1 week Post-op appointment

Well.. today it's been almost a week.

I think about what this day was like for me last week.... (seems like so long ago), I was starving... having been on liquid diet for going on 2 days, my head hurt, I was just not having that much fun. But I was excited for surgery the next day, lots of anticipation, last minute though-processes, etc. They called that night and rescheduled me for a later time which was a let down of sorts, because I really wanted to just get it done! :) But, as we know, it all worked out just fine! :)

Now this week... post-surgery... I'm still on the same diet.. and other than being tired of liquid and broth and needing to "Chew" something... I really am not hungry hardly at all... this little pouch is amazing! I know it grows a little in the healing process and you become a little more hungry... but for right now ..that's where I'm at!

So back to today, I had to be a the doctor at 8:00 am and I drove myself! Yipee!! :) I got there, and they weighed me and then showed me into a room. I was dreading this part to tell you the truth... staple removal .... I was so scared... I was praying! :) But you know what?? It wasn't that bad! It burned and stung a little bit, but she was fast at removing them and next thing I know... all done! (Thank you GOD!)

Then I attended a Nutrition class again, and got my orders for the next 2 weeks... all so much clearer to me than the first time I went... I'm guessing because it's REAL now.. :) I took lots of notes on what gets stuck, what causes dumping, what will make me vomit, etc... So hopefully when I start eating puree' foods tomorrow, I'll make the right choices! One interesting thing I learned was that my opening from stomach to intestins is the size of a drinking straw! Interesting fact!!!

My friend tells me that Taco-Bell Pinto's and cheese was one of her first "meals"... I think that sounds yummy for me too! Beans are a good source of protein, and Taco-Bell's are the right consistency (they must be thin and more runny.. not the type that "plop" on the plate).. So I look forward to that.. wish me luck. I'll try (for the sake of the journey) to post foods that work ... though not all foods are the same for all people.. but I'm blogging MY journey.. so it works for this blog! :)

I saw Dr. Felix after the class, he gave me a good clean bill of health, reminded me about liquid intake, vitamins, care of wounds, etc.... and then told me to come back in 3 weeks! The nutrition instructor told me I'd be on puree for 2 weeks before I graduated to regular eating... but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to go to any new stages unless Dr. Felix clears me to do so.(And I don't see him again for 3 weeks) If I can't get clarification, I'm gonna take the safe route. He said that this stage is to get me used to food, but also to test out my opening and make sure I don't develop "stenosis" which is the closing of your opening from stomach to intestines, due to scaring.

So all is well... tomorrow I get to start a new phase of my diet.. so glad to be done with broth! :)

Total Pounds Lost: 15

(I'll try to do inches again soon)

Protein Drinks/Shakes

After attending my nutrition class on Tuesday, and learning all about the issue of protein difficiency after this surgery, I took thier suggestion and started shopping protein drinks/shakes. This is one constant thing that I have heard from the doctors and friends that have had this surgery, most people HATE the protein shakes, and usually have trouble keeping up with them, thus not able to get enough protein into thier diet.

So, since I do not want to start out on the wrong foot, and I really want to preserve as much of my hair as possible... I've been shopping away and BOY am I ever glad I did! The nutritionist explained to us that, with a stomach that can hold only about 1 oz in the beginning, you sure don't want to wait until after to start the process of trying to find a protein drink you like. (Apparently, from what I hear, you take one sip and you are full.. sure not a time to be "testing" alot of different things)

So I tried her suggestion first... Isopure pre-mixed..

shudder....and though it does have a whopping 40g per bottle... I can tell you that I would go bald before being forced to drink that stuff! (okay, maybe not really.. but needed to express just how badly that stuff tasted and you could visibly see the "snot-like" stuff floating around in it) Again... <<<<<>>>>

Then I remembered talking to a friend who tried alot and found one she liked after several years.... Muscle Milk...

Low in carbs (12), Lower sugar than most (5) and 22g protein! It comes in Chocolate and Vanilla... (and apparently other flavors from what I see online) I like that one alot and will probably become a frequent drinker of this one.. But I do know that the "heaviness" might not do well with me in the beginning since they say only clear liquids for a while and adding in "full liquids" slowly... so I needed to keep shopping for a clear-liquid type of drink.

At the suggestion of another friend, I went to Flex Factory and told them my needs and they suggested "Nectar" which is a koolaid type of consistency and a large variety of flavors... 21g protein/scoop, No Carbs, No Sugar, only 90 calories. AND they even opened my flavor of choice (for a first try, at least) and mixed me up a glass and allowed me to try it before buying! (I was impressed) I did like it alot and bought a jug of the powder and I think at least for now, I am set (at least for protein) for a little while.

Another friend told me about one at Target that is pretty cheap and yummy... so next time I'm at Target, I'll have to pick up one of those. I am just really trying to find a few that I like (to change it up) BEFORE I'm eating like a bird.. :)

Until then... Yea for my hair!! :)

Initial appointments..

Tuesday, July 14th was a fun day! :)

I started out at 9am attending the nutrition class that's manditory before having the surgery. They explained all that I would need to know about how to eat during those first days, weeks, months, and then for a lifetime.. Of course I know I'm going to need ALOT more of those classes, because my head was spinning when I left there! :) But I at least got a great overview about what to expect when it comes to the new way of eating!

It was great to see 3 people in that class, coming in for a refresher, they had just had the surgery 5 days earlier and they looked like they were doing and feeling great! I must admit I was shocked, because every surgery I've ever had, I sure didn't look like that 5 days later.. but this one is apparently so minimally invasive, since it's done laproscopic, that you really don't have alot of pain afterwards.

I learned all about the amounts that we would be able to eat for the first little while... wow.. amazing! I guess I should stock up in these:

We learned all about the "Dumping Syndrom", where you become extremely sick when you eat too fast, or too much sugar, etc.... Apparently that is your friend... it will slap your hand (to put it nicely) if you don't eat right! I don't look forward to experiencing this, but hopefull I won't have to go through it too much, because I want to learn to eat RIGHT!

I also got to see the clinical phsycologist, to do my Psych Evaluation (also required)... she said I'm not crazy! :) (Brian said he wants a do-over!) LOL!


Then I got to weigh in, measure my height, and take an AWFUL picture (apparently the camera is set up to make you look really bad, so that you'll be even more happy with your final self at the end of the journey.... that's my story and I'm sticking to it!) :) :)


After that I got to see Dr. Felix, go over health history and chat a bit about the outcome of the surgery. He assured me that my infertility will be a thing of the past if ovulation (PCOS) is my only problem (which according to OBGYN, it is)... so that's good.... :)


I am completely stoked about this whole thing, and I'm learning quickly that alot of people have a very strong opinion about this surgery... but opinions are like armpits, right?? We all have them, and sometimes they stink! :) I am doing this for me... for my family (and the hopes of future members of our family)... and for my health! So I don't care about negativity anymore... it's my life and I plan to live it! :) :)

Next step: Labs required for health clearance, and sign-off from MD... then insurance approval, then scheduled surgery date.... Yipee...

We are shooting for first or second week of August! Hopefully we can get it all to go through that fast!