ObesityHelp

Well, it's November 29, 2007. In two weeks I will hit my one year surgiversary. I'm down to 165lbs and a total loss of aobut 120 lbs.!!! I'm so happy and so healthy! I feel great. I have had no lasting ill effects from the surgery. I lost my hair up to the 9th month and it stopped like everyone said it would. I'm glad I had enough for three people because I really lost a lot of it. The hair dresser says I have new hair coming in. I had a vitamin B6 deficiency which was fixed by taking sublingual B6 which I continue to take. Apart from that, gas is the only adverse side effect I have had. I have a lot of skin also.
I no longer am a diabetic, or have high blood pressure, or sleep apnea, or acid reflux and I don't even have to wear glasses (except to read) because the diabetis was the problem with my eyes all along.

My family hasn't seen me since my surgery because they all live far away. For Christmas next month I'm going to go see all of them. My brothers, and kids, and grandkids. All except for one brother and one granddaughter. I can't wait to see their reaction! It's going to be great!!

I can do so much more now and I have energy forever!
It seems so weird to wrap my arms around my much smaller self. My shoulders feel so tiny to touch. I'm finding bones I didn't know I had...really...! Did you know you can count you ribs ABOVE your breasts? It's been so long ago that I was at this weight I didn't know that. My pelvic bones come up much farther than I knew too. At first when I got to where I could feel them, I kept telling my husband to feel my sides and see why I was so hard there! Ha! It was pelvic bone. WHO KNEW???

Here are my measurements, today skin and all:

Bust: 41.5
Waist: 38.5
Hips:    45

Wrist: L 7 R 7.5
Upper Arm: L 15 R 15
Lower Arm: L 10 R 10.5
Thighs:     L 25 R 24
Calves: L 16.5 R15
Ankles: L 10.5 R10

Novenber 26, 2006
Waiting for the last 3 weeksof hang time. Surgery will be Dec 15. I just made this list of goals for becoming a normal weight.

OBESE III
BMI 40 WEIGHT 282-220

OBESE II
BMI 35-39.9 WEIGHT 195-215

OBESE I WEIGHT 165-190
BMI 30-34.75

OVERWEIGHT
BMI 25-29.9 WEIGHT 137-160

NORMAL
BMI 18.5-24.9 WEIGHT 105-136

Hi everybody!! Thanks to everyone who is posting and calling and coming by and praying and keeping me in your thoughts! Just thanks to any and everyone who frequents this site because if you didn't it would not be here for me. I'm so blessed to have found this wonderful family!

Well, had a little scare in the hospital that was totally unrelated to WLS. I bled too much but that was due to the fact I have been on Coumadin for years and even though I stopped 7 days before surgery I was still too thin. They fixed that and sent me home. I was in the hospital from Friday to Monday. Including 2 days in ICU. Just a suggestion to preops (I'M A POST OP NOW!) Donate blood in your own name or if you know someone else who will donate for you, you can be covered for your blood. I work with a wonderful friend whe asked a few months ago if she could donate blood for me. I said of course she could. I can't donate for myself because of health reasons so I couldn't do it for my self. Low and behold I needed it. That would also be a wonderful way to support people on the boards. I believe if you donate for yourself you can ask to recieve your own blood as well which is something to think about.
I went into the hospital sick with the flu or cold or bad sinus infection. I have run a low grade temp most of the time since surgery but I feel that may be why. My blood pressure has been erractic which I also feel is not related to WLS, just to major surgery itself. Keeping a regular watch on that and intouch with my doctor's office.

Here is a stupid thing I did. I have this drain and I forgot for two days I am supposed to empty it and THEN SQUEEZE THE BULB TO PUT SUCTION BACK ON IT!!! Should I call the doc?
Here is my first WOW moment.....are you ready??????
I no longer have to take my diabetis medicine!!!! Glory to God!!
My sugar went from 140 ish 155 ish yesterday morning to 80 last night, and I had to start drinking drinks to bring me back up (Gatorade).
Do you realize how big of a deal that is????? I've been a diabetic for 20 years and steadily getting worse.

I am just so greatful for this hope that I have, and can't wait to see what will be my next wow.

Merry Christmas to all and many many Happy NewYears!!!!

Sept. 5 2006
I called Dr. Hassan's office this morning and held my breath while on hold, and during the paper rustling when the nurse came back on line. "Mrs. Abernathy," she said in her thick east Indian accent, "your results are normal."
"They are normal? It, it was normal?" I weakly dared to inquire,as if just by asking I might scratch the cover off of a deeper more intimidating answer.
With as much understanding and tenderness as a loving mother might have she replied " Yes normal".
A tear caught in my hoarse voice. "Thank you."

Sept. 18,2006
I have learned that my new insurance covers WLS and looks like at a comparable rate to UHC. Yea!

What is Your Exercise Personality?

Your Personality Type: INSPIRATIONAL
You're the type who catalyzes other people into action. You know how to say all the right things, which is why people gravitate toward you, tell you their problems, and look to you for inspiration. You're creative and are concerned about achieving personal growth.

Your Exercise Rx:
Dual-purpose exercise. To you, working out is engaging only when it's about more than just your body. You are more apt to enjoy it if it's about being part of a community or about exploring your inner self. To enhance your spiritual side, try listening to music to set the mood for a peaceful workout.

Best Choices
Softball
Volleyball
Soccer
Dance classes
Water aerobics
Martial arts
Trail running
Swimming
Tai chi

Leisure Activities
Your first priority is to work regular exercise into your week. But also think about using your leisure time to burn off a few extra calories. Here are some extracurricular activities for your personality type:

nature walks
yoga

Obstacles
Different personalities don't just take to different activities; they have to contend with different obstacles too. Here's what you might find in your path, as well as ways to get around it:

Because you may often engage in activities that involve instructors or coaches, you run the risk of being turned off by corrections or criticism aimed at you--or anyone else in your group.

Solution: Remind yourself that the teacher or coach is only trying to help you; if that doesn't work, look for a class or team that focuses more on teamwork or a teacher or coach whose style you prefer.

SEPT. 29, 2006 I just finished my first week back at work after being off all summer and the first 6 weeks of school. I'm an interpreter for the deaf at an elementary school. This year I am working primarily with K-1st.
These kids have been with a teacher with little control over her classroom and a substitute interpreter who didn't have much control either. I am walking back on the job weak and tired and have to corrall these kids and change their mindset about behavior and learning without usurping th e teachers authority. Said all that to say this...I'm exhausted!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not sick though which is fantastic!
Took off half day yesterday to drive all the way across Houston from my eastern suburb to a western suburb ( about 50 mi, Houston is huge) to see my WLS surgeon. I had to cancel my date from March 1 2006 because I had this pressure in my throat when I walked. (turned out to be cancer and had to have my thyroid removed ) While I was in the process of handling this situation the school district I worked for dropped my insurance and became self insured. So before the surgeons office would resubmit me for my NEW INSURANCE to approve me I had to see my surgeon. Come to find out he thought I had canceld my WLS because I was afraid.?? I mentioned it to him before March 1 that I was pretty nervous, but he's the one that canceld my surgery because of the throat problem. I wonder if he thought I had made up the symptom of the pressure in my throat, because none of my doctors I had a clue what it was and all still say it was a weird symptom. Now here I sit 6 mo later with an 8 inch scar across my throat. I guess he believes me now. Ok so he asks me what I want to do now. I say have WLS! Oh no we con't do that this soon after cancer, he says. He also needs letters from my cancer/thyroid/ear,nose,and throat doctors saying I can have the surgery now.
"My endocrinologist told me to wait two weeks after I finished radiation and have it" I said. He just shook his head like that doctor was crazy. "Can't do it it is too soon" he continues to tell me.

I didn't expect to have it tomorrow I want him to schedule me for Christmas break right away so I have first shot at getting in the schedule before it's filled up.
"How about Christmas break I asked?" "We'll think about it" he said, "Get me those letters and I want to see you in October and again in November."
So I'm thinking I got a good chance of a Christmas break surgery. I know the new insurance pays, they told me I will probably be approved in a month because they have 30 days to approve or deny. They felt sure I would be approved especially since I was pre-approved by my old health insurance
Then... I went to my first support group meeting last night since I was on that side of town. I am so impressed that this group is a group of my very own doctor's patients. It was very good to see healthy looking people who had already had the surgery.
One more Swangirl long post, I'm sorry
but ya'll are my buds and I know you dont mind really. HEY!!YA"LL WAKE UP!!

AUG 20, 2006

Tomorrow is the day I go back into the hospital for the radiation treatment. Swallow a pill that will put me in such high levels of radiation that I must be isolated in the hospital strictly for 3 or 4 days and isolated at home for two weeks after that. I won't even be able to face a child head on face to face for 2 weeks!

I'm ready to get it done and over with. Bring it on.

Aug 26.2006
I went into the hospital Aug 21 for radioactive iodine treatment.
I entered the hospital and walked down the long hall way all the way past the nurses station to the very last room on the left. I was shown into my room past the first heavy door which bore the radioactive hazard sign, behind which was a smaller room about the size of a good walk in closet. In this little room was a sink and some cabinets and a trash can. The next heavy door opened into a small private room which held the customary hospital bed, chair night stand and roll around tv tray table and tv. There was the custamary sink, and toilet with a shower and tub. What set this room apart from any other I had ever had was that everything was covered with plastic or paper, including the floor. The toilet seat had the blue pads taped all over it the edge of the tub all the light switches the door knobs the faucet handles the phone was in plastic wrap as well as the nurse call light. Everywhere they thought I might touch something was covered, even the thermostat.
I was told that I was to flush 5 times, and rinse the sink well after washing my hands, or brushing my teeth.
They wanted me to take 5 showers a day and brush my teeth as well as wash my hair, and to eat and drink as much as possible, all of this to help me get the radiation to a level at which I could be released.
I was happy to see that i had a window in the room to look out, but when I looked I was surrounded on the left and right and directly in front with skyscrapers. I couldn't see the sky. I could see the grass, but there was not a bush or a tree or a bird or a bee, so I shut the blinds and waited for the pill.
There was the ususal hustle and bustle of a new patient being admitted to the hospital. Liz from nuclear medicine was my new best friend, but she kept asking me is there anything you need to know or want ask me now because you will be very limited after you take this pill as to who you will see and for how long. Make SURE there is nothing in this room you will want to keep, because it won't be leaving here afterwards. They brought me my over size hospital gown and I removed my clothes, shoes and glasses and gave them to my husband to put back in my bag to take home.
They came in and said to us it's time to say good bye now they are bringing the pill down as we speak. We cried a little and held on a little long, then he was gone. Liz came in with a lead looking box, out of which she pulled another container, I'm not sure if she wore gloves but in my cartoon charicature memory it was like that pill was inside of a box inside of a box inside of a box inside....You get the idea. Then a clear medicine bottle like a prescription pill bottle, and there it was looking like a Tylenol capsule only smaller. I was thinking I'm just going to swallow this? Liz helped me lift the bottle to my lips, I didn't touch the pill and neither did she. I took a swig of water from my hospital water/pitcher/mug with the big thick bendable straw. For a second I tasted iodine. Then suddenly my nose on both nostrils ran water. I thought at first blood, but no, it was water. and it stopped as quickly as it came. Then about 5 minutes later a quick light hot flash and that was that. Liz was already my best friend from a distance.

and was released on the 23 in the afternoon. My thyroid level is so low that I feel like a dishrag and just bad in general. I will begin synthroid next Monday on Aug 28. On Aug 30 I will have a full body scan to see if they got everything. and to be sure it has not gone to my lungs or bone.

Aug. 31, 2006
My doctor has the results of the scan in his hands and I should hear the results tomorrow morning.

July 13,2006
I had to have oral surgery July 13 for a molar that was flaring up on me every week or two. I didn't want it acting up during the thyroid surgery. So they had to knock me out because I can't take the medication they give for tooth extraction.
This guy beat me up so badly. My face at the chin had a big black and blue bruise my upper lip was busted in two places, different places in my mouth were scraped up. Not to mention the swelling in my face which was expected. Both my wrists had huge bruises on them from where they started one IV and I guess it failed and they moved it to the other. The second wrist was bruised and red and swollen and actually hurt worse than the tooth extraction.
I can tell you how to get over oral surgery.....go have your thyroid removed.

July 22, 2006
I had my surgery July the 17, and it was found to be cancer. My doctor says there are four kinds of thyroid cancer and two are not treatable. I have one of those which is highly treatable. First they want me to be without any thyroid hormone for abot two months so that my body will be starved for the radioactive iodine pill I will swallow. It will be very effective and I have a 99.7% chance of total recovery. Then I will take a thyroid pill for the rest of my life. I will have to be in isolation for three days, because the doctor said I will be glowing.

July 28, 2006

I went back to my surgeon who removed my thyroid 11 days ago. He says my vocal chords have been traumatized and there is a chance I will never get my voice back to normal. I can talk but my voice sounds like a thirteen year old boys does when his voice is changing. So the doctor says the airway might have damaged my vocal chords permanently.
For most people that might be OK, not a bad trade off for no cancer.
But you see I have a call of God on my life to sing and praise him. I use to do it all the time.
I have had some bumps in my life that, to make a long story short, have gotten me out of the Christian lifestyle. Out of church and fellowship with other Christians. It has been a long time since I sang for him. The call and the gift was still there and I have always known I would someday be back there in fellowship with HIM and leading others into a deeper understanding and relationship of praise and worship with HIM.
Now it looks as though that gift might be stolen. I have prayed and promised God that if he delivers me from this attack of the enemy that I will go back to doing what he has called me to do . I will sing anywhere anytime no matter if I have just walked back into church in the last five minutes or been back there for twenty years. I will go back and ask to sing whereever I go. I will sing if I weigh 300 lbs or 112 lbs. I will sing if I'm scared or not. I will sing if I have the right clothes or not. I will sing if everyone else in the building is a singer and sings better than I do. I will sing if there are only two or three there that need to have a personal touch from the Lord. I will get busy going about the masters business. Just as soon as he lets me. I've wasted YEARS now, it's time.
I need some people that know how to pray to set themselves in agreement with me that I will be able to sing again.