At home after the surgery,,

Well I did it. After ten years of dreaming about it and 7 months of preparing for it, my surgery was completed Monday, Nov 14th at about 10:30am. My surgery took 3 hours instead of the standard 2 because he had to cut out alot of scar tissue from my gallbladder surgery. When I woke up, I was wrecked!! SO MUCH PAIN!! It felt as bad as when my gallbladder ruptured, but Morphine quickly became my BFF. The first and second day was the worst, day 3 I felt pretty good so I did alot of walking. I did start walking on dayone though. I started running a fever on Wednesday on and off, so I was ordered a barium swallow to make sure there was no leakage and a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia. Everything came back good and I was relieved!! All my meals were NASTY broth, a pretty good protein shake and jello. I never drank any of the broth (it had to be some kind of mix, raunchy is a understatement. The protein shake and jello took me all day to drink.I still dont feel hungry. Dr Weiss said I will have to make myself eat because I will probably not be hungry at all. I was discharged on Thursday night at about 830.
The staff of the ICU unit at Georgetown Hospital was fan-freakin-tastic!!! I could not have felt more at ease because of the care that they gave. Not to minimize the support and help from Mom and Jay. I was so glad they were there. I know how boring sitting in a hospital room is. And then I see the support coming from my friends in text and FB posts. Super cool!
Well if you are wondering if I have lost any weight yet, the answer, apparently, is yes.:) They did not want us to weigh while we were there because They pumped us soooooo full of fluid but I couldn't resist. I have lost 7.5 more pounds from mon to thurs, add that to my 14 day pre surgery diet and I have lost so far 15.5 pounds. Oh and by the way, I would like to apologize to everyone who saw my "before surgery" pics. I wanted to kill them for posting those!!!!!!! Paybacks are hell!! 

4 days left..The weekend of waiting..

Four more days and I will be under the knife. Its getting so close now. I can't contain my excitement!! The liquid diet leaves alot to be desired but except for a few meltdown moments, it hasn't been all that bad. I have powered through for 12 days now. I weighed myself at 5 days and had lost 6.5lbs. I know I have dropped more but I haven't weighed in yet. I bought the hibiclens that I have to scrub down with the night before and the morning of surgery. I have chicken broth stocked up and I need to go today and get more protein mix. I still need to get a robe so my rear-end won't shine while I'm walking the halls of the hospital. Jay bought me some cute socks to wear during my surgery. They have peace signs all over them. I love them, even if they should be for a 13 yr old. I love that he loves my childlike qualities. I havent mentioned much about his feelings about this surgery, mainly because he really keeps those to himself. Its like pulling teeth to get him to say how he feels about some things.:) At first he was really against the gastric bypass. He was so scared. But now since we have went to the classes together and he is better informed I think he is truly excited for me. Jay has always been supportive of anything I have ever done or wanted to do, this time he has performed in true Jay fashion. (Whatever you want to do baby - his answer for everything and the key to wedded bliss)
Mom and Keely (my niece) are going to get to come up after all. Mom said Keely keeps saying she wants to come take care of me at my surgery.LOL Well I should quit blogging now and do some work. I'll probably blog once more before surgery and then it will results time.. Wish me luck and send up prayers!!

It is ONNNNN!!!!!

In 12 days i will be in the operating room undergoing "my rebirth". I am so excited now, the weight wait is almost over.
 I went to my final consultation yesterday and met with my surgeon Dr. Weiss (btw SSOOOOO HOTT). He was very kind and explained everything. I felt such peacefulness and security after working out the details with him. By the way I am not having the bypass after all, I am going with the Gastric Sleeve. It has the same super quick weightloss as the bypass but there are less long term risk factors.

BYPASS	SLEEVE
1st 6 months rapid weight loss and decreased appetite	same
$60 to 90 monthly lifetime for vitamin	still take vitamins but MUCH LESS
Never take aspirin or steroids again	Small ulcer liability
Stomach cannot be examined without surgery	Dissected stomach is removed
Malabsorption for pregnancy	Much less likely
Re routes intestines higher leakage probability	No re routing stomach is a tube shape

I feel GREAT about my choice. The lapband has never been an option, maybe if I was just a little overweight but after the seminar yesterday thats not even realistic for long term success.

So I guess I should tell you about my fantastic Liquid Pre-surgery Diet I have been on and will continue to be on until surgery day and for about a month after. I HATE IT. by the 3rd day I wanted to stab puppies. Everything I dreamed about that night involved me beating someone or something up. I was HANGRY.. yes hangry, hungry + angry!!!

I have been drinking V-8 juice, protein powder drinks and chicken broth. Sounds gourmet, huh. Luckily at the consult yesterday, Dr. Weiss added ONE chicken and veggie meal a day. It was like heaven to my ears. Absolutely NO carbs, which is fine. I'm not really a bread, pasta, and cakes kinda girl anyway. The day before surgery, however, it will be just clear liquids and then after surgery liquids only again. But at least my stomach won't be the size of a 2liter. If you are wondering way the liquid diet, it is to shrink your liver so the surgeon can lift it up to get to the stomach. Apparently the liver can be so soft if its not shrunk the metal instrument that holds it up will cut into the liver easily just from the weight.

I am going to get Jay to take my pre-skinny pics this weekend. HUMILIATING!! but after 14 years, he's seen it all anyway so OH WELL. We were walking around Wal-mart last night and I was checking out the "normal" size clothes. Its still doesn't feel like a real possibility I will fit into those. I have little mini panic attacks thinking about having the surgery and losing absolutely nothing. I know its not possible but everything at this point is surreal.

I don't think any of my family (besides Jay of course) will be able to make it up for my surgery, but I am totally ok with that. I will be out of it anyway and I think I will enjoy the quiet walks by myself. Besides it gives me the opportunity to make a small but grand entrance at Christmas. I hope I lose enough that everyone will notice some progress then. Thanksgiving is out!!! But I'm going to be doing what Thanksgiving is really about this year. GIVING THANKS for this small miracle in my life, no turkey could make that any better!!!! We may still ride up to my aunts so Jay can eat though...lol

Well gonna go for now. Wish me luck that I will not end up on the 11o'clock news because of this diet.