One week update!

Well, I am still alive! :) It hasn't been easy, but every day gets better and better. I am down 18.5 since surgery, 30lbs total from my highest weight. WOO HOO! I am going back to work tomorrow part time, and full time on Monday. I am so ready to leave this house! I have not stepped outside since Friday when I came home from the hospital!!

The hardest part of this whole thing has not been the pain, but the "head hunger". I don't feel physical hunger, as I can take a few sips of water and be STUFFED! It is rather intense cravings, and I am ONLY allowed to drink clear fluids. That has been so much harder than I thought! Next week, I will be able to drink full liquids, followed by "mushies". I am so excited for the mushies!! In five weeks, I will be able to eat anything I want, just MUCH less than usual! It takes six full weeks for my new mini-tummy to heal completely, hence all the liquids and soft foods. This is by far the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but I now realize that if I can get through this, I can get through anything!!

Thank you all once again for everything!! I couldn't have done this without the overwhelming support I have recieved!

I am officially sleeved! :)

I am sleeved! Surgery went great aside from some very low oxygen when they tryed to wake me up. The first night was very painful with gas pains and nausea and pain form the incisions. But, today I just have pain from the incision where they removed my stomach. The hospital staff was wonderful and made my stay as pleasant as possible. I have many wonderful guests stop by (thank you to all who called, stopped by, sent flowers, thought/prayed for me!). I am soooo glad to be home! My house smells like a floral shop!!

For the next few days, my routine will consist of sipping (cannot drink more than an ounce per hour), walking around my house (I look like an 80 year old lady when I walk), and resting, then repeat! Boring, but Sex and the City is on right now so I'm happy! :)

I am going to take some more pain meds and take a nap right now, but I'll write later!

Less than 24 hours now!!

I am getting N-E-R-V-O-U-S!!! But anxious and excited all at the same time. I will celebrate this day each year as a "Surgiversary". After all, it is the most life changing day of my life thus far! So plan on a big bash on January 23rd, 2009!

Thanks again for all of the support, and I will post ASAP after surgery.

Here I go....

Had my final pre-op visit today

I got labs done (my least favorite part of all of this...there is so much BLOODWORK!!), met w/ Dr. Foote's PA and got weighed. I had to prove to them that I am "dedicated" and could loose weight this first week. Well, I lost 9lbs in the first pre-op week. I will fully admit that I wasn't 100% faithful to this diet, but I did my best and they were very happy with that loss, so I am too.

I found out that my surgery is scheduled for 9:30 with a 7:30 arrival time on Wednesday. Five more days...:) YIKES!

Much harder than I thought, BUT...

...I got on the scale this morning and am officially 6.5lbs. lighter than I was whan I began this pre-op 3 days ago (I started on Wednesday)! OK...I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I'm gonna be honest about this diet. While I try to put on the "I'm doing great!" front, that's a big fat lie. This is much, MUCH harder than I could've imagined, and I even prepared myself for the worst. Well, it's worse than that, but I have to do this, which is my sole motivation to keep going...I do not want to croak on the operating table!

Only 11 days until surgery, so 11 more days of this crap!! I CAN DO THIS!

So Long, Food...

...at least for a good month or so! Today I had my 4 hour long appointment with a group that is having surgery the same week I am (the same day in some cases). It was very informative, and they went over everything from the pre-op diet to the week after surgery. Needless to say, I have been very well informed of what to expect, right down to what elevators to take up to surgery in the hospital!

Now comes the first hard part...the part I have been dreading as much as the surgery...the PRE-OP DIET!! This consists of 800 calories a day (yes, 800!) to shrink and empty the stomach and to de-fat the liver, making the surgeon's job easier. I had to special order these products from MMPC. They pack these supplements, which are mostly liquid, full of protein so that I won't be famished, but will be very tired from the lack of sugar and carbs. So, this is what I consider Phase I of my journey...getting through these next two weeks on this diet! Then comes the surgery, then 2 weeks of solid liquids, then "mushies"...I'll just update as I get to each phase!

Oh yeah, and by the way, my surgery is two weeks from today!!!!!!! And thank you all soooooo much for the encouragement, thoughts and prayers! You guys are the best! :)

Here I Go...

Well, here goes nothing. I'll make it as short as I can. I began researching WLS (weight loss surgery) in October of 2007. Now after several appointments, over a dozen vials of blood, insurance approval for a $30,000 procedure and many medical tests performed, I am having a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) on January 23rd, 2008. While I have always been "me", I haven't been "me" for years. Those of you that know me well know this about me. I may seem happy, bubbly and confident on the outside, but that is the complete opposite of how I actually feel in the body I have grown into. I want to have that happiness back. After years and dozens of try-and-fail attempts at every diet under the sun, in addition to poor eating habits, Hosford genes and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, here I am at the weight I am. I am ready to change now.

I will post here often, as I will be using it as a place to "vent" over my journey. If you want to know more info on the VSG, leave a comment and I'll send you some. I have some great links.

Many people see WLS as a easy way out of obesity, and I will admit I was one of those people. I am here to say that it is the polar opposite. It will be very, very hard, starting 2 weeks before surgery with an all liquid, gross diet. Then POOF! 85% of my stomach will be cut right out of my body. Then 4 weeks of liquids to ensure the staples don't leak while my new tummy heals, then soft foods for weeks, then watch what I eat every day, then a certain amout of protein and water are required each day...the list goes on and on. I say bring on the challenge, I am ready.

I hope to show you along the way that this is anything but easy...