122 kgs on 28th July 2013

I lost 1 kg from Friday to Saturday but nothing from Saturday to Sunday. It was a cold, damp day yesterday and I did not go for a walk. Need to get into a daily walk habit. I might do it before Mum gets up then it is done for the day. Every day for a month it becomes a habit that your body lets you know about if you miss doing so.

Friday is our food shopping day. My brother took us over there in the car. Thursday had been a painful day for me for some reason. I may have overstretched somewhere the day before. I have been much more comfortable since then. While my brother and mother had a coffee I did the small food shop. I sat with them while they finished and then we wandered up to the next lane. I topped up the money on my phone and then visited the library. They went off to do some shopping further away where I was not even going to attempt to walk just yet.

I paid some overdue fines at the library (I forgot to take back some books that were due before my op) and got enough to keep me going for the next month. I also got some large print books for my Mum. I got a mixture of decorating, craft and fantasy novels for myself. As I finish enough I will attempt the walk from here to the library and return them. I had them all in a granny trolley to be able to carry them out to my brother's car.

I went down to the food-court to wait for them with a slight detour into a bookshop to get a BHG and a cross stitch magazine. A text came after five minutes to say mum was on the other side of the food-court so I joined her till my brother came in to let us know he was there. He brought us back home, helped my put the heavier bits on my bed (big wool duvet) and put the second load of washing on the line before going home. He has been a big help in these first few weeks. I don't think he knows how grateful I am. I am determined to get the best possible weight-loss with this operation so he can see it was not a waste of his money. 5kgs in 14 days is good.

Mum and my brother go away down the island for 10+days next Thursday. I won't have his help but with Mum not here there will be less to do. I can walk whenever I want. I have crafts to do, a YA novel to finish and time to spend on the computer. Pinterest has me hooked at the moment. I have 2 pages. One is mainly concerned with books and writers, the other is a more general likes and interests page. I also put the pics from each week on my Gastric Sleeve section.

 

The last photo was how I looked at a similar weight a couple of years ago. I look better with the tan but I am hoping that as time goes on this face will become a bit thinner There is less showing on the neck. My legs, arms and how I fit my bra are already changing. At the end of August I shall go through my clothes and do the first cull of clothes that are just too large to be worn with any sense of style. If I knew what size I might be I would buy in some of the sales on at the moment but I will wait for a while and see what happens. I am looking forward to being more fashionable.

24th July 2013 Adaptation of habits

 I am trying to keep up with the regular drinking and food but it is taking time to get into the routine. You really need to keep the drink bottle at hand so you just reach out and sip. In some ways it would be easier to do in a warm climate. In our winter it is a little hard to keep remembering.

You can't keep up by drinking more at one time as your stomach size is so small that you will have to deal with pain. The same happens when you overestimate the size of your meal. The time you have to use to have your meal means that only the first few mouthfuls are warm. Some food is easier to eat as well. Protein remains high on the list of things to eat as it helps your body heal. The diet followed ends up being high protein, low carbs. I used to find that was the only way I personally could lose weight.

The food pyramid that is touted everywhere encourages everyone to have carbs as the basis of their diet. No wonder there are so many large people around nowadays. The vegetables I mainly liked to have were the ones with higher carbs as well. We had a slight limiting factor in that my mother got gout if she had too many green vegetables in one week.

My main annoyance at the moment is constipation. Usually being a daily person it is an irritation to only go every  2-3 days. The next time I go food shopping I am looking harder to find the KiwiCrush. I know that Kiwi-fruit and I have a good reaction so hopefully that will be a thing of the past. I think I shall have porridge daily as well. Oats are a good soluble fibre in your diet.

I have another week before my mother and brother go away to attend an 80th birthday of my mum's best friend, Melva, in Havelock North (New Zealand). My brother is putting the washing out and getting it in for us at the moment so I don't stretch too much. I can do most of the other housework on a steady basis. I rest when I have discomfort. I did not take any pain relief today as I only had a little discomfort in the largest cut. I did not need any ant-emetics as I was not nauseated at all. I am walking outside to expand the distances I can tolerate so I am back to normal as soon as possible.

22nd July 2013 Weight diminishing daily

I was 124.6kgs yesterday morning and today I am 123.8kgs on my digital scales. I am getting better every day. Today I have less pain than yesterday and can move more freely. The pain is more discomfort than sharp. It does get a bit more if I try to do too much. I am able to potter around, make my bed, make meals, put things away, do crafts, etc.

I put on grey sweatpants yesterday that had been getting a bit snug and I now have 2 handfuls of fabric that are empty. My long jumper is becoming a mini-skirt. I am actually amazed at how quickly the weight is coming off. They said it would at the start but as it is something you have never seen happen before you don't really believe them.

Immediately post-op your throat and stomach are still tender so you eat less than what you will later and it just drops off. I am losing 0.6kgs at least each day at the moment. I am also exploring what foods I can tolerate at the moment. It all has to be pureed any way. Last night I made a thick soup that had onion, chicken, potatoes, kumara, broccoli and parsley in. It was delicious and my mother joined me in having that for her meal as well. I have plenty to put away for other meals.

I feel more energetic today so must get going. I urge others to research this way to permanently lose that excess weight especially if you have other health problems. My back is already much less painful and other joints aren't as creaky in the morning as they used to be. I will start doing longer walks today and so increase my activity. 6 weeks post-op though before adding weight training to help body definition.

!9th July 2013 Home at Last.

I am back home today. On Monday morning I was up early to shower and wash my hair pre-op. I made my bed, made sure I had everything I needed clothes and medication wise. Got a few things together that Mum had forgotten to take with her and was just putting my boots on as my brother arrived to take me to the hospital. He was a little early and Ormiston Hospital was still all locked up (it's a private hospital and they don't do weekends). The wind was cold so we sat in the car until 6.29 am  and watched the staff and supply trucks arrive.

 At 6.30am we rang the bell and were let in. Up to 3rd floor reception where we sat for a few minutes while the last of the paperwork was printed out. A nurse came through for me and took me into a small cubicle. More checks on who I was , change into a hospital gown, a lovely blue paper hat that covered my hair and then an ECG was done. The anaesthetist popped in to check how I was, what might be needed drug wise during the op and after. I was then taken though to Recovery to have a nebuliser before the op. I have had a problem with how I breathe after an operation once so to lessen the risk I have nebulizers beforehand since then. I have controlled asthma but anaesthetics can play havoc with asthma sometimes.

On to a bed, off to theatre, something into my vein , breathe into the mask and after a short spin I was out to it. No problems occurred during the operation. I blearily surfaced in recovery  and was soon taken to my room. The first day they gave me IV Panadol - not something I was aware they had- and something I thought they only had in oral or rectal forms. I remained very sleepy for the rest of the day. My Mum and brother stopped in for a short visit late in the afternoon but I could not keep my eyes open. They brought a lovely bunches of flowers; stargazer lilies, peace lilies, and alestreomas. They kept the room sweetly scented.

I had been fitted with elastic stocking and non-slip green slippers before the operation. After the operation they put on wraps around my calves that help pump blood around your body. The physio came in with a contraption that has 3 balls inside it: you have to suck the tube and hold the balls up for 2 seconds at the top. This is used to make sure you deep breathe well after an operation. It works too as you concentrate on the balls and forget the operation site while you do it.  I was up to the en suite toilet in the afternoon. I needed the nurses to undo all equipment and lines each time I went so could not leave it till the last minute. I had ice to suck or chew the first day. I had a drain from the abdominal area and a naso-gastric tube in for the first twenty four hours. Not a huge amount of drainage in either, thank goodness. I had some shoulder tip pain on movement for the first few days but only 1 full-blown bout of nausea.

Up for a shower on Tuesday, did a supervised walk around the ward and then was encouraged to do them on a regular basis. I was started on water at a rate of 15ml in 15 minutes. A shot glass is 60ml so every half hour you had to finish one of those. Late that afternoon I was given a choice of Greek yoghurt, stewed apple, clear consommé and a Fortify drink. I ate as I could (3-4 teaspoons) then stopped. The nurses were good about keeping up the anti-emetics both orally and IV.  Same with the pain relief. They made it a good experience.

As I tolerated the water and small amounts of fluids they took both drains out on Wednesday morning. They also removed the operation dressing and put waterproof Op-site dressings over the entry points. They are to stay on for 2 weeks.

The anaesthetist visited the first morning to say how it went with him and to check on what meds I would need in the coming days. He did his script then and I received it on discharge. Dr Stephanie Ulmer, my surgeon, popped in both days and was happy with my progress. I see her again on the 5th August at her rooms for the three week post-op check-up. about 10 am on Wednesday my brother picked me up and we went back to his place for a couple of days.

I am finding how much I can eat or drink at a time -miniscule- and am trying a number of pureed items suggested in the nutrition booklet to see how I tolerate them. You do get a twinge of pain if it is a little too much.

My brother brought us home today. After dropping off my gear he and I went to the shops. He went and put our rent money in while I did the food shop. He was back in time to take it from the trolley to the counter. I had a slow and painful walk back to the car but was glad I had done it. I took Panadol when I got home and it settled. Pills a little bit difficult to get down as the water needed can sometimes be too much.

I did manage to get the hair dye done before I went in so my hair is a bright copper colour at the moment. This morning's weight was 123kgs. I swear I lost most of that into the toilet last night as the bowels had been on a slow-down. Lactulose helped. Walking around and some fibre in what you have is needed too.

14 July 2013 One Day Pre-op

Today I weighed 126.6kgs (178.52 lbs) and my waist measurement was 114 cms (45.6inches). They are still large numbers but have come down from the beginning of May when I was 141.2kgs and 138cms. The photos don't show too much change at the moment but other things are pointing out the differences.

I took my new bra over to the third line of hooks on Friday instead of the first line. There is a gap at the top by the strap that used to be filled. Some of my clothes are already feeling baggy and I can take a handful of fabric on most of the legs of my pants. Tight clothes are more comfortable. I am not waking up at night so often to turn over. My boobs aren't smothering me as I try to go to sleep as they were at the start of this adventure.

 

 

These photos are from  today the 14th July 2013. Not a drastic change but after 4 weeks on the Optifast the amount of weight loss is slowing down. Hopefully on the 14th August there will be a major change in silhouette. A month post-op should show quite a difference. It will be an adventure to see what I can eat and how much. No going back now but if I end up at a more normal and healthier weight for the rest of my life it will be job well done.

 

I have a woman in the flat above me who had a lap band done with a good result (down 70kgs to a holding weight now of 61kgs). She has been through finding what you can or cannot eat and how much. She is already very supportive of what I am doing and is a good cheering squad as I am to her.

 

My major chuckle this week was putting on a green singlet that I have had for a few years. Lately it has sat at my hip crease but when I put it on 2 days ago it was a short mini-skirt. It is 10cms (4 inches) below my hip crease at the moment and the scoop neck is very shortly going to be obscene as it is becoming too low. I have spent the week, when I have been at home, cleaning everything very well so I can take a break after the op. Today I helped Mum get her things together to go to my brother's while I am in hospital. She has just left.

 

I got my hair cut shorter, in a wispier style, and my brother has just put a dye through for me as I thought there was too much grey showing with the new hairstyle. In a short time I shall see how that turned out. I have been reading books that are due to go back to the library. I am either knitting Steve's blanket or crocheting a charity blanket at night while watching TV. My older health records have been found up and are in my bag. The clothes I need for the next few days are on my bed ready to go in a bag. Alarms are set for wake up time tomorrow (unlike Friday) so a library visit, some ironing, a meal, a sleep  and it will be all go.

 

I will admit to being a little bit freaked but I expected that so it isn't really getting to me. I come through operations well usually and this should be that same. I always have a boost of sugar (lollies or chocolate )the night before an operation so I don't have a low blood sugar going into an operation. I feel that is why so many people are sick after an operation due to low blood sugar levels (even if they are not diabetic like me). Other people have tried the same thing with good results as well. They have been very happy if they have usually had problems being sick after ops.

9th July 2013 A change in time

I got a phone call from my doctor's receptionist today while I was out. I now have to be at the hospital by 7a.m. The lady before me was coming from Waiheke Island and the first ferry does not get in till after 7.30 a.m. Less time to worry and wait on the day, I suppose. The surgeon, Dr Stephanie Ulmer should be bright, alert and ready to go.

My mother is going, on Sunday, to stay with my brother for a couple of days. At least I won't wake her when I get up around 5.30 a.m. to have a shower and wash my hair. I like to be as clean as possible before an operation to lessen the risk of infection. If I don't feel like lifting my arms to wash my hair for a couple of days at least it will be clean.

I will eat something that will be absorbed easily the evening before so my blood sugar starts off a bit higher than usual at the start of the op. This helps me be more alert post-op and I don't vomit. That is something you do not want to be doing when they have just done some major work on your stomach.

Today I went to Howick to attend KIP (knitting in public) Club. I had finished a friend's jumper and wanted to give it to her. I won't be able to go to next week's one. I took the time to have a look into some op shops. I got some very useful knitting patterns (8 for $3). The time I took to walk to each shop, the library where it was held and connecting with the buses then getting home was my walk for the day. It was nice to do something different. Yesterday I spring-cleaned the hall and bathroom -gave me a 0.2kg weight loss on the scales - tomorrow I tackle mum's room. The rest of my exercise today was crocheting a blanket that will go to charity. 

 

 

Sometimes I feel that the motivation I need is the one above. Pity they died out so long ago. Just have to use my willpower (often non-existent) or my free will. My brother is paying for this operation and I will do my best to make both him and myself proud of the end result

7th July 2013 The Agony

I weighed myself this morning and I was only 127.8 kgs. That is a weight-loss of 0.2 kgs this week. I was not happy with last week, as well, so on days that I was not going for a walk I actually got myself up early and went to the gym. This is something I have been saying to myself that I should be doing. We have a gym in our apartment area that has a variety of machines for our use. I will post some photos next time of what we have.

I used the tread mill, the cycle and did some weights for my arms and legs. I don't want to lose the weight and have flaps of skin that look terrible afterwards. I used a minimum of 200+ calories in the sessions (by the machine calculations) and I am on a 800 calorie diet. The days I didn't go to the gym had long walks over at Botany Downs mall. I spent 45-60 minutes at the gym and the shortest walk was and hour and a half (up to 3hours at the longest). I feel good in myself having done so and I think the body shots look a little tighter but I wanted that number lower on the scales.

Only one more week before my operation. I am getting a littler more tired now and occasionally grumpy. My mother ad I went to KIP (Knitting In Public) at the library on Tuesday. One of the Chinese ladies (a chef normally) had decided to bring in a meal of vegetarian and gluten free yellow noodles as a thank you for being made to feel so welcome in the group. They looked and smelled beautiful and my mother was trying to tempt me. Every mouthful she took she would moan in delight. In the end I snapped, "Shut up, Mum!" in a rather loud voice. Every one stopped what they were doing and looked at me. So I explained why but also said that I was only teasing so they all went back to talking. I did miss not being able to have them though but the bigger picture has to be the goal of losing weight before the operation as well as after.

I had a bad day on Friday too. I don't think I drank enough in a timely fashion (or maybe it was a short virus as I was hotter than usual) and by the time I got home I was not feeling very good. I had pain and until I drank over a litre of water I could not use the toilet. I put myself on my bed and drank lots of water, took some vitamin C chewable tablets as well to help settle any stinging and heat. I am not sure if the High Protein, Low Carb diet finally caught up with me or what. Since then I have made sure I drink more consistently and have had no problems.

On Friday I got non-slip slip-ons for use in the hospital as I found they work well on most flooring but I have to return them for a larger size as these ones are too narrow. I also got a small cosmetic purse (1/2 price) I can use to put in toiletries and make-up. It has tapestry looking flowers on a cream background. I found a new purse for my cards and cash in a lovely red colour and less than 1/2 price too. Good shopping day.

I have started working my way through the list of household cleaning jobs I want to do before my op.  I basically want a spring clean done so that afterwards it is just a matter of keeping up with general, normal jobs (beds, washing, food prep) till I feel more comfortable after the operation. Even though it is done laparoscopically, and not through a major cut in my abdomen, I still have to remember that there has been major work done inside. I need time to let that area heal fully and not put extra stress on it by doing too much bending, stretching etc. It will be regular walks till the doctor gives me the all clear. Treadmill walks on wet days if needed.

Jobs for the coming week:

• Blog during the week
• Finish my list of spring cleaning jobs
• Keep exercising and sticking to diet
• Drink water regularly
• Dye my hair and get it cut so I feel good about myself
• Take a Photo next Sunday for the blog

Take care of yourself and I will take care too.