Update on my journey

I have been REALLY out of touch people! lol.

So January 2nd is the day I went in for my sleeve.  I was VERY nervous about the pee test. For obvious reasons.  Made it through that part and was wheeled into the OR at the same time as about 6 other patients were being wheeled in.  It was like a caravan of patients.  We all turned into our ORs at the exact same time. Surreal experience!

In my OR, my anesthiologist was making me feel super comfortable.  He was a really nice guy.  One of the nurses remembered me from my last attempt at WLS.  They chatted me up and before I knew it, I was out.

When I woke up in recovery, I was very groggy.  They were waiting for a room for me so I was in recovery for several hours longer than expected.  I was feeling fine and awake.  A very nice male nurse kept me entertained as we joked about the other whiny patients.  I swear if I heard one more dramatic moan of pain - I was going to scream! LOL.

I finally got to my room and Shawn arrived.  It was so good to see his smiling face!  I wasn't allowed to drink for the first 12 hours so my mouth was desert dry.  YUK.  Eventually I could drink (a tiny tiny bit) and the catheter came out (ahhhh).  Surprisingly, the pain was pretty mild and I was up and walking pretty soon after.

The first few weeks of liquid and pureed foods were hard but not terrible.  The worst thing is seeing other people eat the things you want but can't have.  Pizza, chocolate chip cookies, etc.  I cried it out a few times but got through it and it's not as hard to deal with now.

I'm on all foods now but maximizing my weight loss by staying around 600 calories per day, between 60-70g of protein and 64+oz of water daily.  I try to keep my carbs below 40.  I am not eating breads or starchy foods like potatoes and pasta as I'm prioritizing my protein and veggies.  Once I've achieved the results I want, I will adjust accordingly.

Some people don't think that weight loss surgery counts as "losing on your own" or it's the "easy way out" but TRUST ME.  This is the hardest thing I've ever done.  I can still eat whatever I want. I could choose to not follow my doctor's plans.  This is still about willpower and drive.  If I don't exercise, I won't see the results I want.  The surgery doesn't make me exercise - that's all me.  That's what I like about the surgery I chose - the sleeve is still about the patient making the right decisions.  And here I am doing it - and I'm so proud of myself. 

I still have a long way to go, but I feel happier, more energetic and more determined than ever to get healthy - and if I didn't lose another pound after today - I'd still be happy with my decision.

So here are my stats as of my 2 months out at 3/2/13:

PreOp Diet Weight: 314
Surgery Date Weight: 304
1 Month PostOp: 278.6
2 Month PostOp: 258

Here are my 1 month and 2 month comparison photos (same shirt):




This pic is good because you can see the difference big time:


I think I'm going to wear a tighter shirt next time and drop this one.

Anyway - I hope to keep you up to date!

Love,
Danielle

Liquid Diet Day 5 of 5

Oops!  I missed a day!  Anyway, this diet has been easier than I thought.  I'm not saying it was always a cakewalk since handling Oreos and Doritos for my 2 year old caused a lot of mental anguish, BUT I did it.   Not to mention I am down 10 lbs already - granted I'm sure it's water weight but who cares!!!!  And tomorrow the real journey begins.

I'm excited but nervous.  After the surprise of a lifetime the last time I tried to do this, I'm hesitant to get too excited.  Well, here goes nothing.....AND everything.


~Danielle~

Liquid Diet Day 3 of 5

It's more than halfway over and yet it still feels like time is standing still.  I am so proud of myself right now.  I cut a piece of pizza for S at lunch which was TERRIBLY HARD to do.  You never realize how much you munch until you can't.

C'mon Sleeve-day!

Liquid Diet Day 2 of 5

Ughhhh - why must food rule my brain?  It's everywhere.  I have to cook it for my family and see it on TV.  My tummy was so sad today thinking about everything I cannot have.  I'm trying to redirect my mind when that happens and only think about each meal as it comes otherwise I will probably lose it!

Sleeping is a good escape so I'm going to bed early tonight!

Liquid Diet - Day 1 of 5 

Okay - today was surprisingly easy.  There were a few moments were my brain screamed for real food, but I survived it.  I think the novelty will wear off soon enough and I'm going to be one very cranky lady for the next four days! But this is just a precursor for what's to come and I am damned well going to be ready!

Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday.  I want to be excited but I am keeping myself from being to hopeful because of what happened LAST TIME. I am trying to keep myself busy with planning.  I'm great at planning! lol.  Follow-through is a whole other story however.

Some items on my agenda:

1. Pack items for hospital.
2. Prep pantry cabinet just for me.
3. Re-read my surgery workbook.
4. Straighten up the house.
5. Game plan for post-op.

Re-visiting Surgery

After a very painful session with my therapist in which I spoke about my feelings about my appearance, she suggested it was time to address my weight again.  Now that the littlest one is 4 months old (ack!).  So I called up the IMBS and asked what I would have to do in order to get back on the schedule for surgery.  Turns out, all I needed was lab work, a meeting with my surgeon, Dr. B, and a consultation with the nutritionist.

In just two weeks, I went from no hope to being extremely hopeful.  I've completed all of those things already and my surgery is scheduled for December.  I can't believe it is happening so fast.  And even better, I am able to have the VSG which is now covered by my insurance!  What a difference a year can make!

I am really looking forward to this new journey and all that I will be able to achieve.  I don't care about being skinny.  I just want to keep up with my girls and enjoy them.  I can't even tell you how embarrassing and frustrating it is not to be able to climb on a ride with your 2 year old on vacation.  Next year - I'm going to be able to do it.  There is no other option.  I won't miss any more experiences with my girls because of my weight. 

I'm practically giddy!

Impatiently Waiting.

I'm a control freak.  I admit it.  The fact that I cannot control when I will go into labor is the most frustrating, anxiety-causing issue in my life right now.  I'm 38w 4d at this point.  I've been 3cm and 70% for over 3 weeks now.  I guess the fact that the doc told me I would be ready to go any day - I took that quite literally.  And yet here I still sit - pregnant.  Very very pregnant.  Now I understand the plight of the full-term pregnant woman who gulps down castor oil in hopes of evicting their little guest.  Which I'm strongly considering right now!

At my 37 week u/s, they estimated the baby to be 9lbs already which sent everyone into a panic.  The OB office starts talking about a c-section already and I went from not being worried at all to having full blown panic attacks overnight.  Yesterday, at my 38 week appt., I told the doc that I would like to try for a vaginal delivery first, regardless of the estimated size because I don't want to rely on an estimate for major surgery.  If I cannot push this little one out, then fine, we can do a c.  She told me she was "not enthusiastic" about my decision but that it was, of course, my decision at this point.

People have 9lb and 10lb babies all the time!  What is the big deal if I want to try and push her out first?  Because they'd rather have the OR prepped and scheduled for me instead of rushing me in?  I'm sorry but that's not a good enough reason.  I'm guessing my Gestational Diabetes and the medication I'm on had something to do with her size, but my sister was 9.4lbs when she was born so it could just be that we make big babies!  DD didn't have time to cook all the way or she might have been just as big.  We'll never know that one!

Anyway, I'm still pregnant.  No signs of labor as of yet.  Doc said they probably won't let me go to due date which is only 10 days away.  I have an appt Wednesday for another size u/s and then they'll make their decision on induction.  So send all your labor and delivery fairy dust my way please :)

TICK TOCK!!!