old habits

i was so hungry yesterday and started to eat way too fast...almost got sick for the first time. the chicken just sat there. i got a little bit nervous but it eventually slid down. i can't drink or eat anything after i get that feeling because you don't want it to get stuck, so you just have to wait.

sarah and i were at roche bros and i got one of their chicken drumsticks to go with some potato and squash. it was all very good, however, the potato was too thick and the squash was too sweetened. i didn't want to have dumping from the sweetened squash, anything over a certain percentage of sugar per serving will give it to you. everything that i normally would have eaten just a few weeks ago is changed! it's crazy to think!

i feel great physically, just getting tired at the end of the day at my incisions and anchors. i think that next week i am going to start at the YMCA. no situps, pushups, or strenuous activity on my midsection...but something to get my heart rate going!

more weight!

as of christmas morning i have lost 30 pounds!

i have noticed little changes in myself. my jeans are not as tight, i can wear a few tops that i couldn't, and my family keeps telling me that i look smaller.

it's really encouraging that the weight is coming off fast, i hope that i can keep it going fast!

i am eating mostly proteins, meat, eggs, etc. i also am constantly trying to keep up with my water intake. trying to push it to 60-80 ounces a day. i am required to do a minimum of 48 ounces but it's better if i drink more.

things are going...

GREAT! i am losing weight and doing ok emotionally so far. the only downside is that i think i am not getting enough water. i am to constantly drink water or clear liquids all day. when i saw the surgeon on 12-17 she said that i need to drink more than the regular amount because i was losing a little too fast. so i am aiming for about 60-70 ounces a day, but i still feel my heart beating loud and fast and that is a sign of dehydration that the surgeon pointed out to me. so i think that i am going hook up my own IV and that will be that! LOL jk. water, water, and crystal light. i don't mind it, but it can be a lot to have to drink that much in one day. not to mention the amount of time i spend in the bathroom peeing!

a better food day

eating went well today! i had a really good experience for dinner with ricotta, mozzerella, ground beef, and a little bit of spaghetti sauce. so far so good. i will let you know if it stays down! lovely :)

the weight's coming off!

as of monday 12/17/07 i had lost 15 pounds

as of friday 12/21/07 i have lost 26 pounds!!!

food

i have been a little up and down since coming home from surgery. right now i am doing really well, but there have been some times where i was down because of the food choices i have post op. i told myself that this is a prescription and it's not forever!

with that said, i am not sure eggs are agreeing with me. i am going to try them plain again soon. however, i made this really good egg salad yesterday and i was in the bathroom from 930-11pm and then at 4am and 5am and 6am and 7am. so we'll see!

the ride from hell

so they discharged me at 1:30 ish on thursday the 13th...but we had to wait for transport. and i wanted martha, my nurse, to sign my journal. it ended up being close to 2:30 when i actually left. the snowstorm was in full gear and it took dad and i 6 hours to get from MGH to our home. i am still experiencing PTSD from the trip so that's all i am going to say!!

my hospital stay

so after surgery i woke up in the recovery room all groggy and it was like nothing had happened! i don't remember waking up at all at any time before that. i am a pretty good sleeper and i think that the anesethia agreed with me! for the next couple of hours i was awoken by a nurse wiping me down and asking me to breath deeply through my nose. every once and a while doctors would come around and try to talk to me and get to wake up. i just remember trying to open my eyes and look around but i couldn't! i was so tired! this lasted about 5 hours until they decided to send me to my room. i don't really remember the transport..i do remember wheeling by my rommate. i vaguely remember seeing my mom, dad, sister, aunt shell, friends lori and bethany. but that's about it. i know my uncle don came in a little later because they announced when he got there. however, i couldn't stay awake. apparently my family told me i was hilarious. snoring and yelling out comments with profanity! the nurse made me get up and walk around and let's just say that getting up of the bed was a struggle! also the wires and tubes coming out were lovely! the nurse was very nice and very attentive. i don't remember much after that. i hit the PCA pump a few times, but i found out the next morning that it wasn't the best thing for me! i woke up a few times during the night but otherwise felt okay.

dr. pratt's fellow stopped by in the morning and told me that i should stop using the pump because i couldn't stay awake and my pupils were pin points. so i stopped using the pain pump and waited it out. they came and got me for my leak test. it was a little crazy. i had to drink a clear bitter liquid followed by 6 ounces of mylanta tasting stuff. and take pictures in between. wait a little bit and then more pictures. the radiologist team was a little crazy and unorganized which gave me a little anxiety.

i went upstairs after that and showered a little and then my mom got there. we waited a while for the leak test to come back and then i was able to start on percocet. much better! my nurse wednesday during the day was martha. she was awesome! couldn't ask for better! she was back thursday day as well. basically the rest of the hospital stay was uneventful with some visitors and walking and lots of sweating! my dad ended up bringing me in a fan because i was sweating so much!

surgery day!

so here i was, rolling down the halls on a gurney. no jewelry (all my piercings out), OR room hat on, looking so lovely with the extra large hopsital issue johnnie on, and gripping the sides for dear life...the transport team was obviously busy and needed to get me there fast! my day started uneventful with a 415am wake up call. mom and i left here by 445am. we got to MGH at about 540am and headed to check in. we met up with bethany cove on the way to the OR check in suite. they were really organized and my name was called in about 20 minutes. they took me back into this room looking very hospital-like, and assigned me to bed #24. the last bed. there were rows and rows of beds with each having thier own curtain. i was instructed to strip and put on the johnnie. robe and socks were in the bag. you know me, always hot, right? no way i was putting on the socks and robe. well i dressed and sat on the bed and relaxed. people were running around like crazy. so many people everywhere. i filled out some paperwork, took a blood pressure pill (apparently it was a little high! can't imagine why!), and then they sent back bethany and my mom. we chatted for a while, they had to work on taking out my rook ear piercing which i thought i could leave in. my nurse informed me it had to go! it was a struggle! the transport team arrived and asked if i had to go to the bathroom. of course i did. 14 people stopped and asked if i wanted socks or a bathrobe. apparently they are very concerned about your level of comfort at mass general! after i came back, it was bye for now to mom and bethany. as the transport woman pushed my gurney with a speed ideal for a NASCAR race, i started getting butterflies. every door we past through it seemed to get more and more dugeonlike. the hallways were smaller and the ceiling was lower. i started whizzing by OR after OR. now the people down here were all vertical and wearing traditional OR gear. i was soon parked in front of OR #42. MGH's last OR. it looked the oldest. a lot of the OR's there have a room next to them for inductions or holdings. not mine! i was able to be parked right outside the doors and wait for almost an hour while 84 people came and went setting up the OR just for me! i got an IV, met the anesthesiologist who looked 23 years old. thanks god his attendee was right behind him. i met the nurses and the scrub tech. i met dr. pratt's fellow and then dr. pratt arrived. they wheeled me into the OR and had me scoot onto the table. i had to allign myself just so on the table! i was told a few basic things, and they they put an oxygen mask on me to oxygenate me. they told me i would feel fuzzy vision and then that was it. i started feeling fuzzy and that's all that i remember!

surgery prep

i had to do a nasty ass bowel prep for the surgery on tues. so for you who are not so lucky to have had done this before...i will share! i had to start at noon on mon. with taking 3 laxatives. then at 4, 5, and 6 pm i had to drink a tablespoon of the worst tasting phospo-soda mixed with water. apparently that's the stuff that actually makes you pee out of your bum. lovely. let's just say i was all cleaned out by monday evening. ready for surgery!

well wishes

Hey Rachael - So hopefully you check your email today, you probably will, but anyway I just wanted to say Good Luck and that I am praying for you tomorow and through this whole process. I can't believe it's here, and without sounding wierd about this, I am actually so proud of you. I can imagine the strength it requires to do this. So go get em'!!! -bethany toye

Tuesday is your day! Just remember you are on the journey of a lifetime. Try to enjoy every minute. It may sound weird now, but know that you are cared for and prayed for here, and all too soon this will be but a memory and you will be an inspiration to someone else. I am waiting for you on the losers' bench! -judyanne (obesityhelp.com)

hey rach! just wondering how you're doing/feeling. congrats! -katie bolinder sanford

I know you're not going to read this for a while, but good luck today! I'll be thinking of you -amanda collins

quick update about first full day home

just finished with the first full day home and it has been really good! started with the CIB (carnation instant breakfast) for breakfast. condensed tomato soup made with milk for lunch. fat free light raspberry yogurt made with asparatame for dinner. water throughout the whole day. percocets every 5 hours. presecription says 4 if necess. but i can make it to 5 and i don't mind it. but after that 5th hour, oh man! no nausea! i felt soooo full after the yougurt that i was uncomfortablt for a few minutes, but it passed and i knew that i just ate it too fast. i started flinstone's vitamins and tomorrow 2 calcium chews. i will update more about the whole experience when i have more time. it's late now, and i have to get some rest!

i made it.

well, there is lots to tell, that's for sure. i am doing well, but there are some things that i have to to tell you about!! however, i am exhaused and i just wanted to let you know that i am ok and will update later!

thanks :)

ins.

my surgical coordinator called me back yesterday after i called her 42 times regarding my insurance application. she told me that she spoke to her finance dept and they are taking care of it. the guy in charge of my case told her that my ins company only has a 48 turn around time and he wasn't planning on sending it out till monday! i was like, are you serious? all this worrying for nothing? i guess there is still a chance that i don't get approved, but at least i know what's going on! now i can take a deep breath!