The "Future Little" Big Day

Wow!  Thank you to all that commented, and asked about this blog. It has made me even more excited to share my story with you!  Ok, back to the big day. I, by far am a morning person. By far. And 4 AM came early. Especially being I had just went to bed at 2:30 from being so excited. My mom was here right on time, and ready to head to the hospital. My bags were packed, ready to stay for the next two nights. My more than amazing mother-in-law came to stay with the kids for the time I was in the hospital, and was soo thankful to know they would be in good hands. However, with my four month old ALWAYS at my side, and being with my other two day in and day out, I had a large brick at the pit of my tummy. 

My surgery was at 730, and weirdly, I felt numb. I had so many questions in my mind, and even had the surgeons voice from the last visit, "Ok, so we're going to do this?!". Yes. I think. But, maybe not? I dont know?! Is this right? Did I do enough research? Is this really going to help me? Truly, I didnt do enough research. I didnt read enough blogs about the real patients and their troubles. I might have read it, but never really let it sink in. But at that time, nobody was going to change my plan. In my mind, this "painless" surgery was going to magically take away my weight in no time, and I was going to be strutting my stuff like there was no tomorrow, there were going to be no complications, and my scrumptious relationship with food would just disappear into thin air. Right. Oh wait, they just called my name! Am I really ready?

They took me back, got all of my IV stuff going, took a pregnancy test (actually happy this time that it was negative!) and pulled me into the OR promptly at 7:30am. Impressed. The last thing I remember was looking up at those super bright lights, and hoping that I didnt drool too much while I was out. A few hours later, I awoke with a SUPER nice pain and a sore throat. Holy macaroni and cheese it hurt, but the morphine pump kept me nice and comfy. And sleepy. Lovely sleepy!

I wasnt able to eat or drink anything that whole day. It felt like forever, and really was starting to get parched, but I had to wait until the next morning for my ice chips. And they wanted me to walk. Really?! Walk?! I did it, and it actually wasnt too bad. The worse part was having to breathe into this little contraption that looked like a breathalyzer for drunks. I dreaded having to do that cause the pain right under my ribs was terrible!

Still, I prevailed, and started to feel more and more comfortable with walking. It was nice having the nurse come in to tell me that she's heard I had done a great job with that! Gave me incentive to push a little harder!

The next morning, I was able to have my 1 oz. of ice chips. After three hours of just 1 oz., I could move up to two, and then so on. That way, we were able to see if I could hold it down, and see how much liquid I was also letting go of. I definitely did not have a problem with that! With all of the liquids they were pumping in, and the extra TONS of ice chips I was eating (jk), the catheter bag had to be replaced a few times that day! 

With my good progress, they were able to take me off of the pump and oxygen, and start me on the liquid medicine. That was also the morning of my first meal - 1 oz. of scrambled eggs. I was told to eat slow, and to make sure to chew at least 15 times to get it nice and pureed in my mouth. Had to photo document it. It was crazy knowing that just a little over a week prior, this would have only been a nibble on my plate. Yummy. 

I was getting closer and closer to discharge time. I could not WAIT to see my babies. The surgeon, dietitian, and a whole bunch of other people came to review a bunch of information that I knew I would forget. There was just SOO much to remember already, I was just ready to get home. 

The ride home seemed like a blur. I felt like I was going back to reality, but in a weird way, I felt a difference. My life will forever be changed. If I wanted this to work, I was to follow their guidelines, and serve the divorce papers to my comfort zone. 

Here was a few things I had to remember:

• Vitamins were mandatory. Forever. (b12, calcium, gall bladder medicine, Flintstones, Some once, some twice per day.)
• One ounce meals three times per day, NO snacks.
• NO gum or straws whatsoever.
• At least 48 - 64 oz of fluid per day, but NO gulping. Only sipping.
• At least 35 - 50 grams of protein per day, including protein shakes. 
• Get moving at least 30 minutes per day, even if it is broken up into parts.
• Sip, sip, sip water. As much as you can. 
• Dont over do it or eat too fast. Dumping syndrome can occur. 
• Stop drinking 30 minutes before your meal, and wait 30 minutes after.
• Avoid getting my fertile myrtle self pregnant.

Theres so much more, but that is the main things to worry about. But more tomorrow about my first weeks home. Thank yall again!

Taking the Plunge

Finally, I took the step, and scheduled to go to the weight loss seminar. According to all of the programs around here, that is Step Number One. I went in there eight months pregnant, and getting some funny looks, with all intentions of choosing the Lap Band, because of my mom being so successful with hers that she got in 2008. I was determined, and I didnt think ANYONE could change my mind. However, with my lifestyle, love of sweets, a sweet tea and coffee drinker, and other reasons, Gastric seemed the best for me. But of course, a consultation with a surgeon would help make that final decision. 

Oh, and sidenote - I did attend a seminar at Chesapeake General, and did not feel comfortable AT ALL! I looked further and found Bon Secours, went to their seminar, and felt more than ready for the next step! Here is the link.

After the seminar, I waited for the phone call to schedule my appt. to meet the surgeon.  With a few bumps, I was able to meet with him November 13th. I admit, he kinda scared me at first with all of the questions he had - wondering why I wanted to do it so soon after pregnancy, how was I going to change my lifestyle afterwards, and why in the world did I want to do this? I started rambling about my kids, and he stopped me mid sentence, and told me that nobody was that selfless, that there had to be something JUST for me. And here is is. Final answer - I want to wear cowboy boots. Just kidding. I want to feel good, not be scared about my family heart history, actually want to go up stairs without being short of breath, wear cute dresses (and yes, my first pair of cowboy boots), be social again (with adults), be proactive for my kids, and enjoy every single moment I was blessed to share with my beauties. Of course, I could think of at least twenty more reasons, but those were the main ones!

There was a bunch of preliminary things I was to complete. The first was a three month weight loss trial with my regular doctor. Check. Meeting with psychologist to make sure I was sane enough to handle the after effects. Check. Meet with the dietitian to make sure I was prepared for what I was about to not eat. Check. Ultrasound on chest and stomach, and bloodwork. Check. Clearance from both regular doctor and cardiologist. Check. Preop and Final Consultation. Check. And then the liquid diet. . . 

Oh boy. Liquid diet. The doc had told me at the final consultation that I had a "fatty liver", and high cholesterol. One of the main reasons they have you do the liquid diet one week prior is to get your liver to "shrink" so they can successfully do the surgery laproscopically instead of cutting all the way down the middle of your tummy. I wasnt having that. I was going to start one day extra to make sure I gave them that much more room so I wouldnt have a large cut to have to look at forever. That week was something else. Day four was actually the hardest. I really, really wanted to go to McDonalds and get me a McDouble with no onions, half bread and a medium fry. Oh yes, and a Sweet Tea. No, who am I kidding, make that two McDoubles. Also, this week was to prevent any "Last Supper Syndrome" meals. Oh yes, and believe me, I had a whole month of that. 

By that Sunday, I had lost 7 lbs. SEVEN pounds. You know how long that would have took if I was just trying on my own?! The big day was almost here. I had to leave the house at 445am, for a 730 surgery, and I couldnt even get to sleep until 230! 

And now the Big, well future-little day :)

The Background

So, with all of the excitement of my new journey, it was suggested for me to start blogging to document all of the coming milestones. My life is always a mile a minute, and this will be a great way for me to vent and let you all know the ups and downs of Gastric Bypass with a busy family!

Since my all time low weight in 2006 - I graduated from ECU (Goo Pirates ;) in 2008, moved back home with my then future hubby in August of 2008, had my first radiant daughter in August of 2009, got married (finally) in April of 2011, had my BUSY son in August of 2011, and had my nothing but sweetness daughter in September of 2012. Busy past few years!  My hubby has been beside me for the past 11 years, but married for almost two. 

When I moved home, I was blessed to get a job teaching Kindergarten. I taught for four years, until we decided that with all of our new little blessings, the benefits of me staying home with the kids was much higher than sending them to daycare. I have to say, I love it! Yes, its crazy allll the time, but being able to be with them to play, laugh, cry and go bonkers every day means the world to me. 

So thats where it gets serious. Like I just said, I love being home with them. But, I know they are not getting all the benefits of a stay at home mom. Most of the time, I dont want to go outside, I dont feel up to alot of physical games - anything that I can do that required me sitting, I'd do it. And, I didnt feel like cooking. It required so much preparation, so much cleaning up, and just so much time doing stuff. I just wanted to pick up something quick. So I did. I got used to eating fast food, and now, so have my kids. I even started to crave it. So now, its up to me. If I was going to make sure my kids didnt go down the up and down, heavy path that I have traveled, then it was time to fix it. Now.

Last December, four months after my second child, I started having some small heart troubles that prompted me to look further. Being my biological father and his mother BOTH died at age 33 of a heart attack, it was imperative for me to make sure I was being proactive. After a bunch of tests and a sleep study, it turned out that I had a heart murmur, and some "electricity" problems. One month into testing, I found out we were pregnant with number three. Surprise!  I LOVEed being pregnant, but envied those "small" people that could have the precious maternity shoots that I sooo wanted to do, without disliking every angle that was shot. 

The whole time I was pregnant, I couldnt get the decisions of surgery out of my mind. I knew I had to take this step. Not only for me, but for my family! I have been going to an internal medicine doctor since high school trying to get help, have taken almost every medicine on the market, including perscription supplements, exercised, dieted, and all of the above. It was time, before my family paid for it too.