Funny how one would not think of something like asparagas as being wonderful, but tonight for dinner we had asparagus, my protein salad and grilled ribeye. Jeff and I share a meat now. He sliced off a couple of wonderful pieces for me to enjoy. Beef is a toughie because of it being so fiborous, but I cut pencil-eraser size pieces and enjoyed it thoroughly. The asparagus was my favorite though, absolutely wonderful. Also a new find, laughing cow cheese french onion, yummy.
I am actually getting anxious to start exercising. I feel better than I have in years. I will be anxious to see what my weight is when I go back on November 6. I expect I will also be going back to work around the 10th. I have a size 18 swimsuit that was given to me by a friend. Who would have ever thought I would be in a size 18 again, certainly not me. But my friend (she had the surgery in February) said I would be there before you know it. So I am looking forward to being there.
My grandson can't figure out why I don't eat anymore than I do. It is hard to explain to him that mema's tummy just does not hold a lot of food any more.
Well tomorrow is a stamping day with friends. I am looking forward to that in the morning. I miss my daily visits with my friend in Minneapolis. We used to IM a lot, but she is very busy being mom, wife, sister, and employer. I know she is great at all of them.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
A new pink robe.
Today I bought a new robe, a pink, so very soft robe in a size I thought I would be able to get into by December. Well I have it on right now. It is not as loose as I would like it but I am in it. I know, no shopping, but my robe that I had is a sad, sad shape story. My mom bought me this pretty baby blue terry robe and nightgown 5 years ago. I have worn it forever. I have been wanting a new warmer robe and finally today I found one in a regular department store, not a fat girl store. I also can wear the jammies that Jeff bought me for my birthday. Bless his heart he thought I was smaller than I was, but I am that size now.
Still struggling some with food, but ate 2 tablespoons of the inside of a stuffed green pepper, yummy. I also can eat ham salad. They were a treat. Clam chowder tasted yuky. Tomato soup is still my favorite.
I am thinking about getting a personal trainer just to get me in a habit of exercising regularly after I am released from the doctor. I need to get physical and in a routine. I think if I have to pay for it, I definitely will do this.
I have Nails, yup fingernails. They are pretty! The only time in my life where I had nails before was when I had the artificial ones, but these are mine, all mine.
I am not as down in the dumps as I was. I think each month it will get better.
Still struggling some with food, but ate 2 tablespoons of the inside of a stuffed green pepper, yummy. I also can eat ham salad. They were a treat. Clam chowder tasted yuky. Tomato soup is still my favorite.
I am thinking about getting a personal trainer just to get me in a habit of exercising regularly after I am released from the doctor. I need to get physical and in a routine. I think if I have to pay for it, I definitely will do this.
I have Nails, yup fingernails. They are pretty! The only time in my life where I had nails before was when I had the artificial ones, but these are mine, all mine.
I am not as down in the dumps as I was. I think each month it will get better.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Hell Week
I had read about it before my surgery and was so happy I was not experiencing it, but then crash, bang, and down for the count I went. Pretty blue. Missing eating, not hungry, wanting to go out with friends to socialize, but not up to par. I even tried stamp club, came home exhausted.
Now the diet is slowly progressing, but I am learning eating is not an easy task. I had 2 teaspoons of cottage cheese yesterday for dinner and 30 minutes later drank my protein shake of the day. Hot, cold, feverish, shaky. The pouch decided that was too much protein within a very short time period. Luckily I remembered the lying down tool. Off to bed I went for 3 hours of resting, sleep, and then getting up weak. Almost felt like a very short, short version of the flu. So today it is back to liquidy stuff and a very quiet day.
Staying hydrated is getting to be difficult too. My BIL brought bottled water for me, lots of it, but it still tastes like water. Oh well, I hate IVs so I keep drinking.
I think the food thing is getting to Jeff also. I try to save something to eat with him for each meal. Breakfast is easy. I can eat scrambled egg, yogurt, or cream of wheat cooked cereal, and he is always willing to share this with me. Lunch, well that is the start of the difference. He eats a sandwich and other things, I am not hungry so I eat so more yogurt. Supper is the worse because depending on the time frame, I may have to eat earlier than he does. I am learning to keep some Jello on hand and I can have a dish of Jello with him. I will be happy when I can start eating a little of his meal with him.
The weight is coming off. I have no idea how much, but it is cgoing. Even with the weather change the knee is not as bad as it had been before.
It will get better, just a little bit of hell right now.
Now the diet is slowly progressing, but I am learning eating is not an easy task. I had 2 teaspoons of cottage cheese yesterday for dinner and 30 minutes later drank my protein shake of the day. Hot, cold, feverish, shaky. The pouch decided that was too much protein within a very short time period. Luckily I remembered the lying down tool. Off to bed I went for 3 hours of resting, sleep, and then getting up weak. Almost felt like a very short, short version of the flu. So today it is back to liquidy stuff and a very quiet day.
Staying hydrated is getting to be difficult too. My BIL brought bottled water for me, lots of it, but it still tastes like water. Oh well, I hate IVs so I keep drinking.
I think the food thing is getting to Jeff also. I try to save something to eat with him for each meal. Breakfast is easy. I can eat scrambled egg, yogurt, or cream of wheat cooked cereal, and he is always willing to share this with me. Lunch, well that is the start of the difference. He eats a sandwich and other things, I am not hungry so I eat so more yogurt. Supper is the worse because depending on the time frame, I may have to eat earlier than he does. I am learning to keep some Jello on hand and I can have a dish of Jello with him. I will be happy when I can start eating a little of his meal with him.
The weight is coming off. I have no idea how much, but it is cgoing. Even with the weather change the knee is not as bad as it had been before.
It will get better, just a little bit of hell right now.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The road to recovery
Jeff and I left for Grinnell Monday afternoon, checked into our hotel, drove around, and had supper at Godfather's Pizza. They had a wonderful salad bar which I was able to enjoy and Jeff could have the Pizza buffet. That night we talked about both our concerns and hopes. The next morning while Jeff was getting his breakfast I got myself prepped and ready for surgery. We were really early as I did not have to be to the hospital until 10:30 a.m. So we took a trip around Grinnell, Iowa. It is a beautiful little community reminensent of all of the old small towns we grew up with, sef sufficient.
After our ride we checked into the hospital and went up to the surgery waiting room. I was soon taken back to the back to get ready for surgery. Can you say high blood pressure???? I was much more nervous than I thought I would be. My blood pressure was 170/101..... Needless to say I got drugs really quick, also a massage to help relax me....yup they have massueses on the staff as they feel it is good for the whole patient. Everyone was wonderful. IV was in, Jeff came in for a kiss and an I love you. Off to surgery we went. I remember very little about the operating room, although they say I was awake for about 20 minutes getting ready for the surgery. Woke up in recovery.... wonderful nurse....I was able to have it laparoscopically. I was not sick at all, just sore, and very sleepy.
Once in my room, settled in, Jeff came in and we visited in spurts. I slept a lot. Dr. Coster came in and visited with both of us. My surgery went really well, except I had some adhesions he had to take care of first, but he was very pleased with the whole procedure. I have a very small pouch, 20 cc, really small. I was NPO for 5 hours and then ice chips until midnight when they took those away so that I could have a swallow study to make sure there were no leaks....
Unfortunately narcotics and I have a strange reaction together. I was wired for sound, up all night. Bless my nurse, Joyce, came and helped me walk, and sat me up in a comfy chair. She would come visit often to make sure I was doing okay.
The next morning the team was in to visit, all very pleased with my walking and alertness. Down to the swallow, now that was not fun..... I had to drink this foamy bitter, sweettart type drink thru a straw, then stand on a platform that moved. The more it moved the more I wanted to throw up, but I didn't because I did not want to drink anymore of that stuff. After that was done I came back to my room, Jeff was there after his breakfast to sit with me until I scooted him out the door to rescue Pablo from the Spa.
The swallow is done to make sure there are no leaks, although Dr. Coster blows up the pouch a lot to make sure that there are no leaks during surgery. Once the all clear came I was able to drink clear liquids. I got a sugar free popcicle, sugar free jello, coffee (yuk), vegetable broth (yuk). The popcicle was my choice.
My blood pressure was still running extremely high and my feet looked like something a hobbit would have (huge). They questioned both Jeff and I about my blood pressure. Jeff got pretty frustrated, but I know they just wanted to make sure that this was not the norm for me. After calling Dr. Coster's PA Jerrad, they were no longer worried. I still could not believe my feet.
I walked faithfully every 2 hours just because the bed was uncomfortable. Now having the surgery laparoscopically was great... but I now could not lie on either side as I had staples on both sides and a drain on the left side.
I have to say in all of the hospitals I have been in with my mom, MIL, myself, and Jeff; Grinnell Regional Medical Center was the best as far as clean, staff efficiency, caring, and team work. Even Jeff was impressed. The floor I was on was "gorgeous" as hospitals go. They had an aviary filled with the most pretty birds you could imagine. I would walk there and watch them 3 to 4 times a day, a quiet room with a water fountain and soft, soft music in the background, beautiful grounds to look down upon from my window with a lighted gazebo. It was too chilly otherwise they would have let me walk outside with help. I had a massage every day around 5:30.
They kept me until Friday because my blood count was not up to par, and a bypass patient has a harder time recouping those little blood cells. It was still low on check out, but improving. I will have another test when I go down on Thursday for my check up.
So I am home now, learning to eat slowly because I fill up very quickly, finding out I don't like coffee anymore. Baby food meats suck! Tomato soup tastes wonderful. I have to force myself to eat as I am not hungry although my head tells me I should be. I guess that is normal. Drinking water is a constant. Don't leave home without it so they say. I love hot tea. Popcicles still taste wonderful.
Oh yes, the feet look like normal feet now...I have spent a lot of time in the bathroom, a lot~~~~
After our ride we checked into the hospital and went up to the surgery waiting room. I was soon taken back to the back to get ready for surgery. Can you say high blood pressure???? I was much more nervous than I thought I would be. My blood pressure was 170/101..... Needless to say I got drugs really quick, also a massage to help relax me....yup they have massueses on the staff as they feel it is good for the whole patient. Everyone was wonderful. IV was in, Jeff came in for a kiss and an I love you. Off to surgery we went. I remember very little about the operating room, although they say I was awake for about 20 minutes getting ready for the surgery. Woke up in recovery.... wonderful nurse....I was able to have it laparoscopically. I was not sick at all, just sore, and very sleepy.
Once in my room, settled in, Jeff came in and we visited in spurts. I slept a lot. Dr. Coster came in and visited with both of us. My surgery went really well, except I had some adhesions he had to take care of first, but he was very pleased with the whole procedure. I have a very small pouch, 20 cc, really small. I was NPO for 5 hours and then ice chips until midnight when they took those away so that I could have a swallow study to make sure there were no leaks....
Unfortunately narcotics and I have a strange reaction together. I was wired for sound, up all night. Bless my nurse, Joyce, came and helped me walk, and sat me up in a comfy chair. She would come visit often to make sure I was doing okay.
The next morning the team was in to visit, all very pleased with my walking and alertness. Down to the swallow, now that was not fun..... I had to drink this foamy bitter, sweettart type drink thru a straw, then stand on a platform that moved. The more it moved the more I wanted to throw up, but I didn't because I did not want to drink anymore of that stuff. After that was done I came back to my room, Jeff was there after his breakfast to sit with me until I scooted him out the door to rescue Pablo from the Spa.
The swallow is done to make sure there are no leaks, although Dr. Coster blows up the pouch a lot to make sure that there are no leaks during surgery. Once the all clear came I was able to drink clear liquids. I got a sugar free popcicle, sugar free jello, coffee (yuk), vegetable broth (yuk). The popcicle was my choice.
My blood pressure was still running extremely high and my feet looked like something a hobbit would have (huge). They questioned both Jeff and I about my blood pressure. Jeff got pretty frustrated, but I know they just wanted to make sure that this was not the norm for me. After calling Dr. Coster's PA Jerrad, they were no longer worried. I still could not believe my feet.
I walked faithfully every 2 hours just because the bed was uncomfortable. Now having the surgery laparoscopically was great... but I now could not lie on either side as I had staples on both sides and a drain on the left side.
I have to say in all of the hospitals I have been in with my mom, MIL, myself, and Jeff; Grinnell Regional Medical Center was the best as far as clean, staff efficiency, caring, and team work. Even Jeff was impressed. The floor I was on was "gorgeous" as hospitals go. They had an aviary filled with the most pretty birds you could imagine. I would walk there and watch them 3 to 4 times a day, a quiet room with a water fountain and soft, soft music in the background, beautiful grounds to look down upon from my window with a lighted gazebo. It was too chilly otherwise they would have let me walk outside with help. I had a massage every day around 5:30.
They kept me until Friday because my blood count was not up to par, and a bypass patient has a harder time recouping those little blood cells. It was still low on check out, but improving. I will have another test when I go down on Thursday for my check up.
So I am home now, learning to eat slowly because I fill up very quickly, finding out I don't like coffee anymore. Baby food meats suck! Tomato soup tastes wonderful. I have to force myself to eat as I am not hungry although my head tells me I should be. I guess that is normal. Drinking water is a constant. Don't leave home without it so they say. I love hot tea. Popcicles still taste wonderful.
Oh yes, the feet look like normal feet now...I have spent a lot of time in the bathroom, a lot~~~~
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