Well, its been one month ago today since I had my surgery. Wow how things have changed in a month! I'm down to 236 lbs, feeling pretty good most of the time, and able to eat some real food without too much trouble.
A lot of my clothing is way too big and falling off. I was in Food Lion two days ago and had on a pair of my favorite shorts. All the sudden I felt them sliding down my butt! Yikes! Of course it didn't help that I had my cell phone in my pocket that was dragging them down as well.
Guess its time to get rid of those shorts. Darn they were comfortable! I took my measurements the other day because I seem to be in a bit of a stall. My waist has gone from a 65 to a 51. My bust has gone from a 58 to a 46. Its just amazing!
I look at myself in the mirror and I can't see that I've lost almost 100 lbs since July. Every one else sees it. I guess I have body dysmorphia. One day I'll be able to see the "real" me in the mirror, I suppose.
For now, I'm just glad to be able to be healthy and happy. I'm down to only one med, my nighttime maintenance of insulin. I'm not taking much and it may be DC'd at my doctor's appointment on Thursday. We'll see!
Here's to health!!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Down, down, down!!
Feeling pretty good today, still have gastric distress but I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday. I'm living on Imodium and Fibercon tablets. YUCK!
My weight is slowly going down and I'm down to 237 this morning! Steven took some pictures of me yesterday and although I know that I'm losing weight (I started at 329), I have a hard time seeing it in pictures. I know its body dysmorphia and I'll have to deal with it.
I'm doing pretty well eating, although yesterday I again ate too quickly and up came everything I had attempted to eat. My pouch didn't feel good the rest of the evening and I went to bed early. I had a protein shake afterwards but I still didn't feel all that well. My blood sugar was even high, 187 when I went to bed. That concerned both Steven and I but its down to 127 this morning. I guess my body's under stress with this gastric distress.
Its raining on and off so I don't know if I'll be going outside today. I guess I'll use my treadmill and get some exercise in.
My weight is slowly going down and I'm down to 237 this morning! Steven took some pictures of me yesterday and although I know that I'm losing weight (I started at 329), I have a hard time seeing it in pictures. I know its body dysmorphia and I'll have to deal with it.
I'm doing pretty well eating, although yesterday I again ate too quickly and up came everything I had attempted to eat. My pouch didn't feel good the rest of the evening and I went to bed early. I had a protein shake afterwards but I still didn't feel all that well. My blood sugar was even high, 187 when I went to bed. That concerned both Steven and I but its down to 127 this morning. I guess my body's under stress with this gastric distress.
Its raining on and off so I don't know if I'll be going outside today. I guess I'll use my treadmill and get some exercise in.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Here I am...
I'm a bit over 3 weeks out and I'm losing about a pound a day. I'm pretty psyched about it. I have lots of energy and actually don't even feel as though I've had the surgery. I'm sleeping better, eating well, making sure I'm getting between 60 & 80 grams of protein a day.
I've had almost no problems with food except I learned what not to do. Two days ago, I grabbed 1 oz of deli ham and sat down to eat it mindlessly. Not a smart thing to do at all! I got the foamies and then it felt like I had a rock in my pouch! Not a good feeling at all!
So I'm working on slowing down while I'm eating and paying more attention.
Yesterday and today I've had a problem with diarrhea. Not sure where the heck it came from but it's not fun at all! So I have to stick close to home. Tried some Imodium pills but they're not working so I guess I need to get some liquid. Fun fun...not!
Overall I'm feeling really well and have been getting lots of planting in. Life is good!!
I've had almost no problems with food except I learned what not to do. Two days ago, I grabbed 1 oz of deli ham and sat down to eat it mindlessly. Not a smart thing to do at all! I got the foamies and then it felt like I had a rock in my pouch! Not a good feeling at all!
So I'm working on slowing down while I'm eating and paying more attention.
Yesterday and today I've had a problem with diarrhea. Not sure where the heck it came from but it's not fun at all! So I have to stick close to home. Tried some Imodium pills but they're not working so I guess I need to get some liquid. Fun fun...not!
Overall I'm feeling really well and have been getting lots of planting in. Life is good!!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
My surgery and aftermath
Well my surgery was on the 20th of February and I was so psyched. So calm, not a nerve in sight! Got to the hospital around 6am and soon afterwards Pat Cline joined us to tell me what was going to happen.
Things moved quickly and I was in holding waiting to go to the OR. I remember nothing after that until I woke up in recovery. Not sure of how long I was there but all the sudden I felt ill. I asked for a basin to vomit in. The nurse no sooner handed it to me and I started bringing up huge blood clots. Larger than the size of a golf ball. Then blood lots of blood. I think I passed out because I don't remember much after that. My blood sugars were over 500 and they were taking my blood sugars every hour.
I woke up and was told that I had been transfused with 4 units of blood, that I was obviously bleeding somewhere internally but they weren't sure where. My H&H was bottoming out and I was now in the ICU. Steven was standing by my side, pale as a ghost, looking so scared. I knew things were bad.
I don't remember Monday except a few slices of time, here and there and most of Tuesday is a blur too. Two more blood transfusions on Tuesday. I was still bleeding and they were trying to find out where. I guess they did a portable xray while I was out cold and they were concerned. My surgeon came in and jokingly told me to stop starting trouble. I told him that I would try. I passed out.
Wednesday came and I started having blood out both ends. Two more units of blood, H&H in the toilet again. Remarkably, I was in very little pain. Tons of doctors came in to see me, to check on me. I couldn't sleep in the bed, so I slept in the recliner. Every time Steven and Dillon came to see me, I could see the concern on their faces. Dillon fell apart on Wednesday and told me that he didn't want me to die. I held him tightly and told him that I would be okay.
Thursday came and I started to feel better. But my H&H still wasn't the best so another 2 units of blood to help. I had begun to itch to go home. I was finally able to get up out of bed on Thursday, still in the ICU and monitored closely, but at least I was able to walk around. They did the swallow test and it came back okay. They still don't have an explanation as to why I started vomiting blood. They said it happens in .00001% of all patients.
On Friday I was told that they were going to move me from ICU to the gastric unit. I was thrilled. By Friday afternoon, I was doing so well that I no longer had any IV's, my PICC line was out, and I was off all monitors. I wanted to go home!
All the nurses were wonderful to me in ICU and I knew I would miss them but I was "stepping down" and that was exciting! They moved me upstairs and the nursing unit said they didn't know what to do for me. LOL I wasn't hooked up to anything so I basically walked up and down the hallways trying to keep busy. Friday night I didn't sleep hardly at all.
Saturday morning, Dr. Bailey came in and told me that she was releasing me. I could have done a jig right then and there! Then she said she wanted to explain to me how critical I was. She explained that I was as close to deaths door as I could get. They were extremely worried because of all the blood I was losing and they couldn't find the source. She told me about Monday and Tuesday and said that she was very concerned and she was in to check on me many times. I was touched by her concern.
When she left, I had some time to reflect. I did everything right. I lost 84 lbs before my surgery. I stuck to my liquid diet as hard as it was. I followed all the rules yet I still almost didn't survive. But I did!
Dr. Randy came in and chatted chickens with me and told me that he was taking me off all diabetes meds except for one. I was thrilled! He left and then the wait for the surgeon's office began. Finally I had the nurse call to find out where they were. She no sooner hung up the phone and they were walking down the hall!
I was out of there by 10am! Woohoo! When I got home, I got on the scale and saw I had gained 28 lbs! WOW! I knew I was swollen but never expected that much.
I was home 5 days and developed an infection in my drain site. Called the surgeon and they ordered liquid Levaquin. (YUCK!) They pulled the drain and staples and on March 6th, they advanced my diet. YAY!! Food never tasted so good after being on a liquid diet for a month. LOL
Now, to sum it all up. Yes, I had a very difficult time after surgery. I almost lost my life. Yes I developed an infection afterwards.
But would I change anything? No! I don't regret the surgery or the way its going to change my life. I'm 17 days out from surgery and I'm beginning to feel normal. I have energy that I didn't have before. I barely feel as though I had this surgery.
This is my new life and I'm grateful for it!!
Things moved quickly and I was in holding waiting to go to the OR. I remember nothing after that until I woke up in recovery. Not sure of how long I was there but all the sudden I felt ill. I asked for a basin to vomit in. The nurse no sooner handed it to me and I started bringing up huge blood clots. Larger than the size of a golf ball. Then blood lots of blood. I think I passed out because I don't remember much after that. My blood sugars were over 500 and they were taking my blood sugars every hour.
I woke up and was told that I had been transfused with 4 units of blood, that I was obviously bleeding somewhere internally but they weren't sure where. My H&H was bottoming out and I was now in the ICU. Steven was standing by my side, pale as a ghost, looking so scared. I knew things were bad.
I don't remember Monday except a few slices of time, here and there and most of Tuesday is a blur too. Two more blood transfusions on Tuesday. I was still bleeding and they were trying to find out where. I guess they did a portable xray while I was out cold and they were concerned. My surgeon came in and jokingly told me to stop starting trouble. I told him that I would try. I passed out.
Wednesday came and I started having blood out both ends. Two more units of blood, H&H in the toilet again. Remarkably, I was in very little pain. Tons of doctors came in to see me, to check on me. I couldn't sleep in the bed, so I slept in the recliner. Every time Steven and Dillon came to see me, I could see the concern on their faces. Dillon fell apart on Wednesday and told me that he didn't want me to die. I held him tightly and told him that I would be okay.
Thursday came and I started to feel better. But my H&H still wasn't the best so another 2 units of blood to help. I had begun to itch to go home. I was finally able to get up out of bed on Thursday, still in the ICU and monitored closely, but at least I was able to walk around. They did the swallow test and it came back okay. They still don't have an explanation as to why I started vomiting blood. They said it happens in .00001% of all patients.
On Friday I was told that they were going to move me from ICU to the gastric unit. I was thrilled. By Friday afternoon, I was doing so well that I no longer had any IV's, my PICC line was out, and I was off all monitors. I wanted to go home!
All the nurses were wonderful to me in ICU and I knew I would miss them but I was "stepping down" and that was exciting! They moved me upstairs and the nursing unit said they didn't know what to do for me. LOL I wasn't hooked up to anything so I basically walked up and down the hallways trying to keep busy. Friday night I didn't sleep hardly at all.
Saturday morning, Dr. Bailey came in and told me that she was releasing me. I could have done a jig right then and there! Then she said she wanted to explain to me how critical I was. She explained that I was as close to deaths door as I could get. They were extremely worried because of all the blood I was losing and they couldn't find the source. She told me about Monday and Tuesday and said that she was very concerned and she was in to check on me many times. I was touched by her concern.
When she left, I had some time to reflect. I did everything right. I lost 84 lbs before my surgery. I stuck to my liquid diet as hard as it was. I followed all the rules yet I still almost didn't survive. But I did!
Dr. Randy came in and chatted chickens with me and told me that he was taking me off all diabetes meds except for one. I was thrilled! He left and then the wait for the surgeon's office began. Finally I had the nurse call to find out where they were. She no sooner hung up the phone and they were walking down the hall!
I was out of there by 10am! Woohoo! When I got home, I got on the scale and saw I had gained 28 lbs! WOW! I knew I was swollen but never expected that much.
I was home 5 days and developed an infection in my drain site. Called the surgeon and they ordered liquid Levaquin. (YUCK!) They pulled the drain and staples and on March 6th, they advanced my diet. YAY!! Food never tasted so good after being on a liquid diet for a month. LOL
Now, to sum it all up. Yes, I had a very difficult time after surgery. I almost lost my life. Yes I developed an infection afterwards.
But would I change anything? No! I don't regret the surgery or the way its going to change my life. I'm 17 days out from surgery and I'm beginning to feel normal. I have energy that I didn't have before. I barely feel as though I had this surgery.
This is my new life and I'm grateful for it!!
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