6 Days To Me...

I am finally myself again..ahhhh it feels so nice! I talked to my doctor and he said to start full liquid since i'm doing so good. I have ate: pudding, soft cheese, oatmeal, grits and can't wait to have everything else that's on my list. It's so nice to only eat a 1/4 of something and feel full I have never had that happen before. My swelling is almost gone and I drink and swallow just fine now. I am drinking my protein down which the thicker shakes do still have a lil trouble getting down, it just takes it a while to make it down. I am walking and doing everything I was doing before, we even went to the grocery store yesterday! Life is going so good now and I am happy to report I am now at 260! Last month before pre-op diet I was 280! I wanted to kinda tell my day by day story of post-op so here's up to day 6.

Day 1- In some pain but dealing with it okay. Still on chips and sips but can't hardly swallow them down. I did throw up about 4 times while in the hospital due to the swelling in my throat. Sleeping mostly as the meds are still in my system. Taking it slow but trying to walk a couple mins at a time. I am going to the bathroom but it did take me about 5 mins of sitting there to finally be able to pee! Just resting...later that evening I got to come home..Yipee!

Day 2- Ugh, the worst of my days I think. I did take some pain med this day. Still walking as much as I can, circled the bed I don't know how many times. Trying to keep my fluid in, swelling is still bad in my throat and my sternum hurts with every swallow. Jello and sf popsicles are the only things I can manage to get down. Resting, resting, resting the best thing to do! Not too much pain form my cuts, they are looking okay.

Day 3- Getting slowly better at standing and walking longer. Done taking pain meds and taking liquid tylenol. Still living off jello and my popsicles, although I do notice that luke warm water goes down okay but still have pain in my sternum. Resting as much as I can and walking around as much as I can. Woke up in middle of night with acid oh boy did it hurt! I forgot to take my pepcid before bed, not making that mistake again. Waited about 30 mins and fell back asleep.

Day 4- I have arrived, the first day I finally feel normal! Swelling has gone way down and I can drink and eat my liquids so much better! I slept for the first night all the way through and feel great! I can sleep on my stomach now (just have to be careful rolling over.) Taking no meds except my pepcid! Tried getting some protein in today with a shake. I was able to drink about a 1/4 of it. Walking as much as I want and resting when i'm not. My first full night's sleep..it felt sooo goood! Cuts are doing good and still not having any pain form them at all.

Day 5- I'm me, I'm me...well just without my stomach! Today has been the best day yet. I am feeling so good! I am able to eat and drink like normal (with a sleeve) and feel my sleeve has finally adjusted and relaxed! I still get gurgles and burp with I drink but I know that's gonna be there for a while. I really haven't had any major discomfort. Took my first trip out of the house to the store. Had to get things for my full liquids week that I start thanks to my doc okaying me to do so! Full nights sleep last night also!

Day 6- FULL LIQUIDS! Today has been GREAT...I had some oatmeal for breakfast. It was so nice to get to chew and swallow something thick! Pudding for a snack (about 3 spoons.) Grits for lunch and then some soft cheese for a snack. I have been doing water and gatorade in between. I did drink my protein shake but it was taking a long time to get down so I might have find another one to try. Today is my first day home by myself with my 19 month old and we're doing fine. I am getting full nights sleep and feeling good when I wake up! I have my 1 week post-op appt. on Thurs. I'm starting to love this sleeve!

Rest...

Well i'm home and resting for the most part. I was released on Thurs. so I only had one night in the hospital:-) It felt so nice to be back home and laying in my own bed. Dr. Webb told Chris that everything went great with surgery and my 1 week post-op is on Thurs. I do have some swelling in my throat/sternum area which means I have to drink VERY, VERY, VERY slowly but other than that praise the lord no complications. I am getting better slowly but surely and seem to be able to drink a lil more everyday. I am mostly concentrated on keeping fluid in and staying hydrated because if I don't then it's back to the hospital for some fluid so i'm doing all I can to avoid that! Protein is the biggest thing i'm lacking right now and i'm trying hard to get my protein shakes in. My inscions are doing great and i'm having hardly any pain from them, which i'm very happy about. I haven't had nay pain meds since my 2nd day home and I really don't feel like i'm going to need to take anymore. While I do wish I was able to drink more i'm happy to be home and doing great! Now i'm going to rest some more:-)

24....

That's how many hours until I will be walking through the hospital doors...agghh! I am filled with so much anxiety and happiness all at the same time. I picked up some last minute things today in preparation for my post-op care here at home the list includes: water bottles with measurements, drink tumbler, chewable GasX, chewable Pepcid AC Complete (I had a hard time choosing between the island fruit or mixed berry) who would have thought you'd seen the day i'd be struggling over that decision. My final pick up will be for my liquid Lora Tab, that hopefully I won't have to take but if the pain gets that bad i'm sure i'll be happy to have it. I still can't believe it's real...to know that it's finally here it really hitting me today. I just hope I can sleep tonight since I have to get up at 4:00:-( It will be worth it though, I know it is! On my next update I will be sleeved..let all you know how it went and how the process was as soon as I can!

Travelin' Light...

I think I have all the things i'm gonna need...what do you guys think? The countdown is on...Wed. can't get here fast enough!

The Beginning...

My journey...as I type those words it still seems that it isn't real and i'm just kidding myself to think i'll soon be starting a whole new chapter in my life. My whole life had been about one thing...weight. I have always been "bigger", my whole life has been surrounded and consumed with food. I have a wonderful family and have always had a great life so I can't blame my weight on that. I know food is my addiction, I mean come on when it's good you wanna eat it and eat it ALL! When I was little it didn't affect me much as I was always with other kids who liked me for me and didn't really care about what I looked like. Growing up and getting into boys is really where I started to know that I wasn't just like everyone else. Like most of the time all the boys wanted to date and be around the "skinny" girls. No big deal..I just had lots of friends and didn't really mind that. When I did finally date I was lucky to have dated guys who liked me for me, so I finally found that sometimes some people really do see who's on the inside. So, here I am today 27 years old married to a wonderful man and have 2 amazing kids who are my WORLD! Here's the other side: 273 pounds (as of this morning), back pain, hip pain, breathless and just plain tired. I now weigh more than I ever have in my life, I weighed less when I was pregnant (how sad is that:-( People tell me you don't look that big, well just because I don't look like it doesn't me I don't feel like it. Being overweight is more than just a struggle it's a physical, mental, and emotional melt down and sometimes all of the above happen at one time. As I embark on this new journey I have hope for once in my life, hope that I finally have a tool that will help me with my addiction and my mental yearning for food. I have 1 more day to go until I will be starting the new side of my life..the losing side. I am excited, nervous, happy and sad...i'm loosing more than my stomach, i'm losing a me that i've had for 27 years! I know the struggles will be great and that is the reason I started this blog so I can share those and maybe help someone else in the process. When I see everyone eat a whole big plate of food and get to enjoy all of that deliciousness, will I go crazy? YES! I know I will and I will regret doing the sleeve but I know after the initial shock and anger goes away I will be so thankful. I will rejoice that I can walk in and find pants and shirts that fit. I will jump (literally) for joy when I wake up and my back and hip aren't killing me. I will run and run with my kids and get to see smiles on those little faces knowing that momma can play with them all day long and not be tired and out of breath. I will be happy, healthy and loving the losing side of life! I will be posting at least once daily and posting pictures...I will try to do some videos too. I hope all of you take something away from this..I know I will! Let's start losing (for once it's not a bad thing;-)