ObesityHelp

2/05/06...
Wahoo!!! got approval and a surgery date!!!!! I start the liquid diet on tuesday and that is also the date that I meet the surgeon for the first time. Then on Friday I have all my labs done. A busy time for me to clear my work schedule, but well worth it!!!!!

My surgery was 2/21/06, I had Open RNY at St. Joseph's Hospital with Dr. Koeplin. I was in surgery less than one hour with gallbladder extrcation. I was home that thursday. Only 2 days aftre surgery. I did fantastic!!! I was up and walking with in 2 hours after surgery. I was off pain killers the day after I got home and haven't had even tylenol since that friday! I'd swear he didn't do anything inside of me.. I feel too good!!! Except for a bit of soreness... I feel wonderful! I have lost 25lbs since the 2 week liquid diet and since being home!! So far I haven't had any nausea or vommiting. I am back to doing most everything. This was an amazing thing to do. Now I will wait to see how my life will change, as I am sure it will!! I see my surgeon for the first time since comming home and I will update more then. By the way.... aren't these profile volunteers WONDERFUL????? I love what they did for my profile!! Thanks soooooooooooo much!!!!!
Hugss and kisses.

05/12/06
Hi all, I know it has been a long time since I posted last. It just seems my life is too busy for me at times. So much has changed since the last post.
First, I am almost 3 months post op now and down 52#!!! I know that doesn't seem like alot to some of you out there, but for my body style, height and composition, it is ALOT!! I am in my "small pants" and they are starting to sag now! WAHOO!!
I feel so much better now. I can bend to tie my shoes and not be winded. I fit i n normal chairs more comfortably too!
I have noticed that I am a bit more lethargec and sometimes a bit "blue" Not really depressed, but a bit gloomy for no reason. Also my hair is shedding ALOT. Fortunately, I have very long and very thick hair to where it isn't noticable. I am not good about taking my vitamins. My BAD.
I am very careful what I eat. I eat mostly protien, as I can't tolerate any of the protien shake mixes at all.
I am working out again and hopefully that will speed up the process a bit. I have a home Bowflex that I love!!
People are just now starting to notice the weight loss. I feel bad that with my frame and height, that I can carry around so much extra weight and people not notice. TSK TSK.
I have found that people have mixed emotions about my weight loss. Most are indifferent. Some think I took the easy way out. Yeah Right! I educate them as much as possible. And some just don't say anything at all. Most of all these people are my co-workers. Some of them are obese as well and are trying to lose weight. I congratulate them. We should all do what is best for us!
I think my "blues" are due to the change from the surgery. It takes a body a while to adjust to the lack of nutrician and calories. I have to remember that for almost 40 years my body had free calorie and nutrician intake. The body is bond to take a "hit".
This is by far the best thing I have done for myself and my family and career!
I go in for my 3 month check up on the 19th of this month. I am having lunch with the secretary there. She had WLS 2 months ago!! We can share a Triscut!! LOL
I will post more then.
Thank you all on this site for your knowledge and your support. But most of all I want to thank God!
Without him in my life, none of this would be possible.

05/17/06
I just weighed in when I took my mom to see my surgeon..... I am at 232#!!!! Total of 57# lost forever in less than 3 months!!! I actually got my first compliment from someone that hasn't seen me in a while. Talk about a major ego booster! I see the dietician and nurse on Friday for my 3 month check up. I am no longer afraid to step on a scale. I didn't think I would ever get to that point.
It is hard to believe when I step on that scale and see how much weight I have lost,that it is gone, gone , gone, forever! In the past I would dread weight loss. How weird is that? I would always think that next week it will be back on and my clothes won't fit again that they would be too tight again. But not anymore. Those pounds are gone for good, not just for a day and come back on after one meal. I feel great!!
I will update later this week after my appointment.
God Bless you all!
Huggs and smooches.

07/15/06. Well I am now down to 215#!!!! I haven't been this small since high school. That is a total weight loss of 74#!!! All that in 5 months. I go in for my 6 month check up the middle of August. They will take pictures and measurements then. I will also have blood work. I have done amazingly well. The only few problems Ii have had through the entire process is that my hair fell out starting at about 2 months and is just now slowing down a bit. Luckily I have very thick and long hair. It wasn't noticeble. I did have muscle fatigue, but my PCP says that will get better in the next few months. The worst thing about all this is that I have to have iron transfussions for 8 weeks. I am starting my 4th week on monday. I have to go to the oncology dept of my hospital (which I work for) once a week for 8 weeks to get iron transfused into my veins. So far it hasn't been too bad except a few of my co-workers thought I was getting chemothereapy and started rumors. I had to set that straight. For some reason I don't store, produce, or absorb iron. I had this problem before surgery and now it has gotten worse to the point of being critical. I had only 6% iron...supossed to have 50%. YIKES. Something else was critical low too , think it was my feritin level.My B-12 was borderline. So, i will most likely be on iron injections and B-12 injections after I am done with infussion therapy. That's OK. I have a real hard time taking anything by mouth. meaning, vitamins,and medications. I throw them all back up. Between the taste of them after they sit in my pouch for a while a nd the smell of the pills themselves... I retchet before I get them in my mouth. I wish i could get vitamins in shot form! Then i would be good!!! LOL
I feel fantastic!!! I am looking good too , if I do say so myself. LOL
I did finally have to go buy smaller jeans. I have gotten away with my smaller jeans from before. But I did breakdown and buy my 3 pairs of 38 men's jeans! I get alot of comments now from people about my weightloss and so far they have all been positive! My fiance' tells me I am too sexy for him....um not sure I like that comment. He is a very attractive man and can have any woman he wants. They flock to him. Our relationship is not the best lately, but we will see what happens.
I did start school again!! I will be a Cardiovascular cath lab tech when I am done in 2 years. Talk about "heavy stuff". But I will get through it. I need to support my family better! So I am excited about school.
I don't even worry about fitting into the chairs anymore or the cinema seats either!! I have room to spare!! I do have some saggy skin. I know some will firm up and some won't. But I am OK with that. There won't be enough to really warrant surgery. I have about 25-30 # to lose then I will be at my personal goal.
I am hoping to lose 10#'s before seeing the Dr next month but if not, I am happy with my weightloss so far.
Without God in my life, none of this would have been possible. I thank Him everyday!!
I will update when I have pics.
hugs and smooches.
Kate.

Hey, guess what? I am still a looseer!! Total weightloss in 6 months is 89#'s!!!! Wahoo!!!! Total inches lost w/o measuring legs is over 20 inches!
I had my 6 month check up today. Everything went well! I don't see the Dr. again for another 6 months. By their calculations I have only 15lbs more to reach their goal weight for me. I'm thinking about the same as they are. So , I hope in another 3 months I will be at gaol. How cool is that?
Has anyone had alot of trouble swallowing any kind of pills? Or keeping liquid meds/vitamins down? I can't even keep tylenol down. That is a poblem because I haven't been taking any vitamins. I just can't tolerate them. I was that way before surgery but has gotten 10 times worse.
I am very thankful for all in my life , but especially for God. He is my light and he has blessed me dearly.
I will update when I am below the 200 mark.
Huggsss and kisses..
Kate

I am down 101#!!! Wahoo. I am a member of the century club!!! Only 3 lbs till goal.

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THINGS I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AFTER WLS.
1) Feel Healthier. (ongoing processs) DONE.
2) Tie my shoes w/o getting winded. DONE
3)Get up from the floor w/o using anything to pull myself up with. DONE!
4) Wear shorts and be comfortable in how I look in them.
5)Be able to feel my ribs w/o laying down and sucking everything in.
6)Get under 250Lbs. DONE!
7)Get under 200Lbs. Done!!!
8) Fit in normal chairs. DONE!
9)Fit in amusement park rides. DONE!!!!!!
10)Be at 190lbs.DONE!!!! In 7 months!!!

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