Vieve
Hello! I am 23 years old and anxiously awaiting having surgery. I used to have Health America Insurance and they wanted me to do a bunch of stuff like a supervised diet for three months but then I got a new job and with it came new insurance.....and with that insurance I got approved after just one letter without even having to do all that stuff. My surgeon asks all his patients to get a psych eval so now I'm just waiting to get that done (It was pushed back a week)Then Barix will confirm my insurance and give me a date! I am excited to just get my date, not to mention have the surgery.
July 25, 2005 So I had my psych eval last week. It was kinda silly..I mean the questions were. Anyway I aced it. The doc said he'd be sending his letter by friday. Today is monday so my surgeon probably hasn't gotten yet. I am going crazy waiting to get a date. I am going on vacation next week but they have my cell phone number so I won't miss the call. I have been reading the message board a lot and it has been sooo helpful. I just want to thank everyone who posts. I'm so glad I came across this site. Even though my mom had the surgery a few years ago I still find myself coming up with questions she can't answer. Thats where you guys come in. So THANKS A TON! I will let you know as soon as I can when I get a date!
August 8, 2005 Yea! I was on vacation last week and the clinic called and scheduled my surgery!!!! September 13th is the big day! I am going to my first support group meeting tomorrow night and my pre admission testing is August 30th. I am so excited and nervous. I told the human resource lady for my job that I need the time off...Actually I emailed her because I'm a chicken. No response yet but at least I did it. I just started at this job a few months ago so I don't have any short term disability so I may have to take the time off without pay. But I'll manage somehow. This surgery will be worth it.
August 11, 2005 Well am I a goof or what? I tried to go to the support group the other night. The problem is that I live almost exactly two hours from my surgeon. I get done at work at 5 and the meeting started at 7. I missed an exit and ended up 20 mins out of my way. Needless to say I would have been over 30 mins late, so I just went home. Yes I drove almost half way across PA and back in one night for no real reason. I am going to try to find another support group closer to home. I am sooo anxious for my surgery though. I still have a month and 2 days. I am even anxious for my pre-op testing. My boyfriend and I are also planning on moving (out of our parents' houses) and we are going to wait til after my surgery so I'm anxious for that too. I am a very impatient person...and this is driving me nuts! I asked my mom how I should go about telling my other family members (Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, etc.) She had the surgery too and I wasn't sure how and when I wanted to tell my family. Low and behold..she informed me that she already told everyone.....now I remember why I don't tell her secrets. Oh well. My nosey family would figure it out eventually.
August 23, 2005 Well I have good news, off topic but good news! My boyfriend and I just found out we got the apartment we wanted! We will probably be moving mid October (a month after surgery). I am so excited. I get to really start a new life. A new way of eating and living, a new body and a new home! Also I got my Sample Pack from Bariatric Eating the other day. It was like a mini Christmas. I got a whole bunch of different shakes and even a few pieces of candy and some cookies. The kit also came with a shaker to mix the protein shakes. Most of the shakes I've tried so far are pretty good. I have my Pre-op testing next week and I hope my pulmonary tests aren't affected by my BRONCHITIS. Hopefully I'll be better by next week. I can't believe I got sick a month before my surgery. At least it was a month and not a week. Only three weeks to go-Yeah!
August 25, 2005 Well the clinic called and they want me to come in tomorrow for my pre op testing instead of next Tuesday! Yipee! I know its nothing big but its one more step toward surgery.....I can't believe its less than three weeks!!! I can't wait! Bronchitis is getting better each day, too..thank goodness!
August 30, 2005 My pre-op testing went very well, glad it was over. I had a chest x-ray, ultrasound, bloodwork, ekg, and a breathing test. Felt like a lab animal. The doctor there (not the surgeon) was concerned about my high blood pressure, so I have to get a letter from my hypertension doctor clearing me for surgery. I am nervous because my surgery is only two weeks away and the hypertension doc doesn't have any openings. Hopefully he'll write it without seeing me or else squeeze me in. It will really make me mad if I have to reschedule surgery because of this. Plus I told my "big boss" about surgery yesterday and arrangements have already been made to cover my time away with another secretary. I have only worked at this job for 4 months and they are not very happy about me leaving for at least 4 weeks (which is what the surgeon said I have to take off). My work only knows that I'm having abdominal surgery they don't know what exactly. No one has asked (I don't think they are allowed to) and I haven't told them. Maybe this is bad but I plan on looking for another job while I'm off work all that time. I guess I just don't quite fit in at this office. I am scared, however, that they will fire me since I'm taking all this time off. I know they can't fire me because I'm taking the time off but I have heard that if they don't want you here they will find a way to make you leave or fire you. I can't afford to lose my job. I'm moving a month or so after surgery, and the time I'm taking off will not be paid since I'm not eligible for short term disability yet. So much stress on top of anxiety about surgery. I am glad that I will have to take time off. I don't mind being stressed about moving or the surgery but the job drives me crazy! I am actually looking forward to being able to not worry about anything except taking care of myself. Thanks for listening (reading). Surgery is in two weeks if everything goes well!!! Bye for now!
September 6, 2005 I am one week pre-op...almost on the losing side! I went to the hypertension doc last week and he cleared me for surgery but put me on ANOTHER med. Now I'm on two for my blood pressure. I probably will be able to go off them once I loose enough weight. I am soo excited. I don't have to be on a liquid diet pre-op except for the day before surgery, whoo hoo. I only have four more days of work after today! If anyone has any tips or hints or last words of advice please send them to me!! I bought some protein powder and drinks this weekend and I'll be going to the grocery store tonight to get freeze pops and juice and jello! I think I am almost set. I do feel guilty for taking so much time off work...I dunno why because I can't stand my job...but we are working on that too. I have had some meetings with human resources and my boss to make a plan for when I come back to make me feel like more of a team member instead of chopped liver. We'll see how that goes when I come back....for now l'm looking forward to having the time to just take care of myself! Got to get back to work ugh!
September 12, 2005 DAY BEFORE SURGERY Wow I had a roller coaster week last week. I have developed this nasty looking rash over most of my body, excluding arms and legs. I was freaking out thinking it was my new Blood Pressure med because thats the only thing I changed. By Friday I still had it even though I stopped taking the med on Monday. Thinking that I don't want to screw up my surgery, I called my pcp. I spent $15 for her to tell me it will go away by itself and it won't affect surgery. Maybe $15 is worth the reassurance that it wasn't shingles or something! I am still nervous about what the surgeon is going say when he sees it! It looks really gross and my pcp told me they don't know what causes it but it is similar to a virus. But enough of the itchy rash.... Last night (Sunday) around 8 pm I had to drink Fleet Phosfo-Soda, the whole bottle. Granted, its a little bottle but its still more that a few teaspoons. I mixed it will a little cold water and chugged it followed by a full glass of cold water, and more water a little later. Just about an hour later it kicked in and I was in and out of the bathroom til 2 am. My belly was still rumbling a little this am but there's nothing left in my belly. Today is Clear Liquids. Til midnight then nothing! And my surgery is at 12:30. I am doing better today than I expected. I expected to be hungry, but I ate jello for breakfast and am having jello for lunch and its ok so far. I also have my ginger ale and crystal light ready. Between that laxative and not eating any real food today I feel like I have already lost weight. I am so anxious for tomorrow but I'm starting to get nervous too. Right now I'm more nervous about staying in the hospital and being bored. The hospital is too far for my family to visit every day so I'll be all alone for one of the days I'm there. I'm also nervous that the surgeon will freak out about this ugly rash. My feet can't stay still - I guess I have a lot of nervous energy. Everyone at work is asking about my surgery but I'm not telling everyone what I'm having done. I don't usually lie but people are nosey! I told everyone I have a cyst on my stomach that has to be removed. Of course, I assure them it's not cancerous or anything. I am also looking forward to no work for four weeks. WISH ME LUCK - I'll post as soon as I can get out of the house to a computer after surgery!
October 2, 2005 So far I only get hungry when I wake up and if i don't eat for 6 hours...Its harder than you'd think trying to eat 6 times a day. Especially when I'm not hungry. I feel absolutely great, but still a little nervous that it isn't going to work for me....even though I have already lost 18 lbs. Thanks to all of you who posted on my surgery support page. I am glad to be on the losing side and will try to post more at a later date....I have to finish my soup (blah) and get back to work. Bye for now!
October 11, 2005 WHAT AN ORDEAL!! So that itchy rash which my pcp told me was just a weird virus like thing...wasn't. AND I couldn't have my surgery when it was scheduled. I went the whole way to the hospital was in my gown in the cot thingy and they were just about to start my IV when the surgeon told me he wouldn't do surgery with that rash. I was heartbroken. He told me he'd get me in within a week from when the rash cleared up. My mom called my dermatoligist from the hospital parking lot and she was kind enough to see me the next day(wednesday). She wasn't sure what it was but was concerned because I had recently started a new blood pressure med. She went ahead and put me on Steroids and took a biopsy (a little ouch). She told me the rash should be cleared up in a week. When I got home I called the surgeon and re-scheduled for the following thursday. I was very worried because the rash wasn't going away very quickly. To make a long story short, the rash was from the new med and the dermatoligist said it was ok to have surgery as long as the rash had improved, which it had. By the time I was on the cot again you could barely tell where the spots were. So I actually had surgery a week and two days later than planned. I was worried that would mess up the time I took off from work but I was feeling great and ended up coming back to work at the same time anyway. In fact, my work didn't even know about the delay! Now I'm almost three weeks out and I can't wait to move to pureed foods!!! My protein shakes were fine at first but now I think I am just getting tired of them. I will be happy to be eating a little more of my protein through food and hopefully only have one shake a day. The nurses at the hospital said they haven't seen someone do so well in a long time. My post op check up went well, at one week I was already at my two week goal. My clothes are already big on me, not big enough to get a smaller size yet but I'm getting there. I stopped taking pain meds about 4 days after I came home. Sometimes I get sore at night so I'll take some tylenol. And I still get tired quickly. I am allowed to lift 10 lbs now but carrying it for any length of time or distance makes my muscles sore and tired.
October 24, 2005 Well, I'm a month out and I have lost 25 lbs! I am down one pant size so far. I'm still on pureed foods for a few more days then soft food! Yipee I can't wait! The weight isn't coming off as fast as I had expected but looking back on it, 25 lbs in a month is really good. I lost the first 20 in 2 1/2 weeks then didn't lose any for a while and lost five in the past few days. I am still drinking protein shakes in the am and try to eat meat at lunch and dinner to make up for the rest of my protein (along with yogurt for snacks). Eating 6 times a day has been tough since I'm not usually hungry by the time I have my next meal planned. I did hit a patch of nausea when I first came back to work (for about two weeks) but it has been much better. Getting my liquids in is much easier than I thought. I actually like water now. My abs are doing really well and only hurt occasionally, and generally feel pretty strong for just being cut apart. My scar is still a little sore and itchy. I keep putting lotion and mederma on it to help it heal. I also have a stitch working its way out of my skin. It is an inside stitch because I didn't have any on the outside, but its working its way out about a quarter of an inch beside my inscision. I just cut part of it off but its still coming out. It doesn't hurt or anything just looks like a tiny piece of fishing line sticking out of my skin. This week I can start swimming and doing light exercise. I was actually anxious for this because I figure it will help me lose weight even faster. Who would have thought I would be looking forward to excercising? Crazy. I am still feeling better each day. Well, I'm off to enjoy my day in my new (smaller) pants!
November 3, 2005 I am six weeks out today! Now most of my clothes are too big (or actually fit me correctly if they were too tight). I think its funny that I get annoyed that I have nothing to wear since its all too big. I have yet to give my bigger clothes away. I guess I'm nervous that I'll need them again - just like every other time I've lost weight. I'm down to 210 and my heaviest was 241 so I've lost 31 pounds! I am allowed to eat normal food as of today! Its all so exciting. I have started to notice some things other than my clothes being to big which are cool. I actually am starting to feel smaller than my boyfriend. My waist feels smaller and I like to put my hands on my hips now just to feel my smaller waist! I don't get out of breath going up stairs or walking fast. My body feels harder and I can feel muscles in my arms and legs, etc. My butt actually fits on the step ladder I use at work - but now I don't sit on it as much as I used to want to. I knew it would be cool to lose weight but I never thought about these things. I am anxious to see how much weight I have lost officially - but I'm also nervous that I'll be disappointed because its that time of the month and I'm afraid I haven't lost anything this week. I guess we'll see tomorrow morning! I am still having problems eating six times a day....I'm just not hungry. If I am hungry I eat a few bites and the hunger is gone...thats ok though at least i'm not eating everything in sight like I used to (especially this week). Yippeee I'm loving my life and I'm so glad I did this.
November 21, 2005 I can't say Im totally loving my life today but almost. I am looking for a new job. I have given myself and my firm time to try to work things out and its just not working. So I have been looking for a new job and have had no luck yet. BUT everything else is going wonderful or should I say ONEderful! I weigh myself Sundays at my boyfriend's parents house since they have a reliable scale. Last night I learned that I am down to 198.5. I was so excited!! I was 241 at my heaviest, and 207 last week. I can't remember the last time I was in the one hundreds. I am also in size 18 jeans that are too big for me! I took my measurements and was amazed. I lost a total of 17.5 inches; which includes 5 off my hips and two off my bicep! My boyfrined and I have been living together for a little over a month and things are great right now. Although I do have to say he was getting a little overboard with having friends over all the time. I needed some alone time with him. But he understands now and we're good. I'm finally starting to catch up on my money from taking four weeks off work with no pay. I have the most trouble with drinking while I eat and eating too fast occasionally. But that is my own fault, I need to work harder on those things.
January 9, 2006 Whoo hoo I am starting the new year as a happier person thanks to this surgery. Last week I bought a pair of pants from Old Navy and they are a size 14!!! I was blown away that they actually fit. I thought I would shrink into them, I didn't expect them to fit that day. I want to wear them everyday! I am running out of people to get clothes from. My Aunt's clothes are too big now, and its been so long since I've been a 14 I don't have any of those clothes anymore. If I get through 14s, my mom just got into a 10 (thanks to her tummy tuck) so she'll have lots of 12s for me! I just will have to wear big jeans for a little. Everything else is going so well. I am back on track for the most part. Loving my excersise routine and new found energy. My scar is actually starting to look better, too. Eating is wonderful I absolutley don't eat any added sugar and everything else goes down pretty well. I tend to buy sugar free snacks but end up not eating them because by the time I eat my healthy food I don't have room for snacks! I am going for my three month check up (a little late) in a few weeks and I am excited to see how much I have lost! I weigh myself once a week at my in-laws (I don't own a scale - if I did I'd be too obsessed with it) but I haven't been there for the past two weeks...so it will be interesting! I'm 3 months out and still so excited. I figure I'm already half way to my personal goal and I'm only 3 months out. I'd love to pass it but we'll see! I'll be so excited to just get to my goal! Hope everyone else is doing as well!
May 1, 2006 Wow I finally remembered my username and password so I can update my profile!! Sorry it has been forever! Well when I went for my 6 mo check up, the Dr. said I was doing great, B12 was a little low so I take that now. Still off my former Blood Pressure meds and that has been normal for a few months now! I finally got a new job! Thank goodness. I really think god answered my prayers, I am now a marketing manager for a really fun hi tech entertainment park (sooo much better than filing at the attorney's office). I am just now getting into size 10s. My loss has slowed down a lot but its still coming off gradually. I am now at 158, my original goal was to get to 140 now I want to be 135. Either way I am getting close. I am the same size now that I was when I started high school. Yipee. I have more current pics and will try to post them soon. I'll also write more soon, when I have more time!
May 8, 2006 Ok I have a little more time now, so I'll update everyone with what has been going on with me. I finally got a new job after months of searching the classified ads and I can't count how many resumes I sent out. I was getting very frustrated and wondering why God was making stay in a job that I couldn't stand. Basically I was mislead as to the type of work I would be doing at my last job when I was hired for it. It ended up being mostly filing for an attorney who printed each and everyone of his 100 emails daily. I have a college degree and a year of law school under my belt and they wouldn't even let me re-type property descriptions! I was so frustrated! Plus everyone I worked with talked about everyone behind their backs and the only way I would find out if I made a mistake was if the Human Resources manager would tell me. My boss harldy even spoke to me. Well I was surprised that I lasted as long as I did at that job (11 months), although I had been looking for a new job 3 months into it. Now that I think about it I guess I was just paying my dues since it was the insurance from that job that made it possible for me to have this surgery. Anyhow, I have a new job which is exciting at times but mostly boring since I'm still learning things. I get one new task a week and since I am a smart girl I tend to master that task in about a day, therefore leaving me five more days with nothing to do but answer the phone. My title is Marketing Manager, although I only manage myself. I have no marketing experience so thats why I'm only doing one new thing a week. The person who held this position before me lives in another state and kept no records whatsoever, so I'm basically starting from scratch. The pay is much better and will allow me to save for my wedding and a house! As far as my weight goes, I have slowed way down, only loosing a few pounds in the past month, but recetly I have noticed baggier clothes which probably means I'm losing inches. I have definately gotten off track as far as protein and water since changing jobs, but am focusing more on that now as well as going to the gym five days a week and walking the other two. I joined a gym that is like curves because alas, I am flabby and want to tone up. I would like to be 135-140 and I only have a few more pounds to get there, so I'm hoping this new gym routine will help give me a little boost. I'm completely heathy and have had no complications. I am off my blood pressure medications and have a ton more energy. I still take my B12 sublingual and my flinstones. As I said I am trying to refocus on my protein and water intake now that I am more settled into my routine. I have started fitting into a size 10! Can't remember last time that happened. My family and boyfriend have been totally supportive (although my mom who had wls two years ago is starting to get a little competative with me, since I'm closing in on her weight). I asked my boyfriend the other day if he is proud to be seen with me now that I am thinner, and he just said "I was proud to be seen with you before", still makes me teary thinking about it. He hasn't gone crazy after me like I thought he might, he still treats me the same, with a few comments about me leaving for someone younger or more handsome than him. I would be out of my mind to give up a love like we have. I'm still getting used to taking compliments. A waiter at a pizza shop we frequent was in the hospital for a while and had not seen me for a few months, and did not recognize me when I first walked in but then told me how amazing I looked (in front of my boyfriend, too). It was nice to hear that from a stranger. My one Aunt saw me for the first time in a few weeks at the mall and was screaming and carrying on about how good I look and it was embarassing but felt good too. This is a wild ride, but I wouldn't miss it for the world. I can't wait to have kids and be able to run around with them, like my mom never could. I can't wait to ride a rollercoaster this year now that I don't have to worry about fitting in the seats. Its all so exciting. I would have surgery again in a heartbeat. This was by far the best thing I have ever done for myself even better than going to college! I have so much more confidence to talk to anyone or make conversation it feels great to finally be free to be myself. I am really loving life right now. I feel as though my life is truly only starting now. This is wonderful!
July 3, 2006 Well I haven't posted in a while and though I'd take the time to update now. I am offically in size 10s. When I was researching the surgery I never thought I'd get into size 10s and told myself I'd be happy just doing that. Well of course I'm happy but now I want to be in size 8s! I have about 5 more pounds til I have a normal BMI. 15 pounds to go til I'm at my goal of 135. I've been kind of stuck at 150 for about 6 weeks now, but i'm losing lots of inches. Probably due to my increase of weight training. It would still be nice to see the needle go a little lower on the scale. I am also the same size I was when I entered high school. I specifically remember that I had a pair of size 11 in juniors Esprit jeans that I loved. Last week I bought a pair of jean capris and shorts both a size 11/12 juniors and I could have probably squeezed into a 9/10. Anyway it was actually fun shopping and choosing 10 and mediums in the misses sections. I have to say that I am a bargain shopper and my new sizes are not so easy to find on the clearance racks. What a problem to have. I am going to the beach next week for a few days and I am really looking forward to it. I think I may even let the Scopes guys take my picture for in the little keychain thingys. I can't wait to walk the boardwalk without having to stop because my thighs were practcally bleeding from rubbing together. This year I don't like my bathing suit again. But because its too big! It is an old one from high school that fits okay. Sometimes the straps fall off and the butt sags a little, but I'm too cheap to buy another one when this one "works". Having this surgery has opened up so much for me. While in most cases this is a great thing, it has started to put some of a strain on my relationship with my boyfriend. Of course he's used to sitting at home and thats about it. Now I feel so confident and I want to appreciate my body now. Even in high school when I was this size I felt I was to fat to do things. Now I want to go skydiving and kayaking and dancing, and have a short hair cut. He thinks I'm silly and brushes it off. Or fights with me because he doesn't want me to do it. He is more than invitied to do most of these things with me but he refuses. I finally told him that if he doesn't want to do these things with me or at least support me in them he will get left behind becuase I'm doing them with or without him. I have been seriously thinking about leaving him lately. I still come to the conclusion that I want to be with him beucase I love him and relationships are work and not to be tossed out so easily. I told him how I had been feeling and he admitted that he is wrong and understands what a serious situation this is. So he has agreed to go kayaking with me and not to fuss about my hair getting cut short and I have agreed to remind him when he's slacking off supporting me in my new adventures. My mom and I are finally the same size and so far she has been okay with it. She and I can be competative at times and I was expecting her to be upset that I am her size. She just says she wants to borrow my clothes. Which is cool, because I like to borrow hers too. My job is still going well! I love it so much somedays I don't want to leave....other days I'm still bored. I have started going to meetings for different organizations that my company belongs to. Its great meeting other people that do the same job I do. And it feels great that I'm trusted enough to represent my company to these other community leaders. I really feel so much more confident since I had this surgery. I have never - even in the beginning - regreted this surgery. I hope Rick and I continue on the path we are on right now, since it seems things are set on the right track again. Other than that little bump my life is going swimmingly. I thank God everyday for allowing me to have the experiences I do and allowing me to appreciate my life now. I have really been blessed. Thanks to all of you who have supported me as well. I hope I can do as good of a job helping others as you all have done for me. Thats all for now, maybe I'll update after vacation with a new "tan" picture perhaps!
July 14, 2006 Well I'm back from vacation, don't have pics on the computer yet...will get to that sometime soon - I hope. I wanted to update anyway. Last year I was on vacation when I got my surgery date, so this year I reflected somewhat on all I have gone through in the past 10 months. Wow its certainly been a journey, not just with WLS but lots of other stuff too. Anyway I wanted to share with everyone that I officially felt like I was normal at the beach this year. I wasn't afraid to walk on the beach in just my bathing suit and didn't feel like everyone was staring at my fat body. I felt like I actually blended in on the boardwalk, and had no trouble walking 19 blocks each way to the end of the boardwalk and back. The heat didn't bother me and my thighs didn't rub together enough to be painful! It was overall a great experience and I actually relaxed.....which come to think of it is the first relaxing vacation I have had in years! On a less positive note, looking at pics of me in my bathing suit, I realized how badly I will need a lift for the ladies...or at least a better bathing suit next year. I swear they are almost touching my belly button! I have decided to wait til after I have babies to do that. Hopefully only a few more years... Another notable event happened this week....I got my hair cut. Yes I got it cut short since my hair is starting to grow back and I had a bunch of little hairs sticking up. I figured this way they'd just blend in. Well - I did it last night and so far still don't like it. I'm going back to the hairdresser tonight to see if she can fix it up. Ok this was hard to tell the hairdresser that my boyfriend and his whole family have been going to for years and I have been going to for almost three years that I didn't like the cut. While I was there I just thought I could style it how I liked once I got home. But I tried that and it was worse. I went to my moms house in tears hoping she and my sisiter could help me. We all finally decided I had to call the hairdresser back and have her fix it. So I made my boyfriend call this morning and leave a message. Then she did call me back and I had to talk to her. Of course I'm not looking forward to seeing her and she did sound a little mad when I spoke to her this am. But, I don't think its like the picture that I took to her, and I had been searching for two months for a short style that was cute....now I feel that I either look like a man or an old woman. My mom and sister and boyfriend think it looks fine but agghhh I don't like it. I even tried to hide in my office at work all day today. I don't know what she can do to fix it, there's not much more to cut off.....at least it grows back!! Once I get it to a point that I can stand it, I'll post a new pic (along with vacation pics) so you all can see it! Maybe someone out there can give me some advice on how to style it! Check it out - I also lost 2 pounds while on vacation!! How awesome is it to lose weight on vacation instead of gain it?!!?!? Oh and Rick and I are doing much better!!! He's much more affectionate and this was the first year we went on vacationa nd didn't fight once!! It was amazing! Plus he let me have my Cat at our apartment. Rick is very by the books about everything and our landlord said no pets so my kitty had to stay at my moms when I moved out. But my mom and I convinced Rick to let her live with us!! Yippee! And she is loving it. She didn't get along well with my sisters cat and now she rules our roost!And Rick has been doing other little things for me like taking me to see fireworks on 4th of July even though he didn't relaly want to just cause he knows its a tradition for me! He's shaping up to be a real sweetie and I see his bank account growing so my engagement ring is actually coming into sight.....Whoo hoo. P.S. We're going to hershey Park in 2 weeks and I can't wait to fit on all the rides, yea!
August 1, 2006 Just wanted to stop by quick and let everyone know I had a terrific time at Hersheypark last week!!!! I was jumping around right before I got on each ride, not becuase of the ride, I was just excited that I'd be able to fit!! I had enough energy to stay all day!!! We were there before the park opened and stayed til close! Yipee I was so happy. We are going back at least once yet again this summer. Another great thing happened this week too! I actually bought a pair of size 8 pants and they fit!!! Sixe 10 were too big in some places, so out of curiosity I asked the girl to bring me an 8 and I wanted to yell when they went on easy and actually fit (it was the week before my monthly friend and I was even bloated)!!! Fitting into a size 8 was my original goal, rather than weight a specific amount, and I have made it!!! I still want to lose 10 more pounds and I have hope again that it will happen by the end of September ( 1 year post op) or soon after!!! On a negative note, if any of you saw my post early last week, you'll know that I'm having a falling out with my mother. We were always very close, but her WLS and following 'divorce' have created some problems between us. I wrote her a letter telling her how I felt and gave it to her on Saturday. I orginally asked if we could sit down and tlak but she didn't like that idea. So she got the letter Saturday and I haven't heard anything yet - its Tuesday night! I have never gone this long without speaking to my mom. Its eating me up but I think I did the right thing!! Keep me in your prayers!! Thanks again for everyone who gave me their input about this situation!!
August 10,2006 I wanted to update in the situation with my mom; so everything is ok I guess with her. I went to dinner with my aunt last week and my Mom was there too. So we are talking even though we never really talked about the issues between us. I'm still proud of myself for standing up for myself. I think I did the right thing. Otherwise, I'm still at 145....I don't seem as concerned when the scale stays at the same place for a while. I have accepted that I'm only 10 lbs away from my goal and its gonna be a lot harder to get rid of those last 10. As long as the scale doesn't go up!! I have been having some nausea during the days, it come and goes. And I'm eating right and not pregnant so I'm a little baffled as to what is causing it this far out. I'm hoping its not my gallbladder. I'll have to call the doc if it keeps up. I have been visiting the Sept 05 board more often and really like the group there. I love the "getting to know" game they play. I'm worried about going in for my 1 year follow up, I am afraid that they'll tell me to take more vitamins. I'm lucky and only take flinstones and a B Complex...I have had some intolerance to milk for the past few months and haven't been drinking much of it. I got an email from Bariz about reconstructive surgery. Basically it was an advertisement and you can apparently set up a consult at the same time as your 1 year follow up. I don't think I need much. I would like a breast lift, but want to wait til after babies for that! But I want to have babies soon so I can get that done! Rick and I are doing well. He really helped me with everything I went through recently with my Mom. His obsessivness does frustrate me sometimes. We are planning a trip to Pittsburgh to see the Steelers in November, which will be on our anniversary weekend. We will be together for three years. I never wanted to be the pushy girlfriend, but he keeps saying we'll get married at such and such a time, then puts it off. It drives me nuts. Then everyone around me tells me not to get married and have kids, and thats discouraging. I hate when people say that. I finally gave in and created a page on MySpace. Its at http://www.myspace.com/gennybean if you want to check it out. Thanks for letting me ramble!
August 14, 2006 Well I had a big event I had been planning for my job and it went off without a hitch today. THank goodness! I'm so relieved that its over. Although I'm pretty tired, I know I'm spoiled that I don't have to get up early for work - so being at work by 8 this morning was rough. I'm beat. Gotta go home and cook dinner yet. I haven't been feeling goog much the past few days. Something is wrong with my belly. I have a lot of gas and nausea. I don't know whats wrong with me. At least its not constant. I actually only felt bad a little today, so I'm hoping its getting better. My friends kids were sick with a stomach thing last week, I am wondering if it was just something going around, dear bf was a little queasy last night too. Hopefully I'm getting better. Speaking of DBF, he thinks I'm preggo b/c of the nausea. But he's an obsessive worrier. There would be no reason to believe I'm pregnant. But just to satisfy him I'll have to go buy a test. Ugh. Oh, scale was UP 4 pounds since I've been feeling yucky. I think I'm retaining water though cause I feel really bloated. Maybe I'll just go for a quick run before dinner...that'll energize me. We'll see. Thanks for letting me vent!
August 19, 2006 Phew! That water came off and the scale is back to 145! Yipee! And I feel much better. Went out last night with some girlfriends and had a blast. Some some wild and funny stuff out there on the dance floor but it was definately entertaining! We closed the place down, and it still sounds like I have cotton in my ears this morning! Rick is being really great with me going out this time, I got a little flack last time, but I'm actually going out again with another frined tonight and away most of the day tomorrow and he's cool with it (basically since he'll get to watch football without me bugging him!). He only made a few comments when I was getting ready last night, and when I got home of course he asked if anyone tried to dance with me and what they looks like, etc. He was already insecure before surgery, and now is worse but I'm learning how to deal with it and he's learning that he can trust me to go out alone and still come home to him. I wasn't really prepared to face these issues before surgery, but I think we're both doing well with them. I'm working on getting a few things together for my secret buddy on the Sept 05 boards. I'm really excited about or 1 Year Anniversary Gift Exchange. I love being creative when it comes to gift giving!! Also going dress shopping tomorrow, for a wedding I'm attending. Whoohoo I'm so excited to buy a size 8! I couldn't believe it was me in the pics from last night. What an amazing difference from my before pic! I can't believe I look like this now, and can't believe I looked like that then! I'm still so amazed by this surgery and the affects it has had on my life. I'll be 11 months post op this coming week and only a few pounds from the century mark. Its gone by so fast! I love it, and I love OH and all the support I've received here! Thank you all!
September 5, 2006 Well last week I had some kind of stomach bug and only ate a few eggs in two days. I was in tears because of the pain but good news was that I saw 141 even though it was for just a day. I did loose two pounds that seem to be staying off so I'm counting them. I'm at 143, and thats only 2 pounds away from my century card! My size 8 pants were a little baggy when I wore them the other day. I couldn't believe it. I just bought them a few weeks ago and I'm still wearing mostly size 10s. But I am going shopping this weekend!! Whoohoo. I am just getting some pants for work because my birthday is coming up in a month and half and I have asked for gift certificates for new clothes. I have been studying fashion magazines and have a whole list of what I'll need. After all, I need an entire wardrobe of warmer clothes. Unfortunately I have shrunken past everyone else in my family (except my teenaged sister) and no one has any hand me downs. I have been surviving on hand me downs until now! I have my one year follow up on the 15th and I'm so excited. I'd like to lose at least those two pesky pounds before that. And I'd love to lose 8 before the 22nd (one year post op) but I doubt that will happen unless I get sick again, which I'd rather not. My family/parents are still crazy as ever and I was pretty stressed out about that last week on top of being sick. I have been just trying to take care of myself first then my siblings if they need me and if its easy or convienent for me I'll help my mom. I am prepared to just take whatever I can get from her as far as a relationship goes, but I can't count on her. My dad hasn't contacted/spoken to me since June and thats fine. Not because of any major thing, he's just too lazy to put any effort into a relationship. I know it works both ways, and I could contact him, but I have and when I do he changes or cancels the plans we make anyway. So the ball is in his court. Thank goodness for Rick through all of this. I couldn't imagine going through this alone. He really is my family now and I can rely on him. We went to Hershey Park again this past weekend and it looks like I'll be going again this weekend. (I got free passes from work.) I think its as much of a thrill that I can fit into the seats as it is just riding the coasters. It was a blast.
September 19, 2006 Well I don't have too much to report, just thought I better update while I have some time. I must have jinxed myself by saying I could get sick again to lose a few more pounds becuase I did. Ugh I was miserable. My surgeion said to go to the family doc since I was almost a year out. The family doc thought it was just a flu and probably lactose intolerance. So I took some prilosec for a few days and have been avoiding dairy. So far so good and its been about a week and half since I got sick the second time. I have been in a blue mood the past few days for some reason. I know I am pmsing but this is worse than just that. Things are going really well with Rick and I and I'm looking forward to out little trip to see the Steelers play in November which will be about the same time as the third anniverary of our first date. Some days it sems like he was always in my life and others I wonder who he is and what am I getting myself into! Haha, really I am very grateful to have him in my life. My family is crazier than ever. Just when I think this is about as bad as they could get, they get worse. Mom is considering a restraining order cause my dad is being psycho. I recently started talking to him after a few months of not speaking. Now I'm wondering if I really want this crazy man in my life. Especially since it seems like he only contacted me so I can help him with his new get rich quick scheme. Mom is moving a little further away from me, I'm glad of that. It is in the same city but more than two miles away like she is now. I'll miss the pool at her development though. Ok so I went in for my year check up at the doctors, and took my grandma to keep me company on the two hour drive. The nut showed her my before pic that they took and my grandma started to cry! It was so cute. The surgeon said I was doing very well except for my B12 which I admitted that I had trouble rememberng to take everyday. So I got a script for a b12 nasal spray that I'll only have to use once a week. This should be helpful, and I'll absorb it better than the sublingual anyway. According to the scale there I have lost 87% of my excess weight. They also aren't counting from my consult weight (they count from my surgery day). I'm teetering between 143 and 141 so I'll be due for my century card soon. I'd like to get to 135 and I'm giving myself 6 months to do that. So I better get there! My surgeon said I'm fine where I'm at and he certainly doesn't need me to lose any more so if I don't get to 135 than I'm fine here. I'm pretty comfortable with my body how it is now, flab and all. ALthough I don't have a very good idea of my size. I still think I'm the big cousin even though I'm smaller than both of my cousin who are younger than me. I made Rick point out women that I look like at Hersheypark a few weeks ago. Thats the only way I could ever get an idea of my size, now I just don't believe him. I know you can't tell see much from pictures but my thighs are pretty flabby. And of course the ladies up top, well, they really aren't up top anymore. Thats the only thing I'd like to have done but I'm not sure if I'll need just a lift or a reduction or what....I would like to wait til after I have babies to get all this done, and I need the time to save the money. I have been considering having a consult just to see what I need done and how much it would cost. Everthing is going very well with my surgery and eating (other than lactose) so I'm very happy. I attended a wedding on saturday and have a new pic of myself from that, I'll try to post it sometime this week. Of course I'll probably post somewhere on Friday since it will be my one year. Bye for now!
