Thought I would start a little diary of my experience of going through surgery.

I am seriously contemplating posting a video diary on youtube, but I am worried some weirdo might say something bad (and hurt my feelings, you know, I have to admit it).

I have a little over 24 hours now until my surgery. I am really, really excited. I have waited three months now since my consult. This is the first surgery in my life (well, except for my breast reduction) where I am actually glad to go under the knife! What a difference eh? (yup, I'm from Canada, eh?).

I think I have all the supplies I need -

gas x

peppermint tea

heat pad

sf popsicles

broth

also I can make homemade turkey broth as well

cold packs

Did I miss anything?

I have so many thoughts going through my head right now.... I spoke with my husband earlier (we have been together for 10 years now, married for five). I told him I was worried how he would react when I start losing weight. We have been together through thick and thin. He recently gave me a huge ring for xmas saying that he loves me and always will. I was about 180 lbs (really fit though) when I met him, so he knows what I look like smaller. I know that he isn't as sexually attracted to me as he used to be, hell if I was a man I wouldn't be attracted to my body either! However, he has never said anything, and before when I was first starting to gain weight, he told me he really hated it when I put myself down, and asked me to stop. Since that time I have never said I hate my body, I look fat, etc. etc. (which is good, as since then we had two children, and I don't want to pass on my body image issues to my girls.)

Anyways I have to run and go watch Walk the Line (god I love digital cable, I just paused the movie, it's on a regular TV channel, sooo cool!).

I will also post a pic soon.

Take care all

Yeah, I know, another picture of me.

BUT THIS IS JUST SOOOO COOL!!!! I can't believe how my face is just shrinking away! Awesome!

Day five (I think? or sixth?) - anyways, managed to get out for a small walk today, hugged my weiner dog pillow (I call it that... ha ha, it's one of those fancy tube pillows that come with bed sets), walked like Tim Conway, it took me 10 minute to walk where it would normally take two.

Actually went out SHOPPING. I bought some:

Floradix liquid Iron supplement

Protein powder

multi-Vitamin (powder again)

Omega 3-6-9 plus DHA/blablabla oil

MORE BROTH! ha ha, this time I bought some organic broth made by some fancy chef. Found out it STILL TASTES LIKE BROTH!! Dammit! Paid an extra 2.00 for it.

Roberta:

I hope you are doing well. I had mine the 27th of December and my weight was 290 (at the beginning of the 10 day pre-diet). We'll have to stay in touch and vent to each other as we go through the trials. I have my first Breakfast tomorrow at 8:00 am and I'm excited to see who all will be experiencing it with me.

How has the last week been for you? I am a lot more sore that I was prepared for. I've had two C-sections and I'd compare this to them because of the similarity in the stomach area. I guess a lot of people heal quickly, but I didn't start feeling human until today.

Let me know how you are.

Thanks,

__________________

Nan - ~Nan~

December 27, 2007 (self-pay) - Dr. Baird, Idaho Falls, ID

Roberta:

I hope you are doing well. I had mine the 27th of December and my weight was 290 (at the beginning of the 10 day pre-diet). We'll have to stay in touch and vent to each other as we go through the trials. I have my first breakfast tomorrow at 8:00 am and I'm excited to see who all will be experiencing it with me.

How has the last week been for you? I am a lot more sore that I was prepared for. I've had two C-sections and I'd compare this to them because of the similarity in the stomach area. I guess a lot of people heal quickly, but I didn't start feeling human until today.

Let me know how you are.

Thanks,

__________________

Nan - ~Nan~

December 27, 2007 (self-pay) - Dr. Baird, Idaho Falls, ID

Hi Nan, good to hear from you! I'm glad that you are starting to feel back in the swing of things. How have you done on your weight loss so far? I know the first month isn't about losing weight, it's about healing..but it's still fun to find out how we have all done! (how can we NOT lose weight on clear fluids! blech!! )

Roberta,

Wow, what a change! I wish I could see something similar but there is nothing. My pants fit better I guess, but nothing I'm noticing in my face.

You look awesome! I almost wish my doc had said clear fluids for 30 days. There doesn't seem to be anything I'm wanting that I'm not allowed anymore. You're awesome! Take comfort in that 30 day diet. It's paying off for you.

Steph

Quick update...

I have already made some positive changes to my appearance. I started wearing my hair up aka Britney with the headband and the big ponytail, kind of teased at the top so it gets a bit of volume (aka Amy Winehouse). Started using an eyebrow liner and wearing lipstick (which I never used to do, just did my eye makeup and that's all, bare minimum).

I lost 11 pounds in the first week. It went lower then went up 2 lbs and then stabilized. I'm pleased with the result. I must admit that I am weighing myself once, twice a day. I need to stop.

I can't remember if I discussed this or not but I slipped up a few days ago and had some teaspoonfuls of nutella (chocolate/hazelenut spread similar to peanut butter). I am back on track now and trying some week2 foods - I had some potato soup, slim fast (with added protein), and a kids-sized yogurt (minigo). I'm finding that it helps a lot and doesn't leave me feeling so deprived.

Whenever I drink something, even if it is the first sip or two, I get a heavy feeling in my chest and my shoulder pain starts. I don't get it!! It's hard not to drink air with the fluids, I still can't figure out how to manage to do that - have tried straws, spoons, right from the cup, no go.

It's hard for me to tell if I am 'full' or not --- especially with liquids, how much am I supposed to eat? I don't understand. I emailed my dietician and hopefully she can answer that.

Anyways that's it for now...thanks for reading. If you have a progress thread you post to, please let me know, I would love to read it!

Oh yeah, I also was able to drive and walk around yesterday almost like normal. My port cut is still really sore and covered with bloody scabs (sorry). My other incisions never bothered me at all.

I wonder why they don't give patients some sort of a compression / support bandage to wear around their abdomen? I could have really used that instead of a pillow to hold in my port area..it hurt when I walked.

You can probably tell the top one still hurts.

There are five incisions - let's play CONNECT THE DOTS! LOL:)

I have a huge hematoma on my arm where they put in the IV, it is about 5" long and 3" wide.

Roberta we are band sisters!! I was also banded on the 28th! So far so good, I have lost about 13#'s. I can't believe it myself. Of course, I have said that anyone following the diet I am on is bound to loose weight. Went to the movies with my kids and sister today. I thought it would be really hard because my hunger is back for the most part. They all ate the yummy smelling popcorn and I got hot chocolate. You know it was satisfying! After that they wanted to go to Ryans Steakhouse. Can you believe that! How RUDE! Of course I said ok. Now the question was, what do I eat. It is a huge buffet just in case you aren't familiar. I walked around and eyed everything. Being that this is day number seven I figured I actually had some options. So while everyone else piled their plates like little pigs at a trough I settled for one tsp of mashed taters with a little gravy just to make it go down easier, and one tsp of cottage cheese. I really didn't want to chance anything else and to be quite honest it really was ok. I even think those choice were a little soon but it felt so good to chew! So here we are for eachother! Can't wait to be thin!!

Way to go Jaymie! That sounds like absolute torture having to sit in a restaurant when you couldn't eat everything!

I wonder why they don't give patients some sort of a compression / support bandage to wear around their abdomen? I could have really used that instead of a pillow to hold in my port area..it hurt when I walked.

I've mentioned this several times. My mother got one when she had her hysterectomy and she offered hers to me, but since she's me at my goal weight I didn't think it'd fit :-)

That would have made recovery so much easier!

Day 10:

Following my dietician's advice, I progressed to stage II foods which are liquid pureed Soups, yogurt, Protein drinks, etc.

I welcomed the change with opened arms -- truly enjoy having squash Soup (Campbells Gardennay brand).

I was worried about hair loss and malnutrition. I am able to supplement my diet with powdered Vitamins, add some Udo's 3-6-9 oil for my noggin, and liquid Floradix for Iron supplementation.

I also finally got some BeneProtein powder which is awesome.

My weight went up about three pounds at the end of week one, but then dropped again back to the original loss. So I am still at a 13 lb loss after a little over a week. I was dehydrated after having the runs from the antibiotics (sorry TMI) and also OMG you girls out there, you KNOW what antibiotics do to a woman!!! Needless to say it's been almost two weeks since my husband and I were close. NOT fun!

My port spot barely hurts now. I can feel the port right under the skin. I feel like the BORG!

I am going to the gym tomorrow after I drop dd off for kindergarten. I haven't been there in MONTHS. Look forward to getting back on the xtrainer machine.

I have to admit I am struggling. I am so incredibly hungry as I no longer have restriction. I think yesterday in addition to broth I had about four half-cup servings of the soup. At 110 calories per cup that adds up. Plus the yogurt I had was 2%, need to read labels now..it rang in at 120 calories per half cup.

I haven't had my post-op appointment yet --- a week late --- since I had no childcare last week, and there's no way I could let my three year old run around while I was drinking rocket fuel!

My post-op appt is on Thursday, then I _still_ have to wait to have my first fill.

I purchased a BODYBUGG off of ebay this weekend and it should arrive this week. I can't wait to use it!

I've also thrown out the Nutella.

Hey Bert, I am with you here sister!! I am so tired of liquids but am happy that I am now 10 days out as well. There is a light at the end of the tunnell. I have my good days and my bad days as far as hunger is concerned but when I am REALLY hungry I just eat something. I have decided to just listen to myself and act on it. As far as the liquids go, I have found that the Dannon light and fit yogurt smoothies are soooo yummy!! They are really nice because they are portable. I can just throw one in my purse (as long as it is not too warm) and eat it on the go. Also the Carnation instant Breakfast drinks are my friends. I took the sugar free vanilla last night and mixed it with low carb peanust butter and voila, it tasted like a peanut butter milkshake. It was sooo good. It tasted way too good to be good for you! I have tried mashed taters but nothing else really solid. Oh yeah, I took Campbells potato soup and added some cheddar cheese, purreed it and it tasted like cheesy bake potato. It was really good too. Girl we are getting there. I go to my Dr. on the 28th for a follow up. That would be 4 weeks. I am unsure if they fill that soon. I really hope they do because it is a 4.5 hour drive for me to get to them. Oh well, keep going it's downhill from here!!

Hi Jaymie, I will take a look today to see if I can find those fit n lite yogurts that you mentioned.

Wow, I had no idea they came out with sf carnation instant breakfast ! Another one I"ll have to buy.

Thanks for the suggestions

Update:

took my measurements, clothes on (like that matters, ha ha!!):

shoulders - 55

chest - 52

waist sucked in - 48.5

waist - out - 50.5

hips - 52"

fat roll - 56"

upper arm - 18"

upper forearm - 33.5 (cm)

wrist - 19.5 (cm)

upper thigh - 29"

calf - 19.5"

Waiting for my first fill on the 11th. Not a fun waiting game.

Hi Roberta! Thanks for all the surgery info. Sounds like you are doing well. Did you have to find a dietician on your own or did your doctor send you to one? Joyce