kharper70

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Days 13 - 17... I feel pretty good.  I have had a few mishaps with eating too fast, or too much before I realize it.  It hurts like mad!  All you can do is stand up straight, hold onto something and pray it passes fast.  The whole time, I am promising myself I will never do that again.  And I am learning.  My portions are smaller (they look funny on a big plate, have to buy smaller ones).  I try to remind myself to chew slower.  I have been eating chicken!  I had a pampered chef party and she made chicken with jamaican jerk rub and a creamy lime sauce with grilled pineapple and black beans.  That was awesome!  But I could only have a small bit, I didn't want to be sick.   There is not one drink that tastes good right now except ice water.  I hope I get over this.  I used to live on diet pepsi, and I still want it, but I know better.  I also made a sugar free cheesecake for dessert.  I used a block and a half of cream cheese, a container of sugar free cool whip, and a half cup of splenda, then I spread it into a graham crust.  I only had a half slice that night but it rocked!  I had a good day on Sunday! :)   
I am losing 2-3 lbs per day.   I must be doing something right.  I did realize that when I switched to mainly solid food, I feel fuller and eat less.  This is good because I need the protein in eggs and chicken.  
The last few days I feel very, very tired.  I have been sleeping whenever I get a chance.   I have to admit, I keep forgetting to take my synthroid.  I need to remember ALL of my pills if I want to feel better.  I am sure cleaning all day on Sunday did me in for Monday.  However, I can't shake this exhausted feeling.  I know I have been overdoing it since the surgery, but it is hard for me not too.  I took the morning and rested today, still sleepy!  I go to see the surgeon next Monday morning April 2, 2007, for my almost one month check up, and bloodwork I guess... I know he will tell me I need more protein, but I hope I don't have to do B-12 shots.  I am usually pretty good on labs.
I am also FREEZING.  Another sign of weight loss, I realize this, but it is really, really cold!  I can't wait for summer!!!! 

Well, I am now 12 days out from my Lapriscopic Roux En Y and Lapriscopic Tubal Ligation.  As you can see in the film loop below, I have gained and lost literally hundreds of pounds.  I am praying that this is the last time I ever see tight 3X clothing again.  OK then, let's get down to business.... 
Day 1... I woke up at 4:30 a.m. with my monthly on the morning of my surgery; who is playing tricks on me up there??  My sister, Lisa,  and my friend Anne Marie, (both of whom have had Roux En Y) and I all got our tired bodies up and drove to York hospital.  We listened to Lewis Black - The White Album on the way for laughs.  Admission went smoothly but I was STARVING.  I wasn't really nervous, which I found really odd.  I was, however, ready to get this DONE.  When they wheeled me into the operating room, I started to get excited, until I saw the trays of tools they were going to use, then I started to panic, but everyone was in my face, literally, because I was laying on the gurney with needles and hoses in my arms and didn't want to move, then I started shivering uncontrollably and my teeth were chattering so loudly I couldn't really talk!  Then some guy with big teeth said he was going to give me a cocktail to relax me, and that was all she wrote!
I woke up in the recovery room, and something in my stomach HURT.  There was a mask on my face which although was supplying me with oxygen, was making me feel like I was suffocating.  I started pulling it off, but the nurse beside me put it back on.  She had someone with her she was instructing how to take care of me, so she wasn't listening to me.  So I ripped the mask off and told her NOT to put it back on because I couldn't breathe.  She grumbled, that it was supposed to help me breathe, but she switched to oxygen tubes up my nose.  Then she gave me something blissful in my IV.  I never felt those tummy pains again.  Guess I was lucky.
They wheeled me back to my room. I was very surprised to see that it was after 12:30 p.m.  My WLS buds were there waiting for me, smiling... I was one of them now... hehehehe  
I was suddenly more alert, those meds travel through the body so fast!  It took 3 or 4 nurses to help me get off the gurney and into bed.  I think I pulled a mucsle in my port side as I laid down, because it ached for days!  They hooked me up with these contraptions on my legs that would occassionally inflate and deflate.  It was kind of like a mini massage and I didn't mind it.  The nurses also showed me how to work the pain pump.  I tried it right away and started to feel all fuzzy within a minute.  SWEET!
My only complaint was that my mouth was dry, side effect from all the anesthesia and medicine.  However, they said I was not allowed to swallow anything at all, so they brought me mouth swabs and ice water to dip it in.  They also let me brush my teeth in bed, and I promptly over spit the bowl the nurse was holding and spit on my blankets.  Leave it to me!  Ah well, that was a long drug induced day.  My family called, I vaguely recall talking to my husband, but he reminded me when he came to the hospital.  He wasn't very upset that I had asked my sister to go with me.  I just wanted someone or two that had gone through the surgery and who actually knew what it felt like to be there.  My hubby, God love him, cracks bad jokes and devils me, and that is how he copes.  I think I made the right decision.  After all, I wasn't afraid of dying on the table, I knew I was in very capable hands.  So I told him to come over after the kids came home from school and I had had time to rest.  Great plan!
Day 2... 3:15 a.m..... So technically, this is still day one!  I could only doze here and there, when I used the pain pump, then I would by wide awake.  The bed seemed very uncomfortable.  I loved my nurses, in case I forgot to add that earlier.  They had several in their midst that had had the same surgery by the same surgeon, so they were super empathetic.  I corraled the RN on night shift to chat with me.  She said there was a special recliner they used for WLS patients and that I would probably be more comfy in it.  She was right, I wish I had listened to the nurse who suggested it earlier.  Still, how much sleep can you get in a hospital?? They want you to get up and walk, do bloodwork, do testing, geesh, no rest!  At 8:45 a.m. a nice elderly gent came to take me for my leak x-ray.  I was excited because I could have a drink when I returned if all went well.  I was happily surprised to see my surgeon there.  He leaned on the table where I was laying and held my hand and asked how I was feeling.  I asked him if he had actually done the surgery since I felt so great!  He smiled and said that was what he liked to hear.  I was very upbeat by this time.  I drank the bitter dye, ugghh!  But I also watched myself swallow on the machine next to me.  The lab techs let me watch and showed me where my new tummy was... it was soooo small!  Like the size of my thumb!  The good news was that I had no leaks.  The bad news was, I had gall stones and that it would eventually have to come out.  Funny, I never knew why I couldn't eat fatty meat and lots of deep fried stuff, I just knew it made me feel like crap, so I tried not too.  It was a by product of always gaining and losing weight.
10 a.m.... Someone get me a drink!  I need that nasty dye taste out of my mouth.  I also needed more of that wonderful pump.  Then, hmmmm I felt like a shower!  Oh yeah! The nurse helped unhook me long enough to shower, she stood outside the door and handed what I needed, which I am sure she didn't have to do, but I was really dizzy and it really was a comfort. 
When I was sleeping, the food fairy came and left me some wonderful chicken broth and jello.  It took me forever to get the chicken broth down, I gave the jello away.  Then the dietition came and asked me if I had any questions, gave me hand-outs, and reminded me to make an appointment with the nutritionist when I got out.  I also had a visit from the bariatric coordinator from my surgeon's office.  She was very nice and spent a decent amount of time just chatting about various things and keeping me company.
3 p.m.... I was told I could possibly go home that evening.  I wanted to see me kids, so I started walking around the hallway on my own.  I felt wonderful.  I absolutely did not feel like I had just had my guts rearranged.  Still don't!
8 p.m.  Hubby came to pick me up.  We were out of there by 8:30... almost shocking! On the way home, I wanted to stop by a 24 hour drugstore to get my meds filled.  I actually went in the store, leaning on a cart, with my port tube and bag hanging on my side.  Hey I was feeling no pain!
10 p.m.... I was having trouble arranging myself on the couch and I had a hard time getting up once I was down.  My right side hurt pretty bad and I kept getting back spasms, which apparently came from the tubal ligation.  I also had a lot of rumbling and gas pains from the lapriscopic part of the surgery.  I watched TV most of the night and my puppy, Paris, cuddled up next to me.

Day 3... I needed to move!  However, I couldn't very well, I was stiff from sleeping on the couch.  I received several family calls and we came up with an idea!  I would borrow my grandmother's extra walker and the little grabby thing that she used to get things out of the cupboard.  The only other thing I would have wanted was one of those neck roll pillows with the tiny white balls in them.  Maybe a couple of them to prop around me.  
I didn't want to stay sit.  I wanted to move around then and for the next couple of days, that walker and grabber were my best friends.  We also managed to use sleeping bags and a chest to prop my feet on and create a sort of lounger.  I slept that way for 3 nites, and I actually slept!  First, 3 hours, then 5 hours, then 7 hours.  The fourth night home I was able to sleep on my left side and that was an incredible relaxing night.  I couldn't wait to get the port tube out!
Day 6...Mom took me to the surgeon's office to have my tube taken out.  (My mother should not be allowed to drive stick shift! oy! she rattled my guts around!) The tube being pulled out is the most disgusting feeling in the world.  I have no idea how to describe it.  I was told I could move on to runny foods with my liquids.  I had lost 9 lbs.  I had a small soy latte with sugar free syrup from starbucks on the way home.  It took me 3 hours to drink it! LOL
Day 8... I have to drive! I can't stand it anymore!  I took my kids to the skating rink and then went to visity my sister who had been admitted to the hospital the previous day for gall bladder failure.  She also had to have her appendix out, and a small tear repaired.  Something I might be looking forward to, also, yuck.  At this point, I am either wide awake, or out like a light.  Strange, but you have to remember that I have barely eaten anything in over a week.
Day 9... I feel wonderful!  I took my oldest to the movies, I went to softball pitching practice with my 10 year old.  I even caught some balls!  But if I missed and had to bend over to pick the ball up, my guts complained a little from being squished and shaken.  Upstairs to bed early tonight, I am very tired.
Day 10... I have tried several foods I shouldn't have, and dammit! it hurts!! really bad.  There is no way for me to describe it.  First, the different consistancy of food dictates how much you really can eat.  I thought it was a one size fits all kind of thing, not so.  Also, I had too much sour cream and I spent the day in the loo.  Going to have to stick to soy milk for a while.
Day 12... While I am down 20 lbs now, I haven't lost anything for 2 days.  This really bothers me.  Plus, I am battling hyperness/exhaustion.  My friend who also had WLS said I need to find a way to get protein in.  I haven't worried about it too much because meat hurts, but I guess it is time.  I had a lo-carb protein bar yesterday, chewed throroughly, and I did have more energy for a while.  She said, P.E.W. -- Protein, exercise, and water.  Did I mention all fluids taste horrible to me?? I have to find a way to get more fluids in.