Liquid Protein Diet

Soooo... I was given the option at my surgical consultation to either lose 5-10% of my body weight prior to surgery (which would have been 15-30 pounds) OR go on the 2 week liquid protein diet immediately before my surgery. I drew the logical conclusion that if I could lose 15-30 pounds on my own I'd already have done it... right? So I chose liquid protein. Well. The first day had been going really well until I tried to drink the medical protein shake. G.A.G. I was in tears! How was I going to do this when I couldn't even get the shake down?? My dear hubby (who is also my support person) was here to make me literally "suck it up!" I do believe those were his exact words. After much delaying and feeling sorry for myself, I did "suck it up". I held my nose and downed those 7 ounces of protein! Whoo Hoo!! And that's how I've done it since. I only get 3 shakes down a day instead of 4 and I'm also allowed yogurt, sugar free pudding, jello, tomato juice, and some raw veggies. There's a few more items on the list but these are the ones I can handle. Now, on day 6, I feel good. I mean REALLY good. I'm really NOT hungry and I'm almost out of the habit of going to the pantry when the TV is on! I say habit because this has truly made me see that if I weren't paying attention, I would be consuming a LOT of calories when I'm not even hungry. My sugar hasn't been bottoming out (I'm not diabetic but borderline), my ankles aren't swollen, and I've lost 12 pounds!! I realize this will slow down or even stop. Most of it was water weight from all the sodium I typically consume but hey, 12 pounds is 12 pounds AND it put me under 300!! I just have to watch my water intake. I've noticed a whitish coat on my tongue and know this is a sign of dehydration. I then thought about what I've been drinking. Since I've cut soda, I only consume 2 bottled waters and 2 cups of tomato juice a day along with 14 ounces of protein powder mixed with milk and this will not keep me properly hydrated. As of now that's the only problem I'm having with this diet. If I could choose between losing weight again or the liquid protein, I think I would choose the same. The scales are changing daily and that helps to remain consistent. Oh, I guess i should mention why the surgeon wants you to do this. Any amount of weight lose will help your surgery go smoother because it will shrink your liver. Sometimes a really fatty liver will get in the way and a laporscopic procedure will be impossible therefore making them either revert to an open incision or cancel the surgery all together. This is NOT something I want to happen so these 2 weeks are going to be preparing me for the eating plan for 4 weeks after surgery! Hey... practice makes perfect!! 9 more days til surgery!!

WHOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!

I have a date! (Just don't tell my hubby!) LOL! Oh wait... not THAT kind of date. MY SURGERY DATE! October 8th is the day my life (and weight) turns around for good! I was so excited to hear from the surgeons office Friday afternoon! The next 2.5 weeks will be kinda crazy but I'm sooooo ready for this. I meet with the surgeon again Thursday and start my 2 week liquid diet. Then comes my pre-op registration, my last class (post op eating), and then surgery! I'll continue blogging throughout my 2 week liquid diet so you'll know how I'm feeling. I'll venture to say that by the end of the 2nd day I may not be in such a great mood! I'll keep my favorite motto in my mind and know this is a new beginning: "Your life will remain the same until the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of changing." Remaining the same is not an option I'm willing to live with! Bring on the liquids!! :)

Delays...

Uggghhhhh!! This is the sound of my frustration echoing off my keyboard. I was thrilled to get all my test results much faster than expected. Sooooo I told myself I would definitely have my surgery day by September 7th.... YESTERDAY! Unfortunately when I got "the call" from my patient advocate, it wasn't what I expected. Apparently when my family doc ordered my test he left off one very important one that happens to take the longest to process. So yesterday I found myself racing back to the lab to have yet another stick for another test. I will not jinx myself again and say my "last test" but here's hoping!

All in all I can't complain about this process, especially with my Bariatric Surgeons office. They've been super great and always available for any questions I may have. I went to the informational meeting on August 12th so if I still get my date in September things have really moved along for me.

Tomorrow is my 32nd birthday and all I want is my date!! What a great way to start off what will be one of the biggest life changing events I have ever been through. Come on test! Process!!! Please send happy thoughts my way and maybe, just maybe, I'll have a fantastic birthday after all!!

Upper GI, Abdominal Ultrasound, & Labs...

What a breeze!


Wait, I promised honesty, right?! Here goes. As part of my pre-op preparation (and probably yours, too) I had to undergo the test named above. Let's start with the easiest, shall we?

Labs: This truly was a breeze. My great nurse got a well flowing vein in only 1 stick and proceeded to draw 6 vials of blood. Walk in the park! Nuff said!

Abdominal U/S: This normally would have been much easier than it was today. HOWEVER, when you have a upper respiratory infection, are obese, and cannot stop sneezing you may have a slightly harder time. During this test you have to hold your breath MANY times. Usually not a problem but if you cough hysterically due to said respiratory infection every time you take in a deep breath, you don't get the great pics the u/s tech is hoping for! Being obese also makes an ultrasound a little trickier. The tech has to push somewhat against your not so flat tummy and your not so fat ribs to see the organs underneath. Not so fun! All in all though this wasn't rough either. Only took about 20 minutes and I was off to the upper GI. DUM-DUM-DUUUUM!

Upper GI: This was the test I was looking forward to the least! I had read up about this procedure and imagined drinking nasty barium and rolling around on the table to shake it up and cover every inch of your stomach. Well..... what I had read was pretty accurate. They started off with some fizzy substance I had to drink which the tech said may cause the need to belch.. which was a gross understatement! As soon as I drank it I felt like I had downed an entire 2 liter of sprite. The bad part was they DID NOT want you to belch at all! It helped get better images if you were blown up and gassy! Immediately following Mr. Fizzy drink came the thick, white pasty substance. No, I will not say fluid because it did not flow fluidly. It was not tasty but afterward I could've easily made the next "Got Milk?" commercial! After a few images standing up, they lowered me onto the table and proceeded to take many more images while I rolled from one side all the way around several times over. Then came the thinner, more liquid substance you have to drink laying down through a straw. Something my momma always said not to do but I did OK and did not choke! This process also took around 20 minutes and I was out the door!

As far as I know, this was the last poking and prodding I will have before my actual surgical date. Sure these test were a little uncomfortable, but compared to life the past 20 years, they were nothing! Now just one more visit to the psychologist (which I actually enjoyed last time) and my date can be set! Whoo-hoo! I'll keep you posted when I have news! :)

"Your Life Will Remain The Same....

Until the pain of remaining the same is GREATER than the pain of changing."

Change is hard. Change is scary. Change hurts.... sometimes physically, almost always emotionally. Even if it's something you've been wanting or looking forward to, if you are having to change something, your life will be different.

I began researching bariatric surgery months (probably even years) ago. I've been overweight (now obese) since I was a pre-teen. It's not that I wasn't active. I was a cheerleader in elementary school. I played softball. Heck, I could even climb poles! Then middle school came. Shyness swept over me. I did no sports. No extra-curricular activities. The weight crept up on me and when I entered high school I weighed 200lbs. WOW!

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed school. Friends. Even some classes :) But I didn't enjoy sitting on the sidelines watching everybody else do things I had once enjoyed DOING. Other than that, my high school years were great. I met my high school sweetie (now my dear hubby!) my junior year in high school and we've been together ever since. He loves me. No doubt. He doesn't see the extra 100 lbs I've gained since we met. That's right... 100 lbs. He had no clue as to what I even weighed until I broke down several months ago and told him I wanted to have surgery. His response.... "Why?" God love him! I explained my concerns with my health, lack of physical activity, and needing to be there for our son. I have a 3 year old who is the light of my life and I want to see him grow up!

We attended a free seminar with Foothills Weightloss in Maryville and I chose the Gastric Sleeve as the best option for me. I then attended a support group meeting, a few educational classes (required AND very informative), and I'm almost there! Just a few pre-op tests (upper GI, labs, and abdominal ultrasound) and one more meeting with the psychologist and I'll have my date!

My goal for this blog is to keep you informed of everything I experience during this process in the hopes you may make the best decision for you. Just because I experience something, however, doesn't mean you will, too! Likewise, just because I don't experience something, doesn't mean you won't! This is a journey... MY journey. Not a destination. I'm sure there will be road blocks, speed bumps, and even detours to which I'll just have to regroup and press through. Heck, I'll probably even run a wheel off sometime!! I do have a GREAT support system, though, who will be with me through each step of the way. You are more than welcome to come along too, and share your thoughts and experiences if you want... or just be a lurker. Knowledge is power and this blog will be truthful. I won't sugar coat but I won't exagerate either. Good luck on making your decision if you're torn about bariatric surgery and wish me luck on my journey!!