So the wife has Navy this weekend and the family and I go to join her for lunch. Today, lunch was provided at a Pizza place, free for them and discounted for us, so off we go! Ofcourse I take my soup with me and we walk in. I ask politely if I can bring my soup in since I am on a special diet post op. The girl at the register tells me no way sir, no outside food or drink. I begin to tell her that I just had surgery and the food here doesnt meet my diet criteria. She still tells me no. So I go sit down and think for a minute...politley complying. Then it hits me, all the paperwork and material the doc gave me came with a card that he told me to carry with me at all times. Its a medical card that tell medical personell and anyone else my current condition. So I remembered that my wife hounded me to fill it out and stick it in my wallet. DING! I pull it out and sure enough it hits me. I have rights too! So I walk up and ask for the manager and explain to him with card in hand that I have a specialized medical diet and requested to eat with my family.....he politely comply's and apologizes for the register girl.
MAN THAT FELT GREAT! The card is temporary, but It has a link to go online and register my surgery ect, and get a permanent card! So what do ya think Im gonna do tonight!!!!
GET YOUR CARD GOING PEOPLE! they cant tell us no!
So my Journey started in November of 09 and I really didnt try hard during the holidays....But alot has changed. Finding out the facts of surgery and the truth behind the pre-op really made me focus. It is now 8 days out from my surgery and Im down 23 lbs, and still going down. Dr. Griffin was really proud of me and told me if I was hungry and "needed" to eat, do so but healthy. I understood what he meant. So my registrastion is complete, blood work, EKG and X-rays done. Im ready. 8 more days to focus on my diet, then the life changing event. Anyone who says this is the easy way out is out of their mind! This is truely the hardest diciplined thing I have ever had to do. No food and liquids only! And I never cheated. Amazing what a little prayer will do! :biggrin:
My wife walks into work today and first thing she hears is a co-workers 28 yr old brother passed away last night. Cause was Obesity. His body gave up. First he couldnt breathe and then his liver stopped working. Had a job where he didnt have insurance to cover any type of procedure to help with his weight.
Its interesting that my Dr. told me yesterday that I am doing so well on my own, I may want to re-consider....not that he didnt want to do the surgery, just my focus and weight loss was going so well, I could think about this.....Well, I get this text and think back of dealing with my weight for last 15 years. Im sure I can do this on my own, but I know it wont last....So Im moving forward with this. No going back for me now. Tired of being heavy. Going to change my life now.
Ok, so the temptation to hurt anyone with food now has officially passed. I actually made it two hours this past weekend at the carnival with the family before the smell of turkey legs, corn dogs, funnel cakes and fajita's made me snap. I swear, had I stayed there one more minute, I may have been on your local news! But I was strong! Got to the truck and cracked open a cool, ice cold Aquafina. Yummmmmmm. Made it home and a little broth and a shake made all the bad people pain go away.... :w00t: I survived.
But its now the morning of day 10 and I feel so great. If this morning is a feel of things to come, I cant wait. I am so excited to see the results and cant wait to share this experience with others! Funny though, on my liquid diet, a few people have noticed the weight drop and ask alot of questions about my "great diet" , LMAO, so I tell them. "YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH!"
May 5th surgery, here I come!:biggrin:
Wow, talk about an emotional rollercoaster ride this was! Pre-op focus and preperation for a solid 2 weeks with no food, just liquids. Accomplished that without cheating and lost a total of 32 lbs pre-op. Surgery went absolutely smooth. Doc said the weight loss made the difference for him, that made me proud. But then I went home. And then the night gas pain kicked in for me. Now, Im a big guy, played football for 16 years and have been through alot of pain. But man, this gas travelling through my chest and into my shoulder? Drop me to my knees and begging for my mom a 1000miles away(its a guy thing) :wink2: but I managed to survive. But I can tell you, for the following 2.5 days post op, I was really doubting this journey. Was it worth it? The pain? no food? gas pain ect? Then I started to think how I felt. I am now 42lbs down and havent even started my life with the band. Seeing those kind of numbers, just shot me through the roof. I firmly believe the liquid pre-op is a huge factor. It is a total kick off for whats to come.....and just makes things easier. Last night we went to the grocery store to prepare for my second phase. I was told clear liquids for 5 days, then back to my shakes and strained creamed soups. I think I almost cried last night in the grocery store because I was so happy to be picking out soups. Have I mentioned that I hate broth and will probably never be able to manage it alone unless ABSOLUTELY necessary? LOL I even got the sugar free applesauce and V8 with low sodium. I was like a kid in a candy store! The weight loss without the band is an amazing feeling to me, and now that I am 42lbs ahead of my curve, its all exciting and just makes me want to push harder. So, the satisfaction on my decision is slowly starting to kick in!:smile:
Finally.......
Ok, so things are going great pre-op diet wise. Except today, I notice my tounge is yellow and pasty. Hmmmmm, dehydrated? I think so! So I started pouring water into my system and it is slowly going away. Guess I thought I was getting enough fluids in me, but apparently not. NOTE to self, drink 32 oz of water at a minimum! Or the chalk monster will eat you alive on day 12 of the liquid diet! So far, 30lbs down! About 20 since on liquids!
Wow, Sunday was interesting.....woke up feeling ok, but then a slow overwhelming drepression/funk took over. It was like a complete take over of my body. I felt like I didnt want to go anywhere or do anything....just sleep. I was tired and weak....just felt like jello.
So the family packs up, church as usual on Sunday, and off we go. Afterwards lunch, then a swim party. Oh it finally started to turn around! Started having fun with the kids and the day was officially rolling! Soon after the swim party we were back home again, soon I had to run an errand and when I got back,I started to empty any trash out of my car, so I bent over, picked a few things up and when I stood up, BAM! Dizzy and nausea! I wasnt sure if it was real or not, so I start walking and sure enough, things got shaky!
Only thing I can attribute to is all the swimming we did and buring of calories. Still on the liquid diet and maybe just didnt get enough calories in today for the calories that went out.....Not sure!
But, later on in the evening, it got better. Had a small protein and green salad and I was fine. Not to mention the depression or funk was gone too. Really dont know what the heck that was about, just maybe in my head I was saying goodbye to someone and hello to someone new? Surgery in 2 days now! Woooohooooo!