2 week Post-Op Update

Back to work today, hopefully all day. I continue to make slow and steady progress in my recovery. Food seems to be agreeing with me, but not the protein drinks. The weight is coming off pretty quickly, and I think now it's starting to be pretty noticeable. I have no clothes that fit me from a month ago. I hope things continue to go like they have. I go back to the doctor for my 2 week check up thursday. I am excited to see how the next month or two will go.

280 lbs - 6.28.10

Things still going well

The last few days have gone pretty well. I can't get enough fluids, so I've started eating ice like crazy. The protein drinks seem to be making me sick. I thought maybe it was the milk so I changed to Lactaid, but that didn't help. I've only had "real" pureed food and water today, and I feel pretty good.

No weight loss in the last two days, but I'm sure it's because I've been drinking more water.

Making Progress

So far, so good. I'm trying not to jinx it by feeling too over confident. Now, let's get real, I feel ok, but I have about 10% of the energy I used to have. I know that's typical, so I'll have to get through it. I went to work yesterday for about an hour and a half. I was SPENT by the time got home. I have started eating some soft foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt and refried beans. My meal size is 1/4 cup. Now, most folks don't realize how small that is. Just for fun, go to your kitchen and find a 1/4 cup measuring cup.....now that's pretty funny. Crazy thing is, I'm not really all that hungry. I'm more scared to eat than anything. I'm having a hard time getting all the liquid I need. I'm supposed to get 64-oz everyday, but that's hard when your stomach is the size of a golf ball.....fore! The weight loss has been weird. My legs already look half the size they did a week ago. Marsha has even made fun of them. More to updates to come....

6.22.10 - 285lbs

Week one post-op update

Alrighty, here goes....

So it's been a week since my surgery. I'll try to recap the last week in a short and simple post. let me say this first, I could not have gone through this without Marsha. Her love and support has been incredible.

Ok, we arrived last monday at the hospital to get things going. Three tries later the nurse was able to get an iv in.(not getting a good start) I don't remember anything after they got me into the operating room and I woke up with big abdominal pain, I was in recovery. The rest of the day is a big foggy blur. The nurses got me up to walk about 1:15 Tuesday morning. The rest of that night and day was just constant in and out checking on me. Thank goodness for the morphine pump. I made good progress healing and achieving the goals the nurses set for me. I got the catheter taken out(not the best feeling in the world)and started sipping clear liquids. Wednesday went well too, and I was discharged around 9:30 pm.

So now I've been home for 4 days and things have gone pretty good. I have very little energy and strength. I have been on clear liquids all week and can start my pureed/blenderized diet tomorrow. My incisions still hurt pretty bad, but everything is getting better.

Thanks for all the phone calls, visits and texts of encouragement.

Weight loss tracker:

day of surgery - 298lbs

night of discharge - 311lbs

sunday 6.20.10 - 290lbs

Last post before surgery

Ok, so it's Sunday, the day before surgery. I am nervous and...hungry. The last few days have been ok, despite the diet. I think my body is finally used to all liquids. I made it through a movie yesterday with out popcorn, which is some sort of miracle.

Some encouraging news, this morning I weighed 298 lbs. That's 26 lbs lost since I started this process. I'm sure based on the loss in the last 10 days, that the weight should really start melting off after the surgery, assuming everything goes as planned.

So, I'm gonna spend the rest of the day/night with Ragan and Marsha and try to not freak out. My surgery is at noon tomorrow, so I'll have to chill for a while tomorrow too. I'm gonna go to work for a few hours just to keep my mind right.

Next post will be"post-op"

Thanks for your prayers,

Zero calorie caffeine free diet mountain Drew

Day 10 of Liquid Diet...4 days until surgery.

So the last few days have been pretty uneventful. So far I haven't deviated from my eating plan. It's been hard some days and easier on others. Thank goodness for sugar free popsicles. They are really the only thing between me and a mental breakdown right now.

So the nerves are starting to kick in just a little anticipating the surgery on Monday. I hope to have a busy weekend so it will help keep my mind off of things.

On a positive note, Since starting the the process of having the surgery, I've lost 25 lbs. I lost about half prior to the 2 week liquid diet and about half so far on the liquid diet. Some people say they can tell but, I think they are just being polite. You can tell some people that you're on a diet, gain 10 lbs, and the next time they see you they say "wow I can really tell you've lost weight" I think at this point is when it will really start to be noticeable.

I'm really starting to look forward to the new, mini, me.

Ahhhhhh, the Seventh Day

Wow, I made it through the weekend with no signs of depression or malnourishment setting in. I had a nice, but, very small meal friday night which helped a lot. Zachary and I worked part of the day trimmin' box and it went pretty well. Zachary was a BIG help by eating two hotdogs(the one for me and the one for him) in the car while we were out. I was prepared to struggle a little more than I did, so that was good! I had a nice relaxing time at the pool afterwards with Marsha and Ragan. The Sportscenter pool is NOT the place to go to feel better about your body.

So today is the Seventh day. It's been a good day so far. I have been surprised at how good I feel today. That being said, I have had some real mental battles with "cravings", but so far, no failures yet.

I appreciate all of the comments/texts of support from you guys.