Saturday night my largest incision opened and had a fluid dripping from it. Dr. Kim's PA, David, asked me to describe it when I called the emergency number Sunday morning. We decided it wasn't infected and I would go in today to get it checked out. We were right; it was not infected. Just a small part of the incision opened and it was bodily water leaking from it. He patched it up and I was on my way. Well not before taking an opportunity to jump on the scale and weigh in.
275.4 and that is .2 away from 21 pounds. I am so happy with that, especially since it has only been about 24 days.
I had a lot of errands to run that had me in and out today so I wasn't around to make protein shakes or soups. I stopped at Rosa's and bought a 4 oz side of pintos and cheese. It took me an hour to eat just half of that. I just ate the other half for dinner. How crazy is that? 4 oz of food and I am completely satisfied. The positive is there is good protein in it. I really should not have eaten that at this stage but it was better than not eating all day. Truth be told for the past week I have been eating two bites of tuna a day as well just because it seems to crazy to think I am getting by on liquids alone. I will try to make half of a protein shake in a bit but truthfully I think I will be forcing it down later.
I am very happy tonight. :)
I should mention for those who read this that have not reached this stage yet that when my incision opened I googled it and it is a very common occurrence. Most people had an infection though and had to take antibiotics.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Post-op
Today was my post-op appointment. I was really looking forward to it because the staples were irritating my skin. I also had lots of follow up questions.
I suppose first I should discuss weight. When I began the liquid diet I weighed 296.2. Today I weighed 277.2. That is really only 2 pounds difference since the day of surgery. I was told not to be concerned because there is still a lot of swelling inside and there will be for a few more weeks, especially with me being a revision patient. I was also told my home scale had to go MIA (missing in action) for a while. I have asked Keenan to put it in his trunk. I am not to weigh again until I go for my next appointment on January 18th. I'm not thrilled with the thought but it is the least of my concerns right now.
So my first questions were about the things my brother mentioned Dr. Kim said. Ok, so after a week of googling a topic I could not find and a friend who is a nurse (Cheri) had never heard of, turns out maybe my brother wasn't really listening when Dr. Kim was speaking to him. Imagine that! Yes, I did have a hiatal hernia which was repaired but they felt they caught it early on and it was minimal and quite routine. As for the stomach folding....well when you have lap-band for them to create the pouch they fold that portion of your stomach up over the band and secure it into place. Apparently mine took a little extra time to unfold and get to the band but it is all good.
I did a barium swallow today. Not the nasty stuff I did in the hospital, but the stuff I used to do for the lap-band. It is amazing to see it go down on the x-ray and see just how little of a stomach I have on the inside. I mean seeing it to scale because you really could not imagine. It does not look like a sleeve to me. I suppose thinking of it in that terminology made me think it was wider than it is. I have to say I wasn't much of a drinker before and after seeing how little of stomach remains, I cannot imagine drinking alcohol again without one drink have me a hundred sheets in the wind or however that saying goes. I'm ok with that. At the point I can partake in foods again I refuse to drink calories.
After talking with the PA today we decided it was best for me to continue with water intake, protein shakes, cream based soups that have the Heart Smart seal of approval (strained), surgarfree jello and popsicles. I have two more weeks of that and then I can get into pureed/blended foods. In those two weeks I need to invest in a new blender that can really handle blending down real foods. Ugh, I so crave meat even though the thought of eating it blended is not that appealing.
In the next four weeks I am to increase my exercising. I have been getting out for 30 minutes a day and walking in a store but I need to increase the activity side of it. I am just going to start turning on the Wii and doing maybe 10 minutes 3 times a day of the Zumba Fitness game.
So all is well in Q's world. I'm not sure if I will post again between now and the next appointment since I cannot weigh. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and everything else.
I'm laughing because last year Dawn Humphrey started an anti-Valentine's Day dinner. We met at the Golden Corral in Burleson. Horrible food. Funny thing is, by VD this year I will be able to try solid foods so I am actually looking forward to eating at GC. Oh my, did I really just say that??
I suppose first I should discuss weight. When I began the liquid diet I weighed 296.2. Today I weighed 277.2. That is really only 2 pounds difference since the day of surgery. I was told not to be concerned because there is still a lot of swelling inside and there will be for a few more weeks, especially with me being a revision patient. I was also told my home scale had to go MIA (missing in action) for a while. I have asked Keenan to put it in his trunk. I am not to weigh again until I go for my next appointment on January 18th. I'm not thrilled with the thought but it is the least of my concerns right now.
So my first questions were about the things my brother mentioned Dr. Kim said. Ok, so after a week of googling a topic I could not find and a friend who is a nurse (Cheri) had never heard of, turns out maybe my brother wasn't really listening when Dr. Kim was speaking to him. Imagine that! Yes, I did have a hiatal hernia which was repaired but they felt they caught it early on and it was minimal and quite routine. As for the stomach folding....well when you have lap-band for them to create the pouch they fold that portion of your stomach up over the band and secure it into place. Apparently mine took a little extra time to unfold and get to the band but it is all good.
I did a barium swallow today. Not the nasty stuff I did in the hospital, but the stuff I used to do for the lap-band. It is amazing to see it go down on the x-ray and see just how little of a stomach I have on the inside. I mean seeing it to scale because you really could not imagine. It does not look like a sleeve to me. I suppose thinking of it in that terminology made me think it was wider than it is. I have to say I wasn't much of a drinker before and after seeing how little of stomach remains, I cannot imagine drinking alcohol again without one drink have me a hundred sheets in the wind or however that saying goes. I'm ok with that. At the point I can partake in foods again I refuse to drink calories.
After talking with the PA today we decided it was best for me to continue with water intake, protein shakes, cream based soups that have the Heart Smart seal of approval (strained), surgarfree jello and popsicles. I have two more weeks of that and then I can get into pureed/blended foods. In those two weeks I need to invest in a new blender that can really handle blending down real foods. Ugh, I so crave meat even though the thought of eating it blended is not that appealing.
In the next four weeks I am to increase my exercising. I have been getting out for 30 minutes a day and walking in a store but I need to increase the activity side of it. I am just going to start turning on the Wii and doing maybe 10 minutes 3 times a day of the Zumba Fitness game.
So all is well in Q's world. I'm not sure if I will post again between now and the next appointment since I cannot weigh. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and everything else.
I'm laughing because last year Dawn Humphrey started an anti-Valentine's Day dinner. We met at the Golden Corral in Burleson. Horrible food. Funny thing is, by VD this year I will be able to try solid foods so I am actually looking forward to eating at GC. Oh my, did I really just say that??
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Surgery and the first few days after
Well I survived the surgery. Heck, I actually went through with it. There were many times while I was waiting in pre-op that I contemplated leaving or telling Dr. Kim to only remove the band and stop there. Thankfully my brains kicked in to battle my fear and anxiety and I went through with it.
This is definitely routine clock work for Dr. Kim. He had 8 surgeries scheduled that day; 5 lap-bands and 3 revisions. I was number 7 on his schedule for the day and he was right on time. The surgery itself only took 2 hours which surprised me. I guess for a non-revision it would take less. Apparently I had a hernia that needed to be repaired. Part of my stomach was going up into my esophagus or something. I do not know. He told this to my brother that came with me. He also told him something about my stomach having folded. I have no idea what that means except that I will have lots of questions at my post op appt on Friday.
So the day of surgery I am supposed to start walking that night. Like a couple of hours after I get out of recovery and into my room. I told them that I do not respond well to anesthesia and it makes me very nauseous. Despite their different medicated cocktails I would prove this to them. There was no way I could even stand up that night without feeling flustered and overcome with a hot flash and had to lay back down. I was gaggy and spitting up this frothy spit. On Friday I was supposed to get up and go to xray to do the swallow but I told them it just wasn't going to happen. I mean I had not even been up walking. Was it feasible to think I could go do this swallow and work on going home? No, I had to get the nausea under control. Friday I got up and made some laps of the nurses station which was progress for me. The gagginess and spitting up had not stopped yet. As a matter of fact all that did not stop until later Saturday. I did the swallow Saturday morning and was given the blessing to start drinking water. The odd thing was I only have a small portion of the stomach I had before. How would I know when it was full? How do I know when it is hungry? I guess because of the swelling, etc. I could not even feel the water going down. I opted a Saturday release was not an option for me. I told them I wanted to stay another night. David, Dr. Kim's PA came up to visit. He ordered some other meds and then gave me some positive conversation and told me get a good nights rest and be ready to drink up in the morning.
The little cup that comes on top of a medicine bottle - that's what I am drinking out of. It is 1cc and I need to sip one every 15 minutes. I am taking the chewable gas-x but it is because I am belching like crazy. I sure hope that stops before I go back to work but I have time since I am off until the New Year.
When I began the liquid diet I weighed 296.2. When they weighed me in at the hospital I weighed 279.4. I did weigh before I left today and I was back up to 283.4 but they said don't concern myself with it because I had so many days of IV fluids and there was still swelling and bloating.
Today, tomorrow and Tuesday I am on a really restricted diet of only clear fluids and I need to be sure I am taking in enough so I do not get dehydrated. On Wednesday Phase 2 begins and I will blog more then...
This is definitely routine clock work for Dr. Kim. He had 8 surgeries scheduled that day; 5 lap-bands and 3 revisions. I was number 7 on his schedule for the day and he was right on time. The surgery itself only took 2 hours which surprised me. I guess for a non-revision it would take less. Apparently I had a hernia that needed to be repaired. Part of my stomach was going up into my esophagus or something. I do not know. He told this to my brother that came with me. He also told him something about my stomach having folded. I have no idea what that means except that I will have lots of questions at my post op appt on Friday.
So the day of surgery I am supposed to start walking that night. Like a couple of hours after I get out of recovery and into my room. I told them that I do not respond well to anesthesia and it makes me very nauseous. Despite their different medicated cocktails I would prove this to them. There was no way I could even stand up that night without feeling flustered and overcome with a hot flash and had to lay back down. I was gaggy and spitting up this frothy spit. On Friday I was supposed to get up and go to xray to do the swallow but I told them it just wasn't going to happen. I mean I had not even been up walking. Was it feasible to think I could go do this swallow and work on going home? No, I had to get the nausea under control. Friday I got up and made some laps of the nurses station which was progress for me. The gagginess and spitting up had not stopped yet. As a matter of fact all that did not stop until later Saturday. I did the swallow Saturday morning and was given the blessing to start drinking water. The odd thing was I only have a small portion of the stomach I had before. How would I know when it was full? How do I know when it is hungry? I guess because of the swelling, etc. I could not even feel the water going down. I opted a Saturday release was not an option for me. I told them I wanted to stay another night. David, Dr. Kim's PA came up to visit. He ordered some other meds and then gave me some positive conversation and told me get a good nights rest and be ready to drink up in the morning.
The little cup that comes on top of a medicine bottle - that's what I am drinking out of. It is 1cc and I need to sip one every 15 minutes. I am taking the chewable gas-x but it is because I am belching like crazy. I sure hope that stops before I go back to work but I have time since I am off until the New Year.
When I began the liquid diet I weighed 296.2. When they weighed me in at the hospital I weighed 279.4. I did weigh before I left today and I was back up to 283.4 but they said don't concern myself with it because I had so many days of IV fluids and there was still swelling and bloating.
Today, tomorrow and Tuesday I am on a really restricted diet of only clear fluids and I need to be sure I am taking in enough so I do not get dehydrated. On Wednesday Phase 2 begins and I will blog more then...
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Wow, it's about that time
Hard to believe surgery is tomorrow. I'm anxious in an excited way but also in a nervous one. While I have expressed I have felt the need to bite my tongue because I am so tired of people telling me fear is not of God. Really? If fear isn't of God then explain to me how one can say they are God fearing? Ugh, this is not the venue for the argument and I just do not have the fight in me.
Liquid diet began the day after Thanksgiving. That morning I weighed 296.2. Tonight I weight 283.4. Looks like I will not pass my 14 marker as I should be back down to that when I weigh in the morning. This makes me sad in a way because I've really only had liquids for 12 days now and I expected to lose more but in all honesty not one day have I drank all 4 shakes and more protein probably would've resulted in more pounds lost. This was hard and I will admit in this venue that I did cheat a few times. I had a spoon of peanut butter, a can of tomato soup, and I ate the skin off a piece of fried chicken. Well not the entire skin, I got a little sick from the first few bites of it.
I'm ready to put this behind me. God, I pray it's Your will there are no complications! I cannot say how many times over the past 12 days that I have thought about chickening out. That amount has doubled in the past 48 hours. As of now, I think I am going through with it. I truly hope I do not regret this decision because once it's done there is no looking back. With that said I have to say there is no way Dr. Kim would have the certifications, recognition, etc. if he wasn't qualified and I have to trust he is capable.
I feel like I should be saying so much, yet I'm just not feeling it. I need to go fix my bag and clean my room a bit. Say a prayer for both Dr. Kim and me tomorrow. Surgery is scheduled for 11:45am if he is not running behind on other surgeries. The surgery could take anywhere from 2-5 hours. One of my brother's is taking me to the hospital. I've forbidden Keenan to take off work but told him to come afterwards. I will try to post on FB and send a mass text later tomorrow. They are not going to let me sleep, I have to get up and do a lot of walking to even have half a chance of going home Friday. Sometime Friday I will have a x-ray and a swallow to ensure there are no leaks in my new, smaller stomach.
I know I can do this. Heck, Dr. Kim is doing all the work. Thanks again for your support!! I'll blog again over the weekend or first of the week.
Luv ya--Q
Liquid diet began the day after Thanksgiving. That morning I weighed 296.2. Tonight I weight 283.4. Looks like I will not pass my 14 marker as I should be back down to that when I weigh in the morning. This makes me sad in a way because I've really only had liquids for 12 days now and I expected to lose more but in all honesty not one day have I drank all 4 shakes and more protein probably would've resulted in more pounds lost. This was hard and I will admit in this venue that I did cheat a few times. I had a spoon of peanut butter, a can of tomato soup, and I ate the skin off a piece of fried chicken. Well not the entire skin, I got a little sick from the first few bites of it.
I'm ready to put this behind me. God, I pray it's Your will there are no complications! I cannot say how many times over the past 12 days that I have thought about chickening out. That amount has doubled in the past 48 hours. As of now, I think I am going through with it. I truly hope I do not regret this decision because once it's done there is no looking back. With that said I have to say there is no way Dr. Kim would have the certifications, recognition, etc. if he wasn't qualified and I have to trust he is capable.
I feel like I should be saying so much, yet I'm just not feeling it. I need to go fix my bag and clean my room a bit. Say a prayer for both Dr. Kim and me tomorrow. Surgery is scheduled for 11:45am if he is not running behind on other surgeries. The surgery could take anywhere from 2-5 hours. One of my brother's is taking me to the hospital. I've forbidden Keenan to take off work but told him to come afterwards. I will try to post on FB and send a mass text later tomorrow. They are not going to let me sleep, I have to get up and do a lot of walking to even have half a chance of going home Friday. Sometime Friday I will have a x-ray and a swallow to ensure there are no leaks in my new, smaller stomach.
I know I can do this. Heck, Dr. Kim is doing all the work. Thanks again for your support!! I'll blog again over the weekend or first of the week.
Luv ya--Q
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