devichan

So as everyone gets to one month out, howbout we post how we're doing? I'm down 26lbs, back to working full-time and even OT, just started soft foods (mmmm, salmon today!), my belly skin is almost healed, I'm walking daily, and I feel great! I have to say that I expected to be having more buyer's remorse than I am, because I was so iffy about my own expected post-surgery emotional state. This weekend I'm going to a SF/Fantasy con and can't wait... I might be able to dress up next year! How're other people as you reach your month out?

I'm on day 4. This is what my belly currently looks like. The two circular bruises at the bottom are the heparin shot sites. I am much less sore today! I'm clearly healing on the inside. It looks worse than it is, I think.

Oh! Important thing: This is a really good reason not to compare yourself to others! Some people count pre-op liquid in their weight counts, and I have zero issue with that - they dropped it, it counts! But if someone says they dropped 35 in the first month and they're counting it, and you dropped 20 in the first month and you didn't have it to count, the situations are not at all the same... and you don't know who had pre-op liquid and who didn't. So remember: After surgery, comparisons are useless!

My BMI was high and I didn't have to do it. I had dropped 10% as required, and my doc doesn't require it of most of her patients, since we're going to be on liquid for three weeks after. She feels the 10% helps get the liver fat out of the way. She does require liquids the day before surgery, but that just makes sense. I think I had more reserves going into the surgery from eating food up until the day before, but follow your doctor's orders regardless!

It didn't hurt me, but I chewed like crazy and went really slow. Rumbles, yes... burps, yes. But no pain. So make sure you take your time! (PS: I had Wendy's chili and it was fine. My NUT told me to stay away from scrambled eggs at first, yours may vary. I also pureed bean and ham soup for wonderful savory flavor and decent protein, you might want to try that if you don't have religious structures against pork.)

Of the 6 doctors I interviewed before deciding, one had a single fatality: a 600-lb man with a LOT of complications going in. He had operated on other folks of the same weight who thrived after, but I guess it was that one gentleman's time to go. The rest of the doctors had not had any fatalities..

Awesome! Looking good, Christina. How's everyone else looking?

I just started with soft foods today, but... I've kinda decided not to. They don't give enough bang for the nutritional buck. YMMV.

Down under 240 now, and today was my first day of non-pureed food! Breakfast was the protein drink, and then 1 oz salmon and a bit of pear for lunch! So good! I ate slowly, but after 45 minutes discarded the rest of the pear. So far so good on toleration. And it was tasty and satisfying.

First day of soft foods! 1 oz salmon a little bit of pear if I have room

And this one is as of today, 24 days out.

Oh, Bredred... I'm so sorry to hear of your family's troubles! Please accept my warmest wishes for your daughter's healing and the best outcome possible for everyone else in your family. Have you talked to a professional about this? There are people who work with people who have similar issues, and who can help you work your way through these perfectly-valid feelings. I don't know how you feel, but I can sure understand how you got there, and hope you'll consider talking this out with a pro. In the meantime, if you're a hugger and would welcome it, you have hugs from me. If you don't want them for whatever reason, please know I'm thinking of you.

Further update, with thanks to all again: It's visibly smaller and less icky-looking today. The white is turning brown like it's re-scabbing. No heat, no pain, no leakage. Whew!

Not for the squeamish! Today one of my scabs came off. I've lost others over the last week and they looked fine. This one looked... eh. NOTE: This wound is NOT hot. The skin around it is not redder than the skin around the pink healing ones. It does not smell bad. It does not look like this issue is deep. It is not painful. However... it looked whitish and seeping instead of like pink clean healing skin. I'm at work, so I went to the first aid cabinet. Grabbed hand sanitizer, alcohol pads, antibacterial pads, antibiotic ointment, and a big sterile bandaid. Sanitized the heck out of my hands, used alcohol pads on it, used the antibacterial pads on it, put the antibacterial ointment on it, and covered it with a bandaid. We have liquid skin in the cabinet as well, but I did NOT use that because if it is infected, I don't want to seal the bacteria in. Anything else I should be doing before I call the doc tomorrow?

Got the new measurements! Height: 5’1 - Surgery day weight 265 4/30/13 6/26/13 Weight 278 243.5 Arm 17.5 16.5 Waist 52 44 Abdomen 48.5 47 Hip 55.5 55 Mid Thigh 27 26 Total difference -12 SQUEE! I should also note that my doc didn't have me do a pre-op liquid phase, so I didn't have the additional drop from that some people did. I'm really happy with my progress!

I miss yoga so much and I'm eager to get back to it. I always had to modify the asanas like crazy, but it always felt good. I plan to ask my bariatric nurse at my July appointment, but when did others start back?

3 weeks 1 day.

Thanks so much, all! Called the doc office this morning and they said keep it covered and nothing but soapy Water on it, just like Catiebug up there. The incision itself looks smaller this morning, so who knows! It's not hot or painful at all, which makes me feel better about it. I really appreciate all of you!

An older gentleman I knew said once that when you decline a compliment, you insult the giver's taste and/or intelligence and/or feelings. It helps me accept compliments when I remember that, because I don't want to even take a chance on insulting someone. I don't know if you can believe what he said, but maybe thinking about that might help?

If it was hot or had red, you bet I'd have been on the phone faster than fast. I think that what happened was some Water got underneath and my body was reacting. If there's any stuff on the bandaid, I'll call tonight - I have their pager number. Thanks for the feedback, both of you!!

It depends. I had a lot of scabbing around the GB from years of issues... they managed to keep from having to open me up, but they took their time and worked their way through the scar tissue carefully.

My WLS took about 90 minutes. My GB removal took about 120. Deep breaths and hang in there!

Great news and a major victory indeed!

There's no "should" or "shouldn't," first of all. Sometimes the adjustment period where your body is trying to get used to being different happens earlier. And it sounds like you are still dropping, just not as fast as you expected. Expectations are your worst enemy! Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Keep moving. It WILL happen.

Congratulations! Keep on doing!