I am sorry for not updating right before or after surgery, it has been very busy since the trio is back in school and yes I current have a kindergartner (turned 5 yesterday 9/26) and two 1st graders (both 6) and our weeks are jammed back with school, homework and extracurricular activities (I may have over done it for myself). Before I get into the surgery and weight-loss details here is a look at my crazy weeks for the next several months.
Monday's Addisyn has ballet and Joey has Hip hop/break dancing till 8pm, Tuesday's are our only night free of nothing to do but homework and catch up on house chores. Wednesday's Addisyn has cheerleading (tumbling) and then private lessons for cheer. Thursday Addisyn has Cheerleading practice with her team. Friday's are another free night. Saturday mornings the boys have soccer from 9-11:45 am. Then Sunday's are chores and shopping. By the time we get home from all the stuff it's bed time and then I'm so exhausted that I go to bed, but soon I need to start squeezing gym time in at night.
Ok, so my gastric bypass surgery was on Tuesday, August 9th. The surgery went great and I did well, I was very, very nervous. I was cleared to go home by Thursday afternoon. My recovery went well too, except while I was in the hospital my heart rate kept dropping down in the high 30's when I would fall asleep and thanks to the machine it would wake me up and let me know this all night long and during the day. I was starting to get scared, but the doctor and nurses didn't seem to concerned. They knew that one time I had to be on a heart monitor for 24 hours b/c I kept almost passing out and at one point when I was sleeping my HR dropped in the 40's. Other then that I did everything they asked and was considered a "Model patient."
During surgery they put a JP drain in and you have to keep it in until you go to see the surgeon which was a little over a week after the surgery. Now, I have a high tolerance of pain and the recovery from the incisions was great (they make five small incisions) but now the tube from the drain was pushing on nerves on my left side and hurt like hell. I couldn't wait to get the damn drain out. Once it was finally removed I felt 110% better and was able to walk around more and move more.
Eating, now that has changed dramatically and I don't miss it to much. The 1st week is liquids and then you move on to the pureed stage for the 2nd week and I personally thought that was the worst stage. I bought baby food (chicken, sweet potato and that) and it was disgusting. I followed the meal plans they give you for ideas, almost to the 'T'. The 3rd week you start soft foods, and that was so much better. You stay on soft food for the next 3 weeks and last Tuesday was 6 weeks and I got the OK to start adding transition foods. I am slowly trying to add other foods, but sometimes they just don't go over well and feel like they are stuck in my esophagus (which I'm beginning to think this is my sign that I'm full, since my full feeling is different from before surgery). 7 weeks out and I am slowly starting to get that hunger feeling back, but not much. If I don't make myself sit down and eat I will forget to eat. I am trying to get protein shakes out of my meal plan and replace them with foods that contain protein and it's hard, but doable. I get plenty of water in throughout the day.
I have noticed I do not have much of an appetite anymore and some foods make me sick just thinking about them and yes even foods that I loved before. They said it will take a while to get my appetite back, but I'm doing fine right now without it, because I don't have any cravings. I do not miss bread or sweets at all, actually the thought makes me sick. My son had his 5th birthday yesterday and we got a DQ ice cream cake and I didn't even have the need to have a piece.
I have to take it one day at a time and make this work. I am feeling great and do not regret doing this, except I am still embarrassed about admitting to it and still haven't told many. I still wish I could have achieved this on my own. I'm looking forward to feeling good about myself and doing more with my kids. Joey tells me "mom, you look so different and in a good way."
Here are my stats so far. I didn't take any measurements, but I know my clothes are fitting nice and comfy now, there were lots that didn't fit me anymore before the surgery, some are getting to big.
Before surgery weight: 305.4
Current weight 263.4.
I cannot wait till I am at 225 lbs it's been about 8-9 years since then if not longer. I pray I reach the 200 mark and I'll be happy.
That is if for now, I will try hard to update when I can.
Until next time..........................
Jennie
