A few comparison shots!
February 2010 - at my Birthday Party
Christmas 2011 - at Christmas Party for Unique Knitters
Today - December 1, 2012
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
Grateful For What I Have Lost
Today was my 3 month post op visit with my surgeon. I was actually really looking forward to this visit. I knew I had passed the 60 lb loss mark and was excited to tell about my recent blood test results.
I arrived right on time - 8:45 am. There was a lot of traffic driving into Nashville and I was sure I was going to be late. As soon as I checked in and sat down, they called me back to the lab to have blood drawn. I was expecting this too. They check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies every 3 months post op. It doesn't bother me at all to have 6 test tubes of blood taken out of my arm. In fact, I thanked the lab tech for doing it BEFORE I was weighed. I am looking forward to the results of those tests.
Next stop was the nurses station. I hopped up on the scales - crossing my fingers and hoping for minus 66 lbs. I was so excited when she said I was down 68 lbs! I started at 285 lbs and I am now 217 lbs. She did some quick calculations and said that I was at 50% of my excess body weight gone. I asked her what they were figuring as my ideal body weight. I was a little surprised when she said 149 lbs. She further explained that they go off the standard Metropolitan Insurance chart which does not take into consideration body frame size. I told her that if they wanted me to be at 149 lbs, they were going to have to take off a limb - probably a leg!
She said for my height of 5'10", my ideal range would actually be between 149 lbs and 175 lbs. She asked if I had a personal goal and I told her that I was aiming for 160 lbs. She was very happy with that - it is in the middle of the range and would put me at a healthy BMI of 23 which is also in the middle of the range for IDEAL BMI. My BMI is already down from 41 pre-surgery to 31 currently! I am just one point away from being considered overweight rather than obese.
In summary, I have lost 54% of my excess body weight (for my goal weight) and have decreased my BMI 10 points. Pretty impressive if I do say so myself!
Off to see the good Doctor. He told me that I am at a point that he would not normally expect to see until 6 months post op. He was very pleased. Then, I got my normal lecture. I MUST eat 3 meals a day. I MUST get in my protein requirements. I MUST get in my fluid requirements. These are things that I continue to struggle with every day. He explained the necessity for 3 meals a day is mainly for developing a habit. A healthy habit of eating. Something I have never experienced and will really need to work on.
Spent some time with the Dietitian who gave me the same lecture, but followed up with some suggestions for helping me get my protein intake higher.
Waiting for the results of my lab work. I don't have to go back to see the surgeon for 3 months!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my family and friends who have extended such support and encouragement. It means more to me than you can imagine. I know that some would have rather I didn't have the surgery - felt that it was too drastic of a solution for weight loss. Even with the difference of opinion - you continue to cheer me on. Your encouragement is so motivational for me.
I arrived right on time - 8:45 am. There was a lot of traffic driving into Nashville and I was sure I was going to be late. As soon as I checked in and sat down, they called me back to the lab to have blood drawn. I was expecting this too. They check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies every 3 months post op. It doesn't bother me at all to have 6 test tubes of blood taken out of my arm. In fact, I thanked the lab tech for doing it BEFORE I was weighed. I am looking forward to the results of those tests.
Next stop was the nurses station. I hopped up on the scales - crossing my fingers and hoping for minus 66 lbs. I was so excited when she said I was down 68 lbs! I started at 285 lbs and I am now 217 lbs. She did some quick calculations and said that I was at 50% of my excess body weight gone. I asked her what they were figuring as my ideal body weight. I was a little surprised when she said 149 lbs. She further explained that they go off the standard Metropolitan Insurance chart which does not take into consideration body frame size. I told her that if they wanted me to be at 149 lbs, they were going to have to take off a limb - probably a leg!
She said for my height of 5'10", my ideal range would actually be between 149 lbs and 175 lbs. She asked if I had a personal goal and I told her that I was aiming for 160 lbs. She was very happy with that - it is in the middle of the range and would put me at a healthy BMI of 23 which is also in the middle of the range for IDEAL BMI. My BMI is already down from 41 pre-surgery to 31 currently! I am just one point away from being considered overweight rather than obese.
In summary, I have lost 54% of my excess body weight (for my goal weight) and have decreased my BMI 10 points. Pretty impressive if I do say so myself!
Off to see the good Doctor. He told me that I am at a point that he would not normally expect to see until 6 months post op. He was very pleased. Then, I got my normal lecture. I MUST eat 3 meals a day. I MUST get in my protein requirements. I MUST get in my fluid requirements. These are things that I continue to struggle with every day. He explained the necessity for 3 meals a day is mainly for developing a habit. A healthy habit of eating. Something I have never experienced and will really need to work on.
Spent some time with the Dietitian who gave me the same lecture, but followed up with some suggestions for helping me get my protein intake higher.
Waiting for the results of my lab work. I don't have to go back to see the surgeon for 3 months!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my family and friends who have extended such support and encouragement. It means more to me than you can imagine. I know that some would have rather I didn't have the surgery - felt that it was too drastic of a solution for weight loss. Even with the difference of opinion - you continue to cheer me on. Your encouragement is so motivational for me.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank YOU!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Best.Doctor.Appointment.Evah.
This morning I saw my Primary Care doctor for a routine visit. I have not seen him since 1 month prior to my surgery. (Surgery was 12 weeks ago today.)
Results:
I am down 60 lbs!
My A1C (blood glucose) is down from 12.4 to 6.0! That puts me out of Diabetic status and into PRE-Diabetic status.
My good and bad Cholesterol are both completely normal.
My Vitamin D level is normal.
My blood pressure was 117/72.
He has cut my Metformin dosage in half. (Diabetes)
He has taken me off of the expensive - no generic available yet - Crestor for my Cholesterol.
He has taken me off my blood pressure medication.
He is scheduling me for another sleep test in 6 months to determine if my sleep apnea is cured.
He wants to see me in a month to check on whether anything else needs to change.
He printed out my lab results for me to put on the refrigerator. I love my Primary Care doctor! He spent 1 hour with me today just going over lab work and making changes to my medications. I never feel rushed or like he doesn't care.
Every time he said "Normal", his smile got bigger and bigger. He would always add - "for the first time" at the end!
Every second of regret is forgotten.
Every minute of doubt has been erased.
Every bad day is history.
I CAN do this.
And I WILL.
Results:
I am down 60 lbs!
My A1C (blood glucose) is down from 12.4 to 6.0! That puts me out of Diabetic status and into PRE-Diabetic status.
My good and bad Cholesterol are both completely normal.
My Vitamin D level is normal.
My blood pressure was 117/72.
He has cut my Metformin dosage in half. (Diabetes)
He has taken me off of the expensive - no generic available yet - Crestor for my Cholesterol.
He has taken me off my blood pressure medication.
He is scheduling me for another sleep test in 6 months to determine if my sleep apnea is cured.
He wants to see me in a month to check on whether anything else needs to change.
He printed out my lab results for me to put on the refrigerator. I love my Primary Care doctor! He spent 1 hour with me today just going over lab work and making changes to my medications. I never feel rushed or like he doesn't care.
Every time he said "Normal", his smile got bigger and bigger. He would always add - "for the first time" at the end!
Every second of regret is forgotten.
Every minute of doubt has been erased.
Every bad day is history.
I CAN do this.
And I WILL.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
My New Life: Dry Heaves and Constipation
I realize it has been forever since I updated this blog. It wasn't that I didn't have anything to say. Or that I didn't have time. I think it was because I felt like most of what I would say would be complaining.
I can't believe that my surgery was over two months ago. It has been a rough two months. I won't lie and say I haven't regretted my decision more than once. I have.
Eating has become more of a chore than ever before. I actually dread it. And I very rarely enjoy it.
That being said - would I do it again? Absolutely. I know this will get easier - I am just not a very patient person.
The details:
Surgery date was August 21, 2012. That was 11 weeks ago today. I am currently 100 lbs lighter than I was at my highest lifetime weight. That doesn't mean I have lost 100 lbs since my surgery. At my 2 month checkup - my official weight loss was 49 lbs. I had lost 36% of my excess body weight. I was disappointed, but my surgeon was thrilled. He explained that he wouldn't have expected me to be at the 36% mark until my third month. He said since my BMI was ONLY 41, my weight loss would be much slower than someone who weighed considerably more than I did.
Before Surgery:
Pant size: 26 Tall
Shirt size: 3x to 5x
Bra size: 48D
Glucose level: 225ish
Currently:
Pant size: 18 Tall
Shirt size: Large to 1x
Bra size: 42C
Glucose level: 90 to 110
I honestly don't miss my Diet Coke as much as I thought I would. I have not had one piece of candy, cookie or pastry since my surgery. No ice cream either. I don't even crave these things.
I do crave carbs. More than anything. I want potato chips, bread and potatoes. Pasta! I am learning to live without these things.
My new mantra: I need to drink more fluids. Eat more protein.
More to come. Soon.
I can't believe that my surgery was over two months ago. It has been a rough two months. I won't lie and say I haven't regretted my decision more than once. I have.
Eating has become more of a chore than ever before. I actually dread it. And I very rarely enjoy it.
That being said - would I do it again? Absolutely. I know this will get easier - I am just not a very patient person.
The details:
Surgery date was August 21, 2012. That was 11 weeks ago today. I am currently 100 lbs lighter than I was at my highest lifetime weight. That doesn't mean I have lost 100 lbs since my surgery. At my 2 month checkup - my official weight loss was 49 lbs. I had lost 36% of my excess body weight. I was disappointed, but my surgeon was thrilled. He explained that he wouldn't have expected me to be at the 36% mark until my third month. He said since my BMI was ONLY 41, my weight loss would be much slower than someone who weighed considerably more than I did.
Before Surgery:
Pant size: 26 Tall
Shirt size: 3x to 5x
Bra size: 48D
Glucose level: 225ish
Currently:
Pant size: 18 Tall
Shirt size: Large to 1x
Bra size: 42C
Glucose level: 90 to 110
I honestly don't miss my Diet Coke as much as I thought I would. I have not had one piece of candy, cookie or pastry since my surgery. No ice cream either. I don't even crave these things.
I do crave carbs. More than anything. I want potato chips, bread and potatoes. Pasta! I am learning to live without these things.
My new mantra: I need to drink more fluids. Eat more protein.
More to come. Soon.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Penny McEntee/February 23, 1960
I know I was long overdue for a posting here. I have really wanted to document the surgical procedure but haven't had the patience to sit still long enough to put together a post.
On Tuesday, August 21, 2012, Ed and I arrived at the Woman's Hospital at Centennial right on time as requested by the surgeon's office. 5:30 a.m. We went straight to the 2nd floor Outpatient Surgical Unit to collect our Brownie points for being prompt. Surgery isn't Outpatient, but apparently they send everyone there. Of course, I question the logic of that. I will forever refer to it as the Surgical Unit from this point on. No Brownie points either. Instead, we were handed a restaurant style pager and told to have a seat. We were to return to the desk when the pager flashed red. I was super excited then. I sat with that thing in my hand waiting for it to go off so I could order a Bloomin' Onion. Again - more early morning disappointment. We were among the first to arrive. Many people came and joined us. We saw pagers flash red and surgical patients head back to the Secret Domain with a nurse leading the way. Many of them. Almost a steady stream. Sign in. Sit down. Pager lights up. Away they go.
After an hour, I started shaking my pager to see if perhaps the batteries were loose. Nope. After two hours, I started to question if I had the date correct. Yep. I set a mental limit for 8:30 am. If I was still sitting there at that time, I was going to the desk to see how many names were ahead of mine on the list. Shortly before then - a nurse came out and my pager lit up like a Christmas tree. I was told to give the pager to Ed for safe keeping and to follow the nurse back into the Secret Domain. I was escorted into a room with a bed and a chair. As we were strolling through the double doors, the nurse asked my name and birth date. I have to say hospital folks could save themselves a lot of time if they wrote that kind of information down in a safe place. Everyone I ran into asked me the same two questions. At any rate, we made it to my first holding room. The room was 11 x 12. I know this because I counted the floor tiles. I am weird like that.
I was given a wrist band and a paper gown and told to disrobe and put it on. This was the coolest paper gown I have ever seen. It was part of the Bair Hugger system and the gown is called Bair Paws. The gown was insulated and had little holes like the ones in the top of a vacuum cleaner bag. Remember those? Before bag less vacuum cleaners? Anyway - they have a warming machine that has hoses that can be attached at those holes and then warm air is filtered through the gown. Pretty neat, eh? They didn't hook up my hoses before knocking me out, so I am not sure if they utilized the machine. I put on my Bair Paw gown and sat there for quite a while. Just when I thought for sure I had been forgotten again - Ed comes into the room and sits in the chair. More waiting.
Another nurse pops in and asks me my name and birth date. Once I told her, she immediately pops the brake on my bed and says "okay Precious, let's go!" I barely had a chance to lay down and she whisks me out the door - bumping every wall and doorway she went through. Ed was following along and she waved him off and told him this was the end of the line for him - he was to return to the waiting room with his little pager. She didn't stop long enough for me to even say see ya later. I waved at Ed and grimaced as she hit the final door way before taking me into yet another Holding Area. As soon as she parked me in my little slot, she asked if I was cold. I am NEVER cold. I told her I was fine. She told me she would get me a warm blanket and rushed off.
While she was gone, two more nurses dropped by to introduce themselves and ask my name and birth date. What scared me most came next. They asked me who my surgeon was and what kind of surgery was I having. Seriously? I know all about the "Green Movement", but a little slip of paper with that kind of information written on it doesn't seem to be too extreme. They also asked who was with me. I told them all about Ed and they asked if he had the 4 digit code number. I told them I wasn't sure. They shrugged and said if I didn't know the code, then he probably didn't either. Then they flitted off.
The bumper car nurse returns with not one, but two very nice and toasty warm blankets. She proceeded to cover me from chin to foot and tuck the blankets into my sides. I felt a little mummy-ish.
This is how the next hour passed:
Person approaches my bed.
Good morning, my name is (John, Sue, Nancy, Frank) and I am going to be (starting your IV, taking care of you, putting you to sleep, checking to see if you have any questions) this morning. Can I have your name and birth date?
My surgeon drops by with his huge smile and asks me if I am ready. I know that he has already completed one surgery that morning and he is already redressed in his street clothes and white jacket. Just as well, I didn't need to see any blood splattered scrubs at that point. He says we will get started in around 45 minutes. I have completely lost track of time at this point.
More waiting while I listen to John, Sue, Nancy and Frank approach all the other patients lined up in the Holding Area and recite the same litany over and over. At one point, my surgeon's nurse came and introduced herself. She explained that Dr. Olsen's team operated like a well oiled machine. They all knew what they were supposed to do and they did it well. I really liked her. She was calming yet energetic. She quickly scampers off. Seems like it was only a few minutes later and she comes back with a swoosh of the drape around my bed and exclaims "Okay Ladybug, let's get this show on the road!" She pops the brake on the gurney and immediately my bed is surrounded by people. I start moving and I don't remember a thing until I woke up and was being moved into my room on the 3rd floor of the hospital.
I don't remember the recovery room, although I apparently spent some time there. My first semi-conscious moment was seeing Ed following my bed into my room with a vase of flowers in one hand and a big smile on his face. I wasn't in any pain, but I certainly wasn't very awake either. The nurses positioned my bed and monitors and then handed me "The Happy Juice" button. I forced myself as awake as possible as they explained that whenever I felt pain, I could push the magic button and pain medication would automatically be injected into my iv and all would be right with the world again.
The rest of that day is a complete blur. When I woke up, I felt as if 7 knives were being stabbed into various parts of my abdomen. One push of the button, and I would be asleep again. At some point, I apparently left my body and went to the other side of the room and took the following picture of myself and then posted in on my facebook page. I know this only because Ed vehemently denies doing such a thing.
By the next day, I was pretty good friends with my pain management button. They were getting me up to walk to the bathroom and move around. Each little venture earned me a push of the button. That would promptly knock me out. Sleeping came in 10 to 15 minute increments and usually resulted in me jerking awake thereby prompting the 7 knives of pain.
Every time a nurse came in to take my blood pressure, give me medications, test my blood glucose, withdraw some blood, or take my temperature - they all asked my name and birth date.
I started receiving my "food" trays. For my entire 4 day stay in the hospital, every food tray was exactly the same. It consisted of a container of sugar free jello, a cup of chicken broth, a cup of plain water, a cup of sugar free drink and a package of protein mix that I could mix in the plain water or sugar free drink or both. The flavor of the protein powder changed with each tray. Ed would mix the protein powder in my cup of water and I would sip it until the next tray came. Once I ate a few bites of the jello and once I sipped the chicken broth.
At some point, they took my magic button from me and told me I would receive liquid pain medication from then on out and only when I requested it. I requested it very sparingly - usually only after they got me up to walk down the hall or after my much appreciated shower on day 3. Someone turned the television on for me and I figured out how to turn the channels and control the volume. I never did learn how to turn the thing off. Every time I tried, I called the nurses station instead. I finally just turned it all the way down and left it at that.
I believe it was the second evening that Jana and Winnie came to see me - with little Addison. I am not really one for visitors in the hospital, but I was happy they made the trip up to Nashville to see me. As I have later learned, I obviously don't remember much of the visit.
Dr. Olsen came in every morning like clockwork. I have to say I was really impressed by that. He checked my 7 incisions and repeatedly explained to me that everything is progressive. As long as I was feeling progressively better - that was a good thing. If something was wrong and it was getting progressively worse - that was a bad thing. It is definitely his mantra.
On Friday, he told me I was ready to go home. I really wanted to be home in my bed with a tv remote that I knew how to use. But, I must admit - I was pretty nervous about leaving the hospital and the nurses who were there to make sure all my needs were met. And that mechanical bed that helped me get up when it was too painful to use my abdominal muscles. But, it was time to move forward on this Journey.
I am really looking forward to February. I am expecting more birthday cards than ever before!!
Much more to come...
On Tuesday, August 21, 2012, Ed and I arrived at the Woman's Hospital at Centennial right on time as requested by the surgeon's office. 5:30 a.m. We went straight to the 2nd floor Outpatient Surgical Unit to collect our Brownie points for being prompt. Surgery isn't Outpatient, but apparently they send everyone there. Of course, I question the logic of that. I will forever refer to it as the Surgical Unit from this point on. No Brownie points either. Instead, we were handed a restaurant style pager and told to have a seat. We were to return to the desk when the pager flashed red. I was super excited then. I sat with that thing in my hand waiting for it to go off so I could order a Bloomin' Onion. Again - more early morning disappointment. We were among the first to arrive. Many people came and joined us. We saw pagers flash red and surgical patients head back to the Secret Domain with a nurse leading the way. Many of them. Almost a steady stream. Sign in. Sit down. Pager lights up. Away they go.
After an hour, I started shaking my pager to see if perhaps the batteries were loose. Nope. After two hours, I started to question if I had the date correct. Yep. I set a mental limit for 8:30 am. If I was still sitting there at that time, I was going to the desk to see how many names were ahead of mine on the list. Shortly before then - a nurse came out and my pager lit up like a Christmas tree. I was told to give the pager to Ed for safe keeping and to follow the nurse back into the Secret Domain. I was escorted into a room with a bed and a chair. As we were strolling through the double doors, the nurse asked my name and birth date. I have to say hospital folks could save themselves a lot of time if they wrote that kind of information down in a safe place. Everyone I ran into asked me the same two questions. At any rate, we made it to my first holding room. The room was 11 x 12. I know this because I counted the floor tiles. I am weird like that.
I was given a wrist band and a paper gown and told to disrobe and put it on. This was the coolest paper gown I have ever seen. It was part of the Bair Hugger system and the gown is called Bair Paws. The gown was insulated and had little holes like the ones in the top of a vacuum cleaner bag. Remember those? Before bag less vacuum cleaners? Anyway - they have a warming machine that has hoses that can be attached at those holes and then warm air is filtered through the gown. Pretty neat, eh? They didn't hook up my hoses before knocking me out, so I am not sure if they utilized the machine. I put on my Bair Paw gown and sat there for quite a while. Just when I thought for sure I had been forgotten again - Ed comes into the room and sits in the chair. More waiting.
Another nurse pops in and asks me my name and birth date. Once I told her, she immediately pops the brake on my bed and says "okay Precious, let's go!" I barely had a chance to lay down and she whisks me out the door - bumping every wall and doorway she went through. Ed was following along and she waved him off and told him this was the end of the line for him - he was to return to the waiting room with his little pager. She didn't stop long enough for me to even say see ya later. I waved at Ed and grimaced as she hit the final door way before taking me into yet another Holding Area. As soon as she parked me in my little slot, she asked if I was cold. I am NEVER cold. I told her I was fine. She told me she would get me a warm blanket and rushed off.
While she was gone, two more nurses dropped by to introduce themselves and ask my name and birth date. What scared me most came next. They asked me who my surgeon was and what kind of surgery was I having. Seriously? I know all about the "Green Movement", but a little slip of paper with that kind of information written on it doesn't seem to be too extreme. They also asked who was with me. I told them all about Ed and they asked if he had the 4 digit code number. I told them I wasn't sure. They shrugged and said if I didn't know the code, then he probably didn't either. Then they flitted off.
The bumper car nurse returns with not one, but two very nice and toasty warm blankets. She proceeded to cover me from chin to foot and tuck the blankets into my sides. I felt a little mummy-ish.
This is how the next hour passed:
Person approaches my bed.
Good morning, my name is (John, Sue, Nancy, Frank) and I am going to be (starting your IV, taking care of you, putting you to sleep, checking to see if you have any questions) this morning. Can I have your name and birth date?
My surgeon drops by with his huge smile and asks me if I am ready. I know that he has already completed one surgery that morning and he is already redressed in his street clothes and white jacket. Just as well, I didn't need to see any blood splattered scrubs at that point. He says we will get started in around 45 minutes. I have completely lost track of time at this point.
More waiting while I listen to John, Sue, Nancy and Frank approach all the other patients lined up in the Holding Area and recite the same litany over and over. At one point, my surgeon's nurse came and introduced herself. She explained that Dr. Olsen's team operated like a well oiled machine. They all knew what they were supposed to do and they did it well. I really liked her. She was calming yet energetic. She quickly scampers off. Seems like it was only a few minutes later and she comes back with a swoosh of the drape around my bed and exclaims "Okay Ladybug, let's get this show on the road!" She pops the brake on the gurney and immediately my bed is surrounded by people. I start moving and I don't remember a thing until I woke up and was being moved into my room on the 3rd floor of the hospital.
I don't remember the recovery room, although I apparently spent some time there. My first semi-conscious moment was seeing Ed following my bed into my room with a vase of flowers in one hand and a big smile on his face. I wasn't in any pain, but I certainly wasn't very awake either. The nurses positioned my bed and monitors and then handed me "The Happy Juice" button. I forced myself as awake as possible as they explained that whenever I felt pain, I could push the magic button and pain medication would automatically be injected into my iv and all would be right with the world again.
The rest of that day is a complete blur. When I woke up, I felt as if 7 knives were being stabbed into various parts of my abdomen. One push of the button, and I would be asleep again. At some point, I apparently left my body and went to the other side of the room and took the following picture of myself and then posted in on my facebook page. I know this only because Ed vehemently denies doing such a thing.
By the next day, I was pretty good friends with my pain management button. They were getting me up to walk to the bathroom and move around. Each little venture earned me a push of the button. That would promptly knock me out. Sleeping came in 10 to 15 minute increments and usually resulted in me jerking awake thereby prompting the 7 knives of pain.
Every time a nurse came in to take my blood pressure, give me medications, test my blood glucose, withdraw some blood, or take my temperature - they all asked my name and birth date.
I started receiving my "food" trays. For my entire 4 day stay in the hospital, every food tray was exactly the same. It consisted of a container of sugar free jello, a cup of chicken broth, a cup of plain water, a cup of sugar free drink and a package of protein mix that I could mix in the plain water or sugar free drink or both. The flavor of the protein powder changed with each tray. Ed would mix the protein powder in my cup of water and I would sip it until the next tray came. Once I ate a few bites of the jello and once I sipped the chicken broth.
At some point, they took my magic button from me and told me I would receive liquid pain medication from then on out and only when I requested it. I requested it very sparingly - usually only after they got me up to walk down the hall or after my much appreciated shower on day 3. Someone turned the television on for me and I figured out how to turn the channels and control the volume. I never did learn how to turn the thing off. Every time I tried, I called the nurses station instead. I finally just turned it all the way down and left it at that.
I believe it was the second evening that Jana and Winnie came to see me - with little Addison. I am not really one for visitors in the hospital, but I was happy they made the trip up to Nashville to see me. As I have later learned, I obviously don't remember much of the visit.
Dr. Olsen came in every morning like clockwork. I have to say I was really impressed by that. He checked my 7 incisions and repeatedly explained to me that everything is progressive. As long as I was feeling progressively better - that was a good thing. If something was wrong and it was getting progressively worse - that was a bad thing. It is definitely his mantra.
On Friday, he told me I was ready to go home. I really wanted to be home in my bed with a tv remote that I knew how to use. But, I must admit - I was pretty nervous about leaving the hospital and the nurses who were there to make sure all my needs were met. And that mechanical bed that helped me get up when it was too painful to use my abdominal muscles. But, it was time to move forward on this Journey.
I am really looking forward to February. I am expecting more birthday cards than ever before!!
Much more to come...
Monday, August 20, 2012
Fate and Faithful.
On this date in 1949(?), my Paternal Grandfather passed away. I never met him as he died before I was born.
On this date in 1969(?), exactly 20 years later, my Uncle Harlan was killed. I did not know him very well, although I met him a couple times.
18 years ago tomorrow - I lost my Mom to cancer. When I was given choices for the dates of my surgery, I was aware of these anniversary dates. I didn't say anything because I didn't want it to come into play when deciding the most convenient date.
On this date in 1969(?), exactly 20 years later, my Uncle Harlan was killed. I did not know him very well, although I met him a couple times.
18 years ago tomorrow - I lost my Mom to cancer. When I was given choices for the dates of my surgery, I was aware of these anniversary dates. I didn't say anything because I didn't want it to come into play when deciding the most convenient date.
I would like to think that this date was chosen for me. My Mom died a horrible death - suffering from cancer that had ravaged her body, her brain, her mind and stole her from us way too early. I can not look at any of my Grandchildren and not picture how thrilled she would have been with each and every one of them. All of them would have benefited from having her in their lives. But, God had other plans.
He took her home and when He did - He cured her cancer. He removed the addiction to alcohol and cigarettes. He took away the years of suffering from intense agoraphobia, anxiety and panic. He made her whole again. She was truly born again into a healthy body with a sound mind. What a wonderful Journey she started on that day!
I would like to think that having my surgery on this date is celebrating HER Journey with one of my own. I hope she would be proud.
Let's get this show on the road!
Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Cottage Cheese.
The last days of my liquid pre-op diet are here. I am so excited to soon be finished with this stage of my Journey. My diet for the last 11 days has consisted of water - flavored or not, protein shakes, low fat yogurt, wonton soup sans wontons, the dreaded low fat cottage cheese, sugar free popsicles, no sugar added fudgesicles, a disgusting cup of beef broth, an occasional Diet Coke and one cheat. (I got so weak and felt so worn down that I went to Zaxby's and had a grilled chicken salad about half way through.)
This stage was much harder than I thought it would be. I have felt hungry all the time - my stomach rumbling and growling almost constantly. I confirmed that I am truly a carb addict. I surprised myself by not craving sweets - yet wanting salty things. I spent a whole day craving pork rinds. I haven't had pork rinds in YEARS, yet I would have gladly eaten a whole bag if I was given one. One day, I wanted Taco Bell tacos in mass quantities. Another day - sour cream and chive potato chips. I am happy to say that I didn't cave for any of those cravings. I saved my cheat for a healthy meal and I really enjoyed it.
I know I have been cranky for the past two weeks. Starving will do that to a person. Every time I turned on the television, there was a commercial advertising something I really felt like I needed to eat RIGHT THEN. Every magazine you open has pictures of delicious looking food jumping off the page. I have blocked all the restaurants that I LIKED on facebook. When my friends posted yummy looking foods and recipes, I hid the stories so I didn't see them on my feed.
I have been embarrassed in public when my stomach growls or rumbles. Maybe I am the only one that can hear it, but it sounds deafening to me. I am so glad that this surgery will do away with the hormone that causes that horrible feeling.
My greatest victory over the past 11 days is that I have already lost 16 pounds! I weigh myself every morning before I do anything else. I started at 285 lbs and this morning, I stepped on the scales and saw 269 glowing bright! It is a great feeling!
With that weight loss comes the realization that I could easily go out in the next couple days and eat it all right back on again. I know this because I have done it so many times before. I can already hear the little voice in my head - "C'mon - you deserve it! Let's run over to McDonald's and get us a Big Mac and large fries!" In the past, I would have grabbed my keys and been out the door. Not this time.
I have two more days until my surgery. I am convinced I can do this. The first few weeks after the surgery will be very difficult. I have to deal with the pain from the surgery and still try to keep myself hydrated and moving. My diet will be protein drinks, water and those sugar free popsicles. The difference this time is that I won't have that overwhelming feeling of hunger.
I have to be at Centennial Woman's Hospital at 5:30 am on Tuesday. It will be an early morning for us - the hospital is an hour away. I don't know the actual time of my surgery, but it is supposed to take 2 1/2 to 3 hours. I have not heard whether the surgeon is going to need to repair my hiatal hernia during the surgery. If so, that will add some time to the procedure. Standard move to the recovery room and then off to my room. I am still not clear on how long I will be in the hospital. So much is determined by how I do post-operatively. I have heard one night (insurance company) to 3 nights (surgeon's office) and anything in between.
Thank you to all my family and friends who are actively supporting me. It means so much to me. My silent supporters who keep me in their thoughts and prayers are also such a blessing.
I am so ready for the next steps on my Journey.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
This stage was much harder than I thought it would be. I have felt hungry all the time - my stomach rumbling and growling almost constantly. I confirmed that I am truly a carb addict. I surprised myself by not craving sweets - yet wanting salty things. I spent a whole day craving pork rinds. I haven't had pork rinds in YEARS, yet I would have gladly eaten a whole bag if I was given one. One day, I wanted Taco Bell tacos in mass quantities. Another day - sour cream and chive potato chips. I am happy to say that I didn't cave for any of those cravings. I saved my cheat for a healthy meal and I really enjoyed it.
I know I have been cranky for the past two weeks. Starving will do that to a person. Every time I turned on the television, there was a commercial advertising something I really felt like I needed to eat RIGHT THEN. Every magazine you open has pictures of delicious looking food jumping off the page. I have blocked all the restaurants that I LIKED on facebook. When my friends posted yummy looking foods and recipes, I hid the stories so I didn't see them on my feed.
I have been embarrassed in public when my stomach growls or rumbles. Maybe I am the only one that can hear it, but it sounds deafening to me. I am so glad that this surgery will do away with the hormone that causes that horrible feeling.
My greatest victory over the past 11 days is that I have already lost 16 pounds! I weigh myself every morning before I do anything else. I started at 285 lbs and this morning, I stepped on the scales and saw 269 glowing bright! It is a great feeling!
With that weight loss comes the realization that I could easily go out in the next couple days and eat it all right back on again. I know this because I have done it so many times before. I can already hear the little voice in my head - "C'mon - you deserve it! Let's run over to McDonald's and get us a Big Mac and large fries!" In the past, I would have grabbed my keys and been out the door. Not this time.
I have two more days until my surgery. I am convinced I can do this. The first few weeks after the surgery will be very difficult. I have to deal with the pain from the surgery and still try to keep myself hydrated and moving. My diet will be protein drinks, water and those sugar free popsicles. The difference this time is that I won't have that overwhelming feeling of hunger.
I have to be at Centennial Woman's Hospital at 5:30 am on Tuesday. It will be an early morning for us - the hospital is an hour away. I don't know the actual time of my surgery, but it is supposed to take 2 1/2 to 3 hours. I have not heard whether the surgeon is going to need to repair my hiatal hernia during the surgery. If so, that will add some time to the procedure. Standard move to the recovery room and then off to my room. I am still not clear on how long I will be in the hospital. So much is determined by how I do post-operatively. I have heard one night (insurance company) to 3 nights (surgeon's office) and anything in between.
Thank you to all my family and friends who are actively supporting me. It means so much to me. My silent supporters who keep me in their thoughts and prayers are also such a blessing.
I am so ready for the next steps on my Journey.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
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