Turn your face to the sun..... - Page 3 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

trish29 · 06-25-2009, 01:09 PM

I just had the chance to catch up and "read" you.

I am SOOOOO excited for you.

I will write more soon. I can't believe what an exciting time you are about to have... YAY.

NorCalRN · 06-26-2009, 11:51 PM

Thanks for the awesome comments Foxy and Trish! It's so nice to know others are following me along on my journey here.

So the last 2 days I have been doing A LOT of riding. I own a 15 year old Quarter Horse named Gunner. I'll have to post a pic or two. My surgeon has told me he doesn't want me riding for 4 weeks. Psht! Yeah, right. I brought it up in the support group meeting- why can others start lifting light weights and doing real "exercise" in 2 weeks but I can't ride? I have a light enough saddle, I use a mounting block to get up on him (like I could lift myself from the ground anyways!)... so his main concern is me getting dumped. Falling. Being thrown. Totally Understandable. So he said that if I feel it is reasonably safe, I can ride after 2 weeks. Which I think I just might be doing. My horse is awesome, I have never once felt unsafe on him. And in all my years of riding stupid/young/untrained/show/backyard horses... I've come off all of 3 times. So I am feeling pretty ok with riding after 2 weeks. Just mellow easy rides of course, but still.

So anyways, I've been going on some trail rides, getting sunburned and loving it. Trying to get in as much real riding this last week as possible before surgery. Tomorrow I am going on a Poker Ride! I'll explain later, hopefully with some pics to share.

I'm excited.

Other than that just planning on getting some last minute hefty stuff done. My list looks like this:
Buy Dogfood & Kitty Litter
Fill Giant Water bottles
Go to Costco / Grocery store
Take dogs to Vet (my poor girl has a UTI)
Wash Clothes/Sheets
Write myself reminders to let boyfriend do everything else next week! lol

I'm a bit of a control freak, and since I am the one not working I tend to feel responsible for doing a lot of the household chores. Most of the above includes heavy lifting and strenuous stuff- I'm trying to get the majority of that sort of things done before Tuesday.

Okay- last little tidbit. I have ordered a bunch of photo prints (all my pics are digital) and some Alpaca wool... and a few books from Amazon (if they EVER get here). This way I have a few things to work on while I am "recuperating" after surgery. I have a stack of papers/bills to go through and file (ooh..f-u-n) and a photo project, and I'm teaching myself to hand spin my own yarn! Plus all the books I ordered should help keep me busy.

I find myself dreading the thought of staying overnight in the hospital. My surgery is scheduled for 0830 am, so I am either 1st or 2nd for the day. Which means I am going to be wanting to go home that night- I have a feeling. I am a major homebody and for whatever reason- I don't like being the "patient". Please pray that God gives me the wisdom to keep my mouth shut and the patience to get through it!

Ahh. 3 Days Left!

NorCalRN · 06-27-2009, 12:17 AM

alright, so THANK GOD I had already decided to get surgery long before these pics were taken. Because, 1- I feel HORRIBLE for being so big on my horse. Granted, he is BIG and totally able to carry my weight- even got that verified by my vet before buying him. 2- Although I am only posting 1 pic of me ON my horse, there are several from that same day and they all would be motivation enough for me to decide to get surgery.... You know how none of us (or at least me) never really Feel as big as we Look? Prime example here. When I am riding Gunner I feel on top of the world. I feel like a sexy cowgirl. Thankfully my friend took these pics and sent them to me. My eyes are WIDE open. Yes sir. 3 Days. Thank you LORD.

Crimson Kittie · 06-27-2009, 01:08 AM

he is a lovely horse ... beautiful markings

... and good luck with your surgery! Don't count on doing much of anything such as that reading or using that wool ... You might just not feel like doing anything but sleeping. Just be prepared for that.

I could barely do more than get up to go to the bathroom and watch tv for about 2 weeks ... I didn't feel bad ... I just had no energy. I got a little better after that but my energy never really came back until my 2nd month out

NorCalRN · 06-29-2009, 12:05 AM

Crimson Kittie- thanks for the warning. I think I am trying to be prepared, as I have NO IDEA how I will be after surgery. I've never really had any procedures or surgeries... so I'm definitely in the dark. I forgot to mention that I also rented the 4th Season of Sex and the City, as well as the first season of The Tudors. So I'm totally prepared if all I wanna do is veg!

This has been a busy weekend! Saturday I got up bright and early for my poker ride. I LOVE poker rides! Although, I grew up outside of Seattle and I definitely remember them being A LOT more fun back home... Anyways, I promised a sort of explanation, so here goes:
You show up with your trail horse.

Sometimes its a park with formal trails, sometimes its private property with a "trail" marked by flags... but it is usually a 2-3 hour long trail ride. When you register, you tell 'em how many hands you want (I got 2), pay up and get your first card for each hand. I started out with a Jack and a King. Nice.
Then as you are riding along the trails, you come upon stations, where folks allow you to pick the next card for your hands. Sometimes you finish your hand out on the trail, Saturday we got our last card at the BBQ lunch.

Then, as everyone figures out how they've done.... someone starts calling for the high-hands. Those with the highest hands get to pick out a "Prize"! Usually if you bring a prize item, you receive a free "hand", so there were tons of prizes on Sat. Unfortunately, my two hands weren't so fab. I had 2 pair Ace high, and a pair of 3's.

Oh well, I got a set of black and white photo-notecards with envelopes (price on back = 29.95) and a bottle of Chardonnay. The wine is for the next time my honey's parents come over.

Anyways, it was fun, but ridiculously hot. 103F. YUCK! I hate hot weather. My horse was pretty good, although we are definitely working through some quirks that he came along with. Hey, we all have our baggage, right? I got SO SUNBURNED! Another Yuck. I am majorly allergic to sunscreen, I break out in rashes if I use it.... but some folks were wearing these camping/hiking shirts that are supposedly spf 50... so I'll have to look into those for sure.

Ok, so today was 106F. I didn't do much. Went and saw "The Proposal", which was super cute. And just been trying to stay cool otherwise. Not much else to report here. Just 1 Day Left. Yikes.

NorCalRN · 06-30-2009, 05:47 AM

Wow- Oh my God. Today is surgery.

Milk of Magnesia is of the DEVIL. I am miserable from that crap, and very worried about the 1+ hour drive to the hospital this morning.

I lay awake most of the night, just thinking. And thinking. And thinking. My worst fear right now, is never waking up from this surgery. Probably very irrational, but it's there.

As I was thinking last night, around 1am... my stomach growled. And it made me wonder about the rest of you Sleevesters. Does your new stomach ever growl? Is this the last time I will feel/hear that? Crazy.

Anyways, we're off. After 1 more bathroom stop. Yuck!

Today is the Day!!!

p.s. I'm hoping to get pics of my stomach. I'll keep ya posted.

ardita · 06-30-2009, 06:58 AM

We're here, NorCal, pulling for you and knowing you will do just fine. Let us know how you are when you can and one day at a time, baby...

Vikkator · 06-30-2009, 07:24 AM

I'll be thinking about you today. Check in with us and let us know how you're doing. Welcome to the losers' bench!

foxyfuzz · 06-30-2009, 12:10 PM

Thinking of you today sweetie! Your horse is AMAZING!!! Congrats on having him at home.

You will pull through and you will be so great! Making room on the bench for you today. Please keep us posted!

trish29 · 06-30-2009, 04:34 PM

Sending you good vibes :-)