ObesityHelp

Had a wonderful cruise with the entire family through the Baltic...really enjoyed St Petersberg. I worried about eating issues, but had no problems at all. A bit hard to drink as much as I should with all the off-boat touring, but had a very succesful trip.
I am down over 120 lbs. I feel great, love to buy clothes again. Only problem remaining is the constipation issue...oh well. I pretty much have incorporated this new stomach into my life quite seemlessly. I almost forget that I had the surgery...it is just how I live now. I think that is really the goal, here. It is a part of my life that I have adapted to and no longer feels strange. Am I happy? All things considered...YES!

Well, I am finally being forced to see the difference in myself, and am quite pleased. Lost around 90 pounds, now. I don't miss food anymore, and dining out with family and friends is fun and part of my social life again. Feeling quite well (today).

It has been just about 2 months now, and I have lost over 55 lbs. This has been the most monumental disturbance to my life...I was not fully prepared for all the emotional issues I would be facing. I had post-op depression, anger/rage, grief for my lost favorite food, and a total loss of higher brain function...I got really stupid for a while. Thank God, most of those unpleasant feelings have passed. But they were a real scary thing to deal with.
I am happy, of course, that I am losing weight. Who wouldn't be? But it would be nice if my brain would let me see myself as smaller. It does not cooperate, and I still see my old obese self in the mirror. The head is so much stronger than even reality.
And plateaus!!! What is with those? How one can eat less than 200 calories a day and not lose weight for 5-6 days is beyond me.
I'm happy the surgery happened, would do it again, but I don't think there is anything short of actual experience that can prepare one for this total upheaval of life.

Its been one week post-op, and I can finally admit that it was nothing like I thought it would be. I imagined great pain and great deprivation, but am
really surprised that I have very little pain, and soup does great things for my morale. I had the RNY laprascopically a week ago. Knock on wood....it went very well. Great surgeon, really great nurses, and lots of support from family and friends. I am blessed. I feel so badly for those who go thru this without support at home.
I have, unbelievably, lost 23 lbs in the past week. I used to read other people's profiles with statements like that and think they were exagerating...but its true! And remains unbelievable! And I feel the difference. I can go up and down stairs without being winded, and that lower back pain ( I called it fat-back pain) is totally gone. This is an amazing experience.

Well, that was a while ago. My surgery was put on hold pending cardiology and nephrology clearance. Surgery is now scheduled for Tuesday, 1/9/07. I absolutely hate protein drinks...they taste so oily to me. I'll blog again post-op.