Three Months-90 days post op

Feeling good.  The scale said 194 yesterday.  I broke the 200 barrier!  Woo Hoo!

About 40 days ago I noticed the amount of hair I was losing in the shower had tripled.  This lasted for several weeks.  I thought the hair loss was due to the stress of surgery, and my delusions were quickly squashed after my 3 month post op appointment yesterday.  My labs overall looked good but my protein levels were low.  Hence, the hair loss.  I am at 6.1 and should be at 7. 

I've said this before, but taking the protein is much more difficult than I expected.  I am prescribed to take 4 shakes or 80-100 grams a day.  The protein that works best for me is BIOPLEX "plain".  I mix it with a low sugar juice or juice cut with water. The shakes have to be thick so very little liquid is used.  Sometimes I throw a raw egg in too.

The doctor would like me to start B12 shots once a week.  My labs don't show a serious deficiency and this is just a preventative measure.  I am also adding iron and continuing to take a high dose of vitamin D.

I can not stress how important it is to be diligent with your labs post surgery.  What you don't know can hurt you.  Follow your Doctors' orders.  It's much easier to keep your levels up with supplements than to bring them back up after they have fallen. 

We've started a gastric bypass support group at work.  Currently there are 3 of us that are post op, 3 that are pre op, and there are several gals who are interested in learning more, but have not committed to the process yet. 

If you're interested in attending a free seminar on Bariatric Surgery in the Pierce/King County area, check out: http://www.centerforweightlosssurgery.com/  

Till next month.

- Twickity

Two months/60 days post op

Feeling great! The scale said 202 this am.

My surgery was on Sept 9, 2009 and I weighed 239 at that time.  My weight-loss has slowed down considerably, and I hit my first plateau.  I was stuck at 209 for nearly two weeks!  The doctor says it's normal and to stop looking at the scale.  Today I am at 202 and can't remember the last time I weighed so little.

My energy has returned and I started doing Crossfit on Saturdays.  It's Monday now, and my gluts and quads are still sore...but good sore.

Protein has become much easier!  I am mixing 1/2 plain whey (Bioplex) and 1/2 flavored whey (Nectar Naturals) together and it's perfect for me!  I also found an amazing protein bar at Fred Meyer that is 20 grams protein and 2 sugars.  It is fantastic!

I have become very sensitive to the amount of hair that I see going down the drain.  I'm not sure, but I think I am losing a little more than usual. It's hard to tell though.  Fat and protein are staples in my diet, so it may just be my body responding to the stress of surgery.

What else?  Oh yea, I dumped.  I've been trying all kinds of food and another RNY friend told me that she can eat croissants when she wants bread.  BIG MISTAKE!  It only lasted for about 10 or 15 minutes, thank goodness, but I got the cramping, the diarrhea, and the cold/hot sweats.  No fun at all.

Several friends at work have signed up for the procedure, and I am so excited for them!  We are forming our own little support group at work.

TTFN.  See you next month.

-Twickity

Day 40 Post Op

Feeling good and almost back to normal.  The scale said 209 this morning.

To recap.
Jan 28, 2009 I weighed in at 269.  In six months I lost 30 pounds through diet and exercise.
Sept 8, 2009 I weighed in at 239.  In 40 days I lost 30 pounds due to weight loss surgery.

I have started eating very small portions of real food.  I spent a day or too in Vegas last week and had prime rib!  I took three bites off my friend's plate and was completely satisfied.  The portion served was so huge and I remember thinking that I could have eaten the whole thing before.  Our stretchable stomaches are a huge design flaw...sorry God, but why do we have the capacity to eat such huge portions, when we can survive on such little food?

As I am introducing real food back in to my diet I am struggling a bit with portion control.  I have eaten too much three or four times and it is not a pleasant experience.  One little bite will put me over the edge and I am slowly learning when I should stop eating by listening carefully to body.  When I have had too much, it feels like severe heart burn AND that there is something stuck in your esophagus.  It lasts for a minute or too and I never want to feel it again.

I'll be blogging monthly now, instead of weekly or bi-weekly.  Thanks all for reading my little blog, see you  next month :)

- Angela

Day 30 Post Op

I feel great!  Today is the last day of leisure for me and I return to work tomorrow.   The scale said 214 this morning.

The weather has been beautiful!  I love these early fall days when the sun is bright and the sky is blue, and the temperature is about 60 degrees.  I've been in heaven this week and spent the afternoons at the dog park getting the exercise prescribed by my doctor.  I let the dogs lead the way.  Today, Peeza spent a good deal of time in the brier searching out rabbits.  Weeman followed her, and he kept looking back, stopping to wait for me to catch up.  The park is a mile all the way around.  There are five benches scattered throughout the park and I am familiar with all of them.  I still struggle a bit with my stamina.

I have sworn off yogurt.  It is one of the things I can eat, but have recently determined that milk products are one of the things that tamper with my sinuses.  In the past I was plagued with painful sinus migraines and since my surgery I have only had one sinus headache.  Even my Esthetician noticed a difference in my sinuses.  I put the yogurt to the test and had several servings of yogurt three days ago.  The following day, I was congested and I began to feel sinus pressure. Good bye Yogurt.

-A

Day 21, 22, 23 24 post op

Day 24 Post op.  Getting strength back and feeling good.  The scale said 216.5 yesterday morning.

This life of leisure is NOT for me.  I am really looking forward to going back to work.

I am still dealing a bit with nausea and searching for the perfect protein.  My protein intake has been inconsistent because of this problem.  But I think I may have found the solution.  I tried Syntax Nectar Medical plain protein and it went down pretty well with some yogurt.

I have come to the conclusion that I can not have Peanut Butter any more.  I knew I was slightly alergic to peanuts in the past (per the alergy testing my Naturopath did) but I tolerated peanuts very well and never noticed any physical reaction to peanuts.  I'm sad because it is one of my favorite foods  Out with the Peanut Butter and in with Almond Butter.

That's it for now.

-Angela

Day 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 post op

Day 20 Post op. Experiencing nausea that last few days.  Scale said 218.5 this am.

Struggling with the protein still.  The brand I enjoyed and was using post surgery, does not agree with me now.  It leaves me feeling nauseous for hours.  I drank a shake last night at 9 and woke up at 3am still feeling sick.  The Milk of Magnesa I choked down this this morning helped.  Thankfully.

Champion Protein Stack was my protein of choice.  I have a ton of it left...what a waste.  I tried Nectar Naturals by Syntrax.  I don't like the taste of it, but at least it doesn't make me sick.  I am on a journey to find a protein that agrees with me and that is palatable.

I tried plain Greek style yogurt with pureed frozen raspberries, sweetened with stevia this morning.  It was delicious!

I have a friend who had gastric bypass surgery one week after I did.  Her surgery was done in the traditional way by incision, and she is still struggling with pain and incision leakage after two weeks.  She had a bad experience with the first food she tried and her symtoms sound like dumping to me.  She sees her Doctor today and I pray she gets some relief soon.

-Angela

Day 13 & 14 post op

Day 14 post op. Slept in and feeling good. Scale said 222 this am.

I'm down 16 pounds in two weeks. I am taking it very easy, napping when tired, drinking the water and forcing the protein down...it's hard to eat when you're not hungry.

I spoke to my doctor yesterday about my physical and mental fatigue. He said it's very normal and I should increase my protein to four shakes a day. He suggested another two weeks off and I decided to take it, although I am totally bored at home and miss my co-workers.

Last night I made it out of the house (big event) to go to a weight loss surgery seminar with a friend, hosted by Dr. Srikanth. I re-learned some interesting things. "Roux-En-Y" translates from French to "fork in the road". This name literally describes what is done to the intestinal tract when gastric by pass surgery is performed. The other thing I learned is that there is a little hormone called Grelin, which is responsible for the hunger pangs I used to feel. My hunger switch has been permanently been turned off :)

I also learned that my surgeon was the first to perform lap band surgery in the North West. He's a trail blazer in this field and spoke at length about a new procedure called the "sleeve". The sleeve is not yet approved by most insurance companies but is proving to be very effective. There are only three years worth of data collected on the procedure, but is an excellent & economical choice for prospective patients who are not covered by insurance. This procedure runs approximately $16,000.

The procedure is pretty simple and the stretchy and Grelin producing part of the stomach is removed, leaving a 6 inch tube that will hold about 3 oz of food. The pros: you feel full fast, you don't have hunger pangs, and your intestines are not rerouted and therefore there are no mal-absorption problems.

Dr Srikanth also spoke about the tummy tucks he does. He does a super tight tuck by cutting a boat shaped section of skin out of the middle of the abdomen. Many plastic surgeon prefer to do a tummy tuck as an out patient surgery, but Srikanth has his patients stay in the hospital at least one night and this allows him to do an extra tight tuck. The cost ranges from 8K to 9K. I will be saving my pennies.

Let's see, what else? I think that's it. More updates to come.

-Angela

Day 11 & 12 post surgery

Day 12 post surgery. Still tired, sleeping well. Forgot to weigh this am.

A funny thing happened this evening. I asked a friend to take an "after" picture of my tummy. It's healing so nicely. Anyway, after the pictures were taken, she looked puzzled and asked why there was an indentation in the middle of my tummy. I looked down and laughed and said, "that's my waist.' Bless her heart, she had no idea what a chubby lady looks like under her clothes. She thought all women carried weight like a man. lol.

I see my Dr Shrikanth tomorrow for my first post op, and will be posting update tomorrow night.

-Angela

Day 8, 9 & 10 post surgery

Day 10 post op. I am super tired. The scale said 225.5 this am.

I am so tired that I slept till 12:30 yesterday. I haven't been able to do that since I was 20. I am so tired that I missed two days of blogging, without realizing it. My Aunt asked if I was okay, because she hadn't seen any new postings. Thank you for reminding me, and it pleases me that someone is reading my blog:)

The first 7 days were a breeze and then on day 8, my body said "Hey! What the heck is going on here! You're not healed yet...slow down!" The Yeastie Boys tour didn't help any either, however, they have finally hit the road and hopefully not to a town near you :)

On Monday I see my surgeon and intend on asking if this exhaustion is normal. I am so thankful for the luxury of taking time off work to heal. The physical exhaustion, combined with the mental exhaustion is a double whammy. As my body is adjusting to a significant lack of food, I can actually sense when my brain misfiring. I loose my train of thought and find myself searching for the right word. As I write, I am hoping that my words make sense.

I can drink protein shakes now and find myself forgetting to drink them. It's the strangest sensation, but I am not hungry at all. Ever.

Prior to surgery, I was always hungry and I rarely turned down food. I thought about food all the time. There are only two times in my life that I recall completely losing my appetite. The first time was when my marriage ended, and the second time was when I was about 15,000 feet above sea level on a trek in the in Himalayans. For those who have experienced consistent high altitudes, you know exactly what I am talking about. I consider this new sensation a blessing.

My incisions are healing really well. My surgeon knew exactly where and how to cut me, I doubt I'll even have any visible scars.

Thanks for reading everyone. More to come later.

-Angela

Day 6 & 7 post surgery

Day 7 post op. My skin is on fire! Scale said 228.5 this am.

The Yeastie Boys' tour was extended and they decided check out new and never before played venues. diflucan. Diflucan. DIFLUCAN!

HOT TIP! Ask for a prescription of Diflucan and fill it before your surgery!

I luckily had an appointment scheduled to see my regular doc yesterday. It was a standard post op appointment, and he hooked my up with the Difucan. Yes, I said the word again. It's that important.

Today I add liquid protein to my diet. My favorite brand is Champion Protein Stack. I mix about 2/3 Chocolate and 1/3 Banana Scream for a tasty beverage. I find the chocolate too bland and the Banana Scream too sweet, but mixed together... delicious!

My tiny incisions are healing nicely. Most are under an inch long. I can feel a little scar tissue forming under one in particular. It just also happens to be the one that became badly bruised on my far right side.

My appetite is returning. I'm not necessarily hungry, but certain foods sound good. One in particular is Creamy Tomato Basil soup from Metropolitan Market. It's too chunky to eat and it is made with cream..so it's a no no. Instead I developed my own concoction this morning. I made veg-chick broth last night. I pureed the cooked carrots in about 2 cups of the broth in my Magic Bullet. I then added about 1/2 cup of Trader Joe's Organic Tomato soup. It was delicious!

Vita-mix blender was ordered two days ago. Can not wait for it to arrive! Let the soup making begin!

I am still tired, but growing a bit restless. I could easily over-do it, so I'm praying today for strength to be still.

-A

Day 5 post surgery

Day 5 post op. Feeling good-ish. Scale said 230.5 this am.

Weeman has been my constant companion. I noticed this morning that he has gone on a hunger strike. His breakfast lay uneaten all morning. My appetite is beginning to return, and I wonder if he could be the most perfect dog ever?

Speaking of food...when I was in the hospital, the nurse asked if I would like a sugar-free Popsicle. At the risk of sounding like a crazy person I will admit that I asked if it contained Aspartame. The Aspartame laced Popsicle was refused and I drank water instead. I am not a health-food crazy person, or rather, I don't consider myself one. I had however, just spent 12 days preparing my body for surgery. I used my own self prescribed method and did a colon cleanse, a liver detox, I took airborne and vitamins daily and I even began taking colloidal silver. I was probably in the best health I had ever been in, so what is the harm in ingesting a trace amount of cancer causing Aspartame? Lack of food does strange things to people.

HOT TIP! The other night I found the most wonderful sugar-free Popsicles. They are sweetened with Splenda and made by Dreyer's. These are a must have for any post op patient.

HOT TIP! When you have surgery that involves huge amounts of super strong antibiotics, chances are that The Yeastie Boys will stop by to rock your world for while. Watch for them on day 3 or 4. If you have any inclination that they have arrived....they have. Promptly greet them accordingly.

I had an outing yesterday, and probably over did it. I am feeling the effects today. My muscles are very sore. My appetite is returning, and I have two more days left before I can start on liquid protein. I think these are my first complaints and I deserve them :)

-Angela

Day 4 post op

I had a minor set back yesterday. Late in the morning, I looked down at my arms and saw that a rash had developed. My forearms were covered in colorless, painless and itch-free bumps. I almost didn't believe it. I checked out my belly, nothing. Then I checked out my legs and the bumps were there too. Of course I immediately called the doc. It turns out that I had a reaction to the narcotic.

My belly is still really large, but not as uncomfortable. I stepped on the scale this morning and was shocked to see the number. 231. During intake at the hospital, I weighed in at 238. That was four days ago and I had been fasting for 10 days prior to intake.

I am anxious to start taking protein because I don't want to loose much more muscle.

To sum up. No more narcotics. The bumps are almost gone. Losing weight and feeling great on day 4.

Day 3 Post Surgery

I feel really good today and it's been less than 72 hours since my surgery.

"Today is January 28, 2009 and I took a huge step today that may change my life." That is a journal entry I made after first meeting with my bariatric surgeon to discuss the possibility of weight loss surgery.

I had spent the previous 45 days contemplating the possibility of having weight reduction surgery after attending a seminar in December. It was during this time that I spoke with several friends and acquaintances who had gone through the procedure. I also did some research on my insurance company to see what would be covered. I found that several procedures were covered under my Cigna plan, including the lap band and the Roux-En-Y or gastric bypass; however, there were three hoops that I needed to jumped through first.

1. My BMI or body mass index needed to be 40.
2. I needed to have documented proof that I had been overweight for 4 years.
3. I needed to participate in a 6 month, Physician supervised diet.

The first two were no problem, but number 3 really ticked me off. I saw it merely a delay tactic by the insurance company. I was mistaken. Participation in a 6 month Physician supervised diet is not used to prove that the patient can loose weight without surgery. It is not a stalling technique. It simply proves diligence on the part of the patient and their commitment to the process. Consistent weight-loss should be shown during this period. The added benefit of this tedious process, is it allows time for the patient to fully understand the choice they are making and to be sure that they are making the right one.

One of the concerns I had was that I would loose too much weight during the process. I thought my BMI might drop too low, and the insurance company would deny the authorization because I no longer met one of the criteria. In fact my BMI went under 38 during this period, but I was still approved. Don't be afraid to loose weight during this time :) I went from 269.2 to 239.6 in six months.

-Angela

Day 2 post surgery

It's been nearly 48 hours since my surgery. I feel great considering what I just went through. I am not hungry and am continuing to keep myself hydrated.

My only complaint is my tummy is still distended from the extra gas. I look like a one of those starving 3rd world babies you see on TV.

My good friend Abi went out last night and bought some Gas-X thin strips for me. I completely recommend them...and if you're planning this surgery, have them on hand and bring some to the hospital...of course check with the nurse prior to taking them though. The Colic baby drops the nurse gave me in the hospital didn't help a bit, but the Gas-X gave me a bit of relief in about an hour. They melt on you tongue and taste like mint. Yummy and refreshing.

TMI moment. This morning my bowels finally moved! Gas relief! Hooray!

My six little ports, or wounds...really not sure what they are called, began to show some bruising last night. The one on my far right is the worst looking. Surprisingly, there is little tenderness. If I am brave enough, I'll post a picture tonight on FB.

I called and scheduled a massage this afternoon and can hardly wait. I will have a full leg, upper neck and shoulders worked on.

The sun is out, my little dog, Weeman, is sitting on a pillow next to me and I am very happy. God is good.

-Angela

Home from the hospital

I just arrived home from the hospital. I spent approximately 36 hours there. It's been 24 hours since my operation, which I think is amazing.

I felt such a sense of calm and peace throughout this procedure and thank God for that. The prayers of my friends were felt and I can not thank you all enough. God is good.

I just have to say that I love my doctor! He has such a passion for what he does and he is an amazing surgeon. His name is Dr Myur Srikanth, for those of you who are interested. He told me during my pre-opt appointment that he has performed over 2500 weight loss surgeries. 1500 of which were done laparoscopically.

The most discomfort I felt was about a level 4 out of 10. The discomfort was felt due to gas in the abdomen. I was up walking and drinking, 2 hours after surgery. I have 6 tiny holes on my upper belly covered in square 2"x 2" band-aids. These band-aids are special and I can totally shower in them. They come off in 2 to 3 days. I don't see any blood at all and have no pain from the source. I can't believe that he was able to redirect 5 feet of intestine and create a small stomach without out completely opening me up. It is amazing.

My cat scan came out clean and clear this morning, which means I have no leaks, because Dr Srikanth sewed my up tight....Once again, he rules!

For the next week I am on clear sugar free liquids. A minimum of 80 ounces a day. 1 ounce at a time. During week two I can incorporate liquid protein.

I am happy to be home. I do not feel hungry. I will be staying hydrated and keeping the dogs off my lap for the time being.

Stay tuned.

-Angela

One more sleep

Just one more sleep.

The dogs are clingy this morning. Boogie has been on my lap most of the morning. Weeman sits at my feet. I recently read in People magazine that dogs have been trained to actually sniff out cancer. I think that's amazing. My surgeon told me during my final pre-opt appointment that I am 3 to 5 times more likely of developing certain types of cancer because I am obese.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I learned that I had some abnormalities with my kidney's. I have several complex cysts on my kidneys. In addition to that, my urine analysis indicated that I am expelling too much calcium. Not sure if the two are related, but I've been refereed to a Urologist and another kind of doctor, the title escapes me. I am waiting until after the surgery to schedule those appointments. If I had not gone through this process, I doubt I would have found out that information for some time.

My grandfather on my mom's side lived a long life. He survived Diphtheria in WWII, although it sterilized him, he had high blood pressure, heart attack, several strokes, pace maker and kidney cancer. The cancer didn't get, he passed away in 1996 in his 80's from a bisected aorta. Years of high blood pressure had paid their toll.

-a

Two more sleeps

Just two more sleeps.

This is day 9 of the clear liquid diet. It has become more of a religion rather than a spiritual experience for me. I follow rules and drink what and when I am suppose to, rather than when I am hungry...because I am no longer hungry. I feel kind of numb, but I am also emotional.

I was up early and made it to church for first service. It's been months since I've done that. Tears welled up in my eyes for most of the service. The people there are special and I am not quite sure why I have cut myself off from them during the past year... or has it been longer? The message was on community, appropriately. Our pastor is an exceptionally gifted teacher who has a knack for delivering a relevant message. He was of course, speaking directly to me today... as he does most Sundays, and 95% of the people there would also tell you the same thing.

One of the things I have learned during the months of preparation , is that gastric bypass is actually a cure for diabetes. Yes, it's true. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I am sure it has something to do with the removal of the part of the intestine that processes sugar. Diabetes goes away, but is replaced with something else called dumping syndrome when sugar is consumed. Dumping syndrome pretty much just makes you want to die, from what I have been told. If your interested in what it is, google it. What I will tell you about it is that most gastric bypass patients have experienced dumping syndrome. Once is usually enough, but there are patients who are gluttons for punishment and experience it several times. After gastric bypass, patients are on a close to sugar free diet for life. No wonder why they get so skinny!

If I break down and eat too much sugar, I will be sure to tell you all about the dumping. I am hoping that you'll get to miss out on those details though.

My father was diagnosed with adult onset diabetes when he was just a few years older that I am now. One of the signs is extreme thirst. I can remember being out to dinner, I can't remember the name of the restaurant but it was next to the Shakey's Pizza or the Foxy Lady salon on Colima. The place had a big red door and it was a restaurant-lounge kind of place. Dark and smokey. Anyway, the waitress brought my father a cocktail and it wasn't his usual, it was clear. Probably vodka. He downed it like it was water and flagged the waitress down for another. We had not even ordered dinner yet. I remember him mentioning how thirsty he was. Months later he was diagnosed.

Thankfully, there will be no diabetes in my future since diabetes is a huge contributor to heart disease.

While I was preparing for this surgery I ran through a gamut of tests. Let's see if I can remember them all: barium gastric swallow, abdominal ultrasound, bone density test, breathing test, mental health test, ekg, stress-treadmill test, echo-cardiogram, cat scan, a 24 hour urine analysis (had to capture it all for 24 hours and carry it around a jug) and lots of blood tests....13 vials of blood in one sitting. As it turns out my heart is perfectly healthy however they did find some complications with my kidneys.

-a

The Beginning

I have three more sleeps until my surgery. I spent the day with a friend. We got pedicures. We watched a movie. I took a nap during the movie. I have been really tired the last few days. I am on day 8 of a 10 day liquid fast. My brain is dragging a bit. Several times today I caught myself saying the wrong word in the middle of a sentence, as if I were tipsy.

Yesterday was my last day of work. It was the Friday before Labor Day and didn't come a day too soon. This surgery will allow me a much needed break. Immediately after work I had a massage. This little luxury, is one I could not do without. I fantasize about being rich and famous and having a massage therapist on the payroll...ready at my beck and call.

I decided to blog about my experience and gastric bypass or Roux-En-Y surgery for two reasons. 1. I think is will be very therapeutic for me. 2. I image that there are other peeps out there who have questions that I may be able to answer.

My journey began almost a year ago when I attend a bariatric seminar hosted by a local surgeon. We met at the Boys & Girls Club of Tacoma on a Wednesday night in December. I had no idea what was in store for me, or how that night would potentially change my life forever. There were about 15 or 16 in the audience and we all sat silently, listening to bariatric patients give their testimony...one after another. Everyone had a different story, a different experience and different reasons for having the surgery. The stories were different and so were the types of surgeries they had. The two things in common, were that they all had the same surgeon and they all were successful, because they were dedicated to the life long changes that need to be made.

My reasons for having this surgery are simple. I want to live to see 60. Both of my parents battled with adult obesity. Both of my parents died from heart disease in their 50's. My father was 56 and my mother was 59. I struggled with the idea that I had this knowledge and yet I was still not able to consistently make good food choices and I over ate. Each year my weight went up.

It's my opinion that an obese person must own the fact that it's not all genetics. People don't get fat unless they consistently over eat and make wrong food choices. For an obese person to get better, with surgery or without, acknowledgement of these facts is essential.