I've been coming along since my 'drainage incident' lol. I still have the packing which will be changed on Monday. In the meantime, the common cold has made a home in my nasal passages. Oh, its just lovely. I'm on these mega antibiotics, but of course the viral cold just laughs at this. (sigh) So aside from hacking and sniffling, I'm beginning to feel better. On a high note, got on the scale this a.m. and I'm at 204...kewl..31 pounds in 35 days, not too shabby. I'm seriously needing to get back on track with my protien & vitamin schedules. It's been hit & miss through all this. I'm praying for a new attitude with this new year. Slight changes, that will add up to a new me. Can't wait to see where I am at this time next year! YaY Me!!
Went to the doc today. He took one look at it. Scheduled me as an add on today to have it drained. RELIEF...he said that when he cut it, it just gushed. The CT report said it was 3.5 inches deep. So now its packed and left open to heal from the inside. Still hurts but not NEARLY as it did before. I'm home now and feeling much better. Another step! Will update again in a few days! :thumbup:
OK, I have an appointment tomorrow at 10:00am. Found a surgeon that consulted with my ER doc...he even does VSG's...yay...oh, but cash only of course (big surprise there) Meanwhile, the pain is horrible. I wish I knew how to post a pic here..but the incision site is cherry red and protruding. I just pray for relief...just want this pain to go away! I'm scared of what they are going to have to do, what I'm going to have to go through, but anything has to be better than this. I remember reading a post by someone recently that said they just drained in office, didn't have time to freeze or numb it, people had to hold her down...I'm no woos...but I'm praying that's not the scenerio for me.
Ok, so I'm a big Saints fan, and my fiance and I decided to go to New Orleans this weekend for the Dallas-New Orleans game (big bummer Saints lost!) Anyhow, it was my fist time back to New Orleans since VSG. We travel to New Orleans a lot. Its one of my very favorite places to go and since its only about a 3 hour drive its a great weekend trip. So, I'm not 100% but I was glad to get away. I just had a flood of feelings...first the food. New Orleans is known for its top notch food and dining. I thought, no problem...bought some protien shakes in a cooler...but I wanted to just be normal...everywhere we went I was like, no way can I eat this, no way can I drink these collosal drinks...and the waitresses...can I just say....please don't comment on what I do or don't eat...if I clean my plate, I never remember them saying...wow you sure do have a healthy appetite...but they sure don't mind saying...is the food alright? no one ever leaves any of the crab cake...I felt embarrassed! I think my fiance was too, the second time we went out to eat, he ate some of my leftovers so it wouldn't look like I had so much left...I also found myself looking at everyone doubting myself. Feeling like a freak almost...like I didn't belong in the restaurant....and I always liked to drink. I admit it. I'm a full blooded cajun and drinking goes along with our love of food. I drank a bloody mary (delicious) but took an hour to finish it, and I was good, but then my fiance' was like bring her another one...I wanted to tell him, I'm not the old Shontel, I'm a new one, heck, in the 'old' days I could finish 2 or 3 in no time...(sigh) I know this will get better, I mean I'm 23 days post op...but I don't want to have to explain myself, I'm paying for my meal no matter how much I eat! OK, off my soapbox...the other thing I noticed is my stamina...I really thought I had more than what I did. Couldn't walk or stand for long periods. Burbon St...are you kidding me? Soooooo many people. I just wanted to veg out in the room. I felt like I was disappointing my fiance' even though he was very understanding and took good care of me..then, my left side where they removed the port and pulled my stomach out is really hurting...to the point of all I can do is sit or lie on my couch, maybe I just wasn't ready for such a trip. My head can't keep up with my mending body. I hope and pray I get my strength back! I'm tired of being tired!!
ok, so today I was feeling much better, and maybe a little froggy. On a whim, I met my fiance' at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. I'd been contemplating trying more than soup and yoghurt on my mushies but up to now had been too chicken. Well, I just did it...I ordered an over easy egg with some grits, and ya know what? I ate about half of the egg and a few bites of grits...no problemo!! I was SO EXCITED. I did chew it till it was a pulp, but it tasted so good! Later I felt even more froggy and made a recipe I think I found here...maybe eggface...ricotta, marinaria & parmesan baked....yuuuummmmyyy....got about 1/4 c down and it was devine!! I never knew simple foods could taste so darn good!! Oh, I also received my can of Unjury Chicken Soup, and it is YUMMY! I was so tired of sweet shakes...so savory and warm for this cold weather! Has tons of ideas for recipes also. So, all in all...I think today was a resounding success for me...I'm progressing, slowly but surley, to normal foods. Yee ha! Stay Tuned.
My first entry here. No special story to speak of, My start weight is 235 at the hospital, which I went to Monterrey Mexico. Today, Dec 15th I'm down 21 pounds. I am on mushy foods, but I have to admit the only real mushies I've had is ground down tuna salad and Popeyes mashed potatoes with extra gravy. (yum by the way) I tried a mashed sweet potato with butter, sugar & cinnamon but it just wasn't happening, 2 bites was all I could manage. Did I mention I'm a revision from Lap-Band? Had it for 3 years, lost 60 pounds, gained 30 back...I'm going to try an egg tomorrow for breakfast...will keep my fingers crossed on that. I've not been having any problems getting in my fluids, and have been getting my 60 g of protien, but not without dread. Still looking for drinks that I can tolerate. Isopure is ok..tolerable. Also, I'm on GNC Wheybolic? something...ok I guess...I've just ordered some Unjury Chicken Soup, so really hope this is as good as the reviews are...Also trying the Calcet chews, and Biariatric Advantage chewables...I'm on Tums & Flinstones (can we say G R I T??) So here's to the future...stay tuned :001_tongue:
So yesterday I went for my wound check. (Recap: I had an abscess in my largest incision that had to be drained. Its been packed for 14 days now.) The nurse said it is healing nicely and switched my packing material from the 4x4 gauze sponge material to the ribbon type packing. She thinks by Friday it may be healed enough to do the final step which is putting an ointment on it to make it 'scab' and heal. This was all good news to me, since right before I left I did the 'q-tip' test only to get half the darn thing down there. She also explained to me that the body heals in different ways (not necessarily from the bottom to top, sometimes from the sides in..(big sigh) So, I'm optimistic. At least the packing is not so bulky now. She also said no abdominal exercise for a good while (I don't want a hernia!) She cleared me for walking, and arm exercise with free weights. I'm glad of that, I need to get out or on the treadmill...need a boost, need to feel normal again.
I did go out with friends Sunday night, it was nice to be out and around people again. I've become a shut in! Afraid to get sick, trying to cope with not feeling 100%.
I'm struggling with my protien..just can't choke down another protien shake. Waaay past being sick of them. I do still drink the chicken soup protien I got from Unjury..not bad. I also been taking my vitamins/calcium irratically. Just hate the taste/texture. I guess I need to get off my 'feel sorry for yourself' box and get on with it.
I am going to be in a parade on Monday for MLK day, so I'm pretty excited about it. My cousin saw me Sunday night (the first time since my 35# weight loss) She was amazed. Said she could really see it in my face. Well, I DID fit in a size 13 Jr. pair of Levis that I hadn't fit in in a LONG time..lol They were stretchy, but better than the 16's (almost 18's) that I was fitting in in November. I've lost 2 inches in my waist & hips! I guess I need to pat myself on my back for that :svengo: I'm thankful for all that, and need to stop the pity party! OK, resolved to do just that!! Yay me! :thumbup:
Today was my weigh day, and I'm down 2 more pounds! Yay. 55 total!! I've been concentrating a lot more on getting my water/liquids in these past few weeks and I think that is helping alot. I still have yet to incorporate some organized exercise into my daily routine, although I am way more active than I used to be. I know I'll have to get some weight training in to reshape my body. Other than that, I'm doing great, feeling good and waiting for spring to get here!
I realized that I've not been keeping up my blog because I've been doing videos on YouTube alot with my updates. (if interested, I did a 4 month video my user name on YouTube is scneaux) However, I wanted to keep my blog up as well because this is where I began recording my thoughts. At 4 months I've lost 57 pounds. By my calculations, I think I've lost only 5 pounds this month, but am sort of glad to have slowed (trying to keep my hair as long as possible...ha ha) I noticed my hunger is sort of coming back. Not severe by any means. Just a nudge to let me know its time to eat. My favorite snacks are beef jerkey, string cheese and sunflower seeds. Still struggling with ny protien shakes and vitamins. I do take Prevacid still and this past month as everyone knows, I began training for a 5K. I am noticing my body transforming! yay! still got the skin issues, and the going south issues, but noticing some muscle definition which I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE!! One thing I am going to do this weekend is to try on some jean/capris and see what my true size is. Up to now I am still floating around in my 14's and a few 12's. I'm gong to buy at least 1 pair of capris this weekend (mall, watch out! lol) I may do another update this Friday, because its by date my exact 4 months. Stay tuned!! :scared0:
So, week two on the couch 25K has been challenging to say the least. The jogs are upped from 1 minute to 1.5 minutes. Now, for someone like me, who hasn't run in better than 20 years, it was tough for me. That being said, I DID IT!! I'm worried about moving over to the 3rd week, as you have to run a segment for 3 minutes (yikes!!) But may try it and if its too much, go back to week 2 till I feel ready. I've been doing all the workouts on my treadmill, but soon want to hit some pavement or trails. Nothing better than sucking in some fresh air and scenery while gettin fit :scared0: I have noticed a change in my stamina. My runs are more thought out, more deliberate. At first, I would just do whatever it took to get through, now I am watching my form more and it feels GREAT. I can feel my body responding to the intensity. My thighs, my butt (no hope for the flatlands, lol) my arms, it feels great. And let me just say, that the energy level is THROUGH THE ROOF!! I have been a walker nearly all my adult life, the energy I feel after an interval run is SO MUCH more than if I'd walked for 30 minutes. I went from low energy to high def energy...woooooo hooooooo!! I got me a new pair of running shoes, and watched countless YouTube videos about running, so I'm pumped to continue the program. I'll let yall know how I do on the 3rd week workout (which I'm trying today) Also for anyone interested, I'm vlogging about all this as well on YouTube, just search my username: scneaux. Stay tuned and thanks for reading/watching :sneaky2: