Debbie A.

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babytuck4 21 years, 4 months ago

JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW GREAT JOB ON YOUR CONTUINED WEIGHT LOSE. YOU HAVE ALL OF YOUR DREAMS WAITING FOR YOU TO TAKE

Debbie A. 21 years, 5 months ago

Hello AMOS family! It's been so long since I've checked the AMOS board, but we've had a family wedding and I've had out of town guests staying at my house. Then I headed off to Washington, where I'm spending some of my time off work visiting more of my family and meeting a new niece! I'm 5 weeks postop and YES! I would have the surgery all over again, in a heartbeat! My all time high weight was 348 (5'8") and I wore a size 30/32 or a tight 3X. I was able to get off 21 pounds and weighed in at 327 before my surgery. Last Monday I weighed 295 and I'm sure I've lost some since then! I've lost 4 inches in my waist, 1 inch in my bust, 1 1/2 inches in my neck and 2 inches in my thighs! The good news is that I just wore a brand new size 24 dress to attend a family wedding! I can't really believe how quickly the weight is coming off! WooHoo! My recovery has been strictly by the book and I've experienced absolutely no major complications. I'm eating normal foods, but still holding off on major red meat like steak and prime rib. (I have had a few bites of hamburger in meatloaf.) My typical eating involves at least one protein drink (27 1/2 grams of protein) and 2 yogurts (6 grams each.) Some days I'll have maybe 6 paper thin slices of turkey (10 grams) and a slice of cheese (5 grams) or some eggsalad with 3 or 4 crackers. I really need to drink my protein drink twice a day, but if I've had a good protein day, will sometimes skip it. It's hard to stay away from the carbs, but I'm learning it's best and I'm loving the way the scale keeps going down. I've had several episode of vomiting (or spitting up) that I think are related to eating too much too quickly. I haven't experienced any of the "too much sugar" dumping and I'm waiting to see what my labwork looks like. I have told a few people at work (in strict confidence!) about my WLS and I know that my weight loss is going to be completely noticeable when I go back on November 20th. (I hope to have lost close to 50 pounds by then!) I still don't know how I'm going to handle it, but am leaning towards answering direct questions with, "Why are you so curious about my personal health?" and/or "I'm uncomfortable talking about something that is so clearly of a personal and private nature." My close friend who had this surgery 4 years ago thinks I should be shouting the good news from the treetops, but I'm not comfortable with that and so plan to play it by ear. (I welcome any suggestions!) I've been going to Weight Watchers since I got home from the hospital and find it is a very supportive atmosphere for me. I haven't told them about my surgery, and if asked plan to say that I am following my doctors instructions and eating a high protein, low carb diet, and that my lab work is being monitored. Have any of you postops also done this? Tomorrow I'm going to the health club with my brother & sister-in-law and hope to spend an hour on the treadmill! I'm not enjoying the exercising, but I know that it's doing me a lot of good and so plan to keep it up!

Michele G. 21 years, 6 months ago

Hi Debbie Ann, I too live in San Jose. I am not yet on the losing side but my surgery is scheduled for the 6th of November. I read your page and you have been through a lot! I was wondering how you are doing and how much you lost so far. Is there anywhere in San Jose you buy your protein? Anyway I am really happy for you to have already had yours over with!

kimmer_742001 21 years, 6 months ago

Debbie, Congrats on your weight loss so far!! You are doing great! Keep up the good work! :)

Debbie A. 21 years, 7 months ago

Well I'm officially on the "losing side" and hope to be the AMOS boards next "Incredible shrinking woman!" My WLS was Sept 25th and I think that while I was at the hospital, I thought I was Super Woman! I was walking so many laps around the floor and my nurses kept commenting on how flexible I was and telling me that they were talking about me at the nurses station. Well, you know what they say about "Pride goeth before a fall!" All of my prowess was based on that modern miracle of medicine called the morphine pump! As soon as they took that away from me - I lost my Super Hero Status! I had a SCARY experience on Saturday, the day I was discharged. I think I kind of fell through the cracks with the hospital. My IV had infiltrated again (right arm this time) so they took it out during the night. Dayshift came on and took my vitals around 7:30. Then Dr. Rumsey was in at 8 and wrote an order for a shot of Toridol and that I was being discharged. The problem was that because I couldn't check into the hotel until 3.p.m., I had no place to go. So everyone knew I was going to be there until that time. My shot made me sleepy and so I slept until almost noon, by then Nathan and my Mom arrived. Nathan helped me with a shower and then I was tired and napped until 1:30. Up until this point I hadn't walked at all and no one had brought me any new ice chips or juice. We left the hospital and went to the motel where I took some pain medication and fell asleep for a couple more hours. When I woke up I felt miserable and sat around the hotel and watched TV, took more pain medication and dozed in my chair. By 9.p.m. I had a fever of 101.9 and couldn't blow on my Voldyne (incentive spirometer) past 1500 ml. We called Pacific Bariatrics and Dr. Tanaka called us back. He deduced that I hadn't been walking or drinking enough liquids and that my lung capacity was diminished because of sleeping, not walking, and not using my spirometer. I took a 15 minute walk, more pain medication and some liquid Tylenol and went to bed. I have to admit I was pretty scared when we called Pacific Bariatrics. I was envisioning all of the complications that we've both heard about and beginning to believe that I was going to be one on them. I was relieved to find my fever down in the morning and back to normal by that night! I really hated the hotel - primarily becase I couldn't get comfortable in bed - in spite of sleeping with 6 pillows! I guess it was because I wasn't sleeping with my FAVORITE pillow - Nathan! He was in the next bed! Although we had a suite, the hotel was so confining and there really wasn't anything to do other than watch tv. Mom felt useless and other than cook for herself and Nathan, there really wasn't anything else for her to do. Nathan and Mom refused to leave me alone, and I just didn't feel up to any superduper field trips i.e. San Diego Zoo. Although Monday I did venture out 4 blocks to Hollywood Video and the local drug store. Tuesday, Mom and I returned to the drug store and also went to the Corvette Diner where I watched her eat strawberry cheesecake! My freedom was obtained, on Wednesday, after having my 1 week post-op visit with Dr. Rumsey. My pre-op blood pressure was 166/102 and in the surgeons office it was 120/90! That's quite the miracle as far as I'm concerned! Also, I weighed in and lost 13 pounds, so I feel off to a good start! I'm so glad to be back at home and in my own bed! I'm not really in pain - more "discomfort" when I move, but that's to be expected with ANY kind of abdominal surgery! I haven't had any pain medicine for the last two days and then only at night the day before that. As far as what I'm eating - for my first meal I made a small bowl of cheesy mashed potatoes with skim milk, NO butter or margarine and a slice of reduced fat cheese. Then I cooked an egg in the frying pan in Pam spray and a couple of tablespoons of water. I then took my over easy egg and mashed it into ONE ounce of the aforementioned cheesy mashed potatoes and ate it in teeny-tiny bites. It was delicious! My primary source of protein is supposed to be lowfat yogurt, cottage cheese, and eggs. And of course the nasty tasting protein drink that I will be drinking daily for the next 6 months to a year! My Mom will be here until October 16th, then she's back home to Tacoma. When she's usually here, she loves to show her love by cooking for us, but the only thing that really sounded good to me was soup. So, of course, she immediately got a chicken in the pot! The resulting chicken barley soup was - and at only an ounce at a time for me - will be delicious for some time to come! I've just got to remember to have only ONE ounce at a time! Yesterday I had no problem getting in the 30 ounces of liquid that Dr. Rumsey said was my goal every day. He said to try and increase it, but 64 ounces was probably a little on the unrealistic side. I'll be off work until the middle of November and so I'm planning on lots of guilt-free HGTV and SKIPBO as long as Mom is here. So far - I feel really blessed to have this new tool in my battle of the bulge. I'll keep you posted in the weeks and months to come and see if I say the same thing! (((Hugs))) Debbie Ann - loser of 13 pounds so far! San Jose, CA

A J. 21 years, 7 months ago

Hi Debbie Ann! I know that you were bummed that your date got changed but now I may be able to walk around the nurses station with you!!! I am having m y surgery with PB on the 26th. A wonderful lady named Rosemary got bumped up to the 25th just like you and she is so sweet. ANYWOO, I think it is wonderful that you will be a post-opper and on your way to that quick and easy recovery I am praying for you by the time I get done with my pre-op clinic the 25th. Well, I just want you to know that I totally have you in my thoughts and prayers and I just know you will do fabulous! See you there, especially if you dont mind a visitor poppin in on ya? Who knows we may even end up in the same room? You just never know! Big huge PRE-OP Hugs.

~~Stacie~~ 21 years, 7 months ago

TAKE 2~ I wish you all the success and health that this surgery can provide- I will keep you in my thoughts this day and pray that God keeps you in his protection…Congratulations!!

Ron E. 21 years, 7 months ago

Good luck on your coming surgery. My prayers are with you, and hoping for an uneventful surgery, and a speedy, painfree recovery. Keep your focus on healing. Make sure you walk, and keep up your breathing exercise. YOU CAN DO THIS! See you on the other side.

cherokey55 21 years, 7 months ago

Your re-Birthday is just around the corner!! I'm sorry to hear of all you had to go through to get this far. I am just positive it will be worth all the hassle. I pray that you will have an uneventful surgery and a smooth and speedy recovery!!!! We are all looking forward to your before and after pics!! By the way, thank you for your post on my page...I feel so much better knowing I'm not alone...that someone REALLY knows exactly what I'm going through. -Terri

Sue A. 21 years, 7 months ago

Best wishes for an uneventful and speedy recovery. Remember to walk, breathe and drink drink drink water.