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Sunday, November 29, 2009

Gobble, Gobble, Happy Thanksgiving!

I love this time of year! The holidays always put me in the best mood. I had a really good Thanksgiving for the most part. I woke up early that day and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I swear one year I'm gonna go to New York and watch the darn thing live! I cooked through most of the afternoon and then we trucked everything over to my parents. We had so much food cooked, it was nauseating! I ate a little bite of everything and actually that was too much. Unlike most bandsters who PB when they overeat, I get this incredibly bad pressure in my port and it pops out just like those buttons in the turkeys that you let you know it's done! It's strange thinking how I used to be able to eat 2nds and sometimes even 3rds. Just impossible to do now and I'm thankful for that.





I ended up working Friday night and last night, so I am exhausted! However, it was really good. I'm working as a nursery nurse. This is the new job (2nd job) that I was telling you all about. I stayed really busy and even managed to lose those pounds I had gained over the whole kidney stone incident (will make a separate post to fill you in on that visit with the MD)! I also happened to have the biggest NSV. I ran into a buddy of mine from nursing school at work last night. I saw him as I was catching the elevator and I screamed, "Hey Joey!" He gave me this quizzical look and I realized he did not recognize me! I had to say, "It's me, Melissa!" He was floored. He grabbed me and gave me a huge hug and said "You look so good! I didn't even recognize you!" I was on cloud 9 over that one all night.

And to top it off, I weighed in this morning at 180 exactly, so I'm officially 65 pounds down and I couldn't be anymore thankful for my band!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Another Kidney Stone Victim

Well, I have been MIA from my blog and for good reason, I had a terrible experience with a kidney stone. It all started on Monday. I went for my pre-employment physical and the nurse said "your heart rate is a little high and your temperature is up. Are you getting sick?" And I thought no, I feel fine and the rest of that day I did but on Tuesday I was at work and just not feeling right. Can't really put my finger on what was bothering me but I felt off. I had a couple of patients to see that morning and I dropped off a pack n play to my first one and after that visit I started noticing some pain in my back. I thought maybe I had pulled a back muscle maneuvering that pack n play. By lunch time the pain was starting to get bad so I canceled on my next patient and went back to the office. My coworker, Peggy, who is just the best sat with me while I tried to stretch my back out on the birth ball we have in our office. I took a couple of Tramadol pills (pain pills that I have for my migraines) and hoped that it would take the back pain away. Well, it helped and I made it through the rest of the day at the office.
When I got home that night, I noticed that I was having a weird feeling when I tried to go to the bathroom and instantly the thought popped into my head that I probably had a UTI since that could explain the back pain and the urination problem. So off I go to Publix to pick up some AZO pills and I tell myself I'll call Dr. French in the morning and get some antibiotics. Well, no longer than about an hour after I got home, the back pain became excruciating. I was bent over crying and I told Duane that I had to go to the ER because this was not right. So, he calls my dad and asks him to watch the kids while he takes me to WF ER. I remember telling my dad, we'll be back soon cause it's probably just a UTI *LOL* Oh how stupid was I?
So we get to the ER and now I can barely walk and I'm just crying. Of course, the damn place is packed with idiots who don't know what an ER is really supposed to be used for. I have to vent here because this is such a pet peeve of mine...DO NOT use the ER as your primary care physician. There were people there just laughing a joking around. Can you seriously be in need of emergency care when you're goofing around with your buddies waiting to see a doctor?!?!? This is why the people who truly need to be seen have to wait so damn long but I digress. There was another little gal (appeared to be a teenager) that I did feel sorry for. She and I were the only 2 people screaming and crying in the waiting room. Apparently, she had fallen while playing volleyball and hurt her ankle. I felt bad for her even through my own pain but we were both just having to sit there waiting our turn.
I couldn't get comfortable in my seat. I kept standing up and walking and then sitting down, crying and holding my back. Then all the sudden I started sweating profusely and this is in a hospital that everyone is wearing jackets because it's so cold. Then I felt faint and I sat down and looked at my husband and knew I needed a bucket like now. So that's when the vomiting started. Just a side note about vomiting. It's like I can't do it since being banded. I kept throwing up but it wasn't stomach contents, it was tons and tons of saliva. Weird, huh? So this goes on and on for over 2 hours while I wait to be taken back. Finally, they call my name and by now I am just moaning, groaning, screaming, yelling. etc. Let me just tell you that I had my first daughter with pitocin and no epidural and this pain was equal if not worse than that. I hope to never go through something like that again.
It was taking so long for the nurse or doctor to see me and I was being so mean to my husband. I kept yelling at him to get the nurse and tell her that I am dying. I need something for the pain right now. My poor husband would open the door and try to tell them that his wife was in an insane amount of pain. Finally, Dr. Gonzales (who is fantastic btw) passes by the room and he says, "honey, I think you have a kidney stone and I'm gonna get you something for the pain, just give me 1 minute." So, my nurse, Tiffany, comes in and starts my IV and gives me some medicine. It took about 20 minutes but finally the pain was gone. OMG, I felt like a different person. I apologized to everyone I had yelled at. I went to CT and they confirmed that I had a stone. It was blocking off my ureter and the urine and blood was backed up. It was almost to my bladder which is a good thing because that's apparently when the pain subsides. Dr. Gonzales said the stone was about 4 mm in size. He said I would be able to pass it on my own but I needed to follow up with a specialist. They gave me more fluids, some prescriptions for pain meds, and I was finally able to go home at about 5 am.
I've been at home for the last 2 days in a coma almost. I ended up sleeping for what seems like an entire day. Every time I got to the bathroom, I have to strain my pee. You're supposed to try and catch the stone so it can be analyzed by the urologist because certain foods can cause stones. I have to admit that I'm pretty sure the band contributed to the stone. I guess we'll have to wait and see what the urologist says. I feel terrible not in pain or anything but just washed out and depressed because my energy is down and I've been missing work and just gross because I've laid out on the couch for 2 days. UGH. I feel so bad because now I know what Bandita was going through. It's just horrible. I haven't passed the stone and I am thinking mine might have broken up into tiny fragments because I've been straining my urine for 2 days and nothing. I keep debating whether I should go into work tomorrow or just give myself the rest of the weekend to get better. I'm going to call the urologist and see about my appointment now. It might take me awhile but I plan to catch up on all the blogging I missed and if you made it through this whole post, Bless you!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Size 10...what?

I'm sitting here trying to recover from a very crazy weekend. Lyric's birthday was on Friday so we had a little party with family that night. I was half dead due to 3 hours sleep the previous night and the fact that I got both my flu shots that day at work (talk about sore arms). Then last night we went to Duane's parents for dinner. I was rushing around because I'm always running late and I picked up a pair of my old jeans and tried them on and to my amazement they fit. They are size 10's!!!!!!! I am so happy!! I haven't worn 10's since Lyric was about 3 years old *LOL* The only bad thing about all this weight loss is I have absolutely no clothes to wear. I feel like some type of street vagrant because I'm wearing whatever I can dig out of the closet. I plan to go shopping with my Christmas money so I only need to make due just a little while longer. So if you see me in Walgreens with an old stained white T shirt and some jeans, please be gentle.

Oh and I got the job!! I start on the 23rd! More money and smaller jeans make Melissa very happy =p

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Feeling Much Better About Everything

So I think I was freaking out way too much the other day about my Halloween candy binge! I got back on track Monday and actually weighed myself and I had only gained a pound. Thanks goodness for that 5 K! I will tell you one thing I love about being banded. I know that I will always have slip ups with food but with the band it's like a controlled slip. I don't gain 5 pounds when I overeat like I would have in the past. I need to learn to let it go when I make a mistake and just focus on being better the next day. I'm bad about beating myself up.

I haven't posted about this yet but I'm a little scared that I might be having gallbladder issues. I have problems with going from either constipation to diarrhea since being banded. It's so annoying. And then twice in the last month I've had these "episodes" where I will feel like I have to go to the bathroom shortly after eating something but I can't go. Then I broke out in a cold sweat and thought I was going to die with really bad pain in my stomach. It's almost like how you would describe dumping syndrome but that's very uncommon in banded people. At any rate, my doctor's ordered an u/s of my gallbladder. Just hoping I don't have to have another surgery!

I had my interview today at the hospital and it went really well. The hospitals have these things called peer interviews so first you interview with the manager of the unit and then if she/he likes you, you have to be interviewed by the other nurses who work there. It's a little nerve wracking. I have to go to that interview this weekend. I'm really hoping they like me because this would be so good for me financially. And I've decided that if I go get this job, I'm gonna reward myself with a gym membership. I know I said I couldn't go before but I think I will have the time and the money if this new gig works out. I felt so good on Halloween after the 5 k and it reminded me that exercise can be fun, especially when you have a partner to work out with =)

Sunday, November 1, 2009

The Halloween Fallout!

This weekend was a wild one. On Saturday I did the Harvest Hustle 5k with Mary and my husband. Let me first tell you that I have never in my life walked 3 miles at one time. I had not prepared in anyway but I still felt like I would be ok *LOL* Guess that was my first error in judgment! When we got up that morning, it was actually pretty chilly and the wind was blowing hard. I got out to the start site and I found Mary. Let me tell you all, she looks awesome! Over 100 pounds lost in 7 months!! She amazes me with her effort and commitment. I know I lack seriously in that area but I aim to be more like her. We all talked for awhile before the race was to start. Finally, it was time to get started and I heard the announcer say, "if you cannot run 3 miles in under 18 minutes, do not get in front." Wait a sec...did he say 3 miles in 18 minutes?!?!? There are people who can actually do that?!?!? Yes, I found out there are indeed people who can do that! I quickly got to the back with the other slowbies. My husband and Mary, who are in much better shape than I, started with me. It was much tougher than I imagined. When we hit the one mile marker, I thought "Really??? Only 1 mile?" I told Mary and my husband to not let me slow them down. My husband took off but Mary stayed with me, which I thought was really sweet. I tried not to complain too much but my feet and legs were hurting. I made to the end in 55 mins and change. I was really happy that I completed it but boy oh boy was I in pain today. My muscles are sore!!! I have to start working out more. I know that I will never love exercise but I did feel awesome after completing the race so I think I can like it eventually once I build up my strength and endurance.

On Saturday night, we took the kiddos trick or treating and we had an awesome time. This was Winter's first year that she actually went door to door. After every house she kept saying, "Mama, we go nother one." Lyric said it was the best Halloween ever. We ended up with over 3 buckets of candy. Not a good thing for myself. I will confess that my plan to only have a couple of pieces went to pieces. The kids were tuckered out and went to bed and I laid on the couch watching scary movies. I had some strange dreams that night and slept bad. I think it was a combo of the movies, too much candy, and my sore muscles. At any rate, I woke up at 4 am and was unable to go back to sleep.

Today, I was feeling so bad about myself. I sometimes feel like a band failure. I'm 9 months out and I haven't even hit 70 pounds lost. I know it could be more. I overindulge too much and I don't work out. I cried today. I think I've been feeling stressed about the job thing, the weight, and just missing my kids when I'm working all the time it feels like. I want to do better. I got a fill on Friday and I don't know if this ever happens to any of ya'll but sometimes after I first get a fill it seems as though I can eat more. I know that doesn't make sense but I was starving all weekend. Maybe because of the exercise? I'm not sure. I have 8.3 cc in my band and I can still eat a full plate of food. I don't really know what I should or shouldn't be able to eat. I guess I'm not sure what the sweet spot feels like. I read others blogs and it seems as though lots of them eat like birds and that's definitely not me. I'm not sure if I need more fill or an attitude adjustment. SIGH. I'm going to pick myself up and really try hard this week. My work hours were changed (against my liking) and I actually go in later now so I'm hoping to squeeze in a workout.

Here's some of our Halloween pics. We ended up having to put a sweatshirt under Winter's costume. We had not prepared for cool Trick or Treat weather. I still think I look huge which was another disappointment. My husband said we all looked cute. I think I'll keep him =)

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