December 8, 2011
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Behind the scenes – Weight Loss Surgery
I didn’t think I was dropping a bomb on you guys, but I guess I did. Hubs and I have considered the surgery for some time. I’ve been hitting the gym hard and eating better and the weight still isn’t coming off. I’m feeling better, my numbers (cholesterol, bp, glucose) are all in check and the numbers on the scale are laughing at me. Last year when I went to my ob she suggested that my hormones and metabolism were working against me and the only way to get all that back in check was to lose weight. Easier said than done, right? I wish I had a scale at home for higher weights so I could show my husband how much weight he’s losing. I know it would motivate him more. The shakes are getting old for him. We both missed the note that he can have 1 protein bar a day in place of a shake. I think he really misses chewing/eating. He’s been complaining of pain as well but nothing to be alarmed with.
The other day I had trouble sleeping. I was thinking of all the scary things, losing my husband, complications, etc. Living my life without my husband scares me. I was able to push all these thoughts out of my mind prior to Monday night. I try to focus on the fact that I know we’re doing this to live longer together, but still, scary. The doctor has never lost a patient and that comforts me. I do cherish my husband and his gentle spirit.
Why now? Our insurance covers it. The max out of pocket expense goes up next year and it’d make more sense to do it this year. Seeing my mom go through all her changes, I finally feel ready. I am definitely in the category of wanting kids. My cycle has finally returned to regular, probably as a result of the working out and eating better. I’m meeting with my OB next week for my well woman and to discuss BC options for post surgery.
What’s ahead? I’ll start the all shakes all the time diet next week. The main reason for the shakes is to reduce the size of your liver. Eating all the processed food, high fat foods wreak havoc on your liver. Cowboy and I have had shakes every morning together. So far he’s liked chocolate protein powder mixed with a banana and water/ice. We followed a recipe for a pineapple smoothie and it didn’t have enough pineapple for his highness. I love vanilla protein powder mixed with frozen blueberries water/ice. I’m sure we’ll be shopping for more options this weekend. He has his eye on cookies/cream flavored protein powder. Post surgery, we’ll both be on a clear liquid diet for 6 weeks. Sounds fun, right? You progress to normal food slowly. Actual physical recovery is 1-2 weeks. They actually want you up/moving around the same day as surgery to check for leaks and pain. Crazy, right? I’ll be able to start walking right after surgery and back to regular strength training in 3 weeks. Yay!
As a result of all the shakes, he’s been requesting soup. Whenever I made soup (when he wasn’t sick) he was not having it. Now, he’s stocking up on broth. Anything to break up the taste buds.
I hope I don’t turn into a junkie talking about this surgery. I remember my mom was talking about it nonstop, even to strangers and it drove me nuts. At the end of the day, I’m pleased with what I see in the mirror. Its not that I don’t love my body. I want to be healthier. I want to have children. If I’m unable to have children even after surgery, then I can let that worry rest. I can understand that I wasn’t meant to. I’d love to adopt. I just can’t imagine not being a parent. I love you guys and I’m looking forward to taking you all on this journey with me.
Comments (8)
i’m glad you have such a healthy attitude about all this–like the surgery might not magically solve the pregnancy issue. Hormones/biology are a bitch. Seems like luck of the draw sometimes.
Also, i’ve done cleaneses before. I usually have a shake once a day (breakfast, lunch or dinner–sometimes just as a snack if im’ starving)…and i’ve gone through periods where that’s all I drank. And boy oh boy, do you get sick if it. Fast.
I made a really good vegetable broth that I drank a lot, might be a good solution for you guys? Very little salt (just from seaweed), and you could heat it up so it feel like you were getting more than just a shake.
Can you have milk? My shakes are almond milk, rice protein powder, mixed frozen berries and sometimes unsugared peanut butter. Really tasty.
So excited to hear about your journey!
This is fascinating! I hope you talk more about it. Which surgery is it? Gastric bypass? Lap band? I have one question and please don’t take it the wrong way. You said that your periods are more regular because you’re exercising and eating better. Why not just continue on that path and lose weight that way? Why the surgery? I know your insurance covers it and all that, but you’re really limited in what you can eat for the rest of your life. Just curious
@Fodon - Please share your recipes. They all sound really good. We can have milk while on the shake phase. I’ve been mixing in almond milk in mine for the extra calcium. Thank you for being so encouraging!
@ShamrockLover - As with anything I’m overwhelmed with, I’m sure I’ll have lots to say about this journey. I searched on xanga for posts about it and couldn’t find much and of course, I want to see pictures. I want to see it all so I’ll definitely share as much as I can with you all. I’m doing gastric sleeve or vertical sleeve. Your stomach is actually cut down to the size of a banana. It allows for more time to absorb nutrients from what you do eat. There’s also no rerouting of anything. Laproscopic surgery so less scarring as well. I already have a scar from removing my gall bladder and he said he could use that same “cut”. Hopefully my husband will let me post pictures as well. As for your other question, I think the main reason for the surgery is that I’m not losing the weight on my own. I’m making all the efforts and the scale just isn’t budging. The muscle tone in my arms and legs are improving, stamina is improving, body fat is going down, but I don’t see the numbers dropping on the scale. Also, I know that if I keep stalling, I will miss my window for children. I don’t want that to happen. If this is the last obstacle I can remove prior to conceiving, I’ll do it. There have been several studies on normal pregnancies post surgery. Women are able to carry to term because they’re no longer high risk patients with all that extra weight.
I 200% support you and i can’t wait to virtually hold your hand through all of this. You sound like you’ve really thought this through and covered all the bases. Go brave you! Sending you and hubby oodles of strength and love.
I support your decision! Good luck and I’m really excited for both of you to get healthier to live longer… and to get hotter.
Thanks for the comment.
Good luck with the surgery and your weight loss journey! I hope everything goes well.
Take care!
It’s funny. You were worried about talking too much about your experience. I have the same fear so that is why I started my blog. I sent an email to my best of friends and said here is the blog, if you want to read it you are welcome to but I promise to stop talking about gastric bypass otherwise. I don’t want to lose any friends along the way.