Amy T.

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

Today is my 6th day.  This week really has flown by with minimal pain.  I have gotten sleep every night, and am pretty much off the pain meds! 

Yesterday was a big outing,  I drove my daughter out to see her horse,  and watched as she cleaned his stall, groomed him, etc.  Then I went to the drug store to pick up some essentials.  I only took a one hour nap after that, and then cooked my husband a birthday dinner of Ribeye steak, baked potato, grilled asparagus and carrot cake.  I wasn't even hungry or feeling deprived at all.  I sat at the table with the family for dinner,  first one for me since surgery and ate my 1/4 cup of cottage cheese.  I didn't feel like I was missing out at all.  I focused on the conversation, and enjoying time with my family rather than what was on my plate.  It was a new feeling for me, and it was a good and positive feeling. 

Today I plan on taking it easy,  watching movies with my daughter, and getting some walks in throughout the day.  I start my summer sessions at college on Tuesday, so I need to not over do it these last few days before class starts.

I have been getting in my protein and water since I came home from the hospital, but it is a full time job staying on top of it!  Yesterday I actually got in 80 g of protein and 50 oz of water!  I am able to sip quite a bit of water, and eat about 2-3 tbsp to almost 1/4 cup of yogurt or cottage cheese.  Monday I go to pureed foods, and can't wait!  lol.  I will be a magic bullet wiz by the time pureed stage is over!  ;-)

I haven't weighed myself since the morning of surgery.  My weigh in day is Friday.  My hubby promised me he would hide my scale and only bring it out once a week on Fridays for my weekly weigh in.  I am the type that can obsess about the number on the scale and I tend to have my self worth rolled up into the number on the scale.  I really want this to be about more than that number.  My nutrition, behavior modification, exercise, fitness and lastly weight.  I won't lie,  I have been dying to weigh myself, as I previously was a daily weigher.....  but the day I came home from the hospital I noticed the scale wasn't in the bathroom.  I love my husband!  He is such a wonderful support.

Here's to day 6!  
Amy

HI all,  just a quick update before my pain meds kick in and I fall asleep!

Had surgery at 7:30 yesterday morning and it went so smoothly.  I never had any major pain, at most a 5 on a scale of 10.... I just feel like I did 1000 sit ups..... my incisions are all less than 1 inch, and not sore at all - nothing not tollerable at all.  I have been pleasantly surprised!  My new pouch is 30cc or like 2 tbsp!!!

The worst part for me was when I came out of recovery with a horrible sore throat from the tube and a horrible dry mouth. Imagine that!  My throat hurt but my abdomen didn't!   I couldn't have any water for 24 hours,  but was able to swish out my mouth and gargle warm water, which helped tremendously!  I had carmex cherry lip balm that I continued to put on my lips and on the inside of my lips to help hydrate them.  It was a God send!!!  Nothing too unbareable though!!

Last night I actually slept 5 hours straight without having to press my pain meds button.  I was shocked!  I think it was the best 5 hours of sleep I have had in a long time!

My drain tube was removed today, and my cath and IV too.  I have already started on liquid loritab and for breakfast I was brought jello, broth and propel zero.  After not having anything for almost 2 days, it was like the best gormet meal to me!  ;-)  I have already been taken off one of my blood pressure meds!!!

My room is amazing, it looks over Torrey Pines golf course and the Pacific ocean.  My nurses have been phenomenal, everyone at this hospital has been so kind and accomodating!  I really feel like I am in a 5 star golf resort!   All this for my co pay of 25.00 a night!  

All in all this has been by far the best hospital experience I have ever had.  Truly amazing and I am so thankful.

Thank you everyone for all of your support and prayers!  It meant so much to me. 

Will update later about my ride home, and life at home! 

Thanks again everyone!  

I am only 23 hours away from surgery.  This time tomorrow, I will be under the knife.  I am so ready for this.  I am ready for this change and positive step towards a healthy future.  I am a little upset at myself for not being able to lose the weight on my own,  and upset that I had to result to surgery to fix this.  I just hope and pray that my recovery goes well,  there are no complications, and I will be on the road to recovery comfortably.

This week has been easier than I thought with the liquid diet.  I kept super busy all week cleaning like a madwoman.  One day I did have a bad headache, but I was a little bit dehydrated and my blood sugar dropped.  Nothing a little water and a hard candy didn't fix.

I thought I would be nervous and a huge ball of nerves and anxiety this week, but I have been calm and organized all week long.   A pleasant surprise.  

Bag is packed.  I am ready to go.  Today can't go by fast enough.

Ready to take control of my weight,  one last time.

So many emotions running through my mind.  The organized person in me has run through all of the 'needs' checklist several times, packed my bag, and purchased things for post surgery.  The neurotic person in me is full of anxiety and is stressing that there isn't enough time in the days ahead to get things at home ready for me to be gone...

It's funny.  My husband spent 25 years in the Navy and used to leave for months and sometimes a year at a time...  many many times through our marriage.  I don't once remember him making lists of lists for his abssense.  Why do I obsess over cleaning that pile of mail up or making sure all laundry is folded and put away before I check into the hospital?  After much self serching this week I realized that the reality of surgery haunts me - I want to put things "in order" before I check into the hospital.  God forbid if something goes wrong, I would hate for anyone to come into my house and say "Goodness what a slob" ...  (even though I know I keep an immaculate house)....  One of the many many things I really need to work on.  Add it to my list....   ;-)   

I am anxious and nervous but really just want to get on with my healing and recovery.  Some of my friends think I am crazy for having surgery now.  Its been a crazy busy year for me and my family.  Husband retired from the Navy,  we moved to SoCal,  I started college at 40,  we are building a house and will be moving in 6 weeks AND I chose to have WLS during my 4 week summer break before my summer session classes start.   WHEW.  Don't think I could cram one more thing in this summer.  I have always been able to thrive under pressure and come out on top.  This is the ultimate test.  

My liquid diet starts on Monday.  Everyone keeps asking me what I want for my last supper.  Frankly,  I haven't been binging or filling myself full of foods like I thought I would.   Sure, I have said goodbye to lobster mac n cheese, and some other horrible calorie busters,  but I just haven't had much of an appetite for anything.  I think my nerves are getting to me.

I can't believe how fast this process has been!  No bumps, easy going.... no stress.  I am at peace with this decision.

The next 2 weeks is going to fly by.  I am beyond excited and can't wait to start my new life.

Received a call from the surgery coordinator that she submitted all of my paperwork today to Tricare.  She anticipates I will get an authorization within a week..... and then I can schedule my surgery date!  Its happening so fast now...

I have so much going on in June,  I hope to have surgery the first week of June.  We are closing on the home that we are building the end of June, and June 21st my summer session at college starts.  Fortunately I am only taking one 6 week Psych class.  

Lots on my "plate" in the next month, and its ALL positive!!!!  

Will update once I get a surgery date.

Yesterday I had my consult with the surgeon that will be doing my surgery.  He was very informative, explaining everything in detail.  He had a wonderful patient and understanding manner to him.  Throughout my consult he constantly asked me if I had any questions.  He explained his "track record" thouroughly, and the risks involved.  I was very pleased with him and his expertise.

After my consult, he stated he could do my surgery as earlly as next week!!!!  I was shocked and expected a lot of things leading up to surgery.  However, his office had me do 'the checklist" before I even saw him, so by the time I met with him everything was crossed off and I was ready to go!  

I explained to him that I am in the last month of my spring semester at college and could have the surgery the first week of June. The office will be calling this week to schedule my surgery!

I am excited, anxious, and nervous to get on with this journey!  Im sure this month will go by so quickly!  June will be a huge month for me!  WLS, and closing on our first home we are building~  Lots to do, need lots of energy for it~

As I read through many posts on OH, a common theme seems to pop up every now and then.  Posts filled with "what ifs?"

"What if I have complications?"
"What if I don't come out of anesthesia?"
"What if this doesn't work for me?"
"What if I don't loose enough weight?"
"What if people don't approve?"

I think we tend to sell ourselves short.  Why do these negative thoughts pop up so often?  For years now,  I have been shutting down these negative talks in my head with positive affirmations.  When I doubt myself,  or have negative chatter in my head,  I try to drown out the negative talk with 2-3 positive affirmations.   Don't get me wrong,  it took a while to get used to and make this a habit.   But, once I mastered this practice,  my anxiety level went down tremedously.  

I realized positive self talk and affirmation creates so many opportunities and life rewarding changes, mentally, emotionally and physically.  We can chose to think positively or negatively to the voices in our heads.  The choice is up to us.

"What if I come through surgery without complications!!!"
"What if I DO come out of anesthesia!!!"
"What if this DOES work for me!"
"What if I lose all of my weight!!!"
"What if people support me unconditionally!""

I suspect that if you have been overweight your whole life like me,  that the negative chatter runs through your head alot.  Maybe it is from others negative talk to us or about us.  Maybe we start believing the negative chatter.  We have the power to take control of our thoughts and lives.  WLS is just the beginning to a life changing journey.  We need to change our bodies,  but also need to change our thinking...





 

Crossing my legs.
Walking up a flight of stairs without feeling like I am dying.
Being comfortable in those damn plastic lawn chairs that are everywhere!
Fitting properly in the desks at the college I attend.
Buying clothes from the 'regular' size section - something I have never done.
Being able to be off my blood pressure medicine.
Fitting on the rides at amusement parks with my family.
Jogging with my husband.
Training for a 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon.
Riding horses with my daughter who spends all of her time at the stables.
Flying without the use of an extender belt.
Tying my shoes without being in pain.
Being able to exercise without every joint hurting -  I actually love to exercise.
Having enough energy to make it through the day without a nap.
Living a long healthy life at a healthy weight.
and....
Being an active participant in my life, rather than a spectator.

Tonight my husband and I went to the surgery orientation at the hospital.  During this orientation,  the surgeon came in,  discussed all 3 surgeries in detail - posted all of the stats for each surgery, and explained pre op and post op for each.

Going into the orientation I was sold on VSG.  After listening to the surgeon,  asking questions, and hearing all of the pros and cons with each surgery,  my husband and I looked at each other and said  "Bypass" at the same time. Mainly because RNY is the "Gold standard" for bariatric surgeries - and the long term data as far as weight loss and maintaining the weight loss is quantifiable.  For me, and as much weight as I need to lose,  the malabsorption and restriction of the bypass I feel is the way to go.  I feel that all three are valid surgeries,  but each person has to really take a look at their own life and determine which tool will help them in the long run.   

I am more than pleased with the doctor,  his entire staff and thrilled with the hospital which is a Center of Excellence hospital for bariatric.  Not to mention that while I am healing in the hospital,  I will be able to look out on the Pacific Ocean and Torrey Pines Golf Course.  ;-)

I think I will finally be able to sleep after this decision.  My mind has been racing for weeks now, and I have become quite the insomniac.  Hopefully the peace that this decision has given me will enable me to finally get a good nights sleep.

I look forward to this journey and am ready to dive in and give it all I have.   I am ready to be proactive with my life and health and make this much needed change in my life.  To ensure a longer life.