Ug. I am writing tonight mostly out of guilt. I haven't written in a few days and I don't want anyone to think I am already giving up. Truth is, I started my liquid diet and I have not been feeling well. The first day I didn't feel too hungry, but I got such a headache. Felt a lot like a caffiene withdrawal, but I assume it is just a food withdrawal headache.
My diet is pretty much a protein shake in the AM when I get to work and settled in. For lunch I have 2 cups of Butternut Squash soup from Trader Joe's. And depending how many packets of crystal light I use (5 calories each) that leaves me about 1/2 my allowable calories for dinner and 'snack'. Oh, and lots of bubblegum in between.
Problem was, my headache was pretty intense and I just wanted to go to bed. I slept from 5:30 PM til 10:30 AM and still woke up with the pain. I did check my blood sugar to find it low in comparison for my usual readings.
So today I stayed home and had an Atkin's shake around 7AM when I called into work, 2 cups of soup for lunch and for dinner I had 12 oz of protein shake in slushie form and 1 cup of chicken broth. For snack I will have a non-diet generic Slimfast shake.
It is much easier to do this liquid diet when I am at home. At work I am use to grazing on snacks all day. I had hoped the bubblegum would help, but not so far. The walking 2 times a day does seem to help, but it sure wears me out. I had to slow down the pace and even give my calves a break on Tuesday because they were pretty sore.
So, for the last week or so I have been trying to get a hold of the bariatric center my surgeon is affiliated. I sent an email with about 8 different questions, including some about these 2 weeks of liquid diet. (Can I have jello, cream soups, etc?) But they have yet to get back to me. I get that they are busy, but I am surprised and unthrilled by this.
Well, I know that they rec'd my email because I was contacted by my primary care doctor to tell me that my surgeons office didn't have a certain necessary blood test or a copy of a prior ultrasound. This meant they hadn't even sent my request for surgery to the insurance company yet. Makes me nervous, but they have said through this whole procedure how easy it is to get it passed through the insurance, so maybe I don't need to worry. I went and had the blood test and my PCP sent the results and the ultrasound to my surgeon.
I tried to call them today to find out about the jello and there was no answer. More to come on when they contact me. For now I will go pack my soup for tomorrow and maybe pick up some bubblegum on my way to work. I ♥ bubblegum.
-Rae
♥ Rachel's VSG Journey♥
This blog is a chance for me to share with others about my journey through my Verticle Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) process.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Prep and supplies
So today I went and picked up some supplies in preparation for post surgery. I found the B-12 tablets that dissolve under my tongue, the Calcium Citrate and some unflavored soy protein powder. Oh - a new soup also, sweet potato and some broth. All found at Trader Joe's. I know most people just love that store, but I think it is uncomfortable to shop there. There is no room for a cart and just too many people. I just want to smack the ones that collect in a small group and talk, blocking the aisle the whole time. Hello, don't I look hungry and dangerous with my cart coming towards you? I think all I need to get are some baby spoons, an ice cube tray (to divide my leftovers in) and some vanilla protein powder for the fun flavored shakes I will make at some point.
I also went through 3 tubs of old clothes. I had saved them from my 'thinner' era. I say thinner, but it was thinner than now, no small. Unfortunately, when my husband and I moved to where we are, I had no place to store them and they sat outside stacked in a tower. A couple weeks ago I went to move one (with my foot) and the sun had weakened it so much, my foot went through the corner. I decided today, before tomorrows light rain, I would go through the bottom one. I dragged my husband outside, armed with a broom for the spiders, but we didn't realize we were in for an adventure.
I wanted to only go through the one on the bottom, so I was just going to move them, but my husband encouraged me to open the top one. Good thing I did, somehow water had gotten inside and all the clothes wet sopping wet. One had started to mold and the rest were dripping. One by one I pulled things out and decided if they could or should be kept. I never realized that an opaque / clear tub would cause the sun to get in and bleach your clothes. Sadly, I could not keep many because they had bleached stripes all over them.
The second tub we got ready to move and it completely collapsed into lots of plastic pieces. These clothes were not wet, but the sun had bleached many. I started to fill a pillow case full and had filled it just in time for the last tub. Surprisingly, it was not the worse one. I saved quite a few things, including a leather jacket, some belts, tops and a few blazers and skirts. It will be a bit before I can get back into them, but that gives me time to get them washed or dry cleaned. Now I have to hope they are still in style. Most of this was from 2005 and 2006 and fashion changes.
I think that is it for tonight, I have the house to myself and I think I will re-familiarize myself to the remote. I ♥ my remote.
Until the next time,
Rae
I also went through 3 tubs of old clothes. I had saved them from my 'thinner' era. I say thinner, but it was thinner than now, no small. Unfortunately, when my husband and I moved to where we are, I had no place to store them and they sat outside stacked in a tower. A couple weeks ago I went to move one (with my foot) and the sun had weakened it so much, my foot went through the corner. I decided today, before tomorrows light rain, I would go through the bottom one. I dragged my husband outside, armed with a broom for the spiders, but we didn't realize we were in for an adventure.
I wanted to only go through the one on the bottom, so I was just going to move them, but my husband encouraged me to open the top one. Good thing I did, somehow water had gotten inside and all the clothes wet sopping wet. One had started to mold and the rest were dripping. One by one I pulled things out and decided if they could or should be kept. I never realized that an opaque / clear tub would cause the sun to get in and bleach your clothes. Sadly, I could not keep many because they had bleached stripes all over them.
The second tub we got ready to move and it completely collapsed into lots of plastic pieces. These clothes were not wet, but the sun had bleached many. I started to fill a pillow case full and had filled it just in time for the last tub. Surprisingly, it was not the worse one. I saved quite a few things, including a leather jacket, some belts, tops and a few blazers and skirts. It will be a bit before I can get back into them, but that gives me time to get them washed or dry cleaned. Now I have to hope they are still in style. Most of this was from 2005 and 2006 and fashion changes.
I think that is it for tonight, I have the house to myself and I think I will re-familiarize myself to the remote. I ♥ my remote.
Until the next time,
Rae
Friday, January 28, 2011
Welcome!!
Welcome to my blog. I have never had a blog, so if I spent a lot of time already trying to pimp it out.
So, I should start by introducing myself.... My name is Rachel and I will be having VSG surgery on February 15th, 2011 in Bakersfield, CA. I am not from Bakersfield however. I drive about 2 1/2 hours to get there. I am married and I work for my county. I ♥ pumpkin pie, cheeseburgers and all sorts of things that got me to where I am today.
It all started when I went to my doctors in August. I told her I was too fat and felt like I was drowning. I had no neck (chins straight into breast) and I wanted to be healthy and live longer. She told me that my insurance was no approving people for WLS (weight loss surgery) and I should try it. (I had already shown an interest.)
I started dieting immediately and within a week I had a referral to Dr. Niak at the Bakersfield Surgery Center. By the time of my appointment on Sept. 2nd I had lost 15 pounds. The surgery center staff were very friendly, but there was a LOT of paperwork which took an hour. I was a little pissy by the time I saw Dr. Niak. My husband went in to the initial visit /orientation with me and we learned of all the WLS options available at that surgery center. I was drawn towards the sleeve immediately, but didn't commit to it until just recently.
After meeting with the doc, we had to drive to the office where Karen works. Karen is a delightful patient rep who has walked me through the process, step by step. I met with her and a nurse to learn more about the immediate changes I had to make and about the expectations to get approved and to have the surgery.
It was during the meeting with the nurse that I decided I wanted to do this, I needed to do this and that I could do this. I also decided then that the Lap Band was not for me. It just creeped me out a little. Karen weighed me and took a photo to officially start the journey.
Of course I would learn that I needed to lose 13 pounds by surgery approval time. I thought that seemed reasonable. I had hoped that they would take into consideration the 15 I had already lost, but no- the count starts over. As of the last doc office visit, I had lost 33 pounds. (That includes the initial 15) I stopped caffeine, carbonated beverages, red meat (I still miss it) and overall bad foods. I ate low carb and high protein. With the exception of getting a few last meals in before I start my dreaded 14 day 900 calorie liquid only diet.
That mostly brings me up to date on where I am at. I have just over 2 weeks til surgery, and while looking forward to the surgery, not so true for the 14 day torture before it. I will be cranky and possibly dabbling in a little evil. My work and real husbands are both afraid, very very afraid.
I have a lot more to say, but for the first entry I think I am done. I end with the thought that tomorrow I am going to have a little cereal. I ♥ cereal.
Thanks for listening,
Rae
So, I should start by introducing myself.... My name is Rachel and I will be having VSG surgery on February 15th, 2011 in Bakersfield, CA. I am not from Bakersfield however. I drive about 2 1/2 hours to get there. I am married and I work for my county. I ♥ pumpkin pie, cheeseburgers and all sorts of things that got me to where I am today.
It all started when I went to my doctors in August. I told her I was too fat and felt like I was drowning. I had no neck (chins straight into breast) and I wanted to be healthy and live longer. She told me that my insurance was no approving people for WLS (weight loss surgery) and I should try it. (I had already shown an interest.)
I started dieting immediately and within a week I had a referral to Dr. Niak at the Bakersfield Surgery Center. By the time of my appointment on Sept. 2nd I had lost 15 pounds. The surgery center staff were very friendly, but there was a LOT of paperwork which took an hour. I was a little pissy by the time I saw Dr. Niak. My husband went in to the initial visit /orientation with me and we learned of all the WLS options available at that surgery center. I was drawn towards the sleeve immediately, but didn't commit to it until just recently.
After meeting with the doc, we had to drive to the office where Karen works. Karen is a delightful patient rep who has walked me through the process, step by step. I met with her and a nurse to learn more about the immediate changes I had to make and about the expectations to get approved and to have the surgery.
It was during the meeting with the nurse that I decided I wanted to do this, I needed to do this and that I could do this. I also decided then that the Lap Band was not for me. It just creeped me out a little. Karen weighed me and took a photo to officially start the journey.
Of course I would learn that I needed to lose 13 pounds by surgery approval time. I thought that seemed reasonable. I had hoped that they would take into consideration the 15 I had already lost, but no- the count starts over. As of the last doc office visit, I had lost 33 pounds. (That includes the initial 15) I stopped caffeine, carbonated beverages, red meat (I still miss it) and overall bad foods. I ate low carb and high protein. With the exception of getting a few last meals in before I start my dreaded 14 day 900 calorie liquid only diet.
That mostly brings me up to date on where I am at. I have just over 2 weeks til surgery, and while looking forward to the surgery, not so true for the 14 day torture before it. I will be cranky and possibly dabbling in a little evil. My work and real husbands are both afraid, very very afraid.
I have a lot more to say, but for the first entry I think I am done. I end with the thought that tomorrow I am going to have a little cereal. I ♥ cereal.
Thanks for listening,
Rae
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