Carol I.
I'm Shrinking!
Aug 13, 2008
It's been awhile since I updated this. I'm now into size 20 pants! On top, I'm still a 2X - I haven't lost that much up there yet.
I've met some significant goals! We went to Nashville at the beginning of July, and not only did I not need a seatbelt extender on the airplane, but the tray table came all the way down without hitting my abdomen! Yeehaw! I passed 220, another goal. I'm now about 10 lbs less than when I started the anti-depressant that caused me to gain 70 lbs.
We are having the kitchen remodeled, which means living out of the microwave. We go out to eat, eat leftovers, and DH eats frozen dinners. I will be so glad when I can cook again. In theory that will only be another couple of weeks...
I've met some significant goals! We went to Nashville at the beginning of July, and not only did I not need a seatbelt extender on the airplane, but the tray table came all the way down without hitting my abdomen! Yeehaw! I passed 220, another goal. I'm now about 10 lbs less than when I started the anti-depressant that caused me to gain 70 lbs.
We are having the kitchen remodeled, which means living out of the microwave. We go out to eat, eat leftovers, and DH eats frozen dinners. I will be so glad when I can cook again. In theory that will only be another couple of weeks...
First WOW Moment
Jun 15, 2008
My DH and I went shopping for some new pants for him today at Mervyns. We thought we'd check for me, too, since my pants are too big, and we will be going on vacation in two weeks. I was a 28 before in pants. I actually bought two pairs of jeans (blue and black) in size 22! Okay, they were Gloria Vanderbilt's stretch jeans, but it still counts! They are quite snug, but that way they should still fit when we go to Nashville! I also got a pair of jean capri pants (non-stretch) in Size 24. It has been a lotta years since I was a size 24, let alone a 22. We were both ecstatic!
Post-Op Check With the Nut
Jun 03, 2008
I saw the nutritionist today for my post-op check. According to her records, I've lost 22 lbs since I saw her five weeks ago. She said that was very good. I feel like I've slowed down, but I think that is because I have not been eating enough. I finally looked in "The Bible" that the surgeon gives out for everything you ever wanted to know about what to do before and after RNY, and it says I should be eating between 700-900 calories, 75-80g of protein a day. I'd been eating 400-500 calories, 65g. So I'm trying to up that. She wants me to eat about 20g of protein a meal. On the suggested menu, breakfast might be one egg, 1/4 C yogurt, and an oz of cheese. I feel full after one egg. How am I supposed to eat all of that? She wants me to not rely on the protein shakes, but it's either that or I graze all day trying to get in all the food. Since she wants only 3 meals, no snacks, that obviously doesn't work, either. Oh, well, it will eventually work out.
In the meantime, I finally passed the 40 lb mark. I tend to count based on my weight before I started getting ready for surgery, and as of Sunday, I had lost 40.8 lbs! Yeah!
In the meantime, I finally passed the 40 lb mark. I tend to count based on my weight before I started getting ready for surgery, and as of Sunday, I had lost 40.8 lbs! Yeah!
Real Food Again!
May 26, 2008
Well, last Tuesday I went to see the surgeon. I was having pain in the area of the bottom of my left lung, and was worried that it might be related to the WLS. He had me go immediately for a CT Scan to rule out the possibility of a blood clot. Well, it wasn't a blood clot. The bad news is that in the CT Scan they saw something on my right lung. It could be scar tissue, or ..., or ..., or cancerous. There is no history of cancer in my family, so I think it is scar tissue from the multitudes of times I've had bronchitis.
I saw him again Thursday for my official Post-Op Check-Up. Everything is looking good, I had lost 11 lbs since surgery by his scale, and I was cleared for Stage 3 diet on Monday. Yippee! I am so tired of liquids!
Of course I couldn't wait until today, so last night we went out and I had my first real food. I ordered broiled salmon with dill sauce, mashed potatoes, and chicken-rice soup. Since the soup came first, I had about 1/4 cup of that - shouldn't have! Got to remember to eat that protein first! Had some salmon - oh, it was heavenly! Then had a tiny bit of potato. I had enough left to take home for three more meals! I did find that there is only one bite difference before that warning twinge and the OMG I'm definately full message. But everything went down!
This morning I had one egg, over easy, and 3 oz. of yogurt. I've heard that other people have problems with eggs, so I was worried, but it went down pretty well.
Life is good! I'm now below 250, and I'm only two weeks out!
I saw him again Thursday for my official Post-Op Check-Up. Everything is looking good, I had lost 11 lbs since surgery by his scale, and I was cleared for Stage 3 diet on Monday. Yippee! I am so tired of liquids!
Of course I couldn't wait until today, so last night we went out and I had my first real food. I ordered broiled salmon with dill sauce, mashed potatoes, and chicken-rice soup. Since the soup came first, I had about 1/4 cup of that - shouldn't have! Got to remember to eat that protein first! Had some salmon - oh, it was heavenly! Then had a tiny bit of potato. I had enough left to take home for three more meals! I did find that there is only one bite difference before that warning twinge and the OMG I'm definately full message. But everything went down!
This morning I had one egg, over easy, and 3 oz. of yogurt. I've heard that other people have problems with eggs, so I was worried, but it went down pretty well.
Life is good! I'm now below 250, and I'm only two weeks out!
Life on a Liquid Diet
May 16, 2008
I'm home and adjusting. I slept a lot for the first two days after I got home. Of course, we just started a heat wave yesterday, so it is less comfortable hanging around the house. Mostly, everything has been pretty good. I weighed myself on Wednesday, since that is WWW, and was down 1.6 lbs since surgery. It is frustrating, but I'm determined not to weigh again until next Wednesday, and try to stay to once a week. The food is boring at best, but it is all going down okay. The real surprise was how foul ground Theodur tastes. I talked to the pharmacist to see if there was any other medicine I could take instead that would go down easily, and he said they haven't been prescribing Theodur for years. The inhaler that my PCP has been trying to get me to take replaces it. Okay, I'm converted. I've been trying the Bullet mixing system, and it sucks. It doesn't do a very good job. I'm thinking of trying to find a different handheld mixer, and then using all of the glasses etc. that came with the Bullet. Mostly, I think I'm eating too fast. So far, nothing has made me feel full or nauseous or much of anything except really cold water. That kind of aches for a few seconds when it hits my pouch.
Tomorrow's The Day
May 11, 2008
I haven't posted much since I started this journey. Everything has just fallen into place for me. I read of others' struggles to get insurance coverage, and my case was very smooth and straightforward. The clinic took care of everything, and my insurance approved in just a few days. The only surprise along the way was finding out that I have moderate sleep apnea, which I was positive I did not have! I don't know if my sleep is any better, exactly, but on the CPAP machine I tend to fall asleep within about 30 minutes now, instead of the 1 -2 hours it took me before. I guess that is progress.
Oh, the other thing that I've done to take care of myself during this journey is to find a new psychiatrist! I'd "fired" my last one, and my PCP was writing the prescriptions for my antidepressants and antipsychotics. I'd been weaning myself off of the massive amounts of meds for some time with no medical oversight... which was probably not one of the brightest things I could have done. Anyway, I now have a psychiatrist who is onboard with the idea of eventually getting me off the meds if possible! We got rid of the last of the antipsychotic (no, I was never psychotic - it helps fight depression, too). We're going to hang out here for a little while so that I can adjust to life with a pouch before making the next reduction.
I probably wouldn't have believed it, but I am actually going regularly to the YMCA to exercise. I've never been a big fan of exercise before, but I'm keeping up my regimen of machines 3x/week and walking or treadmill at least 2x/week. For me, that's huge!
I feel like I'm ready for tomorrow and the start of my new life! Bring it on!
Oh, the other thing that I've done to take care of myself during this journey is to find a new psychiatrist! I'd "fired" my last one, and my PCP was writing the prescriptions for my antidepressants and antipsychotics. I'd been weaning myself off of the massive amounts of meds for some time with no medical oversight... which was probably not one of the brightest things I could have done. Anyway, I now have a psychiatrist who is onboard with the idea of eventually getting me off the meds if possible! We got rid of the last of the antipsychotic (no, I was never psychotic - it helps fight depression, too). We're going to hang out here for a little while so that I can adjust to life with a pouch before making the next reduction.
I probably wouldn't have believed it, but I am actually going regularly to the YMCA to exercise. I've never been a big fan of exercise before, but I'm keeping up my regimen of machines 3x/week and walking or treadmill at least 2x/week. For me, that's huge!
I feel like I'm ready for tomorrow and the start of my new life! Bring it on!
CPAP Machine Woes
Apr 06, 2008
As part of the work-up to see if I should have the WLS, my surgeon had me take a sleep study. They decided I had moderate obstructive sleep apnea. I am now the proud owner of my very own CPAP machine with full face mask. It's not doing much for my love life, and I'm not even sure it's helping my sleeping, either. My problem is that I stopped taking the last few milligrams of my anti-psychotic medication, Geodon, at about the same time as I started on the CPAP. I'm now sleeping about 10 hours a day, which might be because of the Geodon, and I'm waking up several times during the night. It is true that I fall asleep faster than I used to (30 minutes instead of 60-90 minutes), but I don't seem to be having a very restful sleep.
Is this normal? Does it take awhile to get used to the CPAP? I've been on it for 3 1/2 weeks now. I'm at a setting of 12, which is roughly like breathing in a wind tunnel. Is this normal? I notice that I breathe more deeply with the machine, but like I said, I don't sleep very restfully. What are other people's experiences like?
Carol
Is this normal? Does it take awhile to get used to the CPAP? I've been on it for 3 1/2 weeks now. I'm at a setting of 12, which is roughly like breathing in a wind tunnel. Is this normal? I notice that I breathe more deeply with the machine, but like I said, I don't sleep very restfully. What are other people's experiences like?
Carol
