Lunch time

Well, I thought I would let you guys see what my lunch has looked like the past two days.  We normally would not eat any type of carbs, but these are fiber select wheat thins, and when you only get protein in....you need fiber, so this helps.

First time eating out.....

Well, first of all let me say that while the "egg" soup tasted lovely, it did not go down or sit very well.  Eggs are just to "heavy" for my tummy right now.

However, I loved the Chicken and Gnocchi soup at Olive Garden.  I took Isabel there for the first time.  Of course, I made sure she had salad and breadsticks, and their fried mozzarella and calamari(which she didn't like.. hmmppfff!)  Then she tried the "tour of Italy".  While she tasted all of that, I enjoyed the creamy "broth" portion of my soup.  The waitress asked if I would like some more, with just the broth since I wasn't eating anything else.... how wonderful!  Yes, and Yumm!  She asked if I had a bypass or something, I said yes, she let me know that she had it done about 10 years ago.  Well, she looked great! 

I tried some white fish yesterday... that didn't go so well either.  I just need to stick to the lighter type stuff.  That's ok.  I am going to try some cottage cheese today though.  Ahhhh the experiments! 

I'm feeling better all the time.  Just wish I could find more hours in the day to sleep :)

Checkup appt.

Well, saw Dr. Naik yesterday.  Nothing much new.  The most recent test looks like things are continuing to improve.  We are grateful that I'm able to get most things down.  He wants to see me again in two weeks.  We will just watch for things as I proceed to try different foods (add long as I'm comfortable) it will be another few months before we decide if it's necessary for him to do any sort of revision or repair.

 

B1 (Thiamine) vitamin is VERY important!

 

Someone recommended that I try egg drop soup to help get my protein in... so I plan to do that over the weekend.  We'll see how it tastes!!

Another week down - 3 weeks post-op - Another Upper GI

Hello to everyone.  Sorry that I have waited a week... the exhaustion from the surgery and lack of nutrients is hard on me!  I will get better :)

Another week has gone by, I have tried to eat different things.  Some work, some don't.  Tuna goes down ok.  Eggs on the other hand - HECK NO!!  I feel a lot of pressure, and a bit of pain if I drink too fast, or if I try to eat things that my body is clearly not ready for (eggs).  More than pain it is just discomfort that passes in about 20 minutes or so.

I still struggle to get my 64 oz. of liquid in me.  I drink 1 premier protein from 7-9:30 in the mornings, then have some soup or yogurt at 11.  I try to drink at least 16 oz. of water before I leave work at 3:30.  Sometimes it happens, other days it does not.  I feel I'm trying my best though.

The other day I got my chewable multi-vitamins from Bariatric Advantage, so I grabbed one as Isabel (14 yr old) and I ran out the door.  Well that didn't go very well!  I got to the babysitters to pick up Brooklyn (2 yr old), and couldn't make it down the driveway without stopping the car and opening the door... all the while seriously praying I could just keep it down.  I have since decided that I will wait a while on the vitamins because my tummy just can't handle them.  I am going to look for some powdered Thiamin(B1) tonight because that is the most important one for me to get in right now.

I went to have another upper GI on Tuesday.  It continues to look better, but things are still clearly not completely normal.  We will continue to monitor.  I have an appointment with my surgeon later today.

My boss made fun of my pants at work yesterday.  She said something about them looking more like a skirt.. ha ha ha!  Well, that made me stop by the store last night to buy a pair of pants for work.  My work environment is business casual, so capris are the thing for the summer of course :) Well what an adventure that was!  I used to wear 26/28(3X) sometimes 22/24(2X)... and if I were lucky maybe a stretchy pant 18/20(1X)... (but that was years ago).  Well, I went to the racks and grabbed 5 pairs of 22 and two 20's - totally being optimistic here - and a couple of blouses.  I went to the dressing room, and much to my surprise NONE of the clothes fit.  NONE!!!  I couldn't believe it!  They were all too BIG!  WOWWWWWWW!!!  I ended up with a size 18 pants and an XL t-shirt!  My pants size no longer starts with a 2!  I'm so grateful :)

Normally, I would never post a picture, but here is one from the dressing room last night :)

First week at home....

Well, I do apologize for not keeping you up to date daily, but it's been a little crazy around my house.  On top of the "busy"ness, I have been VERY VERY tired.  I feel fine, just exhausted!

I have not yet met my 64 oz. daily liquid requirement.  I try a little harder each day, as I do not want to end up back in that hospital!  It is tough, the fluid goes down so slowly still that it's hard to get that much in.  I do still drink 1 of the Premier Protein chocolate shakes for breakfast each morning.

I am eating about 4 times a day.  I have found that the cream of chicken soup (watered down) does well in my new tummy.  I have also discovered ONE flavor of Chobani that I can get down.  It's the 100 calorie bite pack of caramel/pineapple.  This has 8 grams of protein... perfect!  The other yogurt that I like is the Danon Light and Fit, pineapple/coconut.  These have only 80 calories, and 5 grams of protein.   (The taste is significantly better than the Chobani)

I have lost about a pound a day since I've been home, crazy!

Below you will see a picture of the worst bruise I have from my surgery/hospital stay.... ha ha ha it's from some crazy nurse poking around in my arm trying to place an IV!  I have very little soreness from just one of my six incisions.  Other than that, all is good!

I'm glad to be home, glad I had this done, and look forward to feeling even better and getting more energy soon!

The test again!!

Well, I got up at 6 this morning, had them wrap up my PICC line so I could shower.  I dried my hair, and put my makeup on.

I asked my nurse about wearing normal clothes, because I am pretty confident I will go home today!  She said I had to wear my gowns down to X Ray, but then depending on how it looked, when I came back up, I could get dressed.

Well, went down, got the "cleaning fluid"  LOL to drink, and stood, waiting for the Dr. to come in.  Well this was a woman Dr. and she was NOT very kind looking.  I took a sip before she got there, we turned on the screen..... and.... it was already in the bottom of my new stomach!!!!  I took another sip, and you could see it sitting at the top of my stomach again for a bit, then it started to go down.  It was not going down as well as it could have been, but it did fine. 

So.... up to the 5th floor I went again... and got dressed...... it didn't even take me 30 minutes to have my bags all packed.  Now just to wait to hear from the Dr.  then I could start the liquid diet, and if it all sits well.... I can go home!!

Well, that was at 10 am.  Dr. Naik didn't show up in my room until 3:30!  Grrrrrrrrrrr!  He told me I would NOT being going home today.  He said I could start the liquid diet, but that he wanted me to stay throughout the night to make sure everything was ok.  He said as long as it went alright, he would let me go "first thing" in the morning.  I asked him what time "first thing" was.  He said 10 or so..... I said no... how about 8?  He said ok :)  So, as sad as I am to be here away from my family...just one more night!

Below is a picture of me with my first "meal" in a week!  The beef broth was AMAZING to me.  The Jell-O didn't sit so well, but the pudding did fine :)

One week since surgery!

Well, it has been one week, and I am home finally!!!!  I got out of there just before 9 am. 

I didn't sleep very well last night, got two inmates moved in across the hall from me sometime around midnight.  So, nurses were busy, as were the four guards that had to accompany them. 

I plan to rest and enjoy my daughter today.  It's so nice to be here to hold her while she naps.  I think she missed me a little bit too!

I had some watered down cream of chicken soup (minus the chicken) for lunch and dinner.  It seems to be going well.  I mixed half/half my sugar free grape drink with the grape frost Isopure to help me get in the protein I need.

Hope I do better tomorrow.

Hope all of you are doing well on your health journey today!

Oh, by the way... since the beginning, I have now lost 40 lbs!  :)

Day 5 Post Op - Sunday

Well today has been good.  I had some wonderful visitors that came to offer me comfort that all will be well tomorrow.

I went downstairs again with my husband and daughters, that was nice.  I felt a bit better, even put some makeup on my face!

I continue to do well with the ice chips, been eating more throughout the day today to see how this new stomach of mine is feeling.

I feel very positive about tomorrow morning.  Just need to try to sleep.....

Saturday in the hospital

What a BORING day.  Same ol' same ol'  Nurses changing IV bags/bottles.  Last night they started giving me some nutrition now that I have a PICC line in.  My Dr. said I have to get something in me so that I can heal.  You can see in my picture, my regular saline, and my "steak in a bottle".  So, after 4 days of nothing but saline, I now get my steak... and even some milk (lipids) tonight :)  Oh yay!  

On a good note, however, I did get permission to walk anywhere in the hospital, and outside!  since I showered again this morning, and had some great visitors I enjoyed my time out of my room, but I was pretty worn out for the remainder of the day.  

I continue to walk laps around the floor and see all of the nurses, everyone knows me pretty well now.  

Strange thing today.... night is the worst... it's really hard to sleep. 

Day 3 Post Op - FRIDAY!!!

Well here it is!  FRIDAY!!  Time for me to take my "test" again.

I took a shower last night, so I feel a little more normal, and am looking forward to getting some liquids in me so I can go home!!!

Well,


Transport came to get me again, just a little after 8.  I went down to X-Ray, which was hoppin today!  I was first on the list though, so in I went!  They brought a Dr. in to look at my scan.  I took the first sip, he had me turn, take another sip, then turn back, then he asked me just to dry swallow.  Well, it didn't sound so good, so I looked at the screen.  He showed me how there was now a tiny tiny tiny little trickle of fluid now going down into my new stomach..... good thing was there were no leaks!  Bad thing.... well... I figured my nurse would again be telling me I failed.

Sure enough, I got back upstairs to the cold 5th floor, and waited to see my Dr.  He didn't come until late in the afternoon, and told me that I have to stay through the weekend, and re-do the test on Monday.  WHAT?????!!!!  This was supposed to be an overnight stay, and here we are looking at at least a 6 day stay.  ugghhhhhhhhhh

My 2 year old keeps asking me if I'm "coming" with them every night when they leave.... this is NOT what I thought I signed up for... but.... we all know that there are risks.

Day 2 Post Op

Well, here I still am.  My family came to visit last night, and will come again tonight. 

Nothing really new to report, I walk a couple laps around the hall a few times a day, so I've decided I don't want to wear those ugly green SED things that squeeze my legs all hours of the day and night.  They are still giving me two Heparin injections every day to assist with avoiding blood clots. 

I actually felt hungry for a little while today, but I think that is just because 5 out of 5 commercials on TV show food!  RIDICULOUS!!! 

I've been allowed to have some ice chips if I want... not sure I see much point in it, but I did eat 3 or 4 of them, nothing else at all to eat or drink.

BORED out of my mind here, so I just sleep a lot!

As you can see, my older kids just love coming to visit!  :)

Day 1 Post Op

Well, first thing this morning transport showed up to take me down to X Ray for my Upper GI.  There was another lady in front of me, so while I was waiting for her to get done, I did what any other nosy woman would do, and watched through the door window at her scan.  I could see the fluid traveling down through her new stomach.  What they are normally looking for when doing this scan on us patients to ensure that there are no leaks from the stapling/sealing process. 

Next, it was my turn, I walked into the room, stood in front of the machine and got ready to drink the nasty barium stuff.  Well, this fluid was different than the white chalky kind I drank years ago.  This was clear, and I'm pretty certain that it tastes just like some sort of cleaning fluid .... YUCK!!!!  The good thing was, I didn't have to drink more than two sips. 

They have a Dr. in the room to watch the scan.  He asked me to take a sip, I did.  I waited and waited for 12 hours when he finally came in to talk to me.  He told me that according to the scan, none of the fluid was going through.  He thought this was probably from all of the swelling inside, afterall, I had 3 surgeries in 1, and he had thrown away 3/4 of my stomach, and it wasn't very happy about that.  He thought that if we could wait a couple more days, and re-check on Friday, all would be better.

So, here I sit.... or lay! :)

Surgery Day!!!

Well, here it is FINALLY!  We arrived at the hospital just before our 7 o'clock appointed time.  They took me right back to pre-op and we got the process going.  After doing all the routine who are you and why are you here things, they wrapped my legs/feet, and started my IV.  Dr. Naik came in just after 9, and then they wheeled me down the hall, and sent my husband the other way to wait. 

By 1pm I was on the fifth floor, in my room.  Dr. Naik had talked with my husband and told him all went well.  I had the sleeve done, as well as a hiatal hernia repair, and got rid of my stone ridden gall bladder. 

I was so nauseated, it was ridiculous, but I never did actually vomit.  They were great at staying on top of that!  They let me know that I would not be able to have anything to eat or drink until the next day, after my Upper GI.  That was fine with me, you see... as I said... I was nauseated!!

Everyone always says walk walk walk after surgery, so I did just that.  I walked a lap around the floor. 

Sleeping lots and lots!