*gurgle*
*rumble*
*burp*
*hiccup*
oh my....the gas. It's never ending. I think the gas bothers me more than the incisions, all 5 of them. I sure hope this feeling goes away soon.
One thing I'm surprised about is that I "gained" 7 pounds after the surgery. I'm not sure how that works...if it's all fluids they pumped into me, or the air they inflated my tummy with or what...but the scale weighs me 7 lbs heavier than when I went in.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
The day after...
Surgery went fine. The surgeon did find a hyetal hernia, which he repaired. He said that is the reason I was experiencing acid reflux/heart burn. With it repaired I shouldn't have that anymore! YAY!
So I stayed in the hospital one night, and was released to go home this morning. I'm sore all over. My tummy feels like a mac truck ran over it, then backed up and ran over it again. Hopefully that feeling will go away soon, cuz it hurts to laugh, cough, hiccup...and the air bubbles...oh my. I guess part of the procedure is that they have to fill your tummy with air. They try to remove most of it during the surgery, there is always something residual...and your body has to find a way to release it. Burps, coughs, sneezes, etc. Not fun.
I'm so glad I did this. I'm so excited to lose weight because this time I know it's going to work. I just have to stay on the plan. And start exercising as soon as I can. So, it's all good. Yay!
So I stayed in the hospital one night, and was released to go home this morning. I'm sore all over. My tummy feels like a mac truck ran over it, then backed up and ran over it again. Hopefully that feeling will go away soon, cuz it hurts to laugh, cough, hiccup...and the air bubbles...oh my. I guess part of the procedure is that they have to fill your tummy with air. They try to remove most of it during the surgery, there is always something residual...and your body has to find a way to release it. Burps, coughs, sneezes, etc. Not fun.
I'm so glad I did this. I'm so excited to lose weight because this time I know it's going to work. I just have to stay on the plan. And start exercising as soon as I can. So, it's all good. Yay!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Defining Moments
We all have them at some point in our life. A moment so strong, so poignant, so memorable that we pin point it in our memories as the moment our life changed.
My moment happened in January, 2009. I was talking with my knee surgeon again about a recent fall I took that injured my knee again. His assessment was brutal. He wasn't kind. He was honest. And in no uncertain terms he told me, "Joanne, there is nothing I can do for your knee surgically that will make it feel better. The best thing you can do for yourself and your knee is to lose weight. For every pound you lose, you'll remove 7 lbs of pressure on your knee. If you lose weight, it won't hurt as much and you'll be able to move more. There is no other magical cure." I left his office crying. I felt broken. I felt betrayed. I felt like I was at the end of my rope.
It was that afternoon, driving the 2.5 hours home from the surgeon's office, that I decided I was going to look into weight loss surgery. My family doctor had mentioned it a year ago during my annual exam, so I called him back and made an appointment. Within a week of the exam, I was talking with the bariatric surgeon. We determined that I was a good candidate for the Realize Lap Band procedure. Two weeks ago I started my pre-op high protein liquid diet. On Thursday, April 2, 2009, I go in for my surgery.
I'm excited. I'm nervous. I'm a little bit scared. But I'm more excited than anything else. I know this is the right thing. I'm excited that at last I will have a tool that will help me control my eating and I'm determined to stick to the plan. This time I can and will do it. I haven't told anyone about this, but my family and my pastor. I was embarrased to admit that I was so heavy that I needed weight loss surgery to help me lose weight. Posting this in my blog is my first step to "come out of the closet" so to speak. I'll tell others. As they ask. As they begin to notice the changes. But I didn't want to be totally public about it, so for now, only you & my family know.
I was a bit wary about the liquid portion of the diet, but it really hasn't been that bad. Most of the products taste good (slight aftertaste), and those that don't taste good...I just don't use them again. I don't feel hungry and I'm drinking lots of water. Since my consultation I've lost 15 pounds (11 of which are since I started the liquid diet). I'll have to be on this liquid diet for 4 weeks post-surgery, and then will slowly bring solid food back into my diet. I'm looking forward to that day, but until then...I'm content.
Defining moments...a fork in the road....taking the road less travelled.
My moment happened in January, 2009. I was talking with my knee surgeon again about a recent fall I took that injured my knee again. His assessment was brutal. He wasn't kind. He was honest. And in no uncertain terms he told me, "Joanne, there is nothing I can do for your knee surgically that will make it feel better. The best thing you can do for yourself and your knee is to lose weight. For every pound you lose, you'll remove 7 lbs of pressure on your knee. If you lose weight, it won't hurt as much and you'll be able to move more. There is no other magical cure." I left his office crying. I felt broken. I felt betrayed. I felt like I was at the end of my rope.
It was that afternoon, driving the 2.5 hours home from the surgeon's office, that I decided I was going to look into weight loss surgery. My family doctor had mentioned it a year ago during my annual exam, so I called him back and made an appointment. Within a week of the exam, I was talking with the bariatric surgeon. We determined that I was a good candidate for the Realize Lap Band procedure. Two weeks ago I started my pre-op high protein liquid diet. On Thursday, April 2, 2009, I go in for my surgery.
I'm excited. I'm nervous. I'm a little bit scared. But I'm more excited than anything else. I know this is the right thing. I'm excited that at last I will have a tool that will help me control my eating and I'm determined to stick to the plan. This time I can and will do it. I haven't told anyone about this, but my family and my pastor. I was embarrased to admit that I was so heavy that I needed weight loss surgery to help me lose weight. Posting this in my blog is my first step to "come out of the closet" so to speak. I'll tell others. As they ask. As they begin to notice the changes. But I didn't want to be totally public about it, so for now, only you & my family know.
I was a bit wary about the liquid portion of the diet, but it really hasn't been that bad. Most of the products taste good (slight aftertaste), and those that don't taste good...I just don't use them again. I don't feel hungry and I'm drinking lots of water. Since my consultation I've lost 15 pounds (11 of which are since I started the liquid diet). I'll have to be on this liquid diet for 4 weeks post-surgery, and then will slowly bring solid food back into my diet. I'm looking forward to that day, but until then...I'm content.
Defining moments...a fork in the road....taking the road less travelled.
Calling All Crows
The other day, my dad & I were standing in his living room, looking out the front window when we hear this strange noise. Imagine, if you will, a very large crow. A sick-sounding large crow. Crowing at the top of his voice. Got that picture? Now, as we're standing, looking out his big picture window, we see his neighbor-lady walk across the street with a large plastic bag in her hand. What is she doing? Where is she going with that bag? Was she planning to do something with the poor, sick-sounding crow? Was she going to put him out of his misery, and ours? Again, we hear this poor, sick-sounding crow. But we can't see him. We see lots of crows flitting through the branches of the trees across the street, but no BIG crow. I mean, by the way this guy sounds, he's got to be BIG. Again, the crowing. And that's when we realized. It was the neighbor-lady. Crowing. To the crows. Calling the crows in. For dinner.
Only in a small town. No. Only in a two cow town. With crows.
Only in a small town. No. Only in a two cow town. With crows.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Happy Birthday Baby Girl
My baby is 16 today! Hardly seems possible that that many years have gone by already. She's such a beautiful girl, with a great head on her shoulders. Yes, she's goofy as all get out, and irresponsible at times...but that's just the normal part of being a teen! She is growing into such an outstanding young woman and I am so proud of her!
Getting Cory Home
The worst winter storm in 40 years - that's what the weather experts are calling it. We've been trying to get Cory home since December 21st and have had no luck so far. His flight was supposed to leave on that Sunday from Pullman, fly to Lewiston, then on to Seattle to make connections to Portland, then Eugene. If it wasn't for the weather, he'dve made it. But weather was conspiring against us and his flight was cancelled.
He was told if he could get to Lewiston, he'd be able to catch the flight there (they couldn't land in Pullman - too much snow), and then continue on with is flight. Poor kid...didn't know a soul at the airport, only had $8 in his pockets, with no way to Lewiston (45 minutes away on a good day). Luckily, God was watching out for him because he connected with another student who had to do the same thing. She had a car! So they drove to Lewiston, met the plane there, had their bags loaded and were just waiting to get on the plane...when that leg was cancelled. Total chaos ensued. There were going to be no more flights in or out of Pullman or Lewiston until after Christmas!
He finally arranged a flight out of Seattle on December 25th. And thankfully, the girl he caught a ride with to Lewiston, also got a flight on the 25th, so they can travel together. She (her name is Danielle) drove Cory back to his dorm, and there he's been waiting. I'm so thankful he's somewhere safe (and not stranded at an airport). But I hate the fact that he's ALONE in his dorm. There is not another soul around. He's bored out of his mind and tired of eating ramen noodles! Poor guy!
He & Danielle are supposed to travel to Seattle tomorrow (Weds) where he'll spend the night with his roommate and then hopefully fly out on Christmas afternoon. There's another storm brewing that is supposed to hit tomorrow...so we're praying that it misses the northwest altogether and that Cory can get home. If he can get to Seattle, and the flight is cancelled from there, we'll drive up to get him. I just want him home for Christmas!
He was told if he could get to Lewiston, he'd be able to catch the flight there (they couldn't land in Pullman - too much snow), and then continue on with is flight. Poor kid...didn't know a soul at the airport, only had $8 in his pockets, with no way to Lewiston (45 minutes away on a good day). Luckily, God was watching out for him because he connected with another student who had to do the same thing. She had a car! So they drove to Lewiston, met the plane there, had their bags loaded and were just waiting to get on the plane...when that leg was cancelled. Total chaos ensued. There were going to be no more flights in or out of Pullman or Lewiston until after Christmas!
He finally arranged a flight out of Seattle on December 25th. And thankfully, the girl he caught a ride with to Lewiston, also got a flight on the 25th, so they can travel together. She (her name is Danielle) drove Cory back to his dorm, and there he's been waiting. I'm so thankful he's somewhere safe (and not stranded at an airport). But I hate the fact that he's ALONE in his dorm. There is not another soul around. He's bored out of his mind and tired of eating ramen noodles! Poor guy!
He & Danielle are supposed to travel to Seattle tomorrow (Weds) where he'll spend the night with his roommate and then hopefully fly out on Christmas afternoon. There's another storm brewing that is supposed to hit tomorrow...so we're praying that it misses the northwest altogether and that Cory can get home. If he can get to Seattle, and the flight is cancelled from there, we'll drive up to get him. I just want him home for Christmas!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
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