Linda W.

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OK, so I have not posted anything in 2 years.  I am at my 4 year surgery anniversary.  I initially lost 90 pounds, and I have regained about 7.  It goes up and down a few pounds, but stays pretty much in that area  I don't exercise nearly enough.  What I do right, though, is take my vitamins and get my blood work done.  I think this is an area that people do not take seriously enough.  My bone scans show normal bone density for my age and weight, and my vitamin levels are all normal.  I take supplements everyday, and I make sure it's the right kind of vitamins.  Calcium is good, but it has to be Citrate, not Carbonate!  And without Vitamin D, my body won't absorb the Calcium.  Vitamin B - with gastric bypass, I no longer have the part of my intestines that absorb B vitamins.  I need to take them sublingually, and I do..  Daily.  This is not much different from having to take Metformin or some other meds for diabetes, blood pressure, etc.  But this is vitamins, not drugs.  The side effects, if there are any, are due to taking too much or not taking enough.  They don't cause weight gain, don't make me sensitive to sunlight, don't adversely affect my blood sugar.  I don't need to take other meds to offset the effects of one med.  I don't take any drugs.  I take supplements - vitamins.  It's pretty easy, really.  And, as a gastric bypass post op, my life depends on it.  There is not nearly enough importance placed on taking your vitamins and supplements.  Don't think for one second that in a few years you can get complacent and not need them.  My body is permanently changed, it isn't going back, and I will ALWAYS need to take my vitamins!  Small price to pay, and I'm happy with my decision.  Now I need to make the commitment to get back on track - exercise more, watch my diet better.  I want to live a long healthy life, and it's entirely up to me!

I am at 8 months, and have felt like my weight loss has been going very slowly.  Slightly frustrated, and not a happy camper.  I have lost 75 pounds so far, and for the first time in 25 years (2 1/2 decades, or 1/4 of a century!) I weigh less than 200 pounds!!!!! And that's not all.......
I have been afraid to go shopping for clothes, and since I kept a lot of clothes over the years as my weight increased, I was still able to find things in my closet that I could wear, although they didn't really fit me well.  I found myself in a position of HAVING to get something nice to wear in a big hurry, so I went and tried on some clothes, which I really hate to do.  My husband brought me a pair of size 16 (I was in 26 prior to surgery!), and I am looking at these slacks and the little tiny space I am supposed to squeeze into, and saying to myself "there ain't no way my big fat a** is going to fit into this!", then I sucked it up, stepped in, and HOLD ON!!!!!   They FIT!!!  How excited am i?  Well, I went out and bought 4 more pairs of slacks and 6 new shirts, all smaller!  Can you believe it - size 16!  At my smallest i wore a size 14!  I know I will probably have to go shopping again in 6 or 7 months, but if I am as happily surprised as I was this time, it is all worth it!

I am six weeks out and have lost 30 pounds.  I have found that my weight loss is a little bit yo-yo.  I lose a pound, go up a half pound, lose another pound, go up a pound and a half, etc.  Overall, it's a downward movement.  I am just now finally beginning to feel normal, meaning I can move, sleep on my side, roll over without sitting up first, and I am not TIRED all the time.  I actually have a little energy after work now, last week I still wanted to go straight to bed after work. 
I am starting to see a difference in my clothes, but I still feel fat even though I know I am losing weight.  I think (hope) this will one day pass because I really want to feel skinny. I am cold most of the time, but I expected that.  It has been one of the topics on the boards.  We all get a little more sensitive to cold. 
I noticed after losing just 20 pounds that I can walk up the stairs without hearing my joints crack! Now that is a great developement! 
So far, no complications.  I can't eat much, still at 1/4 to 1/2 cups, and I can't eat 3 meals.  I do well eating one meal, and maybe a bite or two for breakfast and dinner.  I just don't feel like eating when I get up, so on work days I try to get a protein shake in first thing, and the same for dinner.  I just don't want to eat and if I try to force myself, I feel bad.  My pouch doesn't like being pushed!  Kylie at Sac Bai said not to worr too much about how much I eat right now, make it healthy, and focus on proten and water, with my suppliements.

My surgery went really well.  I was up and walking late in the day, about 4 or 5.  I had to go home with a drain in my side, but that was not a big deal.  It didn't drain at all after I left the hospital.  Considering I had major abdominal surgery, I had very little pain.  Make sure you have plenty of broth, crystal light, etc for that first week or so. 
When I got to the hospital, they took me back into the prep room, had me change into a hospital gown, did the vital stats, and my husband stayed with me right up until they took  me to surgery.  I met with the anathesiologist, the nurse assisting in the surgery, and the doctor.  they put the medication in the IV, I went to sleep, everything got done, and I woke up a changed woman! 
I am 15 days out and doing really well.  I have gone back to work, but I'm only working 5-6 hour days.  I get tired, I go home.  My problem has been hunger.  Most peopel from what I hear don't have hunger after the surgery, but I am not one of the lucky ones. So, I have to measure everything, and drink plenty of liquids, and work hard so I don't eat too much and suffer pain.  I've done very well so far, but now I'm thinking I may not have the protection of "dumping" either.  this i disapointing tome becauset is a method of controlling behavior.  I have to depend on determination and will power. I have yet to eat anything that did not agree with me. I feel pretty much the same as when I went into surgery, just a little sore.  I still have my incisions healing, but that's it.  Oh, and I am 19 pounds lighter, the easiest 19 pounds I have ever lost.

It's Saturday, and my surgery is Tuesday September 14.  I am at home watching college football with hubby.  I am beginninmg to get a little nervous, and a bit excited.  I am a little worried about getting back to work after surgery, I'm afraid the place will fall apart if I'm not there LOL! 
It is going to be a very quiet weekend.  tomorrow morning we are taking our puppies out to the creek to run, and get some exercise in ourselves.  I read a lot of the postings, commenting on some, and I read some of them to hubby.  He is very interested, and wants to make sure I am successful with this.  He's afraid of losing me if i don't have the surgery.  He is also looking forward to changing his eating habits along with me.  He is about 10 - 15 pounds over his ideal weight and is terrified of becoming "obese".  I think he will be a great supporter - he has been so far. 
My kids don't have much to say on the subject.  i think they are a little worried, but they aren't saying.  I will find out once I have the surgery, i guess.