Loving Lydia

Post Surgery

I had the first surgery of the day, so I was up early. Aaron was here at 5:30am to take care of Lydia and Russell took me pretty much straight from work to the hospital. (My poor hubby has had maybe 90 minutes of sleep today.) Once I was at the hospital, they took my vitals. My blood glucose was high--as it usually is in the morning--187. But then, that's why I'm having the surgery to try to resolve or at lease relieve that problem. My heartbeat was 76, my oxygen 96 and my blood pressure 107 over 57. So I was doing well. I got my ugly green socks on and the IV tube in my hand and off they wheeled me to surgery. I was awake as I entered the operating room. The gentleman who wheeled me down told me he's had gastric bypass 2 years ago and had lost 270 lbs and that his wife had LAP band a year ago and had lost over 70lbs and he reassured me it was the best decisions the both of them had ever made--besides choosing each other. It was great to hear that...it's hard to explain all the conflicting emotions you feel---but everyone was so kind and so positive. It made it so much easier. Once I was in the operating room they moved me from the vroom vroom bed (they let me make car sounds the whole way to the emergency room---it keeps me amused! and into the very tiny operating bed. Once I was adjusted they started giving my oxygen and they laughed as I said I'd always wanted to wear an oxygen mask. (Not as cool as I thought it would be...it's smelly plastic smell.) Next thing I knew I was in recovery. I barely remember recovery...lots of you're okays and you did greats and lots of me asking if it was over and where was my husband. Then suddenly I was in a new room and Russell was asking me if I wanted water. I did...and it hurt. My stomach looked and felt bloated. I had 5 incisions. One 3 inches in length and 4 1 inch in length. I was asked to go pee and on the way I saw my doctor--who asked me how I was. I replied with the very lucid "I like your tye-dye hat." Oh yeah...I was "with it".-NOT.  No peeing...so no leaving for me. I had to drink more and take more IV fluids and that's when the nausia hit big time. After a second attempt peeing (to no avail) they sent me home. But first they Xrayed me to make sure the band was in place and positioned well. On the way home I felt more and more sick and I was almost to the bathroom when I finally lost it and threwup. Feeling a lot better, I slept. Since my nap I've tried to have broth and thrown up again. I'm just now starting to keep water down...but I dare not try anything more. I'm tired, sore and thirsty...but sofar so good. My hopes are high. Thank you to everyone for the words of encouragment, the prayers, good karma, flowers, and for feeding my hubby and daughter while I'm down. I am blessed to have each and everyone of you in my life! (And the official pre-op surgery loss was 10.3 lbs!!---So I am well on my way!)

Surgery

Tomorrow I have surgery at 7:30 am. I'll try to post in the afternoon or evening...but no promises. I've already lost 7lbs this week from the liver shrinking diet!

Blood work came back...

...and I have extremely low Vitamin D. The doctor is calling in a supplement for me that I will have to take for 8 weeks and possibly longer. Here is what Web MD says about Vitamin D problems. (My level was 10 and they like to see 32 is what they told me.)

Symptoms and Health Risks of Vitamin D Deficiency

Symptoms of bone painand muscle weakness can mean you have a vitamin D deficiency. However, for many people, the symptoms are subtle. Yet even without symptoms, too little vitamin D can pose health risks. Low blood levels of the vitamin have been associated with the following:

• Increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• Cognitive impairment in older adults
• Severe asthma in children
• Cancer

Research suggests that vitamin D could play a role in the prevention and treatment of a number of different conditions, including type1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and multiple sclerosis.

Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency can occur for a number of reasons:

You don't consume the recommended levels of the vitamin over time. This is likely if you follow a strict vegetarian diet, because most of the natural sources are animal-based, including fish and fish oils, egg yolks, cheese, and beef liver.

Your exposure to sunlight is limited. Because the body makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight, you may be at risk of deficiency if you are homebound, live in northern latitudes, wear long robes or head coverings for religious reasons, or have an occupation that prevents sun exposure.

You have dark skin. The pigment melanin reduces the skin's ability to make vitamin D in response to sunlight exposure. Some studies show that older adults with darker skin are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency.

Your kidneys cannot convert vitamin D to its active form. As people age their kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to its active form, thus increasing their risk of vitamin D deficiency.

Your digestive tract cannot adequately absorb vitamin D. Certain medical problems, including Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, and celiac disease, can affect your intestine's ability to absorb vitamin D from the food you eat.

Diets and Easy Bake

I tried to blog yesterday but my thinking was so cloudy and erratic it was hard to focus on a thought, let alone write it down. Today--at least sofar--my thinking is a little clearer so I'm gonna try to blog about my diet. Day one and two thusfar have been the hardest. In part because of the newness factor and in part because of the holiday. I let Russell do the cooking on Christmas eve, but I did the dinner for him and Lydia on Christmas day. Maybe not the smartest move for my diet, but I needed to feel a part of the meal in some way as I drank my protien shake and ate my cup of carrots. I cried a lot on Christmas. It wasn't that it was a bad day. It was just a very emotional one. The diet has given me a glimpse of what bi-polar disorder might be like. I'm literally up and energetic and filled with life one minute and then suddenly without any warning exhausted and moody. Yesterday physically I was fine but I was cloudy and I had a very difficult time focusing--I even began stuttering toward the end of the day...the day before was physically exhausting but I was thinking fine. Today I seem unaffected, other than I'm hungry. I'm still worried about surgery, but looking forward to it. I'm doing well, following the rules to the letter. Lydia knows I'm going to be having surgery and she's worried about me. Both her daddy and I are trying to relieve her stress as much as possible, but she sees me bottoming out and it bothers her. I spend as much time with her though as I can...we even spent time with her new Easy Bake Oven. (Which by the way she LOVED!) We were going to give it to her last year, but decided to wait another year until she was older and I think it was a wise decision. She made her first cookie and was so proud that she did it by herself. (Well mostly...I handled the hot stuff!) 4 cookies and 1 cake later we told her enough treats for the day and we'd fire it back up tomorrow. So dessert for her tonight will likely be easy bake goods.

Surgery is scheduled for Thursday. Aaron (one of Lydia's sitters) will be here to take care of her. I got them both microwave meals for breakfast and lunch since I don't know Aaron's level of skill in the kitchen and I'm avoiding cooking unless absolutely necessary. Russell will be going to the hospital with me and I'll have him call my folks when it's over and ask him to blog for me. (I'm sure he'll call, not sure he'll blog.) I've had a couple of people ask if I'm going to blog about the LAP band and the answer is yes. I considered setting up a new blog about it...but decided no. This is a part of Lydia's life too, and ultimately I'm doing this for my family. I want to be able to be a more active part of their lives, and get my health issues under better control for them. Because I love them and want to be around them for as long as possible. So since it's about loving them, that means it's also about Loving Lydia--so it belongs here for her.

Opening Presents 09

Honestly this Christams has been a little stressful for me this year. Food everywhere and none for me to eat...but that didn't keep us from having a jolly Christmas morning. The bribes were placed under the tree last night. (2 gingerbread men, lovingly crafted by mommy and Lydia, milk and 9 carrot sticks for the reindeer) The bait taken, Santa arrived and brought with him silver wrapped joy containing an Easy Bake Oven, purple princess pajamas, candy and sparkly high heel shoes for the girl and an IPOD shuffle and Bluray player for me and my man respectively. Lydia opened all the gifts and poured out all the stockings, regardless of whose name appeared on the package! She loved it all! Some highlights of present receiving this year included a Cinderella book, a mermaid doll, and a doll house with dolls and furniture for Lydia and for daddy some Romulan Ale and a GPS. (Purple and on a great sale because it was purple! Santa is a diligent shopper!!!) Mommy especially liked her Zombie plush doll (Thanks Bruce!!!) and her Bath and Body basket filled with goodies. We thank everyone for their friendship, love and gifts and we hope everyone had a great holiday. Happy Christmas, Kwanzaa, Solstice, and Hannukah to you all!

Here's some more pics from later in the day. Perry had a great time. He got a new frisbee (his favourite toys in the world!) a laser pointer (to be shared with the cats) and a tug toy. He was all hugs and kisses and panting with joy!!

Lydia was going to wear a black and red dress today and so she did...except not the one I bought. Instead she wore the one my sissy bought her. I think she looks lovely in it. She's also modeling her shiney high heel shoes which she asked for repeatedly!! Daddy has been running around fixing up his GPS and his Bluray...and me, I've been playing with Lydia and taking it easy. (I've been feeling a little light headed because of the liver shrinking diet.)

  

Christmas Eve 2009

Shopping Day

Today I go shopping for my food for pre-op and post-op diets. Gas-X Strips, Fiber supplements, chewable vitamins, Calcium supplements, broth, sugar free popcicles, raw veggies (2 cups a day), sugar free Jello, fat free cottage cheese (1/2 a cup a day) and 2 instant breakfasts are on the menu starting Dec. 24. Post op it's just liquids (along with the supplements)for a week and then onto pureed foods. The supplements are now a part of my life forever. (Well the Gas-X is only for post surgery pain--but otherwise it's all forever.) :-)

I'm leaping off into the abyss. Today I'll have spaghetti for dinner. (My favourite food.) I'm gonna miss it, but must no longer think of food as fun. Food is fuel. Food is fuel. Food is fuel!

Before

And so it begins. Today I had my pre-op for my LAP band surgery. My tests came out well. Heart is strong...blood sugar a little high, but otherwise good. I endured the classes, the tests, the barium swallow--which almost became the barium upchuck...but fortunately for everyone I kept it down. On Thursday I begin the liver shrinking diet. 7 days of less food than my rat Ben-ben eats in order to keep my surgery risk to a minimum. Then at 6 am on New Years Eve I enter the hospital. Because my surgery is early I will more than likely get to go home and not have to spend the night, which is nice. My fears are high, but my hopes are higher. Soon you will be seeing less of me...but in a good way.

What Santa is bringing her

http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=5851&e=dollhouse-thumb

And now to keep the grandparents happy, a recent picture of the receivie!

Merry little elves are we!!

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