Brenda Ashcraft

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Well, busy me!  Time has flown by since I last wrote here.  I have steadily lost weight...not super fast...but constant...which has been good for my health.  I started this weight loss journey, weighing 395 pounds.  Four days ago, I went to see my nutritionist who works with the bypass doctor.  I weighed in at 185 pounds.  So far I have lost a grand total of 210 pounds!  Fantastic!  I really thought that I would never be this size again.  I still need to lose 20 pounds, and am looking forward to saying that I have reached my goal.

To those of you who are just getting started, take heart, you CAN do it!  I thank God for my weightloss surgery...I could have never done it on my own. 

 

It has been too long since I visited my blog....A lot has been going on in my life.  The summer months were fruitful and full of family and travel.  I spent the month of August preparing for my music classes in the Bible Institute here in Monterrey, Mexico.  We have 68 music students...120 Bible students all together. 

Yesterday was a "Big Day" at the church here.  We celebrated the Mexican Independece Day.  Many of the people came dressed in their native costumes.  I tried to look as Mexican as possible, but it is a losing battle.

Speaking of losing battles...

As of this morning, I have lost a total of 125 pounds.  It seems to me that it has come off very slowly, but when I look at the words that I write, I am astonished to be able to say it...."I have lost 125 pounds!"

I can get around a lot better.  My overall health has improved greatly.  My breathing is great.  There are still days when the Lupus and the Arthritis, and the bad back try to get me down.  But it just doesn't seem as bad as it used to.

I still have 100 pounds to lose.  And I need friends to keep me focused on the goal. 

On April 15, I had surgery to convert the VSG to an RNY.  The next day, it was obvious that I had a leak, so....emergency surgery was performed.  I was in the hospital for 3 weeks and 2 days.  I am now at home, feeling well, a little weak maybe, and on the road to complete recovery.  I am glad that this step is over.

The reason for the leak???  I have taken prednisone for several years.  The doctor says that it is like sewing two pieces of jello together.  I have lupus, and other chronic diseases.  I also have an excellent doctor.  The care that I received from him and his staff as well as the hurses was phenomenal.  All this took place in Monterrey, Mexico, with Dr. Robert Rumbaut.  He was the doctor who did the VSG in October.

I am looking forward to a time of steady losing...regaining my health and stamina.  This certainly was a Huge Step for me in my journey,.

I have a terrible cold...congestion...cough...asthma.   Went to see my Pulmonologist Thursday...didn't feel too awful bad, but Friday started with chills and a high fever...102 F.  That is a whopper of a fever for me!  On the phone, the doc said that this could be caused by starting the antibiotic that he gave me.  I had never experienced a fever starting AFTER I began taking antibiotic...but whatever..... 

When I get over this nasty thing, I will take a few nebulizer treatments...blow into the machine...and get OK'd for the surgery. 

I am hoping for April.

Well, I have been to my doctor twice and discussed further surgery.  The VSG is just not enough for me.  I can see that it would be great for a NORMAL person, but there is nothing normal about me.  I just need more restriction.  After all, I am 61, and habits of a lifetime are not only hard to break, but near nye impossible, for me that is.

I was surprised when he told me that he would not do a DS on me.  The age limit is 55 for one thing and I'm over the limit.  Then, at my age I don't need the more malabsorbatime procedure. So, he explained that the RNY would be more  beneficial to me. 

I agree.  You know, the RNY is what I wanted in the first place.  I was such a high risk patient...lungs...weight...chronic illnesses...that I had to have the sleeve.  It was great in the beginning, and the doc says that I will still lose weight very slowly, but I need "fast" because of the situation with my lumbar.  I do not want to wind up in a wheelchair. 

When the doc did the VSG, he went in with the intention of an RNY, but found that my stomach was stuck to my liver with scar tissue from previous surgeries.  He spent 3 hours taking out the scar tissue piece by piece.  Did the VSG.  And that was that!

My health is much improved since then.  My breathing is fantastic.  My oxygen count is 96 as of yesterday!  And I have a cold in my chest!  I get around much better.  My sciatic nerve has calmed down significantly.  Only when I really abuse it, does it scream for attention.

So I am happy with the VSG and what it did for me.

But, the next step for me will be the RNY...as soon as I get over the cold, and we can arrange the details.

But sometime in the month of April....

Pray for me.

No, I have not been losing weight as fast as I thought I would with the VSG.  Next week I will talk to my doctor about going ahead with the second phase to complete the DS.  This is what I need, and my husband agrees with me.

I will let you know how the meeting with Dr. Rumbaut goes.

Oh dear!  I can't believe it has been so long since I have been here.  This is our busiest time of the year in our ministry.  We are getting ready for a national pastors' conference next week in our church.  We expect to have around 1500.  I will let you know how it goes.

Today a friend of mine came by to visit me.  She had the sleeve last August, and looks really good.  She seems to be feeling good, and getting around a lot better.  She is a lot younger than I am, but was already starting to have problems with her knees.

When I saw the Dr. 3 weeks ago, he seemed to be proud of my progress, but I don't think that I am losing fast enough.  I believe that will definitely have to have the second phase of the DS in order to lose all my weight. 

But I am feeling good...have more energy...and life is good.  Thanks to God, Who is Good.

I will write more later, I promise.

A lot of time has passed since I was here.  We had a great Christmas with our family.  My daughter Tammie, and her entire family came from El Salvador, and we all traveled on up to Lubbock, Texas to visit with my mother and my sisters and their families.  Even my  brother was there this year.  We had a great time.

Now, it is time to pay the piper....of course I ate the wrong things...and too much.  I don't know why I feel like I have to stuff myself in order to be happy.  The "happy" only lasts a short time, then I am miserable. 

I only gained 3 pounds since my last post, so I guess it could have been worse.

I want to do better.  I will do better.  I am doing better!  I promise!!!!!

I decided last Monday to stop fooling around.  I know that plateaus come and go, but I was foolishly helping it along.  Because of my decision I have lost 4 pounds in 6 days...and I feel great!

Well, I have found out something.  This surgery does not cure life long bad habits overnight.  I have a problem with grazing in the evening.  Morning and afternoon, breakfast and lunch...are a breeze.  I am a very good girl.  But come 7:00 or so...until bed time...and I find myself searching for something to put in my mouth.  It is disgusting!  Every morning I wake up feeling guilty about it and promise myself that "tonight will be different". 

Actually, I decided to only snack on proteins, meat or protein ice cream...but then I overeat on those things, too.  (They do have calories you know...)

I think I might take up crocheting again.  It keeps my hands busy, and I can't eat with yarn and hooks in my hands, can I?

I need a buddy to help me through this stage of the game.  Who has the same problem as me who would like to team up and beat the culprit?

I posted a message about this...Let's see who responds....