Audi5000

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

I should have gone for  a 6 month check up on Feb.9th.  Unfortunately, my mother was going in for heart surgery on Feb.9th - and that takes priority.  All went well with her surgery - though it was another emotional challenge...as life tends to bring those on every now and again. 

The 6 month check up didn't really happen until 8 months - but all seems good.  I was actually pretty enthusiastic about getting my blood work done - imagine being excited about getting many vials of blood taken and tested!  As for weight loss, I'm at about 55 pounds down - which is not as great as I had hoped.  I have really hit a hard spot and stayed there for a while.  I've added in more exercise - ZUMBA three times a week and body sculpting once a week.  I like the exercise but mostly because I have a work-out buddy and we can laugh together...through the sweat. 

The bloodwork all came back looking pretty good - at least it looks good to my untrained eye.  The fact that each test comes with a "normal range" posted beside really helps.  Most of them were in the normal range. 

I am 38 pounds down (according to the doctor).  I think I'm actually 41 pounds down - because I count the weight I was when I started the process not the weight I was on the date of surgery.  I check periodically on my own scale, but as of today - I think my scale is junk because the doctor's scale registered about 8 pounds lighter.  

Now, how have I done...I started with the guidelines and truly followed their advice.  I gradually branched out as I found success.   The nutritionist/dietician recommended that we go for hamburger and then up to beef/pork with chicken or turkey being the last to try.  Her rationale was based on the texture and "stringiness" being a challenge to digest.  I was successful early on and continue to find foods that I tolerate well.  In fact, I have not found any one particular food that is extremely intolerable.  My issues have been with portion control.  I've always had eyes bigger than my stomach - and forced my stomach to accommodate my mouth hunger.  I am not able to do that anymore.  I continue to struggle with my eyes.  I talk to my therapist about "mouth hunger" versus "stomach hunger."  On those occasions when I take that last bite - the one that is just too much - the one my therapist calls the "lethal bite" then I feel nauseated.  Others may have cramping or diarhea, but I am more likely to feel like I need to vomit.   The really odd part is that I don't feel as though I CAN vomit.  I typically try, gag, have the horrific tears and so forth - but it doesn't last very long.  It may pass in about an hour at most.  I think we try so hard not to vomit that we actually fight the feeling and that's why it even lasts that long.  

I need to start walking more.  I was very courageous and went back to work rather quickly - though I admittedly did everything I could to make sure it was "light duty" type of work. 

I have new guts.  But I have old tastebuds.  Despite the warning that my tastes may change after surgery, I have the same love for the same (evil) comfort foods.  I quickly tired of protein shakes, but no other real changes.  Now I'm approved for "real" foods with the order to go slowly.  I've had little difficulties - except for myself.  My biggest challenge is my portion control.  I'm not great at keeping the drinks to 1/2 hour before and after, but I'm really bad about trying that one more bite - and feeling like I would really like to lose the whole meal.  I don't seem able to lose it, though - I blame that weirdness on surgery, too.  Now the portion that I eat is still smaller than it was.  I've lost some weight - but not as much as i want.  I guess I need to go back to basics...

So the day before surgery must be spent near plumbing as you are clearing the pipes with that laxative drink.  BTW, there are others who recommended that the laxative drink be refrigerated and/or poured over ice.  I COMPLETELY AGREE.  The one I had was a 98cent bottle from Walmart that touted a "pleasing lemony flavor" but tasted more like a sweet tart in liquid form - without the sweetener.  It was a little fizzy, but not something I would choose to sip.  The "clearing of the guts" went on from 4pm through until about 9am the next morning.  I was able to sleep - it did not interfere. 

The day of surgery - I was scheduled to go into the hospital at 1:20pm and actually have surgery at 3:20pm.  I spent the morning trying to rest/relax and be sure that I had packed all that I might need.  I took a robe, clean undies, toothpaste/toothbrush, brush, shampoo, lip balm, deodorant, magazine, book, and my tetris game.  I ended up using the robe, the toothbrush/toothpaste, and the clean undies. 

I made it on time and was whisked away by nurses who had been told that my doctor was "ahead of schedule."  I went to a waiting area and stayed while various nurses, nurse anesthetists, etc came and spoke with me or prepped me.  My hubby and mother waited in the main waiting area and were re-assured that the doctor would come and speak with them when my surgery was done.  Considering that I was whisked away to be "ahead of schedule," my hubby and mom were a bit worried when they had not heard anything until 3:30pm.  At that point they asked and were told that I had just gone into surgery - at the regular 3:20 time.  After another 1.5 hours, I was evidently out of surgery - but my hubby and mom did not yet know.  The nurses told them that the doctor wanted to speak to them on the phone - and that was enough to make my mother cry!  Despite her fears, the doctor wanted to tell them that the surgery had gone well.  I was held in recovery until a room was ready - which wasn't until 7:30pm.  My mom and hubby made it to the room before I did.  At this point, my hubby stayed for a little while but the nurses were taking measurements (temp, heart rate, pulsox, etc) every hour or so and my mother was around so he could go home.  Mom stayed with me overnight and it was actually nice to have someone to talk with as the nurses did their thing.  Lynn, the nurse, was great!  She was happy to talk with me and tried to let me sleep if she could.  The machines often alarmed and Lynn was good about coaching me on how to keep it from happening or what to do if it happened - what required a call to the nurse and what didn't.  They kept it up all night and it became humorous as my mother and I counted how long of a nap we were able to get between visits/alarms.  Between 5am and 8am we were able to get 30min at one time, progressively shorter naps - until we finally gave up. 

The day after surgery I was glad to have another great nurse, Maria.  She was able to help me get up and walk around - which I had done with Lynn earlier (about 11pm).  I continued to walk laps when I could, sit in the chair (instead of the bed), and rest/relax when able.  The doctors were supposed to come around in the morning - but I only saw the surgical intern, Dr.Clark.  I was told that my surgery was one of many by Dr. Portenier and that mine was actually one of the easier ones.  I'm not sure how to take that.  I'm glad mine was not complicated, but I was told that I had a slight hiatel hernia that could be fixed while they were doing the GB.  Dr.Clark made it sound as though it was actually so slight that no "fix" was needed, but I'm not sure if that was the case or if my case was so uncomplicated that they forgot to check on the hernia.  Anyway, Dr.Clark said that I could lose the foley (catheter) and the pain pump (which also meant I could get rid of the oxygen through the nose).  I was ecstatic - until I realized that he said these things to me, but did not write them down for the nurses.  Maria was very patient with me and finally tracked down the doctor to get the orders made official.  After the pain pump was gone - at about 12pm - I did not need any other pain meds until about 3:30pm.  I asked to have some oral meds while still at the hospital - so I would know how it would affect me before leaving the care facility.  They gave me oxycodone, but WOW am I glad to have had it at the hospital first. 

By this time, my children had come to visit - thankfully after the catheter, oxygen, and pulsox/pain pump were gone.  I only had the IV in my arm and my little boy was still a bit nervous about touching me.  They brought beautiful flowers and visited for a while.  I think that they felt better about seeing me - up, awake, alert.  My little girl said,  "but you aren't getting skinny yet" and I had to re-assure her it would take a while.  They left with my mother so that I spent the afternoon with my hubby - and we were both ready to go home.  I think I was home by about 5:30pm - though the oxycodone made it hard to remember.  The ride was a little rough.  My hubby tried to take smooth roads and avoid pot-holes, but any ride would have been a bit much.  I went to bed and don't remember much - until it became too hot and I had to come downstairs to cool off.  As long as I took the stairs slowly, all seemed okay.  I was able to handle bathroom trips on my own - no BMs.  I will say that having baby wipes was nice - though not necessary. 

I'm on the clear liquids today.  I've already taken the bottle of liquid yuck that will clean out my insides - and its working.  I'm not sure how there can be anything left inside...  It reminds me of the trick we used when my kids were in diapers and suffering from terrible diaper rash:  a little Maalox dabbed directly onto the rear end to "cool" the burn. 

I will go into surgery tomorrow at 3:20.  The pre-op will begin at 1:20.  I'm nervous, but just as nervous about what to do with the morning hours as anything else.  I can't eat after midnight...and my head already hurts!

I think I can, I think I can...

Surgery was set for the 29th of July at a hospital...away from where I wanted to be.  Fortune smiled upon me in one way, and frowned in another.  As of today, the insurance will not cover the surgery at the original hospital...that's good because it will cover the surgery at the hospital closer to me - the one I wanted.  The bad news is that the closer hospital can't fit me into their schedule until August 9th - very close to the start of school.  I'm not sure I will be feeling well enough to go to work.

I started my journey towards my goal in May 2011.  Although my family is very loving and supportive, in the whole "nature vs. nurture" discussion - I get hit with food/weight issues from al sides.  I have to find my way out.  I need to show my kids a better way of truly participating in life.  My surgery date has been set for July 29th...but I'm still worried about which surgery to get - band or RNY.  I would like to have had some real heart-to-heart time with my surgeon.  I will meet with him on the 20th so we shall see.