Bad afternoon...

This afternoon I got very ill at the end of my workday. I felt suddenly nauseated, weak all over, felt like I was going to have diarhheah, my heart was palpitating, and I was dizzy as well. I think I figured out that it had just been too long since I'd eaten anything. I had my high protein lunch at around 11:30-12:00, and this happened at 4:00-4:30. I truly felt like I was going to pass out and vomit. I am still not feeling well, but am a bit better. Not sure if this is because of not eating, (which I just forgot to grab a little snack because I wansn't hungry) or if I'm dehydrated. I am still not able to drink enough.
I have lost exactly 39 pounds as of today.  That is 14% of my total body weight, and 28% of my excess weight that I want to lose.  
Oddly enough, my hair seems to be growing.  I was worried my hair would fall out to some degree which is common, but maybe with me taking the biotin it is preventing that from happening.  *hope*
Relatively speaking, I have had  very few "OMG I feel horrible"  episodes, and I feel very fortunate.  I may have to plan on eating every 2-3 hours to hopefully prevent what happened today.
Overall, I am feeling fabulous and I am loving my sleeve.
:-)

I've resorted to a timer....

for getting in enough liquids.  I have been very dizzy today, (one of the first signs of dehydration).  I know I'm not drinking enough, despite having a water bottle at my side 24/7.  I have set the timer to go off every 5 minutes, and wow.  I don't know if I can keep up the pace.  I guess I really wasn't doing as well as I thought I was.  I should have known by the very few trips I'm making to the bathroom.
I've read about some other forum members doing the timer thing to remind them to drink, and well, it works.  Every time it goes off, I'm like, "REALLY?"
The only problem I see with this method is that it is filling to have so much water in your stomach, and at 500 calories or less, I'm already not getting enough calories in per day.  I can only hope it goes thru me quickly.
I'm officially down 37.2 pounds as of this morning.  Yipee.
My hips were a bit grumpy the last couple days from the jogging on Monday, but I stretched a bit this morning, and that helped more than anything.  At least it's muscular, and not joint pain.  That makes me very happy...

I JOGGED today...

OMG. I jogged today. Slowly, granted. But I jogged for 15 minutes. Straight. Like, non-stop. I haven't jogged that long since high school. I will be 40 next month. My hips may hate me tomorrow, but I don't care. I JOGGED TODAY!!!!!!
Guess I'd better get back on my glucosamine, eh? It felt so good.  Amazing. I may have looked ridiculous jogging at a meager 3.2  miles per hour, but I DON'T CARE.  I loved it.  Every second of it.
I may not be able to do that every day, but this is encouraging!

What a week!

For starters, I lost 6 pounds.  Yipee, yay, hooray!  (I lost 3 yesterday)  Oh well, I don't care how it comes off, as long as it does.  Total pounds lost: 36
I recuperated from my nearly debilitating side pain from last Sunday, and am back to feeling good.  Monday will officially be 4 weeks since surgery.  That means I'm on solid food again!  Yipee, yay, hooray!
I have been successfully eating things  like salmon, fish, cottage cheese, a bit of lettuce last night, and a bite of tomato!  The one thing I haven't been able to eat has been my nemesis possibly my whole life...PASTA.  I think this is a blessing in disguise.  I mean, you would think something as easily digestable as pasta would go down easy...nope.  Not me.  But like I said, pasta has been my weakness my whole life.  So, I guess this will be a good thing.  I think.
I am finally back into fitting into my size 20 jeans comfortably, (I had been outgrowing them for some time) so that is a relief.  I hadn't gone so far as to buy clothes that truly fit me at my all time high weight...thank goodness because that would have been a complete shock to have to buy 3X or 22-24 clothing.
One thing that is very nice since the surgery is that I no longer SNORE.  My poor husband had resorted to wearing ear plugs it had gotten so bad.  And just with the small amount of weight I've lost, he no longer has to.  One small success at a time, right?
I will be trying to add in different foods as I go along here, seeing what agrees, and what doesn't.  Right now my favorites are Sargento Light string cheese, fat  free cottage cheese, shredded chicken and pork, chunky soups, and still loving the sugar free puddings as a treat.  I'm still at a point where I'm not able to eat much of anything after I've finished my protein, but I have gotten in a few green beans and a couple fork-fulls of rice pilaf.  Rice does seem to be okay, just not the pasta.  I am still at 4-500 calories per day; yesterday I had 629, and felt absolutely uncomfortable and piggish.  I will not do that again for a long time.  It is very difficult to get that many calories in one day.
I do still need my acid reducer first thing before putting anything in my stomach.  Hopefully that doesn't last too long!
I want to thank all my family and friends for being so supportive of me thru this process; it would be so hard if I didn't have you all surrounding me lifting me up every day.
I hope to update soon; thank you for reading!
Email me with questions!  lshepler@gmail.com

Day of surgery--January 24th

This post is dated today because I didn't have my blog yet; but it is from the actual day of surgery.

Hi all. Just an update for all my loved ones.  The surgery went perfectly yesterday.  My doctor and his team absolutsy spoil us.  Although I cannot drink all day today, they will start me on ice chips tomorrow and I will do a barium swallow test to check for any leaks.  I do have some considerable pain with the incision on the left side right under my ribcage because that is where they removed 80% of my stomach thru.  I met three fantastic friends at the hotel pick up point, one of whom's uncle is here with her and himself had the surgery last April. He has been a wealth of information and sort of took us under his wing .  I am having a hard time sleppong tonight because I was rather drugged up most of the day.  Anyway, I hope you are all well and I will send this email in the morning on the real computer in my room.
With love,
Lisa

Therapy session

I had a therapy session today, and my therapist gave me a very simple but profound visual regarding exercise being a stress reliever.
When we are in a state of stress, our bodies hold that energy in the form of tensed muscles.  When we exercise, we are fatiguing those muscles taking their state below baseline into  the recovery phase, at which time we feel relaxed because we basically have no choice; our muscles are recovering from being exhausted.  And in my opinion, to say it another way, when we are stressed, we have a heightened amount of adrenaline in our systems.  When we exercise and fatigue our muscles, we are getting rid of the adrenaline as we would in fight-or-flight mode when the tiger is looking for a tasty lunch and we have no choice but to RUN!
We also talked about the various emotional implications that inevitably come along with a drastic life changing event like having weight loss surgery.  He pointed out that it is important to stay mindful of where my emotions are on this journey, because as we all know, I have a tendency to let my emotions get the best of me.
I have admitted that while things are awesome right now, I know that they won't always be.  I have already gone through a sort of 'mourning' period where I really missed food during the pre-op liquid and post-op clear/full liquid phases.  Now that I am able to eat soft foods, that is much better, and even though I'm only getting 4-500 calories per day, I don't feel deprived.  I eat dinner with my family; protein first, and obviously about a tenth of what I used to eat (if not less).
I am so happy to be on my journey...and as my motto states...Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts
~Lisa~

3 weeks post op

Hi everyone,
Sorry for all the posts in one day; I started my blog rather late, and had all my catching up to do.  I will be posting regularly now, as I find it easier to blog than I do to do my video updates on YouTube.
I began my 4th week post op Monday, and am officially on 'soft foods'.  Wow, does tuna with low-fat mayo and relish taste awesome!!!!!!!
I made some swai (fish) 2 nights ago with blackening seasoning, salt, a little fresh ground peppercorns, fresh squeezed lemon...OMG!!! Eating again is like a little piece of heaven.  Difference is, I appreciate EVERY SINGLE BITE that goes into my  mouth.
I have to say, this whole process is changing my way of looking at food, and nutrition in general.  Because I can eat so little at one time, everything that goes in is high protein, and high quality.  What a difference a month makes, right?  The transformation has begun.
Clothes are fitting better, and some things I hadn't been able to wear at all are now fitting.  I have a very nice Old Navy black wool coat that I haven't worn in over 2 years...I couldn't get it on at all.  Now, I can not only button it, but SIT DOWN with it buttoned!!!!!
People are noticing the change, and everyone around me is so supportive; I couldn't ask for a better group of people to surround myself with.  Along with the new friends I've made at the Gastric Sleeve forum and the friends I made while in the hospital who had the same surgery, I have my hugely supportive family and co-workers.
I am so glad to have been able to do this surgery...it just may save my life!

2 weeks post op

I am down over 28 pounds and feeling good.  I have started introducing soft foods into my full liquid diet, as the jello, shakes, and protein bullets are getting boring.  Fish goes down wonderfully, as does cottage cheese.   I have also been experimenting with the protein shakes and using coconut milk as well as soy milk, and almond milk.  Each imparts a slightly different flavor and makes it a little less boring.  It still takes about 2 hours to get a full 8 ounces of the shake down, but I'm happy to be getting it down!  Clothes are definitely fitting differently and I'm feeling good.
Surprisingly, I'm not weak (for the most part) or exhausted.  The only time I really feel weak is when I shower first thing in the morning and have no food in my stomach, or when I've been sitting cross-legged and stand up.  I actually blacked out while visiting my grandmother.  Didn't completely pass out, thank goodness.  This is probably due to my low blood pressure rather than lack of nutrients.
I am taking the following supplements:
Chewable multivitamin (Centrum)
CoQ-10
Biotin
Prilosec OTC
Stool softener
Fish oil
Flax oil
Chewable calcium citrate
I will get back on my vitamin C when I get to the store to buy the chewable variety since the regular ones I have are rather large.
Being back to work feels good and increases my activity level.  I have tried to walk most days this week, and it is going well.  My goal is 1-2 miles per day, 5 days per week.  My joints already hurt less with the small amount of weight loss!  Yay for the Gastric Sleeve!

One week post op

After about a week, I am eating clear liquids and struggling to get 3-400 calories per day.  Unable to get enough liquids down, but I don't feel dehydrated at all.   I've lost 24 pounds though!  Great news!  Pain is manageable and I'm going back to work on Friday this week.  I will have been off for 12 days before  going back to work.  I intended to go back in one week, but since I am able to have someone cover for me, I''m going to take advantage of it.

2 Days after surgery-release from hospital

Day after surgery, and they want me to drink WHAT???  Grape juice???  Ouch!!! Still having trouble with just the ice chips!  I look haggard and almost green.  Walking outside feels good though.  Missing my family.

Pre-op I had lost 15 pounds; looking forward to getting on the scale once I get back home.

Day of surgery--January 24th

Today was difficult, between not being able to remember going into surgery, and the new sensations in my belly. Trying to eat ice chips was painful.  It truly feels just like my stomach was cut.  (Duh???)  Trying to walk seemed easy at first, but became increasingly difficult for me as I felt nauseated and was in pain.  Tomorrow will be better.

Day 11 pre-op Diet

I am getting nervous.  Tomorrow I work, when I get off it's off to Hannah's birthday pizza party...then comes Saturday, packing day then I'm off.  Late Saturday/early Sunday morning about 2:30AM I'll leave for St. Louis airport.  I'm much less hungry today, on only 666 calories.  I'll probably gain weight again tomorrow. Although I did have a bowel movement finally today.  Whew.  Time is suddenly passing by so quickly, as I knew it would.  I am very happy to be so close to my final destination.
My friend Hollie had her surgery Monday, and she is home now and doing well.  She had a fever, but they said it was probalby because...I can't remember now, but it wasn't serious and would be resolved soon.  I watched a video on the boarding process at Southwest.com, and I feel more confident about what I need to do.  I found the directions to the parking lot in St. Louis, which makes me feel better too.
So many things have to happen for me to get this procedure done, it is a bit nervewracking.  Once I'm on the 'train', I know I'll be fine.  I am a smart cookie, and I'll be fine.  It's a fear of the unknown.

Pre-op Diet Day 5

Wow.  Day 5.  Today at work went by more easily.  I'm realizing a lot of things.  Like, when I can finally eat real food again, I am really going to appreciate it.  I hope I never lose the appreciation for having the food I need to sustain my life. It is truly a gift, and I have been abusing it for so many years.  The smell of food affects me some, but not much.  I guess it's having the mindset that I am on a mission, and that mission includes being on this pre-op diet for 14 days.  I do wish I was further along in this phase.  However, I know that come next Wednesday or Thursday, I will probably be freaking out, knowing tha it's getting close.
On the way home from work tonight, I realized that this is really happening.  I only ever dreamed that I could have the surgery, and now, it is a reality.  It is hard to get my head around it.  I know it is serious surgery, and that there are major risks and possible complications.  And it still just freaks me out that it is really happening.
The fact that I am getting by on 7-800 calories every day is freaking me out.  I don't think I could do it on my own if it wasn't a requirement.  But somehow, knowing that it is a requirement, it is easier.  If I had been told I could eat a variety of things, it might actually be harder.  So strange.
I look forward to the time after I'm back on regular foods, and eating small portions, small bites.  I think that all of this re-training is going to be just what I need to develop new habits.  I really look forward to being a skinny, healthy me.

Pre-op Diet Day 3

Well, today has been more of a challenge.  Monday and Tuesday I sailed thru with not much trouble controlling my hunger with only 700 calories.  Today, I did pretty well until later in the day.  My neck is really hurting, and I am feeling more tired.  After eating "dinner", I wasn't hungry anymore and that helped.  So, today my calories are 814.  When I weighed this morning, I had lost a total of nearly 6 pounds in 2 days.  We'll see if I lose any more tomorrow.  For now, I think I need some sleep.  08:38 1/12/2011