ShonIsLove

At my 2 week visit last week I was taken off of my blood pressure medicine!! Yaaaa!

Hi everyone! I've been MIA for a while. Lots going on! I'm doing fine. At 2 weeks out I had lost 18 lbs. Feeling pretty good too. Getting in all my Protein, Vitamins, Water, etc. Knee problems have kept me from walking but I think I may have that figured out. If not, another surgery is in my future! Ick! I haven't been able to keep up with posts but I'm at the hospital with my daughter right now so I may have some time to catch up. I go back to work part time this Wednesday. Really looking forward to it too! I'm glad I like my job.
I hope everyone is doing well! Have a happy Monday!

I have been extremely busy since my surgery date , I have missed all of you , I have checked in periodically when I have had a couple mins , I'm glad all of you are doing well , I went to my Dr on Friday and I'm 45 lbs down since oct 1 st . It's still a struggle for me to get all my Protein but I know I can't give up , hopefully it won't be so long til I check back in , I'm so proud of all the oct 2014 people now prepare yourselves to SHINE !!!!!

I just came to an important realization. I have to start wearing my best clothes right away because they are going to stop fitting very soon. You know how you settle for the comfortable stuff and kind of save your nicer clothing for special occasions. Time to go grocery shopping in the "good stuff." Yep, stylish clothes to shop at Walmart and Lowes. Watch out housewives of Loudoun County, here I come. Lol.

This is not a great picture, but taken today in my baggy 16's.

Re liquids I noticed I'am doing better on intake today cause I'am out with my husband at a sports bar to watch football.
As they eat I drink Water & unsweetened ice tea. I sip they eat. I waited to order after they had almost finished it helped me know I could choose wisely and focus on my portion size. I drunk 2 -8 oz glasses of water so far plus 1/3 of a turkey burger no bun and couple of quarter slices of mozzarella and Tomato. I gave the fries to the table of 5 and they took care of them. All &"all my food was Really good and I'm full. It is possible to go out and eat healthy

How's everyone doing I had my op on 6th nov was originally gonna be 25th October. I'm doing great a bit of pain but since I got home it got a lot better 2nd day I was in hospital I had hot flashes all night n day but after a good nights sleep at home I'm as good as new. Hope all going good for everyone.

Hey I just saw on my ticker I have 36 pounds to get to my goal weight of 119. I know that I am not a normal case here because I started at 225 and had a total of 105 to lose to do that and lost 50 of that before surgery. So 3 weeks out post surgery and 36 pounds to go. I can not believe that. CRAZY!!!

I am out of the 240's...
I am out of the 230's....
I am out of the 220's.....
I feel good!
I even vacuumed today! And cleaned my bathroom! (I usually do this a couple times a week so I've been going nuts not being able to!)
Planning on a walk next, although the wind is howling out there, so can't say I'm looking forward to being outside!

I am so excited! I don't know if anyone has heard of or use essential oils, but we use them here. Anyway. ..I've been using them on my belly for pain, and I was surprisingly not so impressed. I swear by these oils for alot of things, but the ones I was using weren't cutting it. Well, I did some research and read about one that is supposed to help with scar tissue. I happened to have it so I started using it Wednesday night. Also applied it a few times Thursday and yesterday. I was walking around at work yesterday and it dawned on me my right side sharp, burning pain was literally gone. I'm in such a better mood now!!! Being in constant pain is not fun! Lol! I was even able to finally get up at 5:30 with the dogs this morning Nd let them out and feed them for the first time in 3 weeks! (I couldn't bend over to hook their leashes up) so my honey finally got to sleep in. And I went back to bed and read for about an hour or so and then fell back asleep until 9:45!! Holy sleep!! Felt great!!

Best dinner ever,
I made some chicken stock and placed in the freezer for after surgery. It is, of course, delicious homemade stock.
I had one single smallish potato cubed and boiled for 30 minutes. Had to search for a pot to place my tiny potato and found one so small I don't think I have ever used before. It came with a set, so there it was. I added enough broth to wisk the whole thing into yogurt consistency. That's a lot runnier then regular mashies. I also added 1/2 a scoop of unflavored GENEPRO Protein (15 gr). One scoop of their Protein is like a tablespoon. It's not much at all. OMG, I am in love and my pouch loved it. I want to eat that forever. Warm, yummy deliciousness.
I think I need to buy some smaller bowls. My 1/2 cup of mashies looked ridiculous in our regular cereal/soup bowls.

Went to dinner with friends, they chose GOLDEN CORRAL. Haahaha, I had my bariatric card someone had posted earlier. Thank you by the way, whomever that was!!! 6.99 for dinner, not bad at all!
Ate a few things, the tilapia, fake crab salad, and one teaspoon of bourbon street chicken, really really chopped up and some pintos. 1/2 cup total. Was pretty much what I have been having at home, except the bourbon street chicken, but I did not have to cook it, different seasonings. I was tempted by their sugar free chocolate pudding, but did not trust it all the way around and passed it on by. Fun night with friends, needed that.

So this is really weird for me. I have pretty much lost all feelings of "hunger", except that I have what some call "head hunger". Like I have to remind myself to eat, because I could seriously go all day without putting anything in my stomach. But I'll smell what someone is cooking or eating, or I'll see it and I want it. My boyfriend had buffalo wings and blue cheese earlier this week and I was practically drooling from the smell. Then I sat down with my little bowl of mashed potatoes and fat free gravy and I couldn't finish it lol. Then there are the CRAVINGS...I don't know why, but since the day after my surgery, I've been craving crackers. Ritz crackers to be exact. And cucumbers. Not together lol, but I really can't wait for the day I can eat crackers and cucumbers again! Don't get me started on Red velvet brownies! lol, I'll stop now!

My scalloped potato and ham was amazing! It sat well, except I think I ate it a little too fast. I knew I was pushing it, trying to finish before I had to go pick up my son from school. I was uncomfortable for about 15 mins, then alright.
I'm eating some Yoplait 100 Greek yogurt. I hope my belly agrees with it because it tastes amazing! (apple pie flavor)

this is day 10. i am amazed at how good i feel. i had very little pain. my belly looks like a battlefield after so many lap procedures (hernia, gallbladder, hysterectomy, rnygb)! I came home to blenderized foods after 2 days in hopsital of Clear liquids. My tastebuds are changing. I used to love lentils, and now they taste like garden dirt. I've been having yogurt, Protein drinks, blenderized bean and split pea Soups. i have a lot of Water and SF popsicles. No nausea. I see my PA on Tuesday. Amazing journey. I'm learning so much.

I can eat sugar free rice pudding no problem but mashed potatoes were a problem last week. I'm coming to the end of my puréed weeks just 5 more days. I ate a little tuna without grinning it all up & added a little relish. Tuna fish was my life long favorite so really missing having the chunky taste. I went out with my husband for Asian & had noodles with broccoli & tofu without eating the broccoli. I was able to eat only about 1/4 cup compared to my usually 1/2 to 1 cup at one meal. I'm gonna try a little bit of salmon with some baby food veggies & turkey. More so because I bought 2 bottles of baby food early on & might as well try one. So looking forward to adding regular food next week one at a time. It's not that I'm hungry just missing real chewing.
I'm getting in about 38 to 48 ounces of liquid a day so not too bad.
Each week making progress with food intake but worrying about weight loss slow down. Trying to increase my walking I did 3 miles and over 11,000 steps yesterday making me sleep well last night. It poured today so just caught up on my TiVo. Tomorrow it's back to walking

Hey guys, thank you for all your words of encouragement I really needed it bad. I've seriously been crying for the past few days and today my mom brought my son and I cheered up. After all these tears and regretful thoughts I have decided to pack it up and I'm just going to live with my decision and take it for what it is. I started my tube feeding yesterday and have been trying to pull through and eat while on it so that I can get off it. I love all of you for being here for me and again I appreciate you guys keeping me in your thoughts and uplifting me with your kind and beautiful words. Thank you.

My first Breakfast post surgery- 1/2 cup cup yoplait Greek 100 Boston Cream pie. It tasted amazing and I am so stuffed. Hopefully it won't disturb my pouch. My goodness after 10 days of liquids it was so nice.

Hi cindyboo1974
You came to the right place

Thank you for your transparency and for sharing Phil's story. My surgery was October 20th and all the questions you listed ran through my mind. I'm very thankful that I have not had any complications thus far. Today I am truly Inspired by your post and I am looking forward to the days, weeks, months and years ahead on this journey.

@@Beni my friend gave me this today and it motivates me no matter how bad I feel.

That was absolutely beautiful @ layknee. You are so good and your expression of care floors me.
How are you doing my friend?

I'm sorry I haven't been around much. @@Bronxmerci I'm there I know how it feels. Once we get through this month or two it'll get better. It may not seem like there is an end in sight but there is. You have to live each day knowing that you are stronger than the day before. This whole process has to be treated like a learning curve. God hears you and would never put more on you than you can bear.
Stated truths:
You are loved,
You will get better,
You will survive this,
Your future and your son's future is blinding because it is so bright,
You will be stronger than you ever thought possible,
You will be the best you that you can be because you will appreciate every moment that life gives you.
I am excited to see you're growth after this trial by fire.
I'm going through somethings also and there's no way I can get back to work. I'll probably be off another 5 weeks. New problems all the time. But what is true for me is true for you as well.
This time will pass.
Keep your eyes forward to your goals.
Love you girl.

Had my first day of work yesterday. I took an easy assignment and by the end of the day I Was Wiped out. Not lethargic, just tired. Lay ed my head down last night and slept like a baby, I havent slept this good since my surgery. I was a bit sore this morning, mainly in my arms since I haven't lifted over 20 lbs for a month. I work again tonight and tomorrow.

@Bronxmerci. Yours is an unusual circumstance. No way you could have predicted this. I have had zero complications (knock on wood) in fact ,I am sitting here feeling bad I didn't do it earlier. My youngest is a boy and he is 13. I didn't do it earlier because I was too afraid I would die and then I would be leaving him without a mother. That guilt was too much. Now I think it was stupid because I lost 5 years (when I started to seriously contemplate surgery) that I could have been a better mother because I would have had more energy to do things with him.
The future is a gamble for all of us. We are "all terminal" is the way I like to think of it. We have to use our days to do the best we can. Your decision to have this was a good one. Your fight is not over. Let's get that food in and your stomach working. Any pain and nausea will be taken care of with meds and then it will stabilize and you will be good to go. I know this next statement is silly but you still have 2/3 of stomach floating inside of you. You got spare parts baby. The Heparin shots are temporary. People have daily multiple shots for a lifetime with Type 1 diabetes. This is going to get better.