Sept Doctor Appointment

On Monday, Sept 19 I had my 2nd follow up doctor's appointment, to check on my ER Surgery, as well as scheduling and discussing the next surgery.

The appointment took one hour!  It really seemed like 15 minutes.  This doctor is very good, and he's compassionate.  Its difficult to look at what has become of my "belly"  I mean, my belly button isn't in the middle of this watermelon of a stomach - you have to go down and to the left to find it, it is there.  and this belly is really heavy, and so uncomfortable as it hangs pretty much between my legs...

So the doctor says he has to lift and put all those 'insides' of mine back in place, which means cutting through my ab muscles and adding a mesh to keep them in place.  It may not be a dangerous surgery, but its a process, and healing is going to be quite the journey, a very painful journey... and recovery will be slow, with only walking to get back strength, no yoga, no pilates, no swimming... just walk the doctor says.

Then I got weighed.  20#?  Surely I lost 50# in 5 weeks?!  No?  sigh... Keep on the diet.  Keep walking, need to build stamina for surgery.  Doctor talked about all the excess skin that I will have and how a plastic surgeon will be able to make me look so much better.

So I went home with a list of instructions, and a list of doctors to coordinate, as the plastic surgeon, and "excess skin" is considered cosmetic by the Insurance Companies, that will have to be out of pocket.  As it is our insurance may not continue in to next year.  Insurance companies do seem to have a hold on so many.

Right now my next surgery is scheduled for November 28.  Until then, must gain stamina.

For Knitting:

I had to cast on a Miya Shawl by Mari Chiba.  I'm using Bijou Basin Cashmere yarn, its a simple knit and I love the yarn.  I tend to be short a stitch every now and again...

I had wanted to knit Pretty Thing, by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (yes, the Yarn Harlot!) but my interchangeable 16" cord may fit the needles, the needles were too long for the cord and this project, I couldn't do the SSK stitch -so Amazon and sure enough, I ordered a set of Knitter's Pride, but by the time it got here I had already repurposed the Cashmere yarn!  So I am using the Sun Valley Yarns

and I need to cast on a new sock!

I have a doctors appointment Monday, September 19.  For this appointment I'm to have a CT Scan, then discuss the next step.  I know surgery has to be done.  I'm a bit nervous. Going " under" terrifies me

I have been trying to stay around 1200 calories. I was so heavy my old scale didn't go that high, it was the old fashioned kind. So on Amazon I ordered a digital one....

I found out it can vary 5# depending on where I place it in the bathroom tile floor.  I asked dd to see what it does in 2 specific places.  It varied 2.5# for her.

Tonight the number jumped 10#. roflol.  But boy do I love that lower number, it would mean a loss of 50#!  I'm hoping for a 35-40# loss come Monday (it makes the surgery better, the more I lose)

I in no way look like I've lost 50#, but I don't look like I've lost 20# either, it's hard to see anything beyond my huge belly :-(

I will say on the protein, Core Power drinks, I'm not hungry, it's 26 gr of protein.  Mentally I want food around 3pm. And when I smell dinner!  So I eat a small amount for dinner. Adding fiber to be sure!

Happy Sunday

Out of Hospital last Monday - I've made it to Sunday.  On the liquid diet, protein matters!  I really don't find myself hungry, but do find it hard sometimes when others eat, or bake.  How I love to cook.

I began walking when I got home, to continue what was expected at hospital - walk around nurses station... So out the door, a little bit more each day, no matter how hot, get out and walk!  The iPhone has an ap for that - a heart in a box, I clicked and then out the door for my walk.  I try and do 3 rounds of walking, a bit further each day.  Today I've made it 1584 steps, .65 mile. And it seems so far when I'm out there doing it.  I don't want to make the hernia worse, so I'm only pushing it a bit.  I come in and yes, I'm panting... But I did it!

Knitting - I have a pair of socks on the needles in the Hermione Every Day sock pattern, I've done a few rows... But my mind wants to knit more than I really knit.  Once I pick up the needles, it just isn't doing it for me yet.  I want to watch my knitting podcasts, but only if I knit while watching!

A week ago, one short week ago - I went to the laundromat to do our laundry.  I knew I wasn't feeling well, but it got worse.  I made it home, made it to the bedroom, and then, the pain intensified and it was off to Highland Park Hospital where it was ultimately determined I needed emergency surgery for a strangulated hernia.

Now I'm on the road to recovery.  It will include this week of rest and walking.  And a liquid diet.  Basically the Gastric Bypass Bariatric pre-op liquid diet.  Meeting with the Nutritionist I was looking for a 3 month diet plan, the nutritionist thought I was have Gastric Bypass in 2 weeks.  Hmmmmm

Well since I'm seeing the surgeon in 7 days, and since he said his bariatric nurse will be there, so I'll get clarity. In the meantime I'm taking this week this liquid diet as a healing for the surgical procedure of taking care of the hernia, and removing part of my bowel.

It consists of 100 grams of protein (through a liquid shake 5 times a day in a prescribed time) some veggies (tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots) 100 go of carbs (through same shakes) and 18 grams of fat oh and 240 calories X 5 shakes.  Of course our town didn't have the Power 26, they had power 18, I ordered from Amazon, and should get the Power 26 from Amazon tomorrow.

So far, so good!

Knitting
I have a few projects on the needles.

I took a Worsted Weight Shawl to the Hospital (or DH delivered it! ;). ) and got a few rows in, it's here, but I'm not up to knitting right now

A week ago, one short week ago - I went to the laundromat to do our laundry.  I knew I wasn't feeling well, but it got worse.  I made it home, made it to the bedroom, and then, the pain intensified and it was off to Highland Park Hospital where it was ultimately determined I needed emergency surgery for a strangulated hernia.

Now I'm on the road to recovery.  It will include this week of rest and walking.  And a liquid diet.  Basically the Gastric Bypass Bariatric pre-op liquid diet.  Meeting with the Nutritionist I was looking for a 3 month diet plan, the nutritionist thought I was have Gastric Bypass in 2 weeks.  Hmmmmm

Well since I'm seeing the surgeon in 7 days, and since he said his bariatric nurse will be there, so I'll get clarity. In the meantime I'm taking this week this liquid diet as a healing for the surgical procedure of taking care of the hernia, and removing part of my bowel.

It consists of 100 grams of protein (through a liquid shake 5 times a day in a prescribed time) some veggies (tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots) 100 go of carbs (through same shakes) and 18 grams of fat oh and 240 calories X 5 shakes.  Of course our town didn't have the Power 26, they had power 18, I ordered from Amazon, and should get the Power 26 from Amazon tomorrow.

So far, so good!

Knitting
I have a few projects on the needles.

I took a Worsted Weight Shawl to the Hospital (or DH delivered it! ;). ) and got a few rows in, it's here, but I'm not up to knitting right now