HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME!!
Mar 01, 2008
Well, it's been one year and a day since I had my surgery. It's been a long journey, and i've done very well thus far(110 lbs down ). The struggle is not over, I still have a ways to go to reach my ultimate goal. The past four months have been the hardest part of my journey, due to an injury(torn achilles tendon), I was not able to workout for those four months, however, I remained steadfast and determined to maintain my goals. This was a good example to me, to show me that, although I had surgery to win what has been a life long battle, the war is not over. There will always be obstacles to stumble me that could lead me two steps backards. But as long as I will not give up; stay focused; determined, strong and steadfast, I will overcome, and reach my ultimate destination. I know I will make it. Right now, I have a lot of excess skin all over my body. When I walk, my thighs jiggle, the excess skin on my upper arms flap, and you hear, plop plop plop, my stomach hangs and flops too at times, but that is a sign of my success. When I started this journey, my self body image was very bad, and as I lost the weight and the skin became excessive and hanging, it did not get better. I could not see what everyone else was seeing, I still don't see it as much, but I do see something. I am at the stage where I will need to have this excess skin removed, I lift up the excess and can see the smaller me and that's what encourages me and helps with my body image. I like the way I look in my clothes now and I love going shopping now. It feels so good to go into the store, and look for clothes and have to say, too big instead of too small, I love it. Before surgery, I would see an outfit I like but it did not come in my size, now, I see the larger sizes and say its too big, feels so good! I'm more active and getting around is easier, I love to walk now. Overall, i'm so glad I made the choice to do this surgery and make my life a better, healthier life. The dr' s have lowered my settings on my BiPap machine for my sleep apnea and say, if I continue to do well, I will be off the machine altogether. I can hardly wait for that. My blood pressure has improved, they lowered the dose of my blood pressure meds, weaning me off. My BMI has dropped from 62.8 to 47.8. Are there any regrets, none at all, other than that I did not do this sooner. Thank you Obesity Help.com for this site, it offered me much support along with my support groups. I will continue to look here for support and hopefully encourage others that are contemplating surgery.
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14 weeks(3 months) post op
Jun 04, 2007
I am soooo excited...ok, I have lost 60 lbs so far!! They finally let me have my first adjustment May 8th(10 weeks after surgery) and I had already lost 45 lbs without the adjustment...I lost another 15 lbs 2-3 weeks later...Im doing good with the food...I did have a problem with bread after the adjustment..I was so uncomfortable after eating it..I felt overstuffed and I could not sit, stand, bend anything...my nutritionist said that after an adjustment some foods that u were able to tolerate after surgery, u may not...also, I was eating toast before and tolerating it, I had not yet tried bread in its doughy consistency...now I know, wait a little more before I try bread again...but im going for another adjustment in about a week or so..they said I can have one every 3-4 weeks and its been 4 weeks and im feeling like I need one...I'm also excited because I had set a goal for myself: I had a pair of jeans that I could not fit before surgery...couldnt get them up over my hips, well since surgery, I was able to get them up after a I lost the first 32 lbs(4 weeks after surgery), by time I lost the next 13 lbs, they were fitting better but still could not zip them, 2 weeks ago I tried them on and still could not zip them but was able to close them more...WELL, I TRIED THEM ON TONIGHT AND I CAN ZIP THEM, I CAN BUTTON THEM, THEY ARE COMFORTABLE ON ME AND YES IM GONNA SAY IT...I LOOK GOOD IN THEM DAMMIT!!..LOL I AM SOOO EXCITED AND HAPPY...My goals was to be able to get into those jeans and zip them by July 21 for my family reunion, well I accomplished my goal a month and a half early...so now its on to the next goal!!!
2 months post op(9 weeks)
Apr 30, 2007
Update: Psychologist says im not anorexic(yeah!) But then, I knew that...he says its just a miscommunication between myself, the nutritionist and the surgeon...I lost 13 more pounds for a total of 45 lbs. since surgery(3/1/07) Not bad for 8 weeks!! I get my first fill on the 8th(YEAH!!)...Nutritionist wants me to continue to see psychologist just to keep an eye out for anorexia...whatever, but I will do it to keep her happy...they need to get off this anorexia bandwagon already..I know me and I know im not anorexic, a little obsessed with losing the weight maybe but not to the point of anorexia!! well lets see what happens with my fill...
6 weeks
Apr 13, 2007
Well, im not getting an adjustment after all..they r sending me for evaluation to see if im anorexic, how silly is that..im eating too little, so they say..I eat till I feel full/satisfied but they say I should be eating more at this stage so they want to make sure im not eating because I want to or is it really restriction, either way, I would ot get an adjustment yet. I do know, I did not want to start solid foods, but I did, in small amounts..I have an appointment on the 25th, lets see what psyciatrist has to say..I was diagnosed as borderline anorexic a few yrs ago but I don't believe it, did'nt believe then and refuse to believe it now!!
5 weeks later
Apr 05, 2007
Well, its been 5 weeks, and so far everything is going great!! I went in for my first weigh in yesturday and to my surprise, I lost 32 lbs. Needless to say I was ecstatic, what a great beginning. My dr was amazed and said I will do very well with this band! I thought I lost some but had no idea it was that much, I knew I had lost 24 ins., I measured myself before surgery and then 2-3 weeks post op. Clothes that did'nt fit me before were fitting me and clothes that did fit but I didnt like the way they fit, now look better on me. Pants I bought before surgery are now way too big... but im not buying new clothes now, doesnt make sense...I don't get a fill until 2 weeks, I was supposed to get it next week but they said, im still eating a little bit and still have restriction so wait 2 weeks. They said I can start solid foods yesturday, but im afraid to eat..don't want to gain anythng back or stop losing..I wanna keep eating what I am eating but I know I cant, I did eat some solid food today but very little. Well, I will see what happens in the next few weeks
9 days post op
Mar 10, 2007
Well, it's been an interesting week. But its been succesful overall. It was a rough start. Sunday night, I tried taking my meds with spoonful of baby food...wont do that again. I got sooo sick, I was sweating, yet had a cold feeling inside, felt dizzy and weak, nauseacous thought I was gonna pass out, all I could do was lay down and go to sleep...felt better the next day...still only eating a small bit. Started puree foods on Monday, was'nt too bad. Wanted to walk but weather has been bad..started to get discouraged on Thursday, needed to vent to one of my friends thats about to get the lap band as well. Felt much better yesturday, went out and walked around the supermarket, which was a good walk and this morning, I woke up with so much inspiration...I walked after breakfast this morning and then walked again after lunch..its my goal to walk after every meal each day...im amazed and so are my friends and family at how little I can eat and I like it this way. Only thing that has me concerned,(and I will talk to my nutritionist about this) is that I can't seem to get in the 500-700 calories a day...I only get in about 200-300, but I do get my 50 gms. of protein. My late night snacking has ended, once I eat my dinner, thats it for the night for me, which is usually 6 or 7 p.m. I can feel the weight loss, I don't have a scale in the house(never did, did'nt believe in them..lol) so I can't weigh myself, but I put my coat on last night and it was loose on me and the sealt belt in the car was easier to put on...im lovin it..
2 days post op
Mar 02, 2007
Well, I did it! I was so nervous, I was making jokes with the surgeon as I was on the table, he asked if I had any questions and I said, yes, is it too late to change my mind and can I go home...lucky for me he knew that was just my nervous humor...the anesthesialogist told me he was giving me something to make me relax and thats all I remember until they woke me and said I did good and it was over. I was so groggy, I thought he said they were about to start, I asked why are you waking me to tell me you're starting and he said, no, we are done. I was so happy I thanked God rt at that moment, first for bringing me thru the surgery and second for giving me the chance at a new me! I am slow to arouse from anesthesia, so I was in and out of it for several hours. My surgery was over @ 1 p.m. and by 7 p.m I was up walking, I had to go to the bathroom and I dont do bedpans lol..I took my first walk with minimal pain, I walked every hour, having to go to the bathroom, so by time I left the hospital, I walked a lot. I never needed pain meds, which is good(im not into the pain meds thing either). I still dont have an appetite but I do eat/drink a little, im getting my drinking in during the day. I started with the gas pains this morning, been belching a bit. My first night home was ok, had trouble sleeping only because I didnt know if I could sleep on my sides, so I slept sitting up in the bed(I dont have a recliner) very uncomfortable but a friend of mine told me today, its ok to sleep on my sides, she had her surgery 2 months ago.
The hardest part for me rt now is the meds...you have to crush ur meds and they taste horrible(YUCK)!! I mix it in water and drink it, my seizure meds are the worst but I have to do what I have to do...its only for 6 weeks, thats what I keep telling myself so I will make it.
The day/night before surgery was a true test of temptation for me, but I passed. I was still on liquid diet of course. I had to go to the supermarket to get some last minute things, just because I could'nt eat, all the food was jumping out at me:"EAT ME", "EAT ME". and then there were those foods that were saying, "COME ON, YOU KNOW YOU WANT SOME--HA HA, YOU CANT" I managed to walk passed everything and not give in, then I thought was my love/addiction for food that serious that im hearing food talk to me? LOL. Then I get home and my granddaughter comes to visit and she has McDonald's now I dont like McDonald's but at that point, a cheeseburger was sounding good to me but I was good, I sipped on my "yummy" chicken broth. If that wasn't enough, my son comes home with not 1 but 2 packs of oreo cookies, I ask him whats wrong with you, then my best friend that had a GB a yr ago comes by to give me support and walks in the door with a Popeye's chicken box, at this point, im convinced its a conspiracy, she tells me, o no, this is not chicken, its cake in here, like that made a difference, she wanted me to see the decorations on the cake...Well, like I said, a day of temptation and I was strong!! Im on my way!!
One day left
Feb 28, 2007
Well, one more day before surgery!! Being on this liquid diet the past few days has been challenging but good training for whats to come. I'm looking forward to starting my new life and seeing the new me thats trapped inside, she's been wanting to come out for a long time!! Finally, freedom, the beautiful butterfly will emerge! By this time tomorrow, my surgery will be over, I have to be at the hospital at 8:30 A.M. I'm so excited...don't know if i'll be able to sleep tonight. For the past few weeks, in all my dreams was the surgery and my "unveiling". Well, im going to go prepare for tomorrow, next time I post, I will be post-op.
Feb.27
Feb 27, 2007
Had my GFF put in yesturday...all went well...now im ready for my lap band surgery...YEAH!!! two more days to go!! The beginning of my new life, im so excited...The butterfly is ready to desend!!