Post-Op Week 3 - All is well

Today is October 29, 2009 and I have made it through to post op week 3. All is well...it has been 3 weeks of liquid and I am so excited about moving on to the soft/mushy stage of the food list. I have continued my exercises and its getting better. I am still not a fan of the gym but I am going. I am trying to make sure that I exercise at least 5 times a week for 30 minutes or more and I have done that so far. Today I weighed in at home on the WII and I am now at 244.5 and that is a total weight loss of 26 lbs since my pre op appt Oct. 05, 2009 and I am happy about that. I guess that is it for now. I hope to post pictures soon. Until then...

20 Pounds Down - 2nd Week Post Op

This is my 2 week post op update and I am a little late. After my follow up appt with the surgeon he told me to get to exercising. Well, I have been going to the gym and once I get started, it's not so bad. Oh, did I say I hate exercising. I don't hate it so much that I won't do it but I don't push myself to go beyond whatever minutes I input on the treadmill. If I put 30 minutes that's what it is and I don't go any further. I hope to get better. I am still on liquids! My doctor requires 3 weeks of liquids after surgery and then 3 weeks of mushies/soft foods before moving on to solids. This liquid stage has been a task at times because you just get tired of the same old drinks. I am so over protein shakes but I endure and try to press on. Today I tried butternut squash soup for the first time in my life and it was quite enjoyable. It is a soup that I had not seen before in a box. I think it is by Campbell's not sure though. But it was pretty tasty. I saw online where people that eat butternut squash soup sprinkle a little cinnamon on top and I tried that as well. Tasty. So, I think that is it for now. I go back to work on Monday and I must say that I am very ready. I am not a person that enjoys sitting home all day. Have a great week.

1 Week Post Op

Today I had my follow up with the surgeon and all went well. I have lost a total of 13 pounds since October 6th which is when I started the pre op liquid diet. I am happy about that and the doctor told me I could start to do some exercise. I am still sore at the port site and I am now having some gas pains but not too bad. The walking should really help with the gas that I am having. All in all, I am feeling pretty good. I am still on full liquids for another week or so and then on to food phase 2. Also, can you believe that he has scheduled me for my first fill. I have appt on 11/09 to have a fill and wow, I did not expect that to happen today. Can you say aggressive!

A Better Day

Well today I feel a little better than yesterday. I had a horrible bout with diarrhea and stomach cramps. I don't think the protein agrees with me. I have tried several different types and none seem to stay in long. I have Isopure, GNC Brand with Vitamins (awful), Biggest Loser Chocolate, Lean Dessert Chocolate Coconut (something like that) and I tried the Unjury. Anyway, none of it is so tasty and all of it hurts me. I have 2 days before I see the doctor and hopefully he will send me on my merry way to mushies. So, until then I will keep sipping and walking.

Monday, Monday

Well today is my 4th day post op and I feel pretty good. I have not had all of the shoulder pain from gas that most talk about. It has been relatively smooth sailing. But don't let the smooth taste fool you, it is hard! The first couple of days I didn't want too much of anything and I have yet to get all the protein in that is required. I can't seem to find anything that taste good enough to continue on a daily basis. I can stomach a sip or two but that is about it. I don't want to throw up so I just drink only the amount that I feel will stay down. I have not been able to drink all of the water but I am sipping away. I am getting the hunger pains these last 2 days and am wanting something more. I have my follow up appt on Friday and I am so hoping that I can go on to the mushie stage because I need to chew something! All in all it is not real bad but not the easiest thing I've had to do. Just wanted to pop in and update...Still a little soreness around the port incision but doing pretty good.

Banded!

I made it! I had my surgery on yesterday. I went into the OR around 1:45pm and was in my room after recovery around 4:30pm. I was feeling great. I had some chicken broth, jello and crystal light about 6pm and it tasted great. I was hungry. I didn't have a lot of pain, just sore. I didn't have to punch on my morphine pump at all after I got into my room. I was up walking about 8pm and still feeling fine. Since the doctor likes to monitor you overnight, I had to stay and man, the nurses and techs were in and out all night long. I didn't get any sleep so when I was discharged and got home, I was out. All in all, the surgery went well, I feel good and so far, everything is good. I don't have any updates on weight yet, no one weighed me. I did step on my home scale on the morning of my surgery day and it showd 258. I have to consider my scale a little suspect because sometimes it tells me things I don't believe. Anyway, I have my follow up appt on Friday and I guess I will get weighed then and see what the doctors scale says. Until then....

It is the second day of my two day clear liquids only diet and it hasn't been sooo bad. I have moments of being hungry and wanting something to chew but the thought of messing up my chance at this surgery overtakes all of the food that runs through my mind. Tomorrow is the big day and I am nervous about what will be but excited about what will become...

I survived pre op! I wasn't really nervous because I think I am now over the whole needle thing. But, I still get a little anxious when I don't know exactly what is going to take place at any doctors appt. So, all went well with the exception of my veins and getting blood. Man, the lady was so patient with me and the trickles of blood that flowed. I had to have 11 tubes of blood drawn but the fun part for her was finding a vein. It took over 30 minutes just to get a vein that would pull enough blood. Anyway, thanks to Sabrina at Dekalb Medical for her patience and humor to get through a "hard stick". Surgery in 3 days...

I was just sitting here and thought I would add a post on how I am feeling today. I am about 4 days out before my surgery and I guess I am feeling a little anxious, somewhat nervous but wanting it to come and go so that I can begin anew. I have my pre-op labs on tomorrow and then 2 days of clear liquids for Tuesday and Wednesday. The time is near...

Well today is officially 1 week away from surgery and I can't wait. I know it sounds crazy to want to have a surgery that will probably cause discomfort but this morning was proof that I need this surgery. I could not find a thing to wear! I feel so uncomfortable in everything I put on because it is either too tight or too big. This happened because when I lost weight back in 2007, I bought new clothes and got rid of all the bigger clothes. Mistake...who knew I would gain the weight back. Now it is a daily struggle to find something to wear to work! So over it! Anyway, I am going to post pictures soon of me now and some from the past couple of years and hopefully as I progress the pictures will show a smaller version of me.