Basically, everything went to hell about 1/2 way through this month. There was no warning whatsoever but I ended up going into the hospital twice and then had to have emergency surgery. Oh yes, you read that right. It was just as big of a shock to me. Let me explain:
So remember all the tests they ran on me prior to surgery? (Think:pre-op requirements) They check everything: heart, lungs, blood, urine, gall bladder, etc. Everything obviously came back fine since I was cleared for surgery. I specifically remember my surgeon telling me how she was surprised that my gall bladder looked so healthy for being as heavy as I was... Well, it didn't like the changes I have made to say the least because it caused me hell this month. I came home from the pool after relaxing and swimming all day to start feeling really ill. I ended up in so much pain my husband took me to our local ER who stated after a CT scan that my gall bladder looked "a little inflamed" and they suggested calling my RNY surgeon. So, I did. They scheduled a scan for Friday that week. In the meantime I was suppose to keep a bland diet and go back to the ER if they pain increased.
By Tuesday night I was vomiting because the pain was so severe. I made my husband take me back to the same local ER who ran blood tests. Turns out I was in a fatal levels of liver enzymes and needed emergency surgery to see what was blocking my liver. They transferred me to the hospital I had my RNY at (it's a much bigger and more equipped hospital) and I was on a morphine pump all night while they ran a battery of tests to determine the problem. After a night of tests I was scheduled for surgery the following morning. The diagnoses? A gall stone was blocking the duct to my liver (causing the high enzyme levels) and my gall bladder was grotesquely diseased and infected. My surgeon told my family that she has never seen such an infected gall bladder. She was shocked at how quickly it went bad too. Her only explanation was that my gall bladder "didn't get with the program" when I changed my diet and continued to act as if I was eating all the fat/oils that I use to. It basically overworked itself to death. So after a few more days in the hospital to give my body proper antibiotics and heal I headed back home.
Recovery after this surgery was almost worse than the RNY recovery. *TMI WARNING* Not having a gall bladder is poopy- literally and figuratively. I haven't had a normal bowel movement since surgery. I am having to relearn foods again because now without a gall bladder I'm even more sensitive to oils in foods- natural or not. Luckily I am still very strict about my diet so it hasn't been too big of an adjustment.
One great thing about being so sick is the lack of appetite which means a help in the weight loss department! So without further ado.... my month 5 pictures!!
Oh yeah! That's a total of 82.4 pounds since March 17, 2011!!!!
And now the comparisons.... It's silly to say since it's only been 5 months but I don't even remember that girl in the left anymore :) And that's a good feeling!
Can you tell a difference? I'm happy to say that I can.
Goals for this month?
1) Work out more... I was doing so well and then with surgery, recovery, and now waiting for my surgeon appointment so she can clear me I have slacked.
2) Blog more! I love being apart of the WLS community and hope I can keep everyone in the loop more often!
Love you all :)
