Pleanty of Rest

One thing I have noticed post-op since I had so many complications from the start is that I still sleep more hours at night and I still nap for about an hour each day in the middle of the day. I understand my body needs this rest to heal, but a part of me wishes that it still didn't hurt so much across my abdomen so I could walk more and do more around the house and most important start some sort of exercise program.

After reading through my post-op diet instructions, I saw some things on there that I can eat to bring up my protein intake so I can reach 70 grams of protein a day. I am still having issue with drinking all the fluids so I need to work harder at getting them in.

My weight today is still 191.4 and I want to break this 190 stall and get down to the 180's by November 1st. That is my goal! So I have 6 days to drop 2 pounds and 4 ounce.

I CAN DO IT!!!

Stall, Stall, GO AWAY!

As I hover around 192 now for 2 weeks, I can officially say I am in a stall. Since I am not able to exercise yet or walk to boost my weight loss I will have to cut down my calories to make the scale move again. I know I need to break this stall since over the last 5 years whenever I dieted I could only get down to 192 pounds and then I would stop there. I could hold that weight for a while, but eventually my diabetes would work against me and slowly the pounds would come back again.

For the next few days or even a week if I must I will just drink my protein shakes and puree any food I need in an effort to help with the speedy digestion. I really want to break this stall and get myself down to the 180's.

Thinking positive thoughts that I will break this stall.

What about gas????

For those of you reading this wondering what to expect or what could happen, here is a new one for me. . . GAS!

I have never been much of a passing gas person. If I did it was pretty rare and after my gallbladder was removed in 2004 I did occasionally get gas, but it was always in the form of burping.

Since I have had gastric bypass I have gas all the time. At first I thought, okay this from the surgery and after all the gas leftover from the surgery is finished passing I should go back to normal.
Well, as you all know from reading, I didn't have the best recovery and I did have some pretty serious complications with my side opening up and my waste coming out through my incisions and I was hospitalized for 10 days and not able to eat or drink while the Fistula closed up and healed.

With that begin said, I accept there is still more gas passing inside and hurting and yes it did. Although, the Fistula is closed, my incisions are almost completely healed, but the gas is still there. I can hear it and feel it moving inside my belly and after a while, it finally passes. Wow, I feel like such a lady now farting quite a bit each day . . . NOT!

Now, I wonder, will this be my new norm, or will it change over time. I sure hope that it changes and I go back to how I was before the surgery. I don't like this little added bonus, but at least I can say, it is livable to deal with, just not pleasant on the Miss Manners end.

 

Image source: http://lovelylittlelexemes.blogspot.com/2011/06/fart.html

Finally Tried Eggs

After reading on the Obsiety Help forum how many people had pain and stomach aches after eggs, I have been quite fearful of eating them. Today, I decided to be brave and made some scambled eggs and bacon for breakfast. I have already had bacon and not had any problems so I knew if I started not feeling well or started to have digestive problems it would be from the eggs.

I started off eating just a few bites, I noticed I felt full quite quickly after eating my slice of bacon and a few bites of eggs. So far, no problems. I set them aside and will try eating a few more bites in an hour or so and see if all is still well.

Today I am finally down to 191.4. I haven't been this small in almost 6 years. Woo Hoo!

Drinking Enough Fluids

I know how important it is to drink a lot of water, but I have always had trouble drinking a lot. When I did, I was never ate as I had no appetite. I haven't noticed any issues yet, but I am still only drinking about the same amount of fluids as I did before the surgery. I find it most difficult to remember the 30 minute rule of not drinking 30 minutes before or after I eat. This is especially hard as sometimes I am hungry almost every hour, so I cannot find the time to do my sipping.

I have noticed that I feel able to eat a bit of food, so I wonder if my pouch is a little larger than some. I think I can eat at least 2 or 3 ounces at a time without any issue or uncomfortable feeling. I stop myself from eating more for fear of not losing weight.

Belly Shots (Photos)

These photos show my 30lb weight loss. The first photo was take on August 27, 2013 after I arrived home from WLS in Mexico.
The second photo is how much my stomach has went down in size. Taken today - October 18, 2013.

I Drove the Car Again!

Since my surgeries and hospitalization I was finally able to drive the car. Sure, it was only a short distance to my daughter's school and home this morning, but up until now, I have not been able to even attempt trying to drive. It was important to me and to her, there was an awards ceremony this morning for honor roll students, and she made the honor roll and was awarded a certificate and they served them cake a punch afterwards. I was so proud and she was so proud to tell all her friends "This is my Mom!" I think my code blue and days in the hospital really made her happy to know I am better and alive and she is proud to have me alive and well.

I don't plan on driving very much for a few more weeks as it was difficult to attempt this today and I would feel better about driving when I am not still so sore and having pain in my abdomen.

I can finally eat real food!

Yesterday, my doctor appointment went well. I weighed 196 there. As of today I am 195.2, so down a bit more as well.  The doctor looked over my incisions and said all looks well and I healing fine. He authorized me to go from just having liquids and pureed foods to eating real food again in small amounts and to chew it very well.

It feels good to eat again. I am beginning to be able to do more a little bit each day. I cannot wait until I am all healed up with no pain and can go back to doing more normal things. I am hoping to be able to sleep in my bed within the next week or so. As of today, I am still sleeping in the recliner as I am unable to sit up and down without support or help without a lot of pain.

I am in Onederland!

After two days of weighing 200 pounds exactly I was pleasantly surprised today when I stepped on the scale and it read 197.8. I did not expect that much of a drop, but I am ecstatic to be back in the 100's again: Woo Hoo!

I am handing my pureed food well without issue and I am very thankful for that. I am still very sore and not able to do my normal routine. I look forward to the day when I reach that point.

Feeling more normal

Today I awoke with more energy and feeling better than I have in days past. I feel like I turned a corner in my recovery. I can walk a little better today without pain. I feel motivated as well, but I do not plan to do anything yet. I tried that a couple of days ago, vacuumed my living room and I paid for it the rest of the day and the next. So, the things I do will be very simple and not strenuous in any way.

The scale was still 200 pounds exactly. I will admit, I am a tad disappointed that I did not drop down into the 100's but that is okay, there's always tomorrow.

My task today will be folding the clean laundry as it comes out of the dryer.  I am still not at a point were I can bend over and do things without causing pain in my abdomen. Maybe next week that will not be an issue, but until I cross that bridge I will do what I am able one day at a time.

Post 7 days on liquid diet

So today marks day seven for me being able to have liquids. Although, the past few days I have done thick liquids per say. I have put my soups in the Nutribullet and liquified them so they are drinkable but hardy. I have had no issues digesting them and they help keep me from being hungry a little longer than broth alone.

I am trying to get my protein shakes in. I will admit, I am still a bit afraid to drink too much at this time, afraid it my be too much and spring a leak or cause constipation like some others have had and cause a bowel obstruction. I may be overreacting a bit on the side of caution, but I want to make sure I heal and do not end up back in the hospital.

Call me a wuss if you want, I would rather take it slower than mess myself up. Today I did sip my protein shake without adding milk to it. I do have liquid protein I can sip as well, but I will take the bottle in to the Doctor appointment with me next week and ask him about adding it to my diet first before I add it.

I made myself some tea today to drink. I am still having trouble drinking the crystal light drinks. I have never been one to use artificial sweetener and the aftertaste just keeps me at bay, so I made my own drink and added my organic sugar/stevia to sweeten it just a bit. I have already drank twice as much today than I have been for the past 3 days.

I also chewed a flinstones vitamin today for the first time as well. I will try my liquid vitamins tomorrow in a small amount and see how I handle it first before going full throttle.

My incisions are still very sore, but scabbing over nicely. I am still not able to exercise or do too much and I have not been out of the house other than to go to my doctor appointments. I am feeling a little better every day in spite of my slow progress.

On a good note, I weighed 200 pounds exactly today and my blood sugar was only 89 today. Woo Hoo!