delawarewxgeek

I was doing my annual get ready for Boy Scout Camp physical when my doc had a "come to jesus" talk...  I was morbidly obese, hypertensive and diabetic.  He suggested if I wished to see grandkids (and I do) I needed to make some major changes and do it quickly.  Lap Banding was suggested and when I investigated the process I discovered it was a six month process involving multiple meetings, assessments from cardiologists, pulmonologists, psychologists, dieticians etc.  No snap decisions here, you committed, you followed through or you started over.   Presurgery was instruction on lifestyle needs etc.  The two weeksprior to surgery were liquid Optifast meals with last two days of just clear liquids.  If there was anytime I was tempted to say the heck it, it was that time.  I perserved and reported for surgery just before Christmas.

The surgery on 12/22/09 went smoothly enough and discharged to home on 12/23. The next couple of days were not pleasant with constant urping of mucusousy substances and no comfortable position to lay/sit in. My loving daughter referred to me as an "undead sentinel" on the living room couch. Christmas was quiet and each day I have felt a little better. The big adjustment is getting in the meds I have to take- I grind my pills to powder and mix w/ crystal lite and gag it down. Yummy! All nutrition is at this time liquid- protein shakes, soups and drink mixes. To my dismay coffee doesn't taste right for the moment so I have had to turn to other forms of hot fluid- boullilion or broths. Each day I have gotten better reaching daily goal of 64 grams of protein and 64 ounces (minimum) of H2O. Imagine Captain Hydration of Camp Rodney taking an hour or more to finish 16 ounces of water.

To help keep track of current weight loss and keep me motivated: My starting weight pre-surgery was 384 lbs. This was down from a summer high of 408 lbs. At 1 week post surgery my weight is 357 lbs. Not all that loss is weight as I am striving to rehydrate from last week's failures to hit nutrient goals each day. Still it is reassuring to see the losses. Next step is to establish a regular walking program each day... long term goal is to get to the top of Bull Mountain again...Short term walk a little more each day....

Current plans have me going back to school 1/6/10. It should be interesting how I can fit in my "gotta do's" for fluids, etc. into classroom routines. I see myself carrying a Wa-Wa Super mug with my shakes concealed within. Lunches will be challenging. Cup-A-Soup here I come!   To combat liquid diet boredom I am developing soup/broth recipes that beat canned crud.  I will post a few just for grins.

More later and as it is this was way more info than thought it would be when I started this note. Have A Happy New Year and best wishes to all