goldisd

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

Wow, 3 years down!  I went into surgery at 261, got down to 157 now I'm back up to 171.  The first year was "easy" losing the weight, the second year was was pretty easy at maintaining the loss.  Well, the third year, I found that it is way too easy to get back into old habits.  I eat when I'm stressed and between the stress at work and the STRESS at home I found that I was snacking my way through the day .  I have lost 5 lbs again and am back into eating right.  But, it is SO much harder this time.  I turned 49 this last birthday and have been experiencing menopause issues for the last year.   I swear, menopause must absolutely shut a woman's metabolism completely down!!

BUT, I know that if I had not had this surgery, I would probably weigh more that my highest weight by now.  So, a 20 lb weight regain doesn't seem so bad.  That's not to say that I can slack off.  NO WAY!  I didn't have this surgery to allow myself to go back to bad eating and getting fatter and fatter.  I enjoy being able to buy cute clothes in regular stores, fit into theater seats, squeeze between chairs and tables at crowded restaurants, keep up with my 2 1/2 year old grandson,  and fit onto amusement park rides!  People no longer stare at me because I'm fat.  Now men look at me and smile.  That's a great feeling.

well, the last two years have been quite an experience and a blessing!  It's been a very long time since I posted anything or really gotten on this site. 

Here's what's been happening:

I quickly lost 100 lbs in the first year, then I seemed to stop.  I was able to maintain the 100 lb loss for the next 10 months, then I became to complaisant.  I had allowed carbs to sneak back into my diet.  Candy, cookies, chips, fried foods. 

I took on another job (so I work 8 am to 10 pm most nights of the week and 8 hours each day on the weekend).  This, of course, has caused a lot of stress both physically and mentally.  I started eating what was quick and convenient and we all know that quick and convenient usually means the wrong stuff.  My hunger started coming back!  Well, not true hunger, just the need to eat. 

I regained 5 lbs and at my last surgeon's appt. he read me the riot act!  Well, that was the kick in the butt that I needed.  I've cut out the junk food and have spent more time planning foods that I can take with me to my jobs that are good for me, but still quick and convenient.  No more candy, cookies, doughnuts, chips or fried foods.  I started using protein powders again (my favorite is Chocolate Splendor by Unjury) and I have dropped 8.25 lbs!  I am at my lowest yet!  I feel so much better.

You don't realize just how icky you feel until you break those bad habits and get back on the stick.  After I had surgery I thought that I'd never allow myself to fall back into the bad habits, but oh was I wrong!  It is so easy to allow the comfort foods (which really aren't a comfort) to take over. 

My saving grace was the surgery.  If I had a full sized stomach I definately would have been back up a lot more than 5 lbs!  The fact that I just can't eat the quantity that I used to saved me.  It's not a magic pill, but it is a fantastic tool and the only tool that has worked for me.

Thank you Dr. Mecenas!!!

The only thing I remember from Tuesday afternoon is a little bit from the recovery room.  I kind of remember having pain and nausea.  They gave me pain meds and meds for the nausea.  Next thing I remember is waking up in my room between 11pm and midnight.  No more nausea. 

Then I woke up again about 1AM and asked for my laptop and started sending emails to friends and family.  I was so glad the hospital had Wi-Fi.  I was lucky also to have a private room.  They took very good care of me there.  The nurses were super nice.

Wednesday morning I had another upper GI done to check for leaks.  The liquid that I had to sip was NASTY!!!!  It was cool to see my little tummy on the screen, though.  After that I was allowed to drink clears and start to walk.  I walked three times Wednesday, two laps around the ward each time.  Got my catheter out Wednesday.  I was so glad to be rid of that thing!

Thursday I got my drain tube out and my IV out.  That certainly gave me a lot more freedom to move around.  I did five laps that morning around the ward.  Washed up and put on my own clothes.  Then I was released by noon.

I've been trying to get up often and walk around the house.  I'm not quite up to walking on my treadmill yet.  Maybe tomorrow.  Took a shower and washed my hair - that felt so wonderful!

I've been able to get down two protein shakes and a 16.9 oz bottle of water so far today.  It's hard to get much down.  There's so much gas.  I try to be careful to take little sips and not swallow air.  I made the mistake of taking a larger drink and it hurt going down.  The discomfort that I am feeling is the gas trapped inside from the surgery, so that should go away in a couple of days.  So far nothing I've taken in has given me nausea - just take it very slow and easy.
 

Well, tomorrow is the day I change my life forever!  The last two weeks (since starting the liquid diet) have gone very fast.  The diet wasn't as tough as I thought it would be.  Stuck right to it and did not cheat at all.  I've lost 10 lbs.  I was hoping to lose more, but I'll take 10.

I'm a little nervous.  I have tried to not think about it too much.  I'm very excited, but a little nervousness is normal.  I mean it's SURGERY for heaven's sake!

My husband has been so supportive!!  When I first told him that I wanted surgery, he wasn't very happy about it, but over time he has realized that this will make me healthy and maybe a little thought about me looking more like when we first met. LOL   He has never complained about my weight gain since we first met, but I'm sure he'd rather see me that way than this way.

I've started packing my suitcase for the hospital.  Trying to pack enough magazines, a book and puzzle books and my laptop to keep me occupied when I'm not sleeping.  I think I'll surf the posts from others and see it I'm forgetting anything.

I've been walking on cloud nine since I got the call about my surgery date, then.......

I got a call today from the billing office at the hospital where I'm having my surgery.  They told me that they don't trust my insurance to pay them, so I have to either cancel my surgery or pay $5000 up front!

I was denied by my primary insurance because they feel the VSG is "investigational".  Then my secondary insurance approved me.  Everything is set to go, when the hospital called my secondary insurance and they were told that if my primary insurance turned me down because of medical necessity that they would also turn me down - even after they approved me.  Well, I tried explaining to the woman at the hospital that I wasn't turned down because of medical necessity.  She told me they weren't willing to take the chance.

I called the insurance and they assured me that they would pay for it.  But, I still have to layout $5000 up front and wait to be reimbursed.   AAAAARRRRRGGGGG!!!!!!

01/23/10 - Well, I've been preparing for this surgery for almost a year.  I've been trying to cut down on my eating and eating the right stuff.  Then I get a date and it's my birthday this Sunday.  Well, I've been eating like there's no tomorrow!  Part of me feels bad about it and part of me says that it's ok, I'm just saying goodbye.  It's amost like a weekend long food funeral!

I know I'll be able to eat real food again, just in much smaller quantities.  I am so sick of overeating.  I'm actually looking forward to the two week liquid diet.  That starts Tuesday.  I've been stocking up on protien powders, sugar free drink mixes and gelatin.  I've actually bought some baby food for later on when I'm on the mushies.  I buy a little each week during grocery shopping.

This is the last weekend of my old life and I'm so looking forward to my new life.