ObesityHelp

I have found this site to be INVALUABLE in my journey. Thanks for sharing and letting me share.








10/24/01 07:18 PM Wednesday
Well....I'm not quite there yet but I tackled one hurdle today and I just HAD to share! :-)
I have my appointment with my PCP next Monday. Well TODAY I decided to put together a "packet of information" for him to go over before the appointment so I didn't just spring this whole thing on him while I was there. I was really worried. He is my doctor AND a friend. We are from a smallish town and he's our family doc. Delivered my last two children. I just had NO idea what he would think about all this.
ANYWAY....I dropped the packet off this afternoon and went to get my hair cut. When I came home DH said that the Doc had called!!!! I froze and of course asked..."WHAT DID HE SAY?" DH gets this sad look on his face and says "He says he really has some concerns about this wls stuff." My heart sank...I thought I would throw up....then DH smiles and says....."OR...he might have said he thought it was a great idea!" LOL!!! I could have KILLED him on the spot!!! I threw something at him instead and then SCREAMED!!!
I am so excited! I know it's a LONG way to approval...but it truly was one of my biggest hurdles/worries about this whole thing. It would NOT have been an easy thing to switch PCP's!!! Like I said....he is a trusted family friend as well as being our doc.
OK...that was a LOT longer than I'd planned...but I couldn't help myself.


10/27/01 04:10 PM Saturday
****CLEARED ANOTHER HURDLE**** I had lunch with my two sisters today. They are my best friends in the whole world. I hadn't said a word to them about the surgery until today. I was so afraid. But do you know what those two knuckleheads did??!!?? They said, "We think that's GREAT!" And were SUPER supportive!!!! Can you say WHEW?????? I was so nervous. I didn't know how they would react...just prayed for the best. I just wanted to tell everyone I have the bestest sisters in the whole wide world. :-) They both want me to email them the website address so they can take a peek around. Everyone be on their best behavior OK? hehe


10/29/01 04:10 PM Monday
Today I'm reminded of the saying..."If I had no BAD luck...I'd have no luck at all!" Went for my PCP appointment today. All was going well until I went to give the urine sample....I HAD STARTED MY PERIOD!! ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh well...after the doc and I had a laff about my "impeccable timing"...we decided it wasn't all that bad. He ordered a bunch of tests (blood, etc.) and the results wouldn't be ready until next week anyway. This way he'll have the test results...do the physical exam and then type up his notes. He didn't even charge me for today's visit...just said we'll consider it a two-part appointment. :-) *sigh* I did have the lovely experience of getting on the scale though. :-((( Lifetime high and another reminder why I'm having this surgery!!!


11/01/01 09:26 AM Thursday
Morning!! Just got back from the hospital. Had fasting blood work done and an upper GI. Happily it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be!! The barium drink tasted kinda like a really, really BAD Orange Julius! lol! And I didn't have to drink a whole lot of it...just mouthfuls whenever they told me to swallow. Worst part was doing the complete 360 degrees rollover on that skinny, hard table in that confined space. Barely made it! :-)


11/07/01 02:36 PM Wednesday
Just got back from part-TWO of my PCP appointment. Last week I went for my physical (and referral) and had started my period! But this week all went smoothly (except for having to wait for 2 hours while he delivered a baby! lol!) He is the dearest man and did a very thorough history and tried to come up with anything that would help me get this life-saving surgery approved!! Things I learned from my tests...my cholesterol is high :( and my thyroid test came back high. I came home with a handful of prescriptions...Nexium...Synthroid?...Lipitor and Diprolene for eczema. I feel like a MESS! lol! Oh well...good to know what's goin on in the old bod. PCP said he'd have his report transcribed by Friday!!!! Yippeee!!! Then I am going to PERSONALLY hand-deliver it to the surgeons. I'm not taking ANY chances!! :-)


11/10/01 02:45 PM Saturday
It occurred to me today as I was at the grocery store....that even though I have not even been approved yet for wls...it has already started to make a difference in my life! Ever since I found the AMOS website I have had a glimmer of hope shining in the distance. It's that glimmer that has made all the difference! Since making the decision to pursue WLS I finally made that appointment to get my hair weaved (it was gettin SCARY people!)...I FINALLY bought a new pair of jeans (even though they're "fat" jeans...at least they aren't completely worn out with spots of blue paint!) and a couple of new tops....I started putting on makeup regularly again...I've started curling my hair again....I've been taking better care of myself. I know these are little things...but I was in a place before finding out about wls where I'd ALMOST given up! Now I have a tiny spark of hope in my heart and want to be a better me. Hopefully these feelings will carry me through this difficult waiting period!


11/12/01 10:12 PM Monday
I faxed all my paperwork off to the surgeons office today!!!! whoopeee!!!! One big step behind me! Who knows how long it will take to get approval (I'm thinking POSITIVE!) but I can't believe I'm already this far! I went to pick up my "medical history and physical" report from the doctor's office this afternoon and had my first small moment of panic. I'm really going through with this! Course that lasted all of about 2 seconds and then I was EXCITED! I thought I would personally hand-deliver the packet of information to the surgeon's office...but then I realized I was being a little silly. It's over an hours drive for me...and fax machines are SOOOO convenient. :-) I did CALL the office immediately after I faxed the papers...just to make sure it was there. Am I being a little anal about all this? lol! Oh well...better safe than sorry? Well, that's my update!


11/17/01 2:45 PM Saturday
I'm just playing the waiting game now and not playing it very well! One minute I feel calm and peaceful and patient...and the next I feel like I'm going to climb the walls!! The AMOS site and emailing other wls'ers is keeping me sane!!! Haven't heard a peep from my surgeon's office since I faxed the papers in on Monday. I've decided I'm going to call every Monday to get an update. I think that's reasonable...don't you? I mean I have to have SOME idea what's going on! What if they have totally misplaced the whole thing and don't realize it!?? It could happen! lol! It's up to me to make sure that DOESN'T happen. My sister used to work in the insurance authorization biz and her advice is to CALL...CALL...CALL! So that's what I'll do...Monday. :-)


11/26/01 09:11 AM Monday
Well...I made it through the holiday!! So much food! ugh! Now how do I make it through this infernal WAITING!??? I know the waiting is for a reason...I've researched until my brain is going to explode...and I continue to do so. I read several email digests a day...I read this message board and the Q&A section religiously...I try to correspond with pre and post-ops. Maybe I need to take a vacation!!!!! lol! It's so hard not to obsess.


11/28/01 10:59 AM Wednesday
Well....what do ya know!??? I finally got ahold of a REAL LIVE PERSON at my surgeon's office and she told me what I've been DYING to know! The "letter of medical necessity" went out to my insurance this week! Yahoo! Finally SOMETHING to go on! I have called, left voice and email messages for the last two weeks to no avail. But now at least I know something is happening! The insurance person at the office said the next step is they will call my insurance in two weeks to get an update...I think that was her polite way of telling me DON'T CALL AGAIN FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS! lol! I told her now that I know my paperwork isn't in someone's "circular file" I will be good. :-)


12/13/01 11:14 AM Thursday
OK...time to VENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've really been hoping I'd be one of those "lucky ones" who would BREEZE through this whole approval process...how silly I am! :-) I've been waiting like a good girl to call my surgeon's office back in two weeks....like they told me to!!!!! So I call. And call. And call...and call!! Every SINGLE time I am given to someone's voice mail....which NEVER gets returned. Soooooo...I finally sic my sister on them (she's been in collections for YEARS and gets RESULTS! lol!) and she finds out.....THE INSURANCE NEVER GOT THEIR FAX!!!!! *deep breath* OK....so....thanks to my sister....I FINALLY get a call back from someone at the surgeons office and they tell me that have just re-faxed the information. I say great. I call the insurance company to make sure. I no longer trust the office! They got it!!! Yippeeeeeee!!! And the insurance co lady said a decision would be made in....ready???.....48 HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Soooooo.....I sat here like a good little girl for OVER TWO WEEKS while the insurance company DID NOT have my papers...and I could have had a decision in 48 HOURS TWO WEEKS AGO!!!!!! LOL! I just have to laugh or I will cry!! *another deep breath* OK....now that I have ranted...I feel better. So the GOOD NEWS in all this is I should know in 48 hours if I'm approved!!!! And from what I have learned from the surgeon's office today....my insurance is one of the BEST they work with! yippee!!!!!! So...that is where things stand and I only hope and pray the next post I make here will start with....I'M APPROVED!!!!!!! :-)


12/17/01 3:14 PM Monday
Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I said I wouldn't post until I heard those two PRECIOUS words!!!!!!! And guess what????? Here I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just got off the phone with my insurance.........ready???????? I'M APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!! Whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooopeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!! Have I ever told you how much I LOVE my insurance company???????? LOL!! 48 hours they said!! And 48 hours it was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The gal I talked to on the phone said there were dates listed in the computer as January 18-22nd at Cottonwood Hospital. I don't know if that's going to be the actual date or just a "target date" that the insurance sets. But I don't care!!!!!!!!!!!! I've got my approval!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (wow....how many !'s can I use in one post? hehe) More info as I know it. Have a call into my surgeon's office but we all know how successful I am getting them to call back!!!! :-/ Ah well......NOTHING can spoil this day!!!!!!!!!!! I think champagne is in order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) Wooooooooohoooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


12/19/01 9:18 PM Wednesday
Two things today:

1) I received my approval letter from the insurance company today and faxed it off the the surgeon's office. They said I should hear from them by Friday to set up a consultation. They also told me the time frame for a surgery date is around a month out. Which would be PERFECT for me! :-) We shall see...

2) Tonight I finally got up the GUTS to tell my Mom about the surgery. She and I went to my nephew's Christmas concert at the High school and were there early...I figured it was as good a time as any to drop the bomb. And yet again...I am amazed at the unconditional support of my family. Even though she knows very little about WLS she trusts that I have researched it well and is so happy for me! I have the support of my husband, family and a very skilled surgeon...how can I go wrong?? I just feel so blessed tonight.


12/21/01 9:52 AM Friday
Hello Friends!!!
Just got off the phone with my surgeon's office....((((DRUM ROLL PLEASE))))....surgery consult January 10th...tentative surgery date....January 18th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my!!!! I can't believe it! THIS IS MY BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER!!!!!! I told hubby I don't want ANYTHING else for Christmas (ok...maybe a few gift certificates for all those skinny clothes I'm going to need! hehe) He is so happy for me...what a major sweetiepie I married!!! I am REALLY counting my blessings this holiday season!!! What a fantastic New Year I have to look forward to!!!


1/10/02 6:18 PM Thursday
I'm in SHOCK! Went to my surgery consult this afternoon...and the doctor tells me my surgery date has been MOVED UP TWO DAYS! EEK!! I thought I was unprepared BEFORE that....now I REALLY feel unprepared. I am the Mom of four kidlets....ages 12, 10, 6 and 2. My six year old son is Type 1 Diabetic...and my husband is a BUSY freelance video photographer and college instructor! Let's just say I have a LOT on my plate...so I feel like I am in a tailspin tonight!!! I have got to figure out how all this is going to work!!! Any suggestions are welcome!!!!!! I think my sister will be able to be here with kidlets during the days...hubby at night. I worry about my Kell...the diabetic...I guess I need to do some fast training of my sister on how to give shots, test blood, etc. I have never been away from him since he was diagnosed 4 years ago. :-( HELP!!!!!!
OK....deep breaths....I know it will all work out. The appointment today was GREAT!! I loved my surgeon...he was professional, thorough and intelligent...with a decent personality thrown in! lol! Not that I care about his personality...but it's a nice bonus.


01/14 07:33 PM Monday
All I can say is WOW!!!! Just over 24 hours to go!!!!!!!!! Had my last pre-op test done today...bought my YUMMY Magnesium Citrate bottle today (gee I can't wait to drink that! NOT!)...and made my required deposit to the surgeon's office. EVERYTHING IS DONE!!!! I keep thinking SOMETHING is going to pop up unexpectedly....but SO FAR SO GOOD! (*****knockin on wood!!!*****)


I had to laugh tonight at my Dear Husband. :-) After 3 months of me OBSESSING over this surgery and him barely acknowledging it...(although he's been supportive the whole way)....TODAY he finally starts to get EXCITED/NERVOUS!! lol!! Tonight he says....this is gonna be like a LIFE ALTERING SURGERY!! I just laughed at him and said, "DUH!!!! LOL!! NOW you know what I've been going through for the last FOUR MONTHS!!!" Funny funny dh.


1/15 09:04 PM Tuesday
Well.....it's just a good thing my computer is only STEPS away from my BATHROOM!!! LOL! I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about! Wow!! That stuff really does its' job!!!

Less than 12 hours til my surgery...and I must say the nerves are FINALLY getting to me!!! I thought maybe something was wrong with me because I have not been nervous AT ALL! UNTIL TODAY!!!! I just got off the phone with my parents and I broke down and cried like a BABY!!!! What is up with that!!???? I'm sure all you post-ops are just smiling and nodding your heads....yes Jill...that's normal! Or at least I HOPE you are!! I hate being ABnormal. :-)

OK....enough rambling. I am going to go take my pre-surgery shower now and hit the hay!! I hope I can sleep SOME!!


1/19 07:33 PM Saturday
Well here I am.....I MADE IT!!!! WHOOOOOOPEEEEE!! Am I glad THAT part is over! lol! To be honest though...I really can't complain!! I feel like I have been very lucky and blessed through this whole thing and I know it's because of all you wonderful people who prayed for me and kept me in your thoughts.
Sorry it's taken me awhile to update. I've been soooooo tired...and I've had a little bit of problem with HIGH ANXIETY...but physically I feel amazingly well!!!

Let me say that the ANXIETY is something my body always goes through after a major "trauma". Happened with each of my babies, etc. So that wasn't really a surprise. But it SUCKS nonetheless! lol! But thanks to XANAX!! Things are looking up today...and I know will get better everyday.

A little about my surgery...according to my surgeon it was "textbook". I have 6 small incisions above the bellybutton line and they are all just covered with steri strips. (They took the staples out just before I left.) None of them have bled or oozed or anything. And since day two in the hospital...haven't even hurt!!! I haven't taken one pain pill for pain since I stopped pushing that morphine button.

I did have a WEE bit of a problem with nausea the second day and a RAGING headache...but I"m thinking it was coming off the morphine. Small price to pay for that WONDERFUL DRUG!! hehe. After surgery I held that little button like it was my lifeline and it kept pushing it even though I knew it wouldn't only give me the drug every so often....but everytime I heard that tell-tale "beep" that drugs were on the way....I was like "YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!". hehe. Hubby got a kick outta that.

A few FYI for those who are curious. I never used any "tongs"...never needed to. I was able to swallow pills (can you say Prozac!?) the second day. I haven't experience any real hunger...cept the head kind...but I think as soon as I can have a little "real" food that won't be as bad either. Broth and Jello only go so far ya know!? :-) I'm looking forward to that Cream O Wheat in the morning...yum yum yum!!!!

Well, I think I'm going to go take a XANAX vacation and update more tomorrow.


1/20 1:58 PM Sunday
Hey guess what? I just found out why you're supposed to stop drinking 30 minutes before you eat. Cuz if you don't....IT WILL HURT! LOL! I had been sipping my water and looked at the clock and saw it was after lunch time so I went and got my cottage cheese (boy oh boy...it's amazing how good something can taste!!!). Anyway...after taking a few teeny, tiny bites...chewing well (how hard is it to chew cottage cheese?) I started to feel this pain. Much like heartburn. Ouch! I did not like that feeling....so in all my wisdom...I stopped! lol! Tried again 30 minutes later. VOILA! Stayed tasted DIVINE and went down SMOOOOOOTH! I learned something new today!! yipeee!!!
Nancy Janik...I was a huge (pun intended) Diet Coke junkie before surgery. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't kick it. I had my last Diet Coke the day before surgery and Im sure that was part of the horrific headache I experienced in the hospital. But it's getting better everyday. Now that I have my tiny tummy I'm not putting ANYTHING in it that could stretch it out...or cause me pain. I'm a pain weenie. :-)


Just another little note.....I brought marginal sized bag in the hospital and hardly used a THING in it. I used my slippers, my chapstick, my toothbrush and toothpaste and my hairbrush. And that's it. I'd brought my robe for my walks around the floor but it was impossible to put it on because of the I.V. So the nurse just put one gown on backwards over my other gown and off I went. I'd brought a book but I was so darn sleepy I never cracked it. Speaking of sleepy...my DH and sisters keep teasing me about the stuff I would mumble while I was "out of it". lol! How embarassing. Hope I didn't let out any "secrets". ;-)


OK...one more thing...and I'll stop. lol! At my surgeon's consult they gave me two business-sized cards that I signed and then they laminated. One was a "restaurant card", and one was a card explaining the surgery and a diagram of my "new anatomy" for emergencies. I thought that was pretty cool. Of course I will keep both with me at all times.


1/22 08:05 AM Tuesday
I had my first REAL FOOD this morning!!! Yahoooooo!!! A little egg beaters omelet with cheese. My tummy's in heaven and so is my head! lol! I could only eat 1/2 of it...what do I do with 1/2 an omelet no one else wants? :-) Oh well.....nice problem to have!

I've been waking up light-headed the last few days...is this just a lack of food thing?? I'm pushin the protein and the water!!!


1/22 08:41 PM Tuesday
OK....I PROMISED myself I would not be one of those people who obsesses about EVERY LITTLE DETAIL of this surgery...but I am sitting here a little astounded tonight that EVERYTHING has gone SO WELL!!!! How is THAT for neurotic!!!!!???????? lol!!! I'm eating solid foods now....I haven't been nauseous once...I don't have diarrhea...I don't have ANYTHING (cept a little head hunger of course!)...Is this NORMAL????? To be so NORMAL??? lol! I told dh tonight I'm going to ask my surgeon at my next visit if he REALLY did the operation...or just TOLD me he did!!! hehe. I know...I know....I'm a KOOK!!! And I don't mean to make light of anyone's complications! I really don't!!! I just never guessed it would be as easy for me as it has been. Gettin down on my knees often for that!


1/23 01:24 PM Wednesday
OK...was I the one saying just YESTERDAY how I hadn't had ANY problems??? HAHAHAHAHA!!! What was I THINKING....I was TEMPTING THE FATES!! And I was punished! lol!

Today I took my two little boys to the grocery store and we decided to eat at their little deli there. Boys got hot dogs....I got a tiny piece of salmon and some well-cooked veggies. Took maybe 3 well-chewed bites and it just felt like a rock was lodged in my chest! :-( Soooo...I'm getting a little nervous now...I don't want to lose my lunch in the grocery store. So I hurry the boys along...check out...run 6 year old to Kindergarten...take cookies to daughter's class...all with a 2 year old in tow!!! FINALLY...after much distress...I get home and did the finger down the throat thing. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! RELIEF!!!!

NOTE TO SELF: Continue to eat meals at home for the time being. :-) I need to get a little better acquainted with my new tummy I think!

I guess I can relax now knowing my doctor didn't do that "placebo" surgery on me! lol! :-)


1/26 05:58 PM Saturday
Been a few days since I posted. I guess I haven't had anything "earth-shattering" to report. :-) And that's a GOOD thing!!! Things continue to go REALLY WELL!! I'm 10 days post op and have felt FANTASTIC since I got home from the hospital! Walking everyday...(I'm SOOOOOOOOO out of shape!!! WAHHHHHH!!!)....eating PROTEIN, PROTEIN, PROTEIN....drinking WATER, WATER, WATER!!! My surgeon's nurse called me yesterday to check up on me...and asked me a bunch of questions. I guess I PASSED cuz she told me I was doin great!! YIPPEEE!!!! I'm such a sucker for a good "report". lol! She also gave me a great TIP! She said when I eat turkey and chicken to take a spoonful of Cream of Mushroom soup and heat it up and put it over the meat. She said since chicken and turkey are "stringy" meats...they are harder to get down. So far it's worked like a charm! Another thing I am doing to help with the things that are harder to get down is adding a bit of cottage cheese to each bite. I have rediscovered the joy of cottage cheese!!! I love it!


I must say....I FEEL skinnier already!!! I have chosen to not weigh at home because I am a very OBSESSIVE person (geee....wonder how I got M.O. in the first place huh?!)....and I KNOW if I had a scale around I would be on it ALL THE TIME!! I like "feeling" the weight loss in my clothes...and seeing it in my face and body. My sister told me last night my face looked thinner! HALLELUJAH! It's working!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)


1/31 8:41 PM Thursday
I have been SICK AS A DOG the last couple of days!!! The FLU sucks!!!! dh has it too..and so does my 2 year old. Been forcing myself to eat...nothing tastes or even sounds good. Drinking LOTS of fluids though. This too shall pass..... Have my 2 week follow up with my surgeon today and am DYING to go....but debating whether it would be the wisest thing to do.

(LATER THAT DAY..........)

OK.....I couldn't stand it. I had to know!! I dragged my flu-ridden bod out of bed today for my 2 week check up with my surgeon...and being careful not to breathe on ANYONE....weighed in.....22 POUNDS LIGHTER!!!!!!!! Yahooooooo!!! I was so excited....but I tried to act "cool". lol! Just had to share. Now back to bed.....*cough cough..hack hack*


2/05 09:47 PM Tuesday
I haven't posted anything lately cuz I haven't had much to report...but today I'm getting the tiniest bit discouraged.
The problem is the food...anything that I try to eat that is "solid" HURTS going down ....and feels stuck and I usually end up throwing it back up. :-( It's happened with all sorts of different things....so it's not one type of food. Happened with a chopped-up hard boiled egg this afternoon...and some ground beef tonite. I chew, chew, chew, chew....but when it goes down it just hurts!! I can drink anything and had some sugar free pudding tonight that went down just fine...it's just the solid stuff. I'm really not getting in enough food. Other than this problem...everything is going great! :-)


2/10 02:46 PM Monday
Big time whining ahead! I am so discouraged right now. Last week everything I tried to eat started hurting...so at my surgeon's instructions I went back to full liquids. That worked for a couple of days but now....even those won't go down. I tried 3 tiny bites of yogurt this afternoon and it never went down. Finally it all came back up. :-( I'm so bummed. My surgeon's nurse said they don't like to dilate this soon after surgery...so what am I supposed to do?????? I'm getting scared. I will be calling tomorrow.


02/15 04:22 PM Friday
Just thought I'd check in. My surgeon has set me up to have an EGD next Tuesday. Right now all I can get down is water....very slowly! I'm really trying to push the fluids so I don't have to go to the ER before Tuesday for an IV. Anyway...I'm doing fine and REALLY looking forward to Tuesday!!! I miss food...even LITTLE portions. lol!


02/16 06:10 PM Saturday
Went to our local Savers store this afternoon and bought some smaller jeans! woo hoo!!! Savers is a Thrift-type store so I only had to spend $5.00 for a like-new pair. Size 22....down from 26...yippeeee!!! Hopefully it won't be too long before I can buy another size smaller. :-) I will be a Savers shopper until I get down to my goal weight. LOTS cheaper.

I wanted to mention something I did tonite...I don't know if it was "bad" or not. Since I am not able to eat any food right now because of a stricture. I'm on liquids only. I am scheduled for an EGD on Tuesday. Anyway....tonite my family had t-bone steak barbecued on the grill. It smelled and looked soooooooooooooo good!!!!! I decided to have a few bites...chew them up...and spit them out. OH MAN!!! It tasted soooooo good!!!!!! Better than sex!!!! lol! I was VERY careful not to swallow ANYTHING otherwise I would have been in a world of hurt!!!! I hope it wasn't a "bad" thing to do. As in....eating disorder sort of bad??


02/17 09:40 AM Sunday
10 days with out food!! AHHHHHH!!! I think I'm going insane! lol!

My EGD is 48 hours from now!! I'm hangin in there! This morning I couldn't even get the Glucerna down! (lower sugar form of Ensure). UGH!!!!

This has been a frustrating...lonely time. But I know I will get through it. Thank goodness for this website! It's keeping me barely sane. :-)


2/18 1:51 PM Monday
Less than 24 hours til my EGD!!! I've never looked forward to a "medical procedure" so much in my LIFE! Ok...maybe I did look forward to my RNY too! hehe. Just can't wait to eat SOMETHING....ANYTHING!!!

I'm still feeling surprisingly good after not having had FOOD in 10+ days...thank goodness I can still get water down...and Diet Snapple. I think I've tried every flavor now and my favorites are in this order: Ruby Red, Cranberry Raspberry and Kiwi Strawberry. I found all these flavors at our local grocery store.

I am wearing some smaller jeans today!!! Yippeeeeeeeeee!


2/20 8:14 am Wednesday
Good morning!!!!!!! It's definately a good one here!!!!!!!!

Yesterday I had my long-awaited EGD and BOY do I feel BETTER!!!!!!

Turns out the opening from my tummy to the intestines (stoma) had narrowed to the size of a pinhead!!!!! I put pictures if you want to take a look. It's pretty fascinating. Anyway....the doc dilated the opening to 12cm and last night I had vegetable soup and a few crackers!!!!!!!!!!! YUMMMYYYYY!!! LOL! I have to tell you that after 10 days of water it tasted sooooooooooooooo goooooooooooood! :-)

The only problem I had was I apparently wretched while the scope was down my throat (I don't remember any of it!) which caused a small tear in my esophagus. It hurts a little when I swallow...but not much.

So all in all I am feeling soooooo much better!!! AND...I stepped on the scale at the doc's yesterday and had lost another 17 pounds!!! For a grand total of 39 pounds since 1/16!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! HEHE

Well......it's my 40th birthday today and hubby is making me some scrambled eggs for breakfast! hehe. Better go enjoy!!!!










2/22 09:25 AM Friday
Guess what!!!???? I'VE STOPPED SNORING!!!! lol!!! Hubby is sooooooo happy! :-)

What a MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!

That is all!


3/5 10:23 AM Tuesday
It's a beautiful day here in the Rockies! Supposed to get up into the 50's!! YIPPEEEE!!! That's good news cuz I haven't been out walking like I should because I'm SUCH A WIMP IN THE COLD! LOL! Born and raised in Southern California doesn't help! :-)

Not much to report...except the clothes keep getting bigger and bigger!! Hubby swears I'm down another 10 at least but that would make 50 pounds!!! I can't believe that! I am so happy! I won't weigh until my next followup appointment on March 18th.

Oh...one other thing...I finally like WATER again!!! Yeah!! I thought I'd never like water again. It tasted AWFUL to me after surgery...but now it's GOOD again!!! And much cheaper than all the Diet Snapple I was buying too! lol!!


3/14 10:43 AM Thursday

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! I just got off the phone with my MOTHER and I want to scream!!!!!! lol!! She and my Dad and a bunch of others in my family have just started the Herbalife diet (one of my sisters is selling it). They're all excited about it and I've been cheering them on saying "That's great!!" So my Mom's chimes in...."Too bad we didn't have this stuff before you had your surgery!" I am like....huh?? She says "You wouldn't have had to go through with that." AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! I couldn't believe she said that! She's been supportive of me from the beginning and this just felt like a slap in the face. :-( Oh well. I was proud of myself...I just calmly told her "I'm very happy with my decision!" End of discussion.

Anyway...just had to vent. I weigh-in with my surgeon next Monday...I can't wait!!!!! All eating is going GREAT! No more throwing up! Yeah!!! I am even able to eat Beef Jerky (chewed REALLY well of course!) and it's a great protein snack!



3/19 09:40 AM Tuesday

Hi AMOS family! I had my 2 month follow-up appointment with my surgeon yesterday....official weightloss in 8 weeks....48 lbs!!! Yippeeee!!! He said the average weightloss was 50 lbs in 3 months so I'm VERY happy with my progress thus far. He said he didn't need to see me for another 3 months and expected me to lose another 30 to 40 lbs by then. I'm hoping for more!!!! :-)

I am going to join Curves for Women today. I'm excited!! I really need to step up my exercise!

I finally put up my official "before" picture taken at my surgeon's office on my profile. *sigh* I can't wait to put up the 3 month update pic!! :-)



4/10 12:53 PM Wednesday

Hi friends!!!

I haven't posted for awhile! Just goin about the business of bein a loser! :-)

Things are going grrrrrrrrrreat! I am 12 weeks postop as of TODAY....and at last weigh-in (a week ago) was -55 pounds!! I am comfortably wearing 20 jeans (down from 28's)...although I think my butt and legs could fit in 18's...just not my stomach. :-( Darn kids!

I have not been a valiant exerciser since surgery but just the last couple of weeks have finally "caught the vision" and have been walking 2 miles a day! I love the SPRING!!!!

I've started to notice some hairloss the last week...but the weird thing is that everyone keeps commenting on how they like my hair! lol! Maybe it looks BETTER thin! Doesn't everything? hehe. I hope it slows down though...enough's enough!

I finally broke down and ordered some Protein Powder because I just canNOT manage to EAT enough protein. I'm just really never hungry!!! I drink tons of water and take my supplements...but I just don't really enjoy eating! How weird is that? Oh well...I'm not complaining...I'm gonna work with it!!!

Well...I think I'm going to go spend a little quality time in the tanning bed today. Tan fat looks better than white fat doesn't it??

HUGS!!!



4/12 09:18 AM Friday

Mornin Lovelies (and handsomes)!!!

Went to my support group last night and weighed-in and had my 3 month post op pic taken! It's posted on my profile if ya wanna take a peek. Can I have a drum roll please???................................................-62 lbs!!!!!!!!! YIPPEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! I'm actually 5 days shy of my 3 month anniversary!!! What a miracle!!!

Support group was really great! It's only my second time going because it's a 1 1/2 hour drive for me....but sooooooooo worth every minute!!!! We talked about "Success Habits" and just basically shared ideas. I'm so glad I went!
Even though I LOVE this site and can't imagine this journey without it....it sure is nice to do the face-to-face thing too.

My other exciting news is that I got my big (and I mean BIG!!!) bottle of Zero Carb Isopure protein powder in the mail yesterday and made my first shake this morning. WOW!!!! If I'd only known what I was missing!!!!! It tasted GREAT!!!! I got Creamy Vanilla and added skim milk and 1/2 a banana. It was DELICIOUS!!! And I've already had 50 g of protein!!! If you're having trouble with protein shakes....I HIGHLY recommend this stuff!!

Well....kidlets are on spring break this week (UGH!) so I'm off to referee!! :-)

Hugs everyone!!! Have a GREAT day!!



4/12 12:44 AM Friday

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! I just put in my new weight on my profile and my BMI is now under 40!!!!!!!!!!!! wooooooo hoooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!

Sorry....just had to do that! lol!!

Hugs!

Happy Friday everyone!!!



5/10 10:04 AM Friday

Weighed-in at support group last night....down 77 lbs since January 16th! woooo hoooo!!! I'm a happy girl!

Promise to get a new pic up soon. Going to California this weekend on a little getaway...I'll make sure I get some pics taken while there.

Anyone notice while your body gets smaller....your boobs appear to get bigger? LOL! Everyone is tellin me I have boobs now!!! I guess that's a good thing. :-)

I am feeling absolutely TERRIFIC! I have more energy now than I know what to do with! I wake up early....go non-stop all day...and can't get to sleep before 11pm. Gardening is a WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE 77 lbs lighter! lol! My flower beds have never looked better.

I give thanks EVERYDAY for this surgery and the profound difference it has made in my life. For all of you having surgery this week....BEST OF LUCK!! You are giving yourself the best gift ever!!



6/17 9:44 PM Monday

Saw my surgeon today for my 5 month check up. I am officially down 95 lbs since Jan 16th!!!!!! woo hoooo!! I can't believe it!! I'm ALMOST a member of the "Century Club". I will get an updated picture up next month at 6 months out. I am now comfortably wearing 16's and eyeing those 14's! :-) My surgeon said I am doing fantastic and ahead of the "average" weightloss. I am one happy girl!!!


6/29 9:01 AM Saturday

AHEM....your attention please!! :-) Newest member of the CENTURY CLUB reporting in!!!! Yesterday was weigh-in day and I have lost 104 lbs since January 16th!!!! I truly can't believe this is happening TO ME! After all my failed attempts in the past...this is REALLY WORKING!!! LOL! It's truly a miracle and a blesssing!

I'm leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow with my daughter. A week-long dance convention for her. A year ago I would have DREADED going! This year it's a whole new life! I'm so excited!! I even have my bathing suit packed! lol! What a difference 100 lbs makes!!!

07/07 04:59 PM Sunday

Just back from a week in Las Vegas with my daughter at a dance competition/convention. I just HAD to post to tell you all what I did!!!!! It was the last class of the week and the dance teacher was trying to get the parents up and dancing! So me and another Mom decided to GO FOR IT! We had to learn a short routine and then perform it "across the floor" in front of everyone!! lol! I laughed so hard and had such a great time!
I am continually amazed at the differences that 100 lbs and 5 months have made in my life!!! I'm actually LIVING it now! Went to the outlet mall in Vegas bought capris, shorts and a dress in size 14!!!!!!!!!!! Size FOURTEEN!!!!! I wore the dress today to church....sorta figure-hugging number...and you would not believe the comments I got! :-))))) I will be FOREVER grateful for this miracle!!!!


07/11 09:23 PM Thursday
Hey! Check it out! New pic on my profile tonight. :-) I even added myself to the Before & After Photos! (One of the perks of being a photo volunteer). Weighed in at Support Group tonite (I am -112 lbs at 6 months out) and they took an updated pic. Wow! What an amazing ride this has been....and continues to be!!

I would like to lose 45 more (I am 5'10") and then I will be looking into that Tummy Tuck. :-)

Went clothes shopping today for my trip to California next week and had a ball! This could become habit-forming! lol!


8/11 2:19 PM Sunday
Hello!!!! Long time no post! :-)


I am 6 1/2 months post op and down 122 lbs!! I have gone from a size 26 to a size 12!!! 35 more to go til I'm at my personal goal! I am so incredibly happy and excited about life! I am even starting a new job tomorrow! First full time job in 13 years! Wish me luck. :-) I'm really excited! 122 lbs ago I would never have even ATTEMPTED working full time and juggling 4 kids and a hubby...but this surgery has given me back my confidence (among other things) and I feel like I can do ANYTHING!!! I feel so blessed.


Our support groups Annual Conference is coming up in September and it reminded me that it was one year ago I went to that conference looking for answers. Wow...what a year!!



9/12 8:51 PM Thursday
Hello AMOS friends! Long time no type! Just got home from support group and HAD to post to my AMOS friends! I broke through the 200 lbs barrier!!!!
YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! I am 198 as of tonight!!! I can't believe it!!!! I literally cannot remember the last time in my life that I was in the 100's! Wow! What a mental boost!!! Almost as good as joining the Century Club. :-) I posted a couple new pics to my profile too.

I have lost 134 lbs in 7 months and am wearing size 12's (I am 5'10"). Even though my legs and butt are saying size 10's...my tummy is still size 12. :-( Ahhh well....it's a nice problem to have. :-)



9/12 9:10 PM Thursday
Oh wow!!! Just put my new weight on my profile page and noticed my BMI is now 28.4. I am no longer OBESE!!! OH MY!!! I simply MUST call my family doc tomorrow and tell him to WRITE THAT IN MY CHART! LOL!!! :-)



9/15 9:49 PM Sunday
Someone was asking about hair loss...and since this is something I'm quite familiar with....I thought I'd put in my .02!

My hair started falling about about 2 months post op and didn't stop until about 6 months post op. It was VERY disconcerting (to say the least!)...but I kept telling myself I'd never seen any BALD people on here...lol! I had a fair amount of hair to begin with (good thing!) but lost a LOT! Now it is coming back with a vengeance! I look like a CHIA PET with little "sprouts" coming out all over the place! :-) But I am grateful it's coming back!
Sooooooo....I guess what I'm trying to say is YES it will probably fall out....enough to get your really worried....but it DOES stop...and WILL grow back. All in all....a fair trade off for this wonderful surgery! IMHO! :-)




10/20 8:43 PM Sunday
I had to share something that happened to me today. My son and I were walking to my car after church and he says, "Mom, I just have to tell you something." I'm thinking...oh great...this can't be good! lol! He kind of hems and haws and finally says, "I don't really know how to say this....but...you look HOT!!!" LOL!!!! I about died!!! I could tell he was embarassed but I just giggled and said Thank You Erik!! That is the best compliment you could have ever given a 40-year-old broad like me. :-)

Went to my support group yesterday...weighed-in....I am down 144 pounds and ELEVEN POUNDS TO MY GOAL WEIGHT!!! I simply cannot believe it! It's been an amazing 9 months!

To all of you thinking about and working on getting this surgery....NEVER GIVE UP! It's the greatest thing I have EVER done for ME!