ObesityHelp

(08-19-02)
I went and saw Dr. Miller on the 14th. He said that I'm right on target with my weight loss, 42 lbs. gone forever! They estimate that in the beginning you'll lose at least ten percent of your total body weight each month. So actually I've lost more than that, and without the incessant hunger that was always there before. That's the truly remarkable part. He said that I could go back to work in another week. I also spoke to the nutritionist and she said that I should either drink my protien supplement or eat my protien bar everyday but not both because although it's very crucial that I receive enough protien, doing both of these daily would just be too many calories at this point. We figured out that between my meals and a single source of protien supplement, that I would be getting aprox. 80 grams of protien daily and that that would be alright. The Dr. also told me to increase my portions from 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup per meal. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd hear a Dr. say "eat more". Life is good and I am very blessed. I'll keep you posted.

(08/05/02)
It's been awhile since I've updated, so here goes. I had my staples removed, all 63 of them. It actually wasn't too bad, just a bunch of little pinches. Thankfully my incision is healing very nicely, no complications at all. As far as my appetite goes, I don't have one. Intially, the first week or two I did, but now I have to remind myself to eat. Eating has been pretty trouble free as well. I eat my allotted amount of food, very slowly and when I'm finished I'm not what you'd call full but I'm more than satisfied. I've been drinking this pre-mixed protien drink from GNC. It's made by Myoplex, it's chocolate fudge flavored, to me it tastes like a yoohoo, it has the same texture and consistency, like thin chocolate milk. It comes in a 17oz. container and has 30 grams of protien. I manage to drink one of those a day. It's a little more exspensive than the powder mix but it tastes so much better. The powder mixes taste thick and slimy to me and I just can't choke them down, so it's worth the extra money. I've also taken my friend Eala's suggestion and nibble on a protien bar throughout the day to help boost my protien intake. I figure between the drink and the bar thats at least 50 grams of protien and whatever other protien I'm getting from my food. I know that getting enough protien is really important, my muscles and organs depend on it. It's been a little more tricky getting my 2 liters of water in a day. I find to do it I have to sip all day long continuously. I've also found that I can drink more if it's ice cold, once it starts to get warm, I loose my taste for it and stop sipping. I've been walking a mile mostly everyday and I always feel better afterwards, like I'm accomplishing something. Overall I'm very pleased with my progress and am very lucky to have everthing go as well as it has. And now for the amazing news, I've lost 34 pounds so far, in a matter of three weeks. I am astonished. I had it in the back of my head that I'd be the one person in the world that this wouldn't work for. But it's working, it really is working. I'm losing weight and without being hungry, how incredible is that. Not to mention that my diabetes is under control for the first time in a long time, what a blessing, a true blessing.

(07-24-02)
Well I made it to the other side! This is my first time online since the surgery. I have to say that I've been truly blessed. My surgery went well and my recovery is coming right along. The most important thing that I can say to anyone about to have surgery is as soon as you can stand, WALK,WALK,WALK!!! It is the one thing that made me feel better. It was hard to do at first but the more I walked the easier it got. It really helped me feel better. And do your breathing exercises. I used my incentive spirometer every fifteen minutes and it helped me clear my lungs out quickly and gaurded me from getting pneumonia. I'm eating well, no trouble with naseau. I'm drinking my water and protien drink and I'm walking. So far, so good.

(07-04-02)
It's Independence Day, and just one more week to go. In some strange way it doesn't seem real yet. I thought I'd be wrestling with my nerves by now, but I seem to be at peace with this. I did alot of soul searching before I decided to have this surgery and I know it's the right decision for me. If anything I'm more anxious than ever to get on with it. I've gotten all of the things that I'll need when I get home from the hospital, protien drinks, vitamins, chicken broth, jello, etc. I guess I really can say that I'm ready.

(06-24-02)
I had my presurgery tests done today. It was pretty routine. They drew some blood, gave me a chest x-ray and I met with the anesthesiologist. It really helped to put my mind at ease to be able to talk to him. He was really very nice. I also got an angel today. A very sweet friend of mine from our local support group volunteered. I guess you could say she really is an angel. THANK YOU EALA! All that's left now to do is wait. Another seventeen more days to go, but who's counting.

(06-20-02)
I went to a support group meeting tonight in Wilmington and I'm glad that I did. If you've never been to one, you should go. It's really good to be with other people that have been where your going. Eveyone is so supportive and really roots for you. You are truly in the company of friends.

(06-11-02)
I can't believe it, one month from today is the big day. It feels like I've been waiting forever. I'm so anxious I can hardly stand it. I guess everyone feels this way. I'll be so glad when I'm on the other side, the losing side.

(06-06-02)
More great news, my surgery date has been moved up. My new date is July 11, 2002. That's one less week that I have to wait. I'm so thrilled. It's like everything is just falling right into place. I feel so blessed.

(06-04-02)
I got the best news today. Because of a written exclusion in my my insurance policy, I was going to have to pay for this surgery all on my own. But today I got a call from the hospital telling me that I qualified for financial aid and that I would only be responsibe to pay for a much smaller amount than I had originally thought. Not only that, but they're also working a payment plan out for me. This is such a blessing. Since I had no choice I was going to take out a home equity loan to pay for it but now I don't have to. You can't know how relieved I am. This is such a good omen, I think it's a sign that this is meant to be and that I'm making the right choice. Thank the good lord above.

(06-02-02)
I'm thirty four years old and I've struggled with my weight since childhood. I've lost a significant amount of weight more times than I care to remember but in the end I've always gained it back and then some. Because of this I had pretty much just given up and decided that I'd just have to learn to live with it. Then I realized that at 5'6" and 357 pounds, each day I continue to live like this, my life is literally in jeopardy. And if I was being honest with myself, I had to admit that the quality of my life had long ago become unacceptable, the weight had begun taking it's toll. So I made an appointment for my first consultation, thank god that I did. I finally feel like I'm being given what I've been lacking my entire life, a real chance to succeed. I've never had any type of surgery before, so naturally I'm nervous, but I know that this is the best thing that I can ever do for myself. I want to start living my life to the fullest instead of sitting on the sidelines. Finding this tool is a real blessing. Emails are welcomed if anyone has any questions or would like to share their own journey with me. Til then I'll be counting down the days til July 18th, 2002.