Friday - Costco, Vitamin Shoppe and Family Dinner

Been a busy day today but a nice one. Visited with a friend and planned summer ministry events, went to the Vitamin Shoppe and got new protein powder,ran into Costco and bought lots of meat and veggies. Couldn't get dog food cuz it weighs too much for me to lift right now. (see, I can obey) Made it home, unloaded, repacked the meat, browned the roast for dinner, made some chiken salad for lunch, with green beans. Then I ate and took a nap. Tonight I made a big roast with potatoes and onions, green beens, potatoes and salad for the family. I pureed some meat with a little of the drippings and fork smashed some carrots and green beans. Was nice to sit together and eat. I really don't mind the pureed food, it has all the flavor and the family appreciated a good meal after a week of fending for themselves. Still have to fight the urge to nibble while I cook. Actually spit out a piece of cucumber that snuck in my month. Don't want to break my no puking record, especially on a nibble of the wrong food. Now enjoying a of cup of tea. I am finding its harder to get the water in with eating the waiting afterward. Doing it but I have to drink all evening.
I also learned that I shouldn't try new things (chewable Calcium) without being near a bathroom soon afterward. I made it but barely. Think it had too much citrus acid.

My scale said 211 today. Maybe I'll be shopping for more than food soon. :-)
Now where is that tea..

Week one down! Hello food!

Just got back from the doctor and am happy to report a 14 lb loss since surgery. They said I can eat starting today (pureed diet), go back to work and start my vitamins in the morning. The blood pressure issue is a little more complicated but I will watch it and when it gets to a certain point (probably later today) will take half my regular meds and continue that for a while unless it goes way down again.
I am currently nibbling the pork roast (1 oz) I pureed and froze last week mixed with 1oz babyfood green beans to keep it smooth. delightful! Later I get a protein shake and then dinner. Think I'll try to poach some chicken breast in broth and puree that. Should have enough to freeze up for another day. I'll have a bit of cottage cheese with that. I know, I'm fixating but its been 8 days since I ate!!
The PA said that given my weight and build she expects me to be at goal by October!
I cried!! It is just so much more than I could have hoped for. Are my spirits up? You betcha!!! No gym till the 1 month mark but I am to walk and stretch every day. Any one want to walk in the mornings?
God has been so good to me through all this and I can't thank him enough for getting all the approvals done in a timely manner. At times it was frustrating but I didn't give up!
Well off to wash my little dish!

A Breakthrough Day!

Today is Tuesday, Day 5 since surgery and seems to be a breakthrough day for me and my blood pressure. It started pretty normal this morning and has gone down with each testing of it. As of noonish it is 124/71. It has made quite a difference in my emotional health too. I slept well last night, all night. Maybe because I dreamed I was eating. Weird. You know how some people see dreams in color? Well I am sure I smell and taste in mine! It was devine. Not really feeling hunger but getting a bit weak on this 25 calorie a day diet! Still little pain or nausea - good. Went to the store with my son today and walked all the aisles of a big grocery store. Found a few things to save for next week; frozen peach slices, more sf popsicles and lots of red jello. Also got some canned soups to strain for the rest of this week. Got some Progresso ones that looked like they had some good flavor. I am taking the solids and running them through the Bullet (not any pasta or potatoes, rice) and them putting them in ice trays for next week. Also froze some broths in 3/4 oz cubes to add to meats and veggies next week. Never spent so much time planning for such a small amount of food but it makes me feel like I can do this and get there!
New weight this morning. Down about 13 pounds since discharge. Starting to see it in my face and feet. "All this is worth it for skinny feet!" Not!
Sadly I woke up thinking it was Wednesday, even took Weds pills and then realized I was wrong. two more full days of this. I can do it!
The walk through the store tired me out so we came home and I have been puttering here and now will get a nap in. Not really tired but probably not a bad thing and it passes the time.
Never thought I could miss my protein shakes so much. I really like them!

New revelations for today:

Dreaming of food is not quite the same as eating, but was fun.

I hate peach jello, threw it out.

Warm jello is nice. Just not peach.

Breakfast of gastric Bypass heros - Decaf Chai tea and a cherry popsicle!

My family hates me or why did they leave a gooey cinnamon roll on the counter!!

I hold onto the thought that I will be so much healthier and able to enjoy my family, my soon to be first grandie- a girl, we think, and able to go wherever God might lead.

So far a great day!

I'm a loser!! Its Saturday now and I am home. I had hoped to put up an entry from the hospital but didn't feel like it. Here is a play by play as I remember it.

Thursday morning we went in at 9 am. At 9:30 they took me over to preop and got me ready, you know the drill, cute gown, no back, IV and lots of questions. Very nice folks there. Weighed in at 222.0. Met the anethesiologist and talked to the surgeon. At 11:20 I was rolled into surgery said a few things and then woke up in recovery.

Feeling no pain at that stage. A little disoriented and determine not to throw up so I closed my eyes and just listened to all going on around me. As I became more aware of my surroundings I checked out my belly and found my five staple lines. Cute.
After about two hours I was wisked (these beds are motorized) up to the surgery ward and got to my room. 5 kids and a hysterectomy and finally my own room!

They got me situated and folks came and went and finally Paul and Pete got there. Then others came to look upon my sorry state. Not much fun that evening. Felt pretty good and walked the halls before trying to sleep.
Had a painfree but also sleep free night, machines, phones and just general hospital noise kept me up. Slept in 10-15 minute spurts and finally at 5 am gave up, sat up and read my bible a while.
First meal arrived: jello, lemon tea, crystal lite, beef broth. Ate it all. Kept it all down.
Yesterday went pretty well, they pulled the cathetor in the morning and I sat up and walked the halls and entertained guests. By night fall I was pretty tired and determined to get some good sleep. Paul came up and we watched a Giants game then he went home. I closed my door. Slept from about 11 to 3. At 3 they capped my IV and I went back to sleep till 6. Woke up in a bit of pain. Didn't want to eat and was cold. No fever but my BP was up so they gave me meds for that and told me I could come home today. I rested and dozed and wished I still had the morphine pump I had yesterday morning. Came home around 1 and took a nap in my own bed. Yes! Got up at 3 and took stock of what I had and what I needed. Sent Paul to the pharmacy and now I am caught up.
This adventure is real and I know it will have some down times but I think it was the right thing to do. I am off 3 of my 5 BP meds so far and my chlorestrol meds.

Here is what I learned today.

1. I don't like being in pain and cold.
2. I don't think I like peach jello.
3. I tire easily.
4. I weigh 6 pounds more now than when I went to the hospital (water).
5. I'm very happy to be home.

The Day before surgery 4-21-10

Well here it is,the last day before surgery. Like to say I did a lot today but with the rain falling without pause I chilled with thepete and made jello and got the bills in order.
The sun came out at about 6 pm and is lovely.

Things I Learned today....

I like JELLO
Magnesium Citrate is not my beverage of choice!
and it seems kind of sad that it is my last carbonated beverage!
and my last use of a straw.
Stress makes my stomach acid go and that is why I eat when I'm stressed
Getting in touch with why my body is doing things is interesting
Magnesium Citrate goes in like a very bad soda and leaves as fire water. Ouch

I am not looking forward to the events of tomorrow but do anxiously await the adventure to follow. So for now. See you on the losing side.

Good Evening. It's Tuesday night and I have had my last dinner. It worked well to have a shake this morning and then just safe liquids all day and then had a great dinner with the family. Made chicken stirfry with lots of fresh veggies, rice for the family (didn't even think of eating it!) We also had a nice salad and sugar free jello with sliced strawberries and grapes and a spot of sugar free cool whip. Very nice meal. I took what I knew I could and wasn't tempted to over eat at all.
After our nice meal we piled in the van and pop's truck and went and picked up my "new to me" twoin recliner. So now I have a nice leather double recliner to come home to on saturday. Very nice.
Anyway, here a few things I realized today:

1. I have lost 10 pounds in 10 days,
2. I can survive without coffee!!
3. I still have a personality without COFFEE!!
4. I can cook a meal for the family without eating half of it before serving it. (though I did have a couple pieces of mushrooms and cucumbers)
5. I am totally ready for this surgery.
6 I have a great group of friends and relatives who will be there for me.
7. I am blessed!!

Good night all, tomorrow is preop day!! Here we go!

I have been thinking of writing a blog about my weight loss adventure and after getting so much joy out of the blogs of others I am going to do it!

First about me, I am Cami, wife of the best guy ever for almost 30 years, mom to five wonderful grown kids and 2 wonderful inlawian kids, mom/owner of Solomon the great dane, and most important; soon to be grami cami.

I am 54 and fat. I have been battling high blood pressure and cholestrol. So after many many diets and failures. I began to seek a new tool. Gastric Bypass surgery.

Well, long story short, I have been researching this for about two years and now I am two days from Surgery!

for the past 8 days I have been on a very limited preop diet and losing about a pound a day. Feels good. the preop diet is 4 oz each of lean meat, fruit, and veggies and 2 protein shakes each day. It hasn't been too bad, I also get sugar free popsicles and jello. Yum. Tomorrow is my last day to eat for a while so I plan on enjoying it, withing the diet.

Anyway this is the place I will try and journal about this new stage of my life. My family is here to help me and I have lots of supportive friends. I will be in the hospital till Saturday afternoon and hope to blog that night about the hospital adventure.

Night for now.