The 1 Week Check In

Today is a good day!! It has been one week since surgery and I feel great! The first few days I was pretty sore, pretty slow moving, and just able to drink liquids.

I felt good Thursday and started doing a little more around the house, and by that evening I was in a lot of pain. I went ahead and got up and went to work Friday but I didn't make it more than a couple hours and headed back home, back to my pain meds, and back to bed :)

Took it easy over the weekend and then back to work on Monday. Today I hardly have any pain at all!!

The first 4 days I was drinking protein shakes, tomato soup, and water. So needless to say the LBs were just dropping off! On Saturday I was able to "upgrade" to blended potato soup, mashed potatoes, and anything I don't have to chew. By Sunday night I was so hungry my appetite was back full on and I was so hungry. Monday I discovered chocolate peanut butter smoothie's and I felt full for the first time in weeks :)

Tonight my son and I went for a walk, I feel good and I am in no pain! I am so excited. To date I have lost 15 lbs!!! I had lost 3.5 lbs during the 2 week pre op diet, and now an additional 11.5 in a week. Those are Biggest Loser numbers ;) I haven't been able to work out yet so I know that this won't last as soon as I am able to eat real food again. I am excited that I could go for a walk tonight with out having any pain! I didn't walk far or long so I can got a little more each time.

Friday I go in for my post op appointment and I should be upgraded to food, "soft" food like fish, eggs, oatmeal, sweet potatoes.....My parents are coming over on Sunday and I am going to cook Talipa, Sweet Potatoes, and Salad for the first time...well I have made salad before haha.

I have never really wanted "healthy" food and now I crave it. I hope that doesn't go away!!

I am so grateful to everyone for looking out for my. I work for the best man in the world and he has been so supportive and fantastic through all of this. Thank you J you are the best !!!!! Everyone I work with have been just great, and all of my friends and family! I am truly blessed and I thank God for all of you every day!

Thank you Lord for this gift, and I promise to appreciate it and use it for your glory!

kv

The Procedure

I think the 13th will start to be a lucky day for me :)

Today was the BIG day...no pun intended ;) It really started yesterday with the all clear liquid diet. Surprisingly it wasn't so bad! I was certain I wouldn't sleep but I really did, I prayed for sleep and peace and the Lord laid his hands on me and allowed me to rest!

Up at 4:30 am...got ready and put together and my mom got here to get me at 5:15. I had her take some "before" pictures but I will post those a little later when I have a good "after" to show..because now they are just sad!

Got to the facility a little before 6am and they took me back to my room got me all hooked up and started my IV then had my mom come in to sit with me. I was glad that she was able to be there to help me not worry. It kinda reminded me when I had Griffen, I was being induced sitting there hooked up to all this stuff with just my mom and was scared to death!!

Dr. Malley got there about 7:15 and came to talk with me and let me know again what to expect and then back I went. I was out of surgery and waking up by 8:20 so it didn't take long at all. I did have a Hiatal Hernia (Hiatal hernia is a condition in which a portion of the stomach protrudes upward into the chest, through an opening in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the sheet of muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. It is used in breathing.) that he discovered when he got in there so he repaired that for me. It caused me to have chest pains and heart burn but I had no idea!

When I first woke up I was in a lot of pain and felt like I couldn't take a deep breath with is normal. They gave me pain meds but I was so uncomfortable that I couldn't fall asleep. Around 11 am the nurse asked if I wanted to get up and said "nope" but she told me if I got up she would take everything off of me so I agreed. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought I was walking like I was 99 but I was up! After that I finally was able to fall asleep for a little bit but not for to long.

Around 12ish I did the Barium Swallow, which was allowed them to watch, in the xray machine, my stomach and band and the Barium passing through without any problems.

Dr. Malley came in and talked with me at a little before 1pm and then i FINALLY got to drink some water! My mouth was so so so dry!!

I then got to get dressed and go home! Mom took me to CVS so I could get my pain meds filled, got some fruit ice cream bars, and soup. I was so dry and hungry I opened the fruit bars right there at CVS waiting for my script :)

We got home and sat outside for a bit but I just couldn't get comfortable. I tried laying down but that didn't help either. I did take a Gas-X Strip because my shoulder hurt so bad and got up and moved around because lying back and drinking is just not a good combo! Mom and I sat on the couch watching TV and dozed off and on, both of us. The Obama came on and interrupted Dr. OZ so we were both a sleep then no problem :) haha

Thank you to my mom for being with me today!!!

I am laying on the couch now waiting to eat my soup for dinner. I am holding off on the paid meds until right before bed so I can get some sleep!

I am excited about this next step in my life! I so appreciate all of my friends and family for all of your kind words, thoughts, and prayers! I am truly blessed to have you all in my life!

Mostly I have to Praise God for allowing this to happen for me, for giving me this 2nd chance in life and for getting me through today healthy!

kv

The Pre Op Appointment

I went in today for pre op appointment. Had blood drawn and all that fun stuff. I also got to ask a few more questions and was given a lot of information about what to expect right after surgery. So surgery is set for 7:30 am Tuesday April 13th. I have to arrive at 6 am and should be home by early afternoon. I am so ready and excited to start this next chapter of my life.

Thank you to all my friends and family for being so supportive during this process. Please keep me in your prayers on Tuesday!

I can't wait to post updates after surgery!!!

XO

kv