Connie Sykes

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Good Morning!  Well, yesterday was my 12 wk. check up with my nutritionist and PA.  I had lab work done and all is well.  I am down to 258.5.  I have lost 56 lbs.  My size 22-24 stretchy capris are getting big but they are comfy.  I can wear my 18-20s only they are a bit snug around the waist.  My 3X shirts are roomy but the 2X are snug around the middle.  I will be just fine until fall/winter when I will have to break down and get some clothes.  I'm feeling better all the time, more stamina.  Went walking out in the country last weekend and didn't tire out at all.  Getting ready to move about 30 miles from where we are now so I'm keeping busy getting the house ready to sell (my brother owns it) and packing up my stuff.  We rescued a kitty this week and she finally went in the litter box so I think I'll keep her.  Notified the humane society incase someone is missing her.  She's only 4-5 mos. old.  Life is good...take care! 

I can't believe it has been 2 months already.  Time has gone really fast for me.  I have applied to go back to my old job now that I am healthier and won't miss work due to my health issues.  I am told they will be hiring in August again so that gives me another month off...yippee!  I wish I could stay home all the time but, the bills do need paying!  My husband works 2 jobs but the insurance at his primary job is sooooooooo high...we pay over $500 a month!!!  My insurance was $200 a month, that is why I have to go back to work!!!

I started this journey weighing 314.5 lbs. and today I weigh 269, I think that's 45.5 lbs. lost.  My size 22-24 capris fit looser now and my size 3X tops fit loose too.  I am thankful I have size 18-20 capris and 2X tops for summer.  I will be fine until fall.  I don't mind baggy sweatshirts and t-shirts though.

I think I should add a new picture since that doesn't even look like me anymore....my face is alot thinner.  I will write again after my 3 month checkup.

Today it is 3 weeks post op and I have lost 25 lbs.  I still get tired easily and have to take a lot of breaks during the day to rest.  The doctor & nutritionist said I am doing great.  My incisions have all healed nicely.  I have to practice on eating slower and taking smaller bites....ouch!  My pouch lets me know if I'm doing either.  I realize I am a foodaholic and need to be aware of my patterns and change them.  I am glad I had the surgery and can't wait to lose more!!!  Yippee!!!!

Good Morning One and All!  Here I am 1 wk. post op and losing weight and loving life!! Yahooo!!!!  I have the lost 14 lbs.  I feel a lot better because the fluid is gone and my hands and feet aren't puffy.  Now the hard work comes!

I had my surgery on Wed, May 2 @ 8:30am in LaCrosse, WI at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Ctr.  The surgery went well and the rest of Wed I was pretty much in pain and wanted to sleep.  Unfortunately, at 3am I woke up with a migraine and got a shot of Imitrex, but had a headache the rest of the day and evening.  I got a low grade fever and my blood oxygen went way down.  I also had fluid on my lungs.  Not a good day at all!  They put me on 5 liters of oxygen to maintain and gave me shots of a powerful diuretic.  Very sick.  Had chest xray, EKG and blood work.  Friday I felt like I was going to live to see another day....fever left, fluid drained but still on oxygen.  Finally Saturday they weaned me off the oxygen and I was able to go home in the afternoon.  

I didn't do much the first few days except lay around.  Yesterday (7 days post op) I finally broke down and cleaned the floors, vacuumed and generally tidied up.  Haven't tacked laundry yet as I was told to not lift over 10 lbs. for a month.  My hubby works 2 jobs so he hasn't been around to help lift.  My girlfriend is coming over today so I will have her do the lifting.

I've been eating mostly soup and applesauce.  I'm trying to drink a lot of water but get that "knot" feeling if I take too big a swallow.  Everyday is a new beginning and I'm trying to learn my bodys signals.

Will write more later....thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.   

Good Morning One and All,
Today is a good day, for one it is the end of a very long week and my hubby will be coming back home after going to Alabama for the week to visit his sick mother.

Wednesday I had an appt with my nutritionist.  I complained about not being able to catch my breath and having a pressure in the center of my chest just below my boobs.  I asked if I would be able to speak with a nurse.  I told her it had been going on for a few days and at no time did I think it was a heart attack.  She sent me to Walk-In and they didn't want to touch me with a 10 ft. pole so they sent me to Emergency.  Needless to say I had all the tests: EKG, chest xray, blood workup, etc.  They ruled out a heart attack and gave me some malox and said that it may help.  They also told made a appt for me to see my primary next week.

Yesterday the ER calls and said they got back some lab results they weren't too crazy about.  There is something in my blood starting with an "L" that has something to do with your pancreas or gallbladder and it is elevated.  I will bring this up when I see my doctor next Wednesday which is one week before surgery.  I am also taking a 2-week Prilosec treatment.  They think I have GERD but they are not ruling out a hiatel hernia.  I'm not real worried as neither of these will keep me from having surgery.

I'm glad I have this blog to write down what is going on in my life...keeps me sane!!!!!

Today I started out at the clinic at 8am.  I signed up for a gallbladder study and had a ultrasound.  By 9:30 I was seeing the doctor's assistant.  He did a quick checkup and asked if I had any questions.  I guess I don't have to go on a liquid diet for 2 weeks like some doctors do.  Next I saw the bariatric surgery nurse.  She did the meds for after the surgery and told me what vitamins to take, B-12, calcium (Tums) and a Multi-vitamin.  My BP was good.  Next I went to admissions and pre-registered.  I also did some blood workup and saw the anestiesiologist to ask her any questions.  Turns out she had RNY with Dr. Baker one year ago.  She has lost 98 lbs. and I learned so much from her in just an hour.  One thing she told me was that there is a special whey protein at GNC (Mega Whey Extreme) that has 17 grams of protein and you mix it with only 3 oz. of water.  The chocolate, vanilla and lemonade are really really good according to her.  I finally got out of the clinic about 1:30pm.  I am getting more and more excited as the surgery date draws near, 3 weeks away....yahoo!

Will you live in fear? Or will you take the risk of what could be the best thing that has happened to you in your entire LIFE?

I just happened to visit another profile and was so amazed at this young girls (20-ish) outlook on life and how seriously she took her weight loss.  She worked the program 150%, she exercised (tae-bo) and had such an upbeat attitude.   I want to be that upbeat and happy again!  That's her motto above.  I so appreciate OH and all they do for those of us lost in a sea of fat.

 Here I am 4 weeks pre-op and I'm freaking out because I have to lose another 15 lbs. that I gained since my initial visit almost a year ago or they won't do the surgery!!!!!!!!!  If I could lose weight on my own.......I wouldn't need this surgery!!!!  Anyway I'm freakin out over this.  Say a prayer for me!

Hi!  Today was another beautiful day here in the midwest (Wisconsin).  I had an appt. with Emily today, she's my dietician.  I had gained almost 20 lbs. after my initial inquiry (1 yr. ago) and my doctor will not do surgery if you haven't maintained or lost weight.  Well, I was 292 last year and I went up to an all high of 312.  Today I was 305 so I have about 10-13 lbs. to lose in the next 5 weeks.  I've been eating approx. 1500 calories and the weight is slowly coming off.  I do have another appt. with her in 3 weeks to see where I'm at.  They also took my picture today (front view and side view).  I received a binder with all kinds of info for after surgery along with recipes and grocery lists.  In 2 weeks I will meet with Chris, he's the physician's assistant in the bariatric surgery dept.  I guess we will be going through everything I need to know about medications and vitamins etc.  I am so glad it is moving along now.  I feel like I'm in my 9th month of pregnancy!!!!!  All sorts of feelings...excitement, anxiety (is this the right thing to do?), happiness and anticipation. 

Good Morning one and all....I'm a bit peeved today.  It seems like I waited forever to get a surgery date and now they changed it to a week later.  Of course I had told everyone, made all my arrangements etc. so now I have to make other arrangements!  From the time I started the bariatric surgery procedure (insurance acceptance etc) I gained 20 lbs. just with all the stress.  They will not do my surgery until I get back down to what I weighed when I first came to the clinic (292 lbs.)  I have been "dieting" for 2 weeks, eating approx. 1500 calories and have lost about 14 lbs.  I've been very hungry and part of the reason is I haven 't been eating enough protein.  I am a vegetarian and it is difficult to get that full feeling on beans/rice.  Talked to my dietician yesterday and she told me I needed 50 grams of protein a day.  Will do some research today to find my alternatives to meat.  Have a great day!!