knt4ever

POPSICLES ARE A MUST!!!! Crystal Light packets are good too.

Update Post-Op Day 9: My twin brother and his tribe visited this weekend and it was first time interacting with someone other than my Wiff. Of course he ordered pizza for everyone and I had my unjury Protein chicken Soup. I didn't have any problems with it to be honest. I liked the smell but had ZERO desire to eat any. Then we went to parents house tonight all together and Dad had made a smoked ham and several other things. Again I didn't have any urge or desire for the food there and was perfectly fine with eating my FF Cottage cheese and SF Jello. It was great test of will power and handling this kind of situation that will happen many times in future where I won't eat what everyone else has on their plates. I was joking around and tried to not make anyone else feel bad about eating what they where eating. I have on purpose had my Wiff and girls eat things in front of me so THEY get used to it and so THEY don't feel bad or guilty. I have always had our house eat together at kitchen table as one unit. I don't want this to change that. I feel like the more we do this the more comfortable they will be with it. I have no problems with this but the reality is that WE get to go through this journey together; it is just me. So in short all is going well and I am still doing great with eating, drinking, and finally slept all 7 hours straight. Tomorrow I get to add scrambled eggs for Breakfast. Not going to lie.....looking forward to this BIG TIME!!!!

Had all the fun Pre-Op Tests completed yesterday and it was interesting, impressive, and irritating all in one day. INTERESTING Never had upper GI for first time and I felt like a human milkshake bottle. Dr had me flip few times to get barium alll over stomach. He actually shook my belly even, it was odd to say the least lol. And the taste of the barium, yummy. It tasted like how I imagine the poo from chalk would taste. I asked if they had it in strawberry flavor and Dr laughed because they tried that once and still tasted like chalk poo. IMPRESSIVE How many different things done to make sure one is clear for surgery at the Advance Admissions is impressive. I was getting blood taking, x-rayed, ultrasounded, peed, EKGed, and more in such a short period of time which leads to the irritated part. IRRITATING Maybe because everything went so smooth and transitioned so fast that this was irritating but when I got to last task of Upper GI I ended up waiting hour and half because they forgot me THREE times! I was ahead of schedule but in the end I was finally taking in hour after appointment. They apologized several times and immediately looked into what happened after I expressed how I felt. Nurse said usually they put blue sticker on paperwork when person arrives. I thought to myself, "That's a full proof system, nothing could go wrong with that!". Overall good experience and more importantly one step closer to surgery!

My very first Friday Weigh in! Had surgery on Dec 26th so eight days later here are my numbers: Surgery Weight: 287 Current Weight: 270

UPDATE Post-Op Day 7: Went to 1 week appointment at Dr and here are the highlights: - Talked to NUT and she praised me for being a good boy and weighed me but I will give the number at end.....Then she went over my next phase which begins on Sunday and also went over phase after that which begins in two Sundays. - I told NUT and nurse about this forum and they are going to both look into it. - Giving prescription for the Urso Forte to help prevent gallstones which is good thing! - Directed to start back up my Flintstones twice a day - Directed to start back up Vitamin D3 (10,000 IU) twice a day because I am low - Didn't need to start on Vitamin B12 because I very, very high in that (Yay me) - Dr Assistant gave incredible play by play of the surgery. I was impressed on how much he went into detail. I even asked how much of my intestines where skipped and he told me 150cm (5 FEET!!!!). We have 20 feet so I have 25% less now. I was lucky to come to this clinic! The staff is positive, positive, and positive! - Scheduled 6 Week appointment and giving lab work to be done week before appointment. No to my weight loss...(drum roll please) .................... I have lost in 7 days.......... 17 POUNDS!!!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it! I knew I was doing well but wow. I didn't really have a goal but if I the number was 10 I was going to be excited, so to see 17 was encouraging to say the least. I will update my tracker tomorrow. Peace Out and WORD to Your Mutha!

Thank you very much! I am not sure I have been called "witty" before but I LIKE IT! That last week is so weird because I found myself saying this is the last Tuesday, this is the last Wednesday before I get the tools to change the rest of my life. I then switched to staying busy, busy, busy. Before you know it you will be in your room with some good meds!! Good luck!!

UPDATE Post-Op Day 6: I have confession to make: I snuck up on the scale even though I wanted to wait until tomorrow's 1 week appointment. I am not going to tell yet what number I saw or if it is good or bad. Everyone will have to wait until tomorrow after I get official weigh in at Dr office. My sleeping gets better each night. I got 5 hours in a row last night and then I couldn't get back to sleep. I got on treadmill again today and went 1 mile in 25 minutes at 2.5 mph. I was happy with it for sure but then I tried to be a hero and help Wiff shovel snow and I think I went overboard. I was sore and went to lay down and slept for almost 3 hours. I am going to take it easy tonight. My twin brother and his family (5 kids) is coming into town and staying with us for two nights so looking forward to that. And he is bringing his 2 dogs too which will be interesting lol. It will not be boring this weekend!! Pray for me! LOL

Than you very much! I hope I can help and keep you laughing. I have always called her my Wiff on purpose, no autocorrect fail. In my phone she is under Wiff. I thought she needed a unique name because she is so original and incredible. She calls me Hubby instead of husband. It's one of our things.

UPDATE Post-Op Day 5: Operation Poo Poo has finally been achieved!!! I was getting slightly concerned yesterday about not dropping a deuce yet even though I knew there would be some delay in service. I took 2 tbls of Cherry flavored Milk of Magnesium (MOM) last night, which was surprisingly good tasting and very, very smooth. Woke up this morning, which is day 5 Post-Op, and nothing.....nada......zero action. So around 10:30 a.m. I took full dose of 4 tbls of MOM and then after I woke up from a nap at 3:30 p.m. and POW!!!!! O' what a relief it is!!! WOW!!! I am so excited and just can't hide it! So now I know what works for me: MOM!!!!! Thank goodness because I didn't want to use a suppository at all!! There is update for the day hope you enjoyed as much as I did!

Update Post-Op Day 4: I have been doing well with the all liquid diet but had one short spell of nausea when I drank too much of chicken broth. I have drank at least 64 oz of liquids each day and have had over 70 grams of Protein each day. Gas pains are pretty much gone although I have my trusty Gas-X strips and heating pad to help if I feel gas pains. I do get tired fast after doing things. Went to Lowes with Wiff and when I got back I was out for 2 hours. My 1 week Post-Op appointment is Thursday. I am waiting for then to weigh myself.

This is great hearing everyone going through similar issues. We can know that others have the same fears before surgery, including myself. I was leery of having major surgery, which was the first time for me. After I was in my room and awake I felt a calmness and confidence saying, "I can do this!"

I am same way too. I had surgery on 26th and have been a little worried that I am getting my liquids down with no issues yet. Then again I am very cautious!! So maybe because we are being careful it is paying off with no pain.

UPDATE Post-Op Day 3: Today was not as bad during the day although couldn't stay asleep last night. I got my fluids in again today and Protein too. I am a little concerned it is easy for me to drink Water when so many had difficulty time. I am sipping with my Camelbak and take 3 sips each time. I am being very careful and slow when eating or drinking so maybe I am just doing it right. I even went on treadmill and walked a half mile at 1.5 mph. Took 20 minutes but I did it! Want to keep walking because it makes everything better. With the being tired, it is difficult staying asleep but then all of the sudden I will pass out for 30 minutes. It's weird to have energy and then poof it's gone. When I got 2 hours straight of sleep I felt like it was an accomplishment! Day 3 is a wrap!!!

I had the joy of the catheter because my hospital requires them if surgery is over 2 hours. I walked two times within the first 3 hours so they asked if I wanted it out and I said YEP!!!! It didn't hurt coming out but the first few times I urinated it burned bad! I found out the next day that my Dr had difficult time putting the catheter in me because my opening was small due to some extra skin or something. Dr said I may have more discomfort urinating because of this so I am not sure if everyone else has same amount of burning. It is 3 days later and it isn't burning anymore. I told the nurse if this is what it feels like if a guy has a STD then I am never getting one!

UPDATE Post-Op Day 2: I am HOME!!!!! I was held 14 hours longer for my oxygen levels ugh. Dr was going to let me go home last night but changed his mind. Either way it doesn't matter because I am home with my ladies and puppy! I will go into more details later because I am still weak and tired. THANKS EVERYONE!!!!

I just had my surgery on Thursday and I was surprised how much I had to do to get the nurses to keep up with the pain meds. They would not give them to me unless I requested. Which kinda stinks because if they are with another patient when they get the call it might take extra half hour to get meds. Stay ahead of the pain!

I am doing good compared to most patients here but I have to stay another night because my oxygen levels are too low when I sleep. That stinks. Dr thinks it had to do with the anesthesia so they are being safe. I am doing good on foods and water and am starting to get gas bubbling up. I think I beat the carbon dioxide gas with the heating pad and walking right away. They have me on the half pills of pain killers. I can definitely feel more of the pain from surgery than when I was on the IV filled with Dilaudid. I didn't feel anything on the Dilaudid but now I feel it. It isn't overwhelming but it is there.

UPDATE Post-Op Day 1: Surgery was yesterday and everything went well. Dr said my liver looked great but still took biopsy. After surgery was over took a little longerr to get my oxygen levels back up but after that I was moved to my private room. Yep my own room! Once I got to my room they started me on morphine but found it that I don't like morphine. It makes me extremely nauseous! So I was put in diluadid and I liked it! After 2 hours being in my private I went for first wall. Then hour or two later I went on another walk. After second walk I got the catheter out! Boy did it burn when I went potty. Around 5a.m. I had my popsicle and it went down with no issues. I will update more later. Words are starting to blend together, so can't see what I am typing.

POPSICLE FOR KENNY! Lets see how this goes. They gave me grape. Hoe did they know grape is my favorite?!? Grape Ape.....Grape Ape!!!

Alrighty then! In surgery pre-op area all prepped with IV in and talked with anesthesiologist and he made my Wiff laugh saying he could park a small Volkswagen in my mouth because I have such a large airway. Should be rolling out in half hour.

Just took the dreaded "Before" pictures.........wow. That is the reason I avoid being in pictures the last couples years, because I didn't want to see reality. About to go to sleep and wake at 0430 to get ready to get the tools to change my life.

Less than 12 hours to go and I am glad today is Christmas because it isn't giving me anytime to think about tomorrow. I feel like I am my daughter's age (8) and tomorrow is Christmas for me! I will keep updating this to help relax me tomorrow. Thank everyone for all the advice and knowledge!

Thank you and I willl be updated my thread called "Operation Operation". http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/290947-operation-operation/

I am going tomorrow. Getting real for sure.

Tomorrow is my day! Love that I have to be at Hospital at 5:30 a.m. (not!). Jk glad to get it over as soon as possible!