zelschap

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Yesterday (4/15/10) was monumental for me! I finally decided that, soreness aside, I had to go to the gym and start MOVING!! I always went to the gym before surgery, and, 4 weeks later, I really felt the need to go.  And, believe it or not, I was no more sore afterwards than I was beforehand. I was so thrilled! I did a mile on the treadmill, (24 min mile - okay, so it was not so fast, but it got done!) 2.5 min on the stepper (I really took it careful because that uses lower abdominal muscles and I was mainly testing) and 5 min on the recumbent bike (ditto abdominal muscles). And it all turned out okay! I was so thrilled last night. And today, did the same thing except I upped the 24 to 23.06 mile, which sped it up a little bit. AND, I did 10 min. total (5 Min. at a time) on the stepper, and 10 min. on the bike. I am so excited! I really believe, with this added activity, that I will be able to lose weight better. And - another thing. Please make sure if you are using your home scale that it is ACCURATE!! My scale is terrible. The one at the gym is a digital, is newer, and it added to my pounds lost. I feel so much better 'cause I was really getting sort of down in the dumps. But, it took me from a loss of 19-20 lbs. up to 25!lbs. and that really made me feel better. I tried it today again and it was accurate with yesterday's weight. Now, I am determined NOT to get on that scale till next week.  My problem now, as I bet it is all of us, is keeping on an even keel and not pushing so hard so quickly! We all get so impatient to return to "normal" (which, we must remember, was obese and lethargic!) So, "normal" was not really so good after all.  I have to remember to be PATIENT; it will come.

Anyhow, that is my big news for this week. Now, I will tackle those d-----ed protein shakes with more enthusiasm!!

Well, Easter was almost a week ago! Today is April 9 and I cannot believe time passes that quickly! It was a wonderful, sunny, beautiful day and it was great to see as many of the kids at one time. The little ones had so much fun hunting Easter eggs and the older ones playing Cornhole.  Seeing them all at once seldom happens. Still, two daughters and their families are out of state and we did not get to see them. But we were grateful for the ones we got to see.

I really did not do a lot while there. But, I was up and moving and the car ride was almost 3 hours round trip. I was totally exhausted when we got back home and rested all day on Monday.  I think my lack of energy is attributed to the lack of formal exercise and not getting in enough protein. I MUST solve the problem of protein. I do not understand why I have developed this aversion to protein shakes; and I do take them - but I hate them. There must be an easier way. I am averaging 50-60 gms of protein per day. And I think with 60-80 gms. per day, I would heal faster and have more energy. Anyhow, I am still trying.  I wish there were a pill I could take. Lord knows, I have taken a lot of pills (vitamins, iron, K+, Mg+, Calc++, etc. since surgery; I could surely take protein pills.  I am still looking.

Diet wise, I have not had too much trouble with food. On some days, I really feel full quickly, but I don't get hungry. I wake up early and after taking morning meds, I feel a little queasy. But, with a little something on my stomach, the queasiness leaves. So, then I can take the first round of vitamins, etc.  I will be glad when I can get in bigger amounts of regular food, as that will help with the protein intake.

Have been able to do laundry with my husband carrying the basket up and down the stairs. But have done no other lifting and have done minimal cleaning. I am so anxious to get outside in the beautiful Spring weather. I have always been in the dirt at this time in the Spring, and I really miss that. However, how much better to be patient through these recovery days and be able to do anything I want to very soon! And be thinner - and wear nicer clothes instead of floppy shirts and baggy pants. And feel better!  I have to keep reminding myself to be patient - and I thought I was a very patient person!!

Well, here's hoping the next entry will find my incision more comfortable and my energy level much higher.  It will be 4 weeks post-op in two days! That is so hard to believe! 

Well, I must admit I am not much in the mood for April Fool's Day. But I am really in the mood for the wonderful Spring day as it was today. Today was my first sojourn out into the world of commerce. My husband took me to Sam's, stayed with me, pushed the cart and lifted all the heavy bottles. It was heaven. And Sam's made me feel much better. But tired when I got back home.

Yesterday, I visited the WL surgeon follow-up appmt, and the cardiologist. All's well with the weight loss except for some slight irritation with the incision that my bra irritates. And the cardiologist began pulling all the meds that I hated away. The one med particularly makes me sleep all the time, and he said I could begin to wean it off. Wonderful! And two more of the meds are going.....I am so glad. I really believe I will have much more energy when they are gone.

So, tomorrow one son and his wife will visit and that will be fun. Then, Easter will be here on Sunday and I will spend time with all four sons and daughters-in-law and 13 grandchildren. We are hoping for a nice sunny day so we can get all those kids outside for an Easter egg hunt in the afternoon.  Hopefully, then next week, I am definitely going to start walking a lot and increasing my energy and stamina. That is what I really need.  I still get really tired, but I can rest whenever I want, so what is wrong with that? And what is the big hurry to get ALL well again. I just must be patient and it will come.

Happy Spring!

Okay - tomorrow will be 2 weeks since my gastric bypass surgery. I am still sore; I have been unable to walk as much as I know they wanted me to walk. I got sidetracked with the atrial fib and another four-day hospitalization and it has left me feeling very washed out and weak. The cardio doc also put me on Toprol 2XD which I am sure is also contributing to my "tiredness". Hopefully, I can get that pulled down to at least 1 per day. Have appmts. with WLS and the cardio on Wed. and will be really glad to get an evaluation. I also thought that, after the appmts., I would begin walking on the treadmill very slowly and try to build my strength back up that was. I am being very careful to get in the required amt of vits and mins. Like everyone else, the protein and calcium are hard to manage. I was doing the protein "shots" but really got sick of them. So, back to the shakes, 2XD. The calcium chews provide a lot of calcium, and I am able to take Calc. Citrate pill, by breaking it in half and taking half at a time. But, at least it provides enough calcium. Wow! I think I will be doing better as soon as the stinging soreness goes away. The incision looks great. Just generally sore.  But, enough complaining. I am supposed to be starting a new life, right? I feel I have lost some weight; my scales were never accurage before surgery; but maybe, at least 12-14 lbs. That is a definite start. Easter is coming and I will get to spend some time with 4 sons and daughters-in-law and 13! grandchildren. Am hoping it is a beautiful, warm, sunny day. Hope everyone is well. We are all on the way to better health. Sometimes, it just takes a little to get past the bumps in the road.

Wow! It is hard to believe so much time has passed.  It has been a very difficult time for me. The surgery went extremely well; I came home 2 days later. Everyone who saw my scar said it looked great. But, after coming home, I just could not get any energy at all. I took and the vits and mins and water; but, no go. Finally, on Sat. AM, my husband became alarmed, took me to the hospital, where they said I was in atrail fib (an irregular heartbeat) and they admitted me to try to get my heart rate in normal rhythm.  What an ordeal! The staff were outstanding; but no rest, no energy, had to take pills (with a new pouch, that was really scary)had to have IV's, X-rays, cardiologists, etc. Finally, they decided nothing was going to help, so they shocked my heart into a regular rhythm and I came home yesterday!  The surgery was still fine, and today I feel like I am just starting out from post op day 1.  Getting energy back ever so slow (made the bed and took a shower today and now going to rest).  My WL surgeon checked on me every day while I was at the hospital. She was so concerned that something had happened unknown to all of us. But, that was not the case. Anyhow, I have to be on specific meds and blood thinners for a time; but it shoudn't affect the weight loss itself.  Just have to get the energy back slowly - and that takes a lot of patience.  I have lost weight and will be anxious to find out how much. Post-op follow-up appmt. at the end of the month where much info will be gained.  So...........ready for whatever comes next!

Well, the day is finally coming - in the morning I will have the surgery. Everyone has been told, all the kids and wives and husbands - and grandchildren have to be included in the mix now. It surprises me because I have always told the grandchildren things through their parents; but, now, some of them are very young adults but they want to be told too. It is so cute!

I have been on clear liquids, have taken my mag citrate solution (lemon - yum!!); and decided to remain NPO after the mag till after this is over. It is amazing that I have eaten my last normal meal (yesterday - fish and chips).  I fixed my husband a wonderful chicken casserole he can enjoy while I am in the hospital. It was very strange not to "taste" to make sure it was right.  That is a habit I have probably always done without even knowing how many calories I was actually eating!  Down with old habits!!

Good luck to all who have surgery in the next few days, weeks, months.  I will write afterwards as soon as possible because the notes and comments of those who have gone before have helped me so much!  Thank you all.

I am very excited as I have scheduled my RNY surgery date for 3/15/10!!! I have spent the most part of my adult life worrying about being overweight. I think many times I really was not particularly overweight; but, by the time you talk yourself into that type of handicap, you really begin to believe it. Anyhow, it did not take me long to become overweight; six kids, munching on fatty snacks, and an addiction to sweets will do that to you.  I quickly became fat. During the past year, I decided there really WAS a safe, quick way to reduce other than failed diets. I made the decision to have surgery.

On Nov. 2009, I attended the classes describing the surgery choices. I decided to go ahead and I filled out the paperwork that very day.  I did not, however, tell any of the kids (who are adults now). I only told my husband who was so very supportive of my decision. I waited throughout Christmas, making batches and batches of fudge for all the family, eating whatever I wanted to eat, all the while praying that I would hear that I had been accepted for weight loss surgery.  It took 4 months; but only because of various tests that had to be done and communications that were slow in coming.

Lastly, I received the letter from the insurance company that approved my request. Immediately, the coordinator from New Life Weight Loss Center in Kettering, Ohio, called me and set up the necessary appointments - and now I need only weight the two weeks till March 15!  I am so happy. I know it will be difficult at first. Reading all of these blogs and comments have helped my gain perspective so much. Thanks everyone who really sits down and contributes their thoughts and experiences.  It has made such a difference!