Weightloss at a Glance!

Friday, September 26, 2008

Things are better now

I did cheat, and eat some refried beans. I do make them really runny though, so maybe it's not so bad? Today I chewed up a grape, sucked on the pulp, and then spit out the rest.....yummy huh? Anyway, I did buy some Adkins drinks tonight. They're in the fridge so we'll see how those taste in the morning. I am tempted to move on to pureed foods. I was told to wait two weeks, and it's only been 10 days. With the exception of the refried beans, of course, I'm going to try to wait it out. OMG, and I found out tonight that Red Diamond makes little bottles of tea that are already sweetened with splenda! I thought I had died and gone to heaven! Red Diamond makes the best tea! I used to be totally addicted to their sweet tea! Granted I'll probably only do a few ounces a day, a couple times a week. It's still got caffine in it! *BUMMER*

Anyway, I'm feeling much better now. I did get a little ill feeling earlier, while we were at WalMart, but I came home, laid down, and sipped my gloriously wonderful tea, and felt better.

I've lost a GRAND total of 22 pounds now. I'm weighing in at 273 today! Woot woot!

And I wanted to end today with a special thanks to Suzy. Knowing that you were eating refried beans by day 5 helped me justify it at day 8! Ha ha ha. I'd be in bad shape without your advice. The Gatorade did help too! Oh, and Amber, you'd better bet your tiny tush, that I'm eating me some mashed potatoes next week!

Love you guys! Sarah
*enjoy your weekend!*

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

I think I need to eat!

I got really dizzy today, and really really weak. Paul had to help me get in bed! I think it's cause I haven't eaten in like two days! I can't handle the meal replacements anymore. Pre-op they were okay.....not good, but okay. Now they just taste awful and I can't make myself put them in my mouth! I want food! I want a bite of cottage cheese, and I'm tempted to make myself some runny refried beans or something! I haven't thrown up or anything, but I can't eat things that are gross to me. To be honestly, I'd rather eat dirt right now than a meal replacement. It's not only the taste of them, it's the texture too! It's somewhere between runny egg whites and snot to me!

I've called a post-op friend, and she says I should do whatever it takes to get at least two meal replacements down. I know she's right, I know she is! I've tried all her suggestions, but nothing is working! I've even tried my old protein shakes, which I used to really enjoy, but those taste gross now too! I don't know what to do. If I call the doctor I'm sure she'll want me on a feeding tube or something. That's not really something I want to do! I need to get this fixed though, my husband leaves in a week!

I can't have my pureed foods for another week either! Any help would be greatly appreciated! PLEASE!!!!!

Thank you, Sarah

Has anyone noticed?

I have a ticker above my blog....

I was just wondering if anyone had looked at it recently!

I'm down 21 pounds today! Woot woot!!!

I lost 2 pounds prior to my 10 day diet.

I lost 9 pounds on my 10 day diet.

I've lost 10 pounds since my surgery!

Woot woot, the melting has begun!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

O-M-G!!!!

I have to tell EVERYONE!

I started this journey weighing 295 pounds.

After my 10 day diet, the morning of surgery, I weighed 284 pounds.

Today I am 5 days post op, and I have broken the 280 mark!

I weighed in this morning at 279.6!

I just HAD to scream it to the world!

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend!
Sarah

Friday, September 19, 2008

Home from the hospital

I'm home! I got home yesterday! Woot woot! I would have updated while I was in the hospital, but sitting up high enough to type was a little difficult.

The first night went really well. One of the ladies from my LOD yahoo group showed up to say hi. She and I have talked quite a bit, and she's one of the first people I run to if I have a silly question, or I get curious about something. Anyway, she introduced herself and asked if I'd been out of bed yet. I hadn't so she started pulling back the sheets, and unhooking stuff! She was really nice about it, and she was a BIG BIG help on getting me out of bed. When we got back she helped me get into a chair to work on my incentive sperometer. Then she helped me get back in bed and get comfy.

Then early Tuesday morning, before the night shift ended and the day shift began, I started having trouble with my pain pump. Every second time I'd push the button for meds, it would deliver between half a dose and most the dose and then just beep like crazy. My night nurse was very attentive and fixed it right away. It would work for the next dose, but beep half way through the second dose. My day nurse however wasn't so great about it. The first two times she was pretty quick to come fix it, but the third time it took her at least 45 minutes. That's 5 doses of medicine I'd missed while I waited on her! Then it seemed nearly every time I had to push my call button, it would take her at least 30 minutes to come fix it! My mom was getting frustrated with me, because I was starting to get upset about it. I found out yesterday, that even the nurse assistant that was working on the floor Wednesday was frustrated with my nurse about it! Then there was an issue with my binder that went around my stomach and helped hold it in place. I liked mine good and tight, because it helped when I walked, when I burped, when I hiccuped. It helped with the pain and all the jazz. Well my day nurse put it back on really loose! So my drain bottle fell out of it, and tugged and that was really uncomfortable! I had to call her in my room and ask her to redo it. I guess she got as annoyed with my morphine as I did, because she started my loratab a little ahead of schedule. I was so happy to get something I could call for every three hours, as opposed to my machine messing up every 15 minutes!

My doctor came in, and saw me Wednesday morning. I was in pretty bad shape because I wasn't getting my medicine, so there was talk of keeping me until Friday. But I had my pain undercontrol as of Wednesday afternoon, so yesterday I felt a WHOLE lot better. I was even able to sleep instead of just dozing off. On the morphine I would doze off for 15 to 20 minutes, then I was up for a half hour. With the loratab I took an hour and a half nap that afternoon, then slept for 6 hours that night, so when I woke up yesterday morning I was pretty sore, but 30 minutes after my loratab I was up roaming the halls, and felt much much better! Dr. Nealson saw me in the hallways, deduced that I was feeling better, and decided after visiting in my room that I could go home if that's what I wanted to do.

So, all it well, and I'm at home now. I haven't had an neusesa, everything seems to be going swimmingly! That's the update for now! Hope you all enjoy your weekend! Sarah

Monday, September 15, 2008

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the BIG day! I'm still really excited! I don't FEEL nervous, but I know I am. I haven't been able to eat much at all. I'm supposed to be on a liquids only diet right now. It hasn't been nearly as rough as I expected it to be. I have no desire to eat anything! When I do try to drink one of my replacements, or a supplement, I don't get much down before I start to get kind of nauseous.

Paul's home. It's really nice to have him around. The kids can't leave him alone! They're really enjoying him. I thought the older two would stay home from school today, but they didn't want to. I think it was more of a....I can't wait to tell all my friends that my dad's home....sorta deal.

Anyway, I'll catch up with you guys in the next day or two. Paul brought his laptop home, and the hospital has WIFI! I won't be too far away!

Wish me luck!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Paul's coming home!

We finally found out today for sure! Paul's getting leave from the 14th to Oct. 2nd! It's no where near the time we'd like to have him home, but it's something! I'm so happy that we get to see him! I can't wait! He should fly in sometime Sunday he said. Three more days and I get to see him! I can't wait!

I'm a little nervous about only having help for two weeks post op though. I'm sure his grandma would take the little ones for two or three days if I still need help though. Finally, everything seems to fall into place! Only 5 more days until my surgery!

I've moved up my liquids diet. I don't seem to be losing any weight, and they told me that I SHOULD lose 3 to 5 % of my body weight on the ten day diet. I'm supposed to be on nothing but liquids starting Saturday, but I'm starting that NOW. With the exception of cottage cheese. I think I'm gonna have tomato soup for lunch, and just add some beneprotein...yum!

And, I nearly missed this, but I made an amazing find at walmart today! Everyone had been raving about the Magic Bullet. I've seen the infomercials and I've always wanted one. I've seen them at WalMart recently for $62 something. I thought, my blender works fine, I'll just stick with that. Who cares if it's a pain in the butt to wash three or four times a day? Well, today I found something just like the Magic Bullet, only the sunbeam brand! Only 35 bucks! No....wait! It's gets sooo much better than that! It was on sale! Clearance! I got mine for only 19 dollars! I'm so excited! It's just the right size!

Anyway, things are going good on my end. Hope everyone enjoys the rest of the week!
Sarah

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Better today

Thanks for all your encouragement yesterday. You guys really are awesome!

Today was better. I guess they forgot to send the red cross message Monday, like they said they would. I completely understand. I forget stuff ALL the time. But it got sent today. They called me and the guy was saying, that they couldn't SEND a red cross message, because the surgery was elective. He said that he didn't feel right about that, so what he would do was transfer the message from the area that covers my doctor's office to the area the covers where I live. That would give them a case number. Then Paul could have his NCO's call about that case number, and it would give them all the verified information. So, in essence, they would get the message, but they would have to call the red cross and ask for it. That's okay, but transferring the case to my area actually put it into someone else's hands. I don't know if the woman didn't know the surgery was elective, or if she just didn't realize that they shouldn't send that type of message. But she called and asked me a couple questions, then said that since she had everything she needed, she'd probably put it through within the hour! I usually talk too much, but I knew enough to say thank you and keep my mouth shut!

Right now I'm expecting him sometime Saturday. I think they would have let him take leave anyway, but there are two things I'm hoping the red cross message accomplishes. First, I'm hoping it gets him home longer. The office has requested 4 to 6 weeks. The leave they're getting to take right now is 15 days! Second, I'm hoping the military will pay for the plane ticket. They tend to do that when there's a red cross message involved. Red Cross messages are usually reserved for emergencies. I think this qualifies though, seeing how my backup plan fell through.

Now we're just hoping we can get him home in time for Austin's football game Saturday! Austin wants his Dad to watch him play football sooooo bad! It's funny, cause I talk about him all the time, and NONE of the football Mom's have ever even seen him before! I'm the woman with the imaginary husband! Ha ha ha ha! I'm so proud of him, so I feel no shame in showing him off, lmao. He's really looking forward to helping Austin out with football. Austin and I don't even know all the rules I don't think, so I'm the last person to help him out. I wish I had high speed internet! Austin's sooooo cute in his football uniform!

Anyway, hopefully we'll find out tomorrow for sure. If the message was in fact sent through red cross, if the Army's gonna pay for his ticket, and how long he'll be home on leave. Today's been better, and thanks for your kind words yesterday!

Only 6 more days! I can hardly wait!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Awful day!

I've got a week left until my surgery, and I get some complicating news.

Paul said that his 1st SGT. told him, if he needs surgery on his knee again they might chapter him out! They did the same thing with his shoulder! He hurts himself, on the job, they fix it. Then they send him to the field, before he heals properly, so he can hurt it again. Then they threaten to kick him out of the Army for being broken!

The first time, like I said, it was his shoulder. It had been hurting him for YEARS, before they finally looked into it! Then he has surgery, fixes it, and then 5 weeks after his surgery they send him to the field. His physical therapist advised against it, and was livid when they actually sent him! They send him to the field to qualify on his rifle. It doesn't take a doctor or a rocket scientist to realize that firing a weapon, and it bucking against a shoulder they just fixed, is a BAD idea. I mean come on! DUH! So he messed it all up again, doing what they told him to. There was talk about chaptering him out then, but of course they're deploying, and he's too important to leave behind. So, instead of chaptering him out of the military, the deploy him, INJURED!

Well, not long after he gets back he hurts his knee doing a PT test. He goes to the doctor and finds that he tore his meniscus, so they send him for surgery and fix it. He goes to physical therapy while he's on leave healing. Two weeks after he gets back to work, they send him back to the field, he rips it again. Now they're talking about chaptering him out again!

First, it wouldn't be a bad thing, but it gets my hopes up for a "normal" life! But what really irritates me is, they've got orders to deploy again this winter. (Paul's whole company just got back from 15 months in Iraq November 2007.) I have no false hope this time. I know he'll deploy with his unit....again. That's another thing that irritates me! They decided to up deployments to 15 months to guarantee soldiers 24 months at home between deployments! This entire unit just got back 10 months ago! They're all set to deploy again this winter. That gives them 12- 14 months at home! THAT'S LESS TIME THAN THEY SPENT IN IRAQ LAST TIME!

It's frustrating! It's stressful! I can't believe they're doing this AGAIN! Of course, to add to all of that, we still don't know if they're gonna let him come home on leave and take care of me yet. Normally, I wouldn't be so worried about it. Yes, I want him home. He's absolutely my first choice! I need his help, and the kids really need to spend time with him before he deploys again! But my backup plan leaves for Flordia two days before my surgery! He's my plan, and I have no back up plan anymore. If they don't let him take leave, I'm totally screwed!

It's just been an AWFUL day so far!

Monday, September 8, 2008

day three

It's day three of my 10 day diet. I usually weigh myself on Fridays. I weighed in at 293 Friday. I jumped on the scale today, just curious. They said I could expect to lose 3 to 5% of my body weight on the ten day diet. That's about 9 to 15 pounds for me! I've lost two of those so far! This morning, I weighed in at 291! 2 down, at least 7 to go before surgery! woot woot

have a great week!

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Didn't do too great

I cheated! I had a bite of potato salad! And, at the ballgame I was hungry, so I had a handful of almonds! I was prepared for the birthday cake and ice cream! I still managed to say no when it turned out to be strawberry cake from the bakery! I forgot there was gonna be food! If I had remembered, I would have taken something different to eat. There was pork there, I could have had that. I steered clear of the ribs and baked beans, but the potato salad was there, and it looked so good! I had two small bites! Then, I'd had my snack right after my "meal" so I got really hungry during the football game. I poured a small styrofoam cup with some almonds. I probably had 2 ounces of almonds, which is two servings!

It always works that way for me! If I eat breakfast, I'm hungry all day. I feel really bad, but I'm hoping it won't matter in the long run! I'm going to try harder today! Start with a shake for breakfast, and not mix it up to fit my schedule! I think it will be easier when I DON'T eat something real for breakfast, I think having a drink will make it easier!

I have my pre-op appointment tomorrow! Only 9 more days til I join the "losing side"! I'm so excited!

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Send me all your willpower!

I'm down to 10 days! Woot woot! I have to start my 10 day diet today. I need you all to send me all your willpower, because I also have my nieces first birthday party to attend today! Yikes! It really shouldn't be a big deal. I'm fairly confident that I'll be able to stick to my protein shake while everyone else is having cake and ice cream. Lucky for me it's on the first day of my diet and not the 5 or 6th! My willpower seems to dissolve as time goes on.

Then after that, I have to drive back (it's a two hour drive down there) for Austin's first football game! That's exciting! But, I just KNOW they're gonna have diet coke and chips and all that good football game food I can't have. I weaseled my way out of working the concession stand though, so again, I should be okay!

But just in case I'm tempted. Send me good thoughts today! Ha ha! Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

Friday, September 5, 2008

Oh NO! My first nervous moment!

I had my first nervous about surgery moment yesterday afternoon. I was at my post-op orientation, and the lady there was talking about all the stuff you'll have on you when you wake up. I was still super psyched, but somewhere in the back of my head was nervousness. My stomach must have agreed with that little feeling, cause it kinda dropped for a minute. You know that feeling, when you're driving and top a hill going too fast? That's what happened yesterday. I'm not scared or anything. I have all the confidence in the world, that my surgeon will bring me through this just fine! I trust her, and have faith that everything is gonna be just fine.

I know I'll get nervous at some point, but I'm really hoping I can save all that for the hospital. Can you imagine 11 more days of nervous? UGH. It's all okay though, I'm sure a distraction, in the form on my husband, will be flying in at Will Rogers in about a week. Ha ha ha ha! It'll be too hard to find time to be nervous until he's taking me to the hospital. We haven't seen him in 9 months, so there will be too much to do! Maybe we'll go to the zoo the weekend before my surgery? The kids LOVE the zoo! Paul and I like it too. We used to go all the time. Besides, I could use the exercise. I don't supposed they can gripe if I walk for 6 hours, lmao.

I start my 10 day pre-op diet tomorrow. We went out for breakfast, and lunch. I did manage to NOT drink while I was eating though, so that's a plus. I even managed to wait 20 minutes after breakfast to have a drink of water! I figured this is gonna be my last day to EAT anything I want, so why not? Starting tomorrow I have to follow my diet plan, and it's something I can expect to be following after I'm back on food again after surgery. The last three days is my liquids only phase! I'm not worried about it though. After a protein shake, I think I'm hungry because I haven't eaten anything, but I KNOW I'm not. I think that's why it's been so hard for me to eat all the food, I just don't feel hungry anymore.

My biggest worry right now..... I found out that I won't eat or drink anything, other than water, while I'm in the hospital. Assuming there are no complications, I'll be there about two and a half days. Nothing for two and a half days? YIKES! I admit that worries me. I asked the dietitians what happens if you get hungry while you're in the hospital. They looked at me like I was crazy and just said that, "That doesn't really happen." Were any of you hungry in the hospital? Not eating anything for about three days sounds horrible to me!

I've got to rearrange my meal plan for tomorrow. I'm supposed to have a shake for breakfast, but I have a birthday party to go to, so I'm doing it for lunch instead. I'm going to have an omelet for breakfast, with lots of bell peppers and onions in it! Then, I'll have to switch my snack and my dinner around too. Austin's first ball game is tomorrow night, so I'll have to eat late. I'll have my last snack around dinner time, and eat my dinner before I go to bed.

My final appointment, before surgery, is the 8th. The last support group meeting before my surgery is the 9th. I would love to go, but that's a lot of driving, and I still need to find a babysitter for Monday. So it's gonna be crazy busy around here! Hope you all enjoy your weekend! Sarah

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Getting closer and closer!!

I've only got 13 more days until my surgery! I can't believe it. I called the office today, and asked if they could possibly call and let me know when they send the red cross message, so I can tell Paul it's on the way. I got to thinking today. Surely, they'll send him more than the day before the surgery, which is on a Tuesday. And the Army does not like to purchase weekend tickets, because they're more expensive. It's entirely plausible that he'll be home by the 12th of September! That's next Friday! I'm so excited! Not only do I get to have this surgery, that's going to change my life forever! I'm going to, hopefully....cause we're still not 100% sure yet, get to spend some time with my husband! It's a win win situation for us! The kids miss him so much, and they need to spend some time with him before he deploys again. And, needless to say, I miss him terribly too!

I talked to Austin's football coaches last night. Paul missed out on all of baseball, and there's no doubt he'll miss out on all of basketball too. I thought it might be kind of nice if he could be a little more involved with football while he's home. I'm not sure if he knows yet, what I got him into, but they're more than willing to let him help out while he's home! Paul's really excited about that. He played football in school, and a dad should be there to cheer his kiddos on!

I'm really excited about the surgery, and so very happy that I'm more than likely gonna get to see my husband again soon. I know I'll be laid up for a few days, but I'm really hoping that we can use his time home to do "normal" family things, like football practice!

Hope everyone is enjoying their week. Nice and cool....and wet here!
Sarah
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