(Almost) 9 Month Update

Jul 29, 2010

I LOVE MY DS!

I'm 5 days shy of 9 months out. Another storybook recovery with zero complications, no food intolerances, and no bathroom issues. I've lost 150 pounds (16 pre-op on liquids and whatnot, so 134 pounds since surgery day). I'm at my "goal" weight of a "normal" BMI. I'm at 89% of my surgeon's goal, which is 15lbs lower than mine (middle of normal BMI range rather than the top of normal BMI). Since I'm still early in my loss window, I now think I will probably see my surgeon's goal someday.

Been off my blood pressure medication since 3 weeks post-op. My unmedicated pressure now runs consistently around 106/64. During pre-op testing it was found that I was borderline for pulmonary hypertension. I had a follow-up echocardiogram done a few weeks ago with normal results. I did not have sleep apnea pre-op, but the hubby says he doesn't hear me snoring anymore. I don't get out of breath and my feet don't ache after walking reasonable distances. I don't have to put on my "brave" face to buy a package of candy at the checkout or order a burger at the drive thru because I don't feel like people are judging my food choices (or maybe I just internalize "guilt" anymore).

I was a 26/28 top and 24 pant when I started. Now my 12 pants are getting baggy, so I may need to try on some 10's soon. I'm comfortably in size 12/Large dresses and tops. I still feel chubby, but more like an average-chubby mostly in the tummy area. I don't feel large all over anymore.

I went from 3x work scrubs down to Small scrub pants (ahhhh, unisex sizing) and loose fitting Medium women's scrub tops. I also went from a size 10 wide shoe to a regular width 9 (I didn't realize until my shoes were FLYING off!).

My wedding rings are a size 9 and have been rattling around for a while. I started wearing them with a ring sizer on the band a few months ago. Now they're loose even with the sizer. Yesterday I had to start wearing them on my middle finger with the sizer to keep them from falling off!  I think it's time to have them sized, though I have no clue what my new ring size is. :) A little wow from last weekend: my MIL went to Hawaii to vacation and brought me back a pearl bracelet on a stretchy band. I initially put it on gingerly, fearing I'd break the band or at least have it stretched out where you could see gaps between the pearls. Nope! It actually floats freely on my wrist. How crazy!

My twin sons just turned 2 last month. They see thin brunette women on tv and giddily say, "Mommmmy!" I show them pre-op pictures of me and I ask them, "Who's that?" They just look at me with confusion and have no response. They don't recognize pre-op me. Hell, I don't recognize pre-op me! I don't think of myself as the same person on the inside anymore either, because I found the decision to have surgery and the process of going through this surgery to be very empowering. I'm much more outspoken and upfront in my daily life now. It doesn't matter as much to me whether people "like" me. I still want people to like me, of course, but I feel comfortable being a more unabashed version of myself and letting them choose to like me or not.

Yep, yep, yep, love my DS!

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