Rapid Weight Loss Report - Day 4

I have lost some weight, but I don't really like weighing myself. I have avoided the scale for so many years, I just wince at the thought of having to step on it! Although I did weigh yesterday and today, I think I will steer clear until my doctor appointment on Tuesday. I'm too traumatized by everything right now to see if I have or haven't lost another pound. Ugh! I have a yucky drainage bag attached to my insides that's supposed to help with leak detection, but I can't WAIT to get it out! It comes out on Tuesday at the doctor appointment. They say it's not terribly painful to get it out, but I'm not sure they KNOW! It's the whole "pressure" thing. You're about to feel some "pressure", then WHAM! lol Anyway, I'm doing good, just trying to stay busy and not focus on my lack of food! =D I can't do much because I have to stay close to home and have a teensy, tiny bit of protein shake every hour. If I don't, well, I get quite weak. It's kind of a catch 22... Other than that, things are GRAND. Today is my 11th wedding anniversary, so Happy Anniversary, Ralph!

I've Made It Home!

I'm HOME SWEET HOME from the hospital! My surgery was, according to the head surgeon, a great success. I'm very tired and re-learning how to eat is pretty tough. I walked into the pantry when we got home to throw something away and I wanted to eat ALL of the food in it! LOL But I can't. I have to have liquids only, so that's what I'm-a-doin'! :D We'll see. It'll be nice to have a cold shake that I can half-way enjoy, so Ralph is fixing that up for me right now. I'll keep you all updated on my progress! My first follow-up appointment is this Tuesday and they'll be taking out my drain, which is the primary source of my pain right now. Once that is out, I'll be able to take deeper breaths and move around a lot more.

Feasting...

A good friend of mine who has been in this same exact position, having had the same surgery some years back, has advised me to really eat what I LIKE now, before it's too late! LOL Soooo, I just had ice cream for breakfast. I can't eat after 3 p.m. today, so I had something today that I may possibly never be able to have again. It's so sweet that it really has a terrible effect on someone with shortened intestines! I'll probably just have a good, ol' PB&J for lunch, with Ruffles of course! Then, that's it. I'll be on liquids until midnight, then absolutely NOTHING.

I started cleaning out my closet and dresser yesterday. I have a LOT of things that aren't even worth selling that I'm going to take to a second-hand store and drop off. The rest of my nicer things I'm getting organized in "size groups" so I can wear them one last time, at least, on my way down, down, down! =D

For what it's worth, I am trying to stay busy because I'm very nervous. VERY nervous. Ugh...

Anniversaries Celebrated Disney Style!

Voting is Cool

So, I listened to some of my favorite radio talk shows this morning and have some things brewing in my mind about the upcoming election. I've expressed concerns on this blog of a political nature, but this time my concern has little to no bias. My concern is this: we don't vote the way we should! I know WAY too many people of voting age who do not exercise their right to do so! Guess what? I don't want to hear your bellyaching when taxes are through the roof and we are so inundated with ILLEGAL aliens our health care system collapses. So, not COMPLETELY unbiased, but get yourself registered and vote for something! Know at least the bullet point issues and know your candidate. Make a difference in your world. God allowed us to be citizens of the GREATEST COUNTRY on the face of the PLANET. Be grateful and show a little concern and patriotism! WOOO! I'm FIRED up!!!

T minus 7...

One week from today I will hopefully be recovering from a successful gastric bypass and gallbladder removal surgery. I have such a wonderful support group who are all eager to help me out during the hospital stay and after. I'm so excited. I still have a LOT of clothes to go through. I'm not doing very well in that regard. I'm glad I'll fit into smaller sizes, but I'm not looking forward to not fitting into my very many CUTE shoes! hehehe... (If I do say so myself...) =D Otherwise, bring on the SKINNY!

Things have been quiet out there. Nobody is commenting... Oh, well, I regularly have long discussions with myself. Toodles!

T minus 14...

Exactly 2 weeks from today I will be having gastric bypass surgery. I have been preparing for this for months, but it still seems quite surreal. Tonight (it's 12:30 AM, so I'm a little turned around...) I read through most of the pre-operative manual that was given me by my surgeon. There is a LOT of information, some I was aware of, some not. As I read, I was again compelled to Google some things in regards to the surgery in search of more information. I feel pretty well-informed, but there's always something new to learn! Always! I'm definitely not looking forward to the pain, which is looming in my near future! However, of all of the research I have done and many, MANY people I have spoken to who have actually HAD the surgery, I still feel good about it. I've had a lot of people ask me if I'm getting nervous and I think tonight I got a little case of "nerves". Hopefully, my full schedule of x-rays, examinations, work, and closet-cleaning will keep my mind occupied in other places. I'm still waiting on pix from my friend from our Disneyland trip and I'll be posting those real soon! *fingers crossed*

Mouse-aholic

I had a great day at Disneyland yesterday with two VERY good, lifelong pals of mine! All of our husbands came along and since we all have anniversaries in August, we all got Happy Anniversary pins! It was great fun, until it came time for the fireworks. Or lack thereof. UGH! The show cancellation wouldn't have been so disappointing had we not been waiting for over 2 hours, had a FRONT row (or curb) seat, and had to listen to a unhappy child scream at the top of his lungs for the duration of the wait. Yikes. I think Matt was actually maddened. LOL This is a rare occurrence for the viewing public, as those who know him know. Ick! That was poorly worded. Oh, well! That may be the last time I go to Disneyland until after my surgery. I really wanted to have cotton candy, but it didn't sound as good as it usually does. Of course, I am really trying to lose those 10 pounds by surgery time! =D As for my illness, I am completely recovered, save a nagging cough, which I tend to have anyway! My eyes look normal and the only evidence of my having been sick is the scab from my fever blister. I'm so glad! Especially since that means I'll get to see my little Ella girl tomorrow!! We're picking her up in the afternoon and keeping her indefinitely! Yay! Little sweetie! I'll be back around later!

T minus 20 and Counting...

I've just gotten home from seeing the surgeon who will be performing gastric bypass on me in a couple of weeks and I've got lots of homework! First of all, he gave me a "small" pamphlet explaining in morose detailing all aspects of the procedure. Also, he just threw in that he'd like me to lose 10 pounds by surgery time. TEN. POUNDS. Hello, doc? Are we sure you're clear WHY I'm here? LOL Ok.... He also felt it was necessary to reprimand me for not taking my high blood pressure medicine. Alright, so he didn't "reprimand", but he did strongly suggest I immediately commence hitherto, else I'll possibly not have so much "fun" during surgery. Yikes! I also have to go have blood work and a MRI done, like, right now. Then, about a week before surgery, I'll be in classes all day learning about the procedure in's and out's, including being tested on my knowledge before being able to proceed! I guess this is why the surgeon I chose has such a high success rating, not that there aren't any risks involved, just not TONS. Well, I'll be working on all this homework for the next couple of weeks, but I will try to keep you more inquisitive readers "in the know". Ciao!

Thanks for Praying!

So, I threw a mini-fit to get in to see the specialist yesterday! And it worked! I was having so many different things going on that they were not wanting me to take any type of relief medications for, it was quite miserable!! Waiting to see the doctor who would decide if I could take said relief meds until Thursday was getting on my "nervous". (As Logan used to say when he was a little guy...) So, the cornea specialist walked in and took one look at me and said, "Wow! You've REALLY got red eyes!" Yeah, no kidding, Einstein. I guess his "specialty" is overstating the obvious. My eyes had already been dilated by the man-nurse I had and so the doc, (CAREFULLY CLEANING EVERYTHING WITH ALCOHOL!!! LOL) looked into my eyes. When the student doctor began to enter the room, he immediately dismissed him telling him, "This woman has a highly contagious virus, so you can't be in here." Okay... I've only been all over and haven't had any "victims" fall prey to my scary eyes, so whatever. So after the doctor dismissed my scandalously red eyes as severe, viral, bleeding pink eye, I was now able to take meds to relieve the other symptoms I had developed. Today, I write to you with an almost completely healed right eye - (Thank You, Jesus!) - and a left eye that has improved leaps and bounds. Thanks for your prayers and I'm looking forward to full recovery!

UNpleasantries

Well, as you can see from this candid photo, I have the "sicky" eyes! Well, it's just one eye in the pic, but believe you me, it's the better looking eye right now! Boy, I tell you what, I rarely feel compelled to SCRATCH my eyeballs, but lately the urge has been nigh irresistible. Don't panic! You can't "catch" what I've got just by looking at my ugly picture! No concrete diagnosis yet, although the ophthalmologist said yesterday he's thinking hemorrhaging conjunctivitis. So, if you are praying for me, go right on ahead and keep that up! I'll take all the prayers I can get!!

Takes a Lickin' and Keeps on Tickin'!

Lots going on around these parts! *whew!* I have been approved for gastric bypass surgery and will be meeting with the operating surgeon this Thursday. In OTHER news, I have had a relapse of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and will have to see a ??cornea specialist?? on Thursday as well. Thursday will be a busy, busy day, because we are also re-starting our Worship Team practices. I'm falling apart at the seams and Ralphie can't help but compare me to his ailing Grandma, God rest her soul! He's too much! LOL Anyway, I've been having a lot of people pray for me, as this condition can be a formidable foe to my good health.

On the "lighter" side, (pun INTENDED), my weight loss has unofficially begun due to my waning appetite from illness. ugh...

God is STILL good!! I know I could be much worse off and since I have called out the troops to begin praying, I feel a lot better already. I would really love to WOW the specialist by not having any symptoms on Thursday! Please help me PRAY!!!