Jamie B.

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So I've been stalled out at 30lbs lost for quite some time now.  I know it's because (1) while I don't eat much, what I do eat is crap; and (2) I'm not exercising.  I'm hoping to rectify the latter next week.  The past 8 weeks or so I've been dealing with some major crap with school (let's say I'm not a big fan of pediatricians).  Hopefully it will all be resolved tomorrow after I face a very large, very scary school committee.  In the meantime the stress and anticipation of dealing with this crap and really messed me up.  Biggest problem...constipation.  I'm sure you all really wanted to know that...sorry for being so frank. 
I'm really hoping that next week I'll be able to really focus and get on track.  I've rejoined a gym and am starting a fairly slack class that will go for the next 4 weeks.  So hopefully that will be a good jumpstart time for an exercise routine.  The hardest part of exercising, for me, is getting started.  Maybe if the elliptical machine dispensed Starbucks coffee....

I just realized it's been over a month since my last post.  And boy have I been through a lot since then.  I did okay for a week or two after my first fill.  Then I started vomiting occasionally (maybe every third meal).  I thought I was just eating the wrong foods.  Over a few days the vomiting increased to where I vomited after every meal.  I could keep liquids down okay, but knew I wasn't getting enough.

I started feeling pretty warn down and all-around cruddy.  Then I got up one morning and discovered my urine output had decreased drastically.  So I finally admitted that I needed IV fluids.  I've always been a "hard stick," meaning my veins are thin (the only thing about me that's ever been thin).  It typically takes a couple attempts before an IV can be started.  This time, though, it took 8.  This was just further confirmation that I was dehydrated. 

The fluids made me feel a little better, although I was still puking.  My mom is a surgical tech and knows/works with my surgeon.  She saw him at work the next day and told him about my issues. Tattle tale.  Anyway, he made sure I hauled my butt back to his office to get some fluid taken out of the band.  That was all almost two weeks ago.

So now I'm down to 1cc in the band.  I'm eating fine (and by fine I mean far too much).  So now I have an appointment next Tuesday to get another fill.  Moral of the story: Doctors (and med students) make the worse patients; and sometimes a gal still needs her mom to kick her in the rear from time-to-time.

Monday marked my first fill.  Three cc's were added and I'm doing okay.  Feels like more things are "getting stuck."  But that's probably more my fault.  Chew!  I can definitely feel the difference though.  I eat very little and don't really get that hungry.  It's AMAZING! 

So next Monday will mark 5 weeks and I've only lost 17ish pounds.  I know the doctor said that some people actually gain weight before their first fill, so I should just shut up and be happy, but I want more dawgawnit!  (That's right, I said dawgawnit, that's how SDans roll...I often say "howdy" too!).  I scheduled my first fill a week from Monday, which will put me at exactly 6wks post-op (the soonest the surgeon would fill me).  I'm actually wondering if I can talk him into "doubling-up" on the fill.

On a totally separate note, here's a funny story....

As a 3rd year medical students we have a set group of rotations we have to do in various specialties.  Right now I am in Pediatrics.  I had to examine the ears of a 10 month old girl with a cold (cough, runny nose, etc)....which requires basically laying across the baby to pin her down.  Somehow I pinned down all limbs except one arm, and the little pipsqueak managed to stick her mucus-laden finger right up my nose!  It's been a few days, and I have yet to get sick.  I take this to mean that all my exposure to baby-crud over the past year means I have some sort of super-immunity.  Although, having said that, I'll probably wake up horribly sick tomorrow....

Just thought I'd share...

I just realized how long it's been since I've posted anything.  I started back to school post-surgery and have been pretty busy.  I'm now to a point where I am finding myself ready for my first fill.  I definitely eat less than I used to, but I am eating more than I should be able to.  Overall I have much less pain then I did, although my port site does feel "funny", especially when I walk.

Oh here's a fun turn of events.  One of my incisions got infected (fortunately not the port site).  Because I'm in medicine and exposed to all sort of crud, I had it cultured.  It came back today as MRSA (go figure).  So 10-days of antibiotics here I come.

Tomorrow will mark one week.  I'm very excited because I get to start eating scrambled eggs and mashed potatoes.  My surgeon lets patients progress faster than most, which is fantastic because I'm getting really sick of pudding and jello. I'm still having a fair amount of pain and am requiring vicodin several times each day.  Sleeping has been the biggest issue, but last night I actually made it through the night for the first time since surgery. 

I'm about 18hrs post-op and am feeling okay.  Last night was pretty rough, I couldn't sleep because I couldn't get comfortable.  I think the place that is killing me the most is where the port was placed.  I've definitely been taking my pain meds like clockwork.  It's definitely weird feeling full after only a few sips of soup.  I've been joking with my fiance that now I'm a pretty cheap date...a can of soup can last three meals!

Today I had to switch from my regular Optifast program (which I have been doing since 2/23) to the "Impact Recovery" formula.  It's pretty horrible.  I'm suprised the stuff can actually be sucked through a straw.  I got the chocolate kind and have taken the nutritionist's advice and diluted it with skim milk.  It only makes it less sludgy, not more palatable.  I have resorted to "chugging" it, which gives me a stomach ache, but means I don't have to taste much of it.

Additionally, I've been experimenting with protein supplements.  Turns out I have some sort of super-human ability to pick out the taste of the powder, even when I hide it in pudding.  I've had other people try the stuff and they all say they can't taste it. I, on the other hand, think it tastes like spoiled meat.  Fortunately, I read someone's comment someplace about Isopure ready to drink "juices."  Their taste isn't really bad at all.  They're not overly sweetened or too fruity.  The only issue is that, even though they are liquid, they somehow manage to suck every last drop of moisture out of my mouth.  So I will have to "double fist" it was a glass of water or something. 

Anyway, enough complaining, I suppose I should just be thankful that I'm actually going to be able to have surgery.  Which I am.