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My Quest

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3 weeks out...some buyers remorse.

I have been battling some buyers remorse. I am soooooooo tired of soups and soft foods. My docs instructions, are full liquids, protein drinks, scrambled egg only, yogurt, cheeses, refried beans and fish. No purees. This sounded great 2 weeks ago but now I would rather not eat than have the things I am allowed. I am not getting in my protein or all of my fluids. I have also hit a stall. I am sure its because of my lack of protein and fluids. It has been so depressing when my daughter insisted I go out to lunch with her the other day, I replied "why so you can pay 12.00 for the 3 spoons of soup I will hate?" This morning I had a talk with myself, I know this is temporary. I know I needed this surgery and was blessed to be able to have it. I am determined that starting today I will eat some protein every 3 hours, drink my fluids and do some light exercise. In one more week I can add shrimp, crab, chicken and turkey, soft veggies, salad and fruit!!!!!!!!! Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Life will be so much easier then. I will feel like I can actually make a regular meal, I have been collecting some high protein recipes and can't wait to try them.
ladiJ

ladiJ

8
 

My surgery story- Day-by-day (surgery was 12/5/2012)

Just wanted to let all you pre-op peeps know how my experience was so hopefully it may quell some anxieties. After all knowledge is power. My surgery was scheduled for 1 pm on 12/5/2012.The day before I had my preop appt with surgeon and also was on a full liquid diet. My surgeon did not require a 2 week liquid diet prior to surgery but did say no weight gain. I had first seen him in Sept so had packed on 10 lbs since then, i think not so much as a farewell to food but frankly I have dieted for 51 years after I decided to have the sleeve I gave myself a break. So when my date was set for 12/5 that meant I needed to get 10 lbs off fast. I started two weeks before really cutting back and the last 5 days was mostly liquids and arrived at pre op only 1 lb over. The doc didn't comment and I am sure it’s because only one pound could be due to a drink of water in the hallway. I also went to the hospital to preregister as arranged by my doctor’s office. That evening at 5 pm I had to drink a 10 ounce bottle of Mag citrate; if this is your demon, pour it over ice and get it down as quickly as possible. Although they say it works in 5-6 hours it can take 11 hours. If you have been on a liquid diet the results should be rather gentle. I also had to shower the night before and that am and clean myself with hibiclens (help reduce infection) I could shampoo but no conditioner, no hair products, deodorant, powders etc…(flammable in OR)The night before I also had a farewell to coffee party, I could drink liquids until midnight so I had 4 cups of coffee drinking the last one at 11:45 pm:P   I arrived on 12/5 at 11:00 as instructed, they had called while I was en route to explain the doctor was ahead of schedule so hurry and get there so I could get under the knife;) again I took a babywipe bathe with antiseptics before getting in my gown, they started an IV and I was wheeled to surgery, after speaking to the anesthesiologist and my surgeon. I made them both very aware that fear of pain was not an issue for me but nausea was so they could have round the clock meds ordered to alleviate that. Thankfully, in my hospital they wait till you are under before inserting catheter. I recall laying on the table saying oh this pretty comfy and that is the last thing I recall till waking up in the recovery room. My surgery took an hour and I was in the recovery room for an hour and half still enjoying my sleepy time when my impatient daughter (who had been told recovery was only an hour and a half then she could see me) demanded to be let in. I heard her say, "How do we wake her up?" and opened my eyes.   I was moved to my own room shortly there after and attached to a million pounds of things. Oxygen, I had to use it as every time I fell asleep (which was all the time those first hours) my O2 level dropped. This being the beginning of sleep apnea. Thankfully surgery should correct that. I had a pain pump, heart monitor, I had the intermittent pneumatic compression devices on my legs and IV. This meant an extreme effort was involved anytime I wanted or was forced to get out of bed.   I used my pain pump every hour when I awoke that first evening (Wed, 12/5) My surgeon does not let gastric sleeve patients have anything, not even ice chips the first day/eve/night. As I had told them I was terrified of being nauseated I was given meds for that (zofran and reglan and prilosec) around the clock. My room was freezing, it said 68 degrees, which is how I usually like a room, but I must admit since surgery, i don't know if its blood loss or what I have been stoking my furnace and keeping it at 72 or 73. My pain was not bad, but I know you need to stay on top of pain and not let it get out of control, besides I had been heros during all my childbirths and c-sections and had already warned everyone at this stage in life I was gladly taking whatever drugs were available to me. Thus concludes the day of surgery.
ladiJ

ladiJ

5
 

6 weeks out today and back in the game.

I am 6 weeks out, trying more and more foods and not really having difficulty with digestion. I have had a poor appetite and my taste buds have been off, everything has tasted bland and not near as good as I seem to remember or believe. I had only lost 19 lbs and was feeling rather disappointed in myself and the process. Then I realized I have been eating, not like a healthy life style but as if I were recuperating from a surgery and just making do waiting for everything to return to normal. I had not been getting in my protein. My water intake was not adequate, my carb ingestion way too high. I had to stop and think duh.......this is not waiting to get back to normal, this is my new normal and this is for life! What the hell did I do this for if I was not going to develop the healthy habits I had planned on. Light bulb moment. For a smart woman I sometimes take awhile to get it.   So yesterday and thus far today, made my water requirements, protein is up, carbs down and exercised too!!!!!!! look out baby I am back in the game and I intend to be a winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ladiJ

ladiJ

3
 

1 month out..

4 weeks out and on regular foods, trial basis for each item. I took advice from the board and am consuming 1 protein drink, 1 protein bar , 1 greek yogurt and one string cheese a day. This amounts to 54 grams of protein and with my dinner and other bits of food here and there I am sure I am meeting my protein needs. I am feeling so much better physically and mentally since getting of soft foods and soups. I use to like soup, I can't imagine having soup again in the next year. I have lost 15 lbs, I am happy with that and now am starting to exercise. I still need to work harder on getting in my fluids and vitamins. The short time of frustration and regret has passed and I still feel blessed to have had this opportunity.
ladiJ

ladiJ

1
 

Post-Op Day 3 12/7/12 Home, Sweet, Home

Saw my doctor early this am who said I can start on liquids! If I could tolerate I could go home after lunch. For breakfast I took 2 spoons of beef broth but it tasted too salty to me. I drank the apple juice, it slid down easily, a sip at a time. The protein drink provided by the hospital which is a berry flavored, thin, almost juice consistency and a jello. It took me about an hour to get that down. I was determined to tolerate it so I could go home so took it very slowly. at lunch time I was provided the same tray. I took all my regular meds and my prilosec for tummy by mouth. I needed no pain meds since my last puch of the pain pump 24 hours before hand so they went ahead and discontinued my IV. Yea I was free from everything. They advised not to take a shower at hospital since the risk of infection. (you are always safer at home) and it was freezing anyhow. I threw my hair in a pony tail, I looked a hot mess, and put on my sweats and a large loose tshirt. I had been worried maybe my underwear, or bra or pain line would rub on one of my incisions but they did not. My incisions were covered with a dermabond and I could shower but was instructed not to rub. I was home by 3 pm and in the hot shower at 3:10 pm. I was so thankful to be back in my own bed. I watched tv from my recliner and tried out some fluids. For me the first day I was reluctant to attempt protein drinks. they seem thicker, so I started with apple juice, since I had already had it in the hospital. Gatoraide seemed a bit heavy for me that first day also. Still no pain and I was able to fall into my bed and sleep for 4 hours. After being awake every hour at the hospital this seemed like heaven. I continued to burp and hiccup after every drink helping to move gas. That evening I had a cup of chicken broth and kept my juice at the bedside constantly sipping. No pain, No hunger.
ladiJ

ladiJ

1
 

2 weeks post-op today

ok so I am down 11 pounds since surgery and 20 pounds since my own version of pre-op diet with the goal to drop the 10 lbs I had gained while waiting for my surgery date. I am on "soft foods" My doctor doesn't "do" purees. only fish, eggs, cheese,yogurt and of course the soups and protein drinks etc.At times I have eaten to fast and had either pain in my chest, the burps or tossed my cookies. It is a learning experience.
ladiJ

ladiJ

1
 

P.o. Day 1

I can gain no weight before surgery. I know that should not be an issue, but every since I started this process, with the classes 6 months ago, I have had tons of stress at work, life etc...and I have gained 25 lbs. It seems like every week I gain a pound or two, lose it the next week and then regain it. MY body is playing tricks on me, it does not handle stress well and I am an emotional eater.This concept is new to me as I just always thought I was overweight because I loved food. I am so worried that I or my body will sabotage the process, especially since when I started this process I was convinced I would not have surgery, now after learning all about it I am convinced this is the tool I need to finally be successful.   today I start watching my carbs, eating protein and exercising..........weight yesterday at surgeon's office 255.6
ladiJ

ladiJ

0
 

Post Op Day 1 : 12/6/2012

I was awake every hour on the hour while in the hospital, happily hitting my pain pump. I did not any real pain and was determined to keep it that way. My night nurse was great and brought me some swabs for my mouth as my doctor does not even allow ice chips until he sees you in the am. Around 4 am since I was awake my nurse asked if I was ready to get up and assisted me up and for a little walk around the unit. When I came back to my room I sat up in a chair for awhile and she brought my what can best be described as a microwaved package of thicker, larger. baby wipes to perform a bed bath on myself. I climbed back in bed and woke up 3 hours later. When I woke up my left arm felt cold and wet, turns out I blew my IV so no meds, fluids or my pain pump going meds were reaching me. The doctor came in as the nurse was attempting a new iv and said I could start on ice chips. YEAH!!!!!!!! The IV restart was unsuccessful but the nurse provided me with a large plastic container of BEAUTIFUL ice chips and small medicine cups. i was instructed to have one medicine cup if ice chips every 15 min while awake. The first four "cups" did not even reach my new sleeve because my dehydrated, gummy, mouth absorbed all that moisture. MY catheter was also discontinued and finally a nurse was able to get my IV started. It was time for my pain pump to be discontinued and I sniffled and hit it one last time for good measure. This second day I felt "gassy" and would burp and hiccup a lot which helped move the gas along. I didn't really walk the halls as I was freezing but I did get up several times to sit in the chair in my room and I walked back and forth to the bathroom every hour. Ice chips all day and night and they went down with no problem. No matter how tired I was I had trouble getting comfy and only managed to have a three hour stretch where I slept. Other than that I was awake every hour.
ladiJ

ladiJ

0
 

Day 2 Pre-Op

Well this is day 2 of my quest to not only not gain weight before surgery (or my doc will not schedule) but to also follow a low cal, low carb eating plan. I have done really well so far today, just had a great scoop of chicken salad which I ate with slices of cucumber. I used the cucumber just as if it were crackers....yum! Today seems easier than yesterday was. I also went to my pcp today and I completed all required pre-op testing except for the ultrasound. Soonest appt is the end of the month but at least I will end Sept knowing everything is done and just waiting to be submitted for authorization.
ladiJ

ladiJ

0
 

The Consultation

Yesterday I had my first consultation with my surgeon. I have completed the required classes, nutritionist appointments, psych evaluation, seminar and support group attendance. He said I was a candidate for the sleeve..Wee!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am happy, excited, nervous, at times ambivalent but also determined. I now must obtain the required labs, ekg, chest xray and ultrasound of gallbladder. Once I have finished all that and it is received in his office they will submit for insurance approval. My insurance is through an *** and I met their requirements as far as the classes etc so I do not think there should be any issues. I feel a bit under the gun as due to work requirements I really need to have my surgery in Oct. I spoke with him about this and he said its possible I may been able to have surgery at end of Oct.
ladiJ

ladiJ

0
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