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journey to my sleeve

Entries in this blog

 

The start of my journey

I have never blogged before so this is a little strange for me. I just think I need to log this journey. I have wanted to have weight loss surgery for over 4 years now but my insurance would not cover it. Recently our company changed to Aetna and they do cover the surgery. Yeah!!!! So I went to the seminar and have had my initial consultation with the surgeon. At first everyone in my family was very supportive until I started actually taking the steps needed for surgery. Now I am starting to get some negativity from my family and from my PCP which completely shocks me. My PCP thinks that since I do not have any co morbidities that I can lose 150lbs by myself. Well I want to get this taken care of before I become sick. My mom seems to think that something will go wrong since this is elective and I am not thinking this through. My husband is scared I will get sleeved, lose my weight and leave him. I am just shocked how all the support disappeared as soon as it became real. I am standing firm. I found out yesterday that I must start a 3 month weight loss attempt with my PCP which will be changing due to the negativity about my decisions. I have my appt for my psychological evaluation and am moving forward with my decision. After much research I know that the sleeve is for me.    
kbowlin74

kbowlin74

3
 

Pre-Op Appt.

Well I went for my pre-op appt today and will start my liquid diet tomorrow. To prepare for the liquid diet, my son and I went to New Orleans and ate everything we wanted. Not only was I able to mentally prepare for the liquid diet but I also got to enjoy reconnecting with my teenage son. I thought for sure when I went for my pre-op appt I would have gained weight with everything we ate(jambalya, red beans and rice, benets, bananas foster, etc.). I actually lost 2 more pounds. I think mentally I already cut back my portions and now I dont feel a bit guilty about leaving food uneaten. This is a huge step for me and just another sign that I am ready. Only 2 more weeks and I will jump head first into the losers circle.
kbowlin74

kbowlin74

2
 

Over 2 weeks out and all is well

Well I went for my 2 week checkup on Thursday and they said I was doing very well. I have lost 19 pounds and am walking 2 miles a day. I cant wait to get back in the gym but I have 2 more weeks until the doctor will release me. My incisions are healing great. I am hoping that once they completely heal there will be no signs of the surgery. I am loving the comments from all the naysayers before surgery about how they can already tell I am losing weight. I just smile and think haha.   I think the hardest thing has been cooking my favorite foods for my family and not licking the spoons. I made the mistake of making chicken salad and licking the spoons as I was finished with them. By the time I finished the chicken salad and cleaned up I was not even hungry. Lesson learned.   Overall life has resumed back to normal. Since surgery I have been to 3 concerts, the comedy club, a company lunch and church every Sunday(All this in addition to work every day). It amazes me how much energy I already have. I am so optimistic that I even volunteered for a position on a committee at work that will include me flying to CA and TX. My goal is to be small enough to skip the seatbelt extension before the travel starts. Before surgery I would never have considered it.   One other thing I have learned is that when I add a scoop of the protein shake to my yogurt it is easier to get my protein in. Also taking my vitamins is essential. I missed my vitamins one morning and thought I was going to fall asleep driving home from work. I will not do that again.   I know this post has been all over the place but I wanted to make sure I posted all the things I have learned up to this point.
kbowlin74

kbowlin74

1
 

It's getting close and all is well

Well I am down to 4 days left. The liquid diet has been actually easy for me but we have been very busy at work. This has helped since I didnt really have time to take a lunch with anyone. The 4th of July potluck was hard but I just went for a walk while everyone ate. This worked. No one really knew I didnt eat since everyone was grazing and I got some exercise in to boot. My husband has tried to sabotage my liquid diet but I am amazed at the willpower I have been able to muster up. Knowing that it is only for 2 weeks helped tremendously. I have also realized the power of planning ahead. I had read someone's post about keeping a snack bag with you at all times and this was my saving grace. I always have one serving of my meal reaplacement in my purse at all times. When push comes to shove I stop and get a bottle of water, drink a little, and add the protein drink. Without that little tip I feel like I would have bombed miserably. I have also realized that just by reading the different forums and everyones experiences I am empowered. I am so very thankful I happened on this site and bookmarked it. I have found the strength and knowledge that has gotten me this far. The funniest thing that has happened is evertime I overcome food temptations I hear the Rocky theme in my head...lol.
kbowlin74

kbowlin74

4
 

First Post Since Surgery

Well I am 3 days out and it has been fairly easy. I followed the liquid diet just about to a T and it paid off. My surgeon said it was the easiest surgery he had ever done. Everything went perfectly. Even the nurses were impressed that I was doing so well. Now honestly the first night I thought I was going to die. I kept getting gas bubbles that would cause me to gag. Everytime I gagged I thought my stomach was going to explode. When they say walk they really mean it. If I had walked more earlier in the day I would not have had these issues at night. The other kicker was the morhine made me sick as well. I think if I could have avoided the gaging I would have been on top of the world. All in all I am 3 days out now and still even with the gagging I am glad I did it. I am not having any issues with getting my liquids in and have been really shocked at how excited I have been about my pureed food. The other kicker is I started today. I think this actually has caused some of the pain and bloating that I have but just think...by the time I go back to work I will be done with it all for a month. Just trying to look for the positive. And to boot I have my pain medicine for surgery so the cramps have been virtually nonexistant or at least I havent really had to deal with them . Well I need to get off here and go take another lap around the house before its time for another nap.
kbowlin74

kbowlin74

2
 

Finally I have a date

I am so excited. After months of jumping through hoops I finally have an official date for surgery. July 13th. Its amazing that actually having a date brings out everyones opinions. I have been told I will not lose anything with surgery, that I am making a mistake, that I will forever regret having this surgery, that I needed to research it more, that I was taking the easy way out. When someone pops off with anything negative I find solace in the fact that I have researched the sleeve for well over a year as well as have been wanting to have WLS surgery for 6 years now. I do not argue with anyone that has a negative opinion I am just going to let my success prove to them. Thanks to everyone on here for the good, bad and ugly posts about your experience with the sleeve. I will hopefully be posting more now that my date is official.
kbowlin74

kbowlin74

2
 

3 months started. Planning for a birthday sleeve. :)

Well here is an update so far. I figured out that I will need the 3 months attempted weight loss so I have seen my PCP and made my appt for my psychological eval and my nutritionist visit. I figure that my sleeve will be my 37th birthday present. I am good with that. These next 3 months will fly by and I will be on my way down soon. I have started to work out 3 days a week with a cardio focus. I figure that the heathier my heart is before surgery the better off I am. There is a reason for everything and I am going to make the most of these 3 months to reach my goal after surgery faster. Hopefully some of the habits I am forming now will make life after the sleeve easier. My daughter is as excited about this now as I am. We laugh when looking at clothes and she says mom you can wear this too when you loose your weight. I cant wait for that day. I am doing this for me but also for her. I want to be an example of fitness for her to follow. Up to this point she has followed me down the road of a foodie. That will change when exercise is more of a focus in all of our lives.
kbowlin74

kbowlin74

1
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