my post-op complications...

Apr 17, 2011

these blogs cover what i went through most recently in 2011. i did not blog about my experience right after having my BOB surgery last may and what ensued...but i probably should soon before i forget :)

http://momchronicles.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html

http://momchronicles.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html
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my original blog from 2003

Apr 17, 2011

11/25/06
It's been entirely too long since I updated! It has now been 3 years, 7 months, and 11 days since my gastric bypass surgery. I am currently 15 pounds above my lowest weight and have been at this weight for about a year and a half. I think my body has leveled off. Interestingly enough, I'm facing a new body challenge. I'm going to have a baby! In the last three years I have been divorced and remarried the most wonderful man on the face of the earth. Now, we are going to be parents together! I am fourteen weeks along and am actually one pound lighter than the day I found out I was pregnant. I have a tiny bit of a belly, most of which is attributed to the pannis that was already there after my 125 lb. weight loss. I never did have that tummy tuck but I'd still consider it post-baby. (Or post baby #2 if we are so lucky.)

I have read everything I can about having a baby post-op but honestly there is not much out there. The general consensus seems to be that there are no real known problems associated with pregnancy after gastric bypass surgery, which is good news.

Now that the nauseated days seem to be mostly in the past, I have definitely felt increased hunger but can still only eat smaller meals, which forces me to eat more often. I'm really curious to see what's next.


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2/11/03
I am currently a reading teacher and live with my husband and three cats. Maybe after the surgery we'll add to our family. :)


3/10/03 I JUST FOUND OUT THE GREAT NEWS!!!
My surgery is scheduled for Monday, April 14, 2003!!! YAY!!! I'm SOOOO excited and can't wait to be a loser!!! :)


3/31/03
Two weeks and counting! My sister called today and asked if I needed anything and if I am nervous yet. (I haven't had surgery other than my wisdom teeth pulled since I was eight years old. That's 21 years for anyone who wants to know. LOL) I told her the same thing I have been telling everybody else lately...I am SO much more afraid of what will happen to my body if I DON'T have this surgery. My sister, thin as she is, totally understands me. I am so lucky to have her, my mom, and my husband. I feel very positive about this. I have a few jittery nerves that started last week but they go away just as fast as they come.

I've started a sort of mental list of "lasts" here lately. This Friday will be the last time I sit uncomfortably in a stadium seat at the local minor leage basball game. I've eaten "normally" at some of my favorite restaraunts for the last time and I have a few more on my list. This has not bothered me very much, thank goodness. LOL I've walked several places and gotten out of breath for the last time! I put away some winter sweaters that I have already worn for the last time! (Unless I use them for maternity clothes one day...HAH!)I raked the leaves off the teeny tiny new perennials in my garden and had a hard time bending over to put the leaves in the bag for the last time! I like this list!

Today I also purchased a new pair of glasses so that I will be able to see without my contacts in at the hospital. (I'll be looking darned cute too!) I still need a new pair of tennis shoes for all that walking and some new gowns/night shirts so my hiney won't show in the hospital! I have a toiletries kit put together and am wondering what else I will need. Luckily I only live about 1.5 miles from the hospital so I doubt I'll lack for anything. Now all I have to do is get my plans ready at school, buy some appropriate groceries, clean my house (umm maybe) and I'll be ready!

4/9/03
I went for my pre-surgery testing today. First I met with Dr. Davenport. She really impressed my husband who hadn't met her yet. (And he's definitely the family cynic.) She answered our questions from A-Z and then sent us on to have all the usual - bloodwork, EKG, urinalysis, and chest x-rays. I have my silly blood bank wrist band on now. Good thing I don't have any formal functions to attend this weekend! LOL

I'm still very excited...I had my first little nervous tummy ache this morning...finally...I had been waiting on that. I'm still absolutely positive though that this is the right choice for me. I can't wait until Monday! Well...I can't wait for about a month from now when I'm starting to feel good again anyway! All that's left to do now is wait....

4/20/03
I had a very positive surgery experience. The only "complication" was that my surgery took a little longer than usual because I supposedly have a very well developed abdominal wall! hahahahahaha! Imagine anything on me at this point in my life being considered muscular!!!! My incision is different than I thought it would be. It's diagonal - begins under my left breast and ends on the right side of my belly button. It looks very good though! I still can hardly believe I haven't thrown up even once! :) I had a very very nice anesthesiologist. I have felt a few waves of nausea, but I actually think those were related to being hungry! Wow! I am moving around well, getting my own stuff now for the most part, etc. Yesterday and today I went and walked a little in the neighborhood. I'm proud of that. My goal is to be off pain meds by mid-week so that I can start driving and go back to work next Monday. I have come so far in one week that I know I can do this! Yay, me!!

4/23/03
Well, the whinies hit yesterday. I was nauseated and just a little crabby. But I got over it. It's funny, I'm kind of like a baby right now. I have to be fed a lot and I need my naps! I am off pain meds as of Monday morning. Yay! Still a little sore in the tummy muscles...sneezing - yikes! I did that today, for the first time since surgery. Thank goodness for pillows against your tummy. I'm still not eating much at all. Average so far is about 1/2 cup sugar free pudding, 1/2 cup of yogurt, and an ounce or two of cheese. It's so odd to have to make yourself eat. I'm walking further and further each day, building up stamina I hope! However, 13 pounds gone so far! :)

4/28/03
I'm back at work!...and writing this during my lunch break as I no longer need 30 minutes to eat lunch! Haha! Actually I'm not even hungry. Imagine that. I'm usually famished by now. Wow. I feel really good. Getting in and out of the car with sort of weak stomach muscles is still kind of a chore, but it's funny to watch, I'm sure! I brought about a month's supply of applesauce, jello, yogurt, and CHEESE! Heehee. My husband keeps calling me a mouse because I've been eating so much cheese these days. (But what I REALLY want is some crackers!) Liquids are going ok, I think I will be more successful now that I'm back at work because I'm up earlier so my day is longer, more time to get them in. And yes, I am a little tired, but it's not terrible by any means. Everyone keeps saying, "Take it easy," and I keep saying, "Ok!" LOL My kids missed me and I missed them. We've been busy writing today and I am impressed with how wonderful my classroom looks after having a sub! What a relief! As of this morning, I've lost 20 pounds! I'll double check that with the scale at Dr. Davenport's office tomorrow when I get my staples out!! YAY!!!

5/2/03
Staples are out and boy do I feel more comfortable! I can wear pretty much any of my clothes now, thank goodness! My scale was right on target, so that's fantastic. I've been pretty tired this week, but I know that comes with the territory. I have only walked once since I went back to work, but I will try to make up for that tonight. My goal is to walk on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. After six weeks I can start with weight training. Dr. Davenport and her nurse both advised me not to push it! I'm to do what I can but not exhaust myself. I do feel good, so I think I'm on an even keel here. I am ready for some cottage cheese and fish next week! Maybe a scrambled egg and then later in the week some ground turkey, chicken or beef...we'll see how it all goes! Go protien!

5/5/03
Cinco de Mayo! I may just have to get some super blended salsa this evening and try some corn chips! Cha cha cha! I have decided that I am going to be brave with new foods. I had cottage cheese on Saturday with no problem. I went out to eat for the first time since the surgery and ended up with smashed potatoes. They were good but I had to pick out the skins. It took me just as long to eat about half of those potatoes as it did everybody else at the table to eat a whole meal. I'm doing great with chewing well and eating slowly! HOWEVER, Sunday morning I threw up for the first time since surgery...I was so disappointed. I think what happened was that I didn't stop drinking a half hour to an hour before eating. I fixed myself a scrambled egg...chewed it well...but there just wasn't enough room. I felt really full and didn't finish it...then about an hour later I felt ok so I took a sip of water. OUCH! It hurt so badly! Then things started to rumble...I remembered the nutritionist saying if it hurts like that to just relax and try and let it happen. So I did and it was not as bad as I thought it would be. I couldn't believe how it looked though...just water and egg. None of it was digested whatsoever. That made me understand how things are working in there...not much digestion going on in the little pouch. So, I was kind to my pouch yesterday and just did mostly liquids but I did have a tiny bit of tuna salad on crackers because I felt so much better in the evening. That went fine. Today I had some potted meat chicken. It was ok...I think it went down fine but it was a little gross to me. I don't know if I'll have that again. This week I am planning on trying some ground turkey, baked fish, and some baby food meat sticks. Maybe if I get really brave I'll have a tiny hamburger patty.
Ok, so everything I'm writing seems to be about food. For now it's a big focus. However, I do have something else good going on here. I've lost 26.5 pounds in 3 weeks. I do feel smaller and I can fit into every piece of clothing that I own now. I went to try on an outfit last night for work today, and just kept on going, trying on lots of stuff from my closet. I don't think I'm down a whole size yet, but can fit into the 24's and 26's that I have now without any problem. I don't need new clothes yet, but I think the first thing I may have to buy is a new bra or two. The size is more correct now, but having been too big for the bras, they are stretched out and saggy now. I can't wait to see what another month brings!

5/12/03
I SO wanted to lose 30 pounds by today! I missed it by half a pound. Hmph. The only thing I can figure is that last week was "PMS" week and I was retaining fluid...or whatever. I just hope this week is a little better. I know 3 pounds in a week is nothing to sneeze at, but somehow it seems like I should be losing 4 or 5 pounds per week for the first two months or so. Not to mention that I worked my buns off walking and working in the garden this weekend! Bodies are so crazy.

One day last week I had my second experience with throwing up. It was from 2 oz. of ground turkey and boy was I sad. Two ounces of ground turkey is 14 grams of protien! Down the drain! Literally! I really think it was just too much for me to eat at one time, not the turkey burger's fault. Next time I will try one oz. first and then wait. I am eating about 3-4 oz. of soft or semi-soft food at a time now. I think I just have to eat less of heavier foods. They also keep me fuller longer. I had good luck this week with chicken salad, a frankfurter, and baby food meat sticks. Just yesterday I tried some pasta and green beans. They went down fine. I think the most difficult, as for most people, is going to be tougher meats. I'm trying to swear off crackers. I can really eat a lot of them at once!

All of my clothes are getting baggier. They're comfortable but are starting to look a little sloppy. I'm sure by the time school is out for the summer I will have to go shopping for shorts at the very least. I really hope I have lost 50 pounds by then. I think that's a reasonable goal.

Right now I think the surgery recovery is still affecting how my body feels. I thought maybe I would start to feel a little more energetic by now. I guess I have somewhat, but I am motivated to do what's right for my body now and that helps. I look forward to the day when I can say I really feel great. My stomach muscles tightened up this weekend from bending over and kneeling to work in the garden. Ow! I am still sleeping on the couch...I tried to sleep in the bed Friday night and just didn't sleep well at all. I'll get there eventually. I also started putting cocoa butter on my scar. It doesn't look too bad...kind of like railroad tracks though. I'm wondering if I should try a scar therapy product.

5/19/03
Ok...another 3.5 pounds. Sure, that's great. But did I do all this to lose 3 pounds per week during the first few months? This is aggravating. I have a check-up with Dr. Davenport on Friday so I will ask about this. I also need to ask her about calcium. The general consensus is that the calcium citrate absorbs better and that the calcium carbonate pretty much does nothing for you. (So why have I been taking these Tums for a month per the nutritionist?) I also saw mention that perhaps the tums neutralizes what little stomach acid GB patients produce. That couldn't be good. Some people who have had this surgery take an unreal amount of vitamins and supplements. Some take very few. I would prefer to take what I need and nothing extraneous.

I felt pretty tired this week. I don't think I was getting in enough water. I usually get at least 40oz., but am supposed to have 64oz. I will certainly try harder in the coming days as I know how important it is. I suppose that could be a factor in the low weight loss over the last two weeks. I also was not able to walk like I had been due to the rain. I like sticking to my schedule because it keeps me focused, but I may just have to go when I can.

I tried sleeping in the bed again last night. I am really sore this morning and did not sleep well. I suppose though, that I am going to have to keep it up in order to get used to it.

Some new foods that I tried this week that went well:rice, breaded baked chicken (chicken parmigiana), meatloaf, hashbrown casserole, pasta salad. Next weekend I am planning to try salad and bread. I have been DYING for vegetables and bought squash, more green beans, and tomatoes at the store yesterday. I want some corn but am not quite brave enough for that yet. I think I'll wait until after I try salad.

5/26/03
Frustrated again...I was SURE that exercising this week was going to make a huge difference in my weight loss! WRONG! I walked on Tuesday as planned, it rained on Thursday so I walked at the mall with no heart monitor or anything just to get something in at least. Then Friday and Saturday I walked my fanny off! I walked a mile Saturday and then worked in the yard for three hours. On Sunday I walked 1.35 miles and then went to a craft festival in the afternoon where I meandered around for an hour and 45 minutes. Now the most FRUSTRATING part was that yesterday I weighed 1.2 pounds less that I do today. I was going to go walking today but I'm just not going to put myself through it. I can just continue on my regular schedule. Today is the six weeks mark and I really think I should've lost 40 pounds or more by now. For the last three days I've hardly been able to eat anything. I've gone from about 8-10 ounces of food per day to about 4-6 ounces of food per day. I just keep getting really full and burping and can't get any more down. So once again, I really think I should be losing more weight. My only "out" for this week is that perhaps I'm swollen from the sore muscles I have now from working so hard.

At my trip to the doctor, she said I'm doing great. I "look great on paper" and if I feel good as well, then I'm right on track. She says my weight loss is just right. I've switched over to calcium citrate and am taking B12 now. This is a LOT of vitamins to take but I guess I'll eventually get used to it. Plus I knew I'd have to do this part.

New foods I've tried this week: salad, mandarin oranges, almonds, cashews, bacon, various salad dressings (high in sugar but did not dump!), cran-raspberry juice (diluted 2:1), pulled pork bbq, cole slaw, french fries (fried but not greasy), flour tortilla, cooked bell peppers. Nothing seems to really be bothering me. I'm glad about this as I have enjoyed eating real people food.

6/2/03
I only lost 1/2 a pound this week. Increased protein, water, and exercise. This just can't be happening to me. I don't know what else I can do.

6/7/03
Good news! I've lost 2.5 pounds so far this week and it's not even weigh-in day yet. (I hope it stays off!!) I have been swollen to high heavens this week and last. I used to have this problem, particularly in my ankles, before my surgery. It was really random and didn't seem to even be related to heat or sodium. I used to take a prescription diuretic but now my doctor is afraid I will get dehydrated and has asked me not to take it. My primary care physicial was leary about prescribing it in the first place because I am so young. The good thing about now though, is that the swelling goes almost all the way down during the night where before surgery it would mostly stay. While I'm on the subject of feet, I also should add that I had TERRIBLE plantar fasciitis which was already under control before surgery with my wearing good tennis shoes with prostheses almost exclusively for about a year and a half pre-surgery. Now I can wear sandals a few times per week and it does not bother me at all. YAY! I know that 39 pounds lost has really helped my feet. :) More on Monday!

6/9/03
WELL! It sure is good to see that after a week of only a .5 pound loss, that I can bounce back! I was just hoping for 3.5 so that I could finally hit 40, but I even got an extra .5! YAY! PMS has been murder this week, and Sunday when I started, it was as if a dam broke. Goodbye nasty swellage! (Is that a real word? LOL) My ankle bones are showing again this morning! O happy feet!

I keep catching glimpses of myself in the mirror and I can really tell I've lost weight now. I was noticing this morning that the top of my back looks like a regular back instead of a fat lady back. So when I wear my swimsuit this summer no rolls should be poking out! I really need some new shorts...mine are so baggy in the rear end that it looks like I'm hiding something in there with me.

Food is going fine, I haven't thrown up in a long time. I'm starting to wonder about eggs though. They make me feel oddly full after just a few bites. I'm really getting into cooking these days! We are getting healthier AND saving money! Yippee! The best part is that I actually have the energy to go to work, come home and fix dinner, walk a mile and a half and then even go do something else too. What a difference eight weeks can make! :)

6/16/03
I'm SO glad things picked back up! There has been a definite slow down in my weight loss, but I think it's still reasonable. The first month I lost 31 pounds and 22 inches. The second month I lost 12 pounds and 15.75 inches. That's a grand total of 43 pounds and 37.75 inches. Everybody seems to be more amazed at the inches lost than the pounds!

Everything seems to be going well. I can eat most anything that I want to for now. I have not tried sugar or anything really greasy though, and I don't intend to. Niether really appeals to me right now which I am thankful for. As far as amounts that I can eat, it really varies. Sometimes I can eat a whole cup of food it seems, and other times I can only handle a few bites. Of course if I eat a whole cup, then I stay fuller longer. I have noticed that when I'm really busy, I can easily forget to eat. Just for the record, I had a scrambled egg yesterday and it went down fine. I am now thinking it might be the wheat bread that I have been eating lately that doesn't sit well in my stomach.

I am walking about 1.5 miles 4 times a week. I really need to find some kind of weight lifting or resistance program over the summer. My legs are great, but my upper body is a bit on the flabby side!

Busy, busy, busy! Today is the last day of school for the kids!

6/23/03
Last week was an amazingly busy week! I am in the process of merging two trade book libraries, moving into a new classroom with three other teachers, and getting ready for summer school. I spent all last week moving books and shelves and boxes -- oh my! I certainly don't remember having this much energy at this time last year!! I only walked once this week though, and ate out several times and it showed when I weighed in! When I say, "Oh, I only lost 2 pounds this week," my family replies with a resounding, "Wahhhhhh!" LOL! Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll take the two over the 1/2 I did a few weeks ago! As I've said before, bodies are crazy!

I've decided that I'm really happy with the amount of food I can eat right now. I can eat about a cup of food or so at a time, depending on what kind of food it is. I just feel like I either shouldn't be able to at this point or am lucky. I can't decide which. But either way, I intend to work hard to be careful so that I don't get to a point where I can really eat any more than this. I am not grazing which I am extremely proud of (not to mention surprised about)! I usually have about three meals per day with maybe one snack, maybe not. I still want to eat more than I can, but I am good about not making myself sick.

The diet cokes are back.....the carbonation does not seem to bother me. But... I REFUSE to have them for breakfast!! I will get caffiene free when I can and will have them only as a "treat."

6/30/03
I am in love with my own ankles. Oh, how I've missed them! Sandals are totally my shoe of choice now! I even bought some flip-flops at Old Navy for the 4th of July which are utterly cute! I shall paint my toenails sparkly red and don my flip flops and Old Navy t-shirt in which I FIT!!!!

I am not even a bit worried about having family over for the 4th with lots of good food. I never have to worry about that anymore. I will eat a small plate and be done with it! YAY!!

Check out my new charts below...I'm learning a little HTML...aren't they the coolest??

7/7/03
Hmm...an interesting week. And that's putting it nicely. By the middle of the week I had already lost 3 pounds, yet when I went to weigh this morning I had only lost .5 pounds. I have serious water retention. So bad, in fact, that I decided to take a hydrochlorothyazide even though my doctor recommended that I not. I am miserable though, and I have already tried drinking water and tea like crazy. I had to do something.

I have been extremely hungry and head hungry over the last few days. I have stopped taking birth control pills and I wonder if that is having an effect on my appetite. I was actually hoping it would have a positive effect on my weight.

Lastly, I have now "tried sugar." On the 4th of July I wanted a cupcake so badly that I couldn't stand myself. I decided just to eat the bottom half of one (no icing) and it went down just fine. This could possibly be a bad thing. We'll see. I don't intend to try anything that's more sugary that that though. I have to admit I might enjoy a small piece of cake or a muffin from time to time.

7/14/03
Happy three month-aversary to me! Today's totals are updated below, but I just enjoy saying that I've lost 53.5 pounds and 49.25 inches, so I've just said it again! I'm totally thrilled that the inches are neck and neck with the pounds!

I am working on getting pictures up. It is kind of a chore to do that! I will figure something out though.

The only bad news for this week is that I seem to be losing hair. I thought I was doing ok just eating my protein in regular foods, but it seems that I will have to find a protein shake that I can tolerate. I have been really good about taking my vitamins, so the only thing it could be is that my protein is not absorbing properly. I have heard that vitalady.com is a good place to get supplements because you can order samples. That is my mission for the week! I just can't see myself bald!

The summer is going by fast since I'm teaching summer school. However, I have become the energy lady and seem to need something to do all the time!

7/21/03
Things are still going pretty well. With this summer heat I have had quite a problem with swollen ankles and retaining fluid in general. Knowing that, I was just really glad to have lost the 1.5 pounds that I did this week.

Over the past two weeks I have had quite a bit of hair loss. It has really bothered me because I'm used to having really thick hair. All the research says that there is really not much one can do about it at this point. I will continue to take protein supplements and my vitamins, and will hope that no more falls out!

7/28/03
Ahhhh....summer school is over. I'm a little bit richer and I now have a few weeks to myself before going back to work. I have decided to let myself be in a semi-vegetative state. LOL! Although I will keep up my walking (of course!) I am going to lay in the sun and work in my garden, and watch old movies on tv and surf the web. We are not going on a "real" vacation this year, so I think I deserve this.

My husband has kindly been going on walks with me ever since I had this surgery. He is a big guy and in better shape than me. We have decided jointly that I am going to either have to work harder so that we can both get our heart rates up and make the walking worthwhile, or we are going to have to exercise separately. We have tried running a little bit to spike our heart rates but it just seems to hurt my knees and back too much. So towards the end of our walk last night, I decided to speed my walking up some, and that really seemed to help. So, I'm going to give this a better try. I do want to get the maximum benefit out of my workout. I just don't want to be in pain. :( I think I can handle the speed walking better than the running though.

I am still having trouble with my hair falling out. I have been having one protein supplement per day (15g) and continue to eat plenty of protein rich foods. I suppose I am going to have to start drinking at least two per day though. One of my friends is sending me some samples that have 30g each in them. If I have two of those per day then I should be all set. That is....IF I LIKE THEM! Why do protein drinks have to be so nasty? I think think the more soluable protein is at least giving me more energy, even if it won't help my hair situation for the present. One thing I think is interesting is that the protein samples my friend is sending me only have to be mixed with water and not milk. Milk does have a lot of natural sugar in it, so this sounds smart to me. I'll save my milk servings for sugar free ice cream! Mmmmmm!!

I am getting my hair cut on Thursday to combat the whole thinning hair thing. I want to do something different, but not too different...so we'll see how brave I get!!

8/3/03
Wow! A big week for me! I lost 4 pounds!! Hmm...wait a minute...could that possibly have anything to do with the 4 inches I had cut off my hair? LOL! My next set of pictures will certainly be different! I like it though, and so far, it really is helping with the hair loss anxiety. It seems like so much less is coming out now.

I had a fantastic time shopping on Thursday and Friday, fitting into 22's and 2x's with NO PROBLEM whatsoever!! I even was close to fitting into a pair of 20's that I tried on by accident!! Some people would be shocked and appalled by size 22's, but I am totally thrilled after barely fitting into 26/28's for so long.

This weekend we went to my in-law's house. I learned my first lesson in fried foods and why not to eat them. In the last few months I may have had a few french fries or a piece of chicken tender that had been fried, and that went fine. However, everything my mother-in-law cooks is fried. Although I ate heartily, because it did taste good, it just sliiiiiid right on through. I suppose I will continue to reap the "benefits" of this for the next few days. Perhaps I should have a salad for lunch.... She did give us lots of veggies from her garden, which I will be cooking up ASAP! Yum! My inlaws are two of the few people who gave me negative feedback about having this surgery. I think though, that when they saw how good I looked and how good I feel, that they have kind of let it go. My mother-in-law talked to me a lot about it. This was the first time I had seen them since the surgery. So we'll see if the subject continues to come up or not.

So! This is my last real week of freedom! I will go in to work for a few days next week then the following week is the workweek with school starting the week after that. I am excited about all the changes that are going to take place.

Until then...I must get back to my very important sunbathing and lounging around....

8/11/03
Not a lot to report this week. I had a check-up with Dr. Davenport on Friday. She says all is well. I will have bloodwork done in October and then do not have to go back to see her until February. I'll update again on Friday with pictures and measurements since it's my 4-month-aversary.

8/15/03
Another good month. :) Down 9.5 more pounds and 10.25 more inches. That makes the grand total 63 pounds and 59.5 inches. I've decided to keep weighing weekly for a whole year. Then I will start weighing/updating once per month. I have set some goals for myself as well. I would like to lose 100 pounds by 8 months. If so, I will weigh 224. Then, I would like to be at 200, a 124 pound loss, by my one year anniversary on April 14, 2004. My third goal is set for April 14, 2005. By then I hope to be down to 150 pounds, a total loss of 174lbs. I really think I can do it. The only thing that may throw a wrench in the system is if we decide to try and get pregnant before that. I think that would be worth it though, I would just stay healthy during that time and then keep losing afterwards. I've seen plenty of profiles of people who do this, so I know it's at least possible.

I will try my best to keep this updated during the month of September. I'm not making a whole lot of promises though, becase the first month of school is insane. Monday starts the work week, and then the kids come the following Monday. Next thing you know it will be September 14th and I'll be measuring and taking pictures again! (I'll be posting more pictures tonight for month 4.) I have a feeling that I might actually lose more this month because I will be so much busier than I have been over the summer. It may not work out that way, but I kind of guess that I will have a higher loss for month 5 and then will settle back into my routine for the following months. Busy, busy, busy!

The hair loss is still an issue. Every day in the shower I'm pulling out more and more. Dr. Davenport said to expect a three month cycle of this. If that's the case, I have almost two more months to go. Supposedly, nobody goes bald from this, and luckily I started out with thick hair. But I'm beginning to wonder if my head can withstand two more months of this! I'm certainly keeping my hair shorter until some of it grows back.

I started using Mederma on August 1st. I think it may be helping some, but I can't tell much yet. You're supposed to apply it 3-4 times a day, but I usually do it twice. So that's my own fault I suppose. I just have a hard time remembering in the afternoon. I think I have pretty decent skin, so I hope that it will fade on its own, which it had some already anyway. The little bit of loose skin that I do have is kind of creepy. It will be interesting to see whether or not I end up needing plastic surgery.

8/28/03
Busy week! More on Monday!

9/1/03
The last two weeks have been extremely busy due to school starting again! As I predicted, my weight loss has been what I would consider a little higher than the last few months. I just don't have time to think about snacking anymore. I eat more now between dinner and bedtime than I do during the whole day. That in itself is not actually a good thing though and I am going to have to work out a better schedule.

I would like to start going to curves which should keep me out of the house for at least three nights a week. (Which should also help with snacking.)I am also interested in doing jazzercise at my school a few times a week which would make up for my cardio once the weather gets cooler and I am no longer able to get outside and do my walking like I was. I have been so tired that I have shrugged off the walking entirely too much over the last three weeks. Alex has been tired too (he's also a teacher, back after two years in the corporate world - big change!) so he hasn't wanted to go either. Before the last few weeks, we were really very good about encouraging each other to go. It seemed like at least one of us was motivated at all times so that we kind of could lean on each other. He wants to start running instead of walking though, and I am not ready for that. So I can see that I need to make some good exercise decisions for myself like the ones I mentioned above. I am also interested in water aerobics and am going to check into that.

It's nice to have today off after a long week of work! I am no longer afraid of the cookouts and family get togethers we often have like the one we are having for Labor Day today. I just get a little plate and eat what I want and then I'm done with it. My mom, sister, and grandma are all very sweet about having something for me for dessert that is sugar free. :) Grandma is diabetic so we are kind of used to this anyway. I have tried a few bites of things with sugar and nothing has bothered me yet. However, foods sweetened with sorbitol seem to do a number on me by way of nausea. Yuck! I've learned my lesson after a few tries and some investigating. I won't be trying that out again! I still will not try whole portions of sugary foods though. I don't really crave sugar that much and I'd rather not get started back into that habit. For now, I must deal with the chips though. When I buy them, I buy low-fat or chex mix or pretzels so that I don't feel quite as guilty. Munchy stuff is my weakness!

69 pounds gone. Wow. I can't wait until 70! Maybe tomorrow!

9/8/03
I can't believe the difference being back at work has made with my weight loss! I have been working hard but not exercising much. I'm on a mission to get back into walking and I'm still going to call curves! 72.5 GONE!

9/15/03
I am one busy little cookie these days! (Make that a sugar free cookie of course!) Today I started my third Masters course in reading. (YAY ME!) I am also in the midst of yearly testing and assessment for many of the kids at school. This weekend I helped to run an estate sale, shopped, watched movies, shopped some more, cleaned off my patio, gardened, shopped some more, did inside housework, and did work for school. And I didn't even get tired! I'm liking this new body! (Which is now a size 20, down from a 26/28.)

When I am busy, I find that I am either forgetting to eat, or grazing all day to compensate for the fact that I know I don't have time to really sit down and eat a meal. I'm working on this...I really prefer my regular schedule to help me feel in better control of my eating. However, schedules don't always work out the way we intend for them to. :)

I've gotten so many nice compliments over the last month. Alex says I'm getting a big head. Too bad, I like it. LOL.

9/22/03
We made it through the hurricane unscathed. Fortunately we are 300 miles inland, so that certainly helped, but some people just an hour north of us were not so lucky. Both of my aunts in Richmond (2.5 hours east of us, 1 hour inland) ended up with a tree on each of their garages. :S Thank goodness for insurance and that no one was hurt.

I am suffering from my first little cold since surgery. Snot sure does keep your stomach full when it's draining down your throat for days on end. Yick! I had such a terrible problem with water retention this week that I thought surely I would not lose anything, then BAM! 2.5 pounds. I'll take it. Boy, will I ever take it. My friend who had surgery two months after me has almost caught up with my loss! But I'm still ok with "slow and steady wins the race." Looking back through my chart, I have not yet had a week where I didn't lose at all. I'm a little scared of that day, but I know it's bound to happen eventually.

I'm going to Curves tomorrow night, finally. I hope I like it and that it's hard enough!!

9/30/03
Oops! The scale went in the wrong direction this week! I hope this is not a trend! Hopefully, I'm just building muscle since I joined Curves this week!! I joined last Tuesday and have been four times already. They suggest 3 times per week so I'm trying that to start with. I feel very energetic after my work-outs! Maybe my house will stay clean now! Ha!

I bought a dress to wear to my friend's wedding on the 11th. I fit into a size 18!! ((((GRIN)))) Yippee for me! When I tried on the same dress at the end of July I could barely fit into a 22. I am leaving for the wedding on the 8th and am going to fly on a plane for the first time. I'm looking forward to fitting into the seats without any problem!

Busy, busy, busy, busy, busy at work.

10/6/03
Things are going slowly this month. I am leaving on Wednesday for the wedding in Phoenix. I hope I lose or stay the same while I'm gone!

10/14/03
Six-month-aversary! I lost 2 pounds while I was in Phoenix which put me up to 80. Love those 10 pound marks. The trip was fun although I noticed I still am inhibited about certain things. I really was not comfortable dancing. Also, I had a chance to climb out onto a ledge at the Grand Canyon to have my picture taken and now I wish I would have. I could have gotten back up, I know I could've. I had one alcoholic drink and a few bites of wedding cake at the wedding. All went fine but I certainly don't intend to make a habit of it. Today when I got back my pictures from the trip I also got some that were pre-surgery. Wow. That's all I have to say about that. Too swollen from the plane ride still to get good measurements for month 6. I'll try again in a few days.

10/18/03
New measurements are up! I lost almost twice as many inches as I did pounds this month. Go Curves! I can tell a difference in the way I look this time, too. My legs are really starting to look well defined. Last night I bought some sweaters and shirts from Old Navy. Their 2x is more like a 1x if you ask me, but I don't care because you can get cute things for CHEAP there! When I have kids I'm shopping there and at Target. Six month pictures should be up this weekend sometime!

11/4/03
Well, I think I'm to a point where I really only need to update every month. (I'll just update my charts once a month as well.) Now that I've hit the six month mark, things are going a little more slowly. During this month and last month I have had very slight gains for one week out of the month. I know it's probably water retention and maybe even from building muscle, but the honeymoon period had to end eventually. I know I am still losing and am happy with everthing. I will continue to weigh weekly until one year has passed just because I want to have those records to keep for myself. But after that, I think once a month will be enough.

I have tried several different things with sugar and I do not appear to dump at all. This is both good and bad for obvious reasons. I am going to have to be extremely careful not to overdo it. One concern I have had is that artificial sweeteners are not good for you. I think it is probably healthier to have one small goodie per week than artificially sweetened foods every day. That's just my guess though. I have to admit that now that I have had some, I seem to want it more than I did before. Rats!

Things are going well at the gym. I'm trying to add an additional day per week if I can. I really want to keep up the rapid weight loss for as long as I can. I had some blood work done about two weeks ago and I'm anxious to see how that turned out. My guess is that everything is fine because I feel really good!

11/10/03
I had another BAM! weight loss this week after two slow weeks. Down 4 more pounds for a total of 88. I hope to lose 100 by Christmas! I ran out of my second tube of Mederma this week so I think I am about done with that. My scar looks pretty good now...hardly noticed it in my 6 month photos. I will have 7 month photos and charts to post this weekend! Wow I can't believe the time has gone by so fast!!

12/14/03
The holiday season is upon us! The treats and temptations are around every corner!! Right now it's really about resisting. I can eat a lot more now, mabe 8-12 ounces of food at a time. I am really trying to be more careful about what I choose to eat because I really am experiecing hunger more often. No more do I have to remind myself to eat...my stomach is definitley taking care of that for me! Renae and Mom keep talking about what they are making and baking for Christmas this year. I have absolutely no desire to make cookies or toffee or anything sweet. My job for Christmas is a turkey, sweet potato casserole and spinach salad. That sounds rather healthy I think! I will have some of Mom's fudge though, so I'm just preparing myself for it. It's my holiday dessert of choice and I won't deprive myself of it. I have yet to dump, so I'm not too scared, but I will still be careful with the portions. I just have this feeling that it could still happen, and I think that's a pretty smart way to think about it.

When everybody has asked me what I want for Christmas this year I have answered, "Gift certificates to the mall! I need clothes!" It's hard to keep up with the right size. Just when I feel like I've been in one size for a really long time, I drop another one. For the most part I am now wearing L, XL or 14/16 tops depending on where I buy them. I still seem to be in size 18 pants but I had a cool thing happen the other day. I had bought a pair of jeans about 3 weeks ago which I thought were 18's. I've worn them a few times but when I went to put them on the other day I saw they were 16's! Wow! They're stretch jeans though, so there is a little give in there, but still! I can't even express how much I love shopping now. I can just shop and shop and shop and not get tired either!

I now have my choice of just about any store. (I still have issues in B. Moss though. Their clothes are for anorexics I think.) It's really overwhelming to go to the mall in a way though. So many choices! I don't have to buy everything at Lane Bryant! As a matter of fact...I've hit the smallest sizes in their tops and am below the smallest sizes in bras! I'm going to have to find a new favorite bra! This will be a challenge!(Come on ladies, you know what I'm talking about!)

Now I must brag about my newly found tremendous sense of balance. Two weeks ago I got on the ROOF by MYSELF to put up the Christmas lights. I also have no qualms about walking on the snow and ice or carrying things when going down the steps. It feels really normal to do these things. I also like sitting "Indian Style" on the floor with my kids at school and being able to scrunch my legs up under a blanket on the couch. Even sleeping and laying on my side is so much easier now.

I'm still going to Curves and I really like it. I haven't gone in about 10 days though because they are closed when it snows and I have also had the flu. I was expecting the flu to be worse than it was, but maybe my immunity is finally building up from working with kids.

MY BMI IS NOW LOW ENOUGH SO THAT I NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR THIS SURGERY!!!

12/22/03
Today is the day! I'VE MADE THE CENTURY CLUB!!! What a great feeling! It's almost surreal! I thought there was no way I could make it this week...my goal was to lose 100 pounds by Christmas...But I guess I was so busy and preoccupied that I just didn't feel like eating! Wow! I haven't had this big of a loss in a week since my first month after surgery. I'm going to work really hard so that I can maintain this over the holidays! I'm so excited now! What a wonderful Christmas present!

1/17/04
I have been sick for the last two weeks with a nasty cold. I have not gone to the gym much nor have I been good at taking my vitamins. I have been shoveling down cold and sinus medicine like it's my only source of nutrition. I have eaten an average amount of food I think, maybe less than average, but I haven't lost any more than usual. This month was an 8 pound loss and I am very thankful for that as I did munch away over the holidays! I am pretty proud of my self control though. I had a lot of what I wanted, but then I went back to behaving myself. I will wait and take my 9 month photos when I don't look like the wrath of death! Ha!

On Tuesday of this week I acidentally fell down the back steps. I got a little bruised up...strained some tendons in my feet. I can't help but think that 100 pounds ago I would have easily been in the emergency room.

I am able to eat more at one sitting now than I have before. However, I am making the choice not to eat larger portions. I hope I am doing the right thing. I don't want to stretch my pouch. If I have a large sandwich, I will only eat half of it and a few bites of a side item. I can eat almost all of a Lean Cuisine meal, depending on what it is. I try to stick to no more than 8 ounces of food at any time. Usually I'd estimate that I eat a bout 4-6 at a time. Sometimes I am still not making the best food choices. I like my junk food, but I try to stick to small portions, and only have it once in a while. Although I can tolerate sugar, I am staying away from it for the most part. A few bites of somebody else's dessert once in a while seems to satisfy me just fine.

Next month I will go back to see Dr. Davenport for a check-up. I am looking forward to seeing her and her nurse, Deblyn. They were extremely nice and helpful during the first few months. I feel like I haven't seen them in forever. Sometimes I even forget that I've had surgery because my life still seems so normal. My goal is to be at 199# by my one year anniversary. I hope I can do it! That gives me about 12 weeks, averaging a loss of a little less than 2# per week.

2/23/04
Well, as it turns out, my husband and I have separated. This has been an emotional month, but it has been my choice. Hopefully things will be better for me now.

My eating patterns have been the same though...eat eat eat around "that time" of the month...then back to barely even being hungry for the other 3 weeks. I am still amazed that I am losing weight. I have now lost 110# and feel thankful daily.

The cold I had for three weeks in January knocked me on my butt. I have not been to Curves since the beginning of January. Between being sick and going through this emotional stuff, I have not found much motivation. I really liked Curves though, and am hoping to get myself fired up about it again soon.

Thursday I will go to to see my surgeon for a check-up. I'm eager to hear how she thinks I am doing and how my bloodwork turned out.

Pictures and charts for this month will be up soon!

3/25/04
I have been busy and a little stressed out with my current living situation. I did have a nice trip to the VSRA conference in Richmond though.

Eating patterns seem to be the same. Dr. Davenport was pleased at my visit last month and says things are A-OK. Bloodwork and weight loss are both good. To my amazement she is sending me to see the plastic surgeon! I have an appointment for May 20th and if I am approved, I could have my tummy tuck this summer.

Pics and measurements will be posted soon! (Maybe!) I've been busy!

4/14/04
WOW! THAT'S ABOUT ALL I CAN SAY! WOW!

This has been one hell of a year. Good and bad, it may have been the best year of my life. I have learned so much and changed so much, all for the better. How strong I am! I'm not even sure what I want to say. I want so much to remember what I have been through in the last year. If you haven't experienced this type of weight loss, I just don't think you can understand the feeling that comes along with having this surgery. I am just so thankful for the insurance, my doctor, the timing, my family, and for ME! I did this! I took this upon myself and did something good for me, which snowballed into a whole new way of thinking and living my life. Only wonderful things are possible for the future!

6/14/04
Ooops, I skipped a month. My how the time flies when you actually do stuff. Everything surgery-wise is going well. I lost 8.5 pounds this month which is a big surprise. I'm sure that rate won't keep up, but o well. I am starting to be a little more sensitive to sugar than I was. Not sure what that is about, but maybe it will keep me from eating it. I am doing much better with drinking water and eating vegetables since I participated in a "Fitness Challenge" at school. I certainly can eat more at one sitting that I used to, but I still like my little meals all day.

I haven't been to the gym in three weeks because I was busy the first two and then lazy last week. (Bad me!) This is the week to get back into that.

Tutoring starts next week and I will be doing that as well as teaching summer school.

I am also awaiting my acceptance to graduate school.

Lastly, my pictures and charts are gone due to the split with the ex. I need to find a new server to store them on. Hopefully I'll get around to that soon! In July I will do measurements and pictures and try to post charts again at the 15 month mark!

10/26/04
My charts and pictures are back up! Yay! I have been very busy with moving and traveling to see someone very special. Things have come to a stand-still on the weight loss front so I will start increasing protein and water. This is my first true plateau so I am considering myself very fortunate. I would still like to lose about 30 more pounds though. I'm buying a new scale this weekend and will get on top of the carb situation. I also need to start getting more exercise. I haven't been to the gym since school started at the end of August. Ouch! I have some work to do and I intend to do it!! :)

1/1/05
Ooooooooooooook! Here we go! The three month plateau must come to an end. I feel great and am happy with how I look but I MUST lose at least 15 more pounds. Dr. Davenport says my surgery is considered successful, but that if I want to lose more I will have to result to more "conventional" methods. So, I choose to start with two things: 1. Drink more water. 2. Start exercising again. I am not worrying about my food intake yet as I have been maintaining without exercise. I will take a look at the junk food/sweets issue though, not depriving myself but cutting down now that the holidays are over.

I am planning to see another plastic surgeon for a consult about a tummy tuck. My old insurance denied my claim because they do not support any surgery that is related to weight loss in any way. (Boo Southern Health!!) My goal is to lose that 15 pounds by June, then hopefully lose a few more pounds through the tummy tuck procedure. I also have several small hernias that need to be repaired so I hope to have all of this done at one time.

Since my move to NC, my computer is still back in VA so my charts haven't been updated but will be ASAP.

4/14/05
Where has the time gone? I can't believe today is the second aniversary of my gastric bypass surgery. I became very emotional earlier thinking about where I was, what I was doing, and how I was feeling exactly two years ago today. Things have changed so much for me over the past two years. Losing all this weight has made me such a confident person. I truly can focus on what I believe is right rather than what others think of me.

Obviously, one tends to focus mainly on the actual food/weight issue when having this surgery. However, the deeper issue lies in how you begin to feel physically and emotionally when your body is so enlarged. I have lost weight equivalent to one whole other human being.

The challenge of keeping the weight off and hopefully losing more will never just go away. Because of my genetics, love of eating, and sometimes poor habits and lack of willpower, I will always fight this battle. The goal is to be on the winning side as much as possible.

I realized a few weeks ago that I had put 9 pounds back on. I knew I was filling up my pants again but didn't want to admit it at first. Right now, I think it's about food choices. Sugar doesn't seem to deter me. Ice cream sometimes leaves me a little nauseated, but most candies and cakes/pies/sweet breads don't bother me. I have made the choice to cut back on those once again. I've switched from chips to pretzels and am drinking water and exercising again.

Years ago a lady at one of the many Weight Watchers meetings I attended offered this thought of inspiration..."In order to fall off the wagon, at least you had to be on it at some point." Thus, here I go again, climbing back on the wagon, slowly... but surely. I'm so proud that I was on that wagon. I like it there.

For those of you who want technical details...I do find that I can eat way more than I ever imagined I would after weight loss surgery. Perhaps 2 1/2 cups of food at once. I try to limit my portions though, to discourage more stretching than necessary. More medical studies are showing the liklihood of the stomach healing on it's own to the point of being able to eat "average" sized meals within one year after surgery. I still eat several small meals throughout the day. This is something to keep an eye on.

The crazy PMS days make me want to eat everything in the refrigerator and more. Then, all of a sudden, the hormones change and the feeling stops. Every month I wonder...will this be the month that I just keep on eating...but fortunately it turns off and I'm back to the same old same old.

I visited another plastic surgeon and talked with yet another one over the phone. It seems to me that insurance companies are no longer as likely to approve tummy tucks as medically necessary. I'm sad to hear this, as I was hoping to have my middle done away with. It's o so much smaller than two years ago, but still is awkward when exercising, gets sweatty and sometimes a rash, and it's impossible to find a pair of pants that fit properly. Maybe someday I'll save up enough and just go on and have it done myself.

I've gone back and forth on this issue...and whether or not it is necessary. I guess it's really not in the grand scheme of things. It would be nice to have it taken off, but the thought of going through the anesthesia, the pain, the healing time - none of it sounds as appealing as having WLS. I think I'm even a little scared of not waking up. That never even occurred to me when I had WLS. Or, if it did, perhaps I did not care. Although I never felt suicidal, maybe I did not care whether or not I continued to live inside that 326 pound body, with my abusive husband, in a physically depressed life and emotionally depressed state.

It has been a long road. I have changed now, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

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We've Made it to 26 Weeks

Feb 19, 2007

There was a point when I wasn't sure I would make it this far - several points quite honestly. I have had four bouts with bleeding, three really tough viruses, anemia, pitted edema, a brief bout with high blood pressure, and hellatious morning (all day) sickness that lasted until almost 20 weeks. 

In my last post I mentioned that I was feeling pretty good. I remember that I was, actually, but it went downhill again on Christmas Eve. I have vomited off and on since then and still get the "gagging" feeling some days when I brush my teeth. That reminds me...I really need to see the dentist soon. Because of that, I'm not brushing like I should be.

We did find out on December 21st that we're having a little boy. Right now the leading name is Evan Michael. We haven't thought of anything new since Christmas, so we'll see if Evan Michael can "stick" for 14 more weeks or so. 

Getting myself to work for the last few months has really been a chore. I told my husband that I'm not as worried about working after the baby gets here as I am about working during a subsequent pregnancy. Then again, maybe the next one would be a breeze?? I'm still not convinced that I can do this again but I know we're both committed to this baby not being an only child if at all possible.

This kid kicks like a champ. He is drumming on my bladder as I type this. It's very reassuring to feel him moving so much with all of the difficulty that I have had. On Friday, I felt my first round of Braxton Hicks contractions. It was pretty uncomfortable but I'm glad that now I know what they feel like.

So...I'm curious to see what will be next.......

A Few Weeks Later

Dec 21, 2006

After my last post I had a really bad virus and I was not able to eat well for about a week. Fortunately, towards the end of that week the hunger switch flipped and I have been feeling quite good ever since. That has been two weeks now and I am SO proud to have been able to make it to work every day for two straight weeks! (Since when was that ever an issue or a goal?! This has been quite a hike!)

On Sunday, I will be 18 weeks pregnant. Before this week, I had not gained any weight. As of this morning, my scale says I have gained 6 pounds in the last week. My legs are swollen this week, so I know some is fluid. But when I measured my belly this morning I had grown and inch and a half this week as well.

I can feel the baby moving now. At first it was just fluttery like everyone says. Over the last few days I have felt real kicks and what I presume to be some position changes. The best part was last night. I felt something hard at the top of my uterus and so I pushed on it. It moved! It was large enough that it must've been the head or the behind, but it was the coolest feeling in the world. It was like I tapped on the outside of a fishbowl and the fish didn't like it and swam away. 

Tomorrow is our ultrasound. Will it be a boy or a girl? The predictions are mixed...so we shall see - just in time for Christmas!

11.25.06

Nov 25, 2006


It's been entirely too long since I updated! It has now been 3 years, 7 months, and 11 days since my gastric bypass surgery. I am currently 15 pounds above my lowest weight and have been at this weight for about a year and a half. I think my body has leveled off. Interestingly enough, I'm facing a new body challenge. I'm going to have a baby! In the last three years I have been divorced and remarried the most wonderful man on the face of the earth. Now, we are going to be parents together! I am fourteen weeks along and am actually one pound lighter than the day I found out I was pregnant. I have a tiny bit of a belly, most of which is attributed to the pannis that was already there after my 125 lb. weight loss. I never did have that tummy tuck but I'd still consider it post-baby. (Or post baby #2 if we are so lucky.)

I have read everything I can about having a baby post-op but honestly there is not much out there. The general consensus seems to be that there are no real known problems associated with pregnancy after gastric bypass surgery, which is good news.

Now that the nauseated days seem to be mostly in the past, I have definitely felt increased hunger but can still only eat smaller meals, which forces me to eat more often. I'm really curious to see what's next.


About Me
Garner, NC
Location
36.9
BMI
Surgery
05/14/2010
Surgery Date
Feb 15, 2003
Member Since

Friends 1

Latest Blog 5
We've Made it to 26 Weeks
A Few Weeks Later
11.25.06

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