A New Beginning

This is supposed to be a food blog but it’s my blog and I can do anything I want with it.  :-)

Blogging about significant life change is an internet tradition, if something only a few years old can have traditions, so here’s mine!!  And this is sort of food related…

I am having Bariatric Surgery on May 7^th.   I’ve chosen to have a Gastric Sleeve procedure otherwise known as a Sleeve Gastrectomy.  Basically, they’re going to remove most of my stomach leaving my intestines alone.  The benefits of this over the RNY are that I’ll have no mal-absorption issues and won’t have to worry about dumping syndrome, which sounds nasty.  And I’ll finally lose the 100 pounds I need to lose and be able to keep it off.

I’ve lost over 50 pounds at least 5 times that I can remember.  And on January 1, 2009, I weighed 280 pounds.  That’s very hard to admit to the world but it’s the truth.  All the effort I’ve put into losing weight over the past 30 years and I’m still almost 300 pounds.  <sigh>  And I’m also a diabetic.  So.  I went looking for a permanent solution.  I don’t want to lose my eyesight, kidneys or feet to diabetes.  I also have dilated cardiomyopathy.  Look that up on the ‘net for a scare!  It’s been trying to kill me since 1995.  I guess I’m just too stubborn to die. 

Since 2009, I’ve lost 55 pounds.  I know that if I don’t do something different, it will all come back and bring a few friends with it.  Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.  I know what will happen.  It will all come back.  So it is now time to do thing differently.

Surgery is a drastic step.  Having most of my stomach removed is very drastic.  I’m at the point in my life where it’s time for drastic action.  Dieting hasn’t helped.  Exercise hasn’t helped, although it did help some, but I can’t ride that damned exercise bike for the rest of my life.  My knees are already protesting.  My heart condition and the diabetes are killing me.  Drastic action is called for!

I’ve been doing extensive reading online on this subject trying to figure out what my life will be after 5/7/13.  I’ve got 3 different makes of protein shakes in assorted flavors; I found sugar free pudding and gelatin that don’t contain NutraSweet.  That was difficult to find.  All the Jell-o products have NutraSweet and that stuff gives me migraines.  Not a good scenario.  I’ve found several websites of post-op people who put their recipes online for the rest of us to benefit from.  My go-to place these days is theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com.  if you’re considering any bariatric surgery, check out her site.  It’s a great source of information. 

I’m still in the ‘last binge before surgery’ phase.  I can’t really go too far off the reservation as I still have to worry about my blood sugar but I think that last 18 pounds I lost has greatly improved my insulin resistance.  I’ve been eating all sorts of things not on my approved diabetic diet and my sugar hasn’t tested over 156.  Or I’m just damned lucky.  Which ever works for me!! 

 I start my pre-op diet on the 23rd so I have to get all this out of my system before then.  Cookies, pie, ice cream, candy, pop, pizza, eating out, all that sort of thing...

After surgery, I’m going to have to make sure I drink all the water I’m supposed to.  I always do better when I have a system so I came up with one.  The goal is 64 ounces a day.  I took 4 Propel water bottles, 16.9 oz. each, drank the contents, removed the labels, numbered them 1 through 4 and fill them every morning and put them in the fridge.  I have to empty all of them by the end of the day.  I’ve always been a water drinker so this is really working well.  Since I started this last week, I’ve not finished all my water only one night.  I think I’ll do OK when it really counts:  post-op.

Of course, I’m anxious about having surgery.  I’m not a good patient.  I don’t stay where I’m put.  I require meds to have injections.  I need nurses who can take a joke without becoming cruel.  (Maybe I’ll tell that story sometime.)  And I have anxiety attacks if left alone too long without medication.  (Yet another story!) 

I don’t expect to sleep the night before my procedure.  I don’t sleep the night before dental visits and I have sedation dentistry and don’t remember what is done to me.  But, I’m a worrier.  Always have been.  I have just too good an imagination.  J

I can’t talk about all this stuff with the Hubby.  He’s barely going along with this as it is.  If I talk about my fears to him, his support will cease altogether!  So, World, I guess I’ll talk to you!  ;-)

Before Pix: