What a week

It's been a pretty long week. One week out from having the sleeve done, and we have also had the added drama of my husband losing his job on the day I got out of hospital. So it's been a rollercoaster, but I'm used to that! I'm looking forward to the week ahead being a little calmer, with more progress weight-wise, hopefully some job interviews for my hubby, and some time out for the two of us together, as we get to spend a rare week together without work!

Gifts from the Dr

On Thursday at my appointments, I was given two little presents.

The first was a book - The Success Habits of Weight-Loss Surgery Patients, by Colleen M. Cook

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I've only read the foreword at the moment, but am looking forward to going through it and seeing how I can use the information going forward. Apparently this book is used in a lot of bariatric centres worldwide as part of patients guides, so it's nice to get something that has some backing to it. Also it is what our six week succesful habits course is based on, so I can get a head start on homework!


The book I found most hopeful before having surgery, and to help me make my mind up, was an e-book from Amazon called 'Skinny Jeans... at last!Secrets to long term weight loss surgery success'. The parts of the book that spoke to me wa chapter two - 'What it's like to fit into those skinny jeans'. Every reason in that chapter resonated with me and made me say YES - I HAVE to do this. If you are contemplating weight loss surgery, can I recommend you fork out the $2 or so and read it. It will help make your decision clear.


Okay back to my doctors visit - we were also given a little package to take home - I love presents!

 

 

Inside the box was a heap of tools to help keep me on the straight and narrow!

 

 

• A measuring jug - of which eventually I will eventually be able to eat 1 cups worth, but for now should be aiming for 1/4 to 1/2 cup
• A minature plate. At three months, I should be able to eat half of that plate (it looks bigger in this picture than in reality - that is an incy tiny fork!), and then in 6 months, I should be able to eat the full plate of food.
• A cute pair of chopsticks! The dietician suggested eating with the chopsticks if you are wanting a tool to slow yourself down while eating, and I think it is just plain fun!
• The aforementioned eeny teent fork! I need to get an equivalent sized spoon as well for fun
• The notes are my guidelines for what I should be eating at each stage

Nutrition information - how to transition back to somewhat normal eating

Starting from this weekend, I can commence the 'post surgery transition diet', which basically works in a range of weekly steps to help me get back to normal food textures. The idea is that I will eat four to five mini meals of between 1/4 - 1/2 cup of food each day, and each week I will eat slightly more dense food.

The first week is puréed food - runny scrambled eggs, custard, mashed vegetables, chunky soup, tinned fruit etc. Then I move to minced food - minced meats, tuna mornay's, well cooked veggies, rice with sauces and most deals. Week 3 is soft or casserole food - sandwich meats, pasta, steamed and stir fried veggies, bread, crackers, curried meats, and then finally everything else in week 4 including all meats, bread, nuts and veggies. So hopefully within a month I can go back to eating what I like within reason, and just have the volume restrictions.

This week I am basically living on custard, yoghurt, jelly and apple juice! I have tried cream corn, snuck a potato fry (not good!) and the aforementioned purée, which weren't great for me, so I'm trying really hard to stick with the program as to not upset my tummy.

We had to go to HBF and Medicare yesterday afternoon and the sales people were giving out free samples of Madzoon frozen yoghurt - can I just say that was delicious! And the sample pot was the perfect lunch size for me haha! I have a feeling that samples will be my friend in the coming years!

Sleeve ahoy!

So it's been a week since I last blogged and I am a week post op! I'll try and remember back how things went.

On Friday I weighed in at hospital at 119.35kg just prior to my surgery which I was really pleased about. I was freaking out in the theatre waiting for surgery to start, but was knocked out pretty quickly and next thing I knew, I was sleeping in my room. The first day was a blur, but day two and three I had real issues with nausea and vomiting. I couldn't keep anything down and no matter how much i was given or how many different types of anti-emetics they gave me, it didn't make a difference. Finally on my fourth day in hospital I got some relief from the nausea and was able to head home! I was still pretty poppy though after my mother in law dropped me off, and slept through the next day.

My catalogue of bruises from the procedure. I love that the one on my wrist brings out my white tattoo! See if you can spot the old man in the top left one - it was quite funny when hubby pointed that one out!

Which all brings me to today. I had my first dieticians appointment as well as a post-op check up with Dr Cohen to make sure my wounds were healing well (they are). The dieticians appointment was really helpful- to be honest I hadn't paid too much attention beforehand about what I was meant to eat, but as I've realised, it's kinda important right now! I've tried to eat the wrong things too fast (can anyone say purée on day 4 post op!- took 8 hours to digest!)

I also had a weigh in at my post-op appointment, and am very excited to report that I have hit my first milestone - 10 kilos! I was down to 116.3kg at my appointment and according to their records, my first weight was 126.5kg. I guess this ten kilos doesn't feel too huge as it brings me back to my most normal 'stable' weight that I've been for a few years, but at the same time it feels good to have dropped the first "tenner" in just a month!

I am booked in for a six week 'Success habits' course from November 8th which is a group program at Mercy where we work through the tools and techniques to surviving with the sleeve and how to manage life going forward.

My next appointment with Dr Valibhoy is at the six week mark - Monday 5th November, at which point I would love to be down under the 108kg mark, which I think is achievable.