Lisa H.

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

May 5, 2006

Hey Everyone,
I know I don't update as much, but it just feels like repeating myself alot of the time. I'm sorry....I will try and be more consistent.
Well I have been having problems with my INR level (it has to do with my blood clotting). I can't stay in the 2-3 point range...I actually have gone up and down from as high as a 6.9 and as low as a 1. I can clot when it is too low and I can bleed if it is too high. Its enough to drive you crazy. I have been having headaches and along with the high INR my hematologist stopped my warfarin (generic for coumadin) for a week, then tested and it had dropped from 6.9 to a 1...scary.  So with the symptoms I was having he wanted to make sure I didn't have a brain bleed, so I had a cat scan with contrast.  not a bad test, the stuff they put in the IV, the actual contrast just makes your body feel really warm, some parts hot, but it doesn't last long.  Well I don't have a bleed! Yeah!!
So it was back onto the warfarin and I go back next thursday to have my INR tested again. 
Other than that problem, and the stress of my kids, I am doing great. I still am in the 170's, I stick around 175lbs.
Its weird, now it is getting really hot out, so I took out some of my summer stuff from last year, totally expecting it not to fit, I picked out a pair of denim capri's that are a junior size 12 and slipped them right on and zipped without a problem...I was amazed!
It is so wonderful to be given this second opportunity at life and to actually be able to maintain a normal body size.  My jeans are still size 10-12 depending on cut.  I am so grateful for this life saving surgery.
I am going through a kind of mind thing with food lately though, I really don't have an appetite for food, I mean I get hungry, but there is nothing that appeals to me, so I am mainly drinking protein drinks and other liquids.  I think I am starting to lose weight again, I guess'll just have to wait and see.
I am going to be taking my bike out to ride, I can't wait, a little scared but I've gotta start sometime.
I still take my supplements everyday, I think that that is the key to remaining healthy. OH and I can finally drink water again!!
Prior to surgery I used to drink like 100ozs a day of water, after surgery I was lucky if I could drink 2 ozs.  Well just this past week I have been able to drink as much as 50-60 ozs in a day! I am so excited, it isn't hard on my pouch anymore. Of course this isn't tap water its bottled water, but who cares. I know that this will help me maintain better health, and also I have been able to cut my diet soda consumption in half, yippee.  I also had been worrying about my kidneys and liver from not getting enough water, but now i can drink enough to help flush toxins out of my system.
I am so glad.
It is strange how different life is without it surrounding food!
Of course now I have difficulty dealing with problems, but if I didn't have a problem before I would have never hit over 340lbs. I am just trying to find a way within myself to become balanced and to try and make myself happy without resorting to outside sources (commonly known as switching addictions or negative coping skills). If anyone has any suggestions, please don't hesitate to email me, for real!
Okay, well I am going to go, and I'll be back again soon to keep you all posted.
I'll keep all of you pre and post ops in my prayers as well as anyone suffering from this horrible disease of obesity.
Love Ya's,
Lisa  postop lap/rny 10-23-03 340+/175/??? -165 -170lbs!!