heatonsgal

On Sunday 9/22 I will be celebrating my 2 month Surgeriversery!!! I weighed in today at 252 which is 31 pounds lost since Surgery. Also a ton of inches!!! I have been extremely happy with my sleeve. I have had one episode of dumping since surgery and that was a day i was bad and got over 65 grams of carbs. My sleeve hated me that day. I am still on the meat, cheese and eggs and next week I can start adding 1/2 cup of veggies to one meal a day. I am a little scared to see how my sleeve will handle it but I am hoping for the best. I am so excited to have asparagus , cauliflower and brocolli!!!
I know we aren't likely to have a dumping issue but I am positive that it was one, I was shaky, sweaty and weak. It passed with in a 1/2 hour. I hadn't had that many carbs in one day since months before surgery. Believe me I will not be having anything that isn't on my doctors approved list anymore. I was glad to have had something like that happen because it has put me back on my path. We all have times we mess up and it is what we learn from it that matters.
I started Zumba on Friday nights and love it!!! My new love! I have been walking mainly since surgery so it is so nice to switch it up a little. I haven't gone shopping yet for anything but I do know I need smaller underwear!! LOL I just don't want to go out and shop and then have to shop again a month later so i have been wearing baggy clothes. I did find some old clothes of mine that now fit me that I will be wearing for a while.

I have lost 23 lbs since surgery!!! I am very happy with my progress so far. I was a little disappointed but then took a step back and realized how much weight that was in such a short time. For the first time in my life I want time to go by fast just for the next year. I am almost in the 250's and I am so happy. My first goal is 249 so I am just waiting for the day!!! I haven't seen that amount on the scale for years.
Exercise is going well started walking 5x's a week and strenght training 3 days a week. I love working out and I feel crappy when I don't. I really want a bicycle but I will wait till spring of 2014.
Food wise I am still on Meat, Cheese and Eggs only. I can introduce veggies back at 2 months. 1/2 cup per day. I am looking forward to that but they did warn me that the weigh loss will slow down due to the added carbs from the veggies. So I don't have to add them back every day or at all if I don't want too.
I am down into a size 1x shirt and I haven't checked on pants yet , i know they are getting very loose but not enough to fall off and have to go to a smaller size.
Tomorrow is weigh in day and I am so excited to see the 250's on my scale.

I checked in to the hospital earlier than anticipated Monday, Aug. 26th (they called and said they had a cancellation and could I come in early!).  After a few hours of prep and waiting and more waiting, I was finally wheeled away.  Surgery went quickly, doc said about an hour and NO hiatal hernia to repair after all!  Apparently sometimes the endoscopy will pick something up but then when they actually get in there, there's nothing to sew up.  Recovery was long for me.  I had a hard time waking up from the anesthesia.  I was in a ton of pain and almost collapsed when they got me out of bed the first time to go to the bathroom (no catheter for me) but thank goodness for my husband and a strong nurse that held on tight.  First night was rough - not going to lie.  I wasn't prepared for the pain from the gas they fill your tummy up with.  I have 6 2 inch incisions on my stomach and no bandages!  I came home yesterday the 27th and took my pain pills religiously thru the night to allow me to sleep.  Each hour gets easier and easier pain wise.  I'm up and walking a bit and doing 2 oz. or protein shakes at the top of each hour and as much water as I can get in.  My daughter just shared her chicken noodle soup broth with me and it was HEAVEN.  It feels very strange at first to have anything going down to the stomach pouch but I'm getting used to it.  I weighed 266 going in to surgery and gained a few pounds from the gas, fluids, etc. but my weight is going down quickly.  I can't eat until 9/19 when I go back for my 3 week appointment but I'm prepared with all my shakes and supplements, etc.  I'm so happy to have the actual surgery behind me and be moving on.  And I can't say enough about the staff at Swedish Hospital in Seattle - they are AMAZING! 

Day 2: This day did not go buy as smooth. Not as busy & the hunger or ghost hunger (I have plenty of storage I will be fine…)
still stuck to the diet just mainly had a headache, broke-down & bought Crystal Light Grape Energy to relieve the caffeine headache.. My Surgeon prefers no caffeine during pre-op, along with avoiding ibuprofen due to it being a blood thinner, & to try not to take Tylenol. Where you get the Rx version as Post-Op., which is all, ok, just a Pain. I ended up having a hard time going to be cuz my belly thought it needed the Fast Food one of my older kids brought home, well actually just the wrappers.. MAin it was the smell that made my tummy rumble... I thought you know this is a good trail now. I can’t make them change how they eat just because of what’s going on with me. I prevailed. Surprisingly felt better for it when I walked away. Best of all no regret! Small victories. Sad thing the stuff doesn’t even taste nearly as good as my head always thinks it does. So I am Happy.
 
I did better on water, I got right on target. Protein 64 so it’s improving.
 
 
 
Day 3: Finally had my Blood Labs early this morning. Now I’m just Crossing my fingers that nothing major is found. The blood work wasn’t bad didn’t even feel where she poked me, no bruising either which is unusual for me. The horrific thing was the Urine Test. I awoke to Mother Natures Wrath. Ugh most embarrassing… I know I’m not the only one, one of the nurses said it’s the drastic change in my diet. Which I have had before & I am pretty sure it’ll happen again at some point. LOVELY life as a Woman!!
 
She also told me some of the more scary stories of people.. #1 STAY AWAY FROM ALL FIZZY DRINKS. Or basically this whole process is in vain. The #2 is do not push your self to eat, like Stuffing your self most people don't eat to much for a very long time, she said that's why you go to your post-op appointments. Good thing I have already heard this info from the Dietitian & Dr. along with pretty much everyone else who I have seen.
 
Water I got right on, well I'm drinking my last bottle before I head to bed, also & Protein I got 75!!
I think it’s a lot of choices & making the best of it.
I also found to curb the hunger to cut the vegetables up small so they look like a lot more, the old toddler trick worked today. It took a lot longer to eat it also.
The biggest problem I found, with the dry meal rule is getting all the water in during the day. Unless you get up earlier specially when you have a lot of driving to do. It’ll work its self out. The joys of continuing to learn..