Pandemonium

I weighed myself when I went to bed after being discharged and was up 3 pounds. It dropped right off within another couple of days as all of the fluids that I'd been pumped full of via IV worked through my body. Visiting nurse said between that and edema from inflammation, it is very common to see a momentary weight gain right after surgery.

The program I'm in says 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, which seems kind of on the high side to me, but it worked out well for me pre-op. 9 years ago, the program I was in for my lap band had a goal of 60g of protein, so there was a little bit of whiplash on my expectations when I went pre-op for revision to VSG back in February. I'm 9 days post-op and right now I've been getting 89g of protein a day from the liquid diet I'm on.

Today is day 9 since surgery and I have been struggling hard mentally and emotionally pretty much all week. It all kind of crashed down directly after my post-op appointment on Monday. Part of the program was getting the "bible" as part of the education process. The "bible" is the program's bariatric handbook that details out every single step in the days leading up the surgery, the day of surgery, and the weeks following. It's a road map for how things will go. My doctor...is the medical director for the program. And on Monday, he pretty much told me that he doesn't usually follow the handbook and that I should not pay attention to it. So, while right now I am still on a liquid phase (clear fluids and 3 protein shakes a day), I was anticipating the follow up at week 3 to progress to pureed foods as tolerated (protein shakes are never going to really go away). Instead, my doctor wants me to stay on liquids for 8 weeks. And while I understand his rationale for it as it will continue to provide an accelerated weight loss for a much longer period of time, it completely shattered me because right now the only thing I do with my time every day...is consume fluids. I am only allowed to drink 1 ounce of fluids every fifteen minutes. I am supposed to spread that ounce over the course of 15 minutes. Literally every waking moment is me sipping from a little 1 ounce medicine cup. The thought of doing this for 7 more weeks? I spent pretty much all day Monday and Tuesday crying because I just don't see how this can be sustainable. I'm getting 52-56 ounces of fluid in me every day at this point, but I am also waking up pretty much around 3am with my mouth completely dry, so it feels like I am barely managing to keep hydrated. And my doctor did say that at any point if I decide that I want to start integrating appropriate food into my diet, that I just have to let him know and he will work with me and adjust my diet. I just hate that he's putting that burden on my shoulders because it feels to me that when I make that decision, I am tapping out on accelerated weight loss and admitting defeat. I forced myself to go back to work onsite yesterday for a few hours just to get myself out of the house. It helped my mood and mindset some, but I came home really wiped out, so it may have been pushing things a bit much (on top of what is probably too aggressive an exercise plan so soon after surgery). Today I'm feeling a little bit better mentally and emotionally, but still pretty ragged. I'm tired of drinking these tiny little sips from these tiny little cups, but there's not really anything I can do about it. The best I can hope for is get through another week and a half and then ask if I can do 1 ounce of fluid every 8-10 minutes.

The program I'm in had made my routine fairly easy, if not a bit monotonous. I'm supposed to drink 1 ounce of fluid by sipping it over the course of 15 minutes, every 15 minutes. So I'm essentially always drinking fluids every waking hour. I text my doctor every night to update him on how many ounces I consumed and he's adjusted things every day by adding more protein shakes into the mix. For the exercise I've done, I have gone outside and walked for 10 minutes, timing it half way between fluid consumption so that I get back in time to finish the ounce and then start the next one.

Surgery was first thing in the morning on 7/7. Discharged from the hospital the following morning. Overnight at the hospital wasn't bad, if only a little tedious. Made good progress on my fluid intake while there. Pain was minimal once home, topping out around a 4. Liquid acetaminophen is all I've needed. Visiting nurse stopped by on 7/9 to check my vitals and see how I was doing. Did three 10 minute walks outside, which was overachieving because there was more discomfort on the last walk and I woke up exhausted the following morning. Drank 51 ounces of fluids, including 8 ounces of Celebrate 4:1 protein shake Removed the binder and took a very welcome shower before the VNA stopped by on Friday morning. She said that the swelling and inflammation around my incisions had subsided a lot from the day before. Also had first post-op bowel movement. That almost sent me running for the ER because I wasn't warned about how it was going to look. Doctor assured me that it was normal after spending a lot of the day in a mild state of panic. Consumed 53 ounces of fluids, including 16 ounces of Celebrate 4:1 shakes. Scaled back my activity to just two 10 minute walks outside. Did not put the binder back on as I didn't feel any added pain or discomfort from not wearing it. Today? Well, pain is pretty much gone. Haven't taken any liquid acetaminophen yet today. Still feeling tired. Doctor has said to not do any exercise today and simply rest. Am supposed to drink 16 ounces of Celebrate 4:1 and 8 ounces of Premiere Protein today, on top of other fluids. The biggest complaint I have at the moment is how itchy my stomach is. A combination of the incisions healing and all of the body hair that was shaved off starting to grow back in. Another VNA visit tomorrow and then 1st post-op followup with my doctor on Monday. So far so good!

T-minus 3 hours. Wish I'd slept better/more, but there was a slim chance of that happening. See ya in 6-8 hours!

I had two days of bowel prep, but mine was Golytely, not Magnesium Citrate. My stuff wasn't flavored nearly enough, even with the little flavor packet they gave me. Yesterday was awful. I did end up nauseous after 2 glasses (had to drink a 1/2 gallon of the stuff), and ended up popping one of the nausea pills I'd been subscribed. It worked, but nothing could help having to choke that stuff down. Took me almost 4 hours to get through the 1/2 gallon. Today was easier, though still horribly unpleasant. No nausea and I just powered through it to get the 1/2 gallon down in under 3 hours. Also have to be at the hospital for 5:30am tomorrow. Going to try to head to bed shortly, but not sure how much I'll sleep. You got through the worst part of it, though! It's a downhill run from here on out!

I've scratched my pizza itch using a keto chicken crust recipe. This is the one I found on the Baritastic app, but there are tons of similar ones out there. Protein packed, very low carb, and you can control the fat content very easily. https://fitmencook.com/low-carb-pizza/

First day of bowel prep and 24 ounces in and I am regretting all of my life choices. I made the choice to not add Crystal Light to the Golytely and think I made a mistake. I was concerned about ruining Crystal Light for me for life if I did it The lemon flavor packet the pharmacy included is not even remotely sufficient. Also, my lap band is making this process take longer because I can't do 8 ounces every 10 minutes. Oh...and this is officially my worst birthday ever.

2nd day of pre-op liquid diet. Boy does that exhaustion come from out of nowhere. The headache isn't helping either. Feels like dehydration, but I am downing water like it's going out of style.

5 more days until I start pre-op liquid diet. Though it's 4 more days I'm really looking forward to when I abandon my diet for the day and eat the foods I've avoided since March. Sadly, COVID gets in the way since so many of the local restaurants I would love to order from are closed on Mondays, but I am sure I'll find something delicious.

I just got off the phone with my surgeon for my pre-op appointment and he's set my pre-op diet for 1 week before surgery (nothing but protein shakes). When I had my lap band surgery 9 years ago, the pre-op diet started 2 weeks out and most of the info out there also talks about pre-op diet starting 2 weeks out (which was liquid and veggies). Has anyone else done just the 1 week pre-op diet? Is this something more common now?

I got my surgery date yesterday and it's also July 7th! And add me to the list of disappointing birthdays as mine is July 5th.