TWENTY-TWO

I saw my doctor today and got released to return to work tomorrow. But more importantly, I have lost a total of 22 lbs. in 26 days!!! I also measured this morning and overall I have lost 16 1/2 inches. My clothes are fitting like they are supposed to instead of looking like I'm stuffed in them.......and soon, I will have to start buying new sizes. Darn!

I couldn't wait

Yesterday I took Jill to the Dr. It was an endocrinologist, the same one I used right before my surgery. All the ladies in the office told me that I had to check in with them at least once a month to watch my progress. Well yesterday when I was there with Jill they all remembered me and insisted I weigh. Of course they didn't have to twist my arm very hard. So, I did it, I let her weigh me and guess what????? I have lost 17 lbs. in 21 days!!! That is just crazy to me but makes me very happy. I will be weighed again on Tuesday and we will do my measurements too so I will let you know of any changes.

3 week mark

I can't believe it has been 3 weeks since I had surgery. And, I'm still here to talk about it!! I am actually doing really well. My diet pretty much consists of protein drinks (at least 2 a day), mashed potatoes (yummy), I've had tuna twice and chicken twice. I also eat a can of cream of chicken or potato soup now and then. I can make 3 meals out of one order of mashed potatoes!! Talk about a cheap date.

I haven't weighed yet, not until I go to the doctor next Tuesday. I have had opportunities to weigh but for some reason I just don't want to. This has never really been about the weight part. It's obvious I will lose so I'm not really concerned how much is coming off. In fact I would really like to lose it slower than I'm going to because the saggy skin part really has me freaked. I am hoping it won't be too bad. I am walking everyday and I'm going to re-join Curves, hopefully next week. Anybody want to join me? Jill tried Curves with me before but really didn't like it so she won't be joining me this time. I am way excited to get started though!

Also, thanks to Kathy and Toni and Ladonna for calling and checking on me regularly and to Dineke for coming to see me and bringing her precious boys, Tyler and Grady!!!


Till next week........................

13 days out....

It's hard to believe it has been almost 2 weeks since my surgery. I never thought it would get here and now I can't believe I have actually gone through it. I am now doing great. Friday and Saturday I thought it was the end of me, or at least that's how bad I felt. But it's amazing what a little protein will do for the body! The Dr. I used in Houston has a whole different diet plan than the previous Dr. I saw here when I first started this journey. I am now following the first Dr.'s plan and it is working much better for me. I have learned that your body can not go without protein. I wasn't able to sleep more than an hour and a half and would wake up with a terrible headache. I would have to get up and drink water or broth and stay up about an hour and go through the whole process again. I would do pretty good in the mornings but by mid-afternoon I would start feeling really weak and bad. Jill called my mentor Michele that has gone through this same surgery in the last year and she told us what we needed to do.

I haven't weighed yet but I did measure my waist just so I could see if anything is happening with my body and guess what????????????? I have already lost 4 inches off my waist. That's crazy to me but I like it!

I don't know when I will weigh, mainly because we don't have scales. I go to the Dr. on the 26th so I might just wait until then. I don't know why I am so nervous to weigh. Maybe because I have failed at losing weight so many times in the past that I don't want to be disappointed. Of course I didn't do all this just to have bragging rights about my weight loss, I did it to be healthier, feel better, and hopefully prolong my life, or at least make the best of what is left of it!

I wish I could start back to work but I still have 2 weeks to go. I don't do well staying at home. I am feeling better though and I'm able to get out and do some stuff but it makes me pretty tired.

Jill got us moved over the weekend with the help of her family, our friend Chris and my oldest son. It was so hard for me to sit back and not work and it made me feel so guilty. But, I have been able to put up stuff and get us partly organized.


I guess that is a good enough update for now. Will add more as I can.

Six days down....

Well, I made it through the surgery. It wasn't horrible but not a walk in the park either. I am just so thankful that Jill was able to be with me through the whole thing. She was amazing. The hospital I stayed in looks like a 5 star Hotel but the care had a lot to be desired. the day of my surgery my nurse never came in my room unless Jill called her for something. The PCA's (patient care assistant) were great and did their job of checking my vitals but that is it. The nurses never checked back to see if my pain medication was working or if I was having any adverse reactions. We were not impressed. the last night I was in I finally got a nurse, Terrence, that was wonderful. He spent time with me making sure I was okay, printed out papers on my meds so I could better understand what I was getting and made sure I was comfortable.

I still haven't been hungry and it has been 6 days. I am drinking lots of Propel, that I have grown to love, chicken and beef broth and Jello. I also drink regular water too but prefer the Propel. It makes me feel good for some reason. I started walking the halls of the hospital the day of my surgery. I have had some problems sleeping so I would wake Jill up at midnight or 1:00 am and make her go walk with me. But during the day I would set in the recliner and let her take naps in my bed to make up for it. I am walking about 1/2 mile in the mornings since I've been home and I am going to try to start doing the same thing in the evenings if I feel up to it.

I'm still having problems sleeping. The longest stretch of sleep I have had since my surgery is 5 hours and that was morphine induced. Now I sleep 1 to 2 hours and wake up with a horrendous headache and have to get up for a while. That's the only complaint I have from all this so I guess that isn't too bad. I have one (of the 5) incisions that still hurts a little but I have stopped my pain medication and have done really well all day.

Friday I get to start on soft foods so I'm kind of looking forward to that. Not that I'm hungry but at least it will be different tastes for me.

My days are pretty lonely but the kids will be back from their dads tomorrow evening so I will be entertained.
Poor Jill is trying to get us moved to our new house. I feel so bad that I can't help her but hopefully the people that have promised to help out will follow through. We should be staying at the new place Friday night.

I guess that's all for now. Will keep you posted as I can.


Thanks for all the prayers and concern. I am really blessed by all of you and especially blessed by having Jill in my life. She is an amazing woman.

Saturday

Hey guys, this is Jill again.


I so just typed like for 30 minutes and when I went to format the page, everything erased! GRRRR!


Toni is doing great! I guess I'll wait till later to retype all of the details... that sooooo sucks!


Thanks for your prayers and all of your good thoughts! She did great during the surgery and is doing better and better each day.



We are in the hotel now, and both sooo much more comfortable!


... more details to come....