I have a Dr. appointment tomorrow so I’ll update then with the official weight to go with those measurements.

Starting Weight – 229
Weight at Dr. Gluck’s office post-op checkup March 15 – 207

Today I got to give up the smexy Ted hose stockings. LOL Still wearing my belly binder and no plans to give that up anytime soon. I keep sneezing thanks to the lovely cold I have so it really helps.

I’m getting around better every day. I’m walking every day from my mom’s house to my house (next door – little less than a football field space apart).

I’ll be on this fabulous liquid diet for another two weeks. Blech. I was told I wouldn’t want real food after surgery. Guess I’m proving to be different there as I’m wishing for something to chew. I’m getting all my protein in and liquids (60g protein and 64oz fluid) This is difficult this early on for some folks, I guess. The nurse tells me my lack of pain is not super normal but I’ll take it. I’m thinking some of that is due to the fact that this is my 8th abdominal surgery. It really feels nearly identical to my gallbladder surgery. The mental aspect can play a role in it when you think of what was done inside but I try not to dwell on that.

I showed Brian, my 18 yr old son, the short video we took of my drain being removed. He turned green. LOL It didn’t hurt, just felt really weird.

Think I should upload it to youtube?

*Brenda and Jolene are each just over 50lbs down already following their December surgeries! They are MELTING before our very eyes!

Having a 2 hour + trip home, I was feeling like I’d been beat up by a prize fighting Big Red Roo so no updates them, sorry.

Yesterday, my home care nurse came to remove my drain tube. Yes, being the dork I am, I actually had my Mom record it so I could upload it to my youtube channel for anyone curious on how that works. I will have graphic warnings on that one. blech. I haven’t watched yet but I’m sure you will see me make every face imaginable. It wasn’t really painful, more plain ol’ disgusting feeling.

I’m actually doing quite well. My nurse was impressed that I hadn’t taken any pain meds since arriving home. Then I took half a vicoden a few hours after she left. LOL Only because my tummy bothered me when walking for my required 10 minute per 2 hour stints. (to prevent blood clots, if your doctor doesn’t recommend it, do it anyhow! It could save your life.)

Water was HELL to get down after surgery but that is all you are allowed the first couple days. I was told to drink 15cc per 15 min and was provided marked medicine cups to do so. Sounds easy. It’s not. Trick to make it easier, don’t drink the water cold but rather room temperature. Made a big difference to me. Once you can go to a protein liquid diet, go for the milky protein shakes. I have the pre-made cartons. Trust me, you won’t want to be mixing them up at this stage so it’s more than just handy. (Thank you Brenda and Jolene!) The milky substance goes down soothingly and not hard like the water – at least for me.

I’ll try to do a youtube video sometime today.

She informed me that there were no limitations as far as that was concerned but if I have any abscesses, my surgery will be delayed. They won’t do surgery if you have abscesses in your mouth. I don’t think I do but my gums are swollen so a dentist will have to look. She’s requiring me to go to a dentist before surgery (like TODAY she said) or my surgery will be postponed. They need to be sure there are no abscesses now that I brought up my concerns over bad teeth.

Grrrrr…. wish me luck! I can’t go today. For one, no dentist office will take me on no notice like that and two… I have no vehicle right now with hubby at work with my Explorer and his truck broke down. ugh.

Sure hope I didn’t go through a week of liquid diet for nothing. I’m sooooo bummed!

I have 9 days left. The first few days were really hard. I felt like I was starving for 2 days. The third day of the liquid diet I was ornery and the smells, etc were getting to me. Honestly, I realize now that I am NOT hungry. I am just plain addicted to food. Stopping to ask myself if I’m hungry these last couple days, I have to say no. In fact, it is all I can do to get my protein in.

The rules of this diet is low sugar, high protein.

In reading labels, the liquid diet must be under 10g of sugar, less than 5g of total fat. I need to get in 60g of protein per day and 64oz of non-caffeinated fluids. On a liquid diet, that is NOT an issue. I don’t drink caffeine anyhow so that’s no problem for me. I can have diet soft drinks but after surgery, zero carbonation is allowed as it could damage the stomach stitches.

Pudding, jello and cream soups count as liquid at this stage. I can have small pieces in my soup (like that in cream of chicken soup) but can not have those pieces after surgery until my stomach heals.

So, I typically eat sugar free pudding and jello, cream of chicken soup, crystal light, protein (whey) shakes, protidiet drinks (protein syrup that mixes with water) and carnation instant breakfast (sugar free). I can drink non-caffeine coffee with artificial sweetener and 1/2% or skim milk and of course water.

If anyone has questions about this stage, let me know. I’ll try to post some protein boosting recipes for this stage on ehow if you like. There are ways to super charge it. Just be mindful that the body will not utilize more than 30g of protein at one sitting.

* Note: you may get ornery for the first few days and experience headaches (not terrible ones, at least not for me).

Waist – 47.5″
Rear – 50″
L. Arm – 13.5″
R. Arm – 14″
Chest – 38.5″ (under breasts at bra line)
Neck – 15.25″
R. Thigh – 30.75″
L. Thigh – 29.25″
R. Calf – 18.5″
L. Calf – 17.75

I thought it was interesting how different I was from one side to the other. I’m sure that is normal but it was still interesting.

If you have something you’d like to have me cover, please leave a comment below and I will respond to the best of my ability.

PS. Look for a future post and perhaps a youtube video regarding my pre-op appointment the 18th. I will be having a 3 hr nutrition meeting, I’m guessing mostly concerning the liquid diet I’ll be starting on the 24th so stay tuned for that. I’ll try and share what I learn. If you have specific questions for the dietitian, leave a comment and I’ll ask her for you.

I also plan to upload one mid-way through my liquid diet, which begins Feb. 24th as well as from the hospital day of and day following my vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery.

Youtube Video #1

I go in for a pre-op appointment (couple hour class) February 18th.
I start my liquid fast February 24th (yea… boo!).

and… drumroll please…

I have my surgery March 10th!!
(a few days after the big COBO dog show… double yea!)

I’m having the vertical sleeve gastrectomy for those new to my blog.
This means I need to get my first youtube video going. I hope to have that out tomorrow!

Going to go do my happy dance now!

He is also the surgeon who performed both Brenda and Jolene’s surgery as well.