amazingmimi

I stayed completely off work for the week following surgery, then worked from home for the next week (plus Labor Day). Coming back to the office was both wonderful and challenging. Getting up and down from my desk chair was difficult, but as liveaboard15 mentioned, having a cane nearby was definitely helpful (we had a spare one from my husband's foot surgery).

There were two things that really surprised me, despite all the research and reading I did. I didn't know that the first week after the surgery I might not lose anything. I knew that some people come home a little heavier than on surgery day, but coming home 10lbs heavier and then not losing anything for over a week was startling to me. My nutritionist explained that it was normal, and that given the amount I lost during the LSD, I could expect to lose less than normal in the first month. I was expected to be between 279-275 on my next appointment (last Friday), but she said not to worry about it if I didn't hit that. I hit 280.2 the morning of my appointment. The second thing, and if you don't want TMI scroll on, was the surprise appearance of my period more than a week early, accompanied by horrific cramps and clotting. Again, I'd read that it could cause your cycle to run early, or late, but I was not prepared for the worst period of my life. I'm at the tail end of my next cycle and this one hasn't been nearly as bad, but still a good bit worse than I'm used to, so there's a heads up on that lol.

Hubby and I eat out a lot. I usually make something on Sunday that will last 2-3 days and we'll alternate that with take out. Of course, I eat much differently than I used to. In the liquid stages, Panera was my best friend. Their tomato soup is wonderful. I can still go to every single fast food place we used to, I just opt for better foods in much smaller portions. The other night we got Outback and I had about a 1/3 of a steak along with two small bites of mashed potatoes. Chick-fil-a grilled filets or nuggets are a favorite! I watch my sodium intake otherwise and track everything closely to make sure I'm not going over my fat limits, but I just don't eat a bun or bread with anything and choose high protein options.

My team told me to get up and walk around at least once every four hours. They didn't give me a set amount of time to move around. Once I got back to work (from home) I started getting up to walk for a minute every hour. When I had my follow up with my nurse she said that's good to do, but to also start getting in a 15-20 minute walk per day, just at an easy pace, and not to get out of breath, make sure I can still hold a conversation type pace.

I had the worst period of my life after surgery. Mine are always a little iffy as to timing, but I really wasn't due for another week and a half. Normally I have very light periods and mild cramps. I had horrible cramping and clotting, super heavy flow and it lasted for TEN days. I am so over it and hope next month will be back to normal.

When I get to 250 I am getting my nose repierced. My original piercing fell out while I was on a cruise and it closed up by the time I got home. Once I get under 200, my reward is a new tattoo. And the new clothes along the way don't hurt either ;)

First preop appt and dietician appt done! Dietician said I should not worry about slow loss after surgery due to losing so much on the LSD (28lbs) that my first month is bound to be a little slower than I might have expected. She was very happy with my progress and cleared me to start purées today! I’ve never been so happy to eat a scrambled egg in my life! And had some refried beans for dinner. I was so afraid, after getting so hungry during the full liquid stage that maybe I had more room than I was supposed to, but that’s definitely not the case. 1 egg and a 1/4 cup of the beans were more than enough to fill me up at both meals. I couldn’t finish them! I was also cleared to do a 15-20 minute walk once a day (easy pace, no getting out of breath) and it felt great to go out for a walk with hubby after work today. Got me hungry for dinner! All in all, great visits with my team that helped me know I’m just where I should be and this is a long journey, not a race.

I started yesterday, a week and a half early and omg the cramps! TMI but clotting too which I haven’t had since I had my son 22 years ago! You’re not the only one :(

I was taken off hctz, lisenopril, and metformin the day I left the hospital. I went from taking 7 pills every night to 4. I was taking a double dose of fomatadine to one ppi, and they added in a daily aspirin. Haven’t had any hbp or blood glucose issues since I came home.

I had a PSL the other day as a small treat. I got a single pump instead of two and got it decaf with fat free milk. It was definitely a nice treat but I only drank about 1/3 of it before I just couldn’t drink anymore lol. Pretty sure we can have coffee as long as it is decaf with no sugar in it.

I understand the frustration with not losing. I thought the first week or two would show a great bit of loss, but so far the scale is hovering between 296-298 fluctuating up and down. I’m only 5 days out so I guess it’s still fluid retention from the surgery itself. I just really wanted to end out August under 290. I know that it is nothing I am doing wrong. I’m walking every 4 hours, getting my water in, I hit 60g of protein today but have been averaging 40-50. Drinking shakes, eating yogurt, and still doing clear liquids. I track everything in Carb Manager. My calories haven’t gone above 400 all week. I’m following every instruction they gave me to the letter. So if I still haven’t lost by my post-op next week, at least I’ll have a log of everything I’m doing and eating to show them, so maybe they can help me figure out what I need to adjust.

4 days post-op and finally got all my Water in today, as well as Protein. Started on Protein Shakes and yogurt yesterday with no issues at all. Getting around is still difficult, my right side gets very sore, very quickly. But I got in four circuits (5 laps each) of the downstairs today, and then tomorrow I’m going to add a set of stairs on each circuit. Greatly enjoying my little two oz cups of yogurt and I’m trying out freezing my protein shakes in popsicle molds over night to see how I like them that way, though it’s not difficult to drink them. Just two days of full liquids and I’m so ready to start adding in Soup. Bone Broth was starting to make me gag, so I had to stop drinking it. I think if I could add it to thin out a cream soup it might be better, but I have to wait until Friday for that! Still haven’t lost anything. I did gain 8lbs after surgery from day of surgery weight, and this morning I was back to that weight. Hoping to start seeing the scale move after I shed this fluid retention.

You should be alright to take caplets. They started giving me medicine in caplets while I was still in the hospital.

Surgery went well! Lots of pain and nausea Friday night through yesterday morning but I turned the corner a little before noon. They were going to keep me an extra day, but once I started keeping my water down for a couple hours in a row they let me go home a little after 5. Sleeping in my own bed last night was fantastic. I think I slept for almost 11 hours. Feeling better this morning. Getting my water down and walking every four hours or more often if I need to. Hope everyone else is doing well!

Just had surgery on Friday afternoon. I don’t remember much of Friday night, except that I had a lot of pain that night and I was very nauseous. They gave me a lot of meds for the pain until it subsided into just a bit of discomfort and kept me in nausea meds until that went away too around 11am yesterday. That was when I was finally able to start getting my water in. Once I had a couple hours of staying up with the water recommendation they let me go home. I have a little pain when I get up to walk, but really only when I first straighten up. Otherwise it’s just minor discomfort.

Does anyone have any experience with the Downtown Surgery Specialists, Doctor Raheb in particular, or with Saint Joseph Hospital when it comes to surgery and recovery?

I am actually going in today! I did end up going with Dr. Raheb. He made me feel very comfortable.

I can’t believe the day is getting so close. It feels like yesterday that my doctor first suggested the surgery and here 7 months later and I start my two weeks of liver-shrinking diet on Friday. Sucks that my hubby’s birthday falls two days before surgery, but I’m confident that I can do this. So lucky to have him on board with me, he’s been looking up foods I can eat if we go out during the diet lol “I know us, we’re not going to eat at home every night.” His words 🤣 I’ve had a few nervous freak outs and I’m sure the nerves will only get worse as it gets closer, but I’m all in and so looking forward to the other side. Since hubby was diagnosed with diabetes in May, we’ve been really careful about what we eat and I’ve already lost around 35lbs, so I know that with the surgery, it will only get easier (though by no means do I consider this the easy way)!

My husband recently had a partial foot amputation due to diabetes so we are both following a diabetic plan that reduces carbs and increases protein. Just being very mindful of what we are eating and how it affects his blood sugar. I figured it would be good to get into the habit of eating in a more healthy way now, rather than after the surgery. I'm not exercising right now. I'd love to, but hubby is still non-weight bearing and on a pic line so most of my time when I'm not at work is taken up with taking care of him. Hoping to get the go-ahead for weight-bearing tomorrow as well as ending his IV antibiotics, so I'm hoping to start getting some walking in.

I was scheduled for Sept 6th, but just got rescheduled to August 26th! I had about 210 lbs to lose, and have already lost about 40, so hoping by the time surgery comes I might only have 150 or so to go. Getting pretty excited, nervous and more excited.