My most important things in my life are my family and my dogs. I spend every spare moment with my dogs. I train them for conformation and obedience competition. My weight is hindering my love for this sport... the pain, out of breath, and not looking professional.
I recently got laid off from my job of 16 years and fear my weight will be a great disadvantage in finding a new job.
Read my comments about Dr. Lirio and my pre-ops. Look below to see my weight and measurements chart.
3/13/02
I had lunch and talked for 3 hours with Candie who I met ar Dr. Lirio's office. I live 100 miles from the Dr. and Candie is only 35 miles from me. We have so much in common and will be great support buddies. Her surgery is scheduled for 1 week after mine.
3/17/02
I am really excited about having the surgery. I can't wait. Less then 4 months to go. Seems like forever but it's been going fast. I have been pigging out and have gained 4 pounds.
4/25/02
Starting to get ready for surgery.... I can't believe it's only 11 weeks away. Today I went to K-mart and bought a hand mixer. I hear that will be handy when mixing my pre-op diet drinks, protien drinks and when I need to puree my food. I also bought 2 boxes of one hundred 1 oz. sugar free ice pops. I hear they will be my lifesavers for a couple weeks.
I go for more pre-op tests and visit in 2 weeks. I'll learn more about my pre-op liquid diet. I'm not sure how I am going to handle that. I am very jealous of many of you that have been allowed to eat all of your favorites right up to the night before surgery.... but I truely believe that Dr. Lirio makes us do the pre-op diet for our own safety. I can't agrue with that.
4/30/02
Went shopping today and picked up some things that Ben (my husband) can cook for himself........ like canned hash and frozen white castle cheesburgers. Those are his favorites. I will miss the white castles but I bought myself a whole bunch of goodies....... like juicy juice, SF jello, FF chicken broth and a box of equal for my caffeine free tea LOL.
5/6/02
Had more tests today. Ultrasound of stomach, kidneys, pancreas, liver and spleen. And an Upper GI series. Yuck. But the good news is that I do NOT have to have the Barium Enema x-ray on thursday. Something to do with weight limits that the table can hold.
I also got to see Dr. Lirio for a quick exam. He and Paula answered some of my questions and I picked up my Medifast. Not looking forwarding to starting that on May 28,2002.
5/9/02
Saw the Dietician. She didn't have a clue. I knew more than she did (thanks to this site). All she did was read off a piece of paper and couldn't answer my questions.
5/10/02
Picked up a tub of Designer Whey Protien powder. I have been told by many that it's the best. Even the lady at GNC said it was their biggest seller.
5/11/02
TWO MONTHS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6/22/02
It's been a LONG time since I've posted. I have started my pre-surgery diet and it's hard to stick to it but I've lost 24 pounds after 3 weeks. Everyone tells me that I will really benefit from losing this weight before hand. It till make the surgery and recovery go that much easier. Anyway........ I have LESS THAN 3 WEEKS TO GO. YIIPPPPEEEE!!!! I can't wait.
7/1/02
Had my pre-admission tests today. Blood work
and lot's of questions to answer. Now I really feel it's getting close. Only 10 days away. Yippee!!!! Making my list of things to take to the hospital.... robe, slippers (non skid), my cpap machine, chapstick, my own brush, shampoo and tooth brush and paste, baby wipes, magazines and a battery operated fan. I already have a few of those. Oh, I've lost about 25 pounds on my pre-op diet. I feel great already.
7/7/02
Only 4 days to go. I see Dr. Lirio tomorrow for my pre-op visit. I'm so worried he will cancel my surgery for some reason. Then I need to go for one more blood test (clotting factor) 24 hours before my surgery. I have to be at the hospital at 6:15 am on July 11, 02 for 7:30 am surgery. I have to remember that surgery on 7/11 should be a sign of good luck. I have all my stuff to take to the hospital ready. I will miss my dogs (all 7 of them) while I'm there. The hard part will be keeping them off of me when I get home. I love when they greet me and jump all over me but I can't let them when I get home. They won't understand. They will miss all the loving and play for the first couple of weeks. But I know my recovery will be tolerable by having them at my side.
7/8/02
I saw Dr. Lirio today. I lost another 8 pounds on my pre-op diet for a total of 39 pounds. That will make my surgery that much less risky and my recovery that much easier. Dr. Lirio reviewed all my test results, poked me in the belly twice and said "You're ready!". YEAHHHHHH. Maybe I'll sleep tonight and not worry about it being cancelled.
7/16/02
Yeah, I'm home with no complications. Will update more soon.
7/17/02
The surgery went well on 7/11/02. I was rolled in at 7:20 am and in recovery at 1:15pm and back to my room around 4pm. NG tube taken out in recovery. Dr. repaired and umbillical hernia while in there. No complications.
Foley catheter, incision train tube with jevac pouch, drain/pouch to old stomach. Central line triple IV neck catheter. Lot's of pain.... on PCA morhpine pump. Mostly sleep the first 2 days after surgery.Medications (heparin, reglan, some other pain killer) every couple hours. IV for antibiotics and vitamins.
Tolerating clear and full liquids well. Walking 3 times everyday. Discharged on 7/14/02.
The first 2 days at home were constant pain....... so I have now been taking my pain pills every 4 hours and each day I am feeling better and better. But I'm starting to feel hungry sometimes. I'm on pureed foods and so far so good. No vomiting, no dumping. Have eaten with no problems the following foods---all pureed: chicken, green beans, carrots, strip steak, lamb,spahgetti-Os, meatball, mashed potato, cream of wheat, cotage cheese, egg, SF ice pop, tea, skim milk, crystal lite, broth. I have not had any sugars other than 1-2g natural and no fats other than 1 tsp lite mayo in the chicked (tastes wonderful LOL) Getting my fluids in and my protien drinks and exercise. I'm doing everything right...... but have only lost about 3 lbs one week post op. That's depressing. But I did lose 39 pounds pre-op so I don't have that initial water weight to lose.
7/22/02
Feeling better each day. The first week I seriously asked my self why I did this? Now it's beginning to be worth it. No problems eating. Here is an email I'd like to share that I wrote (6 days post op) to a friend who was having surgery a week after mine:
I'm praying for you. It's rough but will be worth it. Don't be nervous. They treated me very nicely and I was in revcvery before I knew it. They wheeled me to the OR at 7:40 am and I was in recovery at 1:15pm and there about 2 hours. NG tube was in but removed there.
>P?
They had put a central/triple IV line catheter in my neck. They will probably do that for you too. The anesthesiologist will tell you if they are going to do it. It worked out much better. Not having to deal with IVs attached to my arms and getting in the way. Now I look like I was biten by a 3 toothed vampire.
The battery fan is a must. I roasted for 2 days and froze for 2 days but really really needed the fan. Another must...... baby powder. My back got so sweaty and itchy. the nurse's aide will powder your back and butt...... worth it.
Now..... a warning about the hospital........ you really really need to be aware of your own needs. They ran 3 1/2 hours late on my meds one day. Make sure they keep hooking up the leg things for you (that expand and deflate to prevent blood clots). You need to tell them you need a spirometer. Dr. Lirio had a fit when he found they never gave me one. You need to remind them about the surgical stockings when you get discharged. The nursing staff is very short. Many of them were working 16 hours shifts. They are super wonderful when they first get in but can get a little cranky when you need something at the end of their shift. Make sure your cpap is within reach.
The Kitchen....... doesn't have a clue...... just cause they give you a whole bowl of cereal doesn't mean you can eat it. And check the menu to make sure they gave you everything. Every meal they missed my juice or milk or tea. For drinks they under cut. Some thing would say 1/4 cup and they give you 1/4 of a 6 oz cup. I mixed the protien (promod) powder with my apple juice. Several meals they only gave me 1 scoop (supposed to be 2 scoops). Now this is our most critical nutrient so I would request more. The last day it took them 2 1/2 hours to bring it and they brought me a full completely different menu/lunch (bariatric 3, not 2. Which I probably should have been on the day before).
The nurses aren't all that sure of your diet needs so you really have to know your self. They tried to give me whole pills a couple times.
Good luck and I'll call you on Saturday.
Here is another email I wrote (10 days post op) to another friend:
Well, I haven't puked yet. only felt nausea once about 2 hours after i ate. Have been able to tolorate everything i have tried so far, chicken, steak, pot roast, lamb, broiled pork, teriayaki marinaded pork, green beans, carrots, spaghetti-os, betty crocker sour cream and chives , and 4 cheese instant mashed pots, cream of wheat, scrambled egg, cottage cheese, Everything still being pureed. Jello, creamy yogurt, sugar free ice pops, protein milk shakes with sweet and low SF choc. syrup, skim milk,. I put a TS of lo fat mayo in the chicken and it tastes great.
There are some people that cannot eat some things such as MEAT for months after. Other people are eating pizza at 2 weeks. I'm just going the try and stick to the healthy foods. For dinner last night I had 1 oz (1 oz is about 2 TBS) of pork, 1 oz of carrots and about 1 oz of mashed pots. It filled me up and kept me full all night. Sometimes I can eat up to 5 oz but I probably should't push it. Sometimes I feel hungry an hour after I ate but it's the 'head hunger'. The whole reason we are fat to begin with. So I have to conquer that but having the surgery makes it easier. I'm in mild to moderate pain, mostly where the incision is. I'm still taking my pain pills every 4-5 hours and it helps. I'm trying to walk on the treadmill at least 1/2 mile each day but my foot is still killing me (I have to go get fit for orthotics on 8/1).
So overall I think I am doing pretty good. I go next monday to get the drain tube out. I think I may have lost about 8-10 pounds. A lot of people complain if they only lose 5 pounds a week........ but you have to think, when was the last time you lost 5 pounds, period?
I'm finding my liquid pre op diet really really helped prepare me. I hear that other people go crazy after the surgery when they cannot eat, and they really can't cause they will get sick. My 6 weeks of medifast helped ease me into not eating so after the surgery, eating a little and healthy is like heaven.
Anyway, a week ago I wondered why I did this. each day does get better. I think I made the right decision now but I hope I am strong enough to use my surgery properly. Like they say, it's just a 'tool' to help you lose weight, you still have to make a great effort and lifestyle and eating habits change to be successful.
7/30/02
Had my first post-op visit yesterday. All is going well. The stomach tube came out. No problems. Dr. Lirio removed the steri strips from my incision and I a 6-1/2 in pink hairline down my belly. He uses internal dissolving stitches so no big ugly incision or staple holes.
The great news is that I lost 17 pounds since my surgery on 7/11/02. With my pre-op diet that makes a total of 56 pounds gone forever. Yippee!
More great news....... I tried on some bras I had saved and they fit perfectly. That means I have lost 2" and a full cup size already. Believe me, I can afford it LOL.
9/12/02
I feel great. Have not vomited or dumped once. I have been able to eat anything I have tried. Gyro, nachos (only rarely) steak, chicken, egg rolls. Have not tried real sweets yet and don't plan to. I am down to a size 22-24 (from a size 34). I am so happy. I've had NO, absolutley NONE, problems since my surgery. The worst has been constipation so I take milk of magnesia every other night before bed.
9/29/02
Everything is wonderful. I feel so normal. No problems at all. Eating anything I want (in small quantities) but still have nit eaten sweets. No dumping or vomiting ever. I feel really really good.
10/14/02
Well, I didn't make my 3 month goal of 100 pounds lost.... I have only lost 99 pounds so far. Oh well LOLOLOLOL. I'm not complaining. I still feel wonderful, have had no problems and can eat anything. Trying new things each week. Sometimes I feel like I am able to eat way too much and then other times I get full after only a few bites. I guess it all works out.
10/28/02
I had my 3 month post op visit and I made the 'Century Club'. i have officially lost 105 pounds. 39 pre-op so the post op weight loss averages 4 lbs a weeks. Not as much as I would like but I'm still very pleased considering I can eat anything and sometimes I feel I am eating too much.
I did throw up for my absolutely first time. After my dr. visit I went to Boston Market. I don't have any near me and miss it. I ordered a 1/4 white, green beans and mashed pots. I ate the wing, the 'tender' part of the breast and about 6 beans when I got the pain in my chest. I said I'm not stopping until I try those wonderful mashed potatoes LOL........ that one bite made the pain worse. I stopped eating, went out to my car. Burped a couple times and then spit up a little saliva/foam into a napkin. Then I felt fine. I don't think I ate too much (compared to other times) but maybe too fast since it was something I love and haven't had it in over 6 months. I had the leftovers for dinner. Didn't eat much and got full and stopped. The dogs enjoyed the rest. The other night I had chinese food and ate a LOT of it. Wontons, chicken chow mein, rice, crispy noodles and some beef lo mein. I got uncomfortably full but didn't get sick. Been trying to walk 2 miles every other day.
I have definitely lost some muscle as I has lost alot of strength. I can barely lift a 44 lb bag of dog food. I've bought some dumb bells to help build up my arms again.
I will have a full panel of blood work and and EKG done early December. I do not need to see the surgeon again until March (unless I have a problem).
11/29/02
I saw my pulmonist today for my routine 1 year check up. He thinks I can probably go off my CPAP machine. It will be a 3 month wait to get sleep lab tested so for now I am just going to do an overnight (at home) oxygen saturation test without my CPAP. If my O2 levels drop then I stay on the CPAP. If my levels remain normal then I will stop using the CPAP and see how it goes from there. As long as I feel good, not sleepy, etc, I can go without it.
I've been on a plateau for about 3 weeks. It's my fault. I have not done my walking (snow on the roads, and hunting season), and I have been away alot and eating fast foods and snacking alot. Tried doing my treadmill today. Did only 1/2 mile and got too bored.
I sent out a resume yesterday. Wish me luck. I am so ready to go back to work. I loved having the last year off but going back to work (100 pounds thinner) is exciting.
I leave next week for Florida and I am glad to say I will only take up one seat LOL. I have not seen my parents in over 2 years. They do not know about my surgery and will be so happy to see my health improved so much since the last time they saw me.
Had a nice Thanksgiving with close friends. I cooked a traditional turkey dinner. Used splenda and low-fat ingredients in some of my dishes. Everything was delicious. I sort of 'grazed' all day while cooking and entertaining. Back on the diet today!!!!!
I did have a HORRIBLE experience the other night. I had dinner, got very full. Cleaning dishes, I ate a few more bites then forgot I hadn't taken my prunes. I popped 2 in my mouth and didn't even think and I guess I didn't chew them well enough. The chest pain started....... I guess I got blocked. Bad spasms of pain and naseau for about an hour. I finally vomited 3 times that foamy mucus. Felt better for about 15 minutes then started the naseau and salivation. Kept spitting in the waste basket for about 45 mins while having really bad pain spasms. I threw up 2 more times and then was OK and went to bed. I sometimes really shovel the food in like the old days so I needed this 'wake up call' to keep me in check. I have had the pain before but I usually stop and it passes in a couple minutes.
I do not want a blocked stoma again.
1/2/03
Happy New Year!
It certainly is. I feel wonderful. I'm down 129 pounds. I'm now considered only 'obese'. I started out 'super obese' and that's even worse then 'morbidly obese' per the BMI scale.
I had a great time in Florida. It was so wonderful to see my parents and my sister. They all look wonderful.
I had another eat too fast/vomit mucus episode. New Year's Eve. I was out all day and when I got home I hurried to take my pills and eat something before we had to get ready to go out.....
Bammmmm. the pain, etc. We ended up staying home. Ben didn't feel like going out anyway. I tried (on some advice from GBIC)to chew a papaya enzyme when this happens. Well, 10 mins later I felt jut fine.
I've been doing Agility with my dog Dallas. I feel great. I can run an 18 obstacle course with her and not be out of breath or in any pain.
I bought some new jeans today....... woooooo hoooooo....... size 16. From a 34 to a 16 (tight but they fit :-).
2/2/03
Not much new. I still feel wonderful. Weight loss has slowed down (to be expected) but I'm still losing. I'm eating more and snacking bad sometimes. Doing my exercise 4-5 days a week. About 30 mins a day. Doing aerobic walking following Leslie Sansone "Walk Away The Pounds" videos. They are GREAT. Perfect for low joint impact high calorie burn exercise. I had another pain/vomit episode. Was eating pasta... just to hard not to want to swallow it down.
3/22/03
Saw Dr. Lirio on March 18th. He said I looked terrific and I am doing great. Keep doing whatever I am doing. I continue to lose slowly now but at least I am losing but not feeling deprived of any foods I love.
I have a pinched nerve behind my left knee which caused some pasly and weakness in the ankle and great toe. Causing me to limp and drop my foot slightly. The cause.... CROSSING MY LEGS. Something new to me LOL. So no more crossing my legs and some physical therapy and full use is slowing coming back.
Still occasionally eat too fast and get the chest pain but the papaya enzymes are a real life saver when this happens. Will post weight below but did not take any new measurements....
7/11/03
Wow, it's been a long time since I posted. Today is my 1 year re-birthday and I feel wonderful. I have not lost anymore weight since my last post in March. I am just maintaining. I have to admit that I have stopped exercising regularly and am eating alot of carbs. But I am still pleased with the weight I have lost.
I have been extremely active competing with my dogs in Agility. Something I could have never done before. Check out my agility page here .
The pinched nerve is all healed via the physical therapy and I have full movement again.
I seem to have a problem with chicken when it's dry or breast meat. Sometimes rice but I eat that very rarely. Things like salad, crackers, popcorn, soups and cheeses go down the easiest. I go for my 1 year check up with Dr. Lirio next week and I'll find out how my labs are that were drawn last month.
I'm not back to work yet...... I am enjoying my new life too much right now to go back to work. Will need to go back eventually.
11/24/03
Wow, it's been a REALLY long time since I posted. I am 5 days post op from my Panniculectomy. It was done on 11/18/03 by Dr. Lirio, my bariatric surgeon. He has done MANY. It was approved by insurance in 2-3 days. WOW. I had an overnight stay. I am feeling a little better each day. Dr. Lirio removed 11 pounds of belly skin. YEAH!!!! Today's weight was 192. I had been steady at 205 for the last 8 months. Finally under 200.
