Protein

I tried the EAS Carb Control shake. It was just plain nasty to me. I tried the Atkins Advantage shake and it was also nasty. Then I tried a bottle of Isopure that someone told me would taste like kool-aid. Well it didn't taste like any kool-aid I've ever tried. I tried the Apple Melon which one would think would have more apple taste than melon since that comes first on the bottle. It was like drinking honeydew melon which I'm not all that fond of in the first place. I hated it. I hate that I've basically wasted $20 on all of those products to find out I can't drink any of them. I have one more bottle of Isopure Blue Raspberry. I'll try it but don't have high hopes. I'm going to have to just get my protein from what I eat, I guess. I do still have the vitalady.com samples I ordered. I'll give them each a shot but am a bit gun shy right now.

Other than that, things are going well. I did a LOT of walking yesterday. I may have even walked a little too much. My knees are still screaming today. At least I can take it easy today as we have no real plans except for going to church in a little while.

Mandi (youngest daughter), Tim (her hubby), and Chloe (granddaughter) left North Carolina on Friday night. After a detour and getting a little lost, they finally made it to his dad's house yesterday late afternoon. I'm thankful that they made it safely. They will be up to visit with us for a couple days this week.

Nothing else new going on. Still only getting about four hours sleep per night. Part of the problem is then I nap during the day. I'm working on breaking that little habit.

Have a wonderful Sunday, all!

Two Weeks Post-Op

I had my two week post-op appointment with my surgeon yesterday evening. It went quite well. The day of surgery I weighed 386 pounds. At my appointment yesterday their scale weighed me at 369 which is down 17 pounds since surgery. They then looked at my weight loss since the end of July when I went on the pre-op diet and were quite impressed as that makes down a total of 40 pounds!

They removed my staples. I am now staple free! Yea for me. The incisions are ugly looking to me but he said in 48 hours they will look totally different. The surgeon said that the pulling I'm feeling could be from some inner stitches they had to put in one of the incisions on my right side. The back pain is likely due to the adjustment of core muscles as I heal. He said I have probably made an adjustment to the way I walk (no kidding) due to the pain and the tummy muscles being penetrated. He said the back pain should go away as I continue to heal. He suggested liquid Tylenol to help with the pain until then, especially before I'm going to move around a lot. I think I'll pick some up and go from there. I'm not one to take medication, even for headaches, but I'm considering this for now. At the very least, it will help the pain to not be so strong.

Then I met with the nutritionist. She didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, pretty much. She said I'm eating the way I should be but may want to eat a little more at each sitting. I'm currently eating only about 2 ounces of protein each time I eat. She wants that to be at least 3 ounces. She also wants me to track the protein intake a bit better. I keep a food log, but haven't bothered with the counts so much. Guess I'd better pick up a protein count pocket book so I can track more accurately. She also suggested I drink at least one protein drink per day. I'm going to get some EAS Lite today to try in shake form and also some Isopure which should help. She said that will at least boost my protein levels to where they should be and I won't have to worry so much about getting enough. They will draw blood at my next appointment in October to check all my levels.

I am to continue to increase my walking. It is slow going but every day I challenge myself to do a little more. The surgeon also wants me to add going up and down at least one flight of stairs per day. He said it will help me to build the core muscles and exercise my calves which is still important to keep me from developing blood clots in my legs. It hurts to just step up and down at curbs but I'll do my best to start this. We do have stairs in our apartment building and I'll just go out and climb one flight of them for now. Eventually I'll add going up to the third floor but baby steps right now.

Overall, things are going well. I still tire pretty easily. The walking increases my back pain. Still going to check into getting some Spanx (or something similar from Lane Bryant) to help in smoothing things out. It will also help my muscles develop a bit as well.

The Woo Hoo Update

When I started this whole process, pre-surgery, I weighed 407 pounds. I weighed 387.5 when I went in for surgery two weeks ago Monday. I was currently at 370 this morning. That is an 18.5 pound loss since surgery. That means I'm down 30.5 pounds in the last two months. Woo hoo! I am now at the smallest weight I've been at in over 20 years. The numbers seem so unreal peering back up at me.

Eating is still going well. I'm still on protein only and getting really tired of it. I'm coping, though. I know it's only a matter of time and I'll be able to eat other healthy foods. This is just the beginning. I likened it to learning to ride a bike to Tim yesterday. Right now I have the training wheels on (learning how to eat properly by eating what is most important-protein). Soon I'll drop one training wheel and get used to leaning as I learn to balance another food group (adding veggies at 4 weeks post-op). And before I know it, the other training wheel will be off and I'll be able to eat all food groups, but in the proper amounts and proportions.

Pain is still minimal and I've not touched the pain medication in over a week now. I still have the tightness and pulling in my right abdominal area. When I sit on regular chairs for a long time or walk too much, I get a pain in my back. It's more a discomfort than a pain, but it can be distracting.

I'm drinking 48-64 ounces of water per day now. I seem to be able to get down Crystal Lite and hot tea easier than just water but I mostly drink water. I don't know why it is the way it is! I'm going to go get some Isopure to try which is a protein drink that supposedly tastes like kool-aid to help me ensure I am getting the protein I need. I'm also going to pick up some EAS protein shakes for the same reason. I ordered some protein powders from vitalady.com but have not tried them yet. I think I'm afraid as I've heard such negative comments about most protein powders. One of these days, I'll try them.

The hospital lost the clothes I wore in. They put them in a bag before surgery and they've not been seen since. I've been patient but had a rather expensive (in my opinion) pair of VANS gym shoes in there and I want them back or replaced. I'm going to give them until Tuesday and then call and talk to a patient advocate. Anyone going into the hospital for surgery, give your clothes to family to take to the car so this doesn't happen to you!

So, all in all, things are going quite well. I'm healing. I'm eating. I'm moving when I can. Best of all, I'm losing weight! Woo hoo!

(Edit: I almost forgot ... I go to see the surgeon on Tuesday for my two week post-op appointment. He should remove my staples. I should also meet with the Nutritionist who will look over my food diary and let me know how I'm doing. I'll likely not update until Wednesday.)

Progressing Well

So far, so good. I have not had any pain medication for about three days now. I do still have a tenderness pulling on one side which I am assuming is the area some of the work may have been done. Other than that, no real pain.

I'm eating and not having much problem other than being bored with the foods I get to eat right now. A couple more weeks and the pureed restriction will be lifted and then I can eat more variety. I will also be able to add veggies back into my diet. I'm not sure I'm eating enough but I don't feel hungry so figure I must be doing okay. I'm eating about two ounces per meal right now and it is all protein. I need to get out and purchase some Isopure or EAS protein drinks and see how they are. I'm hesitant to spend money on something that I'm not sure I'll like, but it would give my protein intake a BIG boost.

Emotionally, I'm still up and down, but heck, I was that way a long time before surgery so I don't really think it's surgery related. I'm hanging in there. Moving easier every day. Only able to sleep in my bed on my back. Last night, Tim and I stacked two sofa pillows on my side of the bed. One flat and the other leaned against it. That enabled me to sleep in bed from 10:30 PM to about 4 AM which would have been about how long I would have slept on my tummy before so I guess that was good. It sure was nice to get out of the recliner for the night, anyway. I did doze in it from 4-7, though.

Just to clairfy

I had the gastric bypass Rou-N-Y surgery. Pain is almost nil today. Did a little too much or I'd probably have no pain at all. Gonna try to sleep in bed tonight. We'll see how it goes. I'm a tummy sleeper.

Emotions and Update

Emotions are right on the surface. Being housebound not only because of surgery but because of rain hasn't helped much. When not raining, I could have at least left this little apartment for a walk outside. Praise the Lord, the rain has stopped and I'll be able to get outside and move more tomorrow. All week is supposed to be quite nice here. Yea!

I'm already tired of pureed chicken, pork, and scrambled egg. I had a little bit of cream of mushroom soup today and that was heaven! I love cream soups and am allowed to have them. Such a nice change of pace. Hot tea seems to help calm my tummy if it feels a little upset.

Only took pain med at bedtime. Still have pain in my right abdomen. It's like a pulling. Hurts but I'm dealing with it. And that's about it for me today.

Sorry for the dealy but I'm okay!

I'm home. I want to say thank you for the well wishes, good thoughts, and prayers. It was because of all the support I have that I went into surgery totally unafraid.

The gall bladder removal added four hours to my surgery. I had 30 stones in my gall bladder. Ouch! They had a hard time reaching it and thought they'd have to open me up, but managed with time and persistence to do the whole thing laproscopically. Thank you, Father in heaven!

Being home is a bit rough, but also a blessing. I can do what I want when I want. Tim has been great heating things for me and helping me up and down. I sent Debbie home yesterday. She has three dogs who here babies now and they missed her. I know how hard it is to be away from home and she couldn't do anything for me that Tim can't do now. She'll be back next Saturday and stay through Tuesday when I get my staples removed and have my two week post op follow-up visit.

I am still in pain, but it is better everyday. I've not had the liquid pain med which tastes really nasty since bedtime last night. The surgeon said the less of it I take, the better off I am so I'm taking him at his word. The pain has been tolerable.

I'm eating but amazed at how little I can eat. I'm trying to get down the water but it's not easy. I've also had diarrhea but it isn't explosive and it isn't clear which are two things I've been told to watch for. It also isn't all watery. Sorry, I know that's too much BM info!

It hurts to sit here but I wanted to post. I love you all and am thankful you are here. I'm hoping in a couple days I'll be back up to speed but that may be pushing it. I've been here long enough to type this post and already I'm feeling worn out!

Take care and I'll check back in a day or so when I can sit a bit longer!

Today is THE day!

Good morning friends,

Yesterday was a good day. My sister is here. We had a nice visit and just hung out. She's making a new afghan while she's here. Lavendar and light yellow and I got to choose the yarn. Not exactly what I wanted but the purple yarn they had was kind of a yucky shade so this will do.

Went to bed early because Sis is here and was sleeping on the sofa. Tonight she gets our bed and Tim will sleep on the sofa. He says he wants to so he can stay up late and not bother her. She goes to bed early and he doesn't since my schedule is so crazy.

I've taken my meds and am finishing off the bottle of water. Nothing else to eat or drink today. I still need to shower and shave the legs and pits. I need to weigh and measure myself as well as take that wonderful before surgery photo. And I STILL need to pack my bag! I have a list so I won't forget stuff but I wait until the last minute to do everything.

I'm not nervous at all. I'm just ready to have the surgery behind me. I know that operating room is going to be packed with angels today. So many prayers going up for me today. I am so blessed to have so many great friends and loved ones. I'll check in as soon as I can. Tim is way too confused on the computer or I'd have him post an update tonight. Sorry but y'all are just going to have to wait until I'm up to it to post it myself.

God bless and I'll check in as soon as I can.

Details

Surgery will be at 2 PM on Monday, Sept 8th. I have to be at the hospital about noon. I can eat until midnight. Yeah, right! I'll have my dinner meal about 5 PM and then nothing after that, more than likely. I can drink water from midnight until 7 AM and then nothing else. I take my blood pressure and thyroid meds in the morning, same as always. I figure by the time I'm starting to feel hunger I should be under anesthesia and won't know I'm hungry! LOL

Tim was diagnosed yesterday as being legally blind. Not sure what that means really as far as his SSI is concerned. We've been told it means he is eligible for more benefits. He put a call in to his adjudicator today to find out. I do know we can go back three years on our taxes amend them to include this as a tax deduction which could mean more money for us. Other than that, it's just one more freaking diagnosis for him to have to come to terms with.

Oh, and I forgot to say I'm back down to 390.5 which is where I was exactly one month ago. I'm hoping to be at 387 by Monday which would be 20 lbs lost on the pre-op diet. It hasn't been nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

A question for Janet ... I've been reading about some kind of antiseptic soap I should be bathing with, except face and privates before going into the hospital to help with germs. Is that necessary or will I be okay using my usual soap? I'll do it if I have to but it seems like overkill to me. I read this in my online surgery support group. As a nurse, what do you think? I'd have to go back and read again to find the name but it's some kind of surgical soap I can buy at Walgreens.

I promise to post as soon as I can to let you all know how things went and that I'm okay.

Doctor Appointment Update

My doctor was pleased with the weight I've lost since I last saw him about 2 months or so ago (a total of about 16 pounds). I told him it had been more but when my original surgery was cancelled I ate my way back up about ten pounds before I got a grip and got back in the swing. He chuckled and said he understood. The thing is, I honestly do think he 'gets it'. He is so supportive and I feel blessed to have a doctor like him.

He re-took my BP as it was a little up when the nurse took it. She took it in my right arm and usually they use my left. She also took it just after I stepped up to get on the table (why don't they have tables that you can just sit down on like my cardiologist) and the whole table tipped and I almost fell. When the doctor took it, it was just fine! He said he'd call over the report of our visit today (Weds.) and make sure that the hospital gets the lab results for the bloodwork he had done after our appointment. Lastly, he said he'd see me on Tuesday! No more hurdles or obstacles ... just my own thoughts and emotions followed by the surgery. I can hardly believe it's almost here. Five days and counting!