2 Days Before Surgery

So it has been rough going this week. This week is strictly liquids. I found myself doing okay on Monday, but as the week progressed I was having trouble drinking the 4 protein shakes and getting my 64 ounces of water in.

I think I am getting quickly burned out on the shakes. My coworkers were like, Oh I love the shakes, and my response is yeah, but you're only drinking 1 not 4 a day.

All week long I would come home from work and fall asleep on the couch. I am just completely drained. I'm sure that it's because of the lack of food and protein but I still couldn't get the 4 shakes down.

I haven't been sleeping well. Because of the naps I've been going to bed late so I am sure that hasn't helped with the whole not sleeping good. I think 1 part of the reason is I just can't seem to get comfortable in bed here lately. Not sure why. The other reason is I have a cat that is sick and I think I will lose in the near future. My fear is that he will die while I'm in the hospital. Unfortunately with the surgery coming up I don't have the extra money to take him to the vet. He is 13 years old which is the longest I have ever had a cat.

My coworkers this week have been checking in on me to see how I'm doing. They let me talk about food, but have been ever watchful to make sure I haven't been eating any. Out of the 4 coworkers who said they would do the diet with me, only 1 has managed to do the entire 2 weeks. She is a diabetic so she didn't do the exact diet, but she did restrict herself with what she ate. While she was on this diet with me her blood sugar averaged about 100 the entire time. She's gonna stay on this diet until she sees her doctor on 8/27. She said if she's lost even 5 pounds she's gonna stay on it. I told her to email me to what the doctor said.

I have continued my internet surfing. There are a couple of websites that I definitely want to order from. I just wish I had more money to do all the ordering I want....but alas, I haven't won the Powerball or MegaMillions lottery jackpot yet.

I did go to GNC this week to buy my protein powder that I can mix in with food. Unfortunately none of the GNC stores carry it. The only way to get it is order it online. I was not a happy camper. So it is ordered and will probably arrive when I am in the hospital. I also dropped off the prescriptions that the doctor gave me on my visit on 7/28. While at Walgreens I also grabbed Flintstones chewable vitamins. How I ever thought these were tasty as a kid I will never know.

So tomorrow is all clear liquids which means only water, broth, Popsicles, Jell-o and Powerade Zero. No protein shakes. Mom also arrives tomorrow. Monday morning have to be at the hospital by 5:30 am. Surgery should be around 7:30 am and will take about 3 hours to complete.

I'm gonna post some "before" pictures and after that my next post will either be from the hospital or once I am home. I am curious to know how much I have lost on this diet. My last weigh in a week and a half ago was 427. We'll see.

Pre-Surgery Diet - Day 7

So I am on day 7 of the pre-op diet. Today I get to have my last solid food until after surgery.

So I have been doing so-so on the diet. There are some days that I am doing great, drinking all my water and protein shakes and other days not so much. It's definitely easier for me to get my water in at work than it is at home.

I have been having headaches all week long. About the only thing I can do to get rid of them is to sleep.

I have only "cheated" twice. On Monday I had 1 chocolate cookie and then on Friday I bought an Atkins protein bar at the grocery store. I ate it to see if it would help with the headaches...it didn't.

Side Bar:
I will have to give some props to the folks at the Atkins company..Their food takes pretty darn good. The protein bar was chocolate covered peanut butter bar. It was kinda like peanut butter with peanut bits in it covered in chocolate. It was 240 calories, 22g of carbs, 1g of sugar and 18g of protein. I also noticed that they had Atkins peanut butter cups. Can't wait to try them after surgery! Gonna have to go to the Atkins website to look to see what else they have and if there are any coupons.

Tomorrow I start the 4 protein shakes a day. Thank goodness I found the Atkins shakes because if I hadn't it would be hard as hell this week!

I've been surfing the internet for different websites for various things. Some items that a specifically made for bariatric patients, also some websites for cooking your own high protein, low sugar and low carb foods. Here are a couple:

http://www.bariatricchoice.com/
http://www.chefdave.org/

In trying to find high protein meat, I have been looking for some different options and found a couple of great buffalo/bison meat websites. Buffalo or bison meat is very good. It's high in protein and low in fat. Plus to me it tastes just like beef. We have a Ted's Montana Grill here in Nashville and I am sure I will be going to them quite a bit. Anyway, here are a couple of buffalo websites:

http://www.highplainsbison.com/
http://www.americangourmet.net/

I also joined an online support group. It's where I got the weight loss tracker that you see on the right. It's interesting to see the before and after pictures as well as the message boards. Since the support group the hospital has only meets once a month, this is a great alternative.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/

I am on there as FTTG2010 if you decide to join and want to friend me.

Oh and in regards to my last post, I did make it through the Upper GI test okay. I didn't throw up once although the stuff you had to drink was nasty! During the pre admission registration, I did find out that I had lost 4.5 pounds in the 2 weeks since I had last been weighed. We'll see how much I lose when I go in for surgery. I've heard that most people lose 15 to 20 pounds on this diet. Let's hope so.

Final Eat What You Want Weekend

Well, this is my final weekend to eat what I want with no consequences. Now there is just one problem. After buying almost everything that I needed for the 2 week diet, I am now broke. I guess that is something I am gonna have to get used to. All these protein shakes and protein powders do not come cheap.

Because I have never tried a protein drink before, I ended up buying 3 different kinds so that I could compare and contrast. Finding the drinks wasn't too difficult. Walmart and my local Kroger had a pretty good variety. Finding the specific frozen dinners that I need on the other hand was damn near impossible. I was able to find most of them but it took 1o minutes in the frozen food aisle.

So Monday I start the pre-op diet. On Tuesday night I have to really restrict myself because on Wednesday morning I have the pre-admission testing including drinking the flavored chalk so that they can do the upper GI test. I had to do the same thing when I had to go into testing when they thought I had a blockage only to find out it was a tumor. But anyway, I couldn't drink it then, not sure how I am gonna get through it on Wednesday.

When I start the diet Monday, I think that's when it will really hit me. In 2 weeks I get to start a new healthier life and finally find out what it will be like to be a person in a normal weight.

My first goal is this. I am currently in a size 30/32 and by December 31st I hope to be able to be in a size 24.

Here's hoping.

Decisions Made and Date is Set

So last Thursday morning I called my doctor to let them know that I would be doing the duodenal switch instead. (Guess I need to change the name of the blog, huh?) A few days delay to get the insurance approval for the new procedure and Monday I got the call. See the doctor at 10:30 on Wednesday.

So yesterday I went in. Stepped on the scale and I had lost 1 lb since the visit the previous week. I spent some time waiting for the doctor. Just as he was coming in, he got a page for a consultation in the OR. Wait a little longer. Finally he comes in and we talk. I just had a few questions for him:

1. Not that I plan on it anytime soon, but later on down the line, what if I want to have a child? I should not have any problems as long as I talk all the necessary vitamins.

2. Will my tastes change. To some extent yes.

He made sure that I knew all the risks and some side effects. He looked at my stomach as he talked of the procedure. I told him that I had several co-workers who said they would go on the pre-op diet with me. He laughed and said that they probably wouldn't make it. He told me to go on the 2 week diet instead of the 3 week. He left and in came in the dietian.

We talked about the pre-op and post-op diet. Since I'm having the DW instead of the bypass it means a quicker time to eating normal food. Yipee.

After talking to her, in came the assistant to schedule the surgery. August 23rd. I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 am. Surgery will be around 7:30 am and should take about 3 hours. I'll spend roughly 4 days in the hospital.

August 9th is the day I start the pre-op diet. August 11th I go in for pre-admission testing, including having to drink that nasty chalky shit so they can get pictures of my upper GI. Couldn't get through it before, doubt I will be able to again, but we'll see.

So that's it for now. I need to start stocking up on my protein shakes and Lean Cuisine's. Thank God for the sugar-free Popsicles!

2nd month pre-op nutritionist follow up

So in this waiting journey that my insurance company requires me to do before having the surgery, I am now in the second slow month. This month the insurance company requires me to have a follow up conversation with the dietitian and the exercise guy. This can be either done through email, phone or an office visit.

My follow up with the dietitian was via email. In the email she asked some basic questions and wanted me to either email or call in a response. I answered them honestly and I'm sure that she didn't like some of the answers I provided.

Here were the questions she asked in red and my answers in blue:

1. Please list any food and beverage consumed in the past 24 hours.
Sunday
2 BBQ chicken sandwiches on Poppy Seed Kaiser Roll
2 all beef fat free hot dogs on white buns
1 grab & go cup of Kraft Mac & Cheese
1 serving meat Lasagna
3 pieces garlic Texas toast
4 20 oz bottles of water
6 mini powdered donuts

Monday
4 tootsie rolls
2 miniature Hershey bars
2 tootsie pops
4 slices of turkey with gravy
2 scoops mashed potatoes with gravy
8 oz of fountain Pepsi
8 oz of water so far

2. How many times per day do you eat? (Including snacks and meals)
2 big meals - usually lunch and dinner I normally snack on stuff through out my work day

3. What kind of beverages do you drink throughout a typical day?
Water and for the moment usually less than 12 oz of Pepsi

4. When considering your daily intake, would you say you eat “normal portions,” “more than normal,” or “less than normal?”
more than normal I found this question difficult to answer. It really depends on when and what I am eating.

5. How many times per week do you eat away from home? (Includes restaurant dining, fast food, convenience food, etc., but not a lunch you may pack yourself and take to work)
lunch is usually 5 days a week, dinner is usually 1 sometimes 2 times a week I guess I should have clarified my answer on this one. I don't normally pack a lunch, so I either eat in the company cafeteria or go out for lunch. Usually if I go out for lunch, it is usually to Subway or Panera Bread.

6. What obstacles do you face in preparing foods at home?
time Isn't that the obstacles that everyone faces? Not just fat people?

7. Stress is a part of everyone’s life. When under stress would you say you eat more or less than usual?
More Doesn't everyone? I'd really like to meet the people who don't eat more when they are stressed!

8. If more, what foods are you eating when stressed?
sweets, salty items Can you say Chocolate? Hello?!?!?!

9. What would you say is your biggest obstacle to weight loss success, and how do you plan to overcome this obstacle?
I snack at my desk while at work. I think the biggest problem for me will be breaking that habit. I have been trying to prepare myself, but have not had much success.

Needless to say the dietitian did not like my answers. Here was the response that I got back after supplying my answers:

Based on your nutrition evaluation, I would like for you to work on the following things before your next follow up visit. These goals will be important expectations after your surgery, so let’s see if we can start forming some new, healthy habits now.

* Eliminate your intake of carbonated beverages
* Decrease your intake of fast food and the number of times you are eating away from home (except lunches that are pre-packed and taken with you)
* Drink at least 64 ounces of water daily.
* Decrease your portion sizes. You can do this by using a smaller plate, smaller utensils, or eliminating second helpings.
* Start reading nutrition facts labels. You are going to be focused on consuming a high protein, low carbohydrate diet after surgery.
* Try to consume three meals per day, with only one snack between meals. You mentioned that the snacking between meals was your biggest obstacle, and the best way to get over that is to make sure you are getting in adequate protein at your meals so that you do not get hungry for snacks in between. Try to have something high in protein at each meal, and do not keep snacks at your desk at work.

Be prepared to explain how you have made these changes in your life at our next visit, and also to give a recall of the foods you consume in a typical day.


Sure that's easy for her to say! Some of the things she has talked about in her response, I have already started doing. I didn't mention that I used to drink 3 or 4 or more 12 oz cans of Pepsi a day and I cut back to less than a 12 oz glass of fountain Pepsi 5 days a week.

Or how I started paying more attention to labels from when I was active in Weight Watchers.

Anyway, just waiting on the follow up with the exercise guy. I get to tell him that I walked in 2 Society walks the past 3 weeks and walked a total of 7 miles in those walks. I really want to get a pedometer so I can see how many steps I make in a 1 job day and on those days were I work 2 jobs. Maybe as an early Christmas present to myself.

I also need to follow up with my PCP. I told his nurse that I needed the 5 year history by the 16th. Letting her conclude that I meant the 16th of November rather than the 16th of December. Hopefully he has gotten that information to the doctor already. I want to hurry up and get this surgery over with so I can start my new life as a new me!

Trying to imagine

So I've been trying to imagine what my life will be like post surgery. I've also been trying to pay attention to everyday "food" things that I do/eat in order to make myself aware and prepare for the skinnier me. Here are some of the things I've been thinking of/noticed lately.

* Caffeine. I am not a coffee person. I love the smell of fresh coffee brewing, but no matter how many creams and sugars, I can't get past the bitterness. My caffeine drink of choice is Pepsi. I've tried Diet Pepsi before and just can't get past the nasty taste. I recently tried a Pepsi Max which is supposed to be the same as a Coke Zero. It tasted like a Diet Pepsi to me. I guess I need to start weening myself off of the Pepsi, but I just can't imagine never having another one ever again.

* Chocolate. I love chocolate. This probably explains part of my size. Again, like Pepsi, I can't imagine never having a piece of chocolate ever again.

* Snacking. I work a desk job. 8 1/2 hours a day sitting in front of a computer screen at a desk. I knew before, but it's becoming more apparent. I sit at my desk and snack all day. Since I don't get up much, that would probably explains why I'm the biggest I've ever been.

* Protein. I know that I will need to get a lot of protein in throughout the day. I am not a fan of fish so that pretty much leaves chicken. I'm not sure how much protein I could get out of steak, but from my understanding it will be a while before I would be able to eat steak.

* Picky Eater. I am a very picky eater. I know it. I don't like seafood, Mexican, Chinese, salads just to name a few foods. I guess you could call me a good ole fashioned meat and taters type of girl. I do eat a lot of chicken and I like turkey as well. I wonder if my food tastes will change after having the surgery? I can't seem to find a definite answer to this question.

* Chewing. Everything I have read/heard says that you will start to have to take smaller bits and make sure that you chew your food up completely before swallowing.

* Vitamins. I know that I will have to take vitamins the rest of my life. Unfortunately the only way I have ever been able to swallow pills, is to chew something first and then put the pill in the chewed up bits then swallow them.

* Flabby Arms and Fat Calves. Since my weight is all over my body and not specific to just my middle section, I'm wondering how long it will take for me to lose the weight in my legs and arms. Will I need to get plastic surgery to get rid of the excess skin in those 2 places? Surprisingly I'm not really worried about excess skin on my belly/butt area. At least not right now anyway.

* Liquid diet. I'm wondering if I'll be able to do the liquid diet before and after my surgery. I guess if other's can do it then I can too.

These are just a few things that have been running through my mind since deciding to go ahead and start the process. Granted all I have done so far is attend a seminar and start the paperwork process. Today I tried to imagine what I would look like by the time the family reunion would roll around next July. How much weight will I have lost by then? Hmmm....

Starting the Journey

So this blog is my way to put down my thoughts as I start the journey to having gastric bypass.

Part of me is very excited at the prospect of the chance to be "normal" and to be able to purchase cute clothes from places like Walmart, Kmart, Target or any "regular" person store even though it's several months away from being there.

The other part of me is a little scared or wary. The thought of not being able to have certain foods ever again. Of course, it's these foods that I love that have gotten me in this situation in the first place.

So sit back, pick up a donut (or not) and follow me on my journey.