A New Road to Walk

Hello from Texas

What a unique greeting, right?

Seems that Kate’s Grand Adventure has taken a turn down a new road. Yes, I’m still dealing with the gastric bypass, and all that means, but I have a new challenge to tackle and subdue, or overcome. Friday I had an appointment with my doctor and I got some “not so good” news. Seems I have something called Invasive Ductile Cancer, or IDC. What that translates to in plain everyday English is Breast Cancer. Mine is “stage 2” which means that my cancer is not only in my right breast, but also in the lymph glands under my right arm.

My breast surgeon (and I never thought I would write that particular phrase) is in a hurry to start treatments since I am at stage 2. She said I’m not stage 1 which is the earliest diagnosis, and means the cancer is only in the milk ducts of the breast and has not spread. Stage 2 means that the cancer has decided to spread out and has invaded at least one lymph node under my right arm. There are two more stages after this, but fortunately for me I got a guilty conscience when my heart doctor lectured me and went for the dreaded mammogram.

I go tomorrow (Monday) to have a port installed in my chest wall just below my collar bone on the left side. This will allow my oncologist (another phrase I didn’t think I’d ever say) to inject the chemo therapy directly above my heart, and that will allow my heart to disperse the chemo more quickly and efficiently. Evidently I am being scheduled for chemotherapy treatments weekly for the next 4 to 6 months. Up side to that is I get to start a new fashion trend at my work. Since I’ll be loosing my hair (at least that’s what the paperwork my doctor gave me said) and I have a whole wardrobe of hats and big earrings, my new look will be hats and gaudy ear rings. Can hardly wait!

After the chemo I will have 6 to 8 weeks of radiation therapy on a daily basis. The paperwork says that this won’t make my hair fall out. Not too sure why she put that since my hair will be gone if not from the chemo then from the bypass! The radiation is, evidently, very finely focused and will only be aimed at 4 to 6 sites within the breast, and several sites in the lymph node.

After these two treatment “Modalities” I will go through several tests including MRI, bone scans, and CT of my chest, abdomen and pelvis. These will be to see if the tumors have been reduced, and to be sure the cancer has not spread to any other sites. These tests may be combined with a newer test called a PET scan, but I’m not too sure about this test. I’ll learn more as time goes by. Other things my doctor is going to be watching is my bone density, I don’t want to develop osteoporosis, and my heart, as evidently chemo and radiation can be heard on the old ticker.

After all these treatments (it looks like at least 6 months to a year of various treatments) I will be evaluated for surgery. If the treatments have successfully reduced the tumors, I may only need what is called a Lumpectomy. That’s where they go in and only remove part of the breast tissue. If not they will do a complete mastectomy. One of the concerns I have is if they only do a lumpectomy, will there still be cancer cells floating around in there that could settle again in my breast? If there is a chance of that happening I’d rather they just take the whole breast.

I’m also thinking about reconstruction. According to my Mother, (who faced most of these questions 2 years ago when she was diagnosed with Cancer), reconstruction is a lot of pain for something you don’t really need (the breast). But then again she is 80, and was 78 when facing those questions. She is also a “mini”, which means that although she is 5’6” she only weighs less than 120 and has never had more than a 36B. I, on the other hand, am 2 inches shorter but have always been buxomy. I asked my surgeon if it was possible to take tissue from my remaining breast (or tummy) and build another breast. I really don’t want silicone. She said that was a possibility. I must admit, I like the idea of being a B cup instead of a DD cup, so IF I decide on reconstruction, that is something I’m going to think about real hard.

According to everything I’ve read so far my attitude can have a very profound impact on my treatments, both in the success and the amount of nausea and pain I encounter. I’ve always been a very positive person so I’m thinking that I’ll not have as much pain, etc as some of the horror stories I’ve heard. Besides my positive attitude, I have a strong support group, and a very strong faith in God. The way I look at it, I’m almost 60 and in those years God has always taken superb care of me. There’s no reason he won’t do so now either.

Before you point out that I have cancer, and some people don’t consider that superb care, I must remind you that everyone has free will. Free Will has as much to do with how we care for our bodies as how we act in other arenas. I looked down a list of things that can contribute to a woman’s chances of getting breast cancer. There were 14 or 15 items on that list, including smoking, overweight, sedentary lifestyle, among other things. On that list I can claim all but one and that was drug usage. So my attitude is, IF I did the crime (not taking care of myself) then I have to pay the time…(or walk the line of cancer therapy).

Lastly for today, I figure that IF the cancer takes my life I’ll be in heaven with my Savior, and that’s a Win situation for me….WHEN I beat the cancer, I get to stay here and have more fun with friends and family…That is also a WIN situation for me. So whatever happens, I’m getting a win/win situation …who can argue with that?

Stay tuned for the next blog. Don’t know for sure when that will be, but I think I may be writing you a bit more often than I did before. Pray for me…I need it and you probably need the practice!

Kate

Returning to work

Good morning and Happy Day after Mother’s Day

I’m sorry I didn’t post last week, but it was an extremely stressful week for me.

First, I returned to work after being off for 5 weeks. If you don’t think that was stressful, try stepping away from your job for 5 weeks with no one filling in and then go back! I had over 1500 e-mails to check out first thing. Almost 90% of those e-mails had to be logged in, and information from them had to be manually copied and posted to various logs. Then I was back only 2 days and I got 2 new projects assigned to me. My Boss told me he had been holding them for when I came back because he knew I could do them with a minimum of supervision, and could provide direction to the others on my team. Gee thanks, Boss!

Actually, returning to work was a wonderful thing, for several reasons. First, because getting out of the house and doing something constructive has made me begin to feel stronger, and my lack of strength was something that was really beginning to bother me. I’ve always been a strong woman, and not being able to do those things that I usually can was bugging me. The other reason, was because it confirmed that I was missed, needed, and still had a job. In these trying economic times that is always a concern.

Went to see my surgeon for my second post-op appointment. He is pleased with my progress overall, but he wants me to get more exercise. I told him that now that I’m back at work I’ll be getting at least 6 blocks of walking in daily. It’s 3 blocks from where I park to my building, so I figure going to and from will be a big improvement. I’m also going this week to check out a new Gym in the neighborhood. It’s called Planet Fitness. The price is right, the location is right, and if it’s pleasing on the inside I’ll probably join just so I have someplace to get some exercise on the weekends. Besides I think I might be a little more consistent with exercise other than walking if I’m paying for it.

Now for the statistics….I’ve lost another inch on my neck, another 2 inches on my hips, but, unfortunately nothing on the waist. Surgeon says that is probably due to the size of the cyst on my kidney. It isn’t shrinking as I loose weight. I can tell the difference between my right and left sides. The cyst makes my left side look larger, and feel harder. The right side really shows the weight loss, and everything seems to be much mushier. You know, when you are heavy your belly feels kinda hard, but when you loose it gets soft and almost mushy? Well I have the hard on the left and the mushy on the right. I haven’t started buying new clothes yet, so you can’t tell, but I can feel it. Surgeon says I should contact my kidney doctor and see about having it drained. The kidney doctor said that was a possibility back last year when I saw him. I may do that, depending on what happens next Friday.

Next Friday has the other stressor for me, and the big news for you. Last Friday I had biopsies taken from my right breast and the lymph node under my arm. This coming Friday I will receive the results on whether or not I have cancer. Strangely I was more afraid of the biopsies than I was of the cancer verdict. I guess that’s because about 30 years ago (when I was pregnant with my younger daughter) the OB/GYN discovered that I had the beginnings of uterine cancer. He wanted me to have an abortion and immediate hysterectomy. I said not only no but HELL NO. I carried my daughter almost full term, but in the 7th month of my pregnancy the cancer started to grow, and we decided to do a hysterectomy near the middle of the 8th month. So I checked into the hospital, and a couple days later I had a beautiful baby girl, and no more baby-factory.

Anyway, I’ve faced the Big C scare already, and weathered the storm. Even more than that, my faith will sustain me. I truly believe that whatever is God’s will for me, will be completed, and I know both from experience and from His Word that He won’t give me more to deal with than I can handle with him. So, next Friday I get the word. Either way, I’m confident that it will work out, and I’m not scared.

Younger daughter LH wants more pictures, and some full body shots, so I’ll try to get someone to take some this week. Then you’all will see what 55 pounds of weight loss looks like on me. Mostly I think it shows in my face, but you will be able to judge.

Till Friday, or perhaps next weekend, I’ll be loosing weight and praising God for ALL his blessings.

Kate

Tuff Week!

What a tuff week! Introducing new foods into a very restricted diet is a real challenge. I’ve been trying new things and having some luck, but mostly bad, so I’m pretty much back on chicken with spaghetti sauce and grated parmesan cheese. It seems to be the “good Old Standby” that tastes good and doesn’t bother my pouch. It also doesn’t interfere with my weight loss. This week I’ve not lost anything. My scales say I weight 192 this morning. Up one pound from last week. I credit that to all the new foods I’ve been trying this week.

Speaking of new foods, I’ve discovered that some cheeses do very well, and some don’t. The softer cheeses don’t seem to sit while the harder cheeses do. I think it has something to do with the fat content. My pouch really doesn’t like high fat content anything. That’s why avocados are verboten right now, and celery isn’t. You would think that the celery would be hard to digest with all that fiber, but the fat seems to be harder still. I’ll be very happy when I reach the point where I can enjoy a salad again. My pouch is still so small that I don’t want to waste room on non-protein, but I know that someday I’ll be able to enjoy a salad again, even if it’s a small one.

I did have one “treat” yesterday. I had some Jarlsberg cheese sliced thinly on roasted garlic Triscuits. It was a wonderful treat, and didn’t mess up my pouch at all. I’m hoping the fiber in the Triscuits helps get my elimination moving again. I don’t feel comfortable going a couple days between bowel movements, but that seems to be what’s happening. Yuckky!

At least the roasted garlic flavor was wonderful. I didn’t realize how much I would miss flavors. His diet has been on the very bland side, and that garlic really woke my taste buds up.

Been working hard on the back bedroom of my house. Now that JW has moved out, I’m trying to get things cleaned up and organized because I’m having a house guest for about 10 days. A couple of friends of mine and AVs have come from Germany to spend a month. They have been here since the beginning of Fiesta. (You remember Fiesta, don’t you?) Well, it seems that the lady who rented our friends a room has given them notice that her next renters are coming early and she wants to have the room 10 days sooner than she expected. AV asked if they could stay with me for the last days, and of course I told him yes. So I’ve been making the room that was supposed to be my library into a guest room. One of them is going back to Germany on the 1st, but the other is staying until the 12th or 13th. It will be nice to get to spend some real quality time with him. The room is almost ready for them to move in tomorrow. I can put the finishing touches on it today, and it will be ready.

The remainder of my time off will be spent on my bedroom. I need to go through my closets and clear out the clothing that is already too big for me. I plan to either take them to Goodwill or call Salvation Army to come get the boxes. I have three boxes filled already, and that is with my winter things. I have a metal storage closet in the garage where I store coats, sweaters, and clothing that is too warm for summer. Now I have to go through all my cooler clothing. That will be a bigger challenge, but once I try on an outfit, it will either be OK or too big!. I am looking forward to moving out those things in the later category.

Speaking of clearing out closets, I found some clothing that KJ had given me when she lost so much weight just prior to getting married. I thought I had given away most of those things as they were just too small when she gave them to me. I tried on a shirt that I had liked a lot and low and behold, it fit! I took a picture of it and sent it to KJ asking, do you remember this shirt? Her answer ”I wondered what happened to it.” Seems strange to be wearing hand-me-downs from my daughter.

Another interesting thing along those lines, CH (my next to the youngest sister) came by last week, and we decided to go out for a while. I was going stir crazy. She didn’t have anything to wear with her, except her scrubs, so we went through my new clothes and found her a dress and shoes. Now I gotta tell you it was really strange to see my sister, who has always been much smaller than me wearing a dress that I had worn a couple of days before. First I thought it must have shrunk in the laundry, but then I realized that it was washed in cold water so shrinking wasn’t an issue. Anyway, we had a great time, and I finally got used to seeing her in my clothing. Next time she’s in town she is bringing the dress back, the shoes she keeps as they are now too large for me.

Now for this week, I’m sorry I’m a day late posting this, but I’ve been fighting off what I hope is NOT Swine Flu. So far I have a persistent cough, a sore throat, and no energy. No fever, and no muscle aches, so I’m hopeful it’s only a bad cold.

Next week I go back to work. I have very mixed feelings about that. A part of me really likes staying home (that’s the lazy part). I can stay in bed until I feel like getting up, which is usually around 7:30 a.m. I can take a nap when I want, usually around noon, and I can do housework, or not as I feel like it. Going back to work puts me on someone elses schedule, and that I’m not so crazy about. However, I do love the steady income, and don’t think I could make it without that bi-weekly paycheck. Disability has informed me that my time is up on 5/4 and I must return to work 5/5. Oh well, the days of relaxation are over, or soon will be. I can’t say that I have missed the job, but I do enjoy it when I’m there so returning will be OK I guess. I know I’ve missed the people at work. Last Friday I went down to the office to pick up my paycheck. I saw a couple of the folks I work with and both of them made a big deal out of saying how much weight I’d lost and how much better I look. While that was nice to hear, I realized that I’ve missed those folks a lot more than I had thought.

No pictures this week, and no crowing about pounds gone. But I’m recovering my strength, and that is a plus. Next Thursday 5/8 I have an appointment with the surgeon. My second one post Operative. I’m hoping he has good things to say, but I suspect he won’t. I’m not loosing right now, and that isn’t good. I’ve cut the carbs out again, and we’ll see what kind of change that makes. It is, after all, 9 days away.

Until I have something new to report. Take Care and God Bless.

Kate

4 weeks – 40 + pounds

Now that’s a nice way to start a post to my blog. Yep, I’m 4 weeks post surgery and I’ve lost more than 40 pounds to date. I went to see my Primary Care Physician yesterday. She was thrilled at my progress. But not so thrilled that she just sent me home. Nope, she sent me to the lab for some blood tests.

She’s checking on my blood chemistry, and wants to know what my 3-month average blood sugars are. I don’t know how they can take blood from me today and look backwards 3 months, but she’s been getting these tests for a lot of years, and they seem to satisfy her. She also wants my cholesterol count, and I’m sort of excited to have that done. I’d like to know what it is now as well.

It’s strange that I’ve lost close to 50 pounds, and I’m still wearing most the same clothes, my bras still fit, and although they are a bit loose, so do my panties. I keep thinking that 40 pounds should make a big difference. I guess this is why people never guessed my weight to be as high as it was. I can see my weight loss is small ways though, so I keep being encouraged. Stepping on the scale every day also helps. Even on those days when I don’t show a loss, or much of one, I’m encouraged. Only once have I stepped on the scale and weighed more than the day before, and that was only 2 pounds. I didn’t let that bother me because my weight has always fluctuated like that. There was a time when I could gain 10 pounds in a day and loose it all over night. Of course, I was drinking almost 2 gallons of water every day, and working out a lot, so the scales were not my friend back then.

Last Friday I got a call from my surgeon’s office. Seems my disability people had contacted his office to see if I could be released back to work this coming Friday. The surgeons office called me to see how I was feeling. After talking to me for about 15 minutes I was told that they were not going to release me for another couple of weeks. I’m not really ready to return, but it seems that the disability department tries to get folks back at work as quickly as possible. Can’t really blame them for that, but I’m mot ready for work yet. I’m still not able to sit for any long time, and my work is very sedentary. The surgeon is going to call disability back and try to get a couple more weeks for me. I’m hoping to hear from them today.

It’s Fiesta week here in SA. I watched the River Parade last night on TV. There are three main parades during this 10 day Fiesta period. We have the kick off River Parade. Lovely floats that actually “float” down the river. Thousands of people come out to line the river banks, buy tickets to sit at the outdoor theatre and watch as they float by. The river runs between the stage and the audience in that theatre.

Then we have a day time parade this coming Friday. It winds it’s way through down town, and the city sets up bleachers along the route. There are plenty of areas where people can stand on the sidewalks and street corners and watch without paying as well. When I was a kid, my father was with the Red Cross, and these “land” parades were a reason to come and pass out glasses of water to the marchers as they passed. Kept them hydrated, and kept 4 little girls who were excited and very active, busy. Of course we worked out of an ambulance on loan from the Army, and Dad and Mom were there to help out if there was an emergency.

It was in the back of one of those Army Ambulances that I first witnessed the birth of a child. I was in my teens, and a lady came out to the parade who was very pregnant! (yeah, I’ve heard there are no degrees of pregnant, you either are or you aren’t). Anyway, about half way through the parade she goes into labor, and we were so blocked in that the ambulance could not get out. So Dad puts her into the back, closes the doors and pulls the shades, and gave the poor woman some privacy. I guess he thought it would be a while before she delivered, and so we waited, with her there. Pretty soon it was obvious that she was going to delivery very quickly, and so Dad decides to get her out to a hospital, no matter what. Mom had my three sisters and a couple of neighbor kids outside the ambulance. I volunteered to sit inside with the lady. Dad turned on lights and siren and slowly made his way through the crowd, promising to get back to Mom as soon as possible. Off we went toward the hospital.

Fortunately I had taken lots of training in Red Cross First Aid, and had sat through a couple of prepared child birth movies, so when that adorable little girl decided to make her entrance, I was there to “catch” her, and had the things necessary to help get her ready for the hospital. By the time we got there, she was happily wrapped in my sweater (army blankets are wool and too scratchy), and she and Mom were ready for the nurses. What an adventure!

The final parade of Fiesta is called the Flambeau. It’s a night parade, and all the floats are lighted. Many of those are lighted with torches, rather than electric lights. They follow the same route as the day parade, but it’s so much more magical. The bands march, and many have small lights on their uniforms, many of the twirlers who march with the bands twirl fire batons, the floats themselves have lights and even flairs. You watch the eyes of the children in the audience and you can truly believe in magic. It’s a beautiful parade, and a wonderful way to end 10 days of celebrating.

Now, to my vitals, I’m sleeping for longer periods of time. When I first came home from the hospital I slept for about 2 hours then was up for 2 and then back down for another 2. Try as I might I couldn’t get more than 2 hours at a time. I’ve gradually worked up to sleeping about 4.5 or 5 hours then up for 10 or so and back down for another 4 or 5. I must admit the extra hours sleeping have helped me feel better.

I got on the scale today and I’m down to 192! It’s so wonderful to see that. I’ve been so heavy for so long. Yes, I do know that 192 on a lady who is 5’4” is still heavy, but compare that to the 258 I was a couple of years ago, and it’s a miracle. Even compare it to just pre surgery of 236 and it’s wonderful. My blood pressure was 130/80 yesterday at the doctors office and that is with taking only 1 med twice daily. Doc says when I loose another 15 pounds I should try only taking the one med at bedtime and see how that works. My sugars are still hovering around 115 to 120. I’m eating! Real food! Still not a lot, but more than last week, and the weight continues to come off, so it must be enough! At least I’m not hungry.

Going to start walking in the mornings this week. Think I’ll get out around 7:30 and see how far I can get in half an hour. Then the next week up that, and perhaps by the time I’m back at work I can walk during my lunch hour and keep things up to snuff. I used to walk 20 or so blocks at a leisurely pace at lunchtime 3 times a week and that seemed to keep things in good order. Perhaps I can work back up to that.

Well, it’s time to go water my garden. You have a wonderful day.

Kate

Woo Hooo

Woo Hooo!

This morning I broke the dreaded 200 pound mark! Got up, weighed in and almost fainted. It’s been almost 12 years since I weighed less than 200 pounds. Congratulate me, I’m now 198!

Yes, it’s only 2 pounds below, but when you consider that I was 236 in 12/28/08 and on surgery day I was 226, that’s a lot to loose in 3 weeks.

I was talking to KJ the other day, and she said something that shocked me, and rang so true it gave me one of those Ah Ha moments. She’s over 30 (just a bit) and she said to me, “Ya know, Mom, I’ve never seen you skinny.” That got me to thinking, my children have always known me overweight, my nieces and nephews have too. Most of my friends have only known me as overweight as well. In fact, the only non-sibling/family member who has ever seen me weighing in below 150 is my best friend DS. She and I have been friends forever and she can remember when I was “small”. Even then I was overweight, but only about 30 pounds, so it was just a little “Pudgy”.

We’ve introduced “real” food into my diet and so far I’ve only had one episode of “dumping”. I’m now eating chicken, and fish, and I plan to introduce lean pork into the diet today. My old standbys of eggs and cottage cheese have been relegated to the back of the fridge for now. They have become my comfort food, if I still have such a thing. Now comfort food means food I know my pouch can handle, and I turn to them when I’ve stressed my pouch earlier in the day, I’m hungry and don’t want to eat, but know I need to.

The hardest part of this life change so far is learning to recognize when I’m really hungry. I want to eat often, especially when watching TV and every other commercial is something that looks scrumptious. I find my self getting what I call head hungry. My teeth want to chew, my mouth wants something sweet, or salty…and I think of all those old foods I would scarf down, just to solve those urges. Now I handle things a little differently. First, I watch less TV, and that cuts out the visual temptations…no more brownies, with running hot fudge sauce, no more Bar-B-Q with meat juices running from fatty meats, and especially no more contented cows producing ice cream with enough fat in it to cause me gastric distress.

Now, IF I have some head hunger, I do things like chew one of my multi-vitamins (I take them twice a day), or a calcium supplement (also chewable and sweet, three times daily), or take an iron pill, that just happens to be fruity and delicious. All these are really good, and good for me. If those don’t suffice, or it isn’t time for a supplement, I’ve always got my sugar free desserts, like jello, or a popsicle. All of these things are satisfying, and they take care of head hunger very nicely.

When I am truly hungry I have several meals made up ahead of time and stored in covered containers in the fridge. Take one out, pop it in the microwave, nuke for 3 minutes or less, and voila’ I have a delicious meal, hot and ready to eat. One of my favorites is my crustless pizza. I love pizza, always have, and probably always will. So in a couple of my little “quick meal” containers I have placed about half an ounce of cooked chicken, usually dark meat, but sometimes white, 2 tablespoons of my favorite spaghetti or pizza sauce, and an ounce of grated parmesan cheese. It’s easy to know how much of something I’m having because I went to my local restaurant a couple of times and ordered meals, then asked for small takeout containers. They serve grated cheese in 1 oz plastic containers, and several kinds of sauces and gravys in 2 oz plastic containers. The containers come with tight fitting lids, and they are microwaveable. I brought these home, and after eating the contents I wash them out, and reuse them for my quick at-home meals. Also found some small egg cups with lids. I measure with the restaurant containers, and store the meals in the egg cups. Everything is reusable, so I’m living green as well.

Two days ago I went shopping for the first time since surgery. That is I went clothing shopping. Now this was a real adventure. I started looking in the 22/24 size racks, and tried on a couple of outfits to find them hanging off me like a tent from a pole. So… I went down to the 20/22 rack. Those fit a little better, but were still too big. (Imagine my amazement at that, I’ve worn 22/24 for over 10 years) I settled on the 18/20 Women’s sizes, and low and behold I’ve found 3 new dresses, and 2 new around the house sun dresses. Then I decided to get some new panties….Went down a whole size and they are a bit loose. Imagine I’ll be down another size there as well by next month.

Weight loss is slowing a bit now that I’m putting solid nourishment into my body. There’s nothing like a clear liquid diet to take off pounds quickly. Problem is it’s not very nourishing, and if you’ve not had gastric bypass it’s not at all satisfying. I’ll settle for 5 to 10 pounds a week and eating small meals of real food, rather than 10-18 pounds and only clear liquids.

As I started this blog saying, I’m in this for the health improvements rather than the weight loss. I have some good news on that front as well. My blood sugars are down below 120 consistently, and have gone almost to 110 on a couple of occasions. I haven’t had diabetes medicines since leaving the hospital. My blood pressure is holding at a “normal” level, and I’ve had no sign of acid reflux since the day before surgery. My gout is getting better every day, even though I’m eating basically only protein. Haven’t had my cholesterol tested since surgery, but I’m hoping it is much better as well.

I guess that I’m saying basically I’m getting healthier every day! That is such a blessing I just don’t really know how to wrap myself around it. I still think of myself as diabetic. I know I’m not, but I was for so long that it’s instinct to react as if I still am. Of course that’s not a bad thing since I shouldn’t have sugar, my pouch doesn’t know how to handle it, but I can if I want to. I just don’t want to. There are so many good things to eat out there that don’t contain sugar, why cause myself discomfort when I don’t need to?

Well, I’ve wandered around for long enough today. I’m going back to work in 7 days, and I’m eagerly awaiting my co-workers reactions to my changes. I’ll let you know how it goes.

First Post-Op Doctors Appoitment

Hi Everyone.

Today is a day for Celebration

Yesterday I had my first post-surgery appointment. Things went very well. He is pleased with my healing, all the incisions are closed, 5 of the 6 have lost scabs, and look as if they won’t even scar, or if there is a scar it will be very small and not really noticeable. With all my stretch marks I doubt they will make much of an impact. Somehow, most folks just don’t expect a 60 year old tummy to be flawless. I’ll settle for thin and healthy thank you.

Now the results of my Doctors visit. First, I've been released to drive. That's a huge relief, as I've been at AVs mercy to get anywhere. I'm sure he is glad to get his life back a little.

Next, I've been told to "Eat More Meat". My doctor is well pleased with my progress and the healing of my pouch. He says to start eating more meat, as in, I can have protein other than dark meat chicken and some cottage cheese. But he did caution me to go slow, remember to chew my food completely, and to leave the drinking until an hour after eating.

He gave me a prescription for pain killers to relieve the gout pain. I'm so relieved for that. We went directly to the pharmacy and had that one filled. Took 2 when we got to the car (as instructed),and kept up with one every three hours after that. By evening's end I was walking almost normally. This morning I'm stiff as a board, but able to move around without gasping for breath each time I attempt to get my foot to the floor. What a Blessing.

I saw the dietitian, who echoed the doctor in all advice.

Next I took 30 minutes and saw the "specialist" there in the office, she measured me weighed me, and even took my B/P. I've lost 1 inch around my neck, 2 inches around my waist, and 1.5 inches from my hips. My Blood Sugars were 117, a recent low!

Finally she weighed me in. I topped the scale at 200.0! Yippee, that makes 36.5 pounds since Christmas, and 20 pounds since surgery. I'm still not hungry either, which is a real blessing.

I’ve been promising pictures, and last week I went to KJs office for a while. She took this picture. In it I had only lost about 10 pounds post surgery, but it’s a beginning. Hopefully I’ll be able to prevail on someone this weekend to take another picture so you can see the next 10+ pounds lost.

Till my next post, Have a great weekend and a Happy Easter.

First Big Step

Well, here it is, 2 weeks past surgery. I feel fine (except a bad case of gout), and things are progressing nicely.

I’m on “real” food already. My nutritionist graduated me from clear liquids to “mushy proteins” last week. Getting used to eating again has been a real experiment. First, Mushy Proteins are things like, broiled fish, baked or broiled dark meat chicken, eggs, cottage cheese, and some vegetables. My first meal was very successful in that I was able to eat it and keep it down. AV (my boyfriend) took me out to my favorite café, where he ordered grilled tilapia, steamed vegetables, black eyed peas and a salad. I ordered an extra plate, empty of course. Our waitress is a friend of mine, and she was excited to see me out an about only 1 week post surgery.

When the dinner came for AV and my plate came I took a small piece of the tilapia, about 1 inch long, ½ inch wide and ¼ inch thick. To that generous portion I added a sliver of tomato, no skin, 3 black-eyed peas that I mashed, a slice of yellow squash and one of zucchini. With all the careful chewing I did, and no drinking, it took me almost 45 minutes to eat that meal. Believe me, I savored each bite. I was so full when finished I had to go right home and lie down. I still can’t imagine that small amount filling me up so completely, but it did. I was full for almost 4 hours too, which was really pleasant. We are going to save a fortune when we go out. As long as the restaurant staff understands about the empty plate everything will be great.

That was last Tuesday. I’ve been out to eat at least once a day since. AV loves going out, and so do I so it’s been a real joy. We’ve eaten sea food (I had one small shrimp, some fresh spinach, (don’t recommend this to anyone in their first week of food) Scrambled egg with some grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled over the top, and oatmeal, with Splenda and fat free milk, of course not all at the same time. Everything has been truly wonderful and I’ve discovered something very important over this week. That is “eating” isn’t just shoveling food down my throat, nor is it a race to see who can finish a huge plate of food the quickest. Eating, for me now, is a sensual experience of tastes, and textures, moving across my tongue, insinuating themselves into my senses, and finally filling my pouch (stomach). I’ve learned to take my time and enjoy every bite, no matter how small. Prawns in garlic butter sauce have a very different flavor from lobster tail in the same sauce.

I’ve also learned that pasta is not my friend, even when coated with cheese and used as a “protein”. I discovered this past week that dumping is not pleasant, and I’ll try very hard to not experience that again. Avocadoes, although Mushy, are still very high in fats and they don’t sit well, while tomatoes, melt in your mouth, quite literally, when cut into small pieces, and the skin is not eaten.

Statistics for my first week with food are:

Sugars – 136 and I have not taken diabetes medicines since leaving the hospital.
Blood pressure is running around 125 to 130 over 72 – I am taking BP meds, but only one versus the three I was taking pre surgery

Weight – Now I know that this is a clincher for some folks, but actually for me the last reason for the surgery…I weighed in at the hospital the day after surgery and that blasted scale told me I weighed 226 (of course I was down from 235 two weeks prior to surgery).
This morning I weighed 206! That’s 20 pounds in 2 weeks! I’ve never been able to do this before. I’m not hungry most of the time, and when I am hungry a very small meal fills me up, and I’ve learned the hard way to keep it very small. My best friend so far has been sugar free popsicles. I suck down a couple a day, and they count as fluids.

My doctor and the hospital nursing staff stressed over and over to keep hydrated. In fact they set me a goal of 52 ounces daily, just to keep my body hydrated. I discovered that those little ice pitchers they give you in the hospital hold about 32 ounces of water, and I’ve been putting away at least three of those daily, so hydration isn’t a problem. Add to that the hot caffeine free tee and coffee I’ve been drinking, and I go way over the 52 ounces.

My favorite “eat at home” meal is two teaspoons of small curd fat free cottage cheese, mixed with a hard boiled egg that has been mushed very small, with ¼ tsp of Fat Free margarine. Sprinkle over that a small amount of salt and pepper (yes I did say pepper) and enjoy. Lots of protein, very satisfying flavors, and very easy on the pouch, especially when eaten very slowly.

I have my first “well Baby” check this week. I go in on Thursday to see what the doc has to say to me. I’m hopeful that he will be pleased with my progress. I’m remembering to take my supplements, stay hydrated, and eat lots of protein. Hopefully I will be given permission to start drinking some kind of protein supplement as well. I really don’t want to loose my hair, and from everything I’ve read and heard that is the symptom of not enough protein. My doc says that even if I do loose some of my hair (and I really don’t have any extra to loose) a year post surgery my body will have adjusted to the changes, and my hair will have come out again. I’m hoping that the hair won’t fall out at all and a year later I’ll have regained some of what I lost when too heavy.

I’ve had a few visitors this past week. KJ (My eldest daughter), my Mom and MH (my youngest sister. Of course AV has been here almost every day since surgery, and he practically moved in the first four days after surgery. Everyone says I look like I’ve dropped a lot of weight already, and MH says I’ve regained part of my figure. She also says I finally have boobs again, rather than just this huge tummy. I’ve received very nice news when preparing for Church yesterday. My clothing that is size 22/24 just hangs on me, and When I tried a dress that is a 20 it was slightly loose, but looked presentable.

So to sum things up for this week’s post, I’ve lost 20 pounds, 2 chins, 3 dress sizes, and learned to savor my food, all in 2 weeks. What a life change! See you after the doctors appointment.
Kate