Today, I went to my granddaughter’s christening.  Quite a few friends and family walked right on by because they didn’t know me.  Some thought they might, but were unsure.  What a hoot!  
                      
Did I tell you how beautiful my new granddaughter is?

We had a fire drill at work last Wednesday.  I made it down all 13 flights of steps and across the street.  I wasn’t even winded!  My legs were like jelly and my thighs still hurt like h****; but, the last fire drill we had (pre-WLS) I “died” in the 11^th floor stairwell, with some man named Farouk.

Onederful Onederland!  Today I officially entered Onderland.  I have gone from an all time high weight of 365 pounds to 199 pounds.  A size 30/32 to 16/18.  I haven’t been this small since high school.  I feel so good. 

Still, I’ve been struggling a little.  Lately I’ve been having a bit of a hard time sticking to the diet.  I’ve been straying with maybe eating a little too much dinner or having a “real” candy here and there or a couple of chocolate cookies.   I could smack myself.   

Maybe a few friendly smacks from some of my friends at OH may help.

Anyway, I’ve updated my profile with some new photos and changed my avatar.  Take a look.

My abdominal wall is gone.  Where did it go?  Too many surgeries have obliterated it!  My muscles are shot.  Also, victims of too many surgeries.  I have now lost 166 pounds and without a girdle, look 9 months pregnant.

What to do?  We have another surgery, of course!

I hope this time will be different.  Dr. Vanguri, my gastric surgeon, will be doing my hernia repair with the help of a plastic surgeon.  Because my hernia is so large, right now I have no hanging stomach.  But, do only the hernia repair and I'll need a truss to hold up the sagging skin.  Dr. V. says, I need a tummy tuck at the same time as the repair or the weight of the hanging skin will probably lead to more hernias (and more surgeries).

To this end, I met with a plastic surgeon today.  His name is Ravi Aloor, located in Towson, MD.  MY DH and I were immediately comfortable with him.  He has much of the same ideas as Dr. V. - nothing foreign going in me.  No mesh - hopefully no infections.  They will be using either my own or donor skin to rebuild the abdominal wall.  Since my abdominal muscles are probably really stretched out or may even be gone (prior surgeries again?), Dr. Aloor is going to separate the 3 layers of my oblique's (he may need more skin graft here) and bring them across my abdomen to give me a true muscle wall.

I hope this turns out as good as it sounds on paper!

I'm looking at late August or September for the surgery.  I'm more than ready.

Wish me luck.  I'll be back with more updates.

Okay, it’s time for an update.  I had my 6 month check-up last week.  I’m down to 216 pounds from a pre-surgery weight of 337 (pre-six-month-diet weight = 365).  WOO HOO!

For the most part I feel great.  I can walk and breathe at the same time!  Who’d a thunk!  I can turn on my heated seat in the truck without having to open the door to get my hand in between the door and my leg.  Today I walked straight through a turnstile in the cafeteria…I have always had to turn sideways.  People don’t recognize me, but do recognize my voice!  Their expressions are priceless.  I can cross my legs. 
 

On the downside, my boobs and butt have left the house!  My legs are looking like old wrinkled clothes. 

I have never been a normal size adult.  Who knows how far this can go!  But, I’m so excited to be on this journey.

Of course all is not a bowl of cherries!  I have a big problem with hernias.  Even with a support garment, I can’t hold my tummy in.  My whole abdominal wall is shot.  The surgeon wants me down to 200 pounds before doing the repair and I can’t wait.  Then I should be able to step up the exercise too.  Right now I can only walk and do some light weights.  Doc says, "Don't do anything to stress the abdomen". Who knows, maybe later, maybe never?

Don’t mean to complain.  I did say “I FEEL GREAT!”