Improvement!

May 17, 2012

Over a month has passed since my last blog entry and things have improved for me overall. I no longer regret having the surgery but it is still a struggle to embrace all the changes necessary for success. There are so many and for someone who tends toward perfectionism it can be overwhelming!

I have tried to stick close to the recovery timeline given to me by my surgeon's office but have learned the hard way that they were right when they told me it was a guideline, rather than a timeline, and in no way specific to my own recovery. Sometimes it has seemed as if I lost two steps for every one I took because I would be going along, doing fine, then suddenly the food I was able to eat yesterday was no longer tolerated today. It can be so frustrating! Usually, though, I can trace the real problem to something I've done that I shouldn't have done. Like eating too much and/or eating too fast. This last setback was caused by my taking Benefiber for constipation, something that was recommended by the nurse at our support group meeting. A different nurse told me to stop the Benefiber and start taking stool softners. So far, so good.

Compared to some accounts that I've read, my weight loss has been rather modest. Six weeks out I've lost about 30 lbs. I've been plateau-ing for the past two weeks. When I weighed Tuesday night, the first time in two weeks, I'd only lost 2 lbs. Since I didn't have the dreaded three week plateau I'm calling it my six week plateau. My clothes continue to get baggier and baggier, though, so I know I just need to be patient. The pounds will start falling away again eventually.

My surgeon finally cleared me to return to the gym today, something that makes me very happy. I had only been going to the gym for three weeks when I had my surgery and I've been afraid that the small cardio gains I'd made then will have disappeared. I asked them specifically to mention that it was OK for me to start strength training when I go back. The gym I go to is actually an extension of the cardio-rehab unit and they are very protective of their members. They only allowed me to do the recumbent stepper and the "hand crank" (like a bicycle for your arms) before. My surgeon agrees that I need strength training as well so hopefully with his endorsement I'll be able to start that upon my return.

After such a dark beginning to my "rebirth," the future is finally looking brighter and filled with all the hope I had held before my surgery. Would I do it again? I don't even have to think about it. My answer is most definitely, yes!

1 Comment