gilabnurse

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Well, it really has bee a long time since I posted.
The transformation has been amazing...I left the hospital on December 14, 2007 at 255 pounds. Today, April 12,2008 I weigh 190 pounds. I was in a size 24W now I wear a 16R. 
It's comletely different for me.No joint pain, no breathing problems no BP meds. I still cannot tolerate steak but I think that day will get here.
There are times when I eat too fast and my stomach gets full too fast and i have to wretch but they are few.
I would definitely do this all over again/

Well, it's almost a month since my last post. I put on my favorite pair of jeans on saturdau only to learn that i can no longer wear them because they literally would fall off and even with a belt they looked like they were cinched around my waist. So off I turged to Lane Bryant to begrungenly buy a pair of pants...I pulled two sizes off the rack a 20 and an 18. I thought hey, I'll try the 18 first(my favorite jeans were a snug 24). Welll the 18 fit...I haven't worn a size 18 since 20 some years ago. and yes i realize they are still LB's but I haven't fit into those size 18 for 20 some years.
Oh I should have started this off with New York Giants are the Champs!!!Yeaaaaaa!
Eating food is sometimes a challenge....somedays I am starved like I get really hungry and somedays I force myself to eat because I know I have to eat. Sometimes I get the dry heaves after eating but this is weird once I burp..I feel better.
So anyway...all in all my progress is good...I started working out slowly at the gym our hospital opened last week. My scar is healing nicely. On December 10 I went on the operating room table at 250 lbs and as of friday, feb 1 I was 217! I don't remember when I weighed less than 220. No BP meds and the BP is 120-130/80's ...so all in all ...almost 2 months post op and I am pretty darn happy. Thanks to all for their support especially Doctor Peters and Robbie.

well..I already had to go out and do some clothes shopping...I started at a siza 24 and now find myself in a size 20 at lane bryant...a size 3 xl in scrub pants down just before the surgey to 2 xl and now xl and there just a wee baggy...
My biggest problem is learning how to eat slowly...maybe because I am a nurse and always ate fast cuz ya never know if you were going to get to finish that meal...
Also I am really starting to crave my pizza, grilled cheese and a good Italian pasta with gravy. Oh and yes, just a shot glass of pinot grigio okay maybe a little more.
On the bright side ...here in Northeast Pa we hit the 60's in temps(rare for Jan.) and my gunny and i went for a nice walk up a steep hill and i mean steep...i wasn't that winded and my joints didn't hurt(knock on wood).
I am now four weeks post-op and really do feel good but like I said...I am dying for a friday night pizza and wine...yep that would satisfy me!!!!
Just letting evrybody out there in the land of the loosers know I am still alive and feelin fine!!!

i seem like I 'm getting the hang of this computer stuff Well, tomorrow I return to work...just starting to be able to get the house back to normal ,BP is down 123/72 and no meds, wt down 15 pounds last check about 5 days ago(since preop...step on the scale at the hospital on day postop and gained like 5 pounds). So far I have tolerated orange roughy encrusted in parmesan w/ mango sour cream, delic cottage cheese pancakes, turkey sausage patties, half a no bread cheeseburger. Still having trouble getting fluids in and counting as i chew.
Happy New Year to all.....

Merry Christmas to all!!! Well, two weeks post-op and i am down 15 pounds. Yesterday was the first day I didn't feel like eating...I just wasn't hungry...maybe it was my mind helping me with the fact that I would seated in front of a hugh Polish feast of fish, shrimp, shrimp scampi, piroghei(potato dumplings Polish style), pasta, cole slaw, white corn, green bean casserole, nut role, cookies, wine, wine and more wine. The mashed potatoes weren't a problem ...I had some of those. My family does wish I went back to drinking though , they said my inhibitions were more subdued. Go figure!!!
I survived that dinner only to go to the next house(brother-in-law) to the smell of breaded calamari, breaded shrimp, chicken cordon bleu(my sister in law makes the best), kielbasa(smoked and fresh), cookies...chocolate chip my favorite, and more wine.
My fill for the night one half of a rigatoni with vodka sauce, a filet of sole(3ounces) and a teaspoon of mashed potatoes, which I did not eat all of. I knew tonight would be one night I would be sitting there saying why did I do this to myself and why two weeks before christmas. Because I know I will be doing it again next week at the New Years Eve Party we go to.
But then again, there is always a special occassion, Superbowl in a month, Daytona 500 2 weeks later, St Patrick's day, then Easter and so on.
So I asked myself when would have been a good time to have had the surgery...when i had it OF COURSE!
After all when a baby is born, it just happens. A start of a new life just happens. And this is the start of MY new life!!!  Happy New Year all!!!!!!

Weeeell, I now what it feels like to get a gastro tube pulled out. Ucky!!!! I have been in the room when a patient has had them pulled out but never had the joy of having one pulled out of me!!!!!!!!!!EEEEEEEEOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!
Staples ...didn't even know it. And honestly the discomfort of the gastro tube lasted 2 seconds!

I had cottage cheese today and tolerated it well. No problems on the food end nor the beverage end....knock on wood...

I still get a little tired after about 2 hours of doing things but i take a break and go again.
I go back to work on Friday, December 28 as an RN in the GI Lab so we will see how that goes

 Well, now that I am settled in more at home and finding myself somewhat bored. Here are things I would pass on....I didn't watch any dvd's I brought with me to the hospital, nor did I read any books...my suitcase could have been about 5 pounds lighter....
strechy jama bottoms are okay to bring...if you have access to scrub bottoms those are even better...
skip the makeup...even if you are a makeup diva like me..you really don't care....crap...you just had major surgery ...if your visitors want you to look like cindy crawford, tell them to bring a picture of her and put it over your face...heck the first 2 days i fell asleep on my visitors.
Bring all insurance cards with you so that on the way home you have your pharmacy card in case you have to go to a pharmacy that is not the norm...
Know what meds your surgeon is sending you home on so you don't get hit with the ...how much is that? This can sometimes be avoidede by sending in info to the insurance company first.
When people tell you to get the recliner and they say automatic recliner ...there is a reason.....listen to them...I am glad I did!!!
I am sure I will remember more...but this is helping me for now!!!\Hope
it helps someone else later!!   "Chuch"  (That's my nickname by the way!!!)

Well I am home...Had the surgery on the 10th RNY...and it's the 13th and I am home..
I do feel better every day....I want to thank everybody for the paryers, thoughts and messages. There was only about once or twice when I said to myself..."You wanted this?"  Like when the JP's got pulled out...yeas I know I said a few other things at that moment.Well I will update again soon...Just wanted to let everyone know that I 'm alive and feeling fine!!!!!

What is a blog??? I have no clue...
Anyhow...At this time tomorrow (Dec 10, 2007) I will be in the preop area, hopefully with an IV line and some Versed(nice calming pre anesthetic drug).
Since I found out I would be having my surgery a few days ago I have had my fav meals..an Italian hoagie, pizzaa nice dinner at a local Italian restaraunt which included my pinot grigio and veal parm followed by tiramasu. No I am not Italian...ya think I would be!!!
I think I am ready. Nope i know i am ready. Proetein powders in house, 2 cartons of egg beaters to make my egg nog, diet green tea, jello, pudding(sugar free of course), cranberry juice with splenda. 2 recliners.
My bag is packed with books, dvd's and dvd player. pillow and books. Mentally I am fine right now. We will see tomorrow morning.