Sorry for the distance...

As many of you know, I've been back to work full time since 7/29/10. Life has reverted almost back to normal. I say almost because of one particular fact. I don't eat at work anymore! No more standing by the expo line and eating french fries all day. No more making a 12 pound pizza and finishing it in one sitting...it just doesn't, nor could it happen, without an extreme amount of pain.

I got the OK last Friday, 8/6 at my one month post op appointments, to begin a workout at a club. I joined Lifetime Fitness for a week of trial workouts. I used to be a member, but I left because I thought they were very over-priced. Now I look at it as a place to begin the reshaping of me. A place I can go to where I have my music and a sense of purpose again. Before, I was lazy and never wanted to go. Now I am driven to go and go everyday! I love this point in my life were I feel like I am rediscovering myself again. I feel a sense of pride in who I am and how weird that it took losing pounds to do that to me. I always presented myself, I think, with great confidence. Before, it was a cloak to disguise how I really felt about myself. Now, my confidence runs through and out of me. I feel like I'm seeing things for the first time and suddenly I want to grasp life by the proverbial balls and take all it has to offer.

I will endeavor to update this blog more on a bi-weekly effort or greater frequency. Thank you to all of my family and friends and co-workers...your support has changed my life.

P.S. I'm down 82.7lbs since 6/26/10!

Work

To say that I have missed going to work on a weekly basis is an understatement. I was given this work ethic at a very young age from my Mother's Father. Howard D. Seiple worked hard every day of his life. By the time I came around, Grandpa was working for Minnegasco (now Xcel Energy) as an installer of gas meters. He drove a company truck that smelled like oil and metal. I miss that smell. Not because he has passed; but, because he is retired and lives North of the cities. My grandpa is the reason I only listen to WCCO in my car...always annoying my kids and wife to no end. My Grandpa took me to the bulk of my youth Minnesota Twins games. He would leave me in my seat for long periods of time while he went upstairs to the concourse to smoke his Vantage Lights. I most likely smoked for 20 years because of him. I still love the smell of the first drag of a cigarette being lit by a car lighter. That sweet odor takes me back to the back seat of his 1966 Chrysler New Yorker (eventually would be my first car). My Grandpa Seiple always said the measure of a man can be seen in his wallet and the sweat of his brow from a hard days work.

I think that will always be with me. It's that ideal that I am trying to instill in my Son, Zane. If I look closely at the picture I posted here, I can see his greying pattern on my head, which he might comment on was a bit shaggy. In my sunglasses, you can see that I am checking my iPhone for what was going on at work. That's his nose on my face, that's the "A" typical Seiple nose. I'm very proud of it.

In recent years, we have grown apart. This is typical of Seiple's. You move away or lose contact for whatever reason. Time goes by and as the chasm of time gets wider, the sense to reconnect grows thin. We never talked much when I was growing up in his home or when he let me move into his basement when I came back from College. I always knew, though, that he cared. I also had to accept the fact that was how we communicated. My hope is that when I reach out to my kid, he won't drift away as much as I did. I hope Zane will appreciate, not necessarily me; but, will appreciate what I'm trying to teach him before his Mother and I send him out into the world next year.

My status on my surgery is as such: Since stopping the Atenolol pills, my strength has been coming back in bunches. I'm up earlier than before and ready for a productive day. Yesterday, Lisa and I had to bring Erica to Urgent Care because of a bad cough. The sad part of the day is that I got a chance to weigh myself for the first time since July 13th. If my calculations are correct, based on what I weighed before I started my liquid diet on June 26th, I've lost a total of 65lbs. I now have 110lbs to get to my goal weight. That is just with doing what I'm supposed to be doing without working out. I can't wait to go back to the gym. My next appointments are August 6th. I am hoping to get cleared to start working out. I want to get my workout ethic on!

Thanks Grandpa.

Work

Hey all 5 of you! Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement. It has such a huge effect on raising my self worth when I know there are people out there who care. Those of you who are following me from Lola's, thank you so very much. It is nice to know I am missed. Thank you for all the hard work you've done to help keep our commitment to service as strong as when I left.

Barb and Katy and Lisa, thanks for your generosity. Barb, the books are just great and help the time fly by. It's nice to know your sense of humor is a screwed up as mine. That's why we get along so well. Katy, you and Rob have been great. Thank you for the low pressure gathering at your beautiful house last weekend. It was great! To my gorgeous wife, Lisa. You are tireless in your work to make me comfortable and encourage me to get stronger every day. There is no way I could do this without your love and support. I am your forever.

Taco, thanks for the note and welcome back! You were missed.

I stopped out to Lola's yesterday morning for some office time. I almost got teary-eyed as I descended the hill to see our beautiful newly stripped and asphalted parking lot. It's sad, I know. It was great to see Foodie and Pete and Sarah, Steph and Tonia and Felix. I also got a great opportunity to see Dermot and Steve. It was nice to connect with my other manager to see how he was holding up and to see how the restaurant was doing.

I'm still healing and growing stronger, eating pureed beans and turkey and chicken. I was never a fan of Cream of Wheat when I was growing up; but, I sure the hell love it now! I am having no problem getting my liquids in and have already become accustomed to not drinking liquids before or after my meals. I thought this was going to be the biggest struggle. I am adapting quickly to this new life and look at every new phase as a reward. I am so happy I made this decision to have this operation. I have no regrets and know that I was focusing on the death of a certain part of my history rather than celebrating the unknown.

I still have a great deal of work to do; but, I know help is only around the corner.

Thanks for DVD's!

I used to read all the time. There was a period of my life when I didn't even have a television. I used to profess to kill your television. Now, tv is my best friend. Sure, I need to get out and walk every hour or so; but, television is awesome. It brings me Twins games and The Price is Right and Ghost Hunters and Food Network and a host of others to spin the day away as I mend and grow stronger. In the past 3 years of work, I have never watched this much tv. How do you talk to another human being? My dog naps, I nap.

Still, this is not the 11th day of not being at work, 10 days since I had my surgery and 4 more days on my Atenolol. I am finally on pureed food. I made some pureed chicken and fat free re-fried beans. My nurse suggested adding spice to the mixture and I have made the meal taste like Mexican food by using FF sour cream and crushed red pepper and smooth taco sauce, which is fat free and awesome! Next, I'm gonna have a hard boiled egg tomorrow, pureed of course.

Thanks goes out to my beautiful wife for keeping me moving at night and being so involved in helping me get back to where I need to be. I miss work and can't wait to get back into the fold. Hopefully they haven't figured out that they really don't need me...just kidding.

No more clear.

I had my first post-op appointment with my Nurse today. It went surprisingly well. Here are some things I found out:

-I can now graduate to full liquids, meaning I can have some Cream of Wheat, smooth yogurt and smooth cream soups. Oh boy! I can only have 2tbs of each of one of these at each meal time. I had cream of chicken today and thought I was on a fluffy cloud.

-I now have to begin to restrict my drinking of liquids. I now stop drinking 30 min before until 30 min after meals.

-In between meals, I can now have FF milk with added protein powder. I had one today and was not as woozy every time I stood up.

Other stand outs are that I have dropped a total of 38.7lbs since 6/26/10; but, that means I only lost 6lbs since surgery last Tuesday. However, my Nurse did say that most patients experience a slight gain with all the fluids that are pumped into you at the hospital. I was encouraged that I was in the minority.

My walking has been increasing, now branching out beyond the confines of our little community in EP. Yeah, I'm actually going across the street! Mom always said I would be a big boy someday! I have some lethargic tendencies as I am still experiencing some weak moments and some lightheadedness. I am still confident and see the bright side of what I've done.

The days immediately following surgery, I had some regrets about what I had done. What I realized what I was experiencing was a loss over not being able to eat they way that got me to this point in the first place. It was selfishness that reared its ugly head. It was my addiction trying to bring me down. I won't let it get me down. I'm not perfect, never will be. I will fall along the way; but, the great thing about it is, I have a tremendous support structure that will pick me up and keep me on my path. I love that about my friends and family.

Besides, I fit into my 2009 Joe Mauer All-Star BP Jersey for the first time in like 8 months.

A day that was.

Yesterday was my birthday. I was not in the particular place and time that I wanted to be celebrating my birthday. No party or beer, no cake (devastating if you know my wife and how she bakes) and no cheer. I went to a movie early, at 11am, with my family. We saw "Despicable Me". It was an enjoyable animated movie; but, I have been battling intestinal problems for the past 2 days; so, I did not fully enjoy the experience. I've moved on beyond having a bucket of popcorn and a tankard of soda. I barely touched my Vitamin Water Zero. Seriously, who am I?

There seems to be a huge build up of gas in my body. The will is there to expel it; but, the body won't listen to the urge. I have continued the liquid pain medication, as I have some side, back and abdominal pain. I have been taking the same Atenolol 25mg that I was taking before the surgery and will continue until the 20th of July. This has the same effect of lethargy. I have been taking this new medicine, Omeprazole:

Omeprazole decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach.

Omeprazole is used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other conditions caused by excess stomach acid. It is also used to promote healing of erosive esophagitis (damage to your esophagus caused by stomach acid).

Omeprazole may also be given together with antibiotics to treat gastric ulcer caused by infection with helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

Omeprazole is not for immediate relief of heartburn symptoms.

Omeprazole may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Read more: http://www.drugs.com/omeprazole.html#ixzz0tO1ckoNa

Apparently, it is supposed to help protect my new pouch as I heal from surgery. One of the side effects is abdominal pain. I nailed that one on the head. I so look forward to being somewhat regular and normal. I know that it will take awhile. I am getting tired of liquids and broth. I never thought I would say that but I am tired of it. I know it's a process and I know there is a reason why the plan is set up this way.

Emotionally, I am feeling ok. I have moments of depression about what I've done. I know it is the right thing; but, I seriously have considered not going to anymore Twins games this year because right now it's too hard to not have a hot dog or a beer or anything that I have included as part of my game watching. I do not regret my decision. I never will. I know that what I've done is the right thing I had to do. I just have to alter my lifestyle. I have asked my family to not eat dinner around me and to not be the sole custodian of their meal preparations right now. Until I adjust fully, it will be too hard. I need them to continue to be somewhat normal; but, a slight change is not too much to ask at this point.

Thanks to everyone who has sent wishes and good will. It has been a great tool that has gotten me through. Thanks!

I am just up from my first restful night of sleep at home. I will try to recount my events as best remembered from the photo on the left to now. This picture was waiting in a pre-op room. I was in there for almost 3 hours! My doctor was running a little late; but, eventually around 3pm, I was trekking off to operating room. I walked into this big room that was freezing cold and I settled on a table in the middle. At least 5 people were swarming around me, working on various parts of me to get me ready for this life changing operation. There I was, spread like a christ figure on a table with my life in others hands. Anyone who knows me knows what a joyful experience it is to have control taken away from me. I faded into oblivion. I woke up in recovery very confused and sore. I have no memory of leaving the recovery room and being wheeled into my room. I have some hazy memories of seeing my beautiful wife by my side as I slept and passed a great deal of gas.

I finally came to that evening in room 417-1 in the West wing of Methodist hospital. Over the next 36 hours, I had some wonderful care by many different nurses and assistants. In particular, my overnight nurse, Barb was a great chuckle. She just told me like it is and kept me legit. She came in every 4 hours and woke me up to take my vitals and get me to walk. It was very hard at first. I had felt like I just completed doing a million crunches. Walking was helping and I tried to do a lap around the ward as much as I could.

I had my first experience with a catheter. It was not as horrible as I had imagined; but, I was unconscious when it was put in; but, wide awake when it came out. That was one of the weirdest feelings I had ever experienced. It was not good or bad, just weird. I woke up on Thursday morning very early to get my vitals and had my eye on being discharged soon. Kay, one of my nurses, was a complete joy to be around. She had the great joy of removing my IV and my drain tube., both which my wife had to leave the room for or she would have thrown up. She's my rock! Having my drain tube removed was a slightly unpleasant experience. It felt like my insides were going to come out with the pull. It caused me some nausea that I had not ever felt before. I was visited by my Doctor upon discharge and he greeted me with a DVD of my surgery. Yes, I know, that seems awful, but I have that morbid curiosity in me.

I had some great experiences. My wife's work department sent me some wonderful sunflowers and my Mom and her boyfriend Bill came for a visit. A neat experience was my evening Nurse Amy. At one point, she asked me if I had ever worked at Tuggs in Minneapolis. I said yes and she said she was hired by me. I was flabbergasted that she remembered me and we chatted about some good times and the memories started to roll back in. It just goes to show how small the world can be and how you should be nice to those around you because you never know if someone will be responsible for your pain medication later in life.

Now I am home and managing my pain and eating like a bird. I am on clear liquids until next Wednesday. I have my follow-up post op visit with my Bariatric nurse. I hope to progress to full liquids and eat things like yogurt and cream of wheat and then progress to pureed food shortly after that. Everyday is a new adventure, like being born again. This second chance will not be wasted. This second chance is my time. Thank you to everyone for all their great positive thoughts and prayers. You are my greatest healing power.