Category: Blog

Can’t sleep.

I have lost another pound — so I am 25 pounds less than my heaviest — 47 pounds from my goal weight and by the way, that goal weight will still mean I am morbidly obese.  My goal weight is the weight I was when I was very successful at dog agility.   Once I hit that weight, I will reevaluate. 

The reason I can’t sleep is that the dermabound is peeling off and it is making all my skin itch.  I’ve never itched so much, and it isn’t just the wounds where I am itching.

I actually went to bed at a good time last night, but woke up and can’t go back to sleep.

By the way, I’m still diabetic.  Had another blood sugar excusion, done on purpose — wanted to see if I could walk off my dinner and I coudn’t.  The nice thing, is that the two excusions I have had been very easy to correct without the rollar coaster.

I want to explain the snarky, "I’m still diabetic".  My mother and other people around me who just read the popular press have been convinced for years if I did obesity surgery I would be cured of all my chronic ailments.  Well I knew I wouldn’t, and it’s a little fun to be snarky and say "yes, I’m still diabetic".  By the way, I still have GERD, I still have sleep apnea, and I still have arthitis.

Besides if I wasn’t diabetic any more it would be mean I’ve wasted the last few years of my life trying for tight control and that I should have done this surgery years ago.  It’s really just been the last two where I couldn’t lose weight.  I was even able to lose weight on Symlin.  Just not this fast.  And not for long.

I don’t look like I’ve lost this much weight yet — my torso is still swollen from the surgery.  I can wear the next size down upper body clothing, but not the lower body.  I’m wearing my biggest skirts and am still a bit uncomfortable, but it will come.  My digestive track is still offended by the surgery.  I’m having bowel movements and each one is a bit more solid than the last.  In fact, each day is slowly better than the day before.

I feel like I’ve lost this much weight though, especially since the last 11 pounds have happened in a  week.  Imagine having carried a 25 pound pack and suddenly not having to carry it, wouldn’t you feel instantly better?  It’s just the itching right now, and it will be over in a day or two.

I’m on full liquids right now, so that means I’m still doing jello, stock, Crystal Light, and sugar free popsicyles.  I’ve subtracted two protein bullets, so I am still doing one, and have added 3 Slim Fasts a day.  I’m hoping to go to my favorite Mexican restaurant soon, get a chicken and torilla soup from them without the chicken and tortilla — put it in my magic bullet and pulerize it and drink that.  The broth alone was great last Monday, and I figure go one step smoother with whats left will be really nice.

The best news, is that I haven’t been physically hunger since the surgery.  A bit head hungry, lots of head hungry because of habit. 

TDD is a tad higher because of the carbs in Slim Fast.  It’s at 30 right now (TDD is number of insulin units a day).  And I’ve lost 11 pounds since the surgery.

My weight has stabilized.  For two mornings, I’ve been close to the same weight.  I know why — I’m not sleeping enough which tends to put me in starvation mode.  Plus I probably AM in starvation mode.  I’ve been at under 1000 calories for a week!

Will have three Slim Fasts a day for the next week, then I get to add mushies.  Can’t wait!

Still walking — did 30 minutes straight last night.

TDD yesterday was around 19.  I have to figure bolus rates again, plus I am trying to be disciplined about using Symlin.

By the way, today is our last full day of school – man, I could use another week.  Still not caught up from being out.

Today will also be another long day, I’m going to be teaching the trainers for middle school girl’s camp.

Just got back from my post-op appointment.  I have lost 12 pounds since I was in that office last and 8 pounds since the surgery.

He cleared me for full liquids so I’m having a Slim Fast for dinner a bit later.

He also said I could do a baked potato for our school lunch on Wednesday (boy, howdy food!) If I made it really really mushy.

Said I was healing well.

Getting there!

I had a Slim Fast — trying to follow bandster rules — stop drinking 15 minutes before the meal, and waiting at least an hour afterward.  Also tried to drink it slow.

I’m FULL.  Of course, I also did Symlin with it, which also delays stomach emptying.  

But I’m FULL, almost uncomfortably.

Walked thirty minutes straight afterwards.

Doing really, really well.

My blood sugar hit 261 and I’m starting to feel like my mouth and throat might be infected.  Happens every time my blood sugar gets too hit.

And it was my fault.

I had a basal program called “surgery’ that was 50% of my surgery.  Well, I’ve been running on that for three days, so I figured the best thing to do was to change my normal basal program to 50% and make the surgery on, 50% less than that, as I am often turning my temp basal to 50% reduction.

Well, that would have been a good idea if I had switched my running basal program to normal.  But no, left it on surgery and was a tad high anything.

Outsmarted myself again.

And yes, I’m still diabetic.

And was doing so poorly, I posted this on the wrong blog!

First, I go back to work today and it will be a long day.  Have a meeting to plan out June after school today.

Second, I did go to dog agility.  Drive didn’t bother me at all, I did only do 1 1/2 classes, primarily because Maggie was very frustrated that I wasn’t moving faster.  I walked and the dogs ran the courses. 

Stopped at favorite Mexican place on the way home and got chicken and tortilla soup without chicken or tortilla and just sipped the liquid.  It was VERY good and still a clear liquid.  I needed the change in flavor. 

Still losing weight – down 10 pounds since the surgery and my TDD (total daily dosage) of insuiln is still low – 16 units yesterday.

Today and tomorrow I’ll still be on clear liquids and I see the surgeon post-op tomorrow.

I think I’m to add to my posts each day rather than start a new one. So far, I’ve made it through 1st period and believe me, I’m always busy before school, today I need to run around and test some of the wireless. Will get the rest at lunch

Some notes about lab band. I am still diabetic. My insulin needs are way down. I also still have gastric reflux but it’s better without any real food in my system, but I can’t do the clear liquid thing permanently. It would drive me insane. I also am pretty sure I still have sleep apnea. I’ll let you know in a few months how I am doing though, maybe the above will change.

Oh, and I’ve done some math — I’ve lost 24 pounds from my heaviest

—

Made it through my first day — tested the wireless in the front half of the building (auditorium works, front office doesn’t, but did later).  Lots of tech requests, lots of end of year issues to deal with.  At "lunch" I went to the library –farthest place from my room – and tested wireless on the way).  So got some walking in.

Did the afterschool meeting and I was the second lead for it, so I had to be on.

Got home, relaxed a bit and did 20 minutes on the treadmill.  Now trying to turn the brain off, wish I had the hot tub — can’t for a few more weeks.

2 hours after the 269, I was at 130, so cranking up the basal, and doing the correction fixed the problem.  Walking the building didn’t hurt either.

This morning is my 4th morning after surgery — last night was the last night I needed the compression machine.  I’m going to be glad to sleep without that!

I figured out a protocol to handle my blood sugar.  Staying on the surgery baal.  If I am < 150, I turn my basal to -50%.  If I plan to walk on the treadmill, I turn my basal to -50%.  If my blood sugar is >200, I turn my basal to +50%  and correct.  I am also not doing any bolusing for anything I drink (popsicyles and fruit juice).  I also did a popsicle and box of juice after walking.

My scales show 299!  Haven’t been in twoterville (what the bandsters call it) for quite some time.  I’m hoping the scale is right and I am acknowling that I will probably gain weight in the nex month so not worrying too much, just happy to see that weight.

Went out twice yesterday and got quite a bit of work done towards my 8th grade curriculum, something I haven’t been able to concentrate on.

I stopped taking the Liquid Tylonel — haven’t needed it.

Incisions are looking good.

TDD is 15

According to my scales, I’ve lost 22 pounds.

Just woke up on morning 3.  My scale shows I’ve lost 7 pounds since the morning of surgery.  I don’t always believe my scale, it has lied lately.  However, my blood sugar is 90 this morning and I had to switch back to the surgery basal rate last night.  My TDD is dropping and has been in the low thirties the past few days.

At lot of the reason my weight and TDD is so low is what I am eating.  I’m not.  For each “meal” yesterday, I had broth, a protein bullet, and jello.  I’ve gotten some juice and some popscyles so I don’t have to worry about going low but that isn’t working.  I’m supposed to be on clear liquids for a week but I’m finding that managing my blood sugar is a bit difficult on them.

I’ve got an email out to the TLC case manager, and I may call my doctor’s office later in the day to see if I can go ahead and add SlimFast so my blood sugar will be easier to manage. 

So my progress — walked 30 minutes on the treadmill in 7 1/2 minutes, 7 1/2 minutes and 15 minutes.

Lost 8 pounds since surgery date and over 20 pounds total.

TDD in the high 30s.

My incisions look really good and I’ve had my second shower.

More:

I did make three trips yesterday — two to Kroger’s to get things I was out of or just wanted and one to Office Depot to get wheels for Tuesday (I using a rolling box to get things back and forth).

I also made a trip to Walgreen’s today and returned the children’s liquid Tylenol which the doctor recommended. Adult liquid is much better and cheaper.  I also picked up liquid Centrum today and took a dose.

I’m learning to manage the blood sugar, if it goes to low, I’m turning on the temp basal to -50% and leaving it on the surgery basal rate.  I’m planning on walking later, so I have it on %50 now — and my blood sugar was at 146 around 11:00 am.

Just finished my first shower after the surgery and I feel so much better.  Amazing but not surprising.

I stopped taking codeine after my midnight dose the first night, and stopped taking the anti-nausea medication yesterday afternoon.  I’m on clear fluids: “protein bullets” three times a day, stock, sugar free jello and popsicles.  I’m a bit worried about how Tuesday and Wednesday are going to go, as my diet is a bit difficult for school, but I’ll have to see.  I’ve got a few days to plan.

I did go to Kroger’s this morning and picked up more Liquid Tylenol.  While there, I also picked up two soup cans of broth — I think that will do fine for Tuesday and Wedneday with lots of jello and a cold pack.  I’m looking forward to Slimfast again.  Hopefully on Wednesday after I see the doctor.

Sad isn’t that?  Looking forward to Slimfast?