Beth_R

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I can't believe I am finally here! I was in Onederland briefly 11 years ago, but I haven't lived here in probably 20 years. I never want to leave it again.
Today is my 6 month surgiversary, so it is very fitting that I reached this goal at today's weigh-in. I can't believe it has been 6 months since surgery, I don't know where the time goes, I guess you are too busy living your new life, you don't notice the passge of time. It certainly doesn't go as slow as it did when I was in the process and waiting for surgery, time crawled by then!
This was a big goal that I reached, and I have lots more to go.

I just realized I haven't posted on here since my surgery. Time really starts to fly after the surgery. I had my surgery January 19th 2011. It went well, no pain, I never used the morphine drip or took any pain killers after. The gas bothered me a bit, but once that started to move around, everything felt better. I didn't realize that they didn't let you drink for 2 days after surgery! My throat was so sore from the tube, and the hospital was super dry, so I was dying for a drink. Towards the end of day 2, I finally got to have a sip of water, but by then I was afraid of putting anything in my new pouch! I got over that fear though, and started on the clear fluids in the hospital. The hospital stay itself was not good, everyone was very nice, but it's so loud, I didn't get any sleep, and they are all over you with vitals every 2 hours, poking and prodding. It was nice to get the monitors off, the IVs out, and be able to walk around freely,  but then that just makes it weirder, because you have to stay in the hospital, but you're not sick, and you feel fine. It's like being forced to stay in a hotel with strangers, and nothing to do. Enough complaining though, it's only 3 nights, and then you are free.
   Once home, everything went pretty well, I felt a bit weak, but good. I got sick of broth and jello very quickly, but I wasn't about to start the next phase early, so for the second week I pretty much lived on water, tea and Crystal Light. After week 2, when I could start on full fluids, it got a little better. I added mild hot sauce to my strained cream soups, which helped a bit. I do have to say though, I got hit pretty hard with depression after the first week, which I knew was a possibility, but it was tough to get through. After week 4, I was allowed to start on soft food, and I was back at work by that point, both of which helped to make me start to feel better. Between weeks 5 and 6, the depression lifted, and everything got so much better. During the dark period, I really questioned if I had made the right decision, but now I know I did. I just wish at week 2 or 3, I knew that in just a couple more weeks, everything would turn around.
   At week 12, when I could add in fresh fruits and vegetables to my diet, I even started to feel, "normal" again! I have had no issues with food, after I got over the constant nausea while on liquids. I have not thrown up at all. The bowel movements, which go though some weird phases, seem to have hit a rhythm, everything is good.
   I just had my 3 month follow up, and evrything looks good. I have been slow to get back into the exercise, I still amd self conscious about having people see me exercising. I have started back at yoga, which is a pretty accepting place, so I am starting to gain confidence. I have even taken a couple aerial yoga classes, where you do yoga on ropes suspended from the ceiling! It's pretty cool, and absolutely not something I would have even considered trying a year ago!
   It's very liberating to see the new person underneath as your old self starts to melt away.

I am on day 3 of my 2 week Optifast diet before surgery. I know now, it does get better. I was almost gagging with each sip the first day, I really hated the taste. I found that as you get hungrier, it starts to taste better! Blending it with ice helps too. I am starving, but it is manageable so far. A little tired, a little bit of a headache, but I'm hoping that passes. I think about food a lot, thinking about what I am going to make for lunch or dinner, before I catch myself and realize I won't be making anything but the Optifast! It's hard watching TV, there are a LOT of food commercials. Each day brings me closer to surgery though, so it's all worth it. Plus, I have lost 6 pounds so far, so I have lost almost all of the 8 pounds I piled on at Christmas!

I met with my surgeon in Guelph this week, he approved me, and I have surgery January 19th 2011!! I can't wait. I REALLY liked my surgeon, he is exactly what I wanted, very knowledgable, very matter of fact. I trust him.
Looking forward to taking the next steps in this journey.

I was hoping to get below 300lbs before my first meeting with my surgeon in a week and a half, and today I was 296.8!! Yay! I was up to 375 at my highest almost a year ago, and I never want to see those numbers again. Someone at work commented the other day that it looks like I'm losing weight, and I can actually see it myself this time, been working on the body image thing before surgery. I can't wait for the next step, and \i can't wiat until I kiss the 200s goodbye forever too.

I finally got my BMI under 60! I'm 59.8 today! I was a 67 when I started this process, and a lot of things I read said surgeons find operating on patients with over a 60 BMI risky. I wanted to get under 60 before surgery, and now I've done it. Plus, the more I can lose before surgery, the less I have to lose after! At one time losing anything seemed hopeless, now it helps to break it down into smaller goals. My next goal is getting under 300lbs, so 27 more to go.

When dining out as a post op, to be sure there wouldn't be sugar in a dish, do you think it's wrong to tell the server/ cook that you are a diabetic (if you're not), to be sure they will really listen to your sugar free requests?

Hello out there! Can anyone recommends some good books that they have read or heard about on weight loss surgery?

Is anyone else in the Windsor Assessment Centre`s pre-surgery appointment stage