Hungry Caterpillar

So here are a few things I notice. I can't eat avocados ????. I throw up almost immediately after. Sometimes, all I can keep down are a few Pringles - about five. But then the next meal I can tolerate something more substantial. Noodles are No Bueno! I cannot digest them either- and I throw up after. I have just had a cold. This is gross, but I have been eating smaller amounts because I am already full from - drainage. Ewe. I lose a few pounds and then silence from the scales for a week or so. Every now and then my weight will go up a pound or so. But then the loss continues on track. I really want a food I can eat that I can say, wow, that was awesome! chicken broth with lemon juice is comforting most of the time. I go to the grocery store and I wander- looking for something appetizing and something I can keep down. But overall, I feel better than I did pre op. And people are amazed, but sometimes, I don't see what they see. I have more energy overall.

I started my journey at 238. On the day of my surgery, August 6, I was at 218. Now I'm at 190. I want to be at 135. Here are a few of my observations since surgery 3 and a half months ago: 1.) Sometimes, after I eat, I don't really throw up, it's more like an excess of saliva and mucus combined. 2.) For me, dinner is the worst meal to figure out. That's when I tend to overeat. Then, I feel sick. I have to take 25 minutes or so to myself to recover from the stomach cramps or the urge to/ or process of vomiting. 3.) 1 bite can make the difference between feeling okay and not okay. 4.) No real shock here.... I can't eat much at all. It surprises me that I feel as good as I do because I eat so little. 5.) I have more energy overall, but when I crater, I crater! 6.) Pooping happens a LOT less frequently, but when I gotta go, I gotta go. 7.) Others see a difference, but I haven't internalized it yet. 8.) None of my old clothes fit. 9.) New clothes cost money- duh! But it's intriguing/fascinating to shop in a trendy store where skinny women shop. I can actually wear some of that stuff now. Incredible! 10.) Taking meds is harder than it used to be. I have to think about coordinating eating or drinking with meds. I have on occasion made myself sick with my meds being that one bite too many. 11.) The adjustments are daily and include my family learning how to accommodate to the new diet and proportions. They are starting to figure out that we eat to live; we don't live to eat. 12.). This ain't easy, but it's worth it.

Congratulations! I recently rode in an airplane and was also shocked at the room to spare. Isn't that fascinating?

13.) I don't snore anymore.

I just got my date today. I am scheduled for August 6. Mostly, I am excited. Yet, a part of me me is anxious because I have such a short window of time before I must return to work. The process of getting approved has been somewhat cumbersome and time-consuming- as I started in June as soon as school let out in hopes of taking advantage of having met met my deductible before year's end (September 1 for teachers) and in hopes of getting it taken care of prior to Staff Development (August 13). Looks like I will only have 1 week to recover. I go in for pre-op appt Aug 1. I'm not sure the reality has set in yet. I think my main question is, "How bad is it really?" I don't want sugar-coated answers. I go to support meetings and people look as though they've had relatively minor problems in contrast to their prior weight issues. Their stories are miraculous to me.

I have gone to the 3 nutrition classes. I have received the letter from my primary care physician. I have had the psych eval, and I am having the meeting with nutrition on Thursday. I have also had my consult with the surgeon. So, if any of you have experience with this sort of thing, how long would you say it might be before I can expect surgery? I am just so afraid it won't get done during the summer while on out of school.