What a difference a few weeks make! I have to say that I'm feeling almost back to normal! I haven't thrown up in a couple of weeks, and I'm eating everything I should (and a little bit that I shouldn't, but not much). I went to New York City last week, and walked my ass off! Just three months ago, the prospect of walking around my block would have filled me with fear and dread. I tried a few times to start walking before the surgery, and my back would hurt, my feet would hurt, and I'd be so out-of-breath I thought I'd collapse. Last week I walked 28+ city blocks (about 45 minutes of brisk, almost non-stop walking), and I felt GREAT!!! No back pain, a little out-of-breath, but it felt good. My feet didn't hurt, my legs didn't hurt -- I feel like a new woman! I stayed on the fifth floor of a brownstone (townhouse) on W 75th Street, in the heart of Manhattan, and the walk up and down the stairs was still really tough. My knees still hurt from that -- but the walking felt so good, I'm going to keep that up! With Spring here, it's going to be an adventure!
I'm eating fairly normally now -- I had a Wendy's Monterey Jack Chicken sandwich last night (I stripped off the bread, and just ate the meat, lettuce and tomato) and it was delicious. I can eat salads (YUM!) and I've even eaten fast food burgers (well, half a burger, and again, stripping off most of the bread). If I am in too much of a hurry to cook eggs at home in the AM, I stop and get a bacon egg and cheese croissandwich from Burger King, and strip off most of the bread. Gotta eat it slowly, though, and I keep applesauce at work, so I get my fruit in -- or I bring a banana, or dried prunes, or something. I can drink coffee in the morning without any problem, so I'm really feeling pretty much back to normal again for most of the day.
For the first time in the last decade or two, I really feel like I have a future. I'm feeling healthy, and I want to do active things. I spent Saturday and Sunday this past weekend in my garden, pulling old plants, trimming, bending, lugging junk -- just being very active. I haven't done anything in my yard for a couple of years, because I haven't had the energy. Now I've got energy to spare!!
Bottom line, even though the first three months post-op are difficult, you begin to live again. By the time you're three months post-op, you should be feeling like someone handed you your life back. That's how I feel. It's tough, and it'll be tough for the rest of your life -- nothing will ever be the same (but did you really want it to be?). I still have times that I have to stop eating and wait for the nausea (or stopped-up feeling) to pass. Sometimes I don't eat slowly, and I feel awful for a few minutes. It's an adjustment, but it's sooooo worth it. I actually FEEL skinnier! If it weren't for the arthritis in my knees, I think I'd feel 20 again! I look forward to stepping on the scales. I love water now -- nice cold water is great, and even though I can drink a whole 12-oz coke now in 20-30 minutes, I know I shouldn't! Salads taste great, and fill me up. I'm no diet-saint -- I still cheat a little -- but my stomach rules, and I CAN'T cheat a lot. I make things easy for myself, and carry Viactiv (calcium) and Centrum Kids vitamins around with me, so when I remember, I can take one. You just have to find what works for you, and go with it. It's a lifestyle change, and you just have to adapt (your stomach will make sure you do!).
I'll be posting current pictures out there (see link below) in the next day or so -- it's been three months now. I can't believe the change. Today I weigh 260 (six months ago I was over 320). I'm wearing clothes I haven't worn in years, and they're loose! I'm shooting for the 100's by the end of summer, and I think I can make it! For the first time in years, I have real hope that tomorrow and the next day and the next will be better, and I'll feel better, and life will continue to improve.
I'm no longer waiting to die. I'm looking forward to living!!
PostOp
Week 15+:
Post-script to these weeks: I am starting to experience my own form of "dumping". I ate a pop-tart this AM, and got dizzy and nauseated. Also, yesterday, I had two cups of coffee, and although I CAN drink it, I'm not reacting well to it. The same with alcoholic drinks. I can drink, but I get drunk VERY fast (one and a half White Russians almost had me reeling and puking!). Everyone's body differs, but food and drink -- anything you ingest from now on -- will affect your body differently. You're more sensitive to it. I think it's because it's not broken down as much when it reaches the middle and lower intestines, so everything is a little more potent. You gotta be careful, and gauge your own reactions to different foods and drinks. Me, I'm going to try to get back to the "good foods only" routine, and lose another 50-60 pounds by summer. I want to see my doctor, who recommended the surgery to begin with, and show her how I've done. She's on maternity leave until July-August, so that's my next goal: at or below 200 by the time I see her. I feel like I owe her so much, and I really want her to be impressed. Grace Keenan, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You'll never know what you've done for my life.
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