Sharon H.

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(5 weeks postop) Had one month follow up last Wednesday. 21# lost!!! HOW EXCITING! 5+ pounds per week! My weight now is 244#. But what was more exciting was the inches lost. 4 inches off my waist and 4 inches off my hips! (see chart below) When the medical assistant measured me I started crying because seeing the amount of inches I'd lost was overwhelming...and again when I showed Dr. Hong my measurements I started crying. I'm sure he's used to seeing that but it was funny how he backed out of the room to go get my prescription orders. He just was holding his hand out saying "It's okay, you don't have to cry Sharon". He's so cute...so helpless in the presence of a woman's tears! :-) Everything is going very good and Dr. Hong said to keep doing whatever I'm doing. He prescribed my new vitamins (B-1 complex & iron to add to my multivitamin and calcium I'm currently taking). I've also been given the okay to advance to soft foods rather than just pureed!

*Just a note to let you know that plateaus are VERY normal (for everybody). I lost all of that weight above in the first two weeks then stayed at that same weight until after seeing Dr. Hong at my one month follow up. Today (4 weeks and 6 days after my surgery) I have started losing again and have now lost a total of 25#! :) Don't get discouraged when the scales stop moving. Your body is still working at that weight loss but your scale isn't going to show it for a while sometimes. I was losing inches during the time the scale wasn't moving though...my clothes just kept getting more and more loose each day. I asked Dr. Hong where the fat goes when you're not losing weight according to the scale but are losing inches and he said he doesn't know the answer but does know that inches really are lost during that time.

I have had a couple of difficult days through this time because I'm missing food and just not sure how to handle it. When I'm feeling emotional I want to eat...and I can't eat...so I'm trying to figure out what to do with those feelings instead. Maybe more regular exercise? We'll see.

More about eating: I've decided I was being too obsessive about what foods I eat (I was worried about having eaten a little bit of mashed potatoes). I talked with the nutritionist about that and it's okay to occasionally eat some mashed potatoes, crackers, etc. The important thing is to get my protein in first and then if I have room I can add some carbs (but should try to get most of my carbs from fruits and veggies). The occasional indulgence in potatoes, bread, etc. is fine...just don't get carried away! I have found some wonderful soy crisps from GenSoy and LOVE them. They come in sea salt, cheddar cheese, ranch, and many more flavors. I've enjoyed them with hummus this last week and they are TASTY! A great alternative to chips or crackers. I've also tried some things others have said they ate at this stage like corned beef hash (low-fat variety), soft fried egg, 1/2 of a banana and deviled egg.

I can eat about 4 Tbsp of dense foods (like chicken or tuna) and about 6 Tbsp of softer or more liquid foods. I'm still having difficulty getting enough water in each day but I'm working on it. Some days my tummy doesn't like it and other days it's just fine. I'm trying to convince that little tummy that water is her friend! :)

Protein supplements: At first I enjoyed the Curves supplement but now don't like the smell of it. Unjury unflavored, chocolate and strawberry all have a similar smell that I don't care for, but have found that Isopure Dutch Chocolate is very good. I get that at GNC but have found it online for much less so will order it online when I need more.

I have more energy now and most of the time feel great. I only have one or two days a week that I need to rest. Now I just need to get out and walk more! Will update more when there's more news to share!

One week postop today and I'm meeeelting! Down 14#!!! I can't believe it! My weight today is 251#. I know the weight loss won't be that dramatic all the time, but this week has been amazing!

Now, to fill you in about my surgery. I had surgery last Tuesday April 25th and it went well. I arrived at the hospital at 5:30 am for a surgery time of 7:30. I was taken in on time, didn't have any complications and was up walking a couple of hours after I was moved from recovery. I walked, walked, walked and didn't feel great, but didn't feel terrible either. I remember thinking though that I felt MUCH better physically than I had anticipated. I did have some anxiety in the first couple of days (just a "what have I done to my body and will I be okay after this?" type of anxiety)...but then I reminded myself that I'd thoroughly researched this and knew what I was getting into, good and bad...so I let the anxiety go and just concentrated on doing whatever was going to make me healthy.

I wasn't hungry at all, just had a dry mouth, so the cupful of swabs and cup of ice the nurse gave me to soak them in were my friends. I didn't have my barium swallow (leak test) until the following morning and I hadn't realized how anxious I was about it until afterwards when I slept for 2 hours after returning from the test (it was just fine, no leaks!).

On Wednesday after my swallow test lunch was served. Cream of tomato soup, pureed cottage cheese, applesauce, and a caramel flavored Optisource protein drink. I really enjoyed the soup...it felt good going down because it was warm. However just a few tiny sips at a time was enough for me. They left the tray for a couple of hours so I could nibble off of it but I really didn't have much that day. The Optisource drink was actually pretty darn good. I didn't think I'd like anything caramel flavored but it was yummy. I guess it comes in caramel and strawberry. I've been looking for them in the stores around here but think I'll have to order them off the internet.

They kept me an extra day because I wasn't urinating as much as they'd like so went home on Thursday after that all straightened out. I came online and posted some messages about being home, but didn't feel like sitting at the computer long enough to update until today. Slept, nibbled on pureed foods, sipped water, walked a bit, and slept some more for the first couple of days.

I had gained 10# of fluids in the hospital so for the first couple of days I just stayed at that weight, then started losing that 10# for the next couple of days, then another 14 has just melted off over the last 3 days or so! WOW!

I do have to say though that, amazingly, I get a little freaked out about being able to eat more than just 2-3 Tbsp at a time (can't believe I'm worried about an extra Tbsp or two of food!) I guess I'm just worried that it's too good to be true, that it won't really work for me, blah, blah, blah.... Just too many times of losing weight and it coming right back on!

I just started working again yesterday (not quite one week postop), but I do transcription from my home so it's much easier for me to do small amounts, take a break, then go back to do more when I can.

Walking, water, small amounts of food (trying to concentrate mostly on protein). That's my regimen right now...along with work and family time of course! :)

Here are a few of the things I'm eating right now:
1. Protein supplement drinks of course! I'm using Curves protein supplement right now, but am waiting for my Unjury to arrive this week.
2. 3 oz. (in weight) salmon pureed with a couple tsp of onion, 1 Tbsp mayo, few Tbsp chicken broth (that makes about 3 meals so I refrigerate or freeze it until I'm ready to eat the rest)
3. 3 oz. (in weight) chicken pureed with chicken broth or a couple tsp. of gravy plus couple Tbsp of broth (also makes about 3 meals)
4. 1 egg pureed with 1 Tbsp cottage cheese and 1 Tbsp salsa liquid-no seeds! (makes about 2 meals)
5. Cottage cheese
6. Yogurt
7. Cream of tomato soup
8. Cream of broccoli soup (pureed) YUCKKKKKYYYYY (used to love this but now it tastes nasty!)
9. Applesauce (with crushed meds)
10. Mashed potatoes with gravy

I've discovered that I can eat a bit more than they said I'd be able to (and trying not to worry about that), I can drink more water now that I'm a few days out (seems to go through my tummy pretty quickly), and I'm feeling GREAT!

What helped me the most in the hospital:
1. Carmex for my lips!
2. CPAP machine
3. Slide-on slippers
4. Toothbrush/toothpaste (it felt good to get that "anesthesia" taste out of my mouth!)
Those were the only things I really cared about while I was at the hospital.

What helped me the most at home first week postop:
1. Couch (recliner didn't feel comfortable at all!)
2. Pill crusher (makes it MUCH easier than trying to do it with a spoon or whatever else was around the house)
3. Water pitcher with ounce markings on it to keep track of fluid intake.
4. Magic Bullet blender-I can't believe how great this works! It has a small container also so you don't have to clean up a larger blender container when you're just pureeing small amounts. Also, it purees quickly and thoroughly, even tiny amounts! It also has cups and lids for storing leftover amounts. I found it at Walmart for $58.00.

Okay, I'm done going on and on and on about me now! God bless anyone reading this profile and I wish you the best in your search for a healthy life.

Met with Dr. Hong. He was a very thoughtful and patient man. He answered ALL of my MANY questions carefully and thoroughly and never seemed in a rush to finish up. I was impressed with his record as a surgeon, and his reasons for going into this type of surgical work; and I feel very comfortable having him as my surgeon.

AND...I HAVE A DATE!!! Actually it's next TUESDAY, April 25th! YIKES!!! Am I ready? Definitely! Am I nervous? MOST definitely!

Preop Class went well, now just waiting to meet Dr. Hong next week.

Also, today is my oldest baby girl's birthday...Happy 23rd Jacqui!

Okay, got the call today from the surgeon's office. I will be going to see Dr. Hong on April 19th, and will have my Preop Class on April 12th (I know that's backwards, but it's because I would have to wait longer to schedule the surgery if I missed this class. The next one isn't until some time in May). Anyways, it looks like I will possibly have a surgery date of April 25th!!! WHOOOHOOOO!!! I feel like things are moving SOOO quickly, especially after reading some other people's profiles and seeing how long they've had to wait for surgery. God has definitely blessed me!

Went to second preoperative appointment. Saw the nutritionist, physical therapist, nurse practitioner, and psychologist. Busy, busy day. (but at least no people in white coats came to haul me away after seeing the psychologist!) :) The next step is to schedule an appointment with the surgeon. I just have to wait until the four people I saw today finish their dictation and get the chart over to the surgeon's office. I'll start calling them in about a week or so to make sure things are moving along!

Had my first preoperative appointment at the clinic. This one was for lab, EKG, psych testing, and weighing/measuring. Spent the morning there and got poked and proded physically and mentally! Really it wasn't too bad! I go back next Tuesday for the other preop appointments (meet with psychologist, nutritionist, physical therapist, nurse practitioner).

Went to first Bariatric Surgery Support Group and was it ever interesting! Seeing before and after pics of a couple of the ladies who were about 2 years out was AMAZING! They were people I'd never met before so when I looked at their before pictures I couldn't recognize them as being the women who stood right in front of me...the change was incredible!! That was so inspiring to see. (I actually surprised myself by starting to cry looking at the difference in the before/after pictures...I think because it's a confirmation that I can make a drastic difference in my life with this surgery...if I use this time properly) Just seeing these ladies who had been very activity restricted because of their size now energetic and obviously feeling good was encouraging. Will be going back next month for more encouragement and support! Thank you F.H.!

Went to the informational seminar yesterday. Very interesting! I'm now filling out the application and will send it in to the clinic this week.

I guess I should tell you a little bit about who I am. I'm a 40 year old mother of six, grandmother of nine, with numbers ten and eleven on the way this fall (due dates just two weeks apart!). I know, I'm young to be a grandmother of that many, but my husband is 20 years older so I have four stepchildren who aren't too many years younger than I am. I'm blessed that we have such a wonderful family together and I want to enjoy all the years I have left with them.

I was a very trim but curvy girl as a teen (110# at age 16)and then after my first daughter was born I began gaining weight gradually until here I am at 267#. I've done all the typical lose weight/gain weight cycles with multiple attempts to get back into shape. Each time (now you know how this goes...say it with me...) "I would lose weight only to gain it back...plus even more". I don't completely understand why I can't keep the weight off myself and I'm just praying that with this surgery I can make the changes necessary to stay healthy. God has blessed me indeed with how easy it's been for me to prepare for this surgery. Even though I've researched the surgery for two years, I didn't actually start to do anything about having it until January of this year...and here I am about to have surgery already in April! (see notes below)

I appreciate all of you here on ObesityHelp.com for your encouragement. I haven't been very vocal on the boards but I have been lurking and reading a LOT and I've learned so much from each of you. The profiles that include before/after pictures have been especially encouraging so I'm going to try to remember to keep those updated as well (as soon as I know how to put my pictures up here). THANK YOU, all of you!

I've been researching WLS for about the last two years but just recently have seriously considered having it done. I tried once again to lose the weight myself..and after I lost 35#, I regained it...AGAIN. I'm signed up for an informational seminar February 7th, 2006 and will see what happens after that.