I met with my Nut last week and got some good info and will be moving to stage 5 which is AKA as the last and final stage after my surgery.  I am 5 weeks out this week and definitely ready for a change.   I love omelets, but I think I am starting to get sick of the ham, eggs and cheese – heck, I’ve been eating them every night for 2 weeks now.  I am ready for something with more SUBSTANCE!

So anyway, back to the meeting with the NUT.  We talked about my food and vitamins and how well I was doing.  I mentioned how I thought it was weird I was still craving things, bad thing and how odd that was to me since so many other people I read about didn’t really have those cravings after surgery, especially so soon.  As we were talking more, it came out that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (which she knew), but she didn’t know I am on a steroid (prednisone) for it (among other things).  She said that my cravings and the prednisone go hand in hand, that the (evil) drug actually makes you crave bad carbs and sugars and stuff.  Wonderful – that explains why I would eat a box of Swiss Rolls in a sitting when I Just.Had.To.Have.Them.  Of course I ultimately put the food into my mouth thus causing the weight gain (although the prednisone had a hand in that too).  I guess it was really interesting to hear someone say that this suck ass drug I have been on for 14 years straight had attributed to where I am now and ultimately my need for WLS.

One of the many reasons for this surgery was so my body would feel better and maybe my RA would go into remission or at least not be so freaking painful and ultimately maybe get off of the prednisone for good. Of course if this freaking wound would heal, I could go back on my injectable RA meds that help control the disease, but since they weaken the immune system and can cause infection, I have to wait until I am healed.  Which, by the way, will hopefully be another month or so.  I healed another cm this week which brought it down to 4.2 (originally 9 cm), so hopefully this stuff is working.  I’m having an issue with the VNA, if you have VNA = can’t work.  Well, I was out of work for 5 weeks and really don’t want to be out any longer.  Of course that posed a problem because VNA orders my supplies for my wound care.  And in another damned if I do, damned if I don’t scenario, I am flaring and in a lot of pain lately because I can no longer take ibuprofen type pain relievers anymore.  So my options for pain relief (since I am not able to take my injectable meds) are more prednisone or narcotics.  Or suck it up and deal, which is my current method.

So, the appointment was helpful, but it still pissed me off that I have to take these suck ass drugs that have awful side effects.  I could go on with the snowball effect from there, but I won’t otherwise I would never get out of bed.

Moving on….

Highest Weight: 284
Surgery Weight: 266
Current Weight: 242 (-2)
Total Lost: 42 lbs

So I've lost 40 lbs total between being a month out of RNY and my pre-op diet.  I haven't really done any clothes shopping since those 40 lbs went away and things were definitely getting too big.  So I stopped at Koh'ls to pickup a couple shirts and pants, thinking shopping might be just a little bit more enjoyable.

Ah, no.

It seems, as if I didn't already know, that I carry most of my weight in my upper body and belly. So trying on 1x and 2x shirts didn't yield good results, unfortunately.  I did end up getting a new bra - went from a 42 DD to a 40 DD - the 42 was too big and the 40 is just a little bit snug, but I'll be okay, I doubt I will be getting any bigger again (knock on wood).  It was a little disheartening that the shirts still didn't fit well and I have bubble belly/muffin top but it's gonna be like that for awhile I am sure.  I knew I wouldn't lose all my weight in one month, so it's okay.

I did have some better luck with pants, though.  I have gone from a 24W or higher pant to an 18W!  So things are going away, just not all in the right places.  I am sure I'll be in misses pants before I am shirts, but that's okay - sort of.  Plus size clothing is just so gawd awful ugly. Ugh, I can't wait to shop in the normal section where there are more CHOICES!  I really think I am fashion stunted because of all the shitty selections in the plus sizes.  Of course if I wasn't plus size in the first place maybe I wouldn't be fashion stunted.  Gotta keep watching 'TLC's What Not To Wear'.

Maybe I will be a hot diva one day....

A month out today!  Woohoo!

Highest Weight: 284
Surgery Weight: 266
Current Weight: 244 (-5)
Total Lost: 40 lbs

So I am almost 1 month out (2 more days) and I decided I will go back to work 1/2 time for now.  So I get ready this morning, which was a feat in and of itself and make the 1/2 hour drive to work.  Well, I got in and everyone was happy to see me and I felt a little weird - I hadn't driven that far since surgery and of course was in the middle of breakfast and lunch.  So I took it easy, but after 3 hours I started getting hot flashes, really dizzy and feeling faint.  I over did it and they told me not to come back this week.

So I will continue to try and get my strength and stamina back.  Going to walk more I think.  I just wish this wound would HEAL!  Of course if I get the right stuff to pack my wound with, that might help.

Frustrated!