Katie P.
November 1, 2006
Wow. Here I am. Three weeks out from surgery and I am getting more and more excited as the minutes roll by. I have an appointment on November 15 for my last pre-op check and then, the next week, I'm in surgery. I'll keep you up to date.
November 2, 2006
Jonathan and I had an Italian lunch today. After finishing, I felt the grease and the fat from the food swim through my veins. This is one of the feelings that is most disgusting for me. Jonathan says that the way we have been eating has also taken it's toll on him. We are going to change our lives. We don't even feel alive while living. We're too busy trying to survive the sabtoage to our own bodies by eating unhealthy and not exercising.
November 13, 2006
Hey everybody.....Well....I am 10 days out from surgery and have had to start a clear liquid diet. So far today, I have had a bottle of water, a bottle of cranberry juice and some apple juice. Funny how when you're told you can't have food, you just want it more. Today, I am craving things I never crave probably because I've been told I can't eat. I'm getting really excited about the surgery. I received the flu shot on Tuesday last week and was home sick the rest of the week with the flu. (Anyone else confused....?) Anyways....I'm glad I got over that quickly. Otherwise, it may have postponed the surgery. I'll let you guys know what happens. Later gaters!
November 15, 2006
This liquid diet has to be the hardest thing I've ever done. I'm one of those people that has to chew. Yesterday, I had all liquid. I had cranberry juice for breakfast, 2 protein shakes for lunch and chicken broth for dinner. I put pepper in my chicken broth to make it feel like I was eating. It didn't work. Today, I gave in. I confess. I ate pizza for lunch and a lot of it. I feel horrible now as I always have before after cheating on a diet. I hope my surgery won't be jeopardized because of it. My co workers who have had this surgery said that they didn't have to do the liquid diet before hand. Just the day before surgery (a laxative and clear liquids only and then nothing after midnight.) I feel bad. Today I have my preop physical. We'll see what happens.....Later.....
December 4, 2006
Well...I am back to work and 20 POUNDS DOWN from my highest weight ever of 273.2 pounds. (That weight calculation was done in May.) I am feeling great. My surgery went okay. I had complications and the day of my surgery, I began throwing up blood. My stools were also very bloody. The nurses and surgeon determined I would need a 2nd surgery to correct the bleeding. I went in on Thanksgiving morning for a second surgery and the 2 surgeons cauterized the bleeding and stapled the area. They went in through the same incisions that were used for the 1st surgery. I am feeling all right. The hardest thing has been not being able to gulp liquids the way I did before to quench thirst. I made the mistake of doing that with milk for the first time and boy, did that hurt like hell! I am feeling a lot of tightness in my stomach area but that seems to be going away every day. My nurse said it was from the air in my pouch. I have also found that eating slow has been REALLY hard. I never noticed how fast I ate before. Not being able to add things into my diet has been difficult but my nurse said that it is to go gentle on the opening. I have had to really come face to face with some things but I seem to be doing okay. I will keep you all up to date with things and the weight loss! Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and support!
December 5, 2006
I find myself worrying about a lot of stuff lately. Things like: "Am I going to break my pouch? Tear it?" or "Am I going to stretch out my pouch and sabotage all I've tried to do so far?" I know these might seem like silly concerns but I have so many questions now - after surgery - that I think I'm going to join a support group. I really feel that would be best. Girls at work have been great helping me because they have had this surgery and they understand what I'm going through. I know I'll be okay but...I'm having the "after surgery jitters".
December 12, 2006
JONATHAN PROPOSED LAST NIGHT! Ahhhhh! I am officially engaged. I couldn't believe it. Yesterday was his 30th birthday and he took me out to dinner at a very fancy restaurant. We walked in and right away at our table, I noticed beautiful red roses with baby's breath surrounding them. I didn't think a lot of it until I noticed that no other table had flowers. Then was my first hint of something happening... Jonathan asked me where I wanted to sit and I pointed to a chair. He began walking over to the chair I was going to sit in and I realized he wanted to sit there. So...I walked to the opposite one. Well....he didn't want to sit my chair. He wanted to pull my chair out for me. I felt like an idiot. He asked me what I was doing and I said "Aren't you going to sit there?" He said: "No. I'm pulling your chair out for you." (Ooops) The waitress brought our beverages and bread with olive oil. Jonathan said: "Do you have any other appetizers?" The waitress replied: "I'll be right back." I thought that was strange because the appetizers were right on the menu. When the waitress came back, she placed a plate with red rose petals in front of me. Underneath the rose petals, was a fancy napkin and a letter. My heart started beating....I removed the rose petals and took out the letter. After reading the first 3 sentences, I was all ready crying. The last part of the letter read: "I want you by my side for the rest of my life. My deepest love always, Jonathan. P.S. I need to ask you a question." When I looked up at him, I was sobbing harder. He got down on one knee next to the table and he said: "Katie. Will you marry me?" I was sobbing and I said yes. Just once. We held each other for 10 minutes and the restaurant gave us free champenge and chocolate covered strawberries (of which I could have very little seeing it is so soon after my surgery). Then, Jonathan went on to tell me of all the planning he did and the fact he bought my ring on November 2! I couldn't believe it. I called my mom and said: "Mom?" (Sobbing, *sniff, sniff*) "Katie. OMG. What's wrong?" "Jonathan just proposed!" She was screaming and crying and was just as happy as I was. It was the best night of my entire life. The wedding date: Sunday, May 4, 2008. I wonder what size I can be for my wedding dress!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! :-)
January 24, 2007
Wow! Two months out and I'm down 45 pounds. I feel a little discouraged though because I can't see it. All my friends at work say they can and that makes me feel more assured I'm suceeding at this. Jonathan and I have found our reception site and I can't wait. We applied for our first mortgage together and are to hear about the approval/denial tonight or tomorrow. I'm really excited. I hope we get our first home together. The condo building we are purchasing the condo in has a pool and a workout room. It would be nice to be able to work out before work Monday-Friday. Jonathan and I are also going to start taking dance lessons for our first dance at the wedding - so that will be good exercise. I hope to be down 80 pounds or more by May. That's my goal! Hope I can do it. See ya all later! :-)
April 4, 2007
Hello fellow patients and friends! Wow. I stepped on the scale today and I am 210 pounds. 63 pounds down from where I was at surgery time. I purchased a pair of size 18 jeans last week for the first time in probably 7-9 years. I also purchased a shirt, size 16/18 in the regular women's department! Misses - not the plus size department. I feel so encouraged about that! I worked out today on the treadmill during my lunch break and did some weight exercies for my arms as they are still larger than what I would like to see. I'm determined to follow the guidelines to stay healthy and fit. I plan on posting my pics for people as I am now half way to my goal. Plan on seeing those within the month. I'm going to be taking some new ones of me in my new clothes. Probably for Easter. I feel so good and I'm happy. Best of luck to all those that read my story.....
August 27, 2007
I am 189 pounds! When I stepped on the scale a few weeks back and saw that my weight started with a "1", I burst into tears. I've had a few "firsts" in the last month. The first one was actually seeing the "1" that began my weight amount. The second "first" was Jonathan carrying me from the couch into the bedroom like I was some damsel in a romance novel. It was still hard for him to do it (I'm not exactly skinny yet - nor is it my goal) but the fact that he could do it made me feel so wonderful. I'm talking to people who are contemplating the surgery (an uncle and a few friends) and I find myself not being able to say enough about it! They are experiencing the same pain that I was once experiencing and being able to encourage them is so awesome. My uncle is a great man and makes my aunt so happy. I love fliriting and I love the attention. I hope to be at my goal weight by November. 140-150. I'll keep you posted! :-)
October 24, 2007
Well - Some updates in my life. I have decided to end my relationship with my fiance. I am just not ready to get married. Is this a result of my surgery? Partially. I have been getting a lot of attention from men and I LOVE IT! I didn't think I would and I didn't think I would be swayed one way or another - but I completely underestimated the power the attention would have on me. Jonathan was my first boyfriend and so, despite the fact we had many differences, many communications difficulities and many religious beliefs, I stayed with him because he was the only one that wanted me. Do I love him? Absolutely! Is he my best friend? YES! But are we compatiable for marriage? No - we're not. It has taken me some time to realize this. I feel so good and have been told for the first time (just recently) that I'm HOT! (With an extra "T"). My co-worker told me that and I just about died of joy! I couldn't believe it. I'm enjoying my life and know that I am doing the right thing.
