One Month Post-Op

By admin on September 12, 2011 at 3:16 pm

I am exactly one month post op and I have never felt more thankful & motivated in my life! I have lost 60 pounds. First, I want to say thank you to my awesome doctor, Dr. David Kim. Giving me the ability to control myself is the best gift in the world. It’s something I could not do alone. Also, to his amazing staff for all their support, encouragement and friendship. If you are considering this, I urge you to stop waiting and dreaming, and just do it!

On Mon.Aug. 8th I weighed in just before my surgery at 40 lbs lighter than when I started my pro-op diet. I couldn’t have lost so much without daily exercise. The hospital was beautiful, the staff was warm & friendly and I felt comfortable going into surgery. I was worried about having an IV put in and it was truly painless. I remember being rolled into surgery and the nurse saying they were going to take good care of me….about an hour later I woke up in my room and I was in just a little bit of pain. I did have a hernia which Dr. Kim repaired and unfortunately I had a bit of a reaction to the anesthesia, which caused some discomfort. It’s nothing I wouldn’t go through again right this minute to get to where I am today. I will say the barium swallow for the leak test before you go home was the yuckiest part for me. It tastes terrible. Thank goodness it only takes a few seconds.

The first week out of surgery I worked on drinking liquids and trying to get protein in. You don’t realize that it will be hard work to sip and get things down. I never imagined I would not want anything to eat or drink! I felt guilty the first week because I was sore and could not work out. After exercising daily for months, I felt lazy and guilty–like I wasn’t trying. I will say I found it difficult to get comfortable in the bed at night, so I didn’t sleep well the first week. I found propping pillows all around me and sleeping on the sofa helped. Lastly, because you are on fluids while you are in the hospital I gained 7 pounds! I started to really enjoy weighing myself daily and I was so upset when I had gained weight.

The first 2 weeks home I started getting used to feeling different. I lost the 7 lbs of fluids plus 5 more the first week and then 5 more the second week. I had my staples removed a week after surgery and that did not hurt one bit (though I was worried it would). I was absolutely thrilled when I got to try cream soup, drinkable yogurt and soft things. Not because I was starving, but just to have a texture and different taste. The smallest sip was so satisfying those first few weeks.

By week 3, I was really feeling back to myself. I went back to work 2 weeks after surgery and still felt a bit tired. I started off slowly in the gym on the treadmill and then moved back to the elliptical (which burns double the calories). I was also happy to swim laps again.I was thrilled when I needed to buy a new bathing suit – 4 sizes smaller than the one I was wearing 3 months earlier! As summer comes to an end, I have now gone down a water-slide and off the diving board. These are things I haven’t done in 10 years!

I am optimistic and excited about what this year will bring for me. I am anxious to get to the 100 pounds lost mark. I can not wait to weigh less than 200. I will most definitely celebrate when I am in the one hundreds (not with something sweet either – I will get a pedicure or massage). I will always remember what it felt like to feel uncomfortable, to know that people were looking at me and thinking I had lost myself. To be filled with worry that my children were embarrassed of me or that I was going to die early. I have enjoyed saying goodbye to plus size clothes and would like to say I will not be a customer of Lane Bryant ever again!

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and followed my weight loss story. No matter where you are in your journey, know that you have the power and ability to change. I know you may think you can’t, but I am proof that you can. There have been so many times where I thought I couldn’t do it and I took each step one at a time and did it. I was sure I couldn’t stop drinking sodas. I was sure I wouldn’t be able to stop eating bread. I was positive people would laugh and stare at me if I went to the gym. Stop worrying, start imagining how feeling thin and healthy will feel and do it!

Gratefully,
Vicki

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