Dennis Belk

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

5/6/05 - I'm 18 days out from surgery and doing fine. Blood sugar and
pressure remain normal, I'm 30 lbs. down and my walking is
progressing. I bought a pedometer to measure my distance. During my
previous post I was walking 1.5 mi., this week I'm up to 2 mi. and
just today I upped the routine to 2 mi. in the morning and 2 mi. in
the evening, the leg muscles are a little sore but I feel fine. I saw
Dr. Brader this past Tuesday for my 2 week visit and he was pleased
with my progress and lifted all restrictions. He told me when I work
out he wants me to sweat between the shoulder blades. Well I'm
sweating there and alot of other places too. This Monday I'll start
on pureed foods and begin using the local fitness center where I'll
meet with my personal trainer. I'm psyched.

5/14/05 - 26 days out, still doing well. I'm down to 305 (40 lbs.
down) and have stepped up my training. I saw the trainer at the
fitness center on Monday, was weighed, measured and tested on a
stationery bike (12 min.) for heart health. Felt good throughout. Was
also tested for flexibility (hamstrings and calves). My flexibility
was not even on the scale, these hammys of mine are tight, but I'll
work on loosening them up. I stayed after the appointment and used
the place for the first time. Thirty min. on the treadmill, a rest,
then 15 min. on the bike, a rest then 15 min. back on the treadmill.
A good workout, even better than just the walking I've been doing.
With the treadmill I can push myself by increasing the speed and the
incline. So I've been working out everyday day at the fitness center.
I had my 2nd appointment with the trainer yesterday and went over
treadmill and bike use as well as 3 resistance machines which will
aid in muscle tone. I'll continue the workouts once a day and fit in
a daily walk if I feel up to it. So far so good.

I had some food issues this week. I started pureed foods Monday,
basically the same texture of what I've been having for the past 2
weeks with some additions like apple sauce, instant mashed potatoes,
refried beans, tuna, eggbeaters. I tried lightly scrambled eggbeaters
on Tuesday. I used a butter sub. and the taste was foreign to me. I
finished them, kept them down, but it's not something I want to try
again. I had a similar experience with a chopped up hard boiled egg,
again not something I want to try again. I've heard all along that
your taste may change soon after surgery, but I hadn't  experienced
it due to the liquid stages. With these few solids I've tried - well
they made me feel like - I don't want to eat. And of course I've
rarely had that feeling. It's definitely strange. I'm still w/o
hunger, but I do remember to get in what I need (liqs, protein and
vits). I know hunger will return down the road, but this taste thing
is an adjustment. I tried a real scrambled egg on Thursday with real
butter and it tasted okay, not quite as I remember before surgery but
alot better than the earlier experiments. I can deal with that real
stuff - but only occassionally.

5/22/05 - I reached a milestone today. I am below 300 for the first
time in 10 years. Today I am 296 lbs. It's incredible to me. Now I've
been working my butt off, literally, since my 1st week out. I started
'slow' with the walks and kicked it up a notch 2 weeks ago with the
workouts. Now I'm working out 5-6 days a week, 2 hrs. a day.
Treadmill, stationery bike, elliptical trainer and every other day I
add weight resistance training (low weight, many reps) to help
preserve my muscle mass as I lose the fat. I still have quite a ways
to go to 200, my initial goal or 180, my ultimate, but I'll be
smiling and sweating all the way.

No real food issues this last week. I start soft foods on Monday for
a week and then I'm back to regular food. I'll deal with any taste
changes. The progress I've made in weight loss override any food
issues. My mindset concerning food has changed for now where it's
about getting just enough in for adequate fuel and metabolism burn.
This attitude may change in time but I'll always have to battle my
food demons and keep them at bay - everyday.

4/20/05 - Our release day and my gas is finally breaking up and my
energy level is high. Throughout this stay Dr. Brader checked on us
often and on this day gave Anthony and I our marching orders. In
short anything abnormal, fever of 101 or more, more than 6 bowel
movements a day, he wants to know and can be reached anytime,
anywhere. I went throught the discharge process with Bernadette which
included a prescheduled 2-week and 6-week visit. I was all set to go
but frankly I was in no hurry to leave so I took my time getting
ready. The treatment this facility offers makes it hard to leave when
the time comes. I took time out to say good-bye to everyone on the
floor including the other patients who are now my partners in this
wonderful journey.   

4/23/05 - First day where my energy level is low. I have a slight
headache and feel tired. I think it's partly the clear liquid diet
and I need to take in more fluids. The good news is my blood sugar
and blood pressure have been normal w/o meds. I look forward to
Monday when I start the full liquid stage then I can take
multi-vitamins, protein powders and more variety. I figure my stamina
will be better then.


4/30/05 - The last 6 days have been good. I'm into the full liquid
phase, energy is up and I've been walking daily for 30 min. up and
down the hills in my neighborhood. I get my heart rate up near the
beginning and really up at the end with a steep hill. Blood sugar
this morning was 85, blood pressure = 120/65. I have lost 25 lbs. in
10 days. I'm 12 days out and feeling fine. As far as regular food, I
told my family to not worry about eating around me, hey they gotta
eat. I have had regular food all around me, but I know that I can't
have it - now. But I also know several months down the line I'll be
able to eat normal - just smaller amounts. I'm in no hurry, I want
this to work.

4/19/05 - They woke us up at 6A for the leak test, you drink yucky
liquid and they take x-rays of your system. No leaks, you eat. They
started us on the clear liquid diet, water, broth, sugar- free
popsicles, sugar-free jello, tea and diluted fruit juice. It felt
good to have something in my mouth, but soon after the gas and
bloating started making it difficult to put more liquids in. The
walking was increased to every two hours and we kept up the breathing
tests. My family visited again today and adopted my roommate Anthony
into the family. They spent as much time talking to him as they spent
talking to me and that made him feel right at home. The doctors,
nurses, respiratory therapists, nurses assistants, administrators,
cleaning crew, they all treated us like royalty. We were watching
"The Odd Couple II" in our room thanks to Deb, one of our daytime
nurses. I truly believe that I could not have received better care
anywhere than what I received at Barix. They are tops in the field!

4/18/05 - Well I set my alarm for 3:30AM, I woke up, hit the alarm
and went back to sleep. The next time I awoke it was  4:39 and I
wanted to leave by 5:00, oh well, I allowed extra time any way so we
made it to Barix with time to spare. I spent time in the waiting area
with everyone, we said a prayer conducted by my sister Annette and my
father John Robert. I was called into Admitting by Kim, she weighed
me and I was 331 lbs., I had lost  27 lbs. since my consultation in
Jan. I signed some forms gave Kim my meds and waited to be called to
the prep area. I soon was called, I said good-bye to everyone and
took one last look. In a few hours things would be different and I
was so looking forward to that.

4/18/05 - Well I set my alarm for 3:30AM, I woke up, hit the alarm
and went back to sleep. The next time I awoke it was  4:39 and I
wanted to leave by 5:00, oh well, I allowed extra time any way so we
made it to Barix with time to spare. I spent time in the waiting area
with everyone, we said a prayer conducted by my sister Annette and my
father John Robert. I was called into Admitting by Kim, she weighed
me and I was 331 lbs., I had lost  27 lbs. since my consultation in
Jan. I signed some forms gave Kim my meds and waited to be called to
the prep area. I soon was called, I said good-bye to everyone and
took one last look. In a few hours things would be different and I
was so looking forward to that.

We all met that evening and it was a great time. I also took time out
to visit two of my OH friends who had surgery on Friday the 15th at
Barix. Nylla Wons and Kathy G. I brought my father along and we had a
really good visit with both of these ladies and they looked fantastic
after having surgery two days before. Another Kathy, one of the
nurses there gave me broth and juice for dinner. I'd been on clear
liquids since noon and hadn't had anything but water. That meal hit
the spot.

I returned to the hotel and spent the rest of the night with the
family. We stayed up till midnight catching up, taking pictures and
me explaining the surgery and how it could help me.