ObesityHelp

Hi everybody, I am 44 years old and looking forward to having this surgery done. I have 6 kids ranging from the age of 27 to 6 years. I also have 2 grandchildren age 5 and 2. Yes I have a grandson and a son the same age,actually they are 6 months apart. Confusing some times. They are in the same class at school. Try that one on for size.
I have a broken back but can still walk and talk, thank God, I am hoping to relieve some of the pressure on my back and hips. I have degenerative bone disease also, so I am hoping that this will help relieve the pain some on that score also.
My family and I have horses, chickens, ducks, mule, pony, rabbits, dogs, cats, and fish. I love to ride but no longer can but I keep in touch with the animals by petting them and talking to them. I have many interests, and I have them listed with my profile so take a peek and see what they are.
I have some questions about after surgery that I will be asking the doctor when I meet with him later this month. I have questions about eating, drinking, exercising because this especially will be difficult for me. Can't do the normal things so I have to come up with some unusual ones. I have been doing some walking, not much about 1/2 mile a day and I am trying to get 3 days a week in right now. That is a lot when you have the pain I have, but we have to keep going.
I have also been using rubber bands that a physical therapist gave my son when he had an injured knee. They work on legs and arms to tighten and tone muscles. So at least I am working on it.
Okay enough so far, will get back in touch after my doctor appts and let you know whats going on. Until then Bye!

Adding to the previous: I have had my consult with Dr Pitt and things went well. I am looking forward to having the surgery. I had my first blood work up done also so that was taken care of along with my referral from my doctor. Now I have to go the next step and set up appt with therapist, psychologist, dietician and internist. So hopefully that will get done soon. I am trying to hold on and find out as much as I can. I have been trying different protein drinks, I like the carnation instant breakfast no sugar no carb. Its like 4.12 in my area so thats not bad. I have my extra dry milk to put in it also. But I want to find another one to use that has more protein if I can. So some of the others I have tried are pretty bad, the Shake UP drinks are NOT NOt for me!!!!! Ugh!!! If you like Strawberry, then the Advantage powder drink mix is for you, it is very very strawberry flavored. I am going to try to tone it down some with using the vanilla with it. It calls for 2 scoops so I am going to use one strawberry and one vanilla and see how that works out. Got to go, will let you know whats up later. Bye for now. 6/2/04

Hey, guess what I had my appts and they all went well. I had a couple of more tests run by the internist, but not to worry. The results came back well. I have cleared everything and I have to have my final blood work done and then I can have surgery. I have my last consult with Dr Pitt scheduled and my surgery date is July 19, 2004. So keep your fingers crossed.
I am praying that all things go well and that I have a good day for surgery. I have found a good Good protein drink, its called Pro-Rated and you can find it at HyVee in Columbia. It tastes great and it has 22 grams of protein per serving. Yeah!!!
It comes in a 2 pound container and there are 30 servings in a container. So you will have plenty for awhile. I have started using it and I have started my viactiv for my calcium and I am starting my vitamins, chewables, soon. I take multivitamins now and the dietician said that was good. So things are looking up for me. I hope they are for you also. I will try to update as I go along. So take care and bye for now. 6-22-04

My surgery date was on the 19th of July but it has been changed to the 21st because of staffing problems. But thats okay its just a couple of more days. I can live with that. July 21st is the Day.

Hey, its me again. I have had surgery and it went well. I was able to have the lap and I am so glad I did. I was feeling pretty well by later that night and up and walking. That was on Wednesday the 21st, of July and by the third day of my stay, I was up and walking wherever I wanted to go. Yes, I was feeling great, they had taken my cathiter out the next day and I was on liquids after I had my leakage test. I was eating ice like crazy because my mouth was so dry all the time, and I carried a mouth swab drenched in water while I walked. It was a life saver, make sure you ask for some, they come in so handy.
I had a sponge bath that night but by Thursday I wanted a shower and I got one. It felt so wonderful.
By the time I left the hospital I was drinking up to 8 oz. and eating jello and sherbert. My drinking consisted of ice chips with a mixture of grape juice and water or plain water. I made sure I got my quota in because I was still very thirsty all the time. Doc said he thought it was because I had dried out too much during surgery. So be prepared to be thirsty. I only had to take my 2 meds that I was taking before surgery and pain meds when I needed them, which wasn't very often. I hope you all have the same luck.

It has been over a week now and I had my tube taken out along with the staples. Oh it feels good. Taking care of the tube wasn't hard and you could take showers every day, so that was nice. I have to keep a bandage over it for a little while but not for long, to catch any drainage. The staples came out without much pain and now there are steri strips on all four sights. They will fall off on their own. That can't come to soon for me. I will rub lotion into them and massage them to keep scar tissue from forming, hopefully.

Well, its now 6 weeks out and I have lost 57 pounds. Yippee!!!!
I am losing about 5 pounds a week, which is what Dr Pitt says is a good rate and right on the money. Even my dietician says my rate of losing is great, just where it needs to be. She said that so far I have lost about 17% of my extra body weight.
It has made such a difference already. I do exercise with weights and stretch bands and I do have a gazelle to work on if I don't get to walk. I have been trying to go to stores to walk or even walk outside as much as I can. I can usually go a good 2 miles. It doesn't sound like much but when you haven't been able to go 20 steps without pain, 2 miles is like a mountain. It is now September 6th and I can't wait until another month goes by. I can walk much better, I still have a limp and by the end of the day its more pronounced but at least I don't have to use my cane all the time. My physical therapist says that my muscle tone was good before surgery but its even better now. My heart rate has improved also with going faster and longer on a tread mill. So I am very pleased with myself. I have also went from a size 28-30 to a 20-22. I have lost inches not just pounds and that has helped alot. So I will leave on that note and hope to keep you up to date as I go along. Bye for now.

Hey people, I am here to let you know whats going on. I have had my 6 month check up and I have passed with flying colors. I don't have to go back again until next July. Ain't that grand. I have been upgraded to full diet and I feel great. I look great. I am down to size 18/20 and still going. It has slowed down some but I am still losing. Its hard for me to eat meat, but I am doing fine on pork just small small pieces.
I have lost 50 some inches and you can really see the change. I still feel fat but I know I am a lot thinner. So everyone hand in there it does happen and little by little you will see a difference. Good Luck