Almost 3 months out

Things have improved greatly since my last visit to the surgeon's office. I am now officially able to keep my food down unless I eat too fast. I can generally tell if I'm eating to fast because it is very uncomfortable almost painful after swallowing. One more hurdle that I have cleared.

My weight is down 57 lbs. Which doesn't sound like a lot but feels like a lot. I have burned through clothes like you wouldn't believe. There are days that I wake up and worry that I won't have anything that fits to wear to work. Everything is big, too big to wear. It's a good problem to have but it's still hard to handle at the same time.

Now my newest experience is with people that haven't seen in me in a long time that barely recognize me. That feels good. That makes it feel real to me.

I go back to the surgeon at the end of July. From what I have heard I will be counting calories in addition to protein.

The surgery feels like a success.

A whole new life....after surgery

It's been a long time since I blogged about my RNY experience. I had the surgery 4/20/09. From the day I picked up the pre-op food until surgery day, I lost 12 lbs. I was excited because I lost some weight.

Overall, the pre-op food was ok. I figured out that the dinners I selected were just disgusting. They looked like dog food. So, my husband actually drove back to Grand Rapids and got me the microwavable meals to eat for dinner. That went much better. But I have to say, the night before surgery I was so sick of eating all the time I thought I was going to lose my mind.

We stayed the night in Grand Rapids since I had to be at the hospital at 7:30 a.m. and I didn't want to get up too early. That whole night I laid awake worrying about whether there would be complications or if I would even die during the surgery.

We got up and drove to the hospital. I got checked in and weighed. They put me in a holding room where I got changed and the IV was set up. Eventually I was sent to the surgical holding room. That's where I really started panicking. I was about to call the whole off. The anesthiologist came and administered the drugs to get me relaxed then I was wheeled into the operating room.

Who knows now long later, I woke up in the recovery room. I came around enough to go to my regular room. I was uncomfortable because of the angle of the bed. I was told that the angle of the bed was the best for post-op. I guess it helps prevent reflux. I really enjoyed the morphine pump. I don't think I walked as much as they wanted but I was really tired from not sleeping well Sunday night and the morphine didn't help.

When I woke up Tuesday I was informed that I would be starting to drink the protein shakes. If I wanted to leave that day I had to get 4 oz. down in 4 hours. It was really hard. I was still just so tired. Eventually, the nurse unhooked my IV, so I was without the morphine. She gave me some liquid vicodin, but that was the most digusting stuff I have ever had to drink. Around 1 pm. I got out of the hospital.

On the drive home I was dozing off and on. When I got home, my husband gave me a dose of the liquid vicodin. That started a long afternoon, evening, and night of throwing up. I think I got a little dehyrated combined with the pain not being controlled. Eventually, popsicles helped get me rehydrated and I slept for a while.

Wednesday morning was the day that my husband got me on schedule. He had me working on getting the 1oz. protein shakes down and taking my medicine. By that evening I was feeling human again, I wasn't doing much but I could hold a conversation.

By the end of the first week I was feeling good. I started wandering out for short shopping trips.

I bought a Magic Bullet blender to help mix the shakes better. It did wonders for taking out the grit. But the 2 weeks worth of protein shakes for meals was getting to me.

I went back to the surgeons office the first week of May for my 2 week checkup. The doctor said the laprascopic incisions were healing very well. I also met with the dietician. I was given a whole new diet of soft foods. Cottage cheese, skim milk, and yogurt. Also, I was instructed to get 64 oz. of water in per day.

Then I went back June 2 for my 6 week checkup. I met with the dietician first. I was given clearance to eat virtually anything that was within reason. I was instructed to stay away from any high fat or high sugar foods. Then I met with the Physcians Assistant. He was pleased with my loss but mentioned that if I had been able to get more water in that I would have had an even better loss. I had been struggling to get 32 oz of water in per day. Next I met with the exercise physiologist. He was pleased to hear that we joined the YMCA. He said that I should plan on working out everyday with 4 workouts per week being the minimum. He also said that exercise doesn't have to be work, it can be fun and relaxing like a bike ride. That meeting went well.

I left the surgeons office and drove home. I stopped at Wendy's and got some chili. I got back on the highway and 5 minutes later I was puking in a plastic bag. I had puke all over the front of me. Not the best ride home.

Sick without surgery

I went to the surgeon's office on Monday. I met with the dietitian, exercise physiologist, and physicians assistant. They covered what I will be eating before and after surgery, what vitamins I will be taking, what they are looking for in exercise, and what to expect during and after surgery. I left with a bag of meals and snacks for the next 13 days.

I started the high protein food yesterday. Boy oh boy was it delicious. Small but delicious. Breakfast was high protein oatmeal. Snack consisted of a high protein raspberry tea. Lunch was beef stew. PM snack was a peanut butter bar. Dinner was a vegetarian chicken fajita (vegetarian and chicken don't seem to go together). I was doing really well at drinking all the water too. Then it happened, the auto-eject session. I brought up dinner and then some. I immediately went to bed since my head was pounding. I woke up still feeling yucky, but I tried to eat the more bland stuff.

Currently I am 2 days down on the high protein diet. 11 days left until surgery. Woohoo.

Things are changing.....

In the past month lots of things have happened. The Bariatric Surgeon's office called and my insurance approved me for the Roux-en Y. I am scheduled for April 20, 2009. I am very excited. Tomorrow I go to the Surgeon's office to meet with the exercise physiologist, nutritionist, and to get my high protein food. I was not aware of the 2 weeks of high protein food which will shrink the liver and make it easier for the surgeon to perform the procedure laprascopically. This weekend was my last free food weekend. I am assuming I will get the high protein food and start on it immediately. I go back the following Monday for bloodwork and to meet with the surgeon to have any final questions answered before surgery takes place the Monday after that.

I am very excited. I can't wait. It feels like I'm turning a new chapter in my life. I am mentally ready for whatever happens. I am going into this with an open mind. I think that I am in for some rough roads post-surgery but nothing that I can't handle. I am lucky to have co-workers that I can ask about what to expect before, during, or after the procedure. I realize that everyone reacts to the surgery differently both physically and mentally, but I really feel that I have a good support system set up.

Some peope just don't understand....

If I have to hear one more person tell me that having this bariatric surgery is so drastic and that I should think about it more, I might scream. Do people really think I am that shallow? I don't think anyone besides my regular physician realizes that I have been researching this and thinking about it heavily for at least 2 years. Yes, I realize that I won't eat normal sized portions for a long time. Yes, I understand the risks. Yes, I understand that I will have to take vitamins for the rest of my life.

I want to be a normal size. I want to be able to wear cute clothes. I don't want to wear huge pieces of fabric for the rest of my life.

I don't think the people telling me that I shouldn't make such a drastic move have ever dealt with this.

I did get some good news today. I spoke with my regular physician's office and found out that I did have 12 consecutive appointments relating to weight loss. One more potential insurance hurdle completed. I have been given conflicting insurance information. The first time I spoke with Community Blue PPO (BCBS) they told me that I had to have 12 months of consecutive appointments with my doctor relating to weight loss, the next time it was 6 months, then this last time it was back to 12 months. Oh well, I have that requirement covered now.

On another note, I went to the mall and walked tonight. I used the nike ipod sensor in my shoe (coolest thing ever) and my ipod while I walked. The sensor lets the ipod record distance (1.87 miles), time (34:09), my pace (18'14" per mile) and calories (366). Not too bad for the first night. I decided we are going to do this as a family 2 or 3 times a week or more. The kids seem to like this. Morgan had her ipod and was power-walking like a professional. Mitchell seemed to enjoy getting out of the house too. Everyone should feel pretty good in the morning.

On my way...

Today I went to the doctors office to meet with the internist, Dr. Lasater.

First thing that happened at this appointment is the nurse put me on the scale. Holy cow! More than I want to mention. Then she put me on the body fat analyzer. Holy cow two times over. Blood pressure was a text book perfect 120/80 (yay). She took a "before" picture (boo). I also had an EKG done.

Dr. Lasater same in and went through my health history. Everything was great then he mentioned that I had "blip" on the EKG. Now I have to go to a cardiologist and have a stress test done. I was advised to stop using any ibuprofen, motrin, aleve in preparation for surgery and only use tylenol. The doctor also discussed the surgery options with me. I was on the fence between the band and the roux en y. The doctor agreed with me that I would have a better longterm outcome with the roux en y procedure.

I have another appointment scheduled Wednesday February 4, 2009 with Dr. Baker (the surgeon) and the person who does the psychological evaluations. That should be fun.

I am really on my way to doing this. The only potential problems are the insurance and this heart "blip".

Things to think about...

I have been doing a lot of thinking about this procedure. I have decided to find out what procedure they recommend for me. I'm fairly certain they will say banding or roux-en y. I see the pros and cons of both. My concern with banding is being demotivated by a slow weightloss and being able to maintain that loss. Also whether the band and port stays in for the rest of my life. WIth RNY I'm concerned about the longterm effects of the malabsorption. I guess as long as I follow directions I should be ok.

Hopefully, everything goes ok with the insurance and I can get this done in March so I can be ready for summer!