Well it has been three months since my surgery, and I find that I am able to keep most things down... I am still not eating more that 2-3oz. of food per meal... most days some turkey and cheese for lunches, a protein bar for breakfast.  Snacks... iffy... sometimes I have a slim jim or half a protein bar... I really find it hard sometimes to even think about food... That itself is a huge change!  I look at the clock and think "what time is it, did I get my protein in" ... it is a conscious effort to make sure I get enough protein.  I find that I am craving pretzels... the hard ones... so every now and then I will have a few at the end of the lunch.  My fear is what happens if that desire to munch without looking at quantity comes back? maybe it would be better if I didn't have them at all? At least that way I know I wouldn't be tempted.  I have an extreme lack of imagination with cooking... being single and living alone-- meals for one are hard to cook... so I either make a huge amount of something and freeze or eat it for a week so it doesn't go bad.  

I am so thankful for this surgery.  I have an extreme amount of weight to lose and sometimes I think it will never come off.  I was squeezing myself into 30/32 stretch clothes...but if I am truthful, I really should have been wearing 6x/7x to have them fit right.  I am now able to wear the cotton knit 26/28's and still not able to fit 30/32 linen type pants (the material with no give)... I would probably be doing better if I exercised more, but at this point it is still hard to do that. I can walk further than before and don't lose my breath as fast...but to walk for exercise still hurts. 

I really would love to know how much I weigh at this point. I still cannot use the scale at my doctor's office.  It only goes up to 350.  I promised myself that I was doing this to be healthier... but I really need to see the numbers move and I don't know why.  Maybe it is society’s perception that we are judged on our weight. Maybe it is the only way I can notice some progress. I want to get another picture of me taken so that I have something to compare progress with... the monthly pics... I look at myself and I don't see much of a difference in the mirror. I actually have contemplated driving the two hours each way to get weighed... LOL... sometimes I really think I need my head examined! 

Blessings to you all on this Easter Day.  May we always remember how blessed we are for all that we have received.

Smiles, Chelle

Well it has been a while since I have posted I have had my one month follow up and I am now at 423lbs... that is almost 75lbs since the start of my medical management and 50lbs since surgery... actually since my appointment was almost two weeks ago, I am sure that number has gone down even more...

So much to say, I just hope I remember it all... I am finally able to say I am wearing a smaller size. I am into 26/28 as long as they are the stretch or knit materials... my lower body will take forever to get into 28 jeans... but it will happen. I am doing fairly well with my eating and water... though I struggle to get enough water somedays, and need to be better in taking my vitamins. Yesterday the surgery finally hit me... I thought I was doing fine not being able to have some of the foods I use to love. But the school had a special seafood dinner that I thought I would be able to have...but it was a lot of carbs with some seafood...then I went into the school cafeteria and everything was either fried, meat, or carbs... I went back to my office and cried. I was sooo tired of protein drinks, protein bars, and more than anything at that moment I wanted a large pizza and a two liter of soda... Now that the moment has passed, I am so glad I had the surgery! 3 months ago had I been in a similar emotional state, I would have pigged out. So if I haven't said it lately, I am thrilled with the surgery to date.

(Guys beware)   On a personal front, the only major problem since surgery has been bleeding. Being so obese I have so much extra hormones running around in my system... about 2 years ago my doc put me on Provera to counteract all those other ones hanging in the system. I have been fairly regular this last year and never called to get the prescription refilled... Since surgery I have had constant bleeding, heavy at times... the doctor did a biopsy and the tissue in my uterus is pre cancerous... this has me really worried... the doc is optimistic with weight loss and the Provera that I can turn this around... but as he stated to me right now I'm at "defcon 3" or just about 2 steps away from uterine cancer... can we say wake up call? I am sooo up in the air right now... I don't know how to feel, scared? optimistic? dunno... have to think about it for awhile...

Blessings to you all,
Chellie

Hi all...I am now a Loser!!! I had surgery on January 13th and was able to have it done laproscopic!!! I really never believed that it would be lap, I had prepared myself for it to be an open surgery, but Dr. D was great, he was able to take his time and get through the adhesions, etc.

Recovery time was so much better, I was alert in the hospital as they brought me into my room. I was out for my first walk that evening. My mom was with me the whole time, I finally talked her into going to the hotel on Thursday to get a good nights rest and lo and behold, that would be the night I almost fell out of the bed. I had a bed that rose so you could walk off of it, the nurses didn't get it low enough, so I went to step off the bed and slipped into a squat. Lucky for me i was holding on to both rails. I wouldn’t let the two nurses help me up until they got a strong male to help me...didn’t trust their strength. Then I got to meet the lab tech from hell. My IV went bad, and they needed to put a new one in, so this woman tried 3 times in my right arm then another 5 in my left until she finally decided to put in a line... all the while not telling me what she was doing, I was so upset I was crying. My mother walked in during the middle of this and clearly stated that that tech was never to work on me again... then she made a fatal mistake by asking my mother what was wrong... bad news on the tech's part. My mother went in to momma cub mode/Nurse mode and clearly told the woman off... and clearly told her that she did not know how to relate to patients. My mom kept her cool the whole time, and the woman never came back...heheh

I went to see Dr. Dimarco for my one week follow up and I was thrilled. I have already lost 27 lbs. From 475 to 448 YEAH!!!!! I can start trying to introduce soft foods on Monday, and I can start to drive short distances. I can't believe how well I am feeling. As long as I am sitting down I feel great. Not so much when I am up and moving, I tire easily. I have a one store limit. The Doc wants me to start walking in 2 weeks, 20 minutes every other day... I am on my way!!! And a special Hi to Vicki K a fellow OH.com member that I met at Dr. D's office-- thanks for your support and kind wishes. Most of all, I want to thank Kricket for being my angel, keeping me sane and giving lots of great advice. THANKS!!!

I am SOOOOO EXCITED!!!! I finally have a surgery date... I started this process in January and now will go to the next step in January.... JANUARY 13th ... It is circled on my calendar. Wish it could have been before xmas so that I could have had an extra two weeks to heal... but I believe in God's plans for me and am sure it will be as HE wants it. So, I will trust in his plan for me.

Blessings for a happy and safe holiday for all,

Chellie