nita_inspire
First Post OP Visit--2 Week Follow Up With Thanks--Long
Jan 20, 2011
Hi,I had my first two week post-op visit with Dr. Enochs yesterday. It went well. He said that my incisions are healing well, and are almost gone. Moderate activity, but he said that I needed to wait at least four weeks before going back to my dance classes. He said that I could try walking on the tread mill or even attempt the recumbent bike, but I think I'm just going to wait. Lord knows, I've taken more than a few weeks off from working out over the course of my lifetime.
I weighed in at 286 pounds. (His scale is 3 pounds lighter than mine.) If you go from the 308 pounds of my last office visit, I've lost 22 pounds. If you go from the 303, that I weighed when I went to the hospital, I've lost 17 pounds, but if you go from 316 pounds I weighed when I left the hospital (I had a 13 pound fluid gain), Then, I've lost 30 pounds in the last two weeks. My daughter said that it doesn't matter that it was water weight, I still had to lose it. So I should go from the high weight. lol. He said that I could expect lose anywhere between 25 and 30 in the first month. So, it looks like I'm right on track. I guess the most important thing is I'm losing.
I told him I don't know if it's because he's a super star surgeon or what, but my recovery has gone a whole lot better than I expected it to. And, I told him, thanks. He said that the patient's attitude helps a lot and thanked me. The rest of my follow ups are scheduled with the PA. I was assured that I could get in and out of his office quicker. But, I wanted my first follow up to be with Dr. Enochs himself. I wanted to personally thank the man who has helped to give me a do over button if you will. This time, I'm hoping to make better choices along the way. I've had waaayyyyyy too much of the good stuff already. Does this mean I won't ever enjoy it again, probably not. So far, I haven't dumped or thrown up for that matter. It just means that I've been given a second opportunity to try to get it right. And, just like life, with all of it's bumps and bruises, I'm sure that I will have some missteps along the way. I'll just have to pick up the pieces and keep going.
I don't expect this to be a magic wand. There are far worse things than being overweight. I've never hated being me because I understand that I am not my fat, and my fat is not me. And, I've learned to not let other people's opinions define who I am. Jermaine Dupri told Janet Jackson during one of her heavy periods that all of her deserved to be loved and that her jelly rolls needed love too. I agree with that.
When asked have you gotten skinny yet? I reply, "Nope, not trying to get skinny, I'm trying to get healthy." Now if skinny, happens to be a by-product of that, then so be it. I realize at the beginning of this new journey, and on the end of the old one, you have to make peace with who you are and where you're at. If you don't you'll always be looking forward to being something you're currently not, without having the added benefit of enjoying whoever you currently are.
So, thanks Dr. Enochs, thanks to my wonderful babies who helped nurse me through this, thanks to my surgery posse, thanks to my friends including those that have been through WLS that stopped by to check on me and make sure I was getting my protein, but also thanks to each of you (and to members of the NC WLS meetup) who have offered encouraging words even when they were not specifically directed at me.
I think it's wonderful how we each pitch in to be the wind beneath someone elses wings. Sometimes it's a kind word, sometimes it's a swift kick in the you know what. But, ultimately isn't that what this journey is about--hope, health, and healing.
Here's to wishing us all lots of mini victories and several major ones along with self acceptance as we continue this journey to our new selves.
All best,
Alnita
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About Me
NC
Location
35.4
BMI
Surgery
01/07/2011
Surgery Date
Nov 26, 2010
Member Since
