Chinese food is the devil...

I told my husband that I did not want him to suffer with me so for him to eat what he wants.
Before my surgery we went out grocery shopping for a bunch of food for him after my post op time.

So what does he decide to do? He orders chinese food!! Awww man...
I am on liquids so I cannot have anything. What did I do??

I had the biggest emotional breakdown ever. I cried.... I bawled my eyes out.
Did I want the chinese food? Absofreakinglutely I did!!!! It smelled so good but I couldn't.
My tummy couldn't handle it. He ordered me soup but it was disgusting.

I just went to the bedroom and cried my eyes out. I felt better. What I didn't know was apparently hormones are released when we lose weight. Hormones are stored in our fat cells. Interesting!!
So my emotinal breakdown was normal.

Accept the risks and reap the rewards

So that past two weeks have been tough.
I have had to say goodbye to my love of food. That sure isn't easy but a necessary change with weight loss surgery. I am able to get all my liquids in at least 64 ounces of water. Meeting my protein requirements is tough while at the same time staying with in my calorie limit. My surgeon is strict but for good reason. He knows his stuff and his patients have great sucess.

Here are my requirements:
50-70 grams of Protein daily
600 Calories daily
25-50 grams of Carbs daily
25-50 grams of fats daily
64 ounces of fluid minimum
3 meals a day no snacking/grazing

I have vitamins and supplements to take but get this!! I was on 1 blood pressure medication twice a day. Since I have left the hospital my blood pressure is magically is under control and I have not had to take it since. That is one hell of a nonscale victory if you ask me.

Time to go home...

I had surgery on 12/7/11 got to go home at 12/8/11. I had such great nurses throughout my stay.
Linda, Lauren, Lesliegh, and Pam were my floor nurses. I cannot remember my Recovery nurse or my preop nurses or any of the wonderful OR nurses. If I could I woud write them each a wonderful note thanking them.

I got to leave around 1pm on 12/8 and we are heading out of San Fran. I was doing great not that much pain and no nausea.

Ok no nausea until hubby started swerving in and out of traffic trying to get me home early. Oh boy oh boy I was so sick. He wanted to get me home quick and had a honking contest with another driver so I didn't want to ask him to slow down and stick to one lane. Thankfully I am home in record time.

My first few days were hard. I had pain medication but boy was it disgusting. I still have 95% of it left...biggest bottle of liquid vidocin I have ever seen. I got up every hour and walked a little around the house. I remembered the rule...sip sip sip walk walk walk. The only pain I really had was with the muscles and it sure felt like I did 1,000 sit ups.

I am honestly surprised it was easier than I thought it would be...Thank goodness.

12/7/11 Time for a new life...

We decided to drive the 2 hours to San Francisco that morning before surgery. I got a few hours of sleep but hubby was so nervous and scared he didn't sleep. We arrived in San Fran at the California Pacific Medical Center at 5am for a 6am check in. I wasn't nervous...YET.

So in preop they start my IV and give me the hugest gown ever still not nervous...hubby with me the entire time. Then they come and grab me to take me to the "holding area" hubby couldn't come with so thats when the nerves start. I laid there waiting to speak with the OR Nurses, anesthesologist, the surgeons PA, and my Surgeon. Each person that came to speak to me I got teary eyed. Ok I was scared and nervous. I have only had one other surgery for my gall bladder. I knew I had to have this done or I was going to die early.

I had every person that I told supporting me. My parents, hubby, in laws, best friend and coworkers. That certainly helped knowing everyone was behind me and my decision. In to the OR I walk...the OR nurses were fantastic. They saw my nervousness and joked with me making me laugh and thats all I remember.

I woke up in PACU (Recovery) talking to my RN. In and out of consicouness as they wheel me to my room. It was H-U-G-E and over looking beautiful San Francisco. My husband and father in law were there as soon as I get to my room. My parents couldn't make it as they were watching our 3 beautiful furbabies. I did it!! I made it!! Now on to recovery time.

New journey for me...

So my last post was on May 7th its been a while and what a crazy ride I have been on.

I gave up Jenny Craig...my husband ended up losing his job and well things were more important at the time like a roof over our heads. Plus, I would lose one week then gain, lose then gain...it was going to be a never ending cycle for me.

Ok fast foward to say around August when I had my first appointment with a bariatric surgeon. Yes, I have thought about having weight loss surgery for a few years. I worked as an RN on the bariatric floor and was intrigued by those I was recovering. However, the lapband and bypass never really felt like a true 100% option for me. A coworker had a procedure that was becoming more popular. Once I met with the surgeon I knew that procedure was for me. What procedure you ask??

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy..they take out 85% of your stomach preserving your pylorus valve (very important). So my insurance required 3 months of supervised weight loss with a MD. The surgeon I originally met with was fantastic and I could meet with him. He wanted me to lose 30 lbs. Did I?? Heck no...the 2nd meeting I gained a few then 3 month I lost what I had gained. The 3rd and final visit this surgeon tells me "I am closing my practice and transferring all patients to my partner" WTF????? I had all my trust and faith in this surgeon and hes closing his practice. I was simply devastated.

What a blessing it turned out to be!! I did not want his partner operating on me. I searched for a new surgeon when I came to find Dr. Gregg Jossart in San Francisco. He is one of the top surgeons who performs this particular surgery. October 15th I went to his WLS seminar and I was excited. I found the surgeon!! The way he spoke and his knowledge and experience I could not have found a better surgeon. I met with him that following Tuesday and received my surgery date. 12/7/11 would be a life changing time for me. I am so excited...

Such a loser!!

The past 2 weeks have had their ups and downs. After my horrible fight with the mango I finally won. I went into my JC centre this Friday and was nervous thinking I was going to gain again.

NOPE! I lost 3.8 pounds. I couldn't believe it!! I am so excited and almost in the 200's again.
My highest weight 317 when I started JC.
The lowest I remember was 285 so it will be an exciting moment when I weigh less than 285.

I am still trying to think of rewards for myself. I have been drooling over the new Anniversary Edition Cricut that recently came out. Maybe when I hit 285? I'm still unsure...

Another week on its way and hoping there are many more losers out there!

I hate you mango!!!

Hubby and I shared a mango on Friday or Saturday night. It was delicious and was his first time trying it.  For most of the day on Sunday I felt like I had chapped lips. Monday I woke up with a reddened, rough and swollen face. I knew what was going on and went straight to the urgent care.

This has happened once before when I was living in Hawaii. The first time was FAR worse and I had to ride the bus to the University Clinic and everyone was looking at me like a was an alien. I felt like one too.

You ask what the heck does a Mango and a poison oak face have in common? Well I found this out in Hawaii that the oils from the Mango is just like the oil that causes poison oak. Yippee me huh??
I sure cannot work as my patients would probably be scared they can catch what I have! I sure hope it doesn't end up in my eyes cause I will really look like a Shar Pei dog (previous experience).

I guess this time off will give me more time to work with my cricut and make some cute cards or something.