin and aspirin. I felt a little better when it was time for work. But the chest fullness remains. Hopefully tomorrow, I will get a good days sleep and all these problems will ease.

My weight loss has stalled. I have been at the same weight for 3 days now. I know that would come. I look at it as a chance for my skin to play catch up.

Today Feb 23, I was sick all weekend. What not a better way of spending time off, racing to the bathroom all hours of the day and night. Seems like all fluids that I put in came out. I contacted Susan from endobariatrics, and she suggested rather than going back to broth and clear liquid, try to add fuller things. So, at work tonight, I was feeling weak and dizzy, ( I hadn't eaten anything since Saturday and that passed thru like a tourist in Baghdad) and about the option from the vending machine was either chocolate, chips or these little sausage thingys. So I have been gingerly nibbling. No ill effects yet and not feeling as dizzy. Pretty horrible to be a paramedic and feeling worse than the patients I am here to treat.

But, with all the "runs" the weight actually just melted away the last few days. I haven't been hungry. Sure I'd like to have a big steak or something, but I feel good.

Okay, today is the 21st, 15 days post-o to be exact. I am feeling OK. I am having problems with "dumping". I scaled back the diet from the full liquids because I was feeling too full with pudding and soup. So now I am back to broth and protein bullets. Liquid vitamin supplement is the nutrition.

I have lost weight. Peeps at work have noticed this already. I feel fortunate that the weight came off my face first. My stomach soreness is diminishing. A little pain still when I sneeze, but sneezing has brought  new problem. Let's just say that kegels have been added to "tighten" things up. Very embarrassing.

I have been craving chicken wings, hot fudge brownie delight, and cheese nachos the most. I bought sugar-free Jelly Belly's thinking I could get the flavor of things without the sugar. They just don't taste the same as the regular kind. So, I work and come home and sleep. That's about all.

I am going to be an optimist and say tht I have turned the bend. I realize that after a week, it really doesn't matter what I put in my mouth it will, A- Either come back up in a bit or B- Make me think that I can actually leave home get about a mile down the road then harker a bellowing thunder from below and I start the frantic U-turn.

The instructions to my new stomach, aka Sleeve, say that I can now add full liquids. Mmm, that means to me that I will wait another day before truely jumping off onto that one. I went to Publix grocery today and got supplies like sf/ff jello, sfff pudding, sfff Milk, yeah right it was Soy Milk the only thing I could find that was close to milk w/o being anything like broth. Tomorrow, I am going to blend up some Muscle Milk protein shake.

I am going to venture out to the pool today and soak up some sun. It was 75 deg at 10 am this morning. Tonights walk should be awesome. Think I'll take it out at Clearwater Beach. 

OMG, I as just awakened by the most horrible retching. I felt like my esphoagus my on fire. I made it to the bathroom in record time, only to spit a few hundred times. I had the dry heaves in the worst way, since nothing to bring up.

Last night, the last ting I had b4 sleep was a protein bullet. Perhaps that is considered food and it was w/i 3 hours of laying down. I have been having a pain just left of the navel and the main incision. I thought it was a hernia as I can palpate a lump, and EVERYTIME i move, especially twist or change elevationsuch as laying or sitting, the pain is intense. But it seemed to be subdued when holding my hand firmly in the region. I got out my back brace from a recent back injury and put it on. Voila! Takes care the the issue almost 1000%.

Today, Wednesday is my last day off b4 I return to work. Fortunately I have a desk job, but it is for 12 hours, 12 very very long hours. I am off Friday, but then back to work the following 3 days. Hopefully, this will be better by then. t is post op day 5. Doc mentioned that the steri-strips should fall off today. I noticed in the shower last night that some are beginning to peek up on the corners.

I learned a new saying the other day, Since I live in the Tampa Bay area and our football team is the Buccaneers, everything is pirate themed. Well, it is on a T-shirt... ready...???  To err is human, To arrg is pirate. Awesome I think.

I have been trying to get this ^&*%$(((*&%$##^ ticker topost as my signature.

http://www.tickerfactory.com/weight-loss/wtZawDD/


Not sure why it's not. Using HTML Editor #1. What gives?