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forensicmary

Sleeve Plication Patients
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Blog Entries posted by forensicmary

  1. forensicmary
    I am using the HMR protein shakes which are dairy based. Hopefully this okay. I went out today and bought sugarfree pudding to flavor the shakes and some other flavoring. I also purchased some soups with low sodium (broth). I make one shake ahead so I have one ready. Going from an all inclusive to 1000 calories per day. I am concerned about work tomorrow but will keep my head up. I want to make sure they can do my surgery so I want to make sure I follow the diet!
  2. forensicmary

    Second thoughts

    By forensicmary,

    I have been eating 800 calories and have only lost 5 lbs in 7 days. I started at 220. On Sept 20 I was 218. Preop diet started 2/21. My Sept 24 weight is 213. What if I dont loose 10 pounds before surgery? If my metabolism slows down this much at 800 calories am I really going to lose that much after surgery? I am tracking everything faithfully on Livestrong.com so I know I am not cheating. My protein is 70-120 gm per day. Everything is low carb that I eat.
     
    I am wondering if I should do the vertical sleeve but my surgery is paid for and the date is looming ahead... September 28.
     
    I am drinking the protein shakes without difficulty as they taste fine to me. Just really worried that I will not be successful after surgery or that I will be spending a significant amount of money with very little results.
     
    I guess second thoughts are normal . I am not questioning my motivation to maintain the postop diet but I am wondering how my body is going to respond to it.
  3. forensicmary

    Post op day 2

    By forensicmary,

    I was able to get 62 gms of protein. I had some stomach cramping today so maybe should not have started protein shakes so early. The oddest thing is that I have minimal abdominal pain but my left side of my neck is aching. Maybe positioning during surgey? So I have takenmeds for stomach cramping and pain meds.
     
    I have walked both days. I feel lucky that I had no problems with the surgery and I am going to try to rest my neck.
     
    I am scared because I dont seem to know when I am full. Dont want to stretch anything out right out of surgery!
     
    still planning on work on Monday hopefully will be better everyday!
  4. forensicmary
    Had my phone interview today with Dr. Watkins, nurse, counselor and scheduler. I am scheduled for the the gastric plication on September 28, 2011. I have to start my prep pack next week while I am in Cancun. I have been very stressed at work but this decision feels right for me. I will need to do one week of 800 cal per day liquids prior to the surgery. I bought a chewable vitamin. Worried about being able to take my medications after surgery.
     
    On September 20 will have a history and physical done with my primary doctor. Supposed to get height weight and neck size. My husband is coming with me to the surgery and I am glad he has been so supportive!
     
    Dr. Watkin says he advises a week of of work to heal. I am having the surgery on a Wednesday and want to return to work the next Monday.
     
    So successful day!
  5. forensicmary

    Two Month Postop

    By forensicmary,

    I am two months post op at this time. I have lost a total of 27 lbs including preop. I went from 220 to 193 lbs. I am still not quite a size 16 in all my pants but can not wear many of my size 18 because they are too BIG:)
     
    I am eating normally but with smaller portion sizes. I have noticed that will meat and vegetables, my portion sizes are small. I can eat a whole bag of 99 cent Cheetos and not have any problem. So the moral of the story or lesson here is that it is the quality of what you put in your stomach that is going to get you farther in your weight loss.
     
    I have noticed that I am tracking my calories less but each time I go to put them in I am shocked by the calorie count.. My goal is to continue tracking because it is easy to tell myself I havent really ate that much. I had a two week weight stall which really worried me but when I increased my calories from 920 to 1100 I started dropping weight again. So not enough calories for my activity? Nice change huh?
     
    I was sick with a cold for week and I stopped exercising. My husband and I are committed to going back to the gym. I have to move to eat more and move to lose more weight.
     
    I mainly take low calorie food to work and save half my calories for home. Otherwise I end up with just 200 calories and a very long evening.
     
    Thanksgiving went okay. I could only eat two small sweet potato chunks, spoon of stuffing and 2 oz of turkey. I hurt though. I had slivers of pie later. I didnt gain so I guess I did okay.
     
    Occasionally I crave soda but I do not want to stretch my pouch.
     
    So as you can see it is a struggle still with your mind, old habits and motivation. This surgery requires a committment to a life style change. It is only a tool.
  6. forensicmary

    One Month Post OP

    By forensicmary,

    I lost a total of 23 pounds including preoperative weight loss. I am down a pant size. Most people can tell in my face and stomach. I can tell with my pants. Some one actually wanted to know what I paid so they could figure how much each pound cost. I have never lost this much weight without gaining it all back quickly. I am nervous that I will suddenly want to eat more but so far I am doing okay.
     
    I eat a protein bar or protein shake slowing through the AM. I eat protein throughout the day. I have had 1/2 english muffin toasted and 35 cal bread toasted. I havent really tried pasta. Broccoli cooked does okay. I havent try raw veggies. I am happy so far with my weight loss and what I eat. I am focusing on the working out more and water.
  7. forensicmary
    I started regular food this week and find that I really have to concentrate or I go back to my eating habits of not fully chewing the food. This of course is uncomfortable. I find that I eat about every 2-3 hours. I went to a conference for two day this past work week and it was difficult at meals. I didnt want to waste my food. I couldnt box the food either. I also loved the cheese cake (it went down well) but I couldnt eat much of it.
     
    I have lost a total of 21 pounds (preop) included. I am still focusing on Protein and low calories (930 cal/day). I went to a seminar this past week on Morbid obesity. There are some things like probiotics to help normalize the gut flora to help us lose weight. The doctors seemed to think that a high protein, hypocaloric (low calorie) diet is the best way to lose weight. The doctors were bariatric doctors and had negative comments of the long term results of bariatric surgery. Of course the gastric plication wasnt listed.
     
    I find myself focused on what other people are eating and the portion size is amazing to me compared to what I can eat.
     
    I struggle sometimes if I get too busy getting calories or fluids in and spend the rest of the evening (catching up). My favorite foods right now are cottage cheese, oatmeal, beans and fish. I slacked off on the shakes this week because I have to buy more. I am still liking the EAS carb control shakes.I am still tracking calories and exercise.
     
    Sometimes I wish the weight loss was faster but I know I wouldnt feel as good as I do if I couldnt take in the protein and calories.
  8. forensicmary

    Two Weeks post op

    By forensicmary,

    I am two weeks postop I have lost a total of 20 pounds. I am down a pant size to a 16 for the first time in a long time. The weight loss is amazing to me. I am afraid to stall. I really want to get under 200 pounds! Just .5lbs to go!
     
    I started soft foods. Fish, cottage cheese, yogurt, protein shakes, peanut butter, soup, cheddar cheese melted, baked potatoe mashed. I tried veggies that we steamed well but they didnt sit well. I am still more comfortable with the yogurt or cottage cheese because it is package small and I dont over do it.
     
    Working out at the gym on the elliptical and stepper machines. I am a little tired after 30 minutes but generally feel good. Plan on starting weights next week.
     
    I get uncomfortable at times in my waist incision areas. (Wish he would have went a little lower so they were at my pant line. But they are not red or anything. My left flank area also feels sore. Not sure if it is my stomach or kidney?
  9. forensicmary
    Well I have done really well after surgery. I am eating full liquids without nausea and maintaining my protein intake. Now I am able to take in my full calories which at this point is about 956 per day. Understanding protein dense foods and shakes helped me. My fluids are about 60-64 oz when I carry a vitamin water with me throughout the day. I cant wait for pureed on Wednesday. The scale watching can get bad for me. I have to pull myself back to reality and say that 17 lbs in 2 1/2 weeks is awesome.
     
    I did cheat. I ate ritz crackers on occasion and I had 3 soft fair fries. Neither upset my stomach but I didnt push it either. I have a need to chew. I chew gum occasionally to help.
     
    Each day I am stronger and walk farther. Plan to go back to the gym and weights on Wednesday.
     
    Lesson Learned: Surgery has helped me reset my portion size. Livestrong.com has help me track calories which keeps me ontrack. There is a lot of sodium in food when I hit pureed I am going to focus on lowering my sodium intake.
     
    I have had some doubts, anger at not being able to lose weight by myself. But I am dealing and all is good.
  10. forensicmary
    I am down 14 pounds (5 lbs postop).
     
    I went to work with my clear liquids and protein shake. I kinda felt out of the loop just being gone for four days. I walked at lunch but then I became tired, diaphoretic and had a headache again. Not sure why the headaches but the only thing that took it away was Excedrin migraine. I did read some studies that migraines get better after WLS but the only patients in the study were bypass patients.
     
    I had to leave work after 7.5 hours due to tiredness. My work was okay with that. I have had some problems with blurry vision since surgery, probably the medication side effects.
     
    I am not hungry but want to eat. There really is no other way to describe it. I daydream about comfort food. It is not sweets that I want but meat and mash potatoes:( It really hit me today that pizza wont be on my diet anytime soon.
     
    Also I find myself worrying about stretching out my stomach and wasting my money. Tracking my calories on LiveStrong helps keep me in line. Tomorrow is Full liquids woohoo!
     
    There is a lot of internal dialogue with myself. I focus on how my stomach feels, whether I am full, what to eat next... The scale reinforces and validates me which gives me courage to stay on track.
     
     
  11. forensicmary
    Well I was hoping to go to work today but woke up three times in horrible night sweats. I had to change my night clothes each time. I am not running a fever. The only pain I have today is a migraine which I have had for 7 hours now. I have some sinus issues today too. I do not have a fever and my incisions look good.
     
     
    I read that some protein shakes are connected to migraine headaches. I started eating chocolate flavor GNC 100% Whey protein shakes mixed in milk and blended with ice yesterday. I have tolerated Atkins and EAS shakes without problems. I may need to go back to the other shakes. At least GNC gives your money back.
     
    Other foods I am eating: popsicles sugar free, broth, and sugar free pudding and yogurt. I had some tomato basil soup but then read we shouldnt have that until further out because it irritates the stomach lining. I just ate a cup of pudding over a half hour which I should not be able to do!
     
    Craving chedder potatoe soup and ice cream but I am staying away.
     
    So, I stayed home again today. Hopefully back to work in am.
  12. forensicmary

    First day Postop

    By forensicmary,

    I had my surgery yesterday. I felt like leaving the moment I got to the surgery center. But I went through with it!
     
    Today is just dealing with throat soreness, gas pains and understanding how much I can take in. Dr. Watkins fixed my hiatal hernia in addtion to the plication. Dr. Watkins is very nice and spent time with me going over discharge instruction. I will be able to email pics of my stab wounds rather than traveling again.
     
    I made myself drink 64 gm of protein today but other liquids beside this are hard to get in. I am halfway there. I walked thorugh the IKEA store with my husband and that actually help me more. I am hoping that I can drive home comfortably tomorrow as it is 3 1/2 hour ride.
     
     
     
    Otherwise unremarkable post op.
  13. forensicmary

    Surgery in the AM

    By forensicmary,

    Finished the 9 days of liquids, 2 weeks of antibiotics and lost only 7 pounds following the diet and staying within my calories. I felt the best I have in 9 days. I think I was in a brain fog without a lot of carbs. I am still leery of my surgery and the result I can expect. What I have learned by reading the blogs is that it is hard work no matter how you try to loose weight. WLS vs trying on your own... Both depend on your mind set and will power. It is hard for me still to accept that I am doing this as it feels like I should have had enough will power to do it on my own.
     
    Saying a prayer that all goes well and that it is worth it!
  14. forensicmary
    Spoke with the surgeon's office today. Too many carbs in HMR protein shakes so I switched to Atkin's shakes. I had a headache all day. Carb withdrawal? I also found out I can only eat 800 calories not 1000 like I thought. Okay now I am hungry. I am confused about the carb intake preop so more exploring on that.
     
    On a positive note I have lost 5 pounds so far. Oh I learned how to set up my weight loss ticker which is fun. I also am tracking on livestrong.com which has helped me log my water, exercise weight, calories, protein and carbs.
     
    at lunch I went for a walk because everyone was eating pizza. I also walked for 40 minutes with my friend tonight.
  15. forensicmary

    Preop Antibiotics

    By forensicmary,

    I am on day three of preop antibiotics and I am in a Cancun all inclusive. I am starting to have loose stools so it's anyone's guess which one of these may be the cause. I have horrible taste in my mouth in the AM that taste like the Biaxin. Yuck. Not starting liquid diet till Sunday Sept 18, 2011 as I only have to be on liquids one week prior to my surgery. I am on antibiotics and prilosec for two weeks so hopefully I will be able to tolerate this especially switching to liquids which I believe will make it worse.
     
    Maybe that is how I will be losing my preop weight. Bowl Cleansing. LOL
  16. forensicmary
    I have been in Cancun, Mexico since Sept. 10, 2011. I started the preop antibiotics yesterday. So far so good. I will not start the liquid protein shakes until I get home. I looked at pics of myself at Xplor and really started thinking ahead to how much easier it would have been to climb the 14 platforms to zipline or walk the beach to the snorkle spot if I didnt weigh so much! I was exhausted but proud that I finished the two circuits. I plan to continue my daily activity when I get home so that I am used to exercising.
     
    I am excited about my surgery on Sept 28 but it really hit home that I will have to work at it just as hard as I did yesterday. There were times when I wanted to just walk down the stairs and give up. But the sucess was worth it. I can push myself to my limits. I found that it really wasnt a "limit" I could do more!
     
     
  17. forensicmary
    I am a 44 yo registered nurse who is a Director of Quality in a small hospital in NWO. I have researched all my options. Orginally I wanted the VSG but now I really feel that the gastric plication is the tool I need to increase my chance of losing weight and keeping it off. I like that it is revisable and is not associated with malabsorption
    .
    I made my decision after two years of lurking on weight loss sites and trying various diets, personal training and pills. I would lose 15 and gain 20. I have watched my ability to snorkel and walk on vacation turn into shortness of breath and fatigue. I walk up the stairs to beat of 132 pulse. This has improved with cardio at the gym (120's )
     
    I have beat myself up. Refused to go out with my husbands friends because they are thin and I am embarassed for my husband. Really I have spent my time making other people happy and not myself necessarily.
     
    Weight loss will not make me beautiful ( It is what is inside that counts). It will not make me successful as I feel that I am succesful professionally regardless of my weight. Weight loss will increase my energy and my overall health.
     
    My fears are complications related to the surgery. I am having my consultation appointment by phone with Dr. Brad Watkins from Cincinnati Weight Loss on Sept 7, 2011. I am 5 ft 3 inches and 216.5 today. This is a 38.4 BMI . So far I dont have high blood pressure or diabetes. I dont want them either.
     
    I will keep you posted:)

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