Two Weeks Later

Drs. Small and DiMarco

Well, it has been just 16 days since my surgery...

and I wanted to share a few things with you.  I was cautious about the whole event leading up to and including that day.

 I was the second surgery that day for my surgeons (Dr. Small and Dr. DiMarco- I call them the dynamic duo!) and they were kind enough to stop by my cubicle before I went in that morning to check on me and to let me take a pic for you.  My surgery was only a couple of hours with no complications.  I was wheeled to my room and was then given a morphine push along with an iv drip and allowed to have 8 oz of ice chips every 8 hours and it was that way until the last morning when I got a cherry popsicle- Woot! lol.

I had to have help with everything I did because of the areas where the ptrocars were inserted, since they have to go through the stomach muscle it takes more effort to do some of the things that needed.  I was so grateful for the help, trust me.  It was nice to leave on October 7th, I wanted to get home-I felt I could heal better there w/o the iv, etc.  

Moving forward to the 12th

I had my check in with Dr. Small (on the left) and he said that I was healing well.  I weighed in and had already lost 30.3 pounds in one week.  I about fell out!  I started crying actually.  I have my next weigh in/check up on November 2nd and will keep you tuned in on my progress.

I just started my pureed food stage yesterday (October 20th) and I am so glad.  I was given a mini blender (kind of like a shake blender) and I love it!  I make my protein shakes with it and also blend my "baby food".  :o)  Sad being 48 and eating the same thing that my grandson, Stratton eats, but it's all for the best in the end.  I am also finished with the hydrocodone that they gave me for pain but am still on the celebrex.  I am off of one of my high blood pressure meds * yeah!* and am doing just fine.  I can also get bathe and dressed by myself now and am cooking a little bit too.  I have been walking and am even going to the store the afternoon with hubby to get some more goodies for my new regime.  

If you are thinking of having the roux en y operation, I ask you to look into it fully before you make a decision.  It takes months of prep work including doctors' visits, psychologists, dieticians, pulmonologists, cardiologists, tests, tests and more tests.  I had my surgery exactly 10 months from the start of my first information session.  I won't lie, there have been times where I was in severe pain, it is't easy or fun, but, the outcome is changing me, even more quickly than I had ever imagined.  I will post a new pic when I update from the doc visit on the 2nd.  

Thank you for sharing in this journey with me and thank you to Felicity Fields for helping me to fill in my blog occasionally when I am "out for the count".  Until next time.

*hugz n blessings*

Elizabeth

A New Me

  This is me, Elizabeth.  I am 48 years old, married for nearly 30 years, have two children and one grandchild.  I was born/raised in Oklahoma but then joined the military where I met my husband. I enjoy cooking, sewing, painting, crafting, creating, going places, doing things, talking to my Heavenly Father, decorating, hanging out with friends and family and I am telling you all this as I want you to know a bit about me as I embark on a journey- I am having a gastric bypass.  I have always had an issue with my weight, ever since I can remember.  I remember dieting with my mom when I was a teenager and never being totally happy with the way that I looked.  I was thin enough to get into the military at one time, however, I gained quite a bit of weight with the birth of my daughter- and just never took it off.  I have never really been motivated enough to take it off and keep it off I guess.  I would "yo yo" up and down and never really do what I needed to do to change my life or me. 

Well, that changed.  Last year around Christmas time I realized I am turning 48 this year and realized that 50 was the next hill that I was going to peek over and look down.  I couldn't do it the way that I am now and be able to do the things in life that I really want to do.  I did a bit of research and called my doctor's office to make an appointment.  I went to see my doctor and he suggested several things, one of them being this avenue.  I did more research and found a doctor in the area that does these types of operations and I called up his office.  They suggested that I come in for a seminar and check things out, so I did.  That was on January 5th this year.  It takes soooooo many months of going to the dietitian, seeing a therapist, a pulmonologist, a gastroenterologist, a cardiologist, and so much more.  The insurance had to approve me and once the insurance approved my date was set.  

And here I am.  My appointment is set for Friday, October 5th and I am to report to hospital at 7 am.  I have to stay in the hospital for a couple of days but am honestly looking forward to it.  

I hope that you will stay with me during this voyage.  I am looking forward to sharing with you. 

*hugz n blessingz*

Elizabeth