4/24/2018 – Fourteen Weeks Post Total Gastrectomy

Hey Ya’ll.
Thanks for following. Things are still improving day by day.  I’m looking forward to increasing my training schedule as the summer days approach and hope that I will come with an increased energy.
I have lost a total of 34 lbs but I believe I’m leveling off. I try and get my calories in but it’s tough at work because I can forget to eat when I’m working.
Overall, I’m really blessed. I know people who have had such a worse time and all I can say is that I feel blessed. I don’t deserve the good health I have been given, but I’m extremely thankful. I do believe much of the success goes to the following:
  1. Faith
  2. Choosing an experienced Surgeon and going to a center of excellence
  3. Working with No Stomach For Cancer as they helped me through that process
  4. Family and friends.
For those readers wondering, “what’s it like 14 weeks out”, I’m still having the following issues:
  1. It’s hard to fall asleep most the time. This makes the next day pretty rough in the morning and especially in the afternoon. I struggle to stay awake starting around 3 pm, but then can’t sleep at night.
  2. Fatigue – mentioned above – but around 3 pm on my “bad days”, I feel like I can’t keep my eyes open. It’s like someone attached weights to them. It’s a bummer but I’m working on it.
  3. Reflux. Ugh.. will it ever end? It’s getting better – but still, have an episode once a week or so. I still have to figure it out. It’s happening with “normal/safe” foods.  I hope it ends soon.
  4. Fitness – I used to work out 5-6 days per week so I could compete in triathlons and other endurance events. The best I have done was 3-4 days per week and it was brutal. I have dialed it back to working out whenever I feel like it.  I lost so much muscle that when I work out now, I’m sore for at least two days. Thus – I’m trying to “ease” back into training but Triathlon season is only 4 weeks away and I’m still pretty weak. What can you do…
Talk to you soon!