Post-Op

Well today is post op day 3. It has been good so far. I got to the hospital at 530 and was only in Same Day for about 2 hours before they took me back to the OR. The only thing I remember is the nurse and CRNA discussing Words With Friends...haha go figure. I told them I needed drugs and he said he'd already slipped me something (thank gosh). I remember getting onto the table and that's it..no strapping down or anything. So whatever it was that he slipped me must have been pretty good stuff. Woke up in recovery and wasn't in as much pain as I thought I would be. Blah blah blah...I ended up getting home around noon. I was miserable then because they had given me a Lortab 7.5. They make me nauseated and I was so scared to throw up. Thank gosh for Phenergan. I have 5 pretty ugly incisions on my stomach, worse than when I had my Gallbladder removed. Slightly freaking out over one of them because it's draining a little...YUCKKK!

The first day was ice chips only. Second clear liquids every 30 minutes. Third day I've been alternating clear liquids and full every 15 mins. I've never been so excited to drink a Boost! I will have to continue doing full/clears for the next week or week and a half. Then possibly start moving to soft foods. Dr. Crawford told Eric I could start soft when I felt like I was ready. He also said that the first 6 weeks are focused on letting your stomach heal and figuring out what foods you can tolerate rather than focusing on weight loss. I must say, being a member of the Scale Whore Club...I will focus on both...haha. As of this morning, I've lost 67lbs total. I know it's coming off quick now because of drinking only liquids, but hey...it's coming off.

Speaking of Dr. Crawford, I must say he has impressed me beyond what I expected of a General Surgeon. He (not his nurse) called me on Saturday night to check on me and get my email address to send me a link to keep up with progress. I was surprised. What Dr. is going to call you on a Saturday night at 7pm?? Not many of them!

I would like to thank mankind for the invention of Gas X, Colace, and Prevacid! Seriously, don't know how these last few days would have been without them. I have so many questions about this whole thing still and so hopefully my nutritionist will call me back today. Of course, there's loads of info on the Internet, but I think I'd rather hear it from her.

I just read back through this and thought to myself...WOW, I'm way too open about myself! Till the next one!

Scale Whore

I know it's been a while since I've written and some of y'all are dying. I won't mention any names but you know who you are! Haha. Let's just say working plus eating a full liquid diet equals extreme exhaustion. Working was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be...cravings wise. Yes, I did suck on Gardetto's Rye Chips but I had the will power not to swallow them lol. Sad what you will do just to get the taste of food. I threatened to lick ranch off of Ranch Fries and wasn't joking. Al's makes some awesome Ranch Fries if you're every in Birmingham. I almost attacked a friend of my brother's who brought McDonald's fries over while they were swimming. When I first met Eric it was a joke between us, that I was a McD's fry whore...just get me some fries and I'll do ANYTHING he wanted. Well...let's just say I got the fries and he was disappointed a lot of times...haha. Needless to say, it's been a hard week, but I'm very proud of myself, that I've only swallowed liquid and everyone has survived...so far.


If you ever need to lose weight in a week or so, just go on a full liquid diet. It's amazing how crappy it makes you feel, but hey, I've lost 14lbs since August 4th. Really, I don't recommend it, it's not fun. I've become what some would call a Scale Whore. I live and breath to get on my scale in the mornings. Sounds unhealthy in a way, I know but I'm actually OK if I haven't lost. Yes, I think "Really??? I've been eating nothing for what??" But then I'm ok. It's not going to come off immediately and it's going to be a roller coaster. I know this, but I'm glad to announce my membership to the official Scale Whore Club.


I went for my pre-op appointment at the hospital on Monday. They asked a bunch of questions, did an EKG, drew some blood and gave me a pretty new red bracelet that I have to wear all week. FUN! That's the joy of having your surgery at a small hospital in a small town. You would think they would be able to pull up my Type and Screen, just in case I need blood, without scanning my arm band. God love them. They told me I have to be in Same Day Surgery at 530am on Friday and surgery is schedule for 930 or 940am, I can't remember which. I'm nervous but not about the procedure or afterwards, I'm scared to be put to sleep. I will again rely on John Mayer to calm my nerves prior to surgery....I love that man. Well I think I've rambled enough. Till the next one!

The "O" Ring

Today started out very frustrating but yet entertaining. I have a recipe for a smoothie that contains milk, peanut butter, 1/2 frozen banana and protein powder. Sounds yummy and simple right? Well, I added milk to my smoothie maker and was about to add the peanut butter when I heard something leaking on the counter. All of a sudden the milk in the smoothie maker was all over the counter!!!???!! I screwed the bottom on tighter and proceeded to try again. Again, milk everywhere. (This is when I say F the smoothie maker...moving to the food processor) Making a smoothie in a food processor equals liquid shake. At this point I'm so frustrated I just add crushed ice and drink it anyways. Very tasty actually. I'm thinking to myself, God hates me...how can it be this hard to make a freaking smoothie??!!??

I finish breakfast and call Eric. By the way, he was on his way to Burger King...thanks! I tell him I need a new blender and explain it all to him. He laughs and says ok. He then calls me back about 10 mins later and tells me that his mom washed it yesterday and asked if the "O" ring was on it. My response...."What "O" ring?" Needless to say the "O" ring was sitting on the counter next to the smoothie maker the whole time. Of course I felt like an idiot.

I begin to think that maybe this is the devil trying to get at me. I'm not a religious person, but here lately I've been considering the idea. Seriously though, who better to turn to when you just can't do something and it feels like the whole world is against you. Yes, just because you can't operate a smoothie maker. Who would've thought a simple machine can make you get so angry that you cry and then laugh at yourself because you realize you're a little bonkers!

With the "O" ring in place...dinner was a success. Blended Zuppa Tuscano!

Background music :)

Here is one of my favorite songs. How fitting for myself. Wish it could  play as background music as you read the blog! If you go to YouTube and search for lapband stuff it's amazing what you will find! Not making fun, but geez some stuff you just shouldn't post on the internet! I will work on the fireworks, even though it won't be as awesome as the YouTube videos :(

 

Fried Chicken

Today has been a pretty good day except for those random cravings. Even though it's day one, I know I can do this. Weak moments and all. Lunch was pretty good, decided on something that sounds pretty gross but was actually really good. Beef broth and cheddar cheese soup. I also had some Jello and pudding. I wasn't full, but was content. I took a nap and right before ALMOST grabbed some chips. Didn't help that my daughter was putting a cookie on my lips for me to eat...gotta love them.

My mother in-law has to be the best in the world. She was coming down to help with Avery after surgery, but came down earlier because I can hardly walk without being in pain (fat knees). She spent just about all day in the kitchen making and blending Chicken Tortilla soup and Potato soup. Both were very delicious and I have enough Chicken Tortilla to last this whole two weeks! It may not look too appealing but it is very good. Not only did she cook for me, she cooked for Eric and my Dad. Their meal looked 1000 times more appealing than mine...how could you not want fried chicken, rice, and broccoli. I'm a girl from the south, you say fried chicken and I'm one happy fat girl. I'm pretty proud of myself though, because I had none. I ate my potato soup and enjoyed it.

I keep having to tell myself that I can do this. This is something that I want. Not only for me but for my daughter. I want to be there when she gets married and has kids of her own. Sappy I know.

So for now, I will enjoy this popsicle that I'm eating and take this one day at a time!

The Beginning

Today I started my liquid pre-op diet. Surprisingly enough it hasn't been too bad so far, but I've only had breakfast. Lets start at the beginning. I grew up in Va Beach and weighed practically nothing until they decided to take my tonsils out in 3rd grade. That was when things got bigger. I don't know if it was a combination of being able to eat and some personal things that happened in my younger years, but I continued to gain weight. Graduated high school at about 300lbs. Instead of the freshman 15, I think I did the freshman 50. In 2003, I was married. Nothing like ordering a dress in the biggest size and then having to have it altered to a bigger size because my butt/hips decided they weren't going to fit. After college, Eric and I decided we wanted a child. We tried for a year with no luck. Then I bought a fertility monitor and seriously tried for another year. Towards the end of that year, I went on a diet and thought about having LapBand surgery instead of a child. I knew if I went to a fertility doctor they would say "You're fat, you need to lose weight." I've been told this all my life but for some reason it never kicked in...fully. I lost twenty pounds and had my appointment scheduled to see a surgeon. The day before, I found out I was pregnant. No LapBand for me.

After I had my daughter in 2008, I weighed the most I've ever weighed, 401lbs. My knees started bothering me not long after and then I was put on blood pressure medication in December of 2010. At that point I decided to change my life...hopefully forever. I did my 6 month insurance approved doctor visits. Which really consisted of me being weighed and being asked "Do you have any questions or do you need any prescriptions?" Well of course I do...I need Adipex and a little something to help me not so crazy. Zoloft it was and is..lol I lost 50lbs going to the doctor during those six months the first few with the help of Adipex and the last 3 without it. (Adipex doesn't help hypertension) Then to the Psychiatrist for an evaluation required by my surgeon. Wow, was I scared! It wasn't so bad and after stalking them for about 2 months they finally sent my consult to my surgeons office. Surgery was scheduled that day for Aug 19th. I weighed in at the doctors office at 358lbs (gained about 10lbs on a much needed vacation to the beach...one last eating fling...lol)

Today I woke up and thought what the heck am I gonna eat for breakfast??? Well ended up eating a smoothie with non-fat strawberry cheesecake yogurt, honey, skim milk, 1/2 frozen banana and some protein powder. I also had a glass of OJ. It was delicious and to my surprise, made me full. So, instead of soup for breakfast, soup for lunch, and soup for dinner...I think I have found options.

I'm writing this blog, in hopes that it helps me deal with the hard times throughout this journey when I just really want a piece of pizza, some sour patch watermelon slices, and a nice bottled Coke. Hopefully when and if people read this, it will help them or just make them laugh and think I'm crazy...which is the case!