dirk2000

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Wow!  What an adventure so far!  It's now been about 6 months and I'm continuing to learn about my new body.  Weight loss so far is 111 pounds.  Overall, I'd have to say I've been incredibly lucky.  No real complications, no real problems except that I can't buy clothes that seem to last long enough.  It has been funny to run into people that I know who haven't seen me since the surgery who don't recognize me with a jawline and actual dimples.  I had one patient the other day whose draw literally dropped when I started talking.  She gasped and said, "Oh My God!  I didn't realize who it was until you started talking...you really look that different."  I've also had the unusual experience of being flirted with a little bit, something that hasn't happened in a very long time.  It feels nice...

I would imagine my six month experience isn't that unusual.  All that extra skin is finding interesting and unattractive places to hang, but that's an acceptable trade for feeling so good and actually having ribs again.  The hair is a little thinner, but I've still got it and I'm grateful for that.  Taking vitamins hasn't been too much of a challenge to remember EXCEPT that it is troublesome to remember to take calcium two to three times a day.  On busy days, I forget it entirely.  My energy level, endurance, and flexibility are all greatly increased.  No more getting winded just walking up the stairs at my house.  I apparently no longer snore when sleeping, so I'll probably be able to shed the CPAP soon after I can arrange a study to confirm that I no longer suffer apneic episodes.  Presuming that is confirmed, I should be able to get a 3rd class medical certificate that will allow me to get back into the cockpit and resume flying lessons.  Here's hoping!

I am pretty compliant with dietary things on most days, but I'm still learning the "one bite too many" lesson from time to time.  There just isn't much of a more miserable feeling than overfilling that pouch and then spending about an hour trying to figure out if I'm going to just throw it back up.  It doesn't happen often, but every now and again I have to learn it again.  I haven't found much that I can't eat, except my tolerance for milk and carbonation is very low.  Sadly, I don't dump if I eat sweets, so I'll just have to exert willpower so I don't get into bad habits again.  Everytime I eat more than a bite of something I know I shouldn't, I feel guilty for putting my health at risk again, so that's probably not going to be a problem.

So, that's the state of things for now.  More updates to follow in the future.
Rick

Hooray!  I made it.  Three weeks post surgery and hopefully I've seen the last of the protein shakes.  Things had reached a point that simply smelling one of them was enough to cause nausea.  At our group session, the surgeon and dietician gave us guidance on advancing to soft foods.  My first meal was a very small fish filet with some baked potato.  Ambrosia was never better!  My effort at a cheese omelet tonight was also wonderful beyond words. 

Things couldn't be better.  At the three week mark, my total weight loss is now 41 pounds (28 pounds since surgery).  All of that was basically trouble free except for my experience with protein shake torment and a realization that I now get cold in ways I never imagined before.  Night time in the past was lying on the couch in shorts and t-shirt with the fan going full blast.  Now I go to bed in flannel pajamas with socks on and the covers pulled up to my chin.  Brrrr.  Still it's a small price to pay for the need to tighten my belt to keep my pants from sliding off.  Definitely a new experience.

Until next time.

Each day is a little better than the last.  I'm having much less pain overall, but I continue to hoard my few remaining pain pills because there are still points where the pain is enough to interfere with sleep or deep breathing.  I'm getting accustomed to the much smaller stomach and learning the signals that I am trying to (or already have) put too much in that pouch.  I'm still on the full liquids part of the diet and having to get protein shakes down to meet my protein requirement.  That's probably the one thing about this that is driving me crazy.  I'm only at the end of the first of three weeks of protein drinks and I am sick of them.  The idea of drinking protein shakes for another two weeks makes me want to jump off the roof.  Hunger is not an issue, because I'm really not hungry, although I occasionally wish I could have a little more variety in what I do put in my mouth.  The shakes are just becoming truly repulsive to me.  Two weeks to go...I must persevere.  I want to heal and keep my hair.

I'm looking forward to going back to work.  I think two weeks out is probably going to be just about right.  Much longer probably isn't necessary and will just contribute to more boredom.  I need more to occupy my mind.  Shorter would probably be too soon and likely to just cause me complications.

Two more weeks and then I can enjoy eating actual food again.  Until then...

Recovering at home is so much better than being in the hospital.  I was discharged last night, apparently doing well enough that I didn't need to be in house anymore.  The car ride home was bumpy and painful and I got a little behind on the pain meds in all the moving about, so last night was pretty miserable.  I took my oxycodone and Phenergan and got the first really good night's sleep in about 3 days.  Today I woke up feeling a lot better, took a nice shower and only had to take one of the pain pills.  Pretty dramatic progress compared to yesterday.

All in all, I'm happy I've done this and have an optimistic outlook for the coming days and weeks.  Thanks to all for the little messages of support, it helped more than you can imagine!
Rick