1 month post!

Well here are the stats for my 1 month out post. 

(I plan on posting pics and stats each month on my surgery date.)

So here we go. 

From my last check in with the surgeon, on 9/15 I am down 32.4 pounds. 

From my actual surgery date of September 26 till today October 26 I am down, 23 pounds.

Here are my pictures. 

 This is my day of surgery-9/26

 This is today 10/26

 

This was pre surgery 9/26

 This is today 10/26

As for inches-

I have gone done 1 1/4 inch on my neck

2 inches on my upper arms

1 inch on my forearm

Almost 3 inches on my waist. 

3 inches on my abdomen

1 inch on thighs

I still have a ways to go but I am happy with the results so far.

Protein, Protein, Protein.

Well if you have never been on this journey here is something new for you to know. When you are preparing for bariatric surgery and after, a word that will be drilled into your brain is PROTEIN!! 

You must have it EVERYDAY, at every meal. You have to have it for your body to rebuild and also to loose the weight. 

Before surgery, I had no problem getting my protein in. I actually liked the protein shakes. I thought they tasted pretty good. 

However, and if you ever go through this, you will hear this as well....Surgery changes they way certain things taste. 

For me...it was the protein shakes. I just can't get them down. I have tried different brands, flavors, etc. No Luck. 

So I am trying hard to get my protein in other ways. I have tried a couple different protein bars. That is harder than you think because while they say they are good for you, a lot of them are packed with sugar. No good for someone who has just had bariatric surgery due to dumping syndrome.  So I try to find protein bars that are 5g of sugar or less but don't taste like something that has been behind your refrigerator for months. 

They say before surgery your goal should be 60-80 g of protein a day. After you should be able to work up to 80-120g per day. That may not sound like a lot but when your stomach is the size of an egg, it is a lot to get down. On top of drinking all the fluids and such. 

I am not complaining. I do not regret my decision to have this surgery. All I am saying is that it is a learning curve. It helps to have friends that have gone through it. They are a wonderful resource to have. They answer questions and can actually tell you what they have experienced and what works. I am not knocking my doctors, because they are great. However, there is something different when you talk to someone who has actually walked the walk. So if anyone out there in blog land is preparing or just had surgery and is having problem with your protein...don't feel bad. You are not alone. I don't think I am hitting my goals either. But I am doing the best I can...and that is working so far. 

rockin it!

went to Wal-Mart the other day while my mom was here helping. I just needed to get out of the house. I was getting a little cabin fever. However, I was not really ready to walk. So my mom said I should hope on the old Walmart Hog and take it for a spin. And I did just that. Rolled through the store, wave to folks as I went by. The worst part is, is that it beeps when you back up... Very annoying! 

look a little to familiar???

Yep that is how I was feeling too. 

Since Friday I have been having this abdominal pain, but it is really in my very low abdomen. No where near my incisions or surgery location. 

Everything with my surgery is going great. 

Let me just say this...The hardest part after surgery is getting all of your water! 

WATER-WATER-WATER!!

You can only sip, but you have to drink a ton. 

It is hard. At least for me. 

Anyways, back on track.

Garran decided to take me to the ER when I was doubled over in pain around 5pm tonight. I felt horrible because it was Kael's birthday today and I had already missed somethings do to follow up appointments. Anyways, when we first arrived, everyone was thinking it was my appendix. I thought to myelf..."Wonderful! This would be just my luck!!". 

Luckily It is not my appendix. They diagnosed me after a CAT scan with severe abdominal pain. I know right. Not much help. They gave me some pain meds and sent me home. The pain meds don't do much so I guess I will just be giving it some time. 

Other than that.. Things are going well. 

Met with the surgical nurse today and she said my incisions were healing wonderfully and the dietician said I was down 13 pounds from the last class I was at!

That made me feel good. 

As for weight loss they said that this was pretty much how it would go. 

In the first month you will about 20lbs.

Then after that you will loose between 2-3 pounds a week. 

That is music to my ears. 

I am trying to be as honest as I can about my journey since this is my journal for this part of my life. 

I am an open book so if you have questions, please feel free to email me or leave me comments here!!

I will update again soon!!

my new reality

this is my new reality.

and I honestly could not finish this. it was so to much.

it is so weird to think that this little bit fills me up so much that I am literally uncomfortable. 

it is definitely a new reality for me.

this whole journey will be something new for me each day i think. I am ready though. I am ready for change. I knew this would not be easy and I am ready for the challenge. I will be even more ready for the fight when I am over this soreness. Then watch out new self..I am coming and I mean business!!

my first few days at home.

well, lets see. where do i begin.

after being home for about 30 minutes, one of my over enthusiastic children jumped on the couch to sit next to me and put there knee in my stomach. So I think they busted an internal stitch. At least that is what the doctor thinks. 

although i will take it, to be back near all my babies. I missed them. Even though they were wild when I walked in the door and have not calmed down much, its ok. That is our normal life and I would not trade it. 

Somethings that I am having a hard time with even though I knew they were coming.

*soreness- I hate being sore after surgery, and boy am I. I have pain meds but I don't care for them because they make me feel a little sick. 

*tiredness- I was not prepared for how exhausted I would be. I knew I would be tired but I am really wiped. Not only is my body trying to heal from surgery but the number of calories that I am eating has decreased considerably, so my body is trying to heal and does not have to much fuel to run on.  it will get better, i just need to give it time. I am not sorry I did this, just am tired. 

*water/liquids- I have to drink a lot of water. No soda, very little juice, I can have protein shakes, but still a lot of water. It is hard to get it all in because you feel full so quickly and it is not fun if you go past the full point. You just feel like you are going to get sick. Luckily I have not thrown up yet, but I hate the feeling. 

other than that, i have been overwhelmed by all of the wonderful messages of encouragement people have left on facebook. They just make me happy. I was really worried about how people would respond and this has made it so much easier. 

i have received flowers from my aunt that are just beautiful!

and we have had friends come by with meals and just to check in on us. 

I have been blessed with wonderful family that has stayed with the kids while I am in the hospital and that are coming for extra help this coming week. I am so grateful for everyone being so willing to help. it really does mean a lot!! 

I will keep everyone posted in the next few days. I am hoping my soreness goes down and things start to slowly get back to normal!!

the big day!

Garran, myself and my dad came into Chicago the night before and stayed in a hotel just so we would not have to fight trafic and all of that wonderfulness! ;0)

I want to try and document as much of this as possible. 

So this was yesterday morning before surgery. My final before pictures. 

so this was the morning of Sept. 26 2012

 front

 side

i had to check in around 10:00. Then I spend about 2 hours in pre op just going over things, getting iv's in place, all of that fun stuff. 

 Of course I wanted a picture with my handsome hubby. He has been amazaing through all of this. He originally did not want me to get the surgery just because he is not crazy about me having any kind of surgery. But the more we were both educated, the more he became a little more comfortable. I know he was glad when it was over. 

I just have to say, I love this man!

 and me after my iv. it was actually not all that bad. Usually the IV is the worst part of the hospital for me, but not this time!

 Here I am just waiting. I am so not good at waiting on things sometimes. 

 surgery went really well apparently. at least that is what i heard from garran and my dad. I was a little sore afterwards, but for te most part m recovery in the hospital had been really good. 

my view this morning when they came in to take my vitals. very pretty.

and my cup!! I get to work on one of these each hour!! Pretty exciting I know!

again, thanks for all the love and support you guys have shown. it has made me feel so loved!