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Okay today I am officially frustrated for my wife.

March 5th she submitted herself for gastric bypass surgery.  In addition her gallbladder was removed.  They even took a snipit of her liver too.  Late in the day on the 6th she was released, in good health, but of course still kinda out of it.

Wednesday we stayed near the hospital and the doctor who preformed the surgery, just in case ... thankfully no just in cases came up.  Thursday we made our way home.  Kat has been pretty much convalescing sense then.

It is Sunday morning.  Kat weighs herself .... she has gained 2.2 lbs.  Shouldn't it be the other direction?

She has been following the diet as prescribed in print and in pre-surgery classes.  Itty-bitty byte sizes of non-fat, no sugar, just plain ole greek yogert, plus protein drinks, or shakes. Tiny amounts of warm broth etc. She is sipping water often through the day, she is taking her vitamins and minerals as prescribed.

The only think I can think of is she has JUST HAD SURGERY and her body is/has not come out of that initial shock yet, thus it is not behaving as we anticipated, at least not yet.  We replaced the batteries in the scale ... just in case they were causing a mis-read.  No, that wasn't it either.  Maybe the pain med is somehow keeping the weight on?!?  Okay I'm grasping at straws ... [Later we learned that two of her pain related meds are known to cause weight gain.  To bad we didn't know that up front!]

The only OTHER thing that could account for this is she is not walking as often as she could.  In her defense, that is also related to pain.  Pain equals "Gosh, I don't wanna move!"  Understandable, I wouldn't either.

Needless to say she is quite ... annoyed and or disappointed at this.  I've gently admonished her to not take it to heart just now, there is probably a good reason for this, we just don't know what it is yet.

So here we go, into week number two.

Gary

It is April 1st as I key this in.  Kat is towards the end of week 4.  She has passed the first two weeks of liquid only nutrition, and is at the end of the pureed stage.  Today, her birthday we went out to eat at a favorite local mexican food restaurant.  She ordered a plate refried beans with a bit of cheese on the top,  See the photo.  She ate about 4 spoons full, and was full.  The rest she brought home in a to-go container for another time.

Note the two photos.  One taken on 03/13/2012 in Santa Barbara, at her Doctor's office at the first follow up appointment after surgery.  The next one was taken today, (04/01/2012.  When you're in your own skin looking out, it is difficult to note the changes.  When Kat saw these two photos, all I could hear is WOW!.

Sense surgery she has lost 20.4lbs. as of April 1, 2012

I suggested that the next picture we take, she wear the same blouse she is wearing in the upper photo.  That'll really show some difference.

One of our nurse friends told us, based on the number of hours Kat was "under" that it will probably be a full year before Kat sheds the effects of surgery.  Not to be confused with conditions relating to WHY she had the surgery.  Right now, her BIGGEST issue is being so tired at days' end.

We have a bit of fun about her new eating habits.  For example I tease her about eating us out of house and home with her HUGE portions.  Or I'll bring her a "roller-napkin" (a single paper towel) cause I just know how messy she is.  To put it in perspective?  On her Puree phase ... she said "I feel like a 6 month old."  Certainly she is eating like one.  lol

Weeks 2 and 3 progressed normally.  Less and less use of pain meds, gentle walking.  And the first of this last week, she returned to work.  She seems to be hitting all the "markers" the physician's staff indicated she'd hit in general.  So far ... so good.

More later.

- Gary

It is May 8th as I key this in.  Kat continues to make progress. Today was her 8 week check up in Santa Barbara.  I asked her to wear the same top she wore on her March 13th followup.  Her next followup is Sept. 5th.

Look at the difference a few short(?!?) weeks has made.  Kat is moving into more "regular" foods, still supplementing with what she has been eating etc.  On our way back from Santa Barbara, we stopped at a Mexican Food Restaurant in Buellton.  She again had maybe ... 6 to 10 small bites ... and brought the rest home.

Talk about a cost effective date!  Whoa!

As of this date, she has lost 38.6 lbs sense her operation.  In some ways this is a miracle.  Yet, as impatient as we humans are, I am reminded that Rome was not built in a day, nor will loosing weight be accomplished that quickly either.  All good things ... GOOD things ... take time.  Thank you Lord for this answered prayer and so much more!

More later.

- Gary