K I'm gettin pissy here cause I've tried to post my stinkin inches thing 5 times and IE keeps crashing. AAAAAAAAAAnyways - last try

-87 lbs
From a size 22 to a 12

 

Area	Pre-op	5 Months	6 Months
Chins	2!	1!	1!
Neck	15.5	14	13
Bicep	14	12	11.5
Shoulders	47.5	42	42
Bust	49	43	41.5
Under Bust	45	38	38
Muffin	50.5	39	39
Waist	49.5	40	38
Stomach	54	45.5	44.5
Hips	54	45	43
Thigh	29.5	24.5	24
Calf	17.5	15	15
Total	426	358	349.5

80 Lbs down

Here's da measures

 

Area	Pre-op	1 Month	2 Months	3 Months	4 Months	5 Months
Chins	2!	1!	1!	1!	1!	1!
Neck	15.5	15	14.5	14	14	14
Bicep	14	14	13	12.5	12.5	12
Shoulders	47.5	44.5	44	45	45	42
Bust	49	48.5	47	44	44	43
Under Bust	45	44	43	40	38.5	38
Muffin	50.5	45	46	46	42	39
Waist	49.5	47.5	44.5	42	41	40
Stomach	54	51	51	47	48.5	45.5
Hips	54	54	51.5	49	47	45
Thigh	29.5	29	25.5	25	24.5	24.5
Calf	17.5	17.5	16	15	15.5	15
Total	426	410	396	379.5	372.5	358

 

Area	Pre-op	1 Month	2 Months	3 Months	4 Months
Chins	2!	1!	1!	1!	1!
Neck	15.5	15	14.5	14	14
Bicep	14	14	13	12.5	12.5
Shoulders	47.5	44.5	44	45	45
Bust	49	48.5	47	44	44
Under Bust	45	44	43	40	38.5
Muffin	50.5	45	46	46	42
Waist	49.5	47.5	44.5	42	41
Stomach	54	51	51	47	48.5
Hips	54	54	51.5	49	47
Thigh	29.5	29	25.5	25	24.5
Calf	17.5	17.5	16	15	15.5
Total	426	410	396	379.5	372.5

So I post these little posts in increments that tell a little about my journey, but I haven't really blogged or bundled it all together at all. I found that those posts by others help me out so I'm gonna try to go over my what's up.

I'm nearly 4 months out, down 67 lbs and 3 sizes (bordering on a 4th but no biggie). I'm THRILLED with my progress so far. Pre-op I posted that my mini goal would be 60 lbs by my birthday/4th month the end of this month and I am ahead of that so its awesome.

I am staring ONEderland in the face, which is amazing. I bought my first pair of levi's in years. Strangers, family and co-workers are complimenting me nearly constantly. I feel "longer" - like im lean andmean, not humpty-dumptyish.

I have had 0 issues RNY-wise, no strictures, hernias, weird stomach pains, etc. I can tolerate anything if I remember to chew it (dumbass), but I do dump on fats and not sugars (far as I know, i keep the sugar thing low). Sugar alcohols turn me into a Ginormous Farting Machine of Death so I avoid those as well. I am fairly regular BM-wise and have only had to MOM it twice since surgery. I get my 70+g protein a day and my 80 oz of liquids, though I do drink too much coffee lately.

My body is PISSED at me, however, for doing this wonderful service for it. And I mean PISSED.

1) It stopped absorbing my thyroid meds - we're working through doses and trying to get me back stable. My TSH levels are supposed to be on the low end of normal because I had "nodules" in my thyroid and after radiation the treatment (synthroid suppression) is to blast them with synthroid to help them shrink. At last check my TSH was 3.1 (which is only .1 into the 'treatable range') but my doc wants me down between 1 and 2. I feel that .1, really, after living for years as a hypER thyroid person with an unmeasurably low TSH level, that 3.1 is causing me fatigue, mood swings, etc (along with the normal hormonal shit)

2) My femaleness is whacked to all hell. I was due for a period the day of surgery. I didn't get it, no biggy right? Trauma, etc. Well I got it two weeks later and HOLY FREAKING PIG SLAUGHTER BATMAN. After years of PCOS and periods being a complete an uttery surprise whenthey occured (and heavy) but cramp-free, I began having horrific, heavy pigslaughter flow, on-time ragfests. I saw my PCP, she put me on Yaz to calm it down - I got a period 1 week early, light, barely spotting.. hm pretty nice.. well that was almost 3 weeks ago. After 10 days or so of the spotties, I am now having a normal period. No it's not a pig slaughter, I'm not flooding pads etc, but uh I think I've bled long enough ok? THanks mother nature.

3) My ass hurts. I lost from my face/neck area, extremeties, legs and now my back. My stomach is stubborn but my ass is dissapearing. The upper ass shelf is gone and my ass is now ass shaped as opposed to looking like an ass with another crackless ass sitting on it. THese are good things, however now there is no padding on my coccyx aka my buttbone. So its sore, compounded by travel and plane rides and a desk job. Compounded further by bouncing onit down a flight of stairs during a clutz moment. It's terrible. I can't sit for more than a few mins without pain. I am sitting on a child's swim ring right now (someone here suggested that - thanks!) I have an icy-hotpatch stuck to my butt. It helps, but damn it hurts when ya gotta peel it off.

4) I was doing great with exercise, but after the above mentioned stair incident it was recommended I lay off until the soreness abated. Well...now I'm out of my routine. Due to family crap today I don't have time but tomorrow I am going back to the gym and priority #1 is building up ass muscle - no joke.

Now for the mental stuff (yeah im long winded, you can click out of the post anytime!).

Pre-op I never felt fat until I caught myself in a mirror or picture. So i avoided mirrors, and pictures - easy cheesy right?

Anyways - I now feel like i LOOK like I felt before. Make sense? I'm still "obese" but not like I was and I definitely don't take up as much space in this world. My body has caught up to the image of me that was in my mind. From here on in I think it will be a bit of a battle to keep my mind on track with my body.

My doc's goal for me was 170, mine is 151. I thought about this alot and really none of that is written in stone. I do contemplate, however - the areas of loss. LIke I know my stomach will be the last to go, so what if I have to go past one or both of those weights to get rid of it, then 'bounce' a little to distribute? I dunno - just in my mind. The stomach is coming off - I'm concerned about my hip to waist ratio and future cardiac issues as well as a resurgence of my PCOS (which symptoms seem to be gone).

Oh that's another thing - my co morbids. Mine were not as severe as many here, but still troubling to me. Honesly anything with the word "morbid" in it is gonna be a little troubling right?

GERD - gone, poof. Day of surgery, no more GERD. I can sleep without choking on it, eat spicy, etc. No GERD!

PCOS - Well I already disussed the monthly thing so we can call that a work in progress. The word-i-cant-spell thing that causes darkened areas around your neck, stomach, pubes and armpits? Gone. Weird hair growth (aka beard) well I had laser hair removal (one application) and it did an amazing job - but I have not noticed any NEW hair growth in the 'bad spots' at all. I haven't had anything checked as far as my insulin resistance but with my food intake I'd guess it's probably a non-issue.

Stress Incontinence - Yeah, i peed. Peed when I laughed, coughed, ran, bounced, hit a speed bump. You get it. Panty liners 4 life! Wrecked undies, the not so fresh feeling - etc. Well it's gone too! yay!

As far as the 'typical' RNY side effects -

My skin is dry, but not TOO bad. If I keep up with moisturizers on my face and hands mostly, I do ok.
My hair has not fallen out (any more than I normally shed with thyroid issues). It's shiney and healthy.

As far as my weight loss trend -

Some people post they only lose one week a month. Or they lose right before their period, or right after, or that they're steady as she goes. I bounce. I lose 2 lbs, gain 4, take a few days to lose that 4 and two more, then start over. Now that I am used to this trend its no biggie and If you look at my tracker in my profile you can see overall I've been fairly steady. I am happy with that. 

SO that's enough babbling. I hope some of you may see some of the same things thathappen to you in this post and know you arent alone, or the only one. I hope some of you who are scared of an upcoming surgery read this and think "hey thats not so bad" - because really - it aint.

As a support board we tend to see more complications and complaints and cries for "HELP!" than good stuff, and frankly my personal journey so far is good stuff. I've not had a single moment of regret, depression, or wistfullness for the "old me."

I'd also like to thank every stinkin one of you for being supportive and positive and when it's needed for straight shooting. IT seems like many people come here for "support" but get mad when the answers aren't what they want to hear. If I'm delusional PLEASE let me know - obviously I'm not seeing it myself and a GOOD friend would give me a whack upside the head and a reality check.

Love you guys!