Metamorphosis

One Month Surgiversary

2008-02-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

Well, it's officially been four weeks since my surgery, which makes Friday my one month Surgiversary. I can't believe how quickly the time has passed. In the past four weeks, I've lost a total of twenty-eight pounds. That's like having three or four babies!

I can tell a little bit when I look in the mirror, but I'm not really seeing a big difference yet. I go back to the doctor on the 28th, so we'll see what he has to say. It's funny.... if I wasn't post-op and I lost that amount of weight in such a small period of time, I'd be jazzed. But because I did the surgery, I guess I just expect it to come off so much faster.

What I have noticed though, is that my asthma has drastically changed. For the better, of course. I don't need to take my inhaper like it's crack anymore, which is a very good thing. And I don't snore, which pleases my husband (although the dog still does, and keeps him awake sometimes).

Jessica's surgery is in less than a week. I think she's a combination of nervous and excited, with nervous and scared trumping the excitement. Hopefully, the excitement will win in the end.

That's all for now.

The Road To Recovery

2008-01-22T15:04:00.001-08:00

It's been one week since the surgery, and I couldn't ask for a faster recovery. I feel great, with minimal pain. I go to the doctor for my post-op appointment on Thursday to have the staples out, and I'm pretty sure he'll advance me to the next phase of my diet - real food!

I cannot wait to eat something solid. I've been on my full liquid diet since Saturday now, and it's getting old very fast. Since I am having trouble tolerating artificial sweetener, I'm basically living on coffee (decaf), skim plus milk, farina, and Jell-O sugar-free fat-free pudding. I'm getting sick of my protein shake already, but I guess I can deal with drinking it once a day.

On the plus side, I've lost 16 pounds already! I can't believe how quickly it's coming off. Of course, I can't notice it yet, and I probably won't until it's a lot more. It's still exciting though. I try not to weight myself more than once a day but.... well, sometimes I get a little crazy.

I'll try to behave.

Have a good one!

There's No Place Like Home

2008-01-17T17:04:00.000-08:00

There is no worse place to be, when you are in need of rest, than a hospital. No matter what I did, I couldn't sleep through the night, nor could I get any rest during the day. While the nurses were lovely and very helpful, I had two inappropriate roomates. When I arrived at the room from recovery, the first thing I noticed about the woman I'd be sharing the room with was that she was confused. Not even an hour later, she was getting a blood transfusion and was scheduled for surgery the next day (yesterday). I had some quiet time yesterday after she was taken to the OR, but it was taken away by an admission from the emergency room. This woman wasn't confused, but she came from a nursing home, which can mean a whole array of things might be crawling on her body. I'm not joking.

Unfortunately, she needed a lot of attention, which meant NO rest for me. First of all, I wasn't even in the Center for Bariatric Surgery's wing. Secondly, when you have a patient that's a "walkie talkie" as we used to call them, don't stick them in the corner of the same room where a much sicker patient lies. Obviously, this isn't always avoidable, but come on. Telling me to rest and relax when I can't even sleep for two hours without interruption is BULLSHIT.

Yes, I'm that angry.

Anyway, I'm home now, where I belong, and on the way to recovery. My body's sore, and I'm very tired, but the worst is over and it just gets better from here.

I hope. ;)

It's Only A Day Away

2008-01-14T07:41:00.000-08:00

My surgery is tomorrow. TOMORROW! I just called the doctor's office and asked for the time (the hospital wants me to wait until 2:00 to find out - really!). I have to be there at 7:00 a.m. for my 9:00 a.m. surgery. This means waking up around 5 to shower and get ready, so that we can leave by 6:15. I think I'll be going to bed by 10 tonight.

My surgery "prep" began today. If you've ever had a colonoscopy or a G.I. series, then you know what I mean by "prep". I've never had either, but I knew what it involved from working in the hospital. If you had the surgery, or will have the surgery, here's my advice. Drink the Fleets soda AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I swear, it's the nastiest thing I've ever tasted.

When I went for the pre-op class, the nurse said that upon arrival at the hospital, they'll give us something to take the edge off. I think I'll take them up on that offer. I just want to get through the surgery already. By this time tomorrow, it will be all over. I'll be recovering (hopefully!), and going through the necessary steps to go home, which will be Thursday. I won't promise anything, but I will do my best to blog then.

See you soon!

One Week, Baby!

2008-01-08T14:19:00.000-08:00

In exactly one week from today I am having my surgery. I cannot wait! I'm going grocery shopping on Friday to ensure I have all I need in the house for when I come home. The protein shake I got isn't the best (I tried it today), but I'll get used to it.

I'll be on clear liquids for the first two days after coming home. Sugar-free Jell-o, chicken broth, decaf tea, water and my clear protein drinks. I have to drink every hour and try to work it up to about 4oz at a time. I need to be drinking 64oz a day. After that, I can progress to a full liquid diet which is all of that but also skim milk, yogurt, pudding (sugar free and fat free) and coffee. Yes, I get to have coffee!!

About a week after surgery the diet progresses to a soft/bland diet. I need to take in 80g of protein a day, while still taking in all of my fluids. It doesn't seem so bad, except for the fact that there are only a few meats we can have and they have to be moist. I guess I need to brush up on my baked chicken recipes.

As for tonight, I'm getting drunk. I turned 30 yesterday and tonight I need to get it all out of my system. Apparently, I'll be a pretty cheap date post-surgery, as one sip of alcohol will have me on my ass.

Let the seven day count down begin!

Pre-op Class (a.k.a. The Three Hour Tour)

2008-01-04T14:32:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Mike and I went to my three hour pre-op class. It wasn't as bad as I had thought - I did end up having questions that were answered along the way. However, as with any group/class/meeting, there was this one lady who... well, let's just say I wanted to sew her mouth shut. She kept complaining about how she had to have one of her labs redrawn, and seemed to think the class was for her and only her. Then when the nurse practitioner, Linda, mentioned that the surgeons had a resident they were training and he might be in the operating room, the woman quickly asked if he was a good doctor and "knew what he was doing". No, lady. They're playing sick games with their patients.

Anyway, enough about her.

Before the class I was having a bit of nerves. After all, I had made out my Last Will and Testament just hours before, along with a living will that tells Mike to let me die. Not something you do everyday, or something that you do at this young an age (I'm not 30 for another three days). After the class though, I felt a lot better about it all. So long as I wake up, I'll be happy.

The surgery is officially eleven days from today, a week from Tuesday. Now I'm just getting excited. I decided to make a 2008 scrapbook, and I'll start it off with pictures from my birthday party tomorrow night, then do a nice page of before shots. Three weddings and a trip to Australia later, the scrapbook should be very coffee table worthy.

That's all I got for now folks.

The Big Day

2007-12-27T11:43:00.000-08:00

There is it. January 15th. The big day. As it gets closer, I find myself feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. I'm trying to keep track of all of the things that needed to be taken care of beforehand, like the three hour class I have to go to, or scarier things like making out a will. I almost laughed when my husband suggested it, but he has a point. We have a house now, and God forbid something happen, I need to have it all laid out. So, I will call my lawyer after I write this.

The more fun tasks include a trip to Harmons. I LOVE Harmons. I need to get a few travel size items like shampoo and stuff, and they have EVERYTHING. I love travel size stuff, and I love shopping, and now they are together.

Speaking of shopping, I got a nice velour outfit to come home from the hospital in. It's my feel good outfit. Another thing I love to do it pack. Call me crazy, but I can't wait to pull out my Vera Bradley duffle and fill it with my travel size toiletries, hair dryer and comfy pajamas. My in-laws are coming to see me the day after, so I have to look good.

Last but not least, I have to go food shopping the weekend before to make sure I have everything I need in the house for when I come home. Protein shakes, vitamins, crystal light, sugar-free jell-o. All that stuff. The first month isn't too appetizing, but more of that will come later.

Right now, I'm enjoying what might be my last whole milk peppermint hot chocolate. At least for quite a while.

Enjoy.

The Hamster Wheel

2007-10-18T17:34:00.000-07:00

What a day.

Jessica and I had our appointments today to meet with the surgeon, and have both our nutritional and psychological evaluations. We kicked it off at noon (12:45 by the time the doctor saw us), meeting Dr. Abkin for a more personal consultation. He explained the surgery a little more, and after giving each of us a brief examination, sent us on our merry way to the next step.

In the twenty minutes we had before our next appointment, we managed to go to McDonald's (it's stopping soon enough) for a quick lunch. Throwing out the evidence while on the way to meet the nutritionist was amusing. She was running late too, but she was nice and informative. It's so much information to absorb in one visit. My head is still spinning.

After she was done with us, we waited for the psychologist. I did my little "inventory" while Jess was evaluated, and then we flip-flopped. FIVE and a HALF hours later, we were finally finished. The only thing we need to do now is wait for their calendar to be prepared for January, and then we set a date.

So far it's a pretty mentally exhausting process.... but it will be well worth it.

That's all for now.

One Week

2007-10-12T21:07:00.000-07:00

My friend and I go for our consultation appointments on Thursday. I am so excited. I just want to get the surgery scheduled so the real count down can begin.

I landed in the ER last night from my asthma, and through some brief conversation I found out that my nurse had had the surgery by none other than the same surgeon I am going to. I took this as a nice sign.

I hope my asthma will melt away with the pounds.

That's all for now.

The Final Countdown

2007-09-30T15:35:00.000-07:00

My new journey has begun.

I have decided to get bypass surgery. It wasn't an easy decision. I look at all of the time I've spent trying to lose weight, and then look at my family history (as lengthy as it is scary) and know that I'm doing the right thing. As proud as I am that fourty pounds seperates my current weight from my alltime high, it doesn't remove the fact that I have about a hundred more to lose.

I cannot wait to be skinny(er).

My best friend and I are doing it together. Everything from the initial seminar we went to the other night, to the consultation we go to on the eighteenth of October. After we meet with the surgeon, we go like hamsters on a wheel to the evaluations we have to undergo (both nutritional and psychological). A full day that will respresent the first step on the road to our new selves.

Again, I cannot wait.

When I spoke with my primary doc about it the other day, I actually almost cried when she gave me her support. It was like a confirmation that I was making the right move. I go see her on the fifth and will have all of the blood drawn that I need for the pre-surgery hoops I have to jump through.

The process is lengthy, but now that the wheels are turning (albeit slowly), I am looking more and more forward to it.

This will serve as my journal, a place where I'll record my thoughts, fears, anxieties and frustrations that come along with the ride.

Stay tuned for more. ;)