Julie D.
I was a solid kid, super chunky teen, and a FAT adult
12-14-05..... 248 BMI 43.9
12-27-05..... 227 BMI 40.2..... -21 lbs
01-10-06..... 218 BMI 38.6..... -09 lbs ........ 30 lbs
01-24-06..... 210 BMI 37.2..... -08 lbs ........ 38 lbs
02-14-06..... 203 BMI 36.0..... -07 lbs ........ 45 lbs
02-28-06..... 194 BMI 34.4 .... -09 lbs ........ 54 lbs
03-14-06..... 191 BMI 33.8..... -03 lbs ........ 57 lbs
03-28-06..... 183 BMI 32.4..... -08 lbs ........ 65 lbs
04-11-06..... 181 BMI 32.1..... -02 lbs ........ 67 lbs
04-25-06..... 178 BMI 31.5..... -03 lbs .........70 lbs
05-09-06..... 175 BMI 31.0..... -03 lbs .........73 lbs
05-23-06..... 172 BMI 30.5..... -03 lbs .........76 lbs
06-06-06..... 169 BMI 29.9..... -03 lbs .........79 lbs
06-20-06..... 167 BMI 29.6..... -02 lbs .........81 lbs
07-04-06..... 165 BMI 29.2..... -02 lbs .........83 lbs
07-25-06..... 164 BMI 29.0..... -01 lbs .........84 lbs
08-22-06..... 160 BMI 28.3..... -04 lbs .........88 lbs
44 Birthday .. 9-5 .. 91lbs .. healthier .. YIPPIE !!
09-05-06..... 157 BMI 27.8..... -03 lbs .........91 lbs
10-03-06..... 154 BMI 27.3..... -03 lbs .........94 lbs
11-28-06..... 152 BMI 27.2..... -02 lbs .........96 lbs
11-15-05 I had my first appointment with Dr Elias today. I think he is terrific. I had a lot of information about gastric bypass going into the appointment, so most of what we talked about I was aware of. Dr Elias answered all my questions and it was just a great feeling to know that soon I would be on my way and I was making the right decision for me.
11-29-05 My paper work is being submitted to the insurance today. I had my appointment with the "Nut" a week ago and she gave me all the info about my food restrictions the first 4 weeks after surgery. I am sure I can handle it, but I WILL miss the diet coke something fierce.
12-08-05 I got a call from the Doctors office today the surgery is scheduled for the 16th...HOLY SMOKE.. I still have shopping to do and have not had any pre-tests and I am still waiting for my app for the psych eval... UPDATE
Well ... I have all my pre tests scheduled now for Monday and Tuesday and then start the bowel cleaning on Wednesday and then surgery on Friday ....Time flies... I called the insurance company today and still dont have approval..they are negotiating with the hospital as it is out of network ..... cripes...
12-09-05 Insurance called and I have approval and I dont have to go to Dr Last for a psych eval... cool beans ..cuz I dont know if I would have the time for it...the next few day will be a mad dash to get shopping done and things shipped, and tests done.
12-15-05 Started the clear liquid diet yesterday and I did the Fleet kit today... UGH is all I can say...that stuff is the pits.. I knew that I could get it all down..but NASTY tasting it is..I was dancing around the kitchen making weird sounds and stuff and my daughter was getting a funny look on her face.. I told her I was ok..its just this stuf SUCKS to drink and I have to drink more in a while, so if she didnt want to look she should go to her room. She is going to be spending the night at the neighbors as we have to be at the hospital at 6:00 am. I am not at all nervous, I am happy and calm that this is going to happen.
12-19-05 My Surgery was 16th Dec. 2005. I weighed the 14th at 248. The Surgery went well and I am doing great. I had a great nights sleep before going to the hospital (think I slept better than the hubby), and since surgery I have had NO pain, and minimal discomfort.
They all (the Dr and Nurses) kept saying how great I was doing. I walked a lot on Saturday after the Dr. took out the cathater and ng tube.
I was impressed with the hospital staff. They were all so nice and helpful. I was released on Sunday about 1:00 so I spent just over 55 hrs in the Hospital. The shower at home (even tho I had to be careful of my drainage tube and staples) was heavenly. I have taken no pain meds.
12-23 Its Friday and I am tired of jello, juice and broth. About the only thing I can stand is my water and popcicles... silly thing, but I look forward to my daily Tums cuz I get to chew something. Oh my... MY BREATH IS AWFUL !! I feel pretty good (except the dang staples are starting to itch, and the tube is a pain in the.... uh side)
I have slept in my own bed since comming home and have had no problems on my back..my staples remind me if I even think of turning over to my side... I have been sleeping well from about 9:30pm to 5:00am (after hubby leaves at 6:00 I go back to sleep for another hour to hour and a half) and then I dont need to nap durring the day..I have been doing laundry and dishes and all the things I normally do.
12-25-05 Today is Christmas and things are going well. I am 10 days out and I still think I am hungry when I smell food, but know that I am not. I see the Dr. on Tuesday and have my staples removed and my drainage tube .. and get my first offical weigh in.
12-27 and I got my staples out. My drainage tube comes out tomorrow and I get to do it (goodie?) I have lost 21 lbs and I feel great. I have a few more days of the clear liquid diet.
01-10-06 My one month check... A new year, and already I feel like a new me. Its wonderful to have clothes start to sag and undies that fit right (guess I was wearing them a bit tight hehe) 30 lbs so far and Dr says I am doing great. I have 3 more days of pureed food,it will be 4 weeks since surgery, then on to the real deal. It will be nice to eat something again. No pasta, rice or taters :o( all of course my fave foods, Dr says PROTIEN, PROTIEN, PROTIEN. But thats ok I am feeling so good I should be two ppl ..well I was two ppl and now I am loosing one of them. Have my next visit with Dr on Valentines Day, but I think I will weigh in two weeks just to keep on track and have an idea of how things are progressing. I have been so lucky through all of this. NO pain or sickness, my only real problem is drinking enough. Its hard to sip all day long.
02-14 Went to the Dr today for my 2 month check. Things are going great. I am down 45 lbs and I am so excited for the next 3 lbs to come off I can hardly stand it. I have not been under 200 lbs in 20 years (I think I was 195 when I was 22) and then just a few more pounds and I will weigh less than my husband (thats another big deal for me). I am getting to the point where I need to buy some new things to wear. My pants are hanging off my butt and thats pretty darn cool... I was in a 24 or 26 size pants (stretch jeans nothing with buttons or zippers) and 2x and 3x tops. I have an appointment next month so I hope I can loose at least 12 lbs for that check. Keeping my fingers crossed. I haven't told my family (except my mom) that I had the surgery, I want to suprise them when I see them in July or Aug. It will be a fun time I think.
02-21 Well today it happened.. I AM UNDER 200 POUNDS !!! YIPPIE.. I still feel so good all the time that I am wondering when the bomb will drop. I have lost 49 pounds in 9 weeks and 4 days, it just doesnt seem real. I still have not had any hunger pain, in fact I have to remind myself to eat as I do not feel hungry. I have tried lots of different foods and have had no problems with them, except the other day I was craving cereal and I had a few bites and about a half hour later I thought I may die ... or be sick...the feeling passed in about 30 min, but it was enough to keep me away from cereal for a while.
03-02 I was taking a bath today, and as I sunk down into the water and lay on my back I noticed my knees had something attached to them and I thought .....
" Hey those things attached to my knees are legs soooo where the heck is my BELLY??"
and then it hit me....my belly was all the way under the water.. It wasnt out covering my view of legs, it was under water...it used to poke out and get cold, and now its gone from sight (well at least in the tub) ...glug glug glug...
It was quite a WOW moment for me even though its a bit silly kinda like a few weeks ago when I could cross my legs again ..LOL
03-04-06 I just joined a quilting block exchange here at OH. What fun... I can hardly wait to go buy some new fabric and get started on my blocks. I would have never guessed that this was going on here on this website....just one more reason that I am happy to have sigined on here.... Yeah OH...
03-14-06 I went to the Dr. today for my 3 month check. I cant believe how fast the time is passing. Dr Elias says I am doing wonderful, and I can say as well that I feel damn good. This was the first week that my scale didnt move. I wont stress out over it I will just try to get a bit more exercise in. My routine has been interrupted this past month as I have had contractors at the house removing old, ugly wallpaper and patching holes and painting and carpet cleaning and new lighting in the master bath. Now I am getting things back to normal and I will have the free time in the morning to do my elliptical .. when I started in Jan (on the elliptical) I was doing 15 min and about 30 to 34 steps a min... now I am up to 22 min and about 50 to 54 steps per min.. its nice see the increase and to feel the difference.. I dont feel like I am dying at 10 min anymore.. I just cant get over how much my quality of life is improving.. as far as I can see its just going to keep getting better. Tonight is the 3rd support group meeting that I will attend. I like the people there, and its nice to be able to talk to someone who has been through the same things you are going through.. Not that any of what I have been through is bad.. just fun to compare notes and see what they eat and things like that.. I was asked last night if I would do this surgery again.. and I said YES in a heart beat.. I am interested to see what my blood work looks like.. see if that pesky chlorestol is down to more acceptable levels.. I keep finding new bones.. its interesting to feel a collar bone you never knew you had..or a rib..who knew there were so many of them?? I keep touching them to make sure they are real .... hehe ... see you in a couple weeks for an update. I hope the small stall I had doesnt last.
03-28-06 Wow the stall is gone and so are 65 lbs...it still seems so unreal some days (well most days) I know how much better I feel, but I still dont see a huge change in me. I can see it in my clothes...man o man are they gettin big and saggy. I am still lucky enough never to feel hunger, I have to remind myself to eat. When I have the urge to eat just to eat I have grapes. They are great to "snack " on. I did have on small epsiode with peanuts the other day..it was weird as I have eaten peanuts before, but alas it was in the morning and I just grabbed some ate them and in about 35 min I felt very ill. my head ached and my entire body felt funky. I started to sweat and went to throw up..it was just foamy and then about 45 min after that I had a terrible dump (in more ways than one... ugh) sorry TMI ... anyway its weird how one day you can eat someting and a few days later eat it again and it attacks you.. I just wonder if I ate them to fast or a few to many *shrug* oh well live and learn..
04-18-06 Visited Dr Elias today for my 4 month check. Time is flying by and the weight is still going down. I seem to be at a 10lbs a month weight loss pattern, which is fine by me. That means when I go to see my family I will be about 160.. 90 lbs from when they last saw me...how fun will that be. Dr says all is good and I have to go in tomorrow for blood work... glad for that, I am curious to see the results. Tomorrow is the next support group meeting and I plan on attending. Dr still has not set a goal for me number wise...but I am thinking (and it hurts) I would like to weigh about 135.. that would be in the normal BMI range and I think it would be just dandy. Dr told me to stay away from the peanuts as they have too much FAT in them.. even tho they are loaded with protien.. oh well .. maybe down the road..but for now Beef jerkey is my buddy I eat a LOT of it :o)
05-09-06 Wow.. another couple weeks have flown by. I am feeling terrific. I am out doing yard work, mowing and weeding and things and loving every min of it.. I am not dead tired when I finish nor am I sore for days after. I just cant stop saying how GREAT I feel. I mailed off my quilt blocks for the OH exchange I belong to on the 28th of April and now I am waiting for the others blocks to be sent back. I am sure that it will be a great memory to have in a quilt .... Life is good. One more pound I and I will have lost 74 lbs and I will weigh 174.. I think its a silly thing, but all the same its fun for me. *grinning*
05-23-06 I went in today for my 5 month check. Dr. says all is great and I feel fan-freekin-tastic.. Last week for a couple of days I had a pain in my right side, but by the time my appointment rolled around I forgot to tell the doc about it. Maybe it was nothing.
05-27-06 Ouch ...the pain in my side is a drag. I am contemplating going to the ER today. It is a SHARP pain under my ribs on the right side. bummer ........ update DR thinks I pulled a muscle?? so I will wait and see
06-26-06 Out of touch for a while, but all is good. I went "home" for a visit the only one who knew I had surgery was my mom and she picked me up at the airport (the plane ride was wonderful weighing 80lbs less than the last time I flew) my mom had such a supprised look on her face when she saw me..it was AWESOME.. when we got home both my sister mouths hung open when I stepped out of the car.. and I heard lots of OH MY GODs from them... but the funniest thing was my dad. My mom told him to come look at who was walking down the sidewalk.. and he said.."I dont know who the hell that is" my mom told him to look again and he still didnt seem to know me until I got about 15 ft away then she said he just about passed out.. They all kept telling me how good I look, and that was fun but as I kept telling all of them the way I FEEL is so amazing.. I feel so good its just not right :o).. I would do it all again just to feel this good all the time. Anyway I had a great visit with my family and had to show them all my funky hanging skin so that next time they can see the after of plastic surgery. Its always so fun to go home, but this time was extra special. I go to the DR tomorrow for my 6 month check. I hope he is a pleased with me as I am.. I missed the support group meeting this last week as I was in the air ..bummer I enjoy going to them..well next month. bye for now
OH YEAH.... I almost forgot.. I AM NO LONGER OBESE.. I am now in the overweight range... good golly did I ever think I would make it this far this fast nope, but I am damn happy for it.
07-25-06 Wow what a slow month for weight loss for me. I know everygthing I am doing wrong, but just cant seem to get on track. Vacation went well, but my ass kicking has been since I have been home. I have noticed I have been grazing and we have been eating out A LOT!.. I need to nip this in the bud and get my exercising back on track ( I dont want Doc to chew my butt ) and lord knows he should. I see him next week so hopefully I will have lost a couple more pounds so I dont feel like a bad kid..
09-07-06 I have been busy, or else I have just forgotten to update and check in here at the website ( I realy have been busy) now things are back to routine with the kid in school I will have a bit more me time. Things for me are wonderful and the scale keeps moving. I feel so good all the time. I keep hearing how good I look, but if they only knew how good it feels (dont get me wrong the looking good is a great thing but that is NOT why I did what I did) My health has improved so much I just know my knees and ankles are loving me for it. I had my 44th birthday tuesday I weighed less than I did 30 years ago.... Wild when it hits that kind of perspective. I am doing more and enjoying it more and life is good.. My hair is starting to come back a bit, I did loose quite a bit but then I had a ton of hair, so to most people it wasnt noticable.
Almost 9 months (8 more days) and some days it seems like yesterday and others it seems like forever ago... but its still a decision that I am SO GLAD I made and I would do it again tomorrow.
Dr Elias says that when the scale says 150 he will start the process for my tummy tuck.. HOW COOL IS THAT !!! I am finaly looking at myself as a thinner person... it took a long time to get into that mind set tho. But how exciting to have the extra skin (that still looks like fat) GONE... wow I cant wait for that.. My next appointment is on the 17th of OCT..I hope I will be so close to 150 that he starts the paperwork...
