My first day back to work

Hi Ho, Hi Ho... I started work today after six weeks of sick leave. I came back 45 pounds lighter, in clothes that fit me and with my hair colored. People keep looking at me funny, like they can't figure out what's different. It's fun! I have been taking it slowly today. I'm a legal assistant, so I don't have much running around or lifting to do. I've been answering six weeks worth of email and voice mail. It's my birthday today, and I've been invited to lunch today by some friends. I am wondering what I'll eat. Probably soup. I'm a cheap date, now. I just started eating solid food, so maybe some tuna or something. I know I'm going to be thrashed by the end of the day, but I have an office door and a little couch I can crash on if I need to. It's good to be back to work, really. I was bored at home. Just how clean can the house get? I'm still nursing my surgical wound infection, but as long as I'm careful and clean it, I'll be fine, I think. Cheryl

Cheryl.. Congrats on going back to work and losing 45 lbs... !!!! Happy Birthday to you too..I hope that soup was yummy licious for ya!!!! Jenn

Thank you, Jenn. I didn't end up having the soup after all. My friend bought me lunch at the Marine Base Family Restaurant. They had tofu stir fry. I ate a few pieces of tofu and some of the softer veggies. It sat just fine in my pouch, but I have a huge amount of leftovers. I'll have to forego some of the crunchier veggies, because I just started solids a few days ago and I'm being very careful. The 45 pounds came off so fast! I look at myself in the mirror and smile. I have been in One-Derland for 6 pounds now. I still have a long way to go, but now I feel that I've really made progress. The comments from everyone feel so good! Cheryl

Happy Birthday! I'm going back to work on Thursday and I hope the 4 weeks I took were enough! But I figured I only have to work 2 days this week and 3 days next week (Thanksgiving vacation comes up) so hopefully it won't be too tiring for me! Hugs, Vi

It sounds like you've picked a good time to go back, Vi. I am still working on getting through my first day. I have looked at the couch longingly, but I haven't broken down and taken a snooze. This will be our first Thanksgiving after surgery. I don't know what I'll eat, but I'll be bringing something I can eat to our family dinner gathering. Good luck on Thursday. Get good sleep Wednesday night. Don't forget to bring your vitamins and protein to work.

Hi Cheryl!!! Congratulations on your weight loss SO FAR!!!! That is pretty awesome! Today was my first day back to work also! I was off 4 weeks, was only planning on 2 but ended up with a complication and 2nd surgery, and needed 2 more weeks to recoup! I did pretty well until lunch, the chicken salad I made myself (and have eaten happily at least 3-4 other times) decided to give my little pouch fits, and I got real nauseous and hot, it was wierd. I spent about 2 hours burping and waiting for it to pass through the pouch. Don't think I'll make chicken salad for a while!! I hope you had a really nice birthday too!!! Yes, going back to work was fun, some people looked at me from head to toe to see if they could tell how much I've lost so far, and others just gave me a big hug and said I looked great. Funny thing was, I brought in two big batches of brownies for them that I baked yesterday, and they got a kick out of that. Enjoy the rest of your birthday!! Take care!! Carol V

Hey Carol, I'll bet your coworkers thought it was funny that you brought brownies for them. Sometimes I think people think we stop cooking after surgery. Many of us have families and have to cook real food no matter what we're eating. I also got lots of big hugs and compliments. Someone even asked me to lift up my shirt so she could really see how much I lost. She is also interested in WLS and so I showed her in the ladies' room. I also gave her the OH website to look at because it is the best reference around. I haven't kept it a secret that I had WLS since I've been back. I did not tell anyone except for two people what I was really having surgery for before I left. The story was I was having my gallbladder removed. A partial truth, since I did have it taken out. Some people who don't know me well enough are just sort of doing double-glances to see what's different about me, and they look puzzled. It's really FUN! What kind of complication did you have? Are you okay now? I'm still fighting with the remnants of a wound infection, but it's slowly closing and as long as I keep it cleaned with Betadine, it's okay - UGGGLY, but okay. Stay well, Cheryl

I hope you made it through your first day back, better than I did. I am 2.5 weeks post and decided to go back. I made it to noon, I was soooo shaky I said see you tomarrow guys. I thought I was up to it but guess not. I told the boss I would go in half time this week. Have a great day tomarrow, Deb 392/348/180 RNY 10/27/05