rachelkork

highest weight - 318 weight before pre-op diet - 294 weight before surgery - 274 current weight - 247 I can't believe it's been a month since my surgery. I feel absolutely amazing..and look pretty amazing too. I bought myself a gym pass this past week, the first time I went I did get a little light headed but it's all good now. This week I went shopping for some new clothes. I bought myself size 16 jeans (was a 22) and some L/XL shirts (was a 3X). At first I thought I would need some sort of reconstructive surgery but my skin is not loose or saggy at all. I guess it's true what they say age and length of obesity really does play a part in skin elasticity.

Woke up sunday morning with a sore throat/head cold. Woke up this morning dry heaving and feeling like a bus ran me over. I called the surgeons office to let them know how I'm feeling and I was told to take some gravel and if the nausea doesn't go away that I need to come to the hospital. Im feeling alright now but still kinda scared. The last thing I need right now is a leak. Other than not feeling great I'm doing ok. I'm getting in most of my protein, I'm supposed to get 60-80g a day and I'm getting in at least 55g a day. My weight is steadily going down, today I weighed in at 258. Even with the complications I had, this was the best decision I've ever made.

I only had drains because I had internal bleeding (something was nicked during surgery) and this was the best way to monitor my recovery. When I woke up from my vsg I had no drains, but when I woke up from the second surgery (drain blood/bloodclots) I had 2 JP drains.

Today I had my drains removed. That was quite the experience, not the most painful thing but the most uncomfortable thing ever. I thought the drain tube was only a few inches inside me, I was wrong. Those tubes are like 1.5 feet long with a thick plastic ending. My stomach area is pretty sore from the drain removal but other than that I'm doing great. I must say I feel like I could eat anything as long as I chew it enough. I had campbells chicken noodle soup today. Chewed the noodles/chicken many times before I swallowed and it went great, no indigestion or anything. Finally figured out how to make a good protein shake (thank you booster juice). I also had some nibbles of a cheese string and a few bites of scrambled egg whites. I know the stomach takes time to heal, but after that terrible 2 week pre op diet I couldn't wait anymore to chew something. Hopefully my eating doesn't cause any problems. In my defence the first week post op was water and juice only as I was still in the hospital with complications, not from my stomach but a nick in my cavity. In other news, I'm currently wearing a shirt that I haven't worn in 2 years due to my size.

The internal bleed was not from my sleeve line but from when they were cutting/cauterizing the layer of fat/muscle away from the stomach. A rare thing to happen.

I had VSG on Monday Feb 28, 2011. Everything seemed to be going well when I woke up after the surgery but as the hours passed I knew something wasn't right. I was rushed back to the O.R. on March 1, where the doctors drained internal bleeding and huge bloodclots. I have never felt so sick in my entire life. Wednesday was terrible as I had to do leaks tests and could barely keep the dye I had to drink down. Thursday and Friday went great, a little queasy and sore (my back) but other than that I was fine. I went home Saturday morning with two drains in me that will be removed (hopefully) on Tuesday. Everyday I'm doing better and better, and losing some serious weight.

I had my surgery on Feb.28, I went back under on March 1 to drain internal bleeding and remove blood clots. I'm now at home resting and doing well.

I will be sleeved february 28th by Dr. Hardy at Victoria Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Today I made a cup of tea with rotten skim milk. Somehow I didn't notice till half way done when, when my stomach started to gurgle. Not fun! Only 2 more sleeps till my surgery.