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GiGi

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Blog Entries posted by GiGi

  1. GiGi
    Hi all. Sorry so long since I blogged...... I just wanted to report on how things have been going. This past week I had some issues with eating. My stomach was really hurting and I think I just introduced some new foods to quickly. My tummy was burning. It was bad. I talked to the Doctor and they said to slow down with my diet and go back to the full liquids. I did for the most part and I am getting very little calories but I have been loosing weight. I am down to 254 from 295 which is 41 pounds and tomorrow is my 4 week anniversary. I am just eating protein mostly and not eating much because I don't want to disturb my tummy. I have lost a lot of inches too and I really have not been working out too much since I have been a little lathargic. Things are now on the upswing and I am really only eating now just because I know I need to to live. I am trying to get in 800 calories a day but sometimes it is hard.
     
    Next week back to exercise and I mean full on work out so I can begin to tone up and loose more fat (not muscle). I have a Doctor follow up visit on Wednesday so I will post about that as well.
     
    They put me on Carafate which is a liquid you drink before you eat and it coats your tummy on the inside and it really helped.
     
    Sorry to sound rushed but my hungry family awaits
  2. GiGi
    Well I have been trying to blog but my blogs have been disappearing for some reason. I submitted a message to the technical folks and they said it is all fixed now. For an introduction you can read my profile but in summary I am a 47 year old overweight woman. I weighed in at 295 at the Doctors office and now I weigh 279.5 from being on the pre-op diet. I have always been able to make the pounds go away but they always return and usually with a few bonus pounds. I am 5’8” tall and large boned.
    You might ask why I am electing this surgery and the reason for me is that I want to be around for a while. I have had some really bad problems with my right knee (I had surgery to cut off the meniscus about 2 years ago due to a fall) and also swelling and pooling in my lower legs. The later problem is new and not one that I am fond of. It is painful and prevents me from doing the things I love. Like hiking, walking, touring etc… I am not ready to become an invalid just yet.
    I have been on every diet in the spectrum…. Seriously every diet I am sure I have tried it. I am constantly hungry and never have the feeling of being full so keeping weight off is difficult. I love food. It is my pal. It is my buddy. I love to cook. I love to try new things. I love the comfort of food. I eat when bored to help me stay awake. I eat portions much too large. I have had a long and happy affair with my food.
    I had a revelation while being on this pre-op diet… I am not tired any more. I used to sit at my desk and barely be able to keep my eyes open now I am wide awake and I sleep like a baby! The pre-op diet is 3-5 protein shakes a day and maybe a broth soup here and there. I have not cheated at all and don’t plan on it. I want to succeed.
    Best moment on pre Op? When I made iced tea sweetened with splenda with a fresh lemon slice squeezed in. I don’t know if I have ever tasted something so good. That was about 5 days into the diet and I had not had tea at all. It was a hot day. I had taken the dogs to the park I was so thirsty…
    I know the plication surgery is not magic and I am not suddenly going to shed pound after pound. It is going to be a way for me to loose the weight and not gain it back due to the restriction.
    I joined a weight loss site called myfitnesspal.com and I LOVE IT. So easy to use and so fast. It is the other tool I am going to use to count my calories after the surgery.
    I live with my Husband and two teenage girls. One is 17 the other is 14. I will still cook but it is going to be much healthier. I am the most fortunate person in the world in that my Husband is so supportive. He has been doing the pre-op diet in the evenings with me so I am not so alone in my endeavor.
    When I can eat it needs to be healthy and tasty. I have joked about having my own show on food network one day called Potions for Portions or 6 ounce mega taste.. I haven’t worked out all the details of my show.. lol
    Surgery date is 7/16/12. I have been told to be there at 6am, surgery at 7:30am, 3 hour surgery, 40 mins in recovery then moved to post op room until blood pressure is ok, can drink something, and breathing is okay then they will release me the same day. They did tell me I will be very very nauseous and sick.
    I have a friend coming to stay with me for a couple days so my husband can go back to work on Tuesday.
    So… that is where I am. If anyone is interested I have made some pretty yummy protein shakes and would be happy to share my recipes with you!

    I will write soon (If this works lol)

    GG
  3. GiGi

    My First Buffet Today

    By GiGi,

    Well I made it through with no problem. I meet with a group of women every Wednesday and we either eat at a local Mexican restaurant for lunch or at a local Inn that has a country buffet. Today they chose the buffet.
     
    I called ahead to find out what they had and I happen to get the owner. I asked her about just buying one item off the buffet and explained my situation and she said I could just have the childs buffet price and that way I could try more than one item. My plate consisted of:
     
    1/2 cup of Black Eyed Peas
    1/4 cup of Tuna Salad
    1/2 a boiled egg
    1/4 cup of mashed potatoes
     
    I was pretty full but very satisfied. It was great. I did have to stand up after I ate. That seems to help the food move down for me.
     
    Success!
  4. GiGi
    Well it was my first weekend of soft foods and I got a chance to see if my body was going to reject anything. I ate rather well. Friday night I had 3 ounces of Cod that I prepared. Saturday I had an egg with reduced fat cheese and it was wonderful. Sunday I tried Tuna and it did not sit so well with me. It had quit sitting well with me prior to this diet and it again gave me a tummy ache. I made tuna salad and it was good but I think I got over full because I was a bit uncomfortable. Not drinking while eating is very very hard. I would suggest practicing that before the surgery if you have time. It is so typical to drink a lot while eating. I am very thirsty after eating. I am tolerating grits with no problems at all. Actually everything I have tried has been ok. I just can't eat a lot at once which is what this procedure is supposed to do for you. I am very satisfied off one packet of instant grits. I used to eat 2 or 3 packets as a meal. I am very content after breakfast this morning.
    I really don't think there are going to be a lot of food issues which makes me very happy. I am keeping my caloric intake at about 800 and I am very pleased with how full I am. This week I am going to start exercising. 30 mins a day on the treadmill. My current weight is now 262.5. I am hoping to loose at a rate of about 3 -4 pounds a week and I will be thrilled. My protein intake is not so great so I do need to work on that. I have to get in 80 grams of protein a day! If anyone has any protein ideas I can use I will take them!
     
    Thanks and Happy Monday to everyone (:
  5. GiGi
    Good Morning,
    I just wanted to follow up from where I had been when I last wrote which was not a very happy place. My recommendation to anyone having any kind of surgery is to stay on the medications they put you on. I was a fool and quit taking the Levsin Smooth Muscle Relaxers and I paid dealy for it. I probably delayed my recovery time and caused my body a lot of stress. I quit taking the pain meds and muscle relaxers on Saturday because I was tired of sleeping all the time. What I should have done was simply not take the pain meds and stayed on the muscle relaxer (Levsin). I am now taking it every 4 hours on the nose, even waking up at night to take it and I have not had a cramped stomach since. Apparently what is happening is normal. When your stomach is sutured down it naturally tries to open itself back open. It feels very much like contractions. This causes stress on the stomach and is painful. The stomach needs to remain in a relaxed state so that it will heal, the swelling will go down and the sutures will heal. It cannot do that if it is constantly cramping. The Doctor said he cannot tell me exactly when the stomach will give up the battle. It can happen in one week, two weeks and as far out as 4 weeks. I feel much better now and I am eating a lot better. I am having protein shakes daily, soupy grits and soupy mashed potatoes, applesauce, yogurt, pudding and nothing is giving me any problems. I think I am getting about 700 calories a day. I need to get back to logging all my intake so I can keep good track. My weight is 263 so I am down a total of 32 pounds. Right now my focus is on feeling good and getting plenty of rest and the weight loss will come along I am sure.
     
    Have a wonderful day!
  6. GiGi
    Today is Monday July 23rd.. I am doing worse that I was doing a few days ago. My stomach is very very much in pain. It is cramping constantly and it just hurts and feels like it is burning. I called the Doctor today and he is calling in some liquid that coats the stomach and you take it before meals and before bedtime. Problem being it also makes you sleepy like the Levsin. I have basically no appetite for anything at all. I am loosing weight I have lost 31 pounds so far but i know I am not getting the nutrients I need or the protein I am supposed to be getting. I am getting worried. Tomorrow morning I have a follow up visit with the Doctor at 9:15am. I will have to drive myself in since my husband is out of town. I just plan on going to bed really early so I can sleep my usual 10-12 hours then get up and get moving around. I did have an applesauce today and a V-8 and a yogurt. I am going to have instant mashed potatoes for supper. Maybe that will stimulate my appetite.
     
    I started a video blog on you tube called Jeanne's Journey. I recorded my first episode yesterday and I wasn't feeling so hot as you will be able to see.
     
     


     
    Well heading back to bed for a while. With sleep there is no pain. I will let you know if the new meds work for me.
     

  7. GiGi

    Rough Night Last Night

    By GiGi,

    Just to report in... I had a horrible night last night. I had a lot of burning in my stomach and it was very painful. I used a heating pad and it helped a bit but the burning was pretty bad. It was a new pain for me. I can identify the cramping now and it wasn't that. I can identify gas and it wasn't that. It must have been from something I ate yesterday. I did have a yogurt late in the evening so maybe that did not settle with me. Maybe it was the light grape juice I drank. IDK but I am going to avoid both of those today so I don't have to go through that again. I am at the end of the first week so going to full liquids should now be okay but I need to be very cautious on adding new things to my diet. Cravings have been pretty much none. I would love a cracker or a piece of toast but I know it is much much too early for that. My incisions look good so no worries there. Today I am sticking strictly with clear liquids and see if the pain occurs again tonight. If it doesn't I know it was something I added to my diet yesterday. I am really trying to get in my protein but it is hard. The Isopure is good but it is getting a little old. I just need to force myself to drink it. I thought by now I would be more "back to normal" but I don't feel real normal. Maybe I should get out of the house a bit. That might help keep my mind off things. I am still sleeping a lot too. Not sure if that is normal or not. Any one who can comment and help me with these questions I would appreciate it. I know everyone is different .... Have a lovely Weekend
  8. GiGi
    Happy Friday Everyone!
    Well had surgery Monday and today is Friday. I felt better waking up this morning than I have all week.I actually have a bit of energy. The scales show 268 (from 295 when starting the pre-op diet). That is 28 pounds and I am very happy with that so far. Might be a bit too fast. I really have no urge to eat. The pain I am having is difficult to identify. I am not sure if I am cramping, hungry or full. I am still sleeping a lot but I figure that will help me heal. Tomorrow I can going to take some photos and redo my measurements since I want to track my progress on a weekly basis. I have my food figured out for next week. Pretty basic on full liquids. Soup, Yogurt, Pudding.... My primary concentration is on protein. Going back to GNC and getting more Isopure until I can start back my protein shakes. I am keeping my food journal to track all calories from food and will begin walking 4 days a week next week on treadmill at work. I hope I stay pain free today. That would be a marked improvement for me.
     
    Hope everyone is doing well!
  9. GiGi
    HI everyone! I see quite a few folks reading my blog so I want to continue with my updates as regular as I can. If anyone has any questions I would be happy to answer them. This has been the longest week of my life. I am a very active person and doing nothing is getting to be very hard for me. I am going to recap of where I am and what has been going on and I apologize if any of this is a repeat. I am on my first week diet which is clear liquids only so I have been doing a broth, Popsicles, water, Isopure and getting about 300-400 calories a day. My energy is pretty good when I am awake. I have been sleeping a lot. I talked to a friend of mine who had the gastric sleeve and she said I need more protein. I did a little research and found a helpful tool. To figure out how much protein you need you take your weight and divide that by 2.2 which gives you your weight in Kg. Take that number and multiply it by 0.8 (min) up to 1.8(max) to get your protein requirements by gram. Let me back up a second to my numbers. I started at 295 pounds. I went to 277 after two weeks on the pre op diet and this morning I weighed in at 271. Total down is 24 pounds. So using the formula above and figuring my min protein I need 98 grams of protein. So I need to drink more Isopure. They have 40 grams per drink so if I can do 2.5 bottles a day that will be great..I plan on starting that today.
     
    Yesterday was a bad day ... as far as pain. My insides just hurt and it would come in small waves of pain nothing constant. I am taking a double dose of the muscle relaxer since it does feel like my stomach is cramping. I also have the gas left in me from surgery and it moves around and hurts but walking does make that much better.
     
    I cannot wait to be off clear liquids. I am not really hungry at all but I just want to be able to get something in me that is giving me more calories. I am going to attempt to make a VLOG on You Tube today. I will give ya'll the link if I can figure it out.
     
    Off to another day!
  10. GiGi
    HI fellow Plicationers,
     
    I made it through the storm (Pre Op Diet) then through the Hurricane of surgery. I was brought back to Surgery at 6:30am yesterday July 16, 2012. The nurse went over what was going to happen. I was given a shot in my belly fat which was a blood thinner, an IV was started and they gave me an antibiotic. At 7:30 I went in for surgery and 3 hours later I was waking up in post op. I had a horrible pain on my right side that was horrible. They said it was due to the way I was laying during Surgery. I was taken to a post op room and I was pretty out of it for about an hour. During that time Dr. Ponce came in and rubbed my side and said it was a muscle. I had no nausea and still have had none. I was able to drink fluids and walk around and my blood pressure and oxygen was good so they released me about 1:30pm. When I got home I went to bed but woke up every two hours to walk around and do my breathing treatments.Every 4 hours i took my nausea pill and my muscle relaxer. I had bought some Isopure and using a sippy cup finished that off. It is a liquid ready to drink and has 40 grams of protein. So that has been my routine for 24 hours. I moved from my bed to the recliner and didn't sleep as much today. I have a friend over helping me and my Husband has been helping me too. I was taking thel iquid Loratab also. I am going to stop taking the Loritab now and see if I have any actual pain. My throat was very sore and it was very hard to talk.Today I had a can of vegi broth and another Isopure and a jello. I feel okay just a little strange inside. The gas is still in my body and I am about to take some prune juice and see if that get's me to use the bathroom.
     
    Everyone seems pleased at my progress and I hope I feel even better tomorrow. I know this is short and will pick up again tomroow. Right now everyhting seems sorta floating like. I am just trying to drink as much water I can so I am not dehydrated.
     
    Peace folks... I will check in tomorrow!
  11. GiGi
    Well it is Friday and I have been doing the liquid diet for almost 2 weeks. I have lost about 14 pounds which is great but I am tired of the protein shakes. I am wanting real food and it is rough drinking only sweet protein shakes. I wish I would have gotten some unflavored so I could hide them in soups, oatmeal etc.
     
    I have worked in a couple cans of soup over the couple of weeks but that is the only cheating I have done. I am very proud of myself for being able to stick to this since I really didn't think I would be able to do it.
     
    Nervous does not even explain how I feel about Monday. I just want everything to go well!
     
    Jumping in with both feet!

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