ObesityHelp

I had surgery om July 11th at Grinnell Regional with Dr, Coster. All went well with a couple of exceptions. On the 3rd day post op, while in the shower, I "sprang a leak". Actually it was more like a fountain! Fluid and a little blood had collected under tge skin at the bottom of my incision. I spouted a goodly amount of this fluid when I stood up after the shower! Startled me, and my nurse quite a bit! Luckily, Dr. Coster was on the floor making rounds, and said it was normal, and that the fluid really needed to come out!
My hemoglobin (red blood count) was alittle low after that, and I ended up having 3 units of red cells before I went home. Things went pretty smooth after that.
I had several teary days- seemed I couldn't talk at all without bawling. I didn't FEEL bad, just kept crying. I had met Lisa while in Grinnell- she was having her panniculectomy after losing all of her excess weight. She said the crying was normal- at least she had experienced it too. She was sooo helpful when I had questions.
8/24/03 6 weeks post op now, and I've lost 36 pounds. It seems it's coming off so slowly- yet I've never lost 36 pounds in 6 weeks on any other "diet". I constanly worry that I'm eating too much fat or carbs. There is a support group meeting this next Saturday, and a dietician from the hospital will address this. I can hardly wait!

9/11/03 Well, I missed the meeting because of the Labor Day holiday- dang! I went 2 whole weeks without losing a pound, and I almost panicked! I went to my family doctor (too chicken to see the surgeon!) and he said I was retaining water. I started the diuretic (water pill) on a Friday, and by Monday I had dropped 9 more pounds! Then another 10 by the following Friday. It scared me more than not losing anything! I thought "this is too easy- were's the struggle". Well like all good things it came to an end. As of today, almost 9 weeks out, I've lost 58.5 pounds. People are really starting to comment now. Hope I can continue to be successful, and not get tired of this diet. It sure takes the fun out eating!

9/29/03 My 3 month visit today went very well indeed! I'm down 68 pounds since July 11- about 11 weeks! I feel like a million bucks! My daughter's wedding was September 19, and I danced the night away! I wore heels, danced and looked FINE in my 1st off the rack dress in 25 years! Even though surgery has taken most of the "fun" out eating, it sure makes up for it in a lot more ways! On to the 100 pound mark!

11/10/03- Had anoth doctor visit- down 75 pounds. Only lost 9 pounds this last 6 weeks! Very discouraging, but I think I'm back on the right track now. Some times I forget I had surgery, and some days I can definetly eat more than others!

12/22/03 5 months out, and down 95 pounds! I asked them to check the scales TWICE!! I'm not sure HOW I feel- never thought I'd lose that much. Still have another 85 to go, but that doesn't seem like such an obstacle now. I have gone from 4X knit pants to 1X, and will try jeans in the near future. Still walking a mile to 1.5, weather permitting. Had my evaluation with the exercise guy today, and he gave me a weight routine, and suggetions for aerobic exercise on days that I can't get outside. Hopefully, I can save upo enough to join the local Y, and get into some water exercise! Would I do this all again? In a heart beat!