GinnyB
25 October 2004 - I actually have a date! I'm in shock, it's almost like this was happening to someone else. After going to all my appointments: exercise physiology, nutrition, psychology, gall bladder scan, EKG, chest X-Ray, the doctor actually pulled out the surgery book and wrote my name down on November 16!!! I'm excited, but nervous.
I was normal weight until I was ill my Junior year in college. Gained 40 pounds in 5 months, but lost it all when I returned to college and started walking all over the place. After that, I spent the next 30 years gaining weight, going to Weight Watchets, losing weight, gaining it back plus - you know the routine. Also did the Optifast routine. Loved it - never had so much energy! And lost 65 pounds.
I'm now at my heaviest ever, and in terrible physical condition. My knees are arthritic, making it difficult to walk or stand for over 10 minutes without pain. I have high blood pressure, borderline diabetic, high cholesterol, GERD, depression. I'm mostly sedentary, which has got to change! 2 weeks ago the exercise physiologist had me buy a pedomoter, said to work up to 10,000 steps a day!!!. The first day, a lazy Sunday, I walked all of 1056 steps! How pitiful! So now I get on my NorticTrack ski machine 2-3 times a week and walk for 10 minutes on the other days, gradually building up my stamina.
I first looked into WLS about 16 months ago, had a terrible time with the surgeon's insurance person, not to mention Aetna. Finally found out the local AFB had a bariatric program, and 2 months after my first appointment with the surgeon, I have a date!
I am sooooo looking forward to doing "normal" things: going to flea markets for more than 30 minutes, putting the tray down and not having to "scrunch" myself up on airplane trips, wearing Medium shoes, getting my wedding ring back on, not having to look around for the sturdiest chair. Just the simple things, don't need to be glamorous, just healthy would be wonderful.
November 16, 2004
Today should have been my surgery day, but surgery has been cancelled. Because of a communications mix-up, my last test, a chemical stress test, wasn't scheduled until yesterday. The technician who called to set it up said not to take my meds because they might interfere with the test. So when I showed up for the test, my bp was high, my heart rate was high and I had an arrhythmia. And this was BEFORE the test began!!! They cancelled the test, the surgeon talked to two cardiologists, and as a result, NO SURGERY. They told me at 4:30 last night. I was numb, absolutely numb. My sister and niece were already on their way to be with me, they told me they already had a couple of days off, and I really appreciated their presence.
I go see a cardiologist today. The surgeon said after another stress test (who knows when that will be or what else I have to do or what medicine I have to take) that I would revisit him and we'd talk about another date. The trouble is, the schedule is full for two months out, so it will be AT LEAST late January before they can reschedule. This means I have to go back to work and then in a few months time train another temp to take my place. It's a real pain to do that. I'm so discouraged and upset, but am trying my best to take this in stride. My first instinct is to go to bed and read myself into oblivion. But what I think I will do with the 2-3 months before rescheduling, is to lose some weight and, if permitted, exercise more. We'll see what develops.
November 25, 2004
The cardiologist sent me to have a nuclear stress test. That was not fun! Felt like a huge hot flash; luckily, it only lasted a few minutes. My blood pressure was high despite my having taken my bp medicine, but they didn't seem concerned. During the test, my bp went down nicely - have no idea what that was all about. Had to lie under a huge moving camera twice, for 20 minutes each time, and not move. So next week they'll call me about the results and send them to the cardiologist. He'll then make his recommendation. I may have to have a heart catherization. If so, the surgeon says it'll be another 3-6 months before I can have surgery. If I don't have to have the catherization, he says he'll schedule me for early January. The cardiologist at the stress test said there was a slight abnormality in the ECK during the test, but that did not necessarily mean I have a blockage. So, I wait again. I've decided that after Thanksgiving I will rejoin Weight Watchers. If I can lose ANYTHING, I'll be ahead when I have my surgery. Got to get this weight off my knees and back. I have lost about 8 pounds without dieting, just the small amount of exercise I do.
December 1, 2004 -
Finally heard on the nuclear stress test I took last week: Normal Heart Function. What beautiful three words. No blockage. They didn't mention the Atrial Fibrillation, but this test was really about whether or not there was a hearat blockage. Soooo, shouldn't need a heart catherization, and the surgeon said earlier that if I didn't, he would hold a date open for me in earlier January. Still concerned about the AF, I don't have enough information on it. Should I exercise? Do I need to be monitored? How will this affect my future exercise program. Should I avoid stress? Have a call in to the surgeon, hope he can answer the questions. What I like about this WLS Program is that the surgeon follows us for up to five years!!! If we have a cold, flu, etc., we contact his office. He's also our advocate whenever we run into glitches. Wonderful guy!
December 17, 2004
The time is just c r a w l i n g by, despite me trying to keep busy with work and Christmas. Still 2 1/2 weeks until my surgery on Jan 4. Just hope I don't get sick between now and them - dh is sick, a couple of people at work are sick. I'm trying to eat right, take vitamins, drink OJ and stay away from these sick people!! Would hate to have to reschedule the surgery. Nov & Dec are my traditional "down" times - I'm usually depressed until after Christmas, when all the stress lifts and I feel better again. When most people have their "after Christmas doldrums," I'm having my holiday spirit!!
Should finish with the shopping and cleaning this weekend and then maybe I can enjoy Christmas. Knee is killing me, had to cut back on exercise. Can't wait to get the weight off and move around more!
December 27, 2004
Well, I got sick. Couldn't believe it. I'm not real bad, but I know that the anesthesiologists are strict and I'm not sure I'm going to have the surgery on the 6th of January. I talked to the surgeon a week and a half ago and he said as long as I got better in a couple of days there would be no problem. He said anesthesiology likes to have a couple of weeks of clear health. By the time I finished talking to him, it was 7-10 days clear. Well, what I have is sinus drainage and an occasional cough that coughs gunk (clear) up. Not sure if I'm OK or not. I see him at support group on the 30th and will maybe find out then if I'm good to go. Meanwhile, I'm drinking like I'm a camel about to go out into the Sahara - going thru the bottled water like crazy. DH will have to go get more for me for after surgery. Also have tea, taking Allegra, Nasonex. Got to watch it all, though, so I don't raise my blood pressure and have problems with the AF. My sister is making plans to come down again, and one son is taking off work. Kinda wish I could just slink into the hospital without telling anyone and have it done and then say "surprise!" I go back to work tomorrow after being off fighting this cold, then we had the 14-16" of snow, which I wasn't going out in, so until today I was cooped up in this house for about 2 weeks straight. DH just finished 3 days of shoveling my car out of the snow, so I'll got to work and see if they really need me or if I can stay at home some more. I really need this weight off. I can't exercise for more than 10 minutes, kills my knee. I was taking 1000 mg a day of Naprosyn, but have cut back because of all the concerns with heart problems. DH is on Bufferin, doctor took him off Celebrex. Don't know what I'll be taking after surgery, seems there's not much left for arthritis pain. After walking for exercise, I really feel it in my knee. It ain't easy gettin' old!
January 2, 2005
Well, the surgery is a go!!! Talked to the surgeon at support group and everything is all set for Jan 4. He also told me there was no atrial fibrillation showing up in the second stress test,soooo I will always take my blood pressure medication. I'm a little anxious. But oh so ready! I'll be in intensive care so they can better monitor the blood pressure.
January 3, 2005
Tomorrow, tomorrow! Have to be there at 6:15. Maybe I'll just take a nap until then to pass the time. Should clean house, but think I'll wait until DH comes home so he can help! Got the Christmas tree down, but need his help getting the boxes out of the way.
January 11, 2005
Oh. My. God. That. Was. Terrible! Went into surgery knowing I would be in intensive care when I came to. Well, that was true. Pain was incredible and I kept into close contact with the PCA button. Bed was terrible, hurt my back. I had problems after surgery. My Nuclear Stress Test came back Normal Heart Function, but surgery changed that. Went into Atrial Fibrillation and they had a time getting my heart rate down. Did the leak test a day early and that was terrible, also. Had to stand up and drink this evil-tasting barium. The worst part of that was the ride down, where they hit the wall with the bed several times!! Test came back OK, so they put me on my heart meds with cut pills. I actually got them down. Had some nausea so the water part was tough. I was drinking about 1-3 drops of water at a time and was terrified that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the water requirements. Several times I came close to an absolute panic, thinking I couldn't do this and what was I going to do? The doctor finally came in, saw the amount of water I was drinking at a time, poured me out a cupfull ((1 oz)and said drink it in one gulp, you'll be fine. I said how about 1/3. Did 1/3 in one swallow, finished the cup in 2 more swallows, he pours more and I drink more. I was so very, very relieved!I think it was the early nausea that had me persuaded I had to drink really tiny sips (took 1 1/2 hours to get my pain meds down!) Pain subsided fairly quickly, just on minimal doses. I am so very thankful I came through this. I'm home now, walking OK, a little more each day, climbing stairs. I set my timer for 15 minutes and drink a cup before it beeps - keep that up all day. Have to chart it, because I easily forget to put it down. In a few days I should be able to have myself trained well enough that I can leave the timer alone.
February 1, 2005 - A tough four weeks. Thank God things are looking better. For a couple of weeks, the Carnation Instant Breakfast that was supposed to be my mainstay made me nauseous and I was nauseous all the time. So they went in and did tests and found that there was no leak, no physical problem. So I changed from CIB to Carb Countdown with protein powder added. That's much better, but still bothers me some because I'm lactose intolerant. I manage most days to get my fluid and protein in, but still struggle. Maxed out on Crystal Lite - I can only tolerate the lemonade flavor now. Usually, I just drink plain, room temperature water. Since I'm on puree for another two weeks, I'm trying to get my protein in through food so I can at least get away from the protein drinks - hate them! We're supposed to be on 6 meals a day, which is a laugh - who has time to eat 6 times, then wait 30-60 minutes before drinking? Haven't figured that one out yet. It's a good thing I'm not back at work, don't think I could handle trying to get food and fluids in and drive an hour each way to Cincinnati and back plus working. Yesterday I felt a small "surge" of energy, which was a nice thing - first one I've felt since surgery. Each day seems a little better than the one before, though I still have moments of panic and despair. Think I'll go back on my anti-depressents. Medicine seems to control my Atrial Fibrillation, but I'm still taking it slow on the exercise in order not to get my heart rate up.
March 20, 2005
Woops! too long since my last update. I'm doing much better on protein since I no longer have to use the protein shakes to get my protein in. I manage to get the protein through food and feel so much better, even though the nutritionist upped my amount from 50 grams to 60 grams. There are a few days when I don't reach the mark, but those are getting fewer and fewer. I may have to break down and get some more protein powder to add to my morning cereal (it's only 10 grams of protein, plus 4 for the milk) to make sure I get all my protein in. I still keep a food diary to track everything, first time in my life I've ever done that.
I AM a slow loser, so get discouraged sometimes. One thing I do is that I don't weigh unless my surgeon weighs me - that way I only have to deal with the slowness every few weeks. I have noticed that my clothes are looser - I now have only 1 pair of slacks that fit, and those are some I had to buy because I was pantless!!! I've begun water walking for exercise. Because of my bad knees I can't walk like "regular folks." Went Friday for the first time and the water felt wonderful!! Couldn't believe how soothing it was just to step into it. They heat the water to Arthritis Foundate standards. And I wasn't the fattest one there! Nor the oldest!!! How good is that???!!!! However, my thighs look horrible - like cottage cheese. Have to get a new suit, my old one is too tight. Wonder if they make them with skirts to the knees?
Pouchie and I have gotten along pretty good, except for the one time I swallowed a piece of dark chicken mean without chewing it good. Oh, my!!! Pain. Throwing up. Foamies, foamies, foamies. This went on for about 6 hours. Finally made me some nice, hot tea and was able to keep that down. The next day, pouchie was as good as new, although I did take it easy. It'll be a while before I try dark chicken meat again, although I used to love it. Other than that one episode, things have been pretty good. Tomorrow begins my "increased activity" period. I will be water exercising 5 times a week for one hour; doing the exercise machines 2-3x a week (already have done it for a week and my back already feels better); in addition, I am going to "speed clean" my house for an hour a day (keep the heart rate up, but not up too much). Also, I'll wear my pedometer and try to increase my steps each day. What with eating and drinking, that out to keep me busy and off the streets!
I go to the cardiologist on Tuesday. I want to ask him if I can go off the Amioderone. Saw the manufacturer's printouts on that medication and it just screams "don't take me!!" Also hope to get a definitive answer on just how high I can try to get my heart rate up before I go into atrial fibrillation. I'm still terrified of getting the rate up very high, so I concentrate on quantity of workout rather than quality, but it is so tough on my knees. I did go to Wal-Mart last night and walked for an hour shopping and NO BACK PAIN. That is wonderful, and reminds me of why I had the surgery.
June 2, 2005
Had an echocardiogram and wore a Holter monitor (for the heart) for a day. The cardiologist didn't schedule a follow-up visit for 6 months, so I had them print the results of the tests out and took them to my surgeon for my 20 weeks check-up. He said the test results were great, far better than before surgery. However, I'm still on the amioderone, at least for another 4 months. Cardiologist gave me permission to get heart rate as high as I could "in the 140s." Well, that's a laugh. When I wore the Holter monitor I got on the recumbent cycle and peddled the hell out of it and only got up to 118. That was 2 months ago. Now when I pedal the hell out of the cycle I only get up to about 83. I have an appointment with the exercise physiologist to see about 'kicking things up a notch.' I did modify my last program. Exercise guy said to only do 2 water aerobics a week, since the buoyance of the water prevented a lot of the cariod effects. So, I compromised and do 3 a week.
Here's my new schedule:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Water Aerobics - 60 min
Recumbent cycle - 30 minutes
upper and body weights - 30 minutes
That's the morning. In the afternoon:
30-45 min on this recumbent machine that words both arms & legs (I call it a recumbent ski machine!).
10-15 min on an upper body cycle.
Tuesday and Thursday
3 10-minute walks (or 2 15-min walks)
This is to not overwork my knees
3 10-minute periods of vacuuming, gardening, some kind of moderate activity.
Saturday I try to stay on my feet, moving, for 3-4 hours. A good excuse to go shopping!!
Every day I wear a pedometer, and try to get in at least 100 more steps a week than the week before.
Seems to be working. I lost almost 30 pounds in the last 8 weeks since I've seen the surgeon. And I feel sooooo much better. I can walk up and down stairs despite my bad knees, and can walk almost everywhere, even striding, without pain. Of course, can only do that for 20 minutes, because then the knee starts objecting.
The surgeon's visit yesterday went great. Protein was upped to 60 grams since I'm exercising so much. He mentioned plastic surgery at 1 year. Gulp! Don't know about that. I'm doing fine, have lost 80 pounds since my high last November, 73 pounds since surgery. Not bad for a 59-year old worried about her metabolism. I was soooo sedentary before WLS, not even 1000 steps a day. Now I get restless if I don't move around every day. Again, I feel really good. Don't have many clothes, but my closet sure looks good - hardly anything there. LOL.
Oh, yes, had a bunch of X-rays taken of my spine to try to find out why my back hurts so much when I'm on my feet for over 20 minutes at a time. It did this before WLS and I was hoping losing weight would help, but so far it hasn't. Hope it's just poor posture. I can stand for 60 minutes without pain if I use a cane. It's really too tall and forces my shoulders back, but that seems to help the pain. Who knows.
14 August 2005
Well, seems i have a deteriorating disc in my lower back. Not sure how that makes the upper back hurt, but there it is. I'll keep up with the exercises to see if that helps any. More weight loss may help, too. Speaking of weight, I am now down 103 pounds from my highest, only 4 more pounds and I'll be down 100 pounds from my day-of-surgery weight! I went through about 5 weeks of no weight loss, no inches lost and was very unhappy. Part of my problem was going on three different trips and really screwing up my exercise schedule. Once I got back, I resumed the exercising and revised my routing. The recumbent cycle just wasn't getting the heart rate up, so I've moved up to the treadmill. I only do half an hour 3x a week so far - got to take it slow on the knees. Also tried the elliptical - started at 3 minutes and now can do 5 minutes, if I rest twice. I'm going to keep plugging away at that because it really gets the heart rate up. Treadmill hurts the knee a little, but quits as soon as I got off. I'll keep that up because I think I need more of the weight-bearing exercise to get the rest of the weight off.
I'm feeling great. Looking, well, saggy! Oh, well. Better than fat!!!
February 7, 2006
Down 132 pounds! I now weigh 150. Which is a NORMAL BMI!!! However, haven't lost any weight in the last month. This is due, I know, to my eating habits and lack of exercise. I quick exercising when my body just hurt too much to go on. It feels much better - especially the neck, but I know I have to push myself to get back to some exercising. Maybe not as much as I used to do, but at least 30 minutes a day. Also got addicted to cheddar Chex Mix. And saltines. So, no more chex mix, and no more than 6 saltines in a day. I think I look strange. I have absolutely NO butt whatsoever. After almost 59 years of a butt that stuck out in the back, there is now nothing there. No fat whatsoever. I'm just straight up and down. Love to look at my profile, though, I look so skinny! And, I can tuck my shirt in. I have never, never in my life been able to do that. But when I look down at my front, I can see I need to lose more. The stomach area is holding onto some extra fat.
My one year labs were great except for one area. I was taking in too much protein for the amount of calories I was eating. I was doing 85-95 grams of protein a day, so the surgeon cut me down to 70-75 grams, and told me to increase my carbs. There is a God!!! I have now cut out all protein powder, except for one scoop in my oatmeal each morning. The rest of my protein all comes from food. I can now eat rice and bread, although I do limit those. Not too fond of bread, it's tasteless, but do have an occasional slice. People FINALLY have noticed the weight loss. Went to a family reunion in July and not one person commented on my weight loss. Saw them all again at a funeral last weekend, and everybody commented on it. The skinny ones all said I shouldn't lose any more weight. But I would like to get down to 130, but that may not be possible.
March 15, 2006
My reduction of protein did the trick. I stay at 65-70 grams of protein a day and my labs (as far as the protein is concerned) were good, high normal, but OK. My cholesterol was up - surgeon said it was probably hereditary - my parents and both sisters have high cholesterol. So will have to ask the cardiologist if I should go on medication. I wear a Holter Monitor next week, then will see the cardiologist about the results. I'm not a candidate for tummy tuck while I'm on Coumadin, so hope the dr. will let me get off that.
I'm trying to adjust the way I eat. I do fine from breakfast (usually oatmeal made with milk and a couple of scoops of protein power), lunch is Ok, but about 3:00 I go crazy. Have really bad head hunger. I'm allowed a snack, but have trouble stopping with just a snack. I tend to have a series of "snacks!" Cheese. Apple. Crackers. Kashi Go Lean Crunch. Sign. I'm trying to find the snack that will stop the munchies.
Weigh 142 pounds now. One more pound, and I'll be half the woman I used to be!
December 26, 2006
Been waaaaaay to long since I've updated. Here's where I stand now:
My weight stabalized at 142, but since I could wear a size 8, I was happy. Very happy. Did great for a long time. Then when Hurricane Katrina did her damage, I lost my focus. Found myself glued to the TB, couldn't believe the heartbreak of the Gulf region. So I tapered my exercise down. First doing only 3x week, then in 3 months, cut it out altogether. Weight still stayed off. But then, dh had 3 surgeries in the last year - rotator cuff, benign growth on his hand and hip replacement. He was off a total of 4 months - he'd heal from one surgery, then have the next. I really started losing it when the 3rd surgery came around. I didn't get more than 2 hours of sleep at a time and I got cranky, exhausted, and hungry. Gradually added saltines and peanut butter, plus saltines and cheese, then chocolate bars. I'd eat most of a package of saltimes in a day. Well, guess when, you sit around doing nothing all day but eat peanut butter and crackers every time you go in the kitchen, you'll gain weight! I went through the "I hate myself" phase again, wouldn't step on the scales, jeans too tight. Been there, done that, many, many times. Finally I decided this was stupid. I didn't want to be one of those who gained all their weight back. I wanted to feel better. Emotionally and physicall I felt really bad. So I got back on track. Keeping the food and exercise diary again, no more peanut butter and crackers or candy bars. The pouch feels much better off than high fat, high sugar phase I was going through. I've been on track for 5 days now, and have lost 6 pounds. I weight EVERY day, so I'll know when things drift off again. I'm also exercising again, going slowly up in intensity. I exercised TOO much last time. This time, I'll be more reasonable. I'm walking 3 days a week. I've begun using hiking poles and my knees and back don't hurt while I'm walking. That's a small miracle. I feel better emotionally and physically.