One Month Pre Op

Yes, just back to work, and I took two days off. When I was growing up,my family went to a family camp called Moon Beach Camp in northern Wisconsin for 13 years of my life. Then when I was married and we had the boys, we joined other family members and friends made for 14 years. It is amazing how special and important the place and the people become to you. Dennis, (husband), Darren (youngest son) and I went to visit for two days. These photos were not taken this year, but gives you a peek at what a beautiful special place it is.

Yesterday was one month since my surgery. I have lost 47 pounds since January. 25 pounds before surgery, 22 pounds since surgery. Amazing!

Back to Work Already?

High Ho, High Ho, it is back to work I go! Why did I not take my full six weeks??
I am feeling pretty good. I am going to a customer within driving distance, and will be doing quite a bit of computer work and training Nurses. It should be OK. When I thought about 4 weeks off, it sounded like a long time. Week one, in hospital and at home recovering. Week two, feeling better, moving slow. Week three and four, busy getting eating changes down and building strength back. Not very long at all! Thanks to my very supportive husband and youngest son who was home for the summer for all of their help and support. We all found out together, that when you get low on protein, you get crabby!

Follow Up With Dietician

I had my one month follow up visit with the Dietician today. (Yes, a few days early). Things are going quite well. I need to work harder at getting in my protein. To get in at least 60 grams a day when only eating ½ a cup at a time is not an easy thing. I am not wanting to do protein shakes. I am just so excited to chew! Food is an interesting thing. It is such a center point of our lives, both as a necessity and social event. It is a very weird thing, food, right now. I get very excited to eat something, take a bit, maybe two… and am not thrilled with it. I don’t feel hungry, or full for that matter. In fact I don’t feel anything. When they create the pouch, they are cutting through all of the never endings. Typically, people get those feelings back between 6 and 9 months. I have not experienced dumping syndrome yet. That is probably most likely because I haven’t had any sugars or fats per say. I really haven’t tested the waters, and don’t plan on it. I now have very few dietary restrictions. No bread, or limited to 1/3 of a slice of thin bread. If eating beef, it can only be lean ground beef. No stringy vegetables like celery unless it is chopped up.

The rules when eating are:

• Do not drink liquids for ½ hour before and after eating.
• Liquids must be consumed in small sips.
• Eat your proteins first- You need to get in at least 60 grams a day.
• Next eat your fruit and or vegetable.
• If you still have room, you can eat a starch.
• Remember your new pouch only holds about ½ a cup.
• Chew, Chew, Chew! Do most of the work outside of your pouch.
• A morning snack, afternoon snack and nighttime snack are required.
• A protein snack at night time helps you to feel better in the am.

Other food related items:
Two tablespoons of peanut butter has the same amount of protein as 1 oz of chicken!

I have found Kellogg’s Protein Water. It comes in Pink Lemonade, Ice Tea and Strawberry Kiwi, which I don’t like as much. It comes in packets which you add to your water. I contains 5 grams of protein! I will take anything I can get!

On to Soft Mechanical Foods

WOW! 20 days Post-OP! How can that be? I only have one more week and I will be back to work. It was a beautiful weekend. My Mom, Husband and I went to see an outdoor concert on Saturday. Today, (Sunday) we were a bit lazy. We did do wash, hanging some outside, but over all did not get much else done. Jodie, the rule follower has a confession. I started eating soft mechanical foods a half a day early. I can’t believe that I broke a rule! Dennis and I went out for breakfast after church. I am taking it slow! I had a scrambled egg with cheese on it, some bites of hash browns, and they had turkey sausage! I ate a half of a link. I wanted to make sure and take it slow. It all went very well. Eat slow, and chew a lot. I have leftovers for tomorrow!
I have been walking at least a mile each day outside. Not able to go back to Anytime Fitness for a month. Dennis and my youngest son keep going. They are looking awesome! They have been such a big support, and courteous about not eating around me during my 4 weeks of not chewing. Well, on to another week!

15 Days Post-OP

Wow, it is hard to believe that it is 15 days Post-Op! I am feeling pretty good. I am on day two of baby food. The texture of pureed chicken and cottage cheese is a bit weird, but oh so good to have different tastes. I spent the day yesterday at my younger sister’s house sun tanning with my sister and nieces, down by the lake. It was a beautiful day. We then made Shrinky Dink pendants to make jewelry with. We really had a good time. We are the “Designer Dinks!” The creativity was flowing! I was tired!

Today’s weigh in was 44 pounds lost since January. It is really hard to believe. I can’t imagine what it will feel like in another 44 pounds! Today I have attended two funerals. One, a family friend growing up who’s health has not been good this year. She was 80, and had really lived her life. Then, Michael Jackson’s on TV. I think they did a nice job.

Continuing thanks for everyone’s support and concerns. I brought you all on this journey with me for a purpose. Not only, love, support and encouragement along the way, but FUN!! Looking forward to having some!

Doctor Follow Up Vist

I went to the Doctor for my follow up visit today. They added Calcium to my vitamins, and will start taking Iron again on Monday when I start my baby food. Yes, I have to wait until Monday to add more food. We don’t want to undo the good things that are happening. Doctor Chiang was very pleased with everything. My incisions look good, and nothing hurts. He reminded me to not push it to far, and to read what my body is telling me. Like when to sit down, when to take a nap, when it is full. I am officially down 40 pounds since I started this adventure in January. I can really feel it in my face and shoulders. I wore a new pair of pants to the Doctor today. I am really feeling good! Not only physically, but about the choice that I made to have this done.

"Arriving at One Point is A Starting Point to Another”- Surgery completed- recovery well on it’s way- Baby food next!

NO MORE PROTEIN SHAKES!!!!!

No, I am not done with them, just mentally. I just can’t do them today. I go to see the Doctor for my follow up visit tomorrow. I am hoping to go on to the next food stage, Baby food. Believe of not, that sounds terrific. Dennis and I are going shopping to get the following to be ground up. Cottage Cheese, yes even that still needs more grinding. Most of the work needs to be done outside of my body, not inside, canned fruit with no sugar added, more yogurt, yellow and pudding, frozen vegetables to be ground up. I did pick up a baby food ham. I will let you know. Here is a picture from the day I made my baby food chicken. I forgot that I had taken it. I call it my chicken Popsicles! I do get to heat it up. Two ice cubes or “Chicken Cubes” make a serving. Do you want to come over for dinner?