Used to love the holidays.. Being insulin resistance since i was 5 years old made it rough, though.. food wise. I've always been overweight/obese.. But I've always dieted too... It was so strict.. As alittle kid, i remember once i stole the syrup from the cabinet and ran tothe bathroom and drank maple syrup... because i was craving sugar.. It was bad. the holidays and the food surrounding me, amplified it. (thankfully over the past 5 or 6 years that craving has been lost.. Anything sugary makes me sick, now.)
So.. Thanksgiving.. I cooked a lot.. You know, the usual.. Dressing, Green bean casarole (my favorite.. I'd be happy with just that.), mashed potatoes, gravy, pies, rolls, and of course the turkey... my lunch was off the little snack table we had set up.. which was basically a handfull of shrimp and a little cocktail sauce, and a few crackers with cheese spread.. I have been having more diet soda lately.. Diet pepsi, mostly. I dilute it with water, or let it sit in ice for awhile before i drink it.. same thing.. kinda. yeah. So I had some diet pepsi too.. I Know i'm not supposed t odrink with meals, but its hard... thats the toughest thing about this whole process for me.
Then dinner... I had some turkey... a couple bites of mashed potatoes, literally one bite of dressing, and the rest green bean casarole... I love that stuff.. I only get it once a year.. its safe to say i ate a little more than i should, and i definatley felt it later... Given I didn't hardly eat a foruth of what everone else did.. i'm the only person with a stomach the size of a banana. 'nuff said.
Then later on i had half of a piece ofpie that i made.. I know.. i shouldn't have... it sucks that i baked so much and couldnt hardly eat any of it... But everyone else seemed to like it. they're saying i should go to culinary school. the thought has definatley crossed my mind...
I'm not a big fan of holidays anymore ingeneral... since i was 12 i kinda grew out of the 'excited' phase and moved onto the more typical teenager 'fuck the world. back off don't wanna deal with my family i'll go hide in my room' phase... which is exactly what i've been doing. I don't liek family get togethers. they annoy me.. Answering questions about my family gets nervewracking... I just go along with it all for my little brothers.
People have been on me to get out of the house mroe. I don't have many friends. I lost a lot of them when i switched schools a lot, a few years back.. A lot ofother factors played into it, but that's the just of it. But My uncle was playing with a band that i grew up with.. like. i grew up with a few of the guys in it.. I've followed their music.. they're really good. I have their cd's.. but i never really talk to any of them. Everyone from elementry/middle school has gone their seperate ways, as exptected. But yeah. Them, and a band that is local around here.. everyone knows... Well. they were playing a show together. Authors & Audio (the band i grew up with... www.authorsandaudo.com <-- check them out..) and Shrug ( http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=67739380522 -- http://shrug.bandcamp.com/)... it was a epic show. I talked to some people i knew.. adult wise.. but i never talked to anyone my age. oh well. next time.. maybe? who knows. but it was good to get out of the house.. Listen to some good music.. i still have the x's on the back of my hands, and the wrist band on... because it was at a bar, and i'm a minor. hey! at least they let me in..
so yeah. that was my thanksgiving break.. although, I'm testing for my ged on december tenth.. i'm not really in school right now.. so.. not really a break. but.. yeah. you get my point.
Alright.. Just thought I'd fill everyone in.. That was my first major holiday since surgery... Aside from the bit of pie i had, i think i did alright...
feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns or anything. i'd be happy to hear from you. (:
have a good day and happy holidays.
-Ashley
ashleyellen1637@aol.com
First blog dedicated to Weight Loss Surgery for teenagers. To my knowledge it's still the only one! We're also dedicated to teaching/spreading awareness about childhood obesity, metabolic conditions/diseases, healthy lifestyles, and anything in-between. (Started in May 2011)
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Aight.. Pre/Post op tips.. and pictures.
Pre-Op.
The pre-op diet i was on, was i was allowed one under 400 calorie meal a day. 3 protein shakes. and 80ish oz. of sugar free fluids. that being said, on days i actually went by that.. i would have a lean cuisine or something for my meal, which was usually a dinner. but most of the time.. i split it up. i'd have a yogurt in the morning, string cheese later on, and some crackers and cream cheese later on. etc.. but kept it all under 400 calories. I reccomend that.. that was a lot easier for me than only having that one small meal later on. and i think it helped me for eating smaller portions more frequently, for after surgery.
Post-Op.
Just do what you can.. Honestly. Liquids first.. Behing dehydrated isn't fun. I know i was for about a week or so but never did anything about it. I didn't get more than like 20oz in a day for a week. It was miserable. Then worry about getting your protein in. Sip. sip. sip.a nd i know it doesnt seem like it, but walking saves you. It helps the gas move, helps ease the pain.. you would think the oposite right? no. don't think the oposite. I was up walking 2 hours after i woke up in my room. to get into a chair, while in the hospital.. this is how my hospital stay went, walking wise.
Surgery around 7:45am. woke up in recovery around noon. then went to my room not long after, then by 2pm i got up to get in a chair.. sit up straight. then i went back to bed. then around 7:30pm i got up and walked down the hall and back. the next day i got up at 10am and walked.. then sat in the stupid wheelchair for two hours because radiology was slow, and i didnt want to get back into bed. i fell asleep in the wheel chair. went down for the upper gi.. which honestly isnt that bad. (just use the morphine.. i beg you. USE. THE FREAKING. MORPHINE. i denyed myself morphine.. i wanted to see how bad it was... dont test it.. just trust them when they say use it.. if you don't trust them, trust me. At this point in time, morphine will become your best friend.) Don't use the straw.. they'll offer it to you. but you shouldnt. and then got back up and went to the room and passed out.. later on i walked again.. was allowed to have water.. (finally!) then had the catheter removed and all that jazz. (thank. freaking. god. the catheter and the drain were annoying..) then walked some more.. and the next day i was drinking lemonade crystal light, had some orange jello, and got the okay to leave. i had already walked that morning. had the drain removed. and i wakled all the way from the room in the A building i think.. to the gift shop, where i got my lovely tshirt, and then to the parking garage.. My mom tried to get me to use the wheel chair, but iw ouldnt. it felt so good to walk.
Bottom line: WALK. I don't care if it hurts a little or you think it will hurt more.. Okay yes i care. but I can almost 100% guarantee you, unless something went wrong in surgery, the pain will be fixed. take yoru pain meds the way the doctors tell you to, don't overdo it.. but walk. it will help. so much. Even if i eat too much now, walking helps the food-coma feeling pass quicker.
Alright. Next for the postops: You won't want to sleep flat on your back.. I don't have a bed. I sleep on the couch. I have for years. I have a couch in my room,b ut i usually sleep in the living room. long story. but yeah. i slept sitting up on the couch the first week,t hen eased down to my back/side. i used a body pillow when i layed on my side. and within a month i was on my stomach again. i sleep on my stomach. i can't stay asleep while on my back.. (partially what made my sleep study one of the worst nights of sleep i've ever had in my life.)
Aight. scars. don't pick the glue.. just don't. let it be. it takes awhile. it took a few weeks to come off.. on one of the incisions, i picked some of the glue off.. i got too close to the incision and it was painful, so i stopped. and it eventually came of on its own. the pictures i've posted of my incisions don't do them justice. they're seriously just light pink. you can barely see them. i was surprized. When i was researching i saw scar pictures and was kinda horrified. but I wanted the surgery so i was going to deal with it. I already have a ton of stretch marks, so whats it matter, right? well. they're all fading. thankfully. haha.
those are the main things.. I'm gonna post a few pictures now.. A picture of me now. My lovely tattoo i never got to post a picture of (: my scars now, anddd yeah i think thats it. here we go. (:
http://i40.tinypic.com/icmhz4.jpg
--Gotta love nerd glasses. (:
http://i44.tinypic.com/314qb9c.jpg
--I started b12 shots. I forgot to mention that. Once a month. This is the massive needle.. If you decide to go that route.. It's not as bad as it looks. I have no problem with needles. at all. I would rather have a blood test than a urine test for drugs or pregnancy or something. But that honestly freaked me out.. It was thick. And long. But it's not that bad. I barely felt it.
http://i42.tinypic.com/sqtpw2.jpg
--Halloween. If you know me, you now I have a mexican obsession. Mexicans, Spanish, Mexican food, anything mexican. I love it. So i wore a sombrero, while handing out candy. Haha.
http://i40.tinypic.com/sem9ue.jpg
--If you know me (again), you know i have an unhealthy obsession with wearing makeup.. I havent as much lately. Havent felt the need to. And I'm smiling more, I've noticed.n you used to have to act like a complete idiot to get me to laugh to get a pictuer of me smiling.. And whoa! look at that! ashley smiled on her own! wooh.
http://i39.tinypic.com/20577s7.jpg
--Full Body. Pretty much everything has slimmed down except my stomach.. Those pants are literally falling off of me in that picture. they're supposed to be skinny jeans.. Haha.
http://i43.tinypic.com/1z4yico.jpg
--Paper i got today at the doctors office.. Shows my weight since the first time they met me. But they don't have my highest weight on record, which was back in november 2010.. it was liek 278 i believe. Haha.
http://i39.tinypic.com/6zq714.jpg
--scars. yeah. you can only see two. the one ont he left was from the drain. the one on the right is the biggest one i have. you can't see the other three. theres one in my bellybutton, one on my sternum, and one further on my left side.a ll of them are smaller than that one on the right though. and the computer screen was by me, so it makes my skin look pink... my skin is white. i am one of the whitest people you will ever meet (or see pictures of...) whitey mc white. I'm ghostly pale. Not sure why the computer screen does that, but oh well.
http://i40.tinypic.com/ejsikp.jpg
--Lastly, my tattoo. (: I got it one month after surgery. I was supposed to get it on my 16th birthday, but that was 3 days after surgery.. not gonna go get a tattoo while i still have blood thinners in my system. Haha. "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." is the original quote. i took out the 'you meet' part to make it a little shorter so it wouldnt be so big, and it'd be more even. its a plato quote. haha. but i really believe it. thats hwo i try to live my life.
So yeah. That's that. Hope you have a good day, and feel free to email me if you have any questions or wanna add me on facebook to see more pictures. (:
-Ashley.
ashleyellen1637@aol.com
PS. if you like demi lovato.. talk to me. i have two tickets to her show in chicago. i need more friends that like her.. that would be able to go with me. haha. She'a amazing.<3 okay. done now. bye(:
The pre-op diet i was on, was i was allowed one under 400 calorie meal a day. 3 protein shakes. and 80ish oz. of sugar free fluids. that being said, on days i actually went by that.. i would have a lean cuisine or something for my meal, which was usually a dinner. but most of the time.. i split it up. i'd have a yogurt in the morning, string cheese later on, and some crackers and cream cheese later on. etc.. but kept it all under 400 calories. I reccomend that.. that was a lot easier for me than only having that one small meal later on. and i think it helped me for eating smaller portions more frequently, for after surgery.
Post-Op.
Just do what you can.. Honestly. Liquids first.. Behing dehydrated isn't fun. I know i was for about a week or so but never did anything about it. I didn't get more than like 20oz in a day for a week. It was miserable. Then worry about getting your protein in. Sip. sip. sip.a nd i know it doesnt seem like it, but walking saves you. It helps the gas move, helps ease the pain.. you would think the oposite right? no. don't think the oposite. I was up walking 2 hours after i woke up in my room. to get into a chair, while in the hospital.. this is how my hospital stay went, walking wise.
Surgery around 7:45am. woke up in recovery around noon. then went to my room not long after, then by 2pm i got up to get in a chair.. sit up straight. then i went back to bed. then around 7:30pm i got up and walked down the hall and back. the next day i got up at 10am and walked.. then sat in the stupid wheelchair for two hours because radiology was slow, and i didnt want to get back into bed. i fell asleep in the wheel chair. went down for the upper gi.. which honestly isnt that bad. (just use the morphine.. i beg you. USE. THE FREAKING. MORPHINE. i denyed myself morphine.. i wanted to see how bad it was... dont test it.. just trust them when they say use it.. if you don't trust them, trust me. At this point in time, morphine will become your best friend.) Don't use the straw.. they'll offer it to you. but you shouldnt. and then got back up and went to the room and passed out.. later on i walked again.. was allowed to have water.. (finally!) then had the catheter removed and all that jazz. (thank. freaking. god. the catheter and the drain were annoying..) then walked some more.. and the next day i was drinking lemonade crystal light, had some orange jello, and got the okay to leave. i had already walked that morning. had the drain removed. and i wakled all the way from the room in the A building i think.. to the gift shop, where i got my lovely tshirt, and then to the parking garage.. My mom tried to get me to use the wheel chair, but iw ouldnt. it felt so good to walk.
Bottom line: WALK. I don't care if it hurts a little or you think it will hurt more.. Okay yes i care. but I can almost 100% guarantee you, unless something went wrong in surgery, the pain will be fixed. take yoru pain meds the way the doctors tell you to, don't overdo it.. but walk. it will help. so much. Even if i eat too much now, walking helps the food-coma feeling pass quicker.
Alright. Next for the postops: You won't want to sleep flat on your back.. I don't have a bed. I sleep on the couch. I have for years. I have a couch in my room,b ut i usually sleep in the living room. long story. but yeah. i slept sitting up on the couch the first week,t hen eased down to my back/side. i used a body pillow when i layed on my side. and within a month i was on my stomach again. i sleep on my stomach. i can't stay asleep while on my back.. (partially what made my sleep study one of the worst nights of sleep i've ever had in my life.)
Aight. scars. don't pick the glue.. just don't. let it be. it takes awhile. it took a few weeks to come off.. on one of the incisions, i picked some of the glue off.. i got too close to the incision and it was painful, so i stopped. and it eventually came of on its own. the pictures i've posted of my incisions don't do them justice. they're seriously just light pink. you can barely see them. i was surprized. When i was researching i saw scar pictures and was kinda horrified. but I wanted the surgery so i was going to deal with it. I already have a ton of stretch marks, so whats it matter, right? well. they're all fading. thankfully. haha.
those are the main things.. I'm gonna post a few pictures now.. A picture of me now. My lovely tattoo i never got to post a picture of (: my scars now, anddd yeah i think thats it. here we go. (:
http://i40.tinypic.com/icmhz4.jpg
--Gotta love nerd glasses. (:
http://i44.tinypic.com/314qb9c.jpg
--I started b12 shots. I forgot to mention that. Once a month. This is the massive needle.. If you decide to go that route.. It's not as bad as it looks. I have no problem with needles. at all. I would rather have a blood test than a urine test for drugs or pregnancy or something. But that honestly freaked me out.. It was thick. And long. But it's not that bad. I barely felt it.
http://i42.tinypic.com/sqtpw2.jpg
--Halloween. If you know me, you now I have a mexican obsession. Mexicans, Spanish, Mexican food, anything mexican. I love it. So i wore a sombrero, while handing out candy. Haha.
http://i40.tinypic.com/sem9ue.jpg
--If you know me (again), you know i have an unhealthy obsession with wearing makeup.. I havent as much lately. Havent felt the need to. And I'm smiling more, I've noticed.n you used to have to act like a complete idiot to get me to laugh to get a pictuer of me smiling.. And whoa! look at that! ashley smiled on her own! wooh.
http://i39.tinypic.com/20577s7.jpg
--Full Body. Pretty much everything has slimmed down except my stomach.. Those pants are literally falling off of me in that picture. they're supposed to be skinny jeans.. Haha.
http://i43.tinypic.com/1z4yico.jpg
--Paper i got today at the doctors office.. Shows my weight since the first time they met me. But they don't have my highest weight on record, which was back in november 2010.. it was liek 278 i believe. Haha.
http://i39.tinypic.com/6zq714.jpg
--scars. yeah. you can only see two. the one ont he left was from the drain. the one on the right is the biggest one i have. you can't see the other three. theres one in my bellybutton, one on my sternum, and one further on my left side.a ll of them are smaller than that one on the right though. and the computer screen was by me, so it makes my skin look pink... my skin is white. i am one of the whitest people you will ever meet (or see pictures of...) whitey mc white. I'm ghostly pale. Not sure why the computer screen does that, but oh well.
http://i40.tinypic.com/ejsikp.jpg
--Lastly, my tattoo. (: I got it one month after surgery. I was supposed to get it on my 16th birthday, but that was 3 days after surgery.. not gonna go get a tattoo while i still have blood thinners in my system. Haha. "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." is the original quote. i took out the 'you meet' part to make it a little shorter so it wouldnt be so big, and it'd be more even. its a plato quote. haha. but i really believe it. thats hwo i try to live my life.
So yeah. That's that. Hope you have a good day, and feel free to email me if you have any questions or wanna add me on facebook to see more pictures. (:
-Ashley.
ashleyellen1637@aol.com
PS. if you like demi lovato.. talk to me. i have two tickets to her show in chicago. i need more friends that like her.. that would be able to go with me. haha. She'a amazing.<3 okay. done now. bye(:
Update!!
Just realized I havent posted on here in awhile. My mom brought it up at my doctors appointment today, so it reminded me I should update.
I'm almost three months out now. I just had my 3month post-op appointment.
First of all, i wanna say that my flickr account is being shut off. er. well. i can't post any more pictures to it. i'm about at my 200 limit, unless I wanna start paying. So I'll keep posting pictures, but it'll be on my personal facebook. You can still see the ones on my flickr account, but i wont be able to post more. So email me at ashleyellen1637@aol.com if you want to add me on facebook. I'm not just going to post my last name on here. Who knows who's reading it.
Okay, Next. I'm averaging about one pound a week lost, in the past 6 weeks.. Not ideal. I havent been exersizing much because I had to have skin removed on the inside of my thigh, and it still really hurts. But its starting to ease up, and i'm getting a gym membership. So hopefully that'll start helping more. But i've lost 24lbs since surgery on august 19th. and about 54lbs since the beginning of this year, before I started my pre-op visits.
Basically what I"m doing: 4-5 small meals a day. aiming for about 60 grams of protein. I'm getting inbetween 60-70oz of fluids (not including what I get from food.) I haven't had any food intolerances, other than scrambled egg was kind of hard on me early out.. But i think that was partially because It was one of the first solid foods i had and I wasnt used to the feeling so it felt really heavy. I can eat about a cup of food at a time now. Sometimes I'll sip skim milk even though i'm not really supposed to, with mymeals, just to keep the food moist. The biggest challenge with this whole thing was not drinking with my meals.
I'm down a couple pants sizes. Shirts I havent noticed much difference. I've noticed in my face, and my neck.. like.. I think the bone is called the clavicle. yeah, i don't think i've seen it since I was really little.. like.. 6 years old maybe. and now i do. the hump that was on the back of my neck too, inbetween my shoulder blades, is pretty much gone. I honestly feel great. I could care less that my stomach is still big, those little things are like.. amazing, to me. Oh, and a ring that i have is too big.. thats pretty great too.
Pretty much what I live off of now, is..:
*Wheat/whole grain crackers.
*Yoplait Light yogurt.
*Grilled Chicken.
*String Cheese.
*Bari-Wise protein bars.
*Propel Zero.
*Crystal Light.
*Eggs.
*Provologne cheese.
*Progresso Light Chicken Noodle Soup.
*Fresh Carrots and Broccoli.
I was never a big sweets person befoer surgery, I'm still not. yes. I caved and had two pieces of candy on halloween. shoot me. No, i'm kidding. don't shoot me. haha. but seriously.. It didnt kill me. I had a glass of milk with it.. it was night time. I know i shouldnt have. but you know what amzed me? a fwe years ago.. two pices of candy, would make my blood sugar to shoot up into the 400's.. It didnt phase me this time.. My blood sugar immediatley after, and i took it a couple times that night, just to see for myself... It was normal.. the whoel time. That was like, the greatest feeling in the world. I know I shouldnt ahve.. but its just how i am. i have to test my limits.. i have to see for myself, or i wont believe people... If that makes sense. Yes. I didn't feel amazing afterwards. I felt like i had food coma, afterwards. I feel like that alot, no matter what i eat. so i keep eating less. and when i eat a little less, and i don't push my limits, i feel better. Its a learning game. Even three months out, i'm still learning. and things can still change..
That was a huge challenge for me.. the sweets. Protein shakes protein bars, yogurts, sugar free pudding.. Its all sweet. And it discusted me. before/after surgery.. Immediatley post-op, i pretty much lived off the broth from chicken noodle soup (the cans of just plain broth were TERRIBLE.), and cottage cheese.. I had string cheese like a week earlier than i was supposed to, because i was SO sick of the protein shakes and what not.. For a lot of people, thats not the case though. if you like sweet things, and you're considering this surgery, your in for a treat. it may not be the best, but its still sweet stuff. Haha.
I consider myself lucky.. My mom caught insulin resistance early on for me.. So i never really.. liked regular soda, or whole milk, or white bread, very much.. its the little things like that that i've noticed are hard for some people. Diet pepsi i pretty much lived off of.. and i had to give it up for surgery. I have a little bit every day now.. I dilute it. 5oz water and 5oz of diet pepsi.. let it sit for a bit in the fridge and drink it. I seriously was addicted.. i used to have 6-7 cans a day. so cutting that completely out was hard. im glad to have it back now. even diluted, i don't mind.
This is pretty much just a really random post.. I felt the need to fill people in. I know some peopel from obesity help read this, and a few other people. So this is how i'm doing, what i'm doing, and what i know i need to change. I'm going to update again probably in an hour or so with an info-post of some of my favorite things pre/post op that heped get me through the pre-op diet and post op guide.
I know I wrote down the link today at my doctors appointment, so if anyone sees this from Cincinnati childrens.. Feel free to add me on facebook. If you or anyone else have any questions, feelf ree to message me on facebook, or email me. I posted the email up at the top of this post.
I hope you all have a good day. (:
-Ashley.
I'm almost three months out now. I just had my 3month post-op appointment.
First of all, i wanna say that my flickr account is being shut off. er. well. i can't post any more pictures to it. i'm about at my 200 limit, unless I wanna start paying. So I'll keep posting pictures, but it'll be on my personal facebook. You can still see the ones on my flickr account, but i wont be able to post more. So email me at ashleyellen1637@aol.com if you want to add me on facebook. I'm not just going to post my last name on here. Who knows who's reading it.
Okay, Next. I'm averaging about one pound a week lost, in the past 6 weeks.. Not ideal. I havent been exersizing much because I had to have skin removed on the inside of my thigh, and it still really hurts. But its starting to ease up, and i'm getting a gym membership. So hopefully that'll start helping more. But i've lost 24lbs since surgery on august 19th. and about 54lbs since the beginning of this year, before I started my pre-op visits.
Basically what I"m doing: 4-5 small meals a day. aiming for about 60 grams of protein. I'm getting inbetween 60-70oz of fluids (not including what I get from food.) I haven't had any food intolerances, other than scrambled egg was kind of hard on me early out.. But i think that was partially because It was one of the first solid foods i had and I wasnt used to the feeling so it felt really heavy. I can eat about a cup of food at a time now. Sometimes I'll sip skim milk even though i'm not really supposed to, with mymeals, just to keep the food moist. The biggest challenge with this whole thing was not drinking with my meals.
I'm down a couple pants sizes. Shirts I havent noticed much difference. I've noticed in my face, and my neck.. like.. I think the bone is called the clavicle. yeah, i don't think i've seen it since I was really little.. like.. 6 years old maybe. and now i do. the hump that was on the back of my neck too, inbetween my shoulder blades, is pretty much gone. I honestly feel great. I could care less that my stomach is still big, those little things are like.. amazing, to me. Oh, and a ring that i have is too big.. thats pretty great too.
Pretty much what I live off of now, is..:
*Wheat/whole grain crackers.
*Yoplait Light yogurt.
*Grilled Chicken.
*String Cheese.
*Bari-Wise protein bars.
*Propel Zero.
*Crystal Light.
*Eggs.
*Provologne cheese.
*Progresso Light Chicken Noodle Soup.
*Fresh Carrots and Broccoli.
I was never a big sweets person befoer surgery, I'm still not. yes. I caved and had two pieces of candy on halloween. shoot me. No, i'm kidding. don't shoot me. haha. but seriously.. It didnt kill me. I had a glass of milk with it.. it was night time. I know i shouldnt have. but you know what amzed me? a fwe years ago.. two pices of candy, would make my blood sugar to shoot up into the 400's.. It didnt phase me this time.. My blood sugar immediatley after, and i took it a couple times that night, just to see for myself... It was normal.. the whoel time. That was like, the greatest feeling in the world. I know I shouldnt ahve.. but its just how i am. i have to test my limits.. i have to see for myself, or i wont believe people... If that makes sense. Yes. I didn't feel amazing afterwards. I felt like i had food coma, afterwards. I feel like that alot, no matter what i eat. so i keep eating less. and when i eat a little less, and i don't push my limits, i feel better. Its a learning game. Even three months out, i'm still learning. and things can still change..
That was a huge challenge for me.. the sweets. Protein shakes protein bars, yogurts, sugar free pudding.. Its all sweet. And it discusted me. before/after surgery.. Immediatley post-op, i pretty much lived off the broth from chicken noodle soup (the cans of just plain broth were TERRIBLE.), and cottage cheese.. I had string cheese like a week earlier than i was supposed to, because i was SO sick of the protein shakes and what not.. For a lot of people, thats not the case though. if you like sweet things, and you're considering this surgery, your in for a treat. it may not be the best, but its still sweet stuff. Haha.
I consider myself lucky.. My mom caught insulin resistance early on for me.. So i never really.. liked regular soda, or whole milk, or white bread, very much.. its the little things like that that i've noticed are hard for some people. Diet pepsi i pretty much lived off of.. and i had to give it up for surgery. I have a little bit every day now.. I dilute it. 5oz water and 5oz of diet pepsi.. let it sit for a bit in the fridge and drink it. I seriously was addicted.. i used to have 6-7 cans a day. so cutting that completely out was hard. im glad to have it back now. even diluted, i don't mind.
This is pretty much just a really random post.. I felt the need to fill people in. I know some peopel from obesity help read this, and a few other people. So this is how i'm doing, what i'm doing, and what i know i need to change. I'm going to update again probably in an hour or so with an info-post of some of my favorite things pre/post op that heped get me through the pre-op diet and post op guide.
I know I wrote down the link today at my doctors appointment, so if anyone sees this from Cincinnati childrens.. Feel free to add me on facebook. If you or anyone else have any questions, feelf ree to message me on facebook, or email me. I posted the email up at the top of this post.
I hope you all have a good day. (:
-Ashley.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Update!! 6 weeks post-op.
and I'm feeling great. (: I had an appointment today.. Everyone said i was doing good. I'm glad. I'm averaging a loss of about 3 pounds a week.. I've already lost 15% of my excess body weight.. I was paranoid cause i havent been seeing my scale move but its clearly my scale, its playing tricks on me. because the scale at doctors offices show that i've lost weight.
I feel a lot better about things now. Incisions are pretty much completely healed now. just a little pink. i can lay on my stomach again, completely. i'm getting all my fluids and protein in. exersize is still slightly an aissue but just because i'm sick of walking.. I'm getting a gym membership soon and theres a pool.. i love swimming. so that should help plenty. i tend to do better when i have a ocmmitment for motivation. I hate letting people down. it would be a waste of money on my grandparents who are paying for it, if i don't use it.
I got a tattoo last week (: Its on my wrist.. I can't get a picture right now. But it says 'Be kinder than necessary, for everyone is fighting some kind of battle." and i like it a lot (: i've wanted it for awhile. it was a belated 16th birthday present, even though I had to pay for it.. lol.
i can eat almost anything now... another 2 weeks till i can have red meat and bread, but other than that.. i'm set. i had my first salad today, in almost 2 months. that is my favorite food ever. i've missed it. <3 haha.
I'm exhausted. I only had one hour of sleep last night for a long list of reasons. and i just got back from the hospital, and the hour long drive just gets to me. so I'm gonna go sleep. But i'll update again soon. <3
Thanks to bariatric frendly by the way, for blogging about teen weight loss surgery, and mentioning me in your blog. That means a lot. (: I can't find a follow button on your page to follow your blog, but i support you all completely. thanks again. <3
if you have any questions or anything, feel free to email me
ashleyellen1637@aol.com (:
have a good day!
-Ashley
I feel a lot better about things now. Incisions are pretty much completely healed now. just a little pink. i can lay on my stomach again, completely. i'm getting all my fluids and protein in. exersize is still slightly an aissue but just because i'm sick of walking.. I'm getting a gym membership soon and theres a pool.. i love swimming. so that should help plenty. i tend to do better when i have a ocmmitment for motivation. I hate letting people down. it would be a waste of money on my grandparents who are paying for it, if i don't use it.
I got a tattoo last week (: Its on my wrist.. I can't get a picture right now. But it says 'Be kinder than necessary, for everyone is fighting some kind of battle." and i like it a lot (: i've wanted it for awhile. it was a belated 16th birthday present, even though I had to pay for it.. lol.
i can eat almost anything now... another 2 weeks till i can have red meat and bread, but other than that.. i'm set. i had my first salad today, in almost 2 months. that is my favorite food ever. i've missed it. <3 haha.
I'm exhausted. I only had one hour of sleep last night for a long list of reasons. and i just got back from the hospital, and the hour long drive just gets to me. so I'm gonna go sleep. But i'll update again soon. <3
Thanks to bariatric frendly by the way, for blogging about teen weight loss surgery, and mentioning me in your blog. That means a lot. (: I can't find a follow button on your page to follow your blog, but i support you all completely. thanks again. <3
if you have any questions or anything, feel free to email me
ashleyellen1637@aol.com (:
have a good day!
-Ashley
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Picturess. Scars and me now (:
In my last post i gave a link to my flickr account (which i can't post to anymore cause i'm over the limit.. to keep posting, i'd have to pay. which i dont wanna do. haha. But if you want, comment me and ask me to add you on facebook.. I post a bunch of pictures there.. I'll add you and you can see them if you want.)
But here are what the incisions look like about a month out.. the lighting makes them look worse than they really are.. and strech marks make it look worse..
http://i51.tinypic.com/2holqpd.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/2v193f4.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/xfteew.jpg
And heres me now (: hospital Tshirt that i mentioned in one of the past couple posts.. and my lovely short shorts<3 haha. they're flannel and so comfy. i love them. i got them the day before my surgery and left the hospital in them. (:
http://i56.tinypic.com/nlc1ty.jpg
they're already starting to get big on me.. i have to tie them and roll them up.. even though i havent lost much weight.. i've lost inches. which counts for somthing, right? Haha.
alright. done here.
have a good day. (:
-ashley
ashleyellen1637@aol.com <-- email me if you have any questions (:
But here are what the incisions look like about a month out.. the lighting makes them look worse than they really are.. and strech marks make it look worse..
http://i51.tinypic.com/2holqpd.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/2v193f4.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/xfteew.jpg
And heres me now (: hospital Tshirt that i mentioned in one of the past couple posts.. and my lovely short shorts<3 haha. they're flannel and so comfy. i love them. i got them the day before my surgery and left the hospital in them. (:
http://i56.tinypic.com/nlc1ty.jpg
they're already starting to get big on me.. i have to tie them and roll them up.. even though i havent lost much weight.. i've lost inches. which counts for somthing, right? Haha.
alright. done here.
have a good day. (:
-ashley
ashleyellen1637@aol.com <-- email me if you have any questions (:
First Month.
Here are pictures from the hospital stay, that I forgot to add in my last post: http://www.flickr.com/photos/justashley1637/sets/72157627499967438/
Anyways, the first month...
First thing i did the second i got home was took a shower.. I felt nasty. then i layed down, had some chicken broth and some propel zero, and fell asleep.. woke up a few hours later to a surprize, my best friend came over.. Well.. She had been my best friend since i was 5. i hadn't seen her in a year or two.. I guess her mom found out i was having surgery and then she found out through her mom and yeah.. She came over and was asking about it and we agreed to hang out sometime. Hasnt happened yet.. But it will. I've missed her.
I was supposed to start school on tuesday that week.. I just got home sunday. That wasnt gonna happen. I guess someone never contadcted the school and told them I had surgery.. I just didnt show up the first week. they called on friday and were threatening to call truancy officers on me and stuff (I've had a history of skipping school in the past.. I don't blame them.) but they didnt believe i had surgery. It's not liek i couldnt get a doctors note if i wanted to. But i wasnt even planning on going back to that school, anyway.. so whats it matter.
We went to the board office on monday and got me enrolled in GED classes, which i was supposed to start last week, but i was sick. So I'm starting them this monday.. ironically, the 19th.. exacty one month since surgery(:. Haha. I've been going through the book.. the stuff is pretty easy. I don't think i'll have a problem.
First week i was allowed sf pudding and popsicles, greek yogurt, jello, broth, protein shakes, and like crystal light or propel or other flavored waters.. after a week or so they let me have some tuna salad and chicken salad.. and its kinda progressed from there.
I have a plan written out, but they go by typically how the patient is feeling or how well they are tollerating things.. so far? the only thing i havent tolerated alright was scrambeled egg.. But i was perfectly okay with a fried egg.. So. Not quite sure why that is, but i've been doing great that way..
I probably havent gotten in as much fluids as i'm supposed to.. I'm supposed to get 80-90 a day. and Even though I have absolutely no problem drinking, i'm still finding it hard.. even though i got that easily before surgery. I dont know why. for a week when i was really sick, i was most definatley dehydrated.. barely getting 20 or 30 oz a day, if that.. I'm surprized i didnt have to go to the hospital and get IV fluids... I probably should have.. i dont think my mom told any of the doctors though..
I'm doing better now though. getting around 64+.. still not up to 80-90 but.. i'm getting there.
my endocrin put me back on metformin.. heres the deal with that: I clearly have metabolic issues.. i had the sleeve.. i dont think that fixes the metabolic portion there.. I really didnt think that part through. I wish i would have. I'm not too sure how i'm feeling right now about having the sleeve, isntead of RNY or DS.. My weight loss is very minimal..
On surgery day i was 250.. I gained 6 pounds water weight in the hospital, and then by the time i left i was back down to 250.. first 4 or 5 days i got down to 238.. since then i've only lost 3 pounds, so i'm down to 235. which is great! So much better off than when i was 278 at the start of this journey.. But still.. one of my doctors said i should be lost 2-5 pounds a week. uhm... Its not working out that way.
my endocrin did some blood work a bout a week ago.. most of my levels have improved. thyroid and other hormogn levels. but she put me on half the dose of metformin was on before surgery. so i'm taking 500 twice a day now, along with my aldactone (50mg 2x day) and Synthroid (20mcg 1x day) to controll hormogne levels, thyroid, sugar, bloodpressure, all that jazz. the aldactone is a diuretic. basically a water pill, as well.. they were worried about me retaining water i guess. or my mom was. so i'm still on that. i clearly need it.
along with my multi vitamin, calcium citrate, d vitamins, and the b1&b12 which i've had some problems with.. its near impossible for me to get those down.. the smell and the taset just.. ugh. i definatley have missed those a bunch.. not necesarily on purpous either. i'm usually really good with meds. but keeping trac of when i can and cant take the vitamins is a hassle. i'm still trying to work on aschedule of when to take them, cause some cant be takenw ith otehrs or need to be taken at certain times of the day.. and mys leep pattern is always off. so i cant sy 'take this at 8am every morning' cause well.. frankly... i never know when i'll be awake that early other than maybe on mondays and wednsdays when i ahve class.. but even then.. id ont know. soemtimes i'm nocturnal, other times i'm on a normal schedule, other times i go days without sleeping, other times i sleep too much.. dont ask why. id ont know. it just depends on what i have going on.
Eating wise, right now i'm allowed.. a lot more than most people at one month post op.. i just looked at my paper that said stage 4 or 5.. i forget which one i'm on. but i'm allowed everything i was the past few weeks (cottage cheese, yogurt, sf pudding, jello, popsicles, tuna and chicken salad, etc..) and now i'm allowed skinless chicken (grilled baked or broiled.. no frying or anything like that), fish, any soy crumbles/products.. beans, turkey, soft fruits and cokoed/steamed veggies.. like canned fruits. no skin. i have t obe able to mash a fork through it.. uhm. whole grain pasta and crackers and toast.. no regular bread yet, whichi 'm fine with.. no more than half a cup to a cup of food. i'm usually around 6oz.. 4 times a day. the rest of the time i'm drinking.
I'm honestly not sure if i was supposed to start this already or not, but my dietition said to be thinking about protein bars.. well i got somein the mail the other day and i tried one.. 15 gramd of protein and less than 20 carbs i beieve for some protein bar from dietdirect.com... well its amazing. i'm in love. its like a twix bar. carmel crunch or somthing? i forget the name of it. but it's really good. ive had a few of those over the past week.
I dont seem to tolerate protein shakes well.. carnation ones anyway. pureprotein seems to go over okay. and i have a few other ones sitting around i need to try. i got some fruit drink mix from dietdirect aswell, and those are sf and have protein in them. they're like juice drinks. andthey mix really well. lemonade is probably my favorite so far, and i've had those in place of protein shakes.
I'm getting in my 60+grams of protein fine. i try to log it.. i'm terrible with keeping up at i though. i have a day here, a day there, 2 days there, missed a week there, etc... I'm trying though.
I'm getting a membership to the ymca here. and hopefully gonna start going to the rec center to swim more. i love swimming. its a great work out.. even just walking in water is better than walking on dry land.. it uses more muscle and burns more calories.. takes more effort.
So i'm gonna start that up. aside from going swimming labor day weekend.. this is pretty much what i've been up to. just walking. ive played some soccer with my little brothers outside a few times.. i love soccer<3 definatley gonna try and get back into that when i lose some more weight and can run. mroe. i miss it.
Uhm... yeah. I think thats about it. Oh, and i'm getting signed up for drivers ed soon ;D Watch out people! haha kiddng. I've been driving with my parents since february/march. i got my temps back then. just never signed up for classes. i turned 16 a few days after my surgery. so i just need t oget the classes over with and i'll be set. ive already driven on the highway, around neighborhoods, parking lots, the mall, the longest ive driven at a time was i think amlost half an hour? i drove likeh alf way home from cincinnati hospital once before my surgery xD haha. That was fun.
But yeah. Life is good. (: I'll try to update this more. I like blogging. its just hard for me to find the time to sit down and write out what i wanna say, how i wanna say it, etc.. But im gonna try harder at that as well(:
Have a good day! feel free to email me if you have any questions.
~Ashley<3
ashleyellen1637@aol.com
Anyways, the first month...
First thing i did the second i got home was took a shower.. I felt nasty. then i layed down, had some chicken broth and some propel zero, and fell asleep.. woke up a few hours later to a surprize, my best friend came over.. Well.. She had been my best friend since i was 5. i hadn't seen her in a year or two.. I guess her mom found out i was having surgery and then she found out through her mom and yeah.. She came over and was asking about it and we agreed to hang out sometime. Hasnt happened yet.. But it will. I've missed her.
I was supposed to start school on tuesday that week.. I just got home sunday. That wasnt gonna happen. I guess someone never contadcted the school and told them I had surgery.. I just didnt show up the first week. they called on friday and were threatening to call truancy officers on me and stuff (I've had a history of skipping school in the past.. I don't blame them.) but they didnt believe i had surgery. It's not liek i couldnt get a doctors note if i wanted to. But i wasnt even planning on going back to that school, anyway.. so whats it matter.
We went to the board office on monday and got me enrolled in GED classes, which i was supposed to start last week, but i was sick. So I'm starting them this monday.. ironically, the 19th.. exacty one month since surgery(:. Haha. I've been going through the book.. the stuff is pretty easy. I don't think i'll have a problem.
First week i was allowed sf pudding and popsicles, greek yogurt, jello, broth, protein shakes, and like crystal light or propel or other flavored waters.. after a week or so they let me have some tuna salad and chicken salad.. and its kinda progressed from there.
I have a plan written out, but they go by typically how the patient is feeling or how well they are tollerating things.. so far? the only thing i havent tolerated alright was scrambeled egg.. But i was perfectly okay with a fried egg.. So. Not quite sure why that is, but i've been doing great that way..
I probably havent gotten in as much fluids as i'm supposed to.. I'm supposed to get 80-90 a day. and Even though I have absolutely no problem drinking, i'm still finding it hard.. even though i got that easily before surgery. I dont know why. for a week when i was really sick, i was most definatley dehydrated.. barely getting 20 or 30 oz a day, if that.. I'm surprized i didnt have to go to the hospital and get IV fluids... I probably should have.. i dont think my mom told any of the doctors though..
I'm doing better now though. getting around 64+.. still not up to 80-90 but.. i'm getting there.
my endocrin put me back on metformin.. heres the deal with that: I clearly have metabolic issues.. i had the sleeve.. i dont think that fixes the metabolic portion there.. I really didnt think that part through. I wish i would have. I'm not too sure how i'm feeling right now about having the sleeve, isntead of RNY or DS.. My weight loss is very minimal..
On surgery day i was 250.. I gained 6 pounds water weight in the hospital, and then by the time i left i was back down to 250.. first 4 or 5 days i got down to 238.. since then i've only lost 3 pounds, so i'm down to 235. which is great! So much better off than when i was 278 at the start of this journey.. But still.. one of my doctors said i should be lost 2-5 pounds a week. uhm... Its not working out that way.
my endocrin did some blood work a bout a week ago.. most of my levels have improved. thyroid and other hormogn levels. but she put me on half the dose of metformin was on before surgery. so i'm taking 500 twice a day now, along with my aldactone (50mg 2x day) and Synthroid (20mcg 1x day) to controll hormogne levels, thyroid, sugar, bloodpressure, all that jazz. the aldactone is a diuretic. basically a water pill, as well.. they were worried about me retaining water i guess. or my mom was. so i'm still on that. i clearly need it.
along with my multi vitamin, calcium citrate, d vitamins, and the b1&b12 which i've had some problems with.. its near impossible for me to get those down.. the smell and the taset just.. ugh. i definatley have missed those a bunch.. not necesarily on purpous either. i'm usually really good with meds. but keeping trac of when i can and cant take the vitamins is a hassle. i'm still trying to work on aschedule of when to take them, cause some cant be takenw ith otehrs or need to be taken at certain times of the day.. and mys leep pattern is always off. so i cant sy 'take this at 8am every morning' cause well.. frankly... i never know when i'll be awake that early other than maybe on mondays and wednsdays when i ahve class.. but even then.. id ont know. soemtimes i'm nocturnal, other times i'm on a normal schedule, other times i go days without sleeping, other times i sleep too much.. dont ask why. id ont know. it just depends on what i have going on.
Eating wise, right now i'm allowed.. a lot more than most people at one month post op.. i just looked at my paper that said stage 4 or 5.. i forget which one i'm on. but i'm allowed everything i was the past few weeks (cottage cheese, yogurt, sf pudding, jello, popsicles, tuna and chicken salad, etc..) and now i'm allowed skinless chicken (grilled baked or broiled.. no frying or anything like that), fish, any soy crumbles/products.. beans, turkey, soft fruits and cokoed/steamed veggies.. like canned fruits. no skin. i have t obe able to mash a fork through it.. uhm. whole grain pasta and crackers and toast.. no regular bread yet, whichi 'm fine with.. no more than half a cup to a cup of food. i'm usually around 6oz.. 4 times a day. the rest of the time i'm drinking.
I'm honestly not sure if i was supposed to start this already or not, but my dietition said to be thinking about protein bars.. well i got somein the mail the other day and i tried one.. 15 gramd of protein and less than 20 carbs i beieve for some protein bar from dietdirect.com... well its amazing. i'm in love. its like a twix bar. carmel crunch or somthing? i forget the name of it. but it's really good. ive had a few of those over the past week.
I dont seem to tolerate protein shakes well.. carnation ones anyway. pureprotein seems to go over okay. and i have a few other ones sitting around i need to try. i got some fruit drink mix from dietdirect aswell, and those are sf and have protein in them. they're like juice drinks. andthey mix really well. lemonade is probably my favorite so far, and i've had those in place of protein shakes.
I'm getting in my 60+grams of protein fine. i try to log it.. i'm terrible with keeping up at i though. i have a day here, a day there, 2 days there, missed a week there, etc... I'm trying though.
I'm getting a membership to the ymca here. and hopefully gonna start going to the rec center to swim more. i love swimming. its a great work out.. even just walking in water is better than walking on dry land.. it uses more muscle and burns more calories.. takes more effort.
So i'm gonna start that up. aside from going swimming labor day weekend.. this is pretty much what i've been up to. just walking. ive played some soccer with my little brothers outside a few times.. i love soccer<3 definatley gonna try and get back into that when i lose some more weight and can run. mroe. i miss it.
Uhm... yeah. I think thats about it. Oh, and i'm getting signed up for drivers ed soon ;D Watch out people! haha kiddng. I've been driving with my parents since february/march. i got my temps back then. just never signed up for classes. i turned 16 a few days after my surgery. so i just need t oget the classes over with and i'll be set. ive already driven on the highway, around neighborhoods, parking lots, the mall, the longest ive driven at a time was i think amlost half an hour? i drove likeh alf way home from cincinnati hospital once before my surgery xD haha. That was fun.
But yeah. Life is good. (: I'll try to update this more. I like blogging. its just hard for me to find the time to sit down and write out what i wanna say, how i wanna say it, etc.. But im gonna try harder at that as well(:
Have a good day! feel free to email me if you have any questions.
~Ashley<3
ashleyellen1637@aol.com
Hospital Stay.
I forgot the log in for my account so I couldn't get on to update. Sorry about that. anyway. heres the blog about my hospital stay(:
Second day/night was definatley the worst. Lots of what i assume was gas pain. I had hiccups all day. and on and off the next day too. Walking really helped.
The upper GI was the worst part... I was really weak, still had a catheter and lots of IV's.. They took me down in a wheelchair and i was tired. They kept making me get up and down out of the chair cause they thought the people were ready, but they werent. so i got to sit back down. I probably would have fell i was so weak, if they didn't let me... The barium stuff and some other thing i had to drink werent that bad..
The first one I stood up in front of the exray thing and they took a bunch of pictures. i was so weak. i could only take a few sips and it kinda hurt to swallow a little bit.. but they let me sit down afterwards.. i was getting lightheaded.. then they tried to do the second one but couldnt get a clear pictures, so the genius people there had me lay down. flat. on like a metal slab table to take pictures...
Uhm.. I just had surgery on my stomach.. i ahve been sitting up at an angle int he hospital bed and in chairs ever since.. layign down flat on my back.. uhm.. OW. I toughed through it... The nurse said afterwards she was really sorry there wasnt anything she could do.. It sucked. It realy did. I was in so much pain.. even with the morphine..
Then i basically got up on my own.. rolling around with my arms and trying to prop myself up.. I couldnt really use my stomach muscles. they were all.. cut through.. and weak.. and hurt.. By that time i was crying. my blood prsesure was probably through the roof, too.
i got back in the wheelchair and had to wait 10 minutes for someone else to come help wheel me up with the iv pole and stuff.. i finally got back t omy bed and laid down.. the nurse left and my dad was there and i was wondering what the fuck i did to myself and why they had me do that.. it was terrible. Worst experience of my life..
I ended up falling asleep.. waking up a few hours later and they let me have one oz of water an hour.. for a few hours which was okay. it felt amazing to drink cold water. Lol. I felt better by then.. more morhphine kicked in and yeah.. they removed the catheter. i was kinda worried about that.. it wasnt pelasent.. but it was quick.. felt weird, burned little.. but it was quick and got over with fine. then the surgeon came and saw me that night and some other doctors and nurses and what not.. i was doing well.
the next day i had drank about a liter.. of water, crystal light, and some orange jello.. and they said i could go home if i felt up to it, which i did.. by then iw as going insane. i hadnt showered since the night before surgery, which i'm pretty obsessive about.. they unhooked wires and what not. took the stupid comrpession boots off (finally! those were annoying.). iv out, and i got up and washed my face and brushed my hair and brushed my teeth and put my hair up.. then i took some pictures of the room so i can remember.. texted my friend saying i finally got to go home. i had been texting him the whole time iw as in the hospital..
He knew i was having surgery, but didnt know what it was for.. he knew all about the pre-op diet i was on and was like 'how the hell do you do that?!' cause he eats like a pig.. more like 8 pigs... Haha. but i was fed up the second night, when i was in a lot of pain. and i texted him im just like 'i never told you what the surgery was for.. did i?' and hes like 'no id ont think so what is it?' and i explained to him. just cause i needed someone to talk to.. i thought hed be freaked out or think i was stupid.b ut he was really supportive. and he has been ever since.
i went down after they discharged me. they gave me the option to use a wheelchair but i wanted to walk... i needed to walk. we took one with us just in case i wanted to sit down, but we ended up just using it to carry my purse (that had a heavy binder in it and my laptop.. big purse_ and my moms.. which always has a ton of crap in it that makes it weigh 20 pounds. i stopped by the gift shop. i bought a tshirt so i can wear it.. that hospital changed my life.just a navy blue cincinnati childrens hospital tshirt. also, i got it at my size the day i left the hospital.. so hopefully in a few months it will be big on me and its just a way i can track my progress.
It is a little loser on me now(: i'm actually wearing it right now as i'm typing this, haha.
But yeah. did that then walekd to the parking garage.. i was still sipping on a lemonade crystal light. i dozed off in the car on the way home. finally got home.. and thats that(:
Next post will be about the first month.. it will be exactly a month in two days, so i figure its close enough.. and i'm really in the mood for typing/writing. haha. so i'll post that soon.
(:
Hope you're having a good day. and if you ahve any questions or anything, feel free to email me.. or message me on obesity help.
ashleyellen1637@aol.com
peace.<3
-ashley.
Second day/night was definatley the worst. Lots of what i assume was gas pain. I had hiccups all day. and on and off the next day too. Walking really helped.
The upper GI was the worst part... I was really weak, still had a catheter and lots of IV's.. They took me down in a wheelchair and i was tired. They kept making me get up and down out of the chair cause they thought the people were ready, but they werent. so i got to sit back down. I probably would have fell i was so weak, if they didn't let me... The barium stuff and some other thing i had to drink werent that bad..
The first one I stood up in front of the exray thing and they took a bunch of pictures. i was so weak. i could only take a few sips and it kinda hurt to swallow a little bit.. but they let me sit down afterwards.. i was getting lightheaded.. then they tried to do the second one but couldnt get a clear pictures, so the genius people there had me lay down. flat. on like a metal slab table to take pictures...
Uhm.. I just had surgery on my stomach.. i ahve been sitting up at an angle int he hospital bed and in chairs ever since.. layign down flat on my back.. uhm.. OW. I toughed through it... The nurse said afterwards she was really sorry there wasnt anything she could do.. It sucked. It realy did. I was in so much pain.. even with the morphine..
Then i basically got up on my own.. rolling around with my arms and trying to prop myself up.. I couldnt really use my stomach muscles. they were all.. cut through.. and weak.. and hurt.. By that time i was crying. my blood prsesure was probably through the roof, too.
i got back in the wheelchair and had to wait 10 minutes for someone else to come help wheel me up with the iv pole and stuff.. i finally got back t omy bed and laid down.. the nurse left and my dad was there and i was wondering what the fuck i did to myself and why they had me do that.. it was terrible. Worst experience of my life..
I ended up falling asleep.. waking up a few hours later and they let me have one oz of water an hour.. for a few hours which was okay. it felt amazing to drink cold water. Lol. I felt better by then.. more morhphine kicked in and yeah.. they removed the catheter. i was kinda worried about that.. it wasnt pelasent.. but it was quick.. felt weird, burned little.. but it was quick and got over with fine. then the surgeon came and saw me that night and some other doctors and nurses and what not.. i was doing well.
the next day i had drank about a liter.. of water, crystal light, and some orange jello.. and they said i could go home if i felt up to it, which i did.. by then iw as going insane. i hadnt showered since the night before surgery, which i'm pretty obsessive about.. they unhooked wires and what not. took the stupid comrpession boots off (finally! those were annoying.). iv out, and i got up and washed my face and brushed my hair and brushed my teeth and put my hair up.. then i took some pictures of the room so i can remember.. texted my friend saying i finally got to go home. i had been texting him the whole time iw as in the hospital..
He knew i was having surgery, but didnt know what it was for.. he knew all about the pre-op diet i was on and was like 'how the hell do you do that?!' cause he eats like a pig.. more like 8 pigs... Haha. but i was fed up the second night, when i was in a lot of pain. and i texted him im just like 'i never told you what the surgery was for.. did i?' and hes like 'no id ont think so what is it?' and i explained to him. just cause i needed someone to talk to.. i thought hed be freaked out or think i was stupid.b ut he was really supportive. and he has been ever since.
i went down after they discharged me. they gave me the option to use a wheelchair but i wanted to walk... i needed to walk. we took one with us just in case i wanted to sit down, but we ended up just using it to carry my purse (that had a heavy binder in it and my laptop.. big purse_ and my moms.. which always has a ton of crap in it that makes it weigh 20 pounds. i stopped by the gift shop. i bought a tshirt so i can wear it.. that hospital changed my life.just a navy blue cincinnati childrens hospital tshirt. also, i got it at my size the day i left the hospital.. so hopefully in a few months it will be big on me and its just a way i can track my progress.
It is a little loser on me now(: i'm actually wearing it right now as i'm typing this, haha.
But yeah. did that then walekd to the parking garage.. i was still sipping on a lemonade crystal light. i dozed off in the car on the way home. finally got home.. and thats that(:
Next post will be about the first month.. it will be exactly a month in two days, so i figure its close enough.. and i'm really in the mood for typing/writing. haha. so i'll post that soon.
(:
Hope you're having a good day. and if you ahve any questions or anything, feel free to email me.. or message me on obesity help.
ashleyellen1637@aol.com
peace.<3
-ashley.
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