Lorraine M.

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It is now 2 years and 8 months post op (RNY). I cannot believe how the time has flown past. I have had numerous medical issues that would have been way worse had I not had weight loss surgery. I am still maintaining about a 130 lb weight loss from my highest weight.

I had my spinal fusion (4 discs with rods and 8 screws) done in May 2012. I wound up spending 10 days in hospital followed by 3 months of physiotherapy. My back had been so messed up with spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease. A compressed L5 disc has caused permanent nerve damage and I will have a dropped left foot probably forever. I had gone almost 30 years carrying around anywhere from 100 to 150 lbs extra on a 6 ft frame. Unfortunately I am still left with some sciatica and lower back pain. The older you get the more obesity damages your body. I consider myself lucky to be alive.  I am awaiting 2 knee replacements to hopefully make walking more manageable. I still have to use a cane for stability. Sometimes my knees just want to pop out and I can fall when that happens.

At 2 years post op RNY I went under the knife again for a fleur dis lis (inverted T tummy tuck) and a breast Lift. For over 6 months my weight loss had been stabilized even though I had not lost as much weight as I would have liked. I reached my bariatric surgeons goal, just not my personal one. My lack of mobility during the honeymoon weight loss time was most likely the main reason for this along with a few bad habits creeping back. The plastic surgeon removed over 10 lbs of fat and skin mostly from my abdomen area. The abdominal rashes had become unbearable. I have very sensitive skin and probably due to poor healing and previous surgical scars my recovery was very slow. I do not want to scare anyone away from doing this but these are just my facts. Plus I am 60 years old. The actual surgery went well. I just stayed one night in hospital and then went home with 3 times a week nursing home care. One month post plastics my stitches opened up and I wound up in the emergency. That is where I unfortunately picked up 3 types of bacteria (not the nice ones) that had me on 2 weeks of antibiotics over xmas. But I finally healed and now I just have some irregular scaring that I may or may not deal with in the future. Call me crazy when you ask if I would do this again and the answer is YES! I had very little pain from my plastic surgery. I was bandaged for about 5 months even trying a vac machine to help speed up the healing. The huge flap of hanging skin from my belly is gone as well as the raw rashes. Oh and did I tell you? I absolutely love my boobs! They are so perky and yet still have enough substance for a good "B" cup. A far cry from the DDD that was hanging like tube socks to my waist and stuffed into a huge sturdy bra. Not a pretty picture is it? But now my refurbished boobs are like an 18 year olds instead of the 60 year old that it really is. I don't even need to wear a bra now. 

I take my vitamins religiously every day supplementing with 4000 IU Vit D, 2500 mcg Vit B12 every 10 days, 500 mg Vit C, a good multi, 1200 mg calcium citrate, 2 Feramax 150 (300 mg elemental iron), 2000 mg Biotin (yes the hair is thinner), and a Claritin for my allergies. I also take a prevacid fastab daily for prevention of gerd and reoccurring hiatus hernias. My iron is now borderline low and will have to be watched. I may need an iron infusion if it continues to go down.

There are some new facts of life following my WLS over 2 and a half years ago. They are:

• I can't tolerate some foods like Chinese food (probably the oil that is used), no KFC or Popeye's chicken (oil again), can only eat a few French fries, no Dairy Queen ice cream, some lactose intolerance with milk,  and I can usually only eat one slice of pizza (but yes I can eat pizza)
• I can only eat smaller portions especially with lean dry cuts of meat (chicken or steak) but the opposite of this is that I could graze all day if I didn't stop myself
• Sugar bothered me for about the first year but unfortunately my body has adjusted and my sugar addiction cravings have returned. I am trying to control this but it is a daily challenge
• Head hunger is still there. Some of my same demons like bad carbs and sugar have to be tightly controlled or they can easily get out of hand.
• After the first year maintenance has become challenging. I have to track my food using myfitnesspal so that I get enough protein and keep the carbs down to ensure the weight does not creep back on. I am always conscious about what I am eating and read labels like I never did before
• I never achieved my desired weight loss. I would have liked to be down about another 20 - 25 lbs but I am accepting of where I am.
• I have to watch my blood sugar. It goes too low!
• I have to take vitamins for life, no nsaids, nothing in a gel format, medications dosages need to be adjusted as they go through quicker. I get my bloodwork checked regularly especially for low iron  

The positives about having weight loss surgery are:

• I am no longer obese!!, My legs do not chafe together, I can bend over and tie my shoes, the car steering wheel doesn't rub on my stomach, I do not sweat when I walk, My high blood pressure is gone. I am no longer pre diabetic.
• I can do some low impact exercise. I hope to run and dance one day. Weight wont be a factor. 
• I can generally eat what I want, just less of it.
• I have made some fantastic new friends through my support network that will be my friends for life. I love my bariatric support group.
• Men flirt with me. I didn't recognize it at first. My self esteem is much higher. I no longer take medication for depression.
• I have found love again with a wonderful caring man. I would never have ventured out for love as a fat girl.
• I can shop at regular stores, I don't hide from the camera, I gave away all my 5X and 6X clothes to charity.
• It is much easier maintaining my current weight than facing having to lose 130 lbs without this tool
• I am grateful for this website and all the supportive people on it
• I AM A HAPPIER PERSON. I LOVE LIFE.

My only regret is that I didn't do this 20 years ago before long term obesity damaged my body. And think about it... there are no fat people in the nursing homes. why not? Because they are all dead from obesity. Don't let obesity kill you. Live life, Love Life, It is Precious. Good Luck on your journey.

 Well this is it. I am finally paying the price for carrying around an extra 150 lbs for the past 30 years. My back and discs are royally f...kd up

7 months after my RNY  and down 111 lbs I am headed over to Mississauga Trillium tomorrow (thurs 8am) to have an L3 - S1 Lumbar Decompression with Fusion and Instrumentation. (try saying that one fast, lol) cutting open my back, separating muscles, taking off some excess bone and making a paste with it, separating the nerves away to relieve my sciatica down my legs, fusing some discs, putting in some metal rods and screws (there go the airport detectors) and applying the paste over the screws for my own bone to regrow, then inside disolving stitches, and outside staples. Then get me my *&xx@%^  pain pump!

 I will be in hospital for 5 to 7 days and will have to wear a custom back brace for 3 months (so ugly). The orthopeadic surgeon was very pleased with my RNY weight loss as it will substantially reduce my recovery time and make the surgery less complicated. Interesting that he was also pleased that I do not take any nsaids as he thinks they are terrible for anyone, let alone bypass people.

I have been doubling up on my protein pre-op thanks to great advice I always get from our dear friend and blood specialist OKNEE. My most recent bloodwork was perfect. I even packed some extra protein shakes and bars just in case they dont supply bariatric based meals. Got all my vitamins packed and I am ready to get this show on the road. I guess this will mean no excuse for not exercising any more.(HA)

Sorry for all the detail but I just needed to get it all out so it becomes part of my past. I would appreciate if you could include a little mention in your prayers tonight (all religions graciously accepted) 
THANKS!

March 13, 2012
Hi All, 
Wow, I can't believe it that I havent posted here since November! I guess I havent really had any problems to report.

I can still eat just about anything but have totally dropped some of my most major "bad" foods". Since surgery I have not tried or even wanted to try pop, caffinated coffee, chips, popcorn, french fries, takeout burgers, and my all time old favourite Timbits. I don't even think about  those old favourites. Some foods that still make me a bit ill that I did try are chinese food (can't take the fried), KFC, and pizza crust (ok, I won't lie I can eat the topping off one slice, but no crust). I still experience the night time munchies so I try to save some calories for then. Even a laughing cow cheese wedge can take the edge off. I am a sugar free popsicle junkie. I have 2 freezies every night. soooo good. 

Weight loss is slow but steady. I just passed 100 lbs lost including my pre-op low carb diet. I am pleased with my loss particularly as I am not very mobile and walking and regular exercise is difficult. The loose skin is starting to get to me. The worst is when I go swimming in the condo pool and look down to see my fat floating higher than the rest of my legs. (LOL yeuch!)  But still better than all the fat before. But where the hell did my butt and boobs go? I liked having a bit of a butt and it is getting to be a pancake and the girls are turning into tube socks. Starting at 334 lbs and now at 232. I don't think I have been this low in over 25 years. At 5 ft 11 inches I am looking better in clothes but still have about 50 more lbs to go. I have to take some pics but as a lifelong fat girl I still avoid the camera. At 58 years old I am not sure if I will go under the knife for the panni but time will tell. Depends on how I feel and who is seeing me naked other than the cats (they love me anyway).

My iron and Vitamin D have been low so I have increased to the feramax 150 and 4000 IU Vit D. I am diligent with taking my vitamins every day. I don't want to get malnourished with my spine surgery coming up. I use the OPURITY bariatric multi and calcium. They taste great so it makes it much easier to remember. My crazy cat Missy loves my unjury protein shakes. I mix the chocolate with strawberry in a glass of milk and shake it up. As soon as she hears the shaking she runs to the kitchen no matter how far away she is. Then she meows and runs ahead of me to my room where she knows I drink the shake. I pour a pill top capful out for her and she licks it out about 3 times. If I don't have a protein shake that day she complains and meows at me. I have 4 other cats that could care less but not crazy Missy. She likes her protein shakes.

Waiting for my spine surgery on May 10th. I really want to get that over with. My knees are also bad and I just had an MRI on my left one but still waiting for the results. By the time all the docs are finished with this body I will be the new Bionic woman. They are just  replacing or removing my body parts piece by piece.

I have met so many new friends through the OH site all around the city and even out of province and country. It is so great to have friends that have "walked in my shoes" and truly understand all of our challenges. I think I have just finally understood what is meant when people say WLS is a tool, it is not a miracle cure, you have to work at it to be successful. It is not easy but it is easier than it was. The weight I lose stays off. The constant knawing hunger is gone. Most of the cravings are gone.  I still have to deal with the emotional eating but I think I am getting a handle on it.

To all you pre-ops out there, hang in there, follow the rules, drink your water, take your vitamins and you will be successful.

   I am feeling just about as good as before. I can eat just about anything just smaller amounts. I finally got off pureed and now am on regular still soft foods. I love my homemade chilli. I had my curry shrimp yesterday and it was a little spicy but didn't bother me. I confess that I ate 5 BBQ peanuts the other night and it was fine. I just chew the heck out of everything. I am still not always hungry but think of food as fuel for my body.

For some weird reason I don't feel my fybromyalgia pain and haven't been taking my Lyrica any more. Also my blood pressure is now a normal 120/80 so no more high blood pressure med.

Actually the one bad thing is the flare ups of gout that I keep getting. I take allupurinol twice a day and colchicine when it gets bad but that is one of the side affects of rapid weight loss.

Clothes are getting loose but I don't want to buy anything now. Guess I better get a belt (LOL). Down to 257 lbs from my original start of 334lbs. Lost most of pre surgery weight on a high protein low carb diet. Pre optifast was 287, surgery weight 280. Going slow, but that is ok. I knew it would be due to my mobility issues (still waiting for spine surgery). but any loss is good!

just a little update...

Surgery was a bit complicated as expected. Doc said my liver was one of the best he had seen in a long time probably as I had changed my habits for last 6 months and lost 45 lbs on my own. He also found and repaired a hiatus hernia. I had a drain while in hosp to make sure there were no infections. Surgery on tues and let loose on thurs morning.  Hospital was kind of crappy. Watch out for the vampire nurses wanting more blood and giving injections, etc I am so glad to be out of there. Dr Hagen was just wonderful coming to visit and answering all my questions. He is not only a highly skilled surgeon but super bedside manner and caring. Turns out I am alergic to steri strips and got huge water blisters under the bandages but he assured me they will go away.

Since then I have  been recovering very slowly and I slept a lot, getting in all my vitamins but still low energy. I am not pushing it. I had to inject myself for 8 days of anti blood clot medication. My belly hurts so much and is all black and blue. But better to be safe with blood clots. I am no spring chicken any more and I need to be careful. The incision on the left side still hurts esp as I put on pants yesterday and it touches it. I am still on full fluids (so boring) but had my first pureed today which includes a poached egg and that was so good. Puree chicken was blah. Looking forward to real foods. Havent had any nausea or dumping, just can't eat much. Losing slow but steady 6 lbs in 10 days for my new total of 60 since first weigh in with surgeon. Had just one day of feeling down with OMG what have I done? but it passed. I know I am giving myslf a new lease on life with less pain and more enjoyment. Still think this was my only option if I wanted to live. It is still a struggle, no one said it would be easy but I know I made the right decision. Have made lots of wonderful friends through this forum. Wishing them all the best too.    

Well time is coming up. I am a bit worried. I met with the anesthisiologist at my PATTS appointment this week and he kind of scared me a bit. He said that my surgery will be a complicated due to my other previous surgeries. My gall bladder surgery cut me half way across my abdomen and my hysterectomy due to stage 1 ovarian cancer got a major infection in the hospital that tooks months to clear up and heal. That surgeon told me that when she tried to go up inside my abdomen to take biopsies of my organs she could not because of the scar tissue from my gall bladder surgery. So he doubts that Dr Hagen will get my surgery done in the time frame he allotted (2 and a half hours). 

I just have to put my faith in God and Jesus to help me. 

But enough doom and gloom. I have been so good following my optifast and not cheating. I actually really like it now as I blend it with Tim`s decaf. The chocolate is so good I even lick the spoon. Hopefully I have been able to shrink my liver enough to make the surgery easier. I watched a few videos on youtube showing the whole surgery. It doesn`t look too bad. My spine surgery next May will be riskier but by then I should have lost significant weight.

It will be a sunny warm Thanksgiving week-end and I will go out on my balcony to feel some of those healthy rays from heaven. I just want my surgery to be over with and to be home recovering. I did a shop at Walmart today to make sure I am ready with my small eats and drinks. I will only think positive and not let negative thoughts into my head. I only want the positive endorphans doing their job to make me get through this well.

Wish me luck and say a little prayer for me. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Sept 22/11.
 
I am starting to get excited and a little nervous. i am so ready for this to happen. friends and family are all asking when and how and all the usual questions.
 
I start my optifast on tuesday and of course my nephews birthday party is next week. We usually order chinese food and my mom makes the best choc fudge cake. It is called a money cake because she foil wraps coins as prizes.of course it is rigged for birthday boy to get the best prize (toonie), I usually just get a quarter if lucky. But i will stay on course and take a baggie of veggies they let us have and my trusty bottle of optifast.

My feelings have been all over the map lately, i just want the surgery done.  Oct 11th is my day. When I get a little scared I just remind myself to stay positive because I am woman, I am strong (Carol King I think) I survived ovarian cancer 7 years ago and still have my back surgery to have next may so this will be a real help for my recovery, so bring on those surgical chopsticks and lets get going!

Wish me luck!

Hi, my name is Lorraine and i am 57 years old and like most of you have fought this weight loss battle most of my life..... I am joining the rest of you on a life long commitment to lose weight and remain healthy. I want to apologize right up front for my spelling mistakes,  improper use of words, grammar, capitalization, rambling, and digressing onto other non related topics. I think this is kind of theraputic. not sure anyone else but me will ever see this but what the heck..
 
My family (except my mom, go figure?) is mostly all overweight and most of my aunts and uncles suffer from arthritis, diabetes, joint replacements, etc. A few have died too early, 65 and early 70's and i just happened to think how i have never seen an obese person in the nursing home. I guess that is because we don't survive long enough to get there. My family and i are however a very happy bunch of people. We love to laugh, get together with family and of course eat. My background is Ukrainian but we are not biased, we love food from all nations. I love Italian, Greek, Jamaican, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Indian, etc.  I feel truly blessed to live in a multicultural society where i can share food from all over the world.

I grew up in Toronto, a chunky child, often they would say that i was a big boned girl. Truth is that i just liked food and generally disliked activity. Gym was the worst class in school. I hated it. (Math too) . ..When I turned 11 something very strange happened and i grew a full foot in one year.. When i was 13 I was 6 feet tall and slim for the only time in my life, i guess i just got stretched out.  

 When i was 19 I entered the work force as a call centre rep working for Bell Canada. I just loved that job because they had the best cafeteria in the world where i could get french fries and gravy every day. The break feasts with muffins and bearclaws were also amazing. I loved my break times at work.That is when my weight started to climb. The first year working i gained about 40 lbs and joined for the first time weight watchers and my Baba took me to a gym (which was really just a little work out and then go swim and hang out by the pool). Of course after the gym i was so hungry i ate more than what i would have lost.

Many years past with gaining weight, losing a little, more diets, more gyms, more new year's resolutions until i blossomed to about 345 lbs. Now having that kind of weight is one thing when you are young but it is a totally different thing when you get older. Everything starts to hurt, a lot. Oh, and i should have mentionned, over the years I survived ovarian cancer (2003), extremely lucky it was stage one, broke my leg falling down some stairs (2005), my husband passed away after we had separated, Best thing that came out of that relationship was my beautiful son Andre who I adore more than anything else in the world. Poor Andre, I know he wants to be supportive but he is worried that i will somehow be different when i lose the weight. He has always known me as a big mama that he could squeeze and hug and was soft and nice. He is getting used to the idea but i can understand his feelings. He also worries about the surgery that something might go wrong but i just can't keep living like this any more. .

I also have cats, i love my cats. They are loyal and sweet and the best company. Recently they have helped me with the loneliness I sometimes feel. When i lived in my house i had up to 9 cats living with me. I know everyone says i am the crazy cat lady but my house was never stinky, litter was cleaned every day and some liked to go outside (usually to the neighbours perfect garden) to leave their buried little presents. I wonder why the flowers died? But now i am in a big condo and am now down to 3 cats. My son has 2 and he went away to university but guess who moved back home this summer? my son and his 2 cats so i am back up to 5 and doing the litter every day, sometimes twice a day. 

I am in a bit of a mess now, since feb i have had bad sciatic pain, mostly in the front and backs of my legs.. I had to wait 4 months for an MRI to find out that i have a large disc herniation with extrusion and severe spinal stenosis and degenerative arthritus in the lower lumbar region.  I met with an orthopaedic surgeon who will remove the herniated disc, do a nerve decompression, and put some rods and pins at the bottom of my spine. I have been resting and off work.  I have difficulty walking and have to use a cane mostly for balance. The surgeon thought that my spine recovery would be better if i lost weight so I am going ahead with the gastric bypass first. There is a long wait list for the spine surgery until May 2012.

I requested Dr Hagen because he had the best reviews and was head of the bariatric division. I met with him and he is such a nice compassionate person. He greets you with such a kind understanding smile there is no way you can not do anything but feel safe with him. I had a few surgery dates that I had to change due to my back pain being so bad but now i am all set to go for Oct 11, 2011 The sciatica and pain in my back has been easing up. I am taking way less pain meds now. I am now down to 289 lbs from the initial visit of 334lbs . I am sure that has helped my back. . I have decided to focus on my health. For years i have looked after everyone else, my husband, my son but now it is my turn and I am really excited about it. Life is good.