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Weekend before lap-band surgery...

3/20/2010 Well, here I sit, about 33 hours from checking in for my surgery. This month has really gone by fast. I've been on a liquid diet consisting of 3 Atkins shakes a day, sugar-free drinks and jello, and water since 3/16. The first 3 days were hard. I even felt kind of faint after my shower yesterday. My friend thinks I had a vasovagal reaction from the hot shower, so today I took a lukewarm shower and was fine. Today I also didn't feel as hungry. I even forgot to drink my lunch shake and never had it until 3:30. I did cheat a little and had some low-fat, low-salt chicken broth because I was getting kind of sick of all the sweet stuff. I'm feeling pretty calm considering my surgery is so close, but let's see how I feel tomorrow night at this time! I'm glad I have to report to the hospital so early on Monday (5:30) because I'm pretty sure I won' sleep very well tomorrow night anyway!
matilda01

matilda01

6
 

Day 5 postop

Day 5 postop and today started out as a pretty good day but ended with a case of the blues. I found out this morning that I don't have to go back to work until after my followup with the surgeon on 4/09. My work is going to put me on disability and I'll get my full pay. Yeah! As the day progressed, I got kind of blue. Not sure why, maybe I'm sick of not feeling like myself, still having pain from trapped gas. On top of that, I feel like I have to burp really badly but nothing happens! The burp is right there, waiting to erupt, but I get no relief! Ugh. I took a 20-min walk in the sunshine and it was lovely even though it was absolutely frigid outside. Felt okay for a while after the walk but ended up in tears tonight, feeling sorry for my burpless existence. After the cry, I did feel a little better. Tomorrow is another day, maybe I will burp! :blushing:
matilda01

matilda01

5
 

Dreams

What dreams I had last night. I'm still on clear liquids, but I hope to start pureed food tomorrow. Anyway, last night I had a couple crazy dreams. The first one was about a seafood chowder or soup that I was watching somebody make. They were using all kinds of odd creatures from under the ocean. Even though the soup looked strange, all I was thinking was that I really wanted to eat some of it. Later, I had a dream that I worked in Krispy Kreme donut shop. I was putting the icing on the donuts. I woke up with a smile on my face. Food is now creeping into my dreams. Not sure about that seafood soup, but I really enjoyed the Krispy Kreme dream!
matilda01

matilda01

4
 

2-1/2 week update

Wow! It's been about 2-1/2 weeks since my surgery. The time has really flown by. Except for my incisions still being scabbed over and not being able to eat yet, I feel like my old self. I'm still on clear liquids and 1/3 of a Carnation Instant Breakfast drink 3x a day. I actually feel better than my old self because I feel much lighter! Since my official starting weight at the surgeon's office in Nov, I have lost a total of 41 lb. Since surgery, I've lost 9 lb (well, really 16 lb since I gained about 7 lb with surgery). Yesterday, I went through my clothes, tried on things, and bagged up clothes that are just too big now. I'm going to offer the things in decent shape to my friend. Now I have to go shopping pretty soon because I'm running out of clothes! I used to hate shopping and avoided it as much as I could, but I have a feeling that I will really enjoy shopping again!   Easter was a challenge, but I made it through. Cooked for the family (brunch & dinner). I really had to fight not blenderizing some of the dishes and eating, but the worst I did was lick a couple of spoons. On Monday, I used my Magic Bullet & made soups from the leftover veggies (artichokes and asparagus) and then froze the soups to use when I start purees (after my followup with the surgeon on Friday, 4/09). I'm going to do the same with the other leftovers, might make a cheesy potato soup and a split pea with ham soup. Can't wait!   Even though I am counting the hours until Fri so I can start mushies, I'm a little nervous about it. I'll be going from about 100-200 calories a day to more calories, and it seems that will add weight back on. If my surgeon says I can start exercising, I think that will help. We just bought an elliptical that I'd like to get going on.   Probably will go back to work on Sat and I'm actually looking forward to it!
matilda01

matilda01

3
 

Yippee! I'm on the banded side!

I'm back! I got home a couple of hours ago and promptly took a nap. According to my surgeon, the surgery was picture perfect." Let me tell you though, the gas pain in my chest was scary awful. I felt like I couldn't breathe when I first got to my room. The nurse thinks it was because I was in the post anesthesia area for a while (due to my room not being ready). That meant I was on my gurney, flat, for about 3.5 hours after the surgery. The gas just sat on my chest I guess. Anyway, when I got to my room, the nurses had me up walking and that helped a bit. Still had to take lots of pain med by injection right up until this morning before I left for home. What everyone says is true...walking, walking helps! I can breathe better today, but deep breaths are still kinda hard. At the the hospital, every time I woke up I walked around the nurse's station over and over and over. When I woke up this morning, the gas pain in my chest was better (not gone but better). Gas-X didn't help a lick. Walking is the key! I feel kinda itchy today, not like an allergy itchy, I just find myself gently scratching my skin. Maybe I'm just dry (it's cold here again in western NY).
matilda01

matilda01

3
 

Three-week bandiversary!

It's my 3-week bandiversary today. I saw my surgeon on Friday, and he said I could start on pureed foods, so I went home and scrambled a couple of eggs with low-fat American cheese. I realized that was probably too much to eat at one time, so I only ate half. It was delicious! He said to stick to things like yogurt, scrambled eggs, etc., for the first 4-6 days, then move to things like refried beans, chili, etc. In the few days since I started pureed food, I've gained 2 lb. What the heck? I'm logging my food intake on Livestrong.com (I love that Web site!) and never go over about 550 calories in a day. Yesterday was the first day I was able to get in 60 grams of protein. It's pretty hard to get all the protein in when I'm not eating much. He did say to supplement with protein shake if needed. I got rid of all the leftover Easter candy...way too tempting for me! I went back to work on Saturday and Sunday and had no problems, didn't even get tired. I just work at my computer all day anyway (I transcribe medical reports for a hospital). Going to take my dog for a couple of long walks today...time to get some real exercise in. No more dreams about food!
matilda01

matilda01

3
 

My first blog post....

Twenty-two days before my surgery. It's already been quite journey. I've been overweight for 20+ years. Tried just about every diet out there, Diet Workshop (bet nobody remembers that one), counting calories, phen-fen diet pills, Weight Watchers, Atkins, Weight Watchers again, Susan Powter, counting calories, Weight Watchers yet again. At first, I'd lose 20 or so pounds, sometimes more, but I'd always gain it back. I starting thinking about weight-loss surgery a couple of years ago. Finally, I mentioned it to my daughter. She was so supportive and offered to go to the seminar with me. We went to the seminar in October. I made my appointment with the surgeon in November and things really got rolling....psych consult, dietitian, sleep study, lab work, etc, etc. I also had to lose 5% (13 pounds) before my case would be submitted to insurance. Well, I lost 16 pounds and insurance approved me for surgery in Jan. After my EGD (upper endoscopy), I got my date, March 22. I've lost some more weight (about 19 total) & now I'm just trying not to regain. I've got a bad case of "last supper" syndrome. :rolleyes2:
matilda01

matilda01

2
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