8 Weeks Post Op

What a difference a few weeks makes!   Finally am feeling like I might have this thing down!   I am accepting my limitations and moving forward.   I am 50 lbs down in just a little over two months.   That feels really wonderful.    I have 70 more to goal.   It might seem odd that I am just accepting the limitations considering that I chose surgery.   I can only say that despite what we are told, nothing really prepares you for how hard it will be.   I threw up after eating too much too fast this week.   Again, chest pain all day and then some.   Changing 53 years of habit does not happen in 8 weeks.   I am excited for what is to come with continued loss, but this isn't for everybody!

I heard myself say...

Yesterday, I saw an old friend who was asking me about the surgery.  I sort of like talking about it because it was really a big deal and I usually don't spend so much time on stuff like that.  Anyway, I was chattering on about the day of and after and then the weeks that have followed.  I started to hear myself say that I would not do this over again.  In fact, what I heard was a sentence that completely took me by surprise.  It went like this.  "If I had known that it was going to hurt to eat, I don't know that I would have done this."  And, I think it is true.  At this moment in time, and despite the weight loss, I don't know that I would do this again.  I have heard from everyone that has had the surgery that they wish they had done it sooner.  Really?  Hmmm.  Honestly, I have had a relatively easy time in comparison to others, but I feel different.  It is an odd think to know that your body has been altered.  I don't regret the reasons I did this, I think that they were honest.  But, I am tired a lot and eating is a friggin chore.  So, there, I said it.

I can safely assume that I will feel differently at some point, but this is how I feel now.

More on after the surgery...

I woke from surgery feeling pretty tired.  In fact, had a hard time staying awake.  Everyone went home because all I wanted to do was sleep.  I remember the nurse asking me to stand during the night, which I did, and then went back to sleep.  The next day all I wanted was my catheter out.  They complied telling me that this means I have to get up.  No problem.  I want to be up.  I sat in the big recliner chair almost all day.  My friends stopped by to see me and we chatted.  It was great.  Adrenaline was flowing.  I felt good.  I walked 7 times that day and the next.  You could not keep me down.  Second day I wanted the morphine drip off.  I wasn't in pain.  I was uncomfortable, but not in pain.  My incisions never bled.  I was the poster child. I had to start drinking fluids by mouth.  Just a sip every 15.  No problem.  No issues.  No vomiting.  No nothing.  OK! I can do this.  I can go home now, and I did.

Day 3 and 4 sucked.  I was off my adrenaline high.  I was low.  I HATED the Boost shakes that were supposed to give me all my calories and sustenance.  I managed two a day of the four I was supposed to drink.  I could not do more.  My legs began to shake uncontrollably at times.  I was scared.  What have I done?

Day 5.  Still not passing of the gas and no bowel movement.  Oh no.  What is wrong.  Legs shake more and am waking up with my whole body shaking.  I am scared.  What did I do?  I changed what was a pretty good life for one of fear?  Ugg.  I insist that my husband take me to the hospital.  They check me out and up and down.  Nothing really wrong with me.  I am having a major panic attack.  Bariatric RN tells me I need to walk more and power through.  Ok, great.  I have no power.  It is gone.  Now am told I have thrush.  Liquid meds for thrush taste like plastic.  I can't do it.  I brush my tongue harder than I ever have in my life.  All the white from the shakes comes off.  OK, I don't have thrush.

Day 6.  I can't lay on my back anymore.  I can't sleep.  I can't eat and I can't even see a light at the end of this tunnel.  I have my husband give me an enema.  I have slight relief, but not much.  Later in bed, I decide to turn on my side.  I have not done this before, because I couldn't.  I hear what is a slight pop sound.  I fart!  Hallelujah.  I farted.  Then cam the first bowel movement.  OK.  I am ok.  I can do this.

Day 7.  I can't drink anymore shakes.  I decide to have food and make it as liquid as possible.  My husband makes me mashed potatoes very watered down.  OMG.  That was the best taste ever.  I try refried beans.  No problem.  Yogurt.  No problem.  Everything tastes so good.  It is in small portions, but right now, it is ok.

Week 2.  It went well.  I continue eating the moist foods and soups.  I can manage.  I can do this.  Weeks 3 and 4 are good.  No problems.  I can't wait to get back to work.  I am bored.  I have not lost weight in two weeks.  How the hell does that happen?

Week 5.  I am back at work.  They are excited to see me and say they can see the changes.  I can too.  I have to buy smaller clothes, but just a few.  Supposedly, I will drop weight like crazy.  Ok.  I am waiting.  Sadly, I run into my first food issue.  I am reading email at work and fall into the old habit of not thinking about what I am eating.  I swallow that chicken and in that moment, everything changes in regards to eating.  It hurts to eat now.

Week 6.  Last night we go out for Thai.  I order green beans stir fried with pork.  I am at the 6 week mark, I can eat fresh vegetables, right?  Wrong.  I take one small bite of bean and pork and I am done.  I am in pain.  I can't eat any more and frankly my insides are squeezing like crazy.  I don't throw up, but I want to.  We leave and on the drive home I cough up this frothy crap.  Yep, I have reached a new low.  Pain and froth.  What have I done?

Six Weeks Post Op

Six weeks will have passed on Thursday since surgery.  In total, I have lost an amazing 43 lbs. Twenty five since surgery might seem like a low number, but when I think about it in terms of the loss before surgery day, it makes sense.

So, how do I feel?  Low energy seems to plague me most of the time.  I know it is due to the lack of calories.  My meals consist of 1/4 cup at a time.  Any more than that, and I am in pain.  I have only brought food up once and it was brutal.  I returned back to work and did not pay attention to how big a bite and swallowed a piece of chicken as big as my thumb nail.  Tears streamed down my face as I waited to have this expelled.  The pain was some of the worst I have experienced.  Since then, it hurts to eat.  So, pretty bummed about that.

Everything is hard.  Eating, bathroom activities, and exercise, are all hard.

Am I sorry that I did the surgery?  I can't say that.  I am not sorry that I no longer have GERD, am no longer prediabetic, or have sleep apnea.  I am not sorry that I am on my way towards a healthier lifestyle and body.  But, this isn't easy and it isn't for the faint of heart.

Would I do this again?  I don't know.  I need to give this more time.  

It's Go Time!

So, tomorrow is surgery day.  I have done everything I can do to prepare for this day.  The last two weeks have been very difficult in terms of the liquid diet.  Smelling food has been a big challenge and honestly, I have spent much of the time being very hungry.  I did not deviate one time and for that, I am pretty proud of myself.  I did it!

At this point, I am not scared.  I am excited and looking forward to ending this part of the journey and to starting the next part.  The part where I lose this excess weight and start to move around freely. The part where I don't need a CPAP machine, the part where I don't have GERD, the part where I don't have high blood pressure, and lastly, the part where I am no longer considered MORBIDLY OBESE!

Earlier this week, I did have some jitters.  I have a friend who is about a year out from her surgery and who has made tremendous progress getting fit and healthy.  I needed to hear the reality check that I knew only she would know.  For that, I am eternally grateful!  She said everything I needed to hear.
I have been checked out by the doctors.  I have done everything asked.  I am good to go.

Just got my check in time for tomorrow.  It is 1230 and surgery at 3pm.  Yay!


Here we gooooo......