20 day post-op update: adjusting to a new lifestyle

Today marks the 20th day post-surgery. The euphoria has died down a bit. I no longer feel like I can walk on water but I still feel great. 

I am already able to eat solids with caution. I have had a few mishaps with certain foods (mainly bread) where I wasn't sure if I was choking or throwing up but for 10 seconds I was convinced I was going to die. Thankfully (and obviously) I didn't.

I am scheduled to go back to work on September 2nd. I feel fine apart from some discomfort near my port. I thought I was better than I actually was and tried to lift my niece up in my arms. A move that I totally regretted. I felt pain on my left side (muscular pain) and had to resume taking my pain medication for a few days. I feel much better now but I still get a small pang of pain here and there.

My diet is pretty much normal now, except I have cut out junk food completely. I haven't had a soda in over 2 months. I did have a craving for fries the other day so I had initially ordered a trio from McDonald's but I could barely finish the fries and I handed the burger over to my brother. I didn't really feel like eating it anyway. My stomach worked all night after eating the fries so it was a clear signal from my body telling me this better be the last time. I didn't really enjoy them anyway. 

Otherwise I have been able to sit down with my family and have dinner with them. I normally should still be on the purée diet but after 4 days of liquids I was able to pass on to purée, and just a little over a week later I was eating soft foods. 

I have a follow up appointment on September 22nd and I am assuming I will be getting a fill that day. I can eat a decent size portion per meal but I would like a bit more restriction. 

My scars have healed beautifully. Two of the small incisions barely look like a scratch now. The larger incisions closed up nicely.

I also experienced my first two off-scale victories.

The first is that I can see (faintly but still) my collarbones! I have never seen them. 

My second is that I was able to cross my legs sitting down for the first time in years! I was really excited. 

I keep checking to see if I have reached my first goal which is to weigh 330 lbs or less. To do that I try weighing myself with a scale (which stops at 330 lbs). That would be a total weightloss of 50 lbs, or 34.4 lbs since my last weigh-in on the day of my surgery.

I'm learning everyday mostly about listening to what my body tells me.

Until next time,

gabythegirlnextdoor