LizzysNewChapter

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

I'm so FRUSTRATED!!! 
The scale keeps going up and down for the past few days... AGAIN... with 2-3 pounds. It's repeating that cycle from last week. I could see if I was cheating, but that isn't even the case. Since last week, I only lost 4 pounds. I thought for sure it would have been a lot more.

I did start eating pureed foods last week but  I'm barely eating 1 meal a day. I try really hard to eat 2.
I wonder if the slow weight loss is normal. I do recall reading other blogs that around 4 months the weight loss slows down. But this... 4 pounds in one week in this early stage... didn't expect this.

So, my total down is 44 pounds - bringing me to 282. I'm still happy that I've had the loss... but really expected more. 

I'm still dealing with dizziness and the feeling of wanting to pass out when I stand too long on my feet doing something. Not too sure why. I spoke with my nurse and she stated that it may be a possible sign of hypoglycemia, or something like that. She asked that I journal my daily food in take. So I started that and now I have to review that with my dietitian. 
I'm feeling a little better. But not a 100%.

I've been going bonkers to go swimming. I was advised that if my incisions were all healed, it would be fine to do so. Well one was scabbed over and the others looked well sealed with no scabs. I did a bunch of arm and leg exercises. Even used a 7 pound exercise ball for my arms. Then I started to feel some discomfort around my incision sites. Sure enough, when I got out and dried off... 2 of the sites were oozing pus!!!! I couldn't believe it. Now I really have to wait on the swimming. 

I go back to work this coming Wednesday and I'm not looking forward to it. During my time of recovery, it has felt so good to be home and plan for my coming granddaughter's baby shower. It's just been nice to be home. 

Going to a wedding tonight and a lot of my nicer clothes from my heavier weight, doesn't fit me... YAYYY
I do fit into some older clothes from my thinner days, but they just don't look appealing. I did go shopping in hopes of finding something that was a bit more flattering and would show that I did loose weight. But I can't justify spending so much money on an outfit for a short period of time. Now that I think about it... it REALLY has been a frustrating week!!!
Oh well... I'll make due with what I have.

My journey moves onward to what appears to be a slow down hill process. Yayyyyy Me!!!



 
 

To date... I'm at a total loss of 40 pounds. Royally excited!!!

However... It has been a challenging week! Started some walking around the neighborhood and it takes too much out of me. Have gone out to stores for some shopping and that drains the life out of me! Often times I just don't feel normal.   

Started cooking for my family and man o man... that is very hard when you can't eat although I'm NOT hungry. Thankfully, I don't dive in and start trying the food.

I started yesterday puree foods. My first meal was pureed egg salad. The first bite made me feel crampy. I waited a few moments and went on to eat. Per my nutritionist, I'm to eat 1.5oz 4x's a day. HAAAAAA!!!! I can barely get 1oz down and barely can do that twice a day. I'm grateful for that. I don't EVER want to over eat again. I am having a difficult time taking in my daily liquid amount. NOT good!

Today I woke up with a terrible case of dizziness and nausea. I was not able to function for most of the day. When I start to do something after 15 minutes or so I get very weak and feel as if I'm going to pass out. I called my bariatric nurse and it seems like a slight case of dehydration and was advised to increase my carb intake with some fruit.

My other dilemma.... no weight loss in 3 days. Since surgery, I was averaging a pound to a pound in 1/2 per day. This week, my scale was showing me a variation 1 to 3 pounds of weight loss AND weight gain. How frustrating. Now this is before  my puree stage. Oh well... gotta stay off that scale and focus on something else.

2 weeks out and I can't believe I've done this... but very excited for the upcoming results!!!

 

Tuesday (7/12) - was my first post-op visit.

My jp drain was removed. It was a discomforting - breath stopper for a moment. All my bandages were removed and all incisions looked great. The only problem I have is one of the incisions on the left side has poofed out and is very painful. The doctor said that one site was severely bruised due to all the manipulation done through there. AND... since suregery... I LOST 13 pounds!!!
Other than that... each day is a better day. I have moments of tiredness if I start to do too much.

I'm drinking my liquid amounts and the protien shakes. I drink and I'm not feeling fullness. I'm barely hungry. Don't know if the lack of fullness is a good or bad thing?!?!? BUT... I wanna eat real food. I'm looking forward to making myself special foods.

My total weight loss since June 13th to date is 30 pounds gone!!!

Looking forward to what is going to happen in the future.

Tataaaa!

As of July 6th - prior to surgery... I lost 18 pounds. WoooHooo!!! It was a tough ride but I did it.

As for surgery... Honestly... I thought I was going to chicken out! Thank God I didn't. Surgery was this past Thursday - July 7. The doctor says I did very well. All day Thursday was a challenging and painful day getting in out of bed to go to the bathroom. Thank God for my precious husband who was with me the whole time to help get me up out of bed and off the commode. It reminded me of having my c-section all over again.

Friday morning I had my swallow test. I was told I would have to drink like 2-4 ounces of this gross liquid stuff that could be nauseating. Praise God... I had only about 1 ounce and my test was good... NO LEAKS!!! So later that afternoon I got to start liquids and would be released home. But when the doctor came to visit me later that day and realized how little I had to drink plus nausea and pain all set in at the same time, he decided to keep me another night. I guess it was for the better. I was just not feeling well at all!!!

Saturday around 5 am... I got up with nurse assistance, went to the bathroom on my own and took a LONG walk and started drinking liquids and by 8 am when the doctor called to check on me... I was showing positive signs of improvement to go home.

I can't imagine people doing this surgery and going home alone. It's very hard to clean yourself after going to the bathroom or to even take a shower. Not to mention if you drop your clothes or anything on the floor... how will you get it up?!?!?!!!
I'm so humbled and blessed to have to have the husband I have. He has been so patient with me and has assisted me with bathroom clean-ups and showering. Sets to me be comfy  and makes sure I have everything I need. I'm deeply touched and blessed to have the husband I have. I just can't imagine having done this alone.

Saturday mid day and all night... PAINFUL gas. I would have occasional releases of burps but couldn't pass them any other way. The pain felt worse than maybe even labor contractions. This morning I woke up and was able to have a bm and pass some much needed gas. The pain in the abdomen section is still a bit sore and I'm limited but each day is better.

Lord... I thank you for allowing this tool in my life to help me live a different eating lifestyle. I thank you that you have given me guidance through this whole process and have placed people in my path help encourage the journey. Thank you for the wonderful husband of patience you gave me. A man who has stood by me through everything in my life and now this. I'm sooooo grateful!!! Thank you Lord for the awesome friends who are standing behind me in prayer and any assistance needed to help me succeed!!! I pray your blessing over each and every one of these special people... in your Precious Name Jesus I pray!!!

My weight loss journey is now OFFICIAL!!!

Had my 2nd sleep study test Monday.... uuggghhhh!!! Wearing a tiny little mask over the nose is NOT comfy! At first, I thought I could only do the nostril mask. But that was one awful uncomfortable feeling. Ended up trying a little nose mask. Apparently, I had only 1 shallow sleep episode and didn't snore. Now I'm waiting for the follow-up appointment with doctor to tell me I need a cpap machine

Met with the surgeon Tuesday. Very nice man. I'm excited that I have a great surgeon to perform this procedure on me.

Went to support group. One guy who's post-op 4 weeks shared how the jp drain removal was so painful. He suggested to everyone who was going to have the surgery, to be prepared on pain meds because of the pain. After speaking to a few people and reading some posts on this site, some say it's painful and some it's a weird feeling. Oh well!!! I guess I'm in for a  surprise.

Got my heart clearance... yay!!! The doctor and her staff were all so excited for me. I felt like a movie star!

Today I get an exciting call from my bariatric nurse. All my blood work and urine results are in. My Pylori test came back positive. I guess some sort of bacteria thingy in the stomach that may have something to do with ulcers... I forgot exactly. ALSO... I have a urinary tract infection. How... I have no clue!!! Now... I have to take antibiotics. I can't stand taking pills. I makes me so sick to my stomach.... but... gotta do it!!!

Well.... the strict part of my diet is about to start. It's definitely going to be a challenge.... but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!!!

I'm so excited!!! My surgery is scheduled for July 7th.
I met with Lillian, my bariatric nurse and I was measured, weighed & photo graphed for my before & after shots. Signed MORE paperwork and scheduled my appointment to actually see the doctor next week. 

I mentioned I weighed in, right? Well... I LOST 7 pounds this week on my PRE-pre-op diet. I now weigh 319. CRAZY!!! It's amazing what happens when you cut out soda, junk food snacks and high carbs food items. I will say that I've remained hungry. But I feel that it will catapult me into a good start with my actual pre-op diet.  

As of right now, I'm real focused on making sure that I accomplish this weight loss successfully!!! I'm really excited.ab work,

Next week I have a few more things to still complete...
lab work, 2nd sleep study w/ cpap (ugh!), meet w/ surgeon & clearance from the cardiologist.... I think that's it.

new life.... here I come!!!

I'm so glad it's all over... I just hope that I haven't been diagnosed with some crazy diagnosis that will prevent me from having my surgery.  Ok.... I did get my diagnosis... I''m a SUGAR addict. Not that I go crazy for sweets, but it has a lot to do with chips that I enjoy eating, the pasta, rice and beans. All these things turn into carbs. I'm sad to say that I had NO idea. So based on these.... I'm a sugar addict. WHO KNEW?!?!?!!!

Aside from her getting to know me... she shared a part of who she is, which was great. She gave great insight about what to do with recipes and other resources to assist me with my success.

Tomorrow I meet with Lillian (bariatric nurse) to further discuss my actual surgery date, get FMLA papers from the doctor regarding suggested time off from work and my script for lab work.  Other than that... I have one more sleep study and HOPEFULLY... on my way to surgery!!!

I can't wait... I wish tomorrow was my date.

On another note... I have stayed away AGAIN from soda, chips and any junk food. I've eaten low calorie low fat foods and tons of water. Feeling slightly hungry in between meals. But not touching the junk from the past. I hope I can stay away through to my surgery date. 

On my way to a brighter future. 

For the past few days, I've been trying to cut back on my intake of soda and junk food. Sunday was a good start. Drank lots of water, NO soda and no junk. Not bad. I had very little hunger and kept busy most of the day.

Today I began to log my food & drink intake. I felt hungry throughout the day. Maybe it had something to do with being at work sitting behind a desk and constantly thinking about if I was or wasn't hungry. I will say... I didn't give in to temptation!!!

I'm trying to cut back on bad habits before my pre-op diet so it's not a killer all at once. 

Today I'm at 327 pounds. Let's see how much I can shed before my pre-ops?!?!?!?!!! 

Chicken stir fry with veggies and maybe a little bit of rice.

  

Unbelievable!!!

According to the results on my sleep study, I have partial obstruction with 82% oxygen level. I'm not sure I completely understand all that except... it's all about the mighty dollar or my life! Now I have to have a 2nd study with the cpap. I'm so claustrophobic that even thinking about my nose or face being covered makes me want to hyperventilate!!!

CPAP.... you and I have a date 6/20/11.... not looking forward to this!!!

Sometimes the Lord allows things to work out a certain way for a reason... and I'm glad He did!!!

I was scheduled for a sleep study test for June 20th and I got a call from the sleep clinic that there was an opening for last night. Well of course... I took that appointment because I want all my pre-ops done ASAP!!! Half hour prior to going for my test, I decided to search you tube for sleep study tests. Some were a bit more drastic than others... but it was a big mistake to do that because I started to panic.

I get to the clinic and I'm instructed as to what will take place and the possibility of coming back for a cpap test. WOW!!!! Not what I needed to hear. I really began to panic and had a hard time focusing. Then the electrodes go on and all is fine. UNTIL the 2 nose pieces went under my nose. Being that my nasal was partially congested, I had a difficult time breathing through my nose since those devices only measure your breathing and was slightly congested.

The good news of if it all was that I didn't stop breathing and I snore lightly. The unfortunate thing was that I may have hypopnea which is shallow breathing which is a form of apnea. I may be asked to come back for a 2nd test on the cpap machine. "Houston... I think we have a problem"!!! I do believe, I WILL be making an appointment with doctor real soon to discuss this matter.

We'll see... I understand that I have to do what's best for me. But I also don't want to do something that is unnecessary and costly to me and my insurance company.