ObesityHelp

I am almost 50 years old and I am getting readdy to start a great new adventure and a new life.. I've been heavey and or fat my whole life, now its making me very ill.. I ts past time to get a life back and enjoy the years i have left, I owe that to myself and to my wonderful hubby of 33 years..

I am starting this jurney weighing in at 418, standing at 5ft 6in that makes my BMI at 67.5... I guess I don't have to tell ya that I really need this surgery to live.I have so many things medically wrong with me that I am taking 19 different RX's a day.. My ife is doctor appts. and sitting in a recliner, I can't lay down to sleep. Walking from one room to another is a terrible chore, I have to have chairs everwhere so I can stop to rest.. I cook and do dishs sitting.. Ron my Dh does all the house work, God bless him, he is not in the best of health. and he never complaines. Some days when he has a really bad seazure we just get by with doing as little as possible,, I am not driving my car at this time because of the strokes and I am so big that its very hard to get behind the wheel.. I get confused alot and I have gotten lost in a town I ve lived all my life.. So there for I don't drive. heck I really miss being able to just go.. I miss *LIVING*

A little history on me,, I have had 2 strokes that hurt my brain more than my body. My memory and understanding part of my brain whre the worst hurt..I get confused alot but thats ok cause I don't remember what I suspose to worry about in the long run,, I've had PE's (blood clots to my lungs) also clots in my legs, This put me on oxygen and having no wind to walk I gained a lot of weight. not that I wasn't fat to begin with..I have high blood pressure'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">blood pressure'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">blood pressure'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">blood pressure and sleep apena.. diabetis and thyroid problems..bladder troubles,, I get panic attacks but not to often any more..I am sure I am forgetting several things to add here..


My surgery date is almost here , monday Feb. 23,2004.. wow that just a few days away.. i know i am ready,, i just hope im realy ready.. this is going to be the bigest change in my life sence having kids.. and they stayed longer than i thought they would..thank goodness there out of the house(hehehe) not sure i could do this and put up with kids under my feet, but realy there great, ages 32---29---26--grand kids 9--7--3 , so i have alot to look forward too, gettting well and healthy so i can play and do things with them and there dad, my hubby Ron is the worlds best, love him with all my heart... ok enought of this bull, on with the show as they say surgery in 5 days,,,,,yeaaa

SURGERY: ok its over, thank the good lord, everything started out really well. i went into surgery and all was done just perfect, lap, rny and i was back with hubby and family in my room. getting in and out of bed up to chair , no biggy, then it all changed.. i was sitting in this kinda of recliner and a student nurse told me its time to lay down,, ok but i was kinda weak and could not push the foot part down with my legs.. soooo she lifted her foot and kicked it down, the force almost threw mw out of the chair,,, OH my the pain ,, i was doubled over and screaming... right after that i started vomiting blood.. the other nurses were so wonderful calling the doc. and keeping him updated.. the pain and vomiting went on all night, by 6 am doc was at my side and telling me i needed more surgery. I was just to scared to think.. I trusted him with my life , so whatever he said was ok with me.. you have to trust your surgen, and I do.. he tried to go back in lap to see what was going on but when he got in there he had to close that and open my up.. i had a herniated bowel..my bowel was dying and in a few hours it would of been dead. he was able to fix the wrong without to much trouble, i then went to ICU for the night. trust me you can not rest in ICU, those poeple are at your side the whole time..
Sooo you can guess recovry time was much longer, back in my room and with hubby and family..Oh how just the sight of hubby made me feel so much better. not sure when it was but one day i got blood, go figure. 7 days after the 2 second surgery i was able to come home, still moving kinda slow, OK i am still scared of something going wrong. each day gets better and i am getting stronger.

I have to add that my surgern and his staff and the nurses were wonderful people. i could not of asked for better care. I go to see doc. in few days and i'll weight then,, update them

3-22-04 feeling some better, i have had terrible pain in tummy, even water hurt to drink. i thnk i am dehyrated and thats not good,i talked to doc's nurse and she said if not better i would need blood work done.. also i think my tummy cant handle the diet, so i am just eating canned meats, flaked chicken and turkey for a while, it is helping. I dont hurt now, and drinking water is still a pain, hard to drink when you know the next sip might hurt. but i have to do it. i see doc in few days hopefuly i will be all better, i sure dont want any test done , lol ok i am chicken.

3-31-04 ok as for my weight i started at 418 and at 5 weeks post op i've lost 46 pounds, WOW,,, down to 372 i can't believe it.

4-24-04 well not been back to the doc's sence 5 weeks post, so no new weight changes. I can drink some what better but still cant drink all that I should. but i am doing ok.eating has been good mmost of the time, today not sure what happened but I made an omlet for hubby and I took a small peice of it, about the 5th bite i got a terrible pain in chest and later i threw up times 2, after that was sick feeling and took a 3 hour nap. I am felling better just not sure what did me in. nothing was in the eggs that i dont eat all the time. But i have noticed that my first meal of the day sometimes makes me sickly. but not this bad, mmmm..And I dont know why but my incision still is sore, especelly when i turn or sit upright very long of a time. It looks good to me but wish it would heal faster, other than that i think I could go back to sleeping in my bed instead of the recline, it just hurts to get out of bed after laying there for a while.Clothes still bother it and rub to much , so I am still wearing my gowns at home and my *granny * dress when i go out, pants rub it to much,.

May 8, 04 I heard today from the lawyer, and he says I do not have a case. So I guess that the hospital wins, and we have to pay for all the extra charges, the extra surgery and all.. Even tho it was one of there nurses that caused it, we have to pay, just doesn't seam right. but what else can i do. we have talked to several lawyers and noone will take the case. i just dont feel we owe for all the extra stuff, cause they put me thru all that pain and surgery. oh well time to move on i guess. things really never go *my * way, so i should be use to it.

MAY 12, 2004 REALLY REALLY GREAT NEWS..

i WENT TO SEE SURGEN YEASTERDAY, AND GUESS WHAT, IN 11 WEEKS I AM DOWN 75#, iI CAN'T BELIEVE IT, WOW...he was so happy for me, i think i floated for the rest of the day. To me it means that iam doing what i am suspose to do, and everything is alright..MY youngest daughter is kinda upset about it,,, she promised me in the hospital that if I lose 150# she would stop smoking,, hehehe iam half way there. she told her dad she's buying me donuts lol..

June 6, 2004
tonight i took my dear hubby to the er, he was having some short of breathe and chest pains, well he's doing good, they think it was a drug allergy. but nothing wrong with his heart, thank the good LORD.. but as we were there for several hours that scale got the best of me and i had to do it, i steped on it and WOW i could not believe my eyes,,,329,, thats minus 89 pounds sence surgery.. when i cant wait until i seemy surgen and get an offical weight, but that still a bout a month off,, just had to tell ya all, lol hugggs Mary
July 22, 2004
I had my 5 month check up with Dr. Walton and everything is just great. I have been on a month long platue so I was not expecting to lose very much,, but the scale read 323, that a loss of 95 ponds in 5 months, heck i am very happy.not if this platue will end i can get things rolling again.
My hair is falling out really bad, its so thin you can see the scalp and its a strange tecture. but i know it will come back given time,
Ron is still having health problems. a lot of sezures , but they cant find out why, were waiting for the nero doc to tell us what his last EEG said. well hugggs to all Mary

Aug. 9, 2004 well today was a WOW day for me.. I went to my PCP for my 2 week blood test'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">blood test'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">blood test'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">blood test ( I take cumidan so need a PT ) and I went to the back and hopped on the scales.. It said 314 that means I have lost 104 pounds in 5 1/2 months,, I can't believe that this is happening for me.. So I have a lot of hair loss'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">hair loss'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">hair loss'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">hair loss, I don't care cause today i have lost over 100 pounds.. I went to wal-mart'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">wal-mart'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">wal-mart'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">wal-mart and walked almost the entire store, was so good to be able to do that,, 6 months ago I had to use one of those moterized carts to shop.. Life is so much better when your getting healthy.. huggggs Mary


AUG. 23, 2004 today I am 6 months post op., what a big difference this past 6 month has made on my life.. I weighted today at the PCP doc;s office and I am down 108 pounds,, SO just for fun I did the BMI thing and I am now at 50 BMI that MO , I am no longer super morbidly obese. I have a long ways to go , but I am doing it.. I think I am loosing very slow 4 pounds in last 2 weeks but I feel so much better all the time.. As DH tells me stop worring what the scale says,, Ok thats hard to do but I will try.. Guess what I am starting to drive some.. I really have to think about where I am going and how to get there, but I am driving again,, yeaa..

Sept. 21, 2004 well its been 7 months and I am now down 118 pounds,, Yesterday at the doc's office I got to move the bottom 50 pound weight thing over a notch,, was a really big yea thing for me to do.. It seams I am loosing very slowly but thats ok as long as I am still loosing.. I am at 300 pounds, I can't wait for the next weigh in time.. when I will be below 300 wow, its just seams all to unreall, I really never thought I could do this.. But guess what I am and I will continue to do it.. I only lost 4 pounds this month, grr, but heck I guess that will be ok in the end..
We have decided to stop thinking of the *chair* insident and continue on with our lives.. I still feel that the nurse aide caused me to have the problems but I have to move on with my way of thinking and put that in the past..
sunday we ad a lunch for our son's 30th b-day and all the kids and grandkids where here, was so great to have them all around and hear them laugh.. Was so good to be able to be active and not just have to sit and watch them all have fun.
I am already thinging of what to cook for Thanksgiving dinner,, lol I am thinking low carb , sugar free for everyone.. heck what they don't know wont hurt them.. so noone tell my kids ok.. hugs Mary
10-5-2004

went to the PCP today for blood work , I take cumidan so I got twice a month. so of course i weighed, I am at 293,,, thats a loss of 125 pounds in 7 months,, wow what a big change, I still have a long way to go but ya know I am gonna get there,, today BMI is 47.3,, hugs Mary

10-26-04

Ok I am thinking its time I confess something,, When I started this road i was in really bad shape. I could do almost nothing for myself or anyne else. I had been sitting in my recliner for almost a year , sleeping in it also, I started doing the when I got the PE's (blood clots to my lungs) and had to sit up to sleep in order to breathe. I was on oxygen and at nght a cpap, I got out of breathe going to the bathroom. i have really bad knee and it sometimes would want to go out from under me and all the weight. while I was getting over the Pe's I gained alot of weight because of inactivity and the meds I was on..

right before surgery I was on 19 different Rx/s and the cost was killing us. My medical bills were out of control and that made me feel so helpless. My wonderful hubby did everything for me, I did manage to cook for us at times but had to sit in a chair to do that. I could no longer reach to my on shoes or to take care of my bathroom habbits. showering was a big problem cause I got so tired just standing there.

So going into surgery I had decided that I would probly die on the OR table and that would end all the pain, for myself and my family.. funny how life changes things and I lived and now I an living life again. I am far from where I need to be but slowly getting there. If I had died on that table it would not of been suicide and that would of given my family my small insurance money to help thing out with.. funny God heard my prayers and answered in his own way.. I am living and now taking care of hubby and family again.. someday i want to be able to tell them what I jsut wrote but for now it our little secret, hugs Mary-127

11-1-04
I went to see my PCP today and had the offical weigh in, ok deum roll,, I weigh 285 thats down 133 pounds in 8 months, It blows me away at time when I see the sale move and know that yes I am doing this and the surgery worked and yes I am healthier..
This morning after my shower i was drying off and it dawned on me I can now reach every part of my body. I have been able to do this for a time now but hell it finially hit home, (ok the brain is slow) before surgery i could not do this. i took the towel and kinda fliped it on my legs and feet. had to do the old 2 handed shuffle of towel between the legs to get to the bottom..
funny how much longer my arms are now lol

time line:

2-23-04-------418------surgery
2-31-04------372------minus 46-----5weeks
5-12-04------343------------75----11weeks
6-06-04------329------------89----15
7-22-04------323------------95----21
8-09-04------314------------104---24
8-23-04------310------------108---26
9-21-04------300------------118---30
10-05-04------293------------125---32
10-25-04------291------------127---35
11-01-04------285------------133---36
12-06-04------273------------145---41
01-11-05------267------------151---46
02-11-05------268.5---------150.5--50
03-07-05------265-----------153--- 54
04-01-05------264-----------154----57
04-04-05------262-----------156----57
04-25-05------256-----------162----61

Dec. 1. 2004 time for a little fun update,, this morning I jumped in the shower and started to shave my legs , ok lets back up, first i was able to stand long enough and shave a leg, wow thats not happened sence forever, ok back to story,, while doing this so called job i found out that I have bones in my legs,, who would of guessed that under all that fat there was bones. and this one that I managed to nick 4 times in one fast movement is right about the ankle on the outside of the leg.. When did that grow??/ I don't remember those bones.. Long story short I take coumidin and it bleed real well. ok so I guess I have to be carfull with the shaving..

So later I was sitting in a court room, long story I won't go into and no I am not in trouble ( I am to boring ) I decovered I have a back bone. all I can say is oucky in the back, it still sore from that hard bench..

Dec 6, 2004 Went for a weigh in today , I am down now 145 pounds.. yeaaaaaaa,, I can't believe the difference I feel,, I spent the day with my daughters shopping and I would on never been able to do that last year without using a mortor shoping cart.. Life gets better every day,, My healty is improving and that makes me and hubby so very happy,, The stress of worring is gone.. Weather I will live another year or even a few more months,, gone,, I am getting healthy and free of a ton of medications. I take 4 now where before surgery I was taking 19 different RX's.. well I am not counting all the vit.s i take now, lol hugs Mary

Dec. 29, 2004 Well tonight Dh and I went to wal-mart and I got on there scale in the drug area, is says 268 thats 150 pounds gone, in 10 months, now as my youngest daughter says its not official. becasue you see , when I was in the hospital and after my second surgery she told me if I lost 150 pounds she would stop smoking,, lol got to love a kid that will fight lol she 27 by the way,, hugs Mary

jan, 11 05 , I went to the PCP todya and weighed in I am at 267, for a grand loss of 151 pounds.. its offical I have a paper singed from the PCP and many witness to the fact, lol Lisa is stopping smoking *lets pray *
feeling oh so good ,I hit those stand stills and I know its shouldn't get to me but it does,, many hugs to al Mary

Jan 16.2005 I had the most WOW time last night,, I was putting things in the hall closet and thats where Dh keeps his sweatshirts.. I was standign there looking at them and I still don't know why but I found a 2X and tried it on,, now its a little tighter than i like,, I love big clothes, it hides the fat, but it fit , it fit like it fits him,, i know my face was beaming when I walked into the den where he was on the phone and watching tv,, I did the turn and held my arms out,, turned on the over head light and his mouth droped,, he yelled * get my shit off * he was teasing,, and told the SIL on the phone that I had on his shit and it fit, heee was so much fun,, I took it off at bed time but have it back on today lol I love this.. I have to tell you I have never worn his clothes and I ve never been smaller than he is.. I am still heaver but I have on his shit, lol

Feb,1, 2005, Had appt. with my PCP today, funny that I did not notice last week at a different docs but thye was able to use a regular bp cuff on my upper arm today and it fit and worked???? Its been years sence I had a regular cuff fit my arm.. WOW. I am at a stall for over a month now, stuck on 267. I so want to keep loosing but I want to eat alot.. its very hard to stay on track.. I still make good choices but noticed I cna eat more and sometimes go over the amount of calories I should have.. I ve been trying to stay around 1100 and yesterday was 1207 mmm. I need to really work on that.. ROn's been feeling lots better the new sezure med is doing its job. so thats making me happy. He went and jamed with a few other old goats, he had fun and was good to see him take an interest in his music again.. He needs a hobby , maybe this will help.. If been running alot more , no not that kind of running I mean going places. Its easier to get out and drive and go into places. Dee (oldest ) car is broken so I ve been hauling her around, we've had lots of fun and laughs.hugs alll


feb 11, 2005 well I think this last stall is over, last night I ran to wal mart to get Ron some medicine, he has the flu,, Well you know me there sits that scale in the drug section so i have to step on it.. it read 259.5 wow thats for a loss of 158.5 .. I was on cloud 9. dont you just love it when the scale moves lol.. I wasnt worried I knew it would move, but dang those stalls get to me at times.. I cut out the sunflower seeds'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">sunflower seeds'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">sunflower seeds'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">sunflower seeds and crackers,, and sticking to protein only or mostly I should say,, I eat oatmeal every morning to help with the bowles, really has been keeping me going nicly.
I go to see my surgern next week I sure hope his scale is good to me .. and I am hoping he thinks I am doing good. cause I wuld hate to black his eye lol . hugs Mary

feb, 17. 2005 just a few things I ve been feeling the last few weeks,, as you know I ve had several strokes mostly they have just hurt my brain and i still can do most everything I need to,, but and theres always a but,, latley I am having more trouble working my hands and legs,, I know I have a really bad knee and soon will make an appt, to see a orthro doc about it, but I am a little unsteady on the feet and my hands dont do what I am wanting them to do,, cant opens a zip lock bag, things like tht, and typing is the real pits casue the fingers just dont work the right way , they type some forgein lauange that only they know.. now the stroke hurt my memory so I cant spell worth crap , but never could, but its getting worse,,I type words back wards alot,, The last couple days i have been trying to make a baby quilt for my daughters friend, on simple thing for the old Mary to do, but it so hard to figure out how to make the peices come together now. I gave up on that silly quilt several times but finished it today and it looks like heck but its done.
I think I am afraid that my health is getting so much better that something will go wrong and I'll get sick again or have another stroke. now my blood pressure is great and the PCP says my labs are perfect , I guessing I am just a worrier,, , maybe just writing this down will make it better. good for the soul they say.. blessing to all, hugs Mary


Feb. 23, 2005 my 1 year re-birthday just some thoughts about what has happened to me

Today is my one year anniversary, yep one year ago today I went into surgery thinking I would never wake up again, and I was at peace with that.. I had been told by several doctors I would not live long and its wasn't looking very good, This surgery was my last hope for ever living another day.. I went in to surgery know I was putting myself in the hands of a great surgeon who really cared about me and in the Lords hands also..

I come out of surgery and was doing great and my bowel tore loose and I started to vomit blood and bleed in the stools,, all night long I vomited blood unable to lay down I sat on the side of the bed and was in so much pain... My dear Ron sat by me and rubbed my back and help the pan that I was getting sick in..The nurse was great and was on the phone with the surgeon all night, by 6 am I was back in surgery and was opened up 18 inches,,

Now you know why this day bring me so much emotion,, I have regain my health and my life.. I have kissed death and kicked him out of the way and said heck no I am gone live.. and that's what I try to do every day.. I ve had strokes and PE's (blood clots to the lungs) almost died that time too, those where before surgery. and Ya know what all this has taught me, to stop smell the roses and thanks God everyday for my family and for my life.. If I never lose another pound so be it.. as long as I am healthy that's OK in my books..

For all those getting ready for surgery , remember what you are today and why you did this,, its not about looks , its not about being in a smaller size, this is to save your life and make you a healthy person..

I've lost over 152 pounds so far , but I have gained so much that there is not enough words to say them all.. God bless , many hugs Mary

March 7, 2005 not much to updat but today I went to the doc, and the scale finially moved, I ve been stuck for a very long time, now it only moved a tad but it did nove, lol today weight 265 thats for a loss of 153 pounds, ok not much to brag about but better than the stall.. I am having a hard time with eating to much, i am really having to watch myself, so I log every bit into fitday.com.. i am getting about 1000 to 1200 cals a day never over 1200,, so I guess I am doing ok.. I am walking and moving alot more so maybe that will speed things up.. whe I saw the surgen for my 1 year check up he said he did not think I could get down to 200 pounds, he will be proved wrong, i really want to do this.. I am big bones nad have never been little , really wide shoulders so I am thinking 200 is a good place to be, we shall see,
I ve been cleaning my kitchen carpet, I have to work and then rest , but I am getting it done, big change from last year when I could not stand up long enought to shower with out help.. Ron says he cant believe how great I am doing,, me either for that mater, but hey i am gonna do this.. hugsss


March 17. 2005 just a quick update, I went to see my lung doctor today , this was the first time I saw her sence I was in the hospital for WLS.. She was amazed with my weight loss and was so happy for me, she is the one that really talked me into havign this surgery.. She told me about a friend of hers that had the surgery and how great she was doing.. At the time she told me about it I was having real big problems I was newly out of the hospital for PE's (blood clots to the lungs) and was in terrible shape,, I could only walk a few feet at a time and was on oxygen.. So with ehr help I got better and found Dr. Walton and the rest is history..

Well today after her studing my lungs and talking to me, she took me off the coumidan (blood thinner) that I have been on for 2 years, I ve been going and getting a PT , (blood draw) every 2 to 3 weeks for 2 years,, I am so happy thats over with. also she said I can get rid of the c pap casue I dont wear it any more, and I don't snore and I can sleep all night laying down in bed and the next day I am not tired, so the sleep apena is gone..
Mind oyu for over 2 years I slept sitting upright in a recliner.. Its so neet to go get into a real bed and get all cozy with my DH. and 2 dogs, lol..
hugggs all mary

Apri 1, Well nothing much going on, but for some reason my blood pressure went up some and I had a small TIA, nothing to bad , I don't think but made me kinda out of it for a few days, oh well life goes on.. also got a sinus thing but heck its spring and that happens when all the trees start blooming . not weighted in a long time maybe next week I'll pop in to the doc/s office and see whats going on, Sence jan, theres not been any real changes so I am not to hope full/Blessing and hugs to all Mary

april 29. 2005 , well its been one hell of a month around here,, Ron has had so many seizures or spells and I ve taken him to the different doc to many times to count, He's been in ER twice and in the hospital once.. Yesterday he had a PET scan and we wont get the results back for 2 weeks, thats going to be 2 very long weeks for me.. I want answers to whats wrong so they can fix it and get him well again.. All this stress has been heck with me also,, I thought I had a ear infection and turns out to be TMJ, (nerves) so my ear and neck hurt really bad . I can't take the muscle relaxer the doc gave me cause it makes me very sleppy and I have to stay clear headed to watch and take care of ROn.. So I have been eating way to much food, I am trying to eat the right foods but still to much, and its funny casue I lost a could more pounds , lol so maybe I needed to eat more , heck if I know , but it sure seams like all I want to do is eat, I cna't get out of the house very much cause I need to stay close to Ron. kinda like a circle I eat and he sleeps.. so here is to hoping we get the results back faster.. opsss I am down to 256 now that for a loss of 162 pounds in 14 months, God bless all hugs mary

5-7-05 Hey all, well not to much is going on in the weight loss departmant.. I am down now 163.5 pounda and thats great but wish I could speed up the loss some.. but heck what do I expect I don't exercise and have been house bound the last few months.. ROn is having more seizures so I stay close to him, but in all honesty I probly woundn't excercise much anyways, I do love walking at wal mart of some place that I cna us a cart for my knee support'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">knee support'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">knee support'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">knee support,, the knee is realling hurting latly but right now I cant go see the bone doc, no money and Ron needs me more. Oh well whats a little longer , not like I can't walk at all, I have noticed that I can't strighten my leg all the way. mmm guess that explains alot.

On a good not I have noticed that my body has reshaped some,, I still have this terribly big belly but my arms and legs look better, well not the bat wings there so very bad. ok so I dont'see tank tops'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">tank tops'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">tank tops'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">tank tops in my future, lol hugssss Mary

6-25-05 Ok this is not about weight loss, but here goes... today my 9 year old grand son is meeting his other set of grand parents for the first time. he has never meet his *real* dad and the man has never tried to see him.. heck he has not seen My daughter sence she was PG with Drew.. but come to find out the grandparents wanted to find him and was so happy to hear from my daughter.. Lisa thought she might need to kinda know where the *father * was in case someday Drew wanted to meet him.. Drew was born deaf so explaining this all to him is difficult and to a 9 year old I know he will be confused.. But my daughter said they sounds so happy on the phone and wasnted to see Drew. now they have not seen there son in a long time and he wasn't going to be there,. they said they had no way of getting in touch with him.. we shall see how this all goes..

I am on pins and needles. he is my baby boy.. Ron and I have been with him sence he was born and have taken care of him. yes he lives with his mom but they live 2 house aways so he's here all the time.. I guess we are just afraid of loosing some of the special bond we all have.. I know its weird but how can you change your feelings..thats it for now hugs Mary

ok small update , Drew meet his other grand parents and had a good time,, but he wanted to get back home and go fishing with his papa... We talked to him before he left and told him to have lots of fun, etc.. I guess becasue they were *new* to him he just wasn't at ease.. they had the biggest party for him with all sorts of food, games and kids there.. he stayed about 4 hours. so I guess thats a good start for now..

June 30, 2005, I was getting out of the shower today and somethings dawned on me.. before surgery I could not just hop into the shower and do a fast job,, it took forever becasue I would be so out of air I had to sit to dry and do anythiing.. its been 16 months and I can not tell you how different life is..
before surgery I could not dress myself all the way.. I could not reach me feet to put on socks or tie shoes. Ron had to help me. and never once did he complain. He would tease me to get me to laugh..I could not reach all the parts of my body . so had to find a way to clean my self after using the bath room.. and if we was out some where , yep Ron would walk right into the bathroom and help me.. the man is a saint to me..

I use to lay my pants on the floor and step into them and wiggle them up so I could reach them.. now I cna even stand and put them on.. If you have never been in that bad of shape its so hard to explain,, Life was just so hard.. I could not stand for any lenght of time just a couple of miutes. I had to sit to do everything.. cooking and dishs, etc,
I could not walk but maybe 30 feet at a time without sitting to rest.. my legs felt they would give out any second. I cna now walk all the way thru super wal mart and do it several times. lol I can come home and carry in the food and put it all away with out resting.. I cna clean my own home, Ron use to do it all.. Life has sure changed, and fot the better,,

Sometimes I see on here where someone is mad or upset becasue they have 10 more pounds to lose and it wont come off. SO WHAT.. this was for health not so you look great in a bathing suit'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">bathing suit'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">bathing suit'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">bathing suit. I still weight 252 and I know I will lose a little more but ya know what it doesn't really matter in the long run, I am HEALTHY. and I am alive.. So yes I take my vits. and I get in my protein and I drink all the water I can.. why because I never what to live sitting in a chair again... God bless...

Nov.3, 2005 hey all. I know its been a long time sence I have updated.. I had a new TIA (mini stroke) and took some time off to heal the old brain. I am back kicking and doing good. Ron had a real bad time with his seizures but thats under control now so life is good'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">life is good'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">life is good for us again.. I am stuck on 248 pounds and the scale is not moving at all. this could be it for me. I hope not but we shall see.
iam able to walk and do so much more than i could before the surgery and for that I am truly greatful.. this hanging belly is a real downer.. maybe i can get it taken care of. not sure if I am readdy for another surgery or not. the last one wasn't a happy experence at all.. well thats it for now. hugs mary

Nov. 18 just a little update, got on the scale at wal mart and it read 243 tthats for a loss of 175 pounds.. I cant believe it I thought the scale was gonna stay stuck forever. i was even afraid that I might go the other way and gain...this bring my bmi down below 40 so now I am just obese lol thats funny hearing I am just obese . but thats so much better than being morbid obese.. hugs Mary

March 3. 2006 well a little time has gone by sence I wrote anything. not much to say except my appitite has come back big time. I find muself wanting to eat all the time and its so very hard not to.. and to tell the truth I have been eating more and more often, I think its called snacking. not a good thing at all.. I have also found that I can eat sweats no and not get sick , this is not a good thing..I have gained 5 pounds but I am doing my best to get rid of that and more.. not working to well.. my body just doesn't want to get rid of thsi weight..
I have a very large belly hang , and that really bugs the crap out of me.. when I look at myself I still see all this fat.maybe some day I will be able to get rid of it. crossing fingers.. I am sure there is 40 pounds of flab still.. ok enough bitching.. life has been good.. Ron and I are doing well. he still has seizures and I am still a air head part of the time. but heck thats ok.. what do I expect having so many strokes and TIA"S.. ok that it ,, hugs Mary



Feb.25, 2007 I am sorry it has been so long sence i have posted. one reason is the new system is over my head and i couldn't find where to go until i was sent a happy 3rd ann. e mail.. and the other is I have had my hands full with Ron sick and a new grand baby girl.. she is 2 months old now and so beatiful.. but i am not in any was partial.. i read here everyday just don't post much.. so please know i still am around//
i have had a few ups with weight but working very hard on getting it back down i am still at my dr's goal so i guess i am ok.. i just wanted to get a little lower...i am at 265 and i wanted closer to 200// but i am feeling for the most part very good and can walk and do most things i want to do.. well with in reason for me.. winter has been real cold and lots of snow for us so i can only do so much walking, I love to walk in wal mart cause its nice in there and i can hold on to the cart . it helps stable my knee.

i go to support meeting each month and that is really great to see the faces of people that understand what happening to me.. but I am the oldest surgery on there. as for appitite i was put on some meds that really have made me want to eat a horse.. but i am working really hard on not doing that.. well if you all keep the faith and remember this is for health and not to look good in a size 2 bathing suit you will do great. hugs Mary

September 6, 2007
small update.. after a very bad sinus infection and caoghing for 4 weeks my gurd has returned.. my regular doc ordered a upper gi and bariam swallow and that found nothing except that i am positive for gurd.. ok now what . i am back on another pill . i did this surgery to get off meds and i am taking almost as many RX's a day than i was before surgery.. if you count the vits and stuff i am taking more.. yes i can walk now and i am in better shape but i have gained about 20 pounds back fron my lowest and taking a ton of pills every day.. 13 RX's the dost is sky high.. ok thats enough griping.. i am trying to figure out what is going on with me but everytime i talk to a doc that means a new pill.. some of my meds make me very hungry witch i really dont like . but i am trying to over come.. not easy.. my brain (from the strokes) sends off false shock waves of ansiety and i have really wild dreams..one night i was fighting and yelling and fell out of bed. hit my face on the bedside table and that left a big bruse across my face.. everysence i have had a headache everyday. and yes they did a CT and all is ok.. i tell ya I think I need a whole head and body trasplant. mmm then I wouldn't be me. that might be a bad thing. lol well enough of this, i am still glad i had the surgery and i do know it saved my life.. until later hugs Mary

2-24-2008 ,, I guess its time for an update.. I know its been a long time but days just speed by and i just get everything done.. Not that I am doing so much. i just get involved in taking care of Ron and the grandkids , that i forget to get on here and update.. I don't come to OH that much anymore. not sure why but when all the fighting started it turned me away.. I dont like people fighting anymore. I sure use to like a good fight. but not sence i have gotten older..
Well its been 4 years. WOW, I cant belive it.. Here i was reading e mail and i got a happy ann.. e mail from Eric.. I had forgotten all about it.. 4 years that I never would have had if not for this surgery.. $ years that i had to enjoy my dear sweet Ron and my great kids and the cutest grandkids god has ever put on earth..

I got real sick about halloween and couldn't take all my meds.. well that was a hidden blessing. cause now I am back down to just 5 RX plus vitiams a day... I guess I dont have to have all those other pills and is dont hurt my feeling.

In total i have gainedabout 30 pounds sence my lowest. but only about 8 pounds sence i leveled off.. i been holding my own.. but menapause hit and i started getting the munchies at night.. so I have tried to stop that and when the wether gets warmer I will get outside more and walk.. been just waya to cold as everyone knows.

all in all I think I am doing ok..I feel ok and that the important thing//I can take care of me and everyone else I need to and want to take care of... God bless everyone.. hugs Mary

IDEAS FOR USING COTTAGE CHEESE


not potato salad

hard boil eggs
chop onion
dill pickle or relish
salt pepper
mayo or salad dressing
tad of mustard
mix like your making potato salad but do use tators, use large curd cottage cheese. taste great and no guilt.. ok as you can tell i don't measure stuff, just use you own reciepe and sub cottage cheese for that tators.

cottage cheese and tuna, I eat this al most every day lots of protein and goes down good..
some days just with salt and pepper, some days I add different things. like

teaspoon ranch dressing
t. miricle whip
mustard
onion,
pickles
diced green peppers
some lettuce
the ideas are endless and it really changes the taste


cottage cheese with sugar free jelly or jam
cottage cheese with splenda and ciminnion
cottage cheese with fruit
I add a tablespoon of cottage cheese small curd to each scramble eggs it makes it moist while cooking

if the meat I have for dinner might be dry, I always have cottage cheese to eat with it. make it go down nice