Fooniern

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It's been 8 months after surgery and I am still feeling great.  I must admit I have not been very diligent about consistently exercising, but am getting back into the groove.  I look at myself in the mirror and still can't believe I'd let myself get so fat!  Now, my goal is surgery to get rid of my extra skin...but that's about 2 years away.  I still want to lose another 45 pounds.

Eating out is still an issue.  Not being able to eat as I used to is a PLUS, but I also hate eating left overs.  My meals consist of protein drinks, protein bars and mainly protein (meats, tuna, eggs, etc...)  I don't eat fruit or vegetables daily, but my surgeon says not to worry about that now...concentrate on the protein. 

I am HAPPY to say my hair has stopped shedding!  I briefly work a wig because my hair was thinning so much.  I started taking biotin 5 months before surgery (when I started the program) and I firmly believe it was instrumental in my not losing more hair.  The hair loss slowed down about 6 months after surgery.

I am still glad I had the surgery.  The road I was heading down without it was a life-shortening one.  It's sooo much nicer shopping for clothes and actually being able to shop in the "regular" shops.  It's still somewhat frustrating because nothing seems to fit the way I want it to, but I have to remember I'm still losing and will be there soon.  Wish me luck in losing my last 45 lbs over the next year. 

It's been 4 months since surgery and I am surprised at how I look each time I look into the mirror.  I was always a heavy child but for about 8 years during high school and college, I was considered normal weight.  When I became a nurse (yeah, I know, we are the worst!), I started to put the weight back on.

I went to Vegas in July and it was quite challenging to find somewhere to eat.  I still can't get used to the idea of throwing food away!  Our hotel didn't have a microwave, so food went to waste.  I ended up eating a lot of protein bars or drinking the protidiet I got from my surgeon's office.  Even now, I don't like to take food home, but feel obligated to.  Oh well.

My surgeon wants me to lose another 22 pounds by my year after surgery, but I am trying to get to my goal of 130lbs by then.  Wish me luck!  The one sad point is that my hair has REALLY thinned.  It really started shedding about 2 months post op.  My surgeon says about 6 months out is when my hair should stop shedding and turn around.  I don't regret the surgery, only the side affects.  I'm eating a little more protein, hope I don't have to get a wig!  If anyone has any pointers for the hair thing, please let me know.  I am doing the Biotin, but that only goes so far.  Until next time.  And good luck to everyone out there in weight loss land.

Annette

It has been a little over 2 months since my gastric bypass surgery.  I am feeling great.  I have my energy and it's just easier to get around.  I am walking in the New Albany Classic in September (10K~6.2miles).  I did the walk last year, but it was pretty hard being 60lbs heavier. 

I can pretty much eat whatever I want, but am still finding it hard to get more than 2 oz of protein per meal and  a few bites of a vegetable, and another side (mashed potatoes, brown rice, etc...).   I work nights and it's a struggle to make sure I eat enough protein and get all my fluid in some nights...but I wouldn't go back to my old life.  People are starting to really notice the weight loss and it does make you feel good when people comment. 

WLS is not a cop out.  It's only a tool and you can still gain the weight back if you're not careful.  I'm just glad this tool was available to me.  If any of you out there have any questions I can help you with, or advice.  One thing I am finding hard is clothing...I don't want to buy new clothes until I've lost a lot more weight (81lbs to go till I reach my goal), but in the meantime I look like I'm wearing my big sister's clothes.  Someone mentioned the thrift shops and I'll start there.

I am taking my fist flight since I've lost 60lbs, and I'm excited that I won't be encroaching on anyone's space...unless the seats are even smaller!

It's been almost 4 weeks since my surgery and about 2 weeks since my last blog.  Everything is going well.  I am finally off the full liquids and onto pureed...yum!  So far I've found it very hard to find pureed foods with enough protein to allow me to stop drinking my protein.  My typical day on full liquids was:

EAS Advantedge w/ 1 scoop of Beneprotein powder (23 gms protein)
3 Protidiets thru out the day (45 gms protein) 
For a total of 68 gms protein.  Every now and then I would eat 4 oz of soup, 1 oz of applesauce,  or a cup of sugar free-pudding (I could eat a cup of this, but only 1/2 cup of soup, go figure!)

I'm pretty much on the same routine while on pureed, and occasionally trying new foods:
-I pureed tuna salad, but still had some chunks
-I pureed green beans with pureed loaded baked potato soup (very good) but still had some chunks.  The chunks were so
  soft and small, were do-able
-I pureed sardines (I know, yuck!) with tartar sauce.  I love sardines, so enjoyed this one
-mashed potatoes
-cottage cheese (I buy the small curds and just eat it as is)

Unfortunately, or furtunately, food does not taste the same.  I still don't really feel hungry.  The smell of food does not make me want to eat..  I went to Applebee's this past Friday and had the Weight Watcher's french onion soup, minus the cheese and crouton.  Just had to be careful not to eat the onion.  Also tried the garlic mashed potatoes, but had skins and many chunks.  But soup was great alone for what I could eat.  Still ended up taking 3/4 of soup home.

I am still feeling tired at times, but am told that will soon pass.  Deemarie and I are starting our exercise routine next week, and I am excited.  I had been exercising regulary since we started our journey in January, and sort of miss it.  For those of  you still on the fence re: whether or not to have the surgery, just a few words, nothing to try to sway you, but my own experience.  I was quite surprised and upset to find out I was morbidly obese.  I knew I was fat, and needed to lose weight, but to hear that kind of put it all in perspective.  Would I lose weight on my own?  No.  Could I do a nutrition program and lose the weight?  Yes, temporarily.  But, I needed a drastic change.  My weight was impacting both my personal and professional life.  And seeing as I have at least another 20 years of working, I had to do something.  Sure I was afraid I might be one of those statics that didn't go so well and I was nervous of having the surgery, but the benefits outweighed the risks in my case.  Am I glad I did it?  You betcha!  I know I still have a long road to travel.  I've lost approximately 42 pounds since January, with a goal weight of 130, so I have quite a bit still to lose.   And the surgery is just a tool.  If I don't change my personal issues with food the WLS won't be success.  But I didn't go through all of this to fail.

Good luck to all of you pre-ops.  And if I can be of assistance, don't hesitate to write me. 

Fooniern

It's been one week since my surgery and I feel wonderful.  If you'd asked me how I felt just 4 days ago, I would have said fair.  But today, If I didn't see the scars on my stomach, I would say I've never had surgery.  Having said all that...I am NOT ready to run a marathon, but feel good.  I must say that I am a major fan of the Marcaine pump!  For all you pre-op readers, ask your surgeon if he/she uses the ON-Q pumps.  Two catheters go under your skin near the top of your abdomen an pump medication in over approximately a 72hr period.  I'm not saying you won't need pain medication in addition, but it made my recovery 10 times better.  I had one with my hysterectomy and loved it.

Another piece of advice is keep an eye on in your IV!  If it's painful or sore, make sure the nurse checks it.  I left the hospital with an infiltration from a mediction.  It's been 6 days and it's just now starting to NOT feel painful.  Get out of bed as much as possible,  the more you do (within reason) the easier it will be to move.  And if you are not already, keep up with an exercise regimen BEFORE surgery.  The better shape you are in, the easier your recovery time will be.  I know everyone has different thresholds for pain, but this has been my experience. 

Today was the last day for my blood thinner (Lovenox) injections.  Yippee!  I have not become a fan of thinned foods.  I thought I liked soup, but not so much now.  So my meals consist of the Protidiet ...which are tolerable in 8oz of water, and 1 container of EAS advantege (with 1 scoop of beneprotein powder added).  This gives me the 60grams of protein per day.  I can tolerate this until I start the pureed phase. 

I have found a calcium citrate alternative at Sam's club.  I dissolve it in 6oz of water and drink it with my protidiet.  I've given up on addng beneprotein to food...hate to ruin the taste of food...and will live on protein drinks until I can have pureed food.  I'm doing well, not much pain and tylenol seems to do the trick except at night.  When I came home 2 days ago, my left elbow was swollen, painful and warm to touch.  It seems I have phlebitis.  I talked with my surgeon and the treatment is warm compresses and waiting for it to resolve.  Believe it or not, my arm is more painful than my surgical sites!  And i'm gassy.  Did any else experience that immediately post-op?

I was discharged from the hospital Friday morning.  I felt so good that I walked downstairs to the door to wait for the car to be pulled around.  Not too many issues when i got home.  Used  my pain medication twice yesterday, but feel good enough to try tylenol today.  Does anyone have any alternative to the 800 mg of calcium citrate?  I am now using what Dr. Myers gave me, but it is awful!  I didn't read the directions very carefully.  because I was letting it dissolve in my mouth (horrible!), but according to Dr. Myers' directions, they can be chewed.  Stil not good, but better.  I'm just searching for an alternative flavor.  The chocolate is not doing it for me.

My day of surgery went well.  Dr. Myers said I was very healthy.  It was good to hear and may play a big role in how  fast I recover.  Initally, I was having issues wiht nausea in recovery, but zofran took care of that.  Then I needed pain medicine...please! take your pain medication, don't be a martyr.  The second day i was more sore, but still got out of bed.  I also had some issues with high blood pressure only because I missed a day of my blood pressure medication.  But I was given medication through my IV and now I am back to normal.  My main fear was pain.  But so far it has been tolerable.  I am still glad I did it.  I brought clothes/PJs because I thought I would wear them.  Bad idea.  Wear the hospital gowns.  My larger incisions leaked all over the gowns.  You don't want to mess up your clothes.  And, if it is offered, take the motion sickess patch.  It really helps with nausea.  I also wore slip on sandals to the hospital, which is what I wear to take my walks.  Much better than the hospital footies.  So far, this has been a great experience.  The hospital staff has been very nice and helpful.  Being a nurse myself, it's bery hard to let people care for me...that's my job!  But take it easy and let them.  You;ll be on your own soon enough. 

It is finally May 20th and 12:43am...just  a little over 5 hours until I have to check in to pre-op.  I'm still nervous, but ready to do it.  I did make it through the liquid diet phase.  Those little bars we were given saved my life!  So did the jello and popsicles.  Thanks Paula for the tips with the shakes.  I broke down and had one Tuesday (chicken soup was not good for my soul!).  It was tolerable. 

I've got my clothes packed, and at the door.  I really feel too excited to sleep but know I need to at least nap.  I've taken some pictures of mysel over the past few months just to remind mysel that I don't ever want to come back to this place.  

Day 2 of the liquid phase.  I don't know how people do this for more than a week.  We were told at our meeting that the staff tested the food and tried to find the most tasteful food possible in order to meet the needs of the program.  Really?  Soup has been OK, but having problem with the shakes...not being able to get all the chunks out.  Should shakes and puddings be able to be made from the same powder?  Not really sure.  I know it sounds like a lot of whining, but I'm just having a hard time with this.  If I could stay home and not have to live (house work, make a living) it might be better.  Wish me luck!