4 Days Post-Op VSG

Well, I had my surgery 4 days ago. I've been home for a couple days now. I'm doing fine. The day after surgery I was very nauseous, so that was a miserable day full of regret.  Each day gets easier. I don't regret anymore... I'm feeling more like myself now.

I am on a full liquid diet.. the same diet I was on for a week before surgery.  I'm not able to consume like I did then though.. whew!  Back then I had no trouble getting my 64 oz of water every day, or my 60 grams of protein... I actually got way more protein than that every day then... but now, I'm struggling, trying to get it in because my new stomach "sleeve" won't hold much at a time. I am constantly sipping. It is like a full time job trying to get my liquids in!  I did the best today that I've done since surgery... and I got like 4 cups of water, and a cup of chicken broth from chicken noodle soup, which counts toward my liquids too, and a half of a muscle milk. Right now, I'm attempting to eat some unsweetened apple sauce.  Cold stuff doesn't feel as good in my tummy as room temperature or warm stuff.  The chicken broth was really good actually.  Hopefully tomorrow will be even better.

I'm looking forward to my one week checkup because that is when my drain will be removed and my staples will be removed... those are annoying.

I've already lost several pounds.. let me see.. I've lost almost ten pounds since surgery day. cool, huh?

I've been walking around as much as I can.  It gets boring just walking around the house. Today my husband took me to Walmart and I walked around there and got a few things we needed... it was nice to get out of the house, but annoying trying to hide the drain.

I'll try to make a video soon. Just thought I'd check in real quick.  :-)

Surgery is Coming Up Soon!

My birthday was a few days ago...on Monday. I turned 40. It is so incredibly hard for me to believe that I am 40 years old. Seriously... when did this happen??  I don't even feel like I should be considered an adult.. LOL and now I'm old.  Oh well.. I'm gonna rock 40 like nobody's business and it ain't gonna know what hit it!  Yep.

 The day after my birthday, I went to the hospital for my pre-admission testing. That went pretty smoothly.. nothing major.  That same day, I went to my doctor's office for a class on what to expect before/during/after the surgery.  That was non-eventful too... other than I got the plan for my pre-op liquid diet. I didn't know what my doctor required and was curious... and it is basically a week of clear and full liquids.  I had been doing a liquid diet the week before, but it wasn't all liquids. I was eating a salad for supper every day... and not just any old salad.. it had good stuff in it... eggs, chicken, cheese... yeah, a good salad.  AND my last post showed a picture of my "last meal before surgery..." Well, I thought that was going to be my last meal, but the day I went for my pre-admission testing, we went to taco bell.  I figured why not? My doctor hadn't started my pre-op diet yet... and I'm not going to get a bite of anything for quite a while.. So, I had a burrito supreme. I didn't over eat... but I enjoyed it.

My liquid diet is going pretty well. I haven't cheated at all. I'm following the plan exactly. The first day was a little hard because I had to cook a lot for my family and I couldn't eat any of it. But it has gotten easier and easier. I don't really crave the food much now. Every once in a while, I will be preparing something for my family and I will really want a bite, but I don't do it. I know I can't, so I don't!  I'm really proud of myself.  :-)   Today is day 4 of this clear/full liquid diet.

My surgery is 4 days away... I'm excited and scared at the same time.  I know I'm going to freak out, probably the night before surgery and the morning of surgery. Maybe they will give me something to calm me down because I know I am going to have a lot of anxiety. I'm trembling just thinking about it...

I'm starting to think about recovery.. I'm dreading the pain. I hope I'm one of those fortunate people who have a fairly easy recovery.  A couple years ago, I had my gallbladder removed.  I know I was sore afterwards, but I don't remember being in a lot of pain. I think it was because I was in so much pain BEFORE surgery that the pain during recovery was a piece of cake.  I suffered for a long time with terrible pain before I went to the hospital with my gallbladder.  I really hope I don't have a hard recovery or complications. I know everybody hopes that.  LOL

Anyway, this will probably be my last blog before surgery.. but I might come on one more time with a final before photo and my measurements and weight.  I did my measurements and weight several months ago before I lost any weight, and I will do it again before surgery, so that I will have something to compare with as I lose.  I'm really excited about losing weight.. In a year from now, I plan to be half the person I am now. (or smaller.. hehe)

A few days before my 40th birthday.

My Last Meal (before surgery)

Ok, so today I started my 2 week pre-op liquid diet. Yesterday, I realized that would be my last day of "normal" eating because I will be doing liquids until surgery, and then I won't be able to eat like I do now after surgery. So I decided my "last meal" would be a Wendy's Baconator meal with chili cheese fries instead of regular fries, and a large wild berry tea. I know I won't be eating this particular combination of foods together for a long time, maybe never. Hopefully never.

I'm doing fine with the liquid diet so far.. it is just day one.. LOL.. I had a protein shake for breakfast along with a Flintstones multivitamin, chicken broth for lunch with lifewater, and for supper I will have a small salad.  I will try to get in 64 oz of water/liquid today.  I'll do this diet until the 15th when my surgeon will give me details on the pre-op liquid diet that he prefers.  Yeah, he only requires a one-week pre-op diet, but I've read that most people have to do 2 weeks, so I decided on my own to do 2 weeks. I read other people's pre-op diet plans and just incorporated it into my own. So far, so good.

My surgery will be 2 weeks from today!  It's hard to believe it's so close!  I'm really excited!  (and a little nervous!!)

Here's a pic of my last meal!