Leah H.

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It's really hard for me to remember to posts updates here since I post on the VSG forums and on my blog. So if anyone wants the link to my blogspot blog which is updated weekly just message me.

I am so excited about my journey. As of last Sunday I had lost 12 pounds. I am trying only to weigh once a week right now cause I can be obsessive. It helps that I don't have a scale in the house. I may break down and get a scale. I think it could be motivating to see it move. Who knows.

I do get most of my fluids in a day but not the protein. 50 grams of protein seems unattainable right now but I am trying. I can't believe it's so freaking hard. I almost can't stomach a protein shake though. Yesterday I drank two low carb slim fast so that helps and the day before I drank protein bullets. I almost threw them up but I got it down. They tasted like cough syrup. Nasty. So again trying to get the protein in while on liquids is overwhelming. I read people say it was hard but never realized until I was right there. So I've been focusing on fluid intake and I'll worry about protein next Wednesday when I started blendeds/soft foods.

My tummy does like popsicles & pudding (SF of course), and I had soup last night at Olive Garden. The Gnocci. I just picked out the dumplings and chicken and ate the soup and it felt so good in my tummy. I do the same with Hot and Sour right now - just drink the broth.

I just drank a cup of HEB Mootopia milk. It went down bad the first sip but then got better. That was 12 grams of protein so I am going to try to drink a cup a day. I also made my pudding with it and stuck in a Nectar chocolate truffle sample.

Anyway I just wanted to update. It's certainly not been easy (I wasn't prepared for how tired I'd be) but it's not been awful. I am so excited I did this!!!

I am healing well and my incisions look good. I just started full liquids yesterday and didn't do well my first day but today I enjoyed some hot and sour soup (didn't eat the solids). It was yummy. I have 10 days of full liquids before I started 10 days of soft/mushie/blended foods.

I have lost 12 pounds. :) I know that's "easy" to do on liquids but the great news is I won't gain it back!!!

I am sleeping better finally. That started on Sunday. I can't sleep on my left side (which is my typical) because of the drain incision and of course sleeping on the tummy is out. So I've had to learn to sleep on my right.

I am very tired and I know that's because my protein level is down but with full liquids I hope to make some good shakes and up my protein levels quite a bit. I am supposed to get at least 50 grams of protein a day.

I've been asked several times how I liked the medical care in Mexico and let me just say it was amazing. The level of care far surpassed any of my three hospital experiences here in the states. I've had 2 csections and an open gall bladder surgery. The rooms and hospital were gorgeous and extremely clean. I walked in white socks most often and my socks barely had a hint of dirt on them. The nurses and Dr's were so kind and caring. My sister loved the food in the cafeteria. It was like a full restaurant. Anyway - I am more than pleased with my decision. Thank you God for leading me this direction!

I did have a complication during surgery but not from the surgeon. They found a gastric mucosa during surgery and had to call a gastroenterologist and I was scoped during sugery. During the transurgical endoscopy they found a vulcan shape lesion aprox 7mm on the antrum 1.5cm from the pylorus, macroscopical its similar to ectopic pancreatic tissue so they decided to take a biopsy and send it to pathology for further examination.

The pathology report shows, chronic follicular gastritis with mild dysplasia and intestinal metaplasia on the stomach The results from the biopsy shows intestinal metaplasia and mild dysplasia on the stomach mucosa. From what I've been told the intestinal dysplasia is the biggest deal. It can change into things that are more problematic although it may not. Similar to abnormal pap smears. Sometimes they mean something and sometimes they don't.

So they are sending me the path reports to take to the Dr. I will more than likely be sent to a gastroenterologist and need to be scoped every 6 months to watch that. Sigh. So now I am praying about what to do about insurance.

I am thankful for the surgery otherwise how would I know?

Note I meant to post here as well as my blogspot blog and I forgot.

I'm home. Sorry for the delay in posting. I got home around 7 yesterday after managing to make an earlier flight home. The girls - understandably so - demanded my full attention and within 2 hours I was so tired. Salem wanted to see my scars and help changing my bandages and they both insisted on sleeping with me (that took some finagling) and Brian had the house all clean and Larrah (19 year old) moved! Sigh!!! Good thing but sad it happened while I was gone.

Day 1 we arrived in San Diego around 10. I'll have to show you the pictures of the rock mountains on the way to Mexico as soon as we get them off the camera. I was amazed. It was as if God opened cans of rocks and just dumped them out. HUGE rocks just in the shape of mountains. The hospital was wonderful. Very modern and the staff amazingly compassionate and considerate. We went straight to the hospital and I had an EKG, bloodwork, chest xray and urinalysis and then I met with Dr. Campos - one of the Dr's. Then we went back to the hotel and had a wonderful dinner. I am very glad they gave me a sleeping pill.

Ernesto the driver picked us up Monday at 7:15. I met with the internist and anesthiologist and then the surgeon Dr. Aceves. I felt very peaceful. There were three of us and I was third so I played online the entire time.

I woke up feeling naturally like I'd been run over by a train. No liquids this day - just pain management. I did start walking as soon as I got up.

Tuesday I didn't feel so great. I woke up in pain and asked for pain meds. They did a leak test and it was fine. This is the one where I drank the blue liquid and they checked my drain. This cleared me to drink fluid - yucky tang, YUMMY apple juice and chamomile tea. I never thought apple juice would be so yummy. The hot tea was very soothing. I was better the rest of the day and walked all over the hospital and even to the cafeteria with Amy while she eat.

Wednesday I woke up feeling great but then we did the more detailed leak/swallow test where you drink some nasty stuff. WAY worse than barium. I could see it going down my new tummy but bwhen it hit bottom I thought I was goign to die and started throwing up. I passed the test but the throwing up with awful and they gave me pain medicine and anti-nausea meds to help. Then I slept 2-3 hours. Then I woke up to yummy chicken broth!!! :) Then more broth.

I was released on Thursday at around 7pm. It was amazing. In the states you're only in the hospital 1-2 days and I simply can't imagine going home that soon.

I had planned on updating everyday but that didn't happen. I didn't open my laptop once after surgery. I slept and talked and watch 90210 reruns! LOL. Oh and I read New Moon and started Eclipse. My incisions are healing well and I am mainly keeping the drain site clean and resting. The main side effect is heartburn but I am on Nexium MUPPS and it helps a lot. So mainly I am resting and reading. I am supposed to walk a lot (to prevent blood clots) and plan to be at MOPS on Monday. I just can't lift. That and no sex are my only restrictions! ;)

I do have a before shot of me and great pics of the Drs with me. I am so blessed and excited to have had this opportunity. Thanks for sharing in my journey.

I am about 4 weeks away and EXCITED. I keep getting asked if I am nervous and I can really say I am not. 

I am not "dieting" for the first time in ages. I've not given myself liberty to eat anything I want but I am relaxing. For instance this morning I ate oatmeal with agave nectar (low glycemic) as a sweetener and ate cottage cheese for a snack and am trying to decide about what to eat light for a late lunch. We slept in today.

My goal in the next two weeks is to stop drinking diet coke, to control my grazing and to get moving.

Then I will do the liver shrinking diet Dr. A sent me (high protein low fat). It would be nice to lose about 10 pounds doing that. I did before.

My hardest part with protein is meat. I don't like meat very much. I eat a fairly vegetarian menu but I like protein rich options like beans and tofu. So I am sure I'll add fish back to my diet more and maybe chicken occasionally but I can't do red meat. It makes me gag to think about it.

I sure hope I am one of those whose diabetes gets under control with my sleeve. I am about to spend $124 on my avandamet and that always sucks. I also take pravastatin for high cholesterol.

About me - I am 5'4, about 231, 40 years old and mom to 4 girls (Larrah 19, Korie 18, Salem 6, Raina 3). My husband is a business owner and a pastor at a local church. I am a SAHM and help with the billing for our business.

I hope the next 4 weeks goes fast.