Post Op Appointment

First off I hit 20 lbs!!!

According to the doctor’s records I lost 10lbs since last week, but that includes the water weight I gained after surgery. In my calculations (using my surgery day weight) I have lost 5lbs in 2 weeks. My goal is to lose 1.25lbs a week (stretch goal is to lose 1.5lbs), but in the past I have always lost a lot in the beginning (10lbs a month) and then I have hit a plateau and stopped. I would love to lose 10lbs a month until I hit my goal, but I wanted to make sure that my goals would be realistic and reachable long term so I don’t get discouraged.

However, as I mentioned before according to the doctor’s notes I have lost 10lbs in a week. That combined with my fatigue has earned me another week off of work. The consensus was that I am getting too few calories (already knew that) even though I am following the instructions/menus for the “really mushy” stage (not to be confused with the mushy phase or as my doctor calls it the “soft” phase). I pointed out that most of the menus are for 600-800 calories and that even though I am not hungry very often I have been forcing myself to get at least that (and trying to get in more).

So when I asked for a return to work slip she said that she wasn’t going to clear me yet and that I needed to wait at least 1 more week. She wants to run more tests to make sure I am not anemic or have a thyroid problem (which I learned can be triggered by a trauma like surgery). I was also ordered to “take it easy” and that I am doing too much (even though I am following the discharge instructions).

Heck, I thought I was going to get in trouble for doing too little. I feel like I am napping or watching TV all the time. I do make sure I get some exercise in – especially walking, but I didn’t think I was doing anything that strenuous. She said that it is great to exercise (everything I am doing was approved), but a lot of the little things I am doing add up. She even weighed my jacket and purse (3.3lbs) and pointed out that to reach my 10lb limit (to carry, push or pull) doesn’t take much. She even said decorating the Christmas tree was a no no (even though I had people carry the stuff for me) since it involved a lot of stretching.

In some ways I am happy about having another week off. I was a little stressed on how I was going to work since I am always tired (I take 1-2 naps a day), but since she had originally said a week off (I stressed two since I know my schedule) I thought I would have to just tough it out. I wasn't looking forward to that.

However, including the week I was laid off before the surgery I will be out of work for 4 weeks (thank God for disability insurance). I am going to have SOOO MUCH work to do when I get back!! Hopefully, my team is working hard and hasn’t hit any roadblocks. I will be very disappointed if my project falls off schedule since I worked so hard to make sure they had everything they needed before I left. Ohh well. I can’t do anything about it now so I am not going to stress over it :)