Dorine63

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Was notified yesterday that GI doctor had given approval to proceed with the duodenal switch. Case is being submitted to insurance and am hoping for surgery by mid summer. Have had several delays so feeling a bit frustrated but am trying to improve my patience and get back to basics that I will have to do. No matter how long it takes, I am just happy to be able to progress. Am getting so close to the end--surgeries (DS and my body sculpting). While I am enjoying the changes and improvements I have been making, I will be glad to not have to change my wardrobe because the old clothes don't fit, not have all this drooping skin that makes my back and joint ache and not have so many doctor appointments. No matter what the future holds; starting this journey of changes is that best decision I ever made and am happy that I made it for me.

Went to my Bariatric Surgeon last week and had my consult for my DS surgery. He had delayed that part on my original surgery due to concerns with my liver. Have gotten the green light from the GI doctor that my liver will be fine with the surgery. We are hoping to have it done by Memorial Day providing the insurance company doesn't delay things. Am excited and a little nervous. Remember what it was like just after my VSG. Expect it will be interesting learning the new changes to my body after this surgery. Just uploaded pictures from just before my first surgery and one of my most recent. Did not realize how much I changed until I seen them side-by-side. As I have only lost 1/2 my weight, will be interesting to see all three together after I have lost the rest. (And after by body sculpting)

My surgeon informed me that my before and after diet will be like the one I had before. Would appreciate any and all tips and suggestions from ones that have had a duodenal switch whether seperately or paired with another procedure. I strive to be educated by professionals and ones who have actually experienced what I am about to go through. Thanks to all who have taken a moment to help.

Have started the GI testing to see if I am able to do the duodenal switch. Will have all of my testing done by Aug 25. Hopefully will have an answer by early fall. Am looking forward to it as I have plateaued for 3 month now and have only lost 120 lbs. I am not scoffing at that as it is a lot to lose in a year. However, I should not be at a plateau at 300 lbs. Am not "cheating" on my diet. I continue to focus on my protein and keep my carbs low. Was brought to my attention today that if I am consuming too few calories (especially long term) I can go into starvation mode which can be the reason for the plateau. I have been consuming 500-600 calories a day for the last year. Has just seemed to be an average; eat till I'm full and stop & only eating 2-3 times a day. Tend to drink most of the time. A 12 oz. glass of milk seems to be a good meal that I enjoy. Was suggested that I increase my intake a little to see if I can get out of starvation mode. Will be trying the next week.

Seen my surgeon and he was happy with my weight loss. We, however, agree that I can consider the second half of my original surgery plan. Due to liver concerns, my surgeon only did the sleeve and omitted the duodenal switch. Now he is setting up a consult with a specialist to ensure there will not be a threat to my liver and we will be doing the switch if OK'd. Will be an interesting summer.

What a day!! Did my weight and have achieved the goal of weighing under 300 lbs.! Was thrilled at achieving the goal, but was more thrilled of breaking the month long weight of 308. No matter what I did with eating or exercise, the scale numbers would not decrease. I am looking at it as a plateau that bodies go through during a large weight loss while the body "readjusts and reprograms itself" the new you. While it was happening, I was so down and mad at myself because I was thinking that I was failing my program and would always be obese. Losing 12 lbs in a week made me remember what I read about plateaus and not to let them make me give up. I made many goals when I started and have achieved about 75% of them. Was down to only 5 more goals. While they would keep me motivated, I decided that that was not enough goals and added several more short-term goals. I like lists and being able to cross off accomplishments. It helps my to feel positive and that I am making progress.

Am starting to really look forward to my cruise in November with my Mom. I decided to take her as a "Thank you" for everything she did for my when I was in ICU for 2 months and needed a caretaker when I got out of the hospital and driver for over a year. Am wanting to be under 250 lbs. by the time we go. It will be about what I weighed when I got married and was somewhat comfortable with myself. Had a funny thought--by the time I reach my goal weight, I will weigh less than I did at 12 yrs old. Am actually thinking of doing a beach excursion on the cruise; will depend on Mom as she has trouble walking. I plan on buying a new swimsuit for the trip and want a chance to show it off. If she can't do beach, guess I will have to get some tanning in. May have to even buy several new outfits by then. Am doing water aerobics this summer, and the last summer I did it I lost 20 lbs. a month. May even need a new wardrobe by the end of summer.

Had my surgery 11 months ago and have hit a plateau that has lasted for a month. I am about half way to my goal weight and this has been frustrating. I know it is my fault as I have not been eating the best and my exercising has decreased quite a bit. After a mental inventory of good habits and no-no's, I have gone back to basics. It helps that I had all my teeth pulled earlier this week. Now am back to the liquid diet again. Definitely is helping the calorie intake as I am back to 500 calories/day. To get back on the exercise program, I have enrolled in the local water aerobics classes. They offer 9 - 1 hour sessions a week & the last time I enrolled, I would do 6 - 7 a week and lost 60 lbs. in 3 months. That was before surgery and my eating was out of control. This year I am planning on attending at least as many classes a week as before, but am going to strive for all 9. If I can do it, I will be at my goal weight and what is left will be excess skin that will need to be removed. Have had a lot of people tell me how good I look. Know that my appearance has improved, but when I look at my reflection, I see the sagging skin on my legs and arms & hanging on my hips. It has an impact on my self-esteem, but I would do it all over again. Will take saggy skin over the extra lbs. any day.

With having to go back to basics, I look at this as a jump start to the second half of my journey. Hope that this half goes smoother than the first half. Would like to not have all the nausea and vomiting that I use to have. Still get quite a bit of heartburn. Have medication for everything, so that will help. Have gotten back to drinking my protein shakes again so protein intake has improved. 

Wish my luck on the next leg of my journey.

Have another goal achieved!!! Received a call from my pulmonologist letting me know that my recent test showed that my sleep apnea is in remission and that I do not need my C-pap any more. It was shocking as I (and my doctor) were thinking that I just needed it adjusted to a lower level. Am looking forward to having one less thing to pack when I travel or visiting family for the weekend. While somethings have seemed to slow down, such as the scale isn't going down as fast, I see and feel so many changes. Clothing still seems to get baggy quite quickly, so while I my not be losing weight a lot, I seem to be losing inches. I feel so much better and am glad that my doctors are agreeing that my health is improving.

Have been off track the last couple of months. Still exercise and do my weigh-ins, but have resorted to eating some of my old ways. While I can't eat full portions, eating foods the old way has almost stopped my weight loss. So am back to keeping my diet diary and making sure that I eat the right foods prepared in a healthy way.  Less than 1 day at getting back on track and my blood sugars are at good levels. They were not running high, just a few points over what the doctor wanted, but 20 points lower is definitely better. Am really happy that it is spring and getting out walking will be nicer. Not real motivated to walk in ice and/or snow. Need to get back in the habit of walking 3-5 miles a day as I am looking forward to participating in a 1.5K walk this summer. Would consider a 5K, but it is always a run and not a walk. Still have quite a bit of weight to lose before my joints (which have problems) will hold up to jogging. I know that it will be a great summer since I have my head on straight again and am remembering why I had surgery in the first place. My health is getting better as long as I eat right and keep up my exercise routine regularly. My weight loss has been very slow, but will pick up again when I work my program. I also need to not worry about my appearance so much. I like the slimmer body, but I already have a lot of loose skin that has started drooping a lot and looks bad  to me. Hope that my insurance will cover at least part of my skin removal surgery. 

Have had a wonderful start to the New Year. Started on the 1st with a 4 mile walk and try to do at least once a week. However, with the cold weather in Kansas it is not always possible. So I got some ankle weights for when it is too cold to walk that far but can still get a good workout.   Also invested in a balance/weighted ball that I use to for core exercises and toning. It has made a big difference as I have been able to reach 100 lbs weight loss mark. The only negative is that I have so much loose skin and lymphedema. Surgeon says that I can get that removed when my weight loss balances out. With the amount I have on my inner thighs and lower abdomen, I would probably lose another 50 lbs. when it is removed.  Looking forward to that. Will probably be after my 1 yr surgerversary.

The other day I had another first.  I was able to go into a regular store and purchase a new outfit!! Did not have to go to a plus size shop to my shock!  It fits without being skin tight. The feeling of not having to go to a specialty store and pay a high price was undescribeable. I was able to get a new outfit for $20 instead of having to pay more than that for 1 item. It is hard to get my brain around the amount I will save in being able to shop at regular stores. This fall I am going on a Caribbean cruise and am so-o-o looking forward to being able to purchase clothing if I choose (like a new swimsuit). Am even looking forward to using their gym and track even more than what there is to eat (one thing I looked forward to on previous cruises). Now, I informed the cruise line of my WLS so they have it on file and have been doing research on their site of ways that I can make my meals more healthy for me as they serve a lot of pasta and bread. The one nice thing is that they offer a lot of fruit and "heart healthy" dishes that will help. Have even researched other things to do on our trip to Galveston. Most of them include walking, and as I am going with my mother who has medical problems that limit her walking, I will be pushing her in a wheelchair. {The ways I find to enhance my physical activity has become somewhat funny, but effective } Have been also considering joining a gym, but as I live in a rural town, there are not a lot of availability. Most of the opportunities are during the summer when the pool is open (swimming, water aerobics, etc.). Would really love to be able to add weight machines to my regimine a couple of time a week. Guess will just have to keep looking. My favorite saying lately has been "Where there is a will, there is a way". It seems to have work well for me.

I know that I am doing things wrong and have gotten off track. I could really use some help. On  6/20 I had a vertical sleeve. The first month I lost 25 lbs. as I was on the liquid diets and just starting pureed foods. For the last 3 weeks I have been on regular food and have lost a total of 9 lbs. I keep a diet journal and my intake is 500-800 calories a day that is equally divided between protein, carbs, and fat. Have talked to surgeon and he tells me to focus on protein but my intake is low enough not to worry about limit on carbs. Have had nothing but problems since I started on pureed food. Am now having to take 2 meds as I have been having nausea, heartburn, and vomiting. Am really considering going back to liquid diet just to start losing again and to calm my stomach. I exercise 3 days a week, but am increasing back to 5 days. Any other suggestions would be appreciated and tips on how to get protein (other than shakes) without increasing the fat or carbs. Thanks for any help.