First week home...

The first day or so home I was pretty depressed.  I didn't say anything out loud, but inside I felt I had made a huge mistake.  I kept wanting to wake up and find it had all been a bad dream.

I was in a lot of pain and walking wore me out.  All I wanted to do was sleep.  Luckily I wasn't having problems drinking, but the protein shakes were making me gag. 

Brian was awesome!  He took a week off and was so helpful.  He even gives me my daily blood thinner shot in the hip.  I am amazed as what a wonderful man he is.  Kids were helpful too.  Cody gave me lots of hugs and told me he loved me more times than probably the whole last year.

I was able to handle the chicken broth and sf jello.  I wasn't hungry, except for head hunger.  I have never noticed so many food commercials before!

On the 5th day I broke down crying.  I was miserable.  I was in pain and still thinking I had made a huge mistake. 

Day 6 I felt better emotionally.  Brian convinced me to go to the store with him.  It helped to get out of the house.

The next day I had my appointment with the nurse practitioner.  She said everything was healing as it should and all was normal.  She gave me the go ahead to move on to the next stage in my diet.  I can now have:
eggs (soft scrambled, soft boiled or poached in water)
cottage cheese
low fat shredded cheese
greek yougurt plain or vanilla with splenda
poached fish fillets
pinto beans mashed or purred.

Also I can now mix my protein shakes with lactaid milk or soy milk.  That was a relief because mixing them with water was gagging me.

Brian and I stopped at the store on the way home and got some of my new food items!  I fixed an egg (soft scrambled) when we got home and was able to tolerate it just fine.

This brings us to today...
Today I had another egg for breakfast.  Had some pain and heartburn after it.  Waited my 30 mins to drink and took a drink.  As soon as I did it all came back up.  I ended up with the whole egg coming back up.  That made my stomach hurt A LOT!

Did dishes, straighten the house some and even took a walk around the block with the boys and dogs.

I am feeling much better today.  I still have a lot of pain and my emotions still get to me, but I don't feel I make a huge mistake any more.

Day 2 and 3

Didn't get much sleep and the dr. came in at 6 to check on me.  Around 10 they took me down to do my swallow test.  I was so thirsty that the nasty drink they gave me wasn't half bad.  I passed the test and was able to have ice chips and water after that.  They also removed my catheter and told me walk the halls as much as possible and to sit up in the chair not lay in the bed.

I had difficulty walking.  I had to use a walker and couldn't stand up straight.  My legs were also very very shakey.

They also had me use the breathing thing where you suck air to help me clear my lungs.  They had me on O2 still also.

They were supposed to bring me something to eat at 3, but it was after 4 before they did.  Dinner was sugar free jello and chicken broth.

I was supposed to go home that night, but when I did some more walking I started having trouble breathing again.  They called the dr. and he kept me one more night.

The next day I did some more walking.  I was in a lot of pain, but it was manageable.  I was really tired.  Around noon they released me.  The ride home wasn't too terrible.

When I go home I had a surprise waiting.  Brian had bought me a new recliner.  My old one's frame was breaking and he was worried about me getting up and down in it.

It was good to be home, but I was so weak and tired.

I had surgery

I had gastric bypass on March 3.  I had planned on doing a daily update on here, but things didn't work out that way.  There are several reasons.  One I was too tired and in too much pain to sit at the computer.  Two, it would have been a pity party post.  Now that I am doing better I will go back and update.

I had to be at the hospital at 6:30 and my surgery was scheduled for 8:30.  Brian wound up having to work until 2:45 am, so he was exhausted.  We got to the hospital, I changed into my gown and they began hooking me up.  I got an i.v., blood pressure cuff, O2 monitor, etc.  They also put compression things on my leg that would inflate and deflate at various levels to keep blood flowing in my leg.  About 8 they took me back to the OR.  All I remember is looking up at the big lamp above me and the dr. talking to me about how to lay my head on a pillow he put behind my neck.  He told me to point my chin up towards and the ceiling..... next thing I know I am being wheeled down the hallway to the recovery room.  I was really confused.  I didn't know where I was or what had happened.  It was a strange feeling.

In the recovery room I was pretty much out of it.  I would come around, they would ask me something and then I would go right back to sleep.  At some point I did get to talk to Brian on the phone the nurse had.

Finally it was time to go to my room.  Brian had left to go get Kris from school, so he wasn't there.  As soon as I got to my room my dr. wanted me up out of bed and into the chair.  That was a feat.  I was so shaky and in pain.  I managed to do it though.  I sat in the chair and dozed while people came in and out to do vitals, blood, pain management, etc.  Finally Brian and the boys got there.  I had left my glasses with Cody and when Brian took them out of the backpack they were broken.  That bummed me.  I was already dizzy and not having my glassed didn't help.  Luckily Brian was able to run to the store and get some super glue and fix them temporarily.

They stayed awhile and I went to bed.  Some time during the night I woke up to a bunch a people in my room and they were on the phone to my doctor.  Later I learned my O2 sat dropped into the low 80's and they were afraid I was in respiratory depression.  They hooked me up to more monitors and to my CPAP machine with some O2 hooked in.

More in next post...

Great flavor!

I found a protein shake I actually LOVE.  It's by Unjury and called Chocolate Splendor.  I just ordered a tub of it.

 I am sending one of the Syntrax Nectar flavors back.  Luckily where I ordered from allows you to send back opened protein.  I ordered from it from Vitacost.  I am sending Caribbean Cooler back.

I ordered some samples from Vitalady of some other flavors of Syntrax Nectar.  I will let y'all know what flavors are good.

Day 2 of protein diet

Well I am on day 2 of my protein pre op diet.  Yesterday was pretty rough.  I missed food so much and the protein shakes were not good.  I finally mixed the protein shake powder with Crystal Light and that was better.  I went with Syntrax Nectar for my protein shakes.  I ordered Caribbean Cooler and Crystal Sky flavors.  The Caribbean Cooler I haven't tried with Crystal Light yet, but I am drinking the other.  I also ordered samples of Unjury Protein Powder.  I tried the unflavored one this morning, and it wasn't good at all.  I had to gag it down.

At first I was thinking it was protein shakes ONLY for the 2 week period, but I went back and re-read all my info and learned I can have veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, okra, and spinach.  I can also mix my protein powders with low fat milk, soy milk or plain or greek yogurt.  So after going all day yesterday with NO food (only protein shakes) I went to the store today to get my veggies and yogurt.  That was a tough experience.  First off I was at the dr. from 9 am to 1 pm, then straight to Cody's school for a parent teacher conference, so I had only 2 protein shakes and a bottle of water.  Everything was so tempting at Walmart.  I wanted to quit my diet 100 times.  They were even giving out samples.  I stared straight ahead, heading to the veggie dept and got my good stuff.  Came home and had a salad of romaine lettuce and tomatoes.  Never knew a simple salad with no dressing could taste so good!!!

My dr. visit went well.  To begin with I have lost 9 lbs since my last visit on Dec. 8.  YEAH ME!  I was nervous getting on that scale.  First I met with the Nurse Practitioner and she went over the procedure with me again, and detailed out what my first few days/weeks will be like.  She was very thorough and answered all the questions Brian and I had.

Then I went to financial office and filled out paperwork.  Went down to lab and had some blood drawn then back up to meet with the surgeon.

Here is where my day got a little rough.  It was 10:30 when we got to his office, but he had an emergency and was running late.  We waited until almost 12:30 for him.  I was worried because we needed to pick up Cody at 1:15.  I was afraid I was going to have to reschedule.  Luckily I didn't.  Sitting in that office for 2 hours listening to my stomach growl was not fun.  I am craving so many things.  I was really wishing I had a protein shake on me to at least curb the hunger.  The surgeon went over some forms for me to sign.  He described in detail all the risk factors to this surgery.  Although I have read them before, hearing him state them was scary.

I have had two c-sections and a uterine suspension.  As a result I have a lot of scar tissue.  He said if the scar tissue is too attached to my large intestines that they need for the surgery they will be unable to do a gastric bypass and will instead switch to a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.  I am fine with that.  I have researched the VSG and understand it also.

He did say my liver is really large and that could be a problem.  That is why this pre-op diet is so important.  It will help shrink my liver.  If they go in on the day of surgery and it's still too large they could have to abort the surgery.  He said that is rare and he's only had it happen 4 times.  It would suck to go through the surgery and have all the pain and they not be able to do it.  The last fear is they have to do an open gastric bypass rather than laproscopic.  Again the odds are against that.

I had a pity party for a couple of days.  I started thinking about how so many foods would be off limits and that was difficult.  I didn't realize how addicted to some foods I am.  I also have been having some fear which is natural, but still something to over come.

I went to support group this week and that really helped.  It helps to hear others experience both the good and the ugly.

I had Brian take pictures of me from all angles for my "before" shots and plan to take measurements of myself so I will know how many inches I lose.

A time for sharing

I have done lots and lots of research on gastric bypass.  This post has to be one of the  more helpful posts I have found.

There are some blogs I read also:

The Bypassed Life
Pouch Party

Some websites I like:
My Surgeon is Dr. Carpenter
Obesity Help
Weight Loss Surgery Connection
Bariatric Eating

Where I plan to order my protein shakes and vitamins:
Vitacost
Bariatric Choice


Some that I just found, but plan to check out:
Gastric Bypass Truth
Miles to Go

I am always looking for more blogs, webpages to read.  If you have any to share that would be great!  I will update this post with more great pages that I find.

Miles to Go

March 3!!

I have my surgery date.  It is March 3.  That means that Feb. 17 is when I start my pre-op diet.  I have a couple of appointments coming up with the surgeon.

Finally!

Today is finally here!  It is the day I get my 30 day compliance letter for using my CPAP machine.  Once that is faxed over to the dr. they can begin the insurance approval process and set my date for my surgery.  I called my dr and found out exactly how the process works.   Once they receive my 30 day compliance letter the nurse practitioner reviews my file.  If everything is as it should be then she will give me medical clearance.  My file then goes to the insurance department who will get me preliminary medical insurance authorization.  Once that is given they will call me with my date and begin the full medical insurance approval.

Hopefully soon I will be posting my surgery date!  It should be in Jan!!!!

I have been having pre-surgery jitters.  I am trying hard to remain positive and not think about the things that could go wrong, but there are times that the "what ifs" come to mind.  I still feel really good about having this and know that it will do me much good.

My list now:


[X] gallbladder sonogram
[X] pap
[X] seminar
[X] Lifestyle Change Class
[X] referrals for psych exam, sleep study, and gastric bypass
[X] psych exam taken
[X]psych exam results in
[X] appt 1 for sleep study (breathing test)
[X] appt 2 for sleep study (dr. consult)
[X] appt 3 for sleep study (actual sleep study/CPAP fitting)
[X] appt 4 for sleep study (followup and results) 
[X] appt with nurse practitioner
[X] attend support group (been once, going to keep going)
[X] blood work
[   ] insurance approval
[   ] 2 week pre-op diet
[   ] find out surgery date