The Home Stretch

Thanks again so much for all your continued support.

Today is day 5 on my liquids and yes, I'm still hungry! Dr. Genaw told me "after a couple days, you won't feel hungry; this is also what hunger strike participants say." Um, hells NO. I'm still hungry. Like I said, it ebbs and flows, but it's there. I'm doing ok, don't get me wrong, but I'd love to have something to eat. The protein shakes, Jell-O and popsicles aren't really cutting it. It's tough, but bearable. I'm just trying my best to keep busy, which is also hard because I'm pretty weak and tire easily at this point.

I went out yesterday to get a few incidentals I'll need post-op and it completely wore me out. Erich and I are thinking of going to see Hitsville, USA in Detroit tomorrow (he discovered it's literally just down the street from Henry Ford), but I'm not sure I'll be up to it. Maybe when I go back for my first post-op checkup.

I linked my Twitter account to my cell phone so I should be able to update my status even from my hospital bed. Also, my Twitter is linked with Facebook, so any updates will appear on both sites at the same time. So many people have asked to be updated about how I'm doing - family and friends - and this is the best way since we can't really call too many people. The roaming charges on our Canadian phone would be outrageously expensive.

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of speaking to someone who has gone through this process and is on the other side, successful. I didn't know she'd had the surgery till recently. I think now we are going to become good friends. She was very comforting and answered any and all questions I had, as well as letting me know I could contact her again. It's really nice to have that. I will be forever grateful to her kindness and willingness to share.

I just finished a book called Before & After: Living and Eating Well After Weight-Loss Surgery by Susan Maria Leach. I highly recommend it to anyone getting ready to go through this surgery. I found it months ago at a second-hand bookstore and it sat on a shelf till about a week ago. The first quarter sort of reads like this blog, with dated entries about her daily struggles and triumphs. The second three-quarters contains invaluable nutritional information and recipes. Ms. Leach runs the website http://bariatriceating.com/ where she also sells bariatric products. I haven't tried any of those, but her book is wonderful.

I'm heading out tomorrow with great expectations of a whole new life. I know I can get there!

Hangin' in

Today is Canada Day, so I've been off work. Surprisingly, it hasn't been too difficult not to eat. My hunger ebbs and flows; I'll get very hungry then it'll disappear only to return a few hours later and the cycle starts all over again.

I had another gastric bypass patient contact me today saying she'd read in my blog where I found a protein supplement that tasted like Reese cups - she wanted to know what it was! Well, my apologies because DUH I should've put that info in my blog.

I have been using Isoflex brand protein supplements. I went to Nutrition House (kinda like GNC) and told the guy what I was looking for and that I wanted something that tasted good. He pointed me straight to Isoflex and gave me a sample of the chocolate peanut butter variety. It was GOOD. Really good. I did go back to buy some but they didn't have any. Hopefully they will get some in soon. I've been using Isoflex strawberry & vanilla and they are also really tasty. Here is the US website: http://www.allmaxnutrition.com/prod81.aspx and the Canadian: http://www.isoflex.ca/

Ok, Bo just went live on Stickam and totally, perhaps irrevocably, interrupted my train of thought. Food? Hunger? What's that? Sheesh!!!

Anyway....

I went on a pretty long walk today. I took my cell with me in case I needed to call Erich to pick me up! LOL! No need. I'm stronger than I think I am. This is sorta becoming my mantra.

Oh, and maybe TMI but I have never peed so much in my life. I guess it's because I'm on liquids and there's no food in my stomach to sop up all the water I'm drinking. Good lord! I'm running to the bathroom all the time yesterday and today.

In response to a couple of the comments yesterday, I've never been a smoker but I can see the similarities between the addictions for sure. I have seen many, many people I love struggle to give up cigarettes over and over. We all have our drug of choice, I suppose.

Thank you all so much for your comments on yesterday's blog. What in the world would I do without all of you? I love you all more than you know.

Meh

I'm feeling kinda restless and odd this morning. Like there are things I need to be doing, but I just don't wanna. I went to bed too late, woke up too early and feel just blah.

Yesterday, I went shopping and got semi-prepared for this thing I have coming up. Two HUGE (no, huge) containers of protein powder along with more sugar-free popsicles. I seem to have a fear of running out of popsicles - I certainly will have more than enough to eat next week! I bought broth, too, but I can't imagine drinking broth. I think it might make me sick. I found several things I needed at the dollar store (yay dollar stores!). In the party section, I got these tiny disposable 1-oz. shot glasses. 30 to a pack. I also got really small cereal bowls and an American Idol word search book. I figure if I'm going to be in the hospital, somehow, Bo is coming with me. I'm also bringing a portable DVD player so I watch some concert footage if I get the blues. I wish I had some Peep footage! ;-)

I passed on the protein water. A tip they gave us at the Henry Ford nutritional seminar is to make the Jell-O we eat on the liquid diet with protein water to make us more full. Awesome! Well, no. It turns a 50-cent box of Jell-O into a $5.00 box of Jell-O. And that's not logical. I'm all about logic...you know, the bacon double cheeseburger with the diet coke thing I used to do. Yeah.

I kinda lost it on a Walmart employee yesterday. I was in the baby section - not ever a place I go willingly - looking for baby spoons. I was told that might be a good idea as it helps cut down on portion control. I decided against that, but was looking at some surprisingly attractive insulated sippy cups when this freak of nature with a nametag walks into the aisle and starts ranting and raving - to herself, mind you - about a box of wipes casually tossed on a shelf where diapers are supposed to be. Seriously yelling. Loud. I raised my brows but said nothing. She walked past me and found something else out of place. Rant continued. She keeps going to the end of the aisle, finds something else. Ok, now she's pretty much screaming about rude, insensitive customers. WTF? Seriously? I don't need it. I said, "Oh jesus christ, shut up about it or quit!" She looked at me, stunned, and walked off.

I didn't get the sippy cup.

Honestly, do I need to hear that? Sheesh. I'm a woman on the edge here. Do not push me. LMAO!

Erich asked me last night if I was nervous. Um, ya think? I know it'll all be worth it, but right now yes, I'm nervous. Everything I read tells me not to be and not to think about 'last meals' or nonsense like that. I can't really help it, though. So tonight, my mother-in-law is making paprikash for me. My last meal. It's a Hungarian stew she serves over spetzle (pasta) and it's one of the best things ever created to dance on your tongue. I intend to savor it.

Days to surgery: 8
Pounds lost so far: 55 (I gained 2 this week - psycho cycle has returned)

I keep repeating to myself that I can do this. I'm stronger than I think I am. I'm stronger than I think I am. Yes! I know I am.