Barbara C.

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

When I got married, 30 years ago, I wore a misses size 14/16 when we started planning the wedding. Six months later I had gained nearly 50 lbs and couldn't fit into the gown of my dreams. At the time, they didn't have much selection in the Plus Size wedding gown section, so I settled for something that fit. Now I'm delighted to say that I my Plus Size wedding gown is too big for me!

I'm down to 201 ... So close to Onderland, but not yet.

I have decided to add a Weight Loss table that shows me how I'm doing. I hope that this will help me "see" the progress and realize that when I have some "speed" bumps that slow me down, the next positive is coming around the corner.

WOW Moment #1 happened last week when I bought a swim suit for a trip to the beach last week-end. I kept trying on all of the suits I had and none of them fit ... Sizes 22 to 18W. You know what happens when a suit gets wet and I didn't want to scare little children. I went to Ross and found a lovely one-piece suit in a 16 ... I thought it was a 16W ... Nope, it's a "real" 16 ... you know, like from the Misses department and it fit!

WOW Moment #2 happened yesterday. I stopped at Target to pick up a few things. I walked past the Misses department and found a pair of Misses size 18 slacks. I took them to the dressing room and tried them on just for kicks. To my amazement, they fit perfectly ... not too loose and not too tight. I haven't worn anything in a Misses size in nearly 30 years! I didn't buy the pants because I have a collection of size 14Ws that look okay, a little big, but okay. So I think I'll wait a bit to shop in the Misses department.

WOW Moment #3 happened this morning. I got up and weighed. I'm down to 203. That is 30 lbs lost since surgery and a whopping 50 lbs lost since I started this oddessy. (If I go from my highest ever weight of 264, I'm down 61 lbs ... absolutely incredible.)

When I had the surgery I was taking Byetta, Metformin and Glimperide to help me control my glucose levels. My best hbA1C was 7.6 with my fasting and post prandial numbers running in the 140's. I won't have another hbA1C until September, but my fasting and post prandial numbers are running anywhere from 90 to 105. That is success!

Another way to measure success ...Before I started this journey I wore a size 22/24. By the time I went in for surgery I was down to an 18/20W. Now I'm wearing a size 14W ... 16W's are just too big. I went out and hit the clearance racks at Ross, Marshall's and TJ Maxx. I can tell that they are going to be my haunts as I shift into smaller sizes.

I've been frustrated because I'm not losing 3 - 5 pounds a week, like many others. My loss averages about 4 lbs a week over the 6 weeks which is great, but I had a 15 lb loss in the first 10 days ... followed by a "drought". Since then, I have averaged about 2 lbs a week. I think that's about the average that they shoot for at Weight Watchers. It's probably unreasonable, but I was hoping to lose a little faster with this than I would with Weight Watchers.

On the other hand, I'm glad I'm losing. I'm glad I'm off all of my diabetic medications, I'm glad I can't wear the clothes I wore last summer or even this spring.

I was a little concerned about what I should do regarding dinner. I knew that we would be attending this wedding for a long time before the surgery. They were serving Filet Mignon or grilled chicken and I wasn't at all sure that I'd be able to handle it. My hosts were gracious and accomodating. I brought a fork tender medallion of pork tenderloin, mashed potato and fork tender carrots. My dinner was plated by the kitchen and served by the wait staff. No one else was the wiser. I was able to safely have my dinner ... it turned out that I could have had either the chicken or the filet because they were so tender, but I wasn't willing to risk it.

The wedding was lovely and the reception was wonderful. While I'm still recovering and building my endurance, I was able to dance the night fantastic ... I just had to stop now and then to literally "catch my breath." I really didn't miss not having wine, champagne, cake or the dinner. It was great to be able to go and participate.

The icing on the cake was having people comment on how "fabulous" I looked. Couldn't believe that I'd just had major surgery. Couldn't believe the changes in my face.

I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I'm so glad that I was able to go and enjoy without feeling deprived in the least.

I've had a few people tell me that I look great ... I find myself saying "Thank You" and feeling like "Yeah, but ..."

I find that I'm comparing myself and my loss (or lack of it) to how other people are doing. It could be people on the board who had their surgery the same time I did or people in my "group" at Duke. Either way, I discount what I have done in favor of what someone else has done "better."

I also worry that I'll have "done this to myself" and either not lose enough weight or lose it and gain it back.

I'm working with my counselor on this stuff. I know that I need to "get my head on straight" to make this work for me.

I need to accept

that I am actively doing what I need to do to take care of me

that I'll lose at a rate that is best for my body

that I can and will keep the lost weight off because I'm working hard at it ... not just learning how to eat, but how to exercise and live a healthier lifestyle.

First, the important stuff! I've lost 20 lbs! Yeah! Woohoo! What a great start to a new life!

Second, I spoke with Dr. DeMaria. I'm comfortable with the time he took to answer all of my questions. We discussed the perforation of the bowel and ramificantions. I'm off two of my diabetic medications ... No more Byetta or Glimperide and my Metformin has been cut in half, from 1000 mg daily, to 500 mg. daily. He indicated that he feels I'm progressing well and my request for a "script" allowing me to go back to the gym was an excellent indicator of my ability to make this surgery work for me. He said that whether I decide to exercise or not will not really make a huge ifference on if I lose weight, he said if you have the RNY you will lose. He also said that statistically those who make a lifestyle shift that includes exercise are much more likely to maintain the weight loss. So as I return to the gyn, he'd like me to use light weights with more repetitions in addition to my aerobic exercise. I plan to maintain the hard-earned losses, so off to the gym I'll go.

I've also started on "soft foods" basically this means that I can eat again. I need go slowly only introducing one food at a time. This way I'll know what I can tolerate and what I can't. If I can't tolerate something, then I'll put it aside and try it again later.

I know that the crock pot is going to become my friend since meats and vegi's will need to be cooked until they are "fork tender."

So here are the rules:

1. Consume about 900 calories a day. Too few will interfere with the weight loss process.

2. Make sure to get 40 to 60 grams a protien in a day.

3. Drink at least 64 ounces a day.

4. Limit volume of any meal to 1/2 cup or 4 ounces.

5. Protien FIRST! A minimum of 2 ounces of protien at each meal. CHEW. CHEW. CHEW.

6. Nothing to drink 30 before or after eating. This is to allow the food that I do eat to stay in the pouch, giving me that sense of fullness.

7. Eat every 3 to 4 hours. This means I'll be eating 5 to 6 times a day.

8. Eat slowly. Take 20 to 30 minutes to consume each meal. This means chew completely and slowly.

9. Stop eating when full. Learn to feel full, not stuffed, just full. Stop when full.

10. Start w/high protien soft foods like, eggs, light/low-fat yogurt, flakey fish, crab, shrimp, tuna, fork tender meats/poultry, ground meats, beans and lentils, low-fat deliy meats thinly sliced, low-fat cottage cheese, shredded or soft skim cheeses, tofu. Other foods include oatmeal, chream of wheat, soft cooked vegi's that can be fork mashed, soft fruits w/o skins, crackers/toast (chewed well), low-fat strained soups, and soft lettuce like green, red leaf or bib (no iceberg).

11. AVOID Sticky foods - like bread, sticky rice, pasta, mac'n'cheese, melted stringy cheeses, and peanut butter ... Crunchy Foods -  like raw vegi's, skins, nuts, seeds, popcorn, chips, cocnut and iceberg lettuce... Tough & Rubbery foods - like tough meats, steak, pork, ham, hot dogs and High Fats - like butter, salad dressings, full fat sour cream, cream cheese, mayo, & gravy, bacon, sausages, whole milk, whole milk cheeses, fried foods, processed meats (balogna, salami), chips and desserts.

My weight was dropping like a rock for the first 10 days, then IT STOPPED. I'm only 2-1/2 weeks into this process and I haven't lost anything in a week. I'm still making sure I get in the protein and water. I'm also walking. I don't know what else to do.

It's kind of frustrating. I'm not sure what's happening. A part of me worries that I did this extreme surgery "to myself" instead of "for myself." I'm afraid that I might be one of those people it doesn't work for ... I sure hope not.

I'm 10 days out from my surgery. I'm down to 220, so I've lost more than 14 lbs since my surgery last week. I'm already seeing some physical changes ... the inches are showing as well as the number on the scale. :-)

DukeWLS requires nearly a full fast. You have 2 ounces of a high protien supplement such as Boost or Ensure aat the top of the hour and 3 ounces of no calorie clear (see through) fluids during the next 45 minutes. Of course, there are vitamin supplements and my reg. meds I take for conditions not related or yet corrected by the WLS.

I can definately say I know the true meaning of hunger. I will be delighted when my 3 week post op fast is over and I'm able to begin the process of re-introducing the soft foods.

My surgery was performed June 5, 2007 through the Duke University Weight Loss Surgery Center  by Dr. Eric DeMaria at Durham Regional Hospital in Durham NC.  First , and most important of all. I'm okay!   I had my RNY laproscopically, but it was almost an open procedure.  

My surgery took about 4 hours. Dr. DeMaria accidentally perforated my colon with the first incision. While an uncommon complication when you have a surgeon who is very experienced with laparoscopic procedures (.04% or 4 in 1000), it is a known complication. Apparently, after some discussion, Dr. DeMaria and Dr. Roller decided to "resect" the bowel laproscopically (cutting out a slice of the colon to remove the damage and sewing the two pieces together), sparing me the complications and painful recovery of an open procedure. I am very grateful.  

·     Dr. Eric DeMaria was my primary surgeon and Dr. Roller was the secondary surgeon. Dr. Roller is a fully qualified surgeon in his own right that is obtaining a fellowship in in bariatric surgery. Dr Roller, has nearly completed his fellowship at Duke, under the guidance and tutalige of Dr. DeMaria.   

·      DeMaria came in to see me as they were starting the IV and asked me if I was sure I wanted the surgery ... That seemed kind of odd to me, but I told him yes and why I felt it was the best decision for me. He said good and he'd see me in the operating room in a few miniutes. 

·     Dr. DeMaria met with my husband and my mother to let them know what happened and that I had come through the surgery well and was now in recovery. For that, I thank him. Of course, they were worried when the surgery was taking so long; about 4 hours, instead of the more typical 1.5 - 2 hours of a "normal" laproscopic RNY.  

·     I never saw my primary surgeon, Dr. DeMaria post-op. He has not talked to me about the surgery at all. I never saw him after surgery while I was in the hospital and have not talked with him since my discharge Friday, June 8th and still find that disconcerting. I'm sure he is very competent, even with the perforation of the colon, but I find his lack of personal care and communication absolutely unacceptable. I feel like I'm a condition to him, not a person with a problem that requires his skill and expertise.

My surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning 11am. I'm supposed to be at the hospital at 9am. They said to bring a book ... are they kidding? I can't believe that I'll be able to focus and concentrate on a book. LOL.  The good news is that my husband and mother are coming to the hospital with me and they will be good company. 
Don't you think that it was nice.  I'm both scared and looking forward to getting past this phase of my journey to a healthier me. I've had a couple of surgeries ... one to remove my gallbladder laproscopically about 12 yrs ago and the other was to reconstruct my leg after being hit by a truck.

I keep telling myself that I know that I'm doing the right thing, but I have that little nagging voice in my head that says "what if you don't make it or make things worse?" I keep telling the nag that "I've done the research, I have an extremely competent medical/surgical team, that I'll have a pump to help control the pain ..., I have to trust God."

I'll just be glad when I'm a week to 10 days post-op. 

As my friend Diane said, it's a big step and like with other big steps in your life, you tend to get nervous, but that's normal. Thanks Diane!

I've gotten the stuff I need to pack my bag, I am getting ready to "cleanse my system." (Yuck!) I need to re-assure my 13 yr old daughter ... last night she told me she was "scared for" me.