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circa

Gastric Sleeve Patients
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Blog Entries posted by circa

  1. circa

    Got Me Thinking

    By circa,

    So my family wants me to write a cookbook of all of my recipes. I have a lot of custom recipes that they absolutely love. Most of them are ultra healthy but don't taste like it. Even some of my desserts are quite healthy I think I'm going to do it.
     
    I might also do a cookbook for small portions with the same recipes and others that i come up with. Might be a lot of fun
     
    I love love love to bake - but don't really eat anything I bake, other than a bite or two - then I give it all away. Holidays are fun - I send so much stuff to family and friends. I like the fact that I can still do that - and I'm going to work on altering some of my more...rich recipes to be more healthy and smaller portions.
  2. circa

    Food Progression

    By circa,

    Last night I had cream of mushroom soup - I pureed the hell out of the mushrooms with an immersion blender. Worked great!
    For breakfast, I had the same, but I added a little bit of cheese to melt in it. It sat kinda heavy in my stomach, so I'll hold off on doing that again.
    Lunch is cream of potato - also pureed. Its devine. Its sitting just fine :smile1: So I guess I just wasn't ready for cheesy yet. No biggie :smile1: I'll give it a couple days and try again :smile1:
     
    Just got a new project for work too - requires a lot more in-depth research than the previous project, and I'm not relying on other people to find things for me - makes my life so much easier! yay!
     
    We're getting a snowstorm here so the roads are free of people and full of snow, so hubby and I are gonna go do a little retail therapy so I can get my walk in
     
    Gotta love being from snow-ville and living in an area where people are afraid of snow
  3. circa

    Another Day Gone By

    By circa,

    Feeling even better today. Mid mornings I get fairly tired - trying to find my groove of calorie intake while i'm still in this liquid stage. Today was the first day that I was truly hungry several times throughout the day. The broth and jello was quite fulfilling. Its amazing. I HATED chicken noodle soup and brothy ANYTHING before my surgery, but I really do like this chicken broth from Noodles and Company. Funny how things change
     
    Went to the grocery store and got some stuff to finish out this week and to start my full liquids on Friday. Picked up some stuff for dinner for hubby too. He doesn't need to keep eating out - Lord knows he's not gonna cook!
     
    He's finally getting better about eating in the same room as me. It doesn't bother me, but it does bother him. Its not a big deal to me. I'm able to satisfy my hunger with my allowed foods now. If I wasn't able to, that might be another story. As the diet progresses, we'll be eating much of the same things - other than I'll never eat rice and he wants red beans and rice for dinner - so no problem making that for him
  4. circa

    Home!

    By circa,

    Got home last night - felt great after getting off the plane. The walk through the airport was another story - the airport is under construction so the signs don't actually send you in the right direction - must have literally walked a mile to get out of there to get to the shuttle to get to the car. I was pretty tired by then and getting irritable.
     
    Once we got outside though , the cool air reinvigorated me and I felt pretty good. I drove us home from the airport and my doggies were very happy to see us. Hubby did a good job keeping them from jumping up on me. Usually they sit in the recliner with me on my lap, which can't happen right now, so they're bummed and frankly, so am I about that Ah well, soon enough
     
    I showered today and cleaned my inscisions and recovered the one that my bra touches and also the one with the drain - I'll steri strip that one in a day or two - but it still has a little bit of drainage from it. Everything seems to look good - only one inscision is tender and that's the biggest one. I'm minding that.
     
    I take my temp regularly to ensure i don't have a fever and I'm good to go.
     
    Things are going very well
  5. circa

    S-L-E-E-V-E-D!

    By circa,

    I'm one day post-op and I feel like a million bucks. I'm sore of course, but I haven't taken any pain medicine all day - I figure if my menstrual cramps were this bad, I wouldn't take pain meds for them, so why for this? All in all, I feel pretty good - its hard to get comfortable for me because i'm a stomach sleeper - well - at least I won't be for a while.
     
    We checked in at the hotel and its a beautiful room - just kinda haning out - hubby is snoozing - I took a little nap. Time seems to crawl by - I have to be back at the clinic for a checkup at 5- they come to get us.
     
    I swear if the peope at the clinc were any nicer, they'd melt in the rain like sugar. I can't get over how they are so genuinely sweet. They don't condescend to you, they don't forget about you. They're really there to take care of you.
     
    I'm now to the point where I can sip water, but I still feel pretty hydrated from the iv's.
     
    I cannot wait to take a shower. Hopefully that will be tonite.
     
    I'm still a little gassy, but nothing spectacular. I'm hoping to sleep through the night, but don't have any expectations to. Again, that's just me - I'm an insomniac.
     
    Oh - and everyone at the clinic is just gorgeous. Inside and out.
  6. circa
    I'm here in San Diego. I eventful flight - however, I did buy the "extra seat for a person of size" and of course I didn't need the damn thing, I fit in the seat just fine. They said they would refund me so I'm cool with it. So a little victory there I. Itself. I havent flown since before I got sick - so I just didn't know. I was shocked that I did fit in the seat, armrest down, etc because so many standard seats are tough to take.
     
    Anyway - I can't sleep. I'm nervous.... I keep running through my mind and wondering what I'm doing here!?!? Guess its just some last minute jitters and the hunger talking. Knowing that I'm a high BMI and knowing that puts me toward the end of the day sucks too, but it is what it is... End result is my health and happiness.
     
    It's just hard to be in San Diego, where one of my oldest friends lives- I didn't know how I was going to handle being so close to him and not seeing him- it's been since 1999 since I have seen him.... But he and his wife are up in the bay area visiting a couple other friends of ours so it's like it was meant to be!
     
    Hubby is snoring away in the bed next to me. I'd like to sleep but it just doesnt wanna happen. I wanna get up early, get a shower and go put my feet in the ocean for a minute. Then I will head for the airport and continue on my journey. I hate this no water after midnight thing - it sucks.
  7. circa
    Today was my birthday - in 36 years old and 2 days away from the second biggest life changer so far. The first was getting sick. This one though, will change my life for the better. It's actually going to give me back what I desperately want - my health. I leave tomorrow for San Diego. Looking forward to just getting the ball rolling more smoothly down the hill.
    I don't know how many others are having surgery that day, other than one person I met here! I'm sure I'll be last, or close to last, as I have a very high BMI- and that's ok - I'm prepared for that. Wouldnt mind being first tho - but I'll wait my turn
  8. circa

    I'm Preop b***h.

    By circa,

    Yup. I'm NOT good with feeling hungry and it has turned me into a...well...b***h. Low blood sugar and no food in my belly makes for one irritable chica. Only a few more days!
    I keep thinking I could do just some egg beaters - it was allowed on the previous doc that I saw preop diet! *flail* But no, this doc doesn't allow it. Although I may ask him why and if it would be something he would consider adding for future patients - might help stave off cheating for a lot of people just to have that "solid" feeling.
    Only a couple more days of this! I can do this! Hope my husband can survive. I know I need to buy him something shiney for putting up with me haha.
  9. circa

    Just A Few Days

    By circa,

    Its so flippin hard to think of anything else. Its just a few days away - do I have everything I need? Did I triple-confirm my reservations? Is the dog sitter going to be okay? What time do I need to leave for the airport? Will my husband get off work in time to make the flight???? All of these things are fine but I still keep rehashing them. I still keep looking for information on how to make things go more smoothly. Am I prepared for when I get back? Yep - I am. Treadmill is set up and working just fine, hubby has a few things he has to get to before we leave. Hopefully he gets them done or I'm gonna be one angry mama!
  10. circa
    Found all of my old clothes - I kept the ones that are standards - and they're not that old - 4 years isn't a long time for business suits and the like. Lots of pencil skirts and jackets. I had a great time going through them. I found a belt that I bought on a trip the week before i got sick - when I was at my optimal health. You can see on the belt where i wore it at. I have set this aside as my goal. Its not about a number on the scale, I wanna wear that belt again! It was fun to go through all of the clothes and remember wearing them and focusing on wearing them again I have every size between where I'm at now and a size 6
  11. circa
    When I was a kid, I really didn't know we were poor. Most kids don't. I had a mother, father and siblings. We ate just fine, usually what was brought home from the restaurant mom worked at (that seemed like a treat, really), or whatever Dad had hunted (again, never a complaint there - still love wild game). I remember when I started kindergarden, I used to go to the neighbors to wait for the bus because both of my parents left for work early. My dad left for work at like 5 am. I can remember him waking me up at about 4:30 to brush my hair and put me back to bed. I had really long curly hair and my little arms couldn't reach that far. He'd brush my hair and wrap it in a towel so it would stay nice. My mother hated my hair and refused to brush it, so my dad did it. I remember sitting there and trying to hide the sound of my stomach growling. The neighbors, who also were our "daycare" during the summer and after school are actually now my step-grandparents. Well, Grandpa could hear my stomach growling one morning and made me an egg and a piece of toast. I'd never had an egg like that! I'd never sopped up the yolk with my toast like he did! This was cool! And I felt better! Lunch of course was at school and dinner with the family. My mother never thought to feed her 5 year old breakfast. She never forgot to eat herself, though. After a few years, my parents divorced and we kids were left with our mother. My mother's first act of vengeance against my father was to take me to a hair stylist and cut off all my hair. She even said "let's see what he thinks of his little girl now". I cried. She spanked me. My dad cried too. I grabbed some of my hair and shoved it in my pocket as it fell from my head. He still to this day has that lock of my hair from that haircut. As time went on, my mother still didn't provide breakfast. There wasn't really food in the house. We usually sustained on rice, instant mashed potatoes made with water instead of milk, and popcorn. All 3 of which I still don't eat to this day. She worked at a restaurant, so she ate there. Many times, she'd come home and take my sisters out to dinner, leaving me at home. I remember coming home sick from school one day. I had thrown up all over the place after lunch. My grandpa took me home and I went in the shower and he went to get me a change of clothes. He asked me where all my clothes were. I told him I didn't really have any. He called his wife (she worked at the department store in town) and told her. She came home with underwear and socks and some shirts and pants for me. Boy was my mom mad at me.
     
    I started babysitting for the lady down the road when I was about 11. She used to feed me and even gave me some clothes. She would just happen to have stuff that wouldn't fit her (she was a larger lady) but she was sure that would fit me. Amazingly it did. I didn't realize it then, but she was going out and buying things and hanging them in her closet and would ask me to help her clean her closet. Pretty much whatever money I made babysitting, my mother would take. She said she needed it. Just like when she would send me to beg my dad for the child support check. I was in my ratty hand-me-down clothes. But she had a new outfit to go out in that night with her friends. My sisters found their ways out. One sister went to stay with my dad. I wasn't allowed to go anywhere. I wasn't allowed to talk to anyone. I wasn't old enough to decide.
     
    My other sister pretty much ran away. She had older friends and she was always with them. Sometimes they would take me too and get me something to eat and make me feel like I was wanted. I was sick a lot, mostly from being malnourished, but I also had medical problems that weren't attended to. My sister's friend used to wrap me in blankets on their couch and sing to me until I fell asleep. That lasted for a little while - by 14 my sister was pregnant.
     
    I remember my mother dragging me out of bed at 3am on a school night to go find my sister at some random guys' house. She was a wildchild and who knew where we might find her. My mother would drive and I would have to go knock on doors at 3am and drag my sister out of strange mens beds. All she was looking for was a warm meal and some comfort. My sister got pregnant. I got grounded. The day my mother found out my sister was pregnant (she was 7 months along and hiding it from no one but my mother - everyone knew) I got grounded and my sister went to a party. She was in a car accident and nearly killed herself AND the baby.
     
    I knew at this point I had to get out of there for my own survival. When I was babysitting one night, I used the phone there to call my dad. I told him EVERYTHING. He told me to go home and not say anything to my mom, he was going to think of something. He came and saw me at school a couple days later and told me to pack my things and he would pick me up from school and take me home the next day. I did what he said and packed my bookbag and a paper grocery bag - that was all of my belongings. He told my mother he was taking me and she could try to sue him but he'd turn her in for child abuse and neglect. She still tried to fight him.
     
    I went and stayed with another family (my best friend) while this was going on. They're still my family today. Eventually I went to stay with my dad. I was in shock really. There was always food in the house. I ate everything I could see. I wasn't sure how long the food was going to be there so I tried to take in as much as I could. I gained a lot of weight. After some time, I did come to the realization that the food would just always be there, so I didn't binge anymore. That was my battle with food.
     
    Living at my dad's house was a dream compared to my mothers - but it still wasn't an ideal situation. My step-mom, who, is only 9 years older than me had a very hard time coming to terms with having teenage daughters. She's a very selfish person - admittedly so - and that's why she never had children of her own. Over the years, my sisters have caused some pretty serious upheavals in the family - leaving me kindof as collateral damage. It is what it is - but I would love to have my family back whole. I've worked on that a lot - and I've made a lot of headway
     
    I remember a lot of mornings I would be so very nauseous and I would vomit. My stepmom thought I was faking - or was trying bulimia. She'd search my room for laxatives and of course find nothing - well - once she found cigarettes *oops* She was convinced I was on drugs. I never did drugs. Anyway - we butted heads, but we see pretty eye-to-eye these days. I moved out the day before graduation from high school. I was on my own and never looked back.
     
    Over the years, I battled my weight a bit - my doctor told me that the malnourishment as a child into puberty really wreaked havoc on my endocrine system. But its also why I wasn't diagnosed with Wilsons Disease until I was 30. Myst people are dead by 30 if undiagnosed. But because half of my life I wasn't getting what for most would be proper nutrition, my liver never built up enough copper to show symptoms. Probably all in all a good thing, because I wouldn't have received medical attention in my mothers "care".
    I always came out on top in the weight battle - at least until I was diagnosed with Wilson's. Then I was battling steroids and being pretty much bed-ridden.
     
    I'm totally afraid of being hungry - all those thoughts from when I was a kid come back. I've been able to diet before, where, sure I felt hungry, but I knew I could eat more. My sisters both have that fear as well - when they had kids, they bought so much baby food, they ended up giving literally hundreds of jars to the food bank each after their kids were out of the baby food stage. They never wanted their kids to go hungry. When I found out I couldn't have kids, I was more relieved than sad. I was afraid that I might be a monster like my mother was. I know that we all control our own behavior, but it was still a fear inside me. I never thought I was cut out to be a parent - at least not of a young child. I have a very thin patience level - not so much with kids - at least not with my nieces and nephews, godchildren, etc. But its a fear, nonetheless.
     
    I still have a relationship with my mother. I've forgiven, but not forgotten those things. She doesn't quite remember the past that way - she thinks she was a "pretty good mom". I just stay silent. Its not going to do any good to bring it up to her now. She's pretty much put herself one foot in the grave. I've come to terms with that and with her.
     
    But the fear of being hungry is still in the back of my mind. I believe that I could lose all this weight after having the adrenal tumors removed without surgery. But It would be so damned hard to be so damned hungry all the time, I'm not sure what it would do to me psychologically. I don't ever want to have that kind of hunger again. I still remember what it feels like. I see some pictures of me as a little girl and my eyes are so sunken in. I'm emaciated and just....sad.
     
    That's part of the reason I gained so much weight. Along with the steroids packing on the pounds, they increased the feeling of hunger. I totally felt exactly like I did as a little kid and ate everything in sight.
     
    I didn't help my already negative situation. I added to it. I increased the amount of weight i gained because I was afraid of feeling that feeling I did as a kid. I don't wanna do that again.
     
    The sleeve is my tool. Its the tool I've chosen to not have to go through that again. Its not necessarily the food that has the power over me, but part of my past. I know food is an issue because of the hunger, but its about making the right choices and not letting the past get to me.
     
    I'm working on that every day. I never really talked about this much until after I met my husband. We talked about it and then I've talked about it since. My sisters and I have talked to eachother about what happened when we were kids too.
  12. circa

    One Week!

    By circa,

    Holy crow! One week left and I'll be on the losers bench! The best part about the losers bench is, because we're all shrinking, there's always room being made I'm excited and a tad nervous, as anyone would be - but mostly anxious to just GET. THE. BALL. ROLLING. Its been a looooooong time coming!
     
    Couldn't sleep last night - usually about once a month I get a week where I just plain don't sleep. Looks like its this week - so I'll be tired before surgery, which means I'll sleep well after and recover nicely Keeping positive thoughts!
     
    Tomorrow starts my completely all liquid diet. I've been working my way to it, trying to make it easier - hopefully that has helped. I did have a little bit of a "food funeral" last night - had a couple of biscuits at Ruby tuesday with my chicken and mushrooms. Couldn't finish it all so the rest was lunch today - but I stayed low fat and did well Not really a funeral but maybe a nostalgic look back? lol.
     
    Game On!
  13. circa

    Holy Crap. 10 Days!

    By circa,

    Wow 10 days to go - I've kinda got butterflies in my stomach. I was trying to remember back to how I felt with my last surgery - I had a very large tumor removed from my breast a little over a year ago - there was so much other crap going on tho, I didn't really have time to worry about the procedure - and I was awake for it. I also was in my hometown and went home 20 minutes after the procedure - (I sat up as they were wheeling me to recovery, enjoyed the ride and had some crackers and ginger ale literally on the ride from the OR to recovery. They monitored me for 10 minutes, I got dressed and left. I'm pretty good at the recovery stuff. I know it won't be that easy this time, but hopefully, it'll be on the easier side
     
    I'm wondering - for those that have had the sleeve - do you actually feel like...empty? Like you're missing something physically out of your body?
  14. circa

    Pre-Surgery Checklist

    By circa,

    1. Protein powder ordered and actually on its way.
    2. Mini toiletries - getting tonite at Walgreens
    3. Liquid diet items purchased for both pre and post op
    4. Gas-X strips finally found!
    5. Comfy clothes chosen
    6. Carry on bags found.
    7. Decide which technology to take. (I'm thinking just phone and kindle
    8. Flights confirmed
    9. Need to make hotel reservation for San Diego
    10. Passport cards in hand!
    11. Doggy-sitter arranged!
    12. Ready to go!
  15. circa

    So Pissed.

    By circa,

    So almost 2 weeks ago, I ordered protein powder from SEI Nutrition. The Protein Max powder that everyone seems to rave about. Well, they took my 100 bucks, but gosh - I never got the protein powder. I've tried calling them dozens of times, emailed them, sent them questions through their website - NOTHING. Finally on Friday I speak to some really snotty customer service rep who I then ask to transfer me to a supervisor - she says there isn't one and that she would have the supervisor call me - I told her that I doubted that would happen but waited for the call anyway - I told them that if I didn't receive the product, I was going to have my credit card company deal with them. No phonecall, of course. I call today and ask her why I didn't receive a call and she said I never asked for one - which I did. She then tells me that she cancelled my order but won't issue a refund because I threatened to have my credit card company deal with it. Well DUH what did she expect me to do, just give them 100 bucks and not care that I didn't receive my order? So now I have to go to my credit card company, and because I did authorize the charge, its taking forever to get the money back. Not only that, I don't have any protein powder to use. I'm so pissed right now.
  16. circa

    Self Consciousness

    By circa,

    So hubby wants to go out to dinner tonite with friends from work. It REALLY bothers me. I haven't met anyone he works with yet - we just moved here and I'm really not comfortable in my own skin around people in the condition I'm in. I have never in my life been uncomfortable around people. I have no idea how to deal with this. I mean, I don't want to be the fat girl at the table. I don't want them to go back to work and say "woah - have you met her? She's really FAT!". I know I should have some faith in people but even some of my husband's friends have made comments about me and about how they thought my husband should leave me because I was ill and then getting fat. No, he doesn't hang out with these people anymore. I'm just tired of explaining to people - not that I owe them anything, but I feel the need to. I mean, I avoided one of my dear friends for 4 years because the last time he saw me I was rockin' a bathing suit on a canoe trip and a year later, I'm twice the size I was. I couldn't face him - I think mostly because I don't understand how this really happened. They told me I would be in treatment for 6 months. Well, here it is 4 and a half years later and those treatments have given me steroid-secreting tumors that have caused so many problems. I have come to terms with what happened - I get that I have to be the one to fix it - and that's what I'm doing. I'm just trying to get a new start without the judging of other people who have NO IDEA where I've been and what I have gone through and still continue to go through.
     
    But I'm going to dinner. I have to continue to have some faith in people. Here's my first chance.
  17. circa

    And So It Begins.

    By circa,

    So, while I know better than to live life by the scale, I did buy one. I owned one previously, but I just moved and I can't find a damned thing. I figured it was probably time for a new one anyway. So I did a little research to find a nice and accurate one. I stepped on the scale and wasn't surprised really - wel, I thought it might have said a higher number than it did with the holidays, etc - although I didn't really indulge. But I haven't exactly been on my best behavior since moving here - a lot of eating out since...well...I can't find anything! Nah - we got the kitchen mostly figured out now - I've been sick for about 4 of the 6 weeks I've been here though, so its been more takeout than it should have been.
     
    Anyway - no excuses any longer. I have my grocery list for tonight. I've stocked up for post-op, have protein shakes ordered. I have 3 weeks to go before surgery, so I'm going to start this now. Because i don't believe in weighing in other than first thing in the morning. I will start with tomorrow morning. I know I'll have some ups and downs - I'm dealing with that "monthly" visitor coming twice every 5 weeks - lemme tell ya. Its NOT fun. I can't wait till all this is over and I can convince a doc to just take out everything that doesn't work.
     
    That's kinda my whole deal on deciding on the sleeve. If its not working for me, why keep it? I don't want to reroute anything - I don't feel comfortable with that. I want to be a runner again and that means being able to eat foods that don't necessarily work with a bypass. Not really comfortable with the whole plumbing change anyway - someone put a lot of thought into the initial design- I'm going for the remodel The band was originally my first choice when I hit 260 lbs. But then I couldn't get approval and the weight just kept piling on. When my doctor told me that there really wasn't anything I could do about it until I got treatment for the steroid tumors, I was really quite depressed and didn't help the situation by not paying much attention to what I ate. I mean, really - what's the point? I could eat lettuce all day and I would still gain weight because of the tumors - why not have cheesecake....for lunch. Yup, I definitely deserve the assist on this one. And I've come to terms with that. And I have now forgiven myself for not being more in control of something I could partially control. I've always been so "all or nothing".
     
    I've tried so many times to get to the OR and every single time someone else has pulled the rug out from under me. I didn't sabotage myself in those instances. Well, one time I did walk away because I was NOT comfortable with the surgeon or the technique, but I think that was for the better. Definitely a plus to me. The other times, I got "not medically necessary" from an insurance company that obviously doesn't understand medical necessity (although, for one of those I was glad - because I was trying for the band - glad I didn't get it) The other times were due to insurance loss. I lost my job and so did my husband - we paid COBRA for his insurance and his company didn't process it correctly so we missed the deadline for the insurance to be valid - they kept the money - I nearly killed someone. The next time, I was going through the process and the company I worked for changed insurance and it was no longer covered. The last one was prime tho. I had pretty good insurance. I had to wait a certain amount of time because I had a tumor (non-cancerous) removed from my breast. I finally found a great surgeon I liked. Got all the preop stuff out of the way. Got my surgery date. It was in 4 weeks! Soooooo excited! Then I got a bill in the mail because my company had stopped paying my insurance premiums without telling me. Then the company folded and not only did I lose my insurance, but my husband and I lost 15 THOUSAND dollars in payroll/invoices owed to us. We both worked for the same company. So not only did I not have any insurance, I certainly didn't have the money to pay for the surgery out of pocket, or the bills that I had acquired up til then. Now I'm suing that company.
     
    BUT! We moved halfway across the country, I'm working for myself, my husband has a GREAT job with really CRAPPY insurance. But I can self-pay in Mexico. That's why I feel in control now
     
    So while the weigh ins start tomorrow, the crap eating has already stopped. I mean, I haven't ate really crappy in a long time. But it'll be even better now. I'm officially pre-op. Gotta do this right!
  18. circa

    Still Not Feeling 100%

    By circa,

    I'm still feeling the effects from my adrenal attack the other night I'm still quite tired and weak - food doesn't sit all that well (which means I'm not eating much, so I guess there's a positive side haha), but I'm nauseous too. This is typical but usually doesn't last this long after. Its really hard to concentrate on work when you feel like this! Good thing I'm an understanding boss!
  19. circa

    Rough Night

    By circa,

    So, last night I had an adrenal attack. Basically, I have a panic attack, but without the mental aspect of it. It lasted about 12 hours. Its extremely painful and the only thing that seems to ease the pain is extremely hot water. Even the hot tub wasn't hot enough. I'm extremely exhausted now because of the lack of sleep. Its amazing how much pain something so small as an adrenal tumor can cause. After I have my sleeve, I'll be scheduled for additional treatment for the tumors. I cannot wait for that to happen. This surgery has more of an effect on things than my weight. My doctor is hoping that it will help to restore my thyroid function as well as help with the PCOS and allow better treatment for my insomnia and endometriosis - most of which was caused by the steroid treatments I was on for years. So here's to getting all of this started and solved!
  20. circa

    Just Over 3 Weeks

    By circa,

    I'm just a little over 3 weeks away from surgery. I'm nervous/excited. I started stocking up on soups and whatnot for my "clear liquids" portion of the process. I'm not a very good broth-eater, but I'll do it! Still waiting on my passport to get here - I have to renew my drivers license because that expires at the same time - UGH! What a pain!
  21. circa

    T- Minus 30 Days To Sleeve

    By circa,

    In 30 days I will be giving myself the best tool I can find to get my life back. I have tried for a couple of years now to work with insurance companies and it just didn't work out. Either they didn't cover the procedure, didn't deem it medically necessary, or I lost my insurance as soon as I got approval, or my employer didn't pay my insurance premiums - its just been one thing after another. I tried 5 times with insurance companies. Not always their fault, certainly not mine. This time, I've got the power in my own hands. I have the funds to do it myself (pay for the surgery, not perform the surgery - although I would if they would let me! haha) I'll be heading to Mexico the day after my birthday to have the surgery. Dr. Almanza will be performing it. I have done a TON of research. I know that this is the best option for me. I probably won't stay in the recovery house, but at the hotel with my husband. I can't stand being around people when I don't feel well - especially if they don't feel well too. I would like to have my husband be comfortable and he won't be unless he's WITH me. I understand that I will be in a surgical clinic - I'm fine with that - in fact, I prefer it. Hospitals are the biggest source of infections there is - why? because there's SICK people there! I don't feel I need an ICU on hand. I don't have any comorbidities to worry about. I'm actually in relatively good health now that I'm past the heavy metal poisoning and unfortunately I'm left with about 200 lbs extra of me from the aftermath of the treatment of chelation and steroids. I of course didn't help matters - I was weak and couldn't exercise. I was pumped full of steroids and was unsatiably hungry at all times. I made poor food choices a lot of the time. Would I still be in this situation if I had made the best food choices? Yes. But probably not as bad. In conjunction with my surgery, I'll have additional treatment for all the steroid damage. I'm looking forward to getting my life back. It hasn't been all that long that I've been without it. This all started in late 2007. So its been 4 years. 4 years since I've been a size 10. 4 years since I ran 5 miles a day. 4 years since my husband looked at me like I was absolutely the only person on the planet besides him. 4 years since I've had the confidence to be who I am. I can't wait to have that back. Just recently, I've realized my actual size. Wow did that hit me hard. Before, and sometimes still, I feel myself to be a "normal" sized person. Hopefully that will help with body image issues. My body was never perfect, but I was comfortable with it. That's all I want to be - healthy, active, and comfortable. Here's to that goal.
  22. circa

    Travelling For Work

    By circa,

    so I have to go to Texas for work - which means hotel living. My coworker booked himself in a 229/per night hotel because its "close" to our worksite. I, on the other hand booked myself in a 119/night extended stay 6 miles from the worksite which has a full kitchen in it, allowing me to cook for myself instead of eating out
    When I get there, I'll run to Sam's or Costco and get my protein shakes and some initial food to start with and be on my way. I made sure the hotel has a gym and a pool - although the pool is outdoor, its texas and heated, so that's good.
     
    I'm excited to have a more interesting project at work. I'm extra excited because I'll be able to visit my best friend of 31 years, as well as some other friends As much as I said I never wanted to go back to texas, I'm glad to go there for this project - its about 2 months and then I'll get another project here. I'm excited about getting back to a project that doesn't bore me to death!
     
    I'll have lots of time for exercise and fun stuff. I'm happy about it
  23. circa

    Texas? Really?

    By circa,

    So I'm going back to Texas for a couple of months for work. I swore I wouldn't go back there - its where I got sick - but knowing is half the battle, right? Well, hopefully things go well - I'm going to be there for a few weeks, then home for a few days, then back and forth for a couple months. Exciting stuff.
  24. circa

    First Full-Liquid Meal

    By circa,

    I had some cream of mushroom soup. It was delish! I pureed the hell out of the mushrooms instead of straining them - good choice. A little fiber goes a long way haha. I ate probably 1/2 to 2/3 a cup of soup slowly and stopped when I felt full. I'm quite satisfied with the meal and so far, my tummy has not had a problem with anything I've given it. I even had part of a protein shake today at lunch - It wasn't my favorite thing - but it didn't come back up or even give me any trouble. Just kinda sat a little heavy at first. It became easier as I continued on it.
  25. circa

    Back At Work

    By circa,

    About 2/3 of the way through the day and I'm feeling fine. Drank some broth and some cranberry juice today. I know i need to get in more calories, its just difficult to do with a limited selection. Gonna be able to do creamies tomorrow. I could have today I'm sure but I'm a to-the-letter kind of person with things like this. Almost done with antibiotics - just a couple more days THANK GOD. Pill cutters are your friends. Don't try to crush and dissolve - it tastes like I'm licking a paint brush full of latex paint.

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