Keenikwe

I’ve hit one of my major goals. Online groups call it Onederland... 10/17/17 HW 291 SW 275 CW 198 GW 180

That’s amazing! I just checked my stats. I’m down 59 lbs since I started the program back in January 2017 and 43 lbs since surgery. I’m at the 2 month mark. Kind of remarkable

I’ve committed to “the program,” 3 appointments in the first year and then annual as well, but it’s with the NUT and endocrinology. The surgeon himself would only get back involved if surgery was required. And if I want plastics I’d be referred to their plastics dept. so yea, he’s hands off now. It’s okay, I have a good report with the NUT team and my endocrinologist has good bedside manner... so did the surgeon and his team, but yes! His role is done.

That’s fortunate that it would be covered. My surgeons office “released me from their care,” at my 3 week Appointment. I was basically told to continue with my NUT appts and refer to my primary for any concerns. Including the open surgical sites... let’s say I wasn’t the most impressed with that portion, prior to that, excellent experience (Mayo Clinic)

I’m 6 weeks post op today. I started in size 24/26 and now in 18. My program has my goals set at BMI and I didn’t include it in the picture, but I started at BMI 48, surgery my BMI was 45 and today my BMI is 39.

I have been able to eat pretty much anything that will become a paste in my mouth. If it gets stuck, which none have, then I’ll know to keep chewing. I️ had a chicken breast with avocado and salsa. I️ ate maybe a tsp or two ... otherwise I️ eat hummus, cottage cheese, deli slice of chicken wrapped around a mozzarella stick... I️ can only eat 1/3 of it. I share with my 2 yr old; a lot! My go-to has been chili puréed with shredded cheese and sour cream, I️ do have a hard time adding unflavored protein powder to things... it ruins it lol... and idk how much to add to make it worth while ... I️ was told by my NUT that I️ need to start stretching my pouch... so I️ need to eat a piece of toast once a day. I’m so nervous to stretch my pouch! I’m not eating the volume I’m supposed to at this point... 1/3 cup. I’m 3 weeks 2 days.

Hey everyone! I had my 3 week post op check yesterday... my BMI changed from 45 on the day of surgery to 41 yesterday. I’ve lost 24 lbs. 10inches total... so like some from my waist and from my hips... those are really the only measurements I’m worried about at this time... I met with my NUT and she told me to start to eat that extra bite to start the process of stretching my pouch ... that seems so soon and I don’t feel ready to do that yet. She said I should be eating a cup of food around 3 months. I’m eating about 2oz. Per meal. I drink most of my protein and she gave me the green light to keep doing that. I do have an open wound still healing. It’s not causing any problems other than what one would expect from having to dress the wound every 8 hours and it gives me pain every so often and i want to itch it, but I refrain from that. If it weren’t for the open wound I’d feel pretty darn good... Also I’ve been waking up on my belly without pain and I’ve been getting good sleep... I’m looking into getting an individual membership to the community center to work out. I usually get a family one but no one comes with me and they don’t have a daycare option ....

I had to pick a program in network and to pay the least amount out of pocket I went with a “center of excellence “ I ended up getting the most experienced and top surgeon so after researching the available surgeons; I kept who I was under happily. When it came time to decide who the surgeon would be, honestly, I said who has the soonest availability and then I went from there. I could change my mind after researching but I didn’t want to in the end. I’m quite pleased with how this went except for one of my surgical sites opened... the only one that was stitched rather than glued ... so I’m packing and repacking all day long. And I have to take additional time off work to not move around so much. The surgeon wasn’t the one to close so... I get that... I just don’t understand why only one had stitches and wasn’t glued like the others. I’m going to ask at my follow up.

I do the “sip sip sip” method. I do better with my fluid intake if I’m busy... I have my water bottle in hand at all times and i seem to “sip sip sip” at nearly every transition... my NUT told me not to consume more that 8oz in an hour... so I’ve been keeping to that. The only thing that hasn’t been awesome, other than the site infection, is that I feel brain fog and the length of time to think things through tends to be longer than usual. It’s far different than before. My husband suggested that it could be due to the lack of calorie intake. He might be onto something. Anyone else notice anything like this?

I am 10 days post op and I’ve had so many compliments ... already? I’m feeling better but one of my surgical sites is infected and it’s a pain in the ... well... belly lol Otherwise I feel fine and I’m energetic. I am having a hard time slowing down and not doing too much because I feel so good. HW 291 SW 275 CW 259

I will be 1 week out tomorrow, I have been fine for the most part with my recovery. My main site is painful and I worry about possible infection. I have a nurse coming over later this afternoon. It had been giving me a rough go for the last couple days. It helps the most to “walk it off” pain meds don’t do a darn thing to even take the edge off the pain. They do make me sleepy, but the pain is still on full blast at that site spot. I am following the diet from the NUT and it’s very different from other programs and it gets frustrating (in other groups) to explain what I’m drinking and have a bunch of people jump on me ... that gets frustrating. But since I’ve been experiencing some dumping with the Gatorade I was told to drink, I’ve been given the thumbs up to start purées today! I first tried a premier protein shake and that was glorious and gave me a nice full feeling. I’m going to eat scrambled eggs for dinner ! I am so excited lol

For those of us who are post-op. How are you sleeping at home? Totally on your back? Kinda propped on one side? In a chair?

I had requested a private room so my husband could stay overnight, but they are reserved for icu patients first and then they move down the reserved list

“I got great sleep in my semi-private hospital room,” said no one

Girl!! I laughed and said, I guess it was wishful thinking