One year follow up appointment..

Yesterday was my one year follow up appointment. All went well, thank God !! Bordering anemic, but not too shabby considering I have had 3 plastic surgeries, breast augmentaion and lift, lateral thighplasty and butt lift, inner thighplasty, in the last 3 months. Dr Clark refilled an iron supplement called Repliva..which I LOVE. I was 2 lbs shy of losing 100% of my excess body weight. DAMN IT !!!!!!! Again, considering I have been practically on bedrest/light activity for the last 3 months, I can't complain. It perplexes me that I had soooooooooo much loose skin removed and it didn't result to a SINGLE POUND of weight loss !! It just doesn't seem possible. I started off a size 24+ and now in 4s and 6s..which makes shopping exciting !! What I need to work on is grazing too much. I didn't develop the proper eating habits immediately after weight loss surgery because I had a stricture which took two dilations. So for over 4 months I took a bite here and there and often ended up even throwing that up. I need to get back to working out, jogging, and endurance training. Hopefully this summer I will do some distance kayaking and train to do a half marathon by Labor Day weekend. Those are my present goals... The office staff, as always, was very encouraging about my success with the weight loss. The patients in the waiting room said I was very inspiring to them also. They couldn't believe I ever had a weight problem. There were several "wow" moments regarding other patient compliments. One lady who just had surgery said that I had just got her husband slapped because he was checking me out too much !! Another person said the Dr Clark should pay me to walk through the office to show the other patients what the surgery did for me and could do for them. It is still hard for me to accept the compliments because my brain still sees me at 270lbs. Hopefully in time that will work itself out..if not I will go to therapy for body image issues. The year has gone by fast. It seems like I was the one in the chair waiting for my first check up and here it has been a full year. I hope everyone is doing well on his or her journey. Keep following the rules, taking your supplements, watch the nono foods as much as possible. It is too easy for old habits to sneak back in as time marches forward..as I am finding out now. Try NOT to test the waters to see what you can and can't tolerate if it is on the nono list. Enjoy and take advantage of the no appetite, because mine has come back some. We start off with a great deal of excess fat, which is stored energy, that our bodies can metabolize. Just remember to keep your fluids at or past the 64oz daily.The head hunger has NEVER gone away for me, but the dumping and "tool" has helped me cope with it about 95% of the time. The other 5% of the time I am losing my mind for dessert !! Stay clear of well meaning people who try to sabotage your weight loss efforts. Many aren't even aware they are doing it... But yes...just one bite CAN do you in !!! I almost ended up in the ER a few times because of it. Don't worry about the hair loss..it is going to happen if it is going to happen regardless of overdosing on all your vitamins. It is called Telogen Effluvium and happens in times of stess to many. Believe me, mine has hog tied me in the shower for the last year !! Your hair will grow back. Remember to enjoy every acomplishment along the way..no matter how big or small... Be good to yourself and have faith !!! Dana 5'9.5 inches / 270+ before surgery/ 153 lbs currently/ aspiring to get to 145lbs just to say I did it ..but not trying to be Nicole Richie either!!!

Congrats on your success Dana. Glad to hear how well you are doing. Aren't those wow moments great. Courtney

Thanks Courtney !!! Dana

Woohoo! I'm really happy for you and inspired by you, Dana! you have done an amazing job! I hope I do as well as you! I also hope I'm gonna get to see you tomorrow at Outback! Will you be there? Hugs, Robin

I am going to try my best Robin !! I can't wait to see you. My husband's schedule at work has been terrible so it will depend on if he is home or if he has been at work for 24hrs straight or any other schedule mess. How have you been? Can't wait to hear all about it !!! I told Amber that if there were no seats left I would sit on her lap !!! Dana

I sure hope all of the schedules mesh so you can be there! I'm doing terrific! I feel great - I'm walking everyday - I'm doing spring cleaning - I'm trying to run my business (but not to interested in it right now for some reason) - I'm eating soft foods - I'm trying to drink my water slowly (not too successfully though) - and hopefully, I am losing weight! I am only weighing once per week though (as of Wednesday I was down 20.2 pounds). Well, I also am crossing my fingers and toes that you'll be there! Hugs, Robin

Hey Robin.... I tried to call the number on your business card yesterday about 3:30ish. If you see a 277 number it was me. I was stuck running errands and it didn't stop till 9 pm last night. My husband is working double shifts daily..except yesterday he was off..and today he goes in AGAIN !!! I feel like I missed out last night but we ran out of time. I need Amber's number and your cell phone number if possible. Were you able to eat anything? Dana

It's so good to hear of your success. At only one week out today --- I still have a long way to go to catch you but I am on the way. I read a post yesterday that said something very similar to you. Don't try things you know you shouldn't have -- that way you don't find out if you tolerate it or not. I hope to follow that advice. You certainly have had your share of surgeries. I have heard we are asked to wait at least a year before starting any plastic surgery. Any reason why you went forward before that?

I was just ready to get started. As heavy as I was, I was still considered a lightweight for weight loss surgery and my weight loss had slowed down drastically by the end of December. I think I have lost less than 10 lbs since then. Your pouch is just a tool. You control the calories in and out..what you eat and how much you exercise. My WLS felt it was okay for me to get started. The Plastic Surgeon said another 15 lb weight loss or so would not affect the results of the surgeries. He also said I had very little subcutaneous fat to lose. Overall, I was happy where my weight was. And actually Julia, I probably would have waited another few months to have it done but my husbands military schedule played a big part of how I had to scheduled the surgeries. He will be leaving soon and he wanted to be here when I had them in case something went wrong and to help me post op since we have 3 young children in the house. I am glad I didn't wait honestly !! ..But everyone is different. The choice is very individualized. You have to discuss it with your doctor and very rarely does insurance cover plastic surgery anyway. In some cases insurance will cover maybe a tummy tuck after 18 months if you are one of the lucky ones. Hope this helps !! Dana

You look wonderful. Your should be very proud. I dont know how you handled three PS surgeries so close together. Whew.... Just one has put me on my back. Great job, Susan