Bridgett Gallow

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It is amazing wht has happened to me in one years time. I am sitting at 175lbs 99ls from highest weight and 75lbs lost since surgery. I recently went to disney world with my family and it felt good to be able to ride the rides with my son and my niece. I did not get winded, it was really hot, however I was able to keep up with my two year old.  I am fitting in 12/14, large shirt. I consulted with plastic surgeon for body lift, I am awaiting on insurance approval. We shall see. Looking back over the years, my highest weight ever was 323lbs and I am so excited with my progress. I am full of energy!!!!!!! Wishing my newbies an exciting journey.

Hello Everyone,

Weight is at a crawl but I am still losing inches, got into a size 12 jeans, kind of tight but I am loving it. I am getting so many compliments, I will upload pictures today. I have not had any more issues with oatmel, just decided I cannot tolerate it. No major updates except that I am turning heads again lol!!!!!!!!!!!

It has been awhile, I am still loving my RNY...LIFE IS GOOD. I am in a regular 14 and XL and L top. I have fell back in love with shopping, I forgot how much cheaper regular sized clothes are. I am having seperation anxiety from Ashley Stewart's, I love the fit of their clothes, however I have to buy their size 12 which is very hard to find on their racks..lol  I cannot tolerate oatmel, the one food that causes cramping and spasms in my mid section. I was eating half a packet of weight control oatmel everyday for one week, by the end of the week, I had bad cramps to the point it was causing me to bend over backwards, so I went back to my usual breakfast the following week and low and behold no more cramping. I guess I sort of overloaded my system with too much fiber. As far as other food, no problems, no vomitting like my old VBG and NO HEARTBURN...YEAH.  My weight has slowed this month but I am still losing inches and still very happy with my results. I went for my 6 month check up and my surgeon said that my metabolism is still sluggish from the previous surgery and my weight loss would be slower but I am very satisfied with the rate of loss. I have loss a total of 66 pounds since surgery and 100 pounds since I started the journey with 6 months of nutritional couseling. I have signed up for 2011 Tour Davita which is 240mile bike ride in Sept 2011 in New England, CT. I am slowly increasing my mileage back up from my winter training, so I expect my inch loss to increase dramatically. 

Well, I can't believe that it has been 4 months, I remember when I was during my 4th month nutritional visit, I thought that this time would never come. Highlights:

1. Finally in onderland 195lbs to 198lbs--total loss of 52lbs since surgery and 79lbs since beginning process in October 2009. Amazing I must say....

2. Fitting in size 14--regular clothes, XL tops and bra size unknown, need to get measured. Currently, I know all of my bras are too big because when I lean forward, sometimes my booby pops out lol...Too Much Information!

3. Increased energy level with my almost two year old son, I can play and run around with him for hours.

4. Food --still have no taste for food, I have to remember to eat to keep losing. I am doing great with my fluids, I prefer water over anything else, such a shocker.  I do not follow any specific diet such as high protein, low carb...I just manage portions.

5. Foods that I have not tried yet..BREAD...I am so afraid. However I tolerate all meats well. I ate an quarter of a gala apple that decided that it was not going to go down, and that was without the skin. I am afraid to do that again.

6. Exercise, I continue to ride my bike three to four times a week,  I completed a 240mile bike ride in Seattle Washington with my company--I completed 160miles of full ride. I am now registered for the MS150 Houston to Austin in April 2011, it is 150 mile bike ride over two days for multiple sclerosis.

7. Love Life....stagnant have not taken time to even be bothered with it, enjoying my quality time with my son, however I have noticed the men checking me out more...:))))))))

8. Since Surgery Statement....Well I am just letting my life evolve.

That's it for now, just taking time out to update. I am on this site usually every other day on my IPAD but you can only post comments on message board the blog post does not work due to the FLASH app.  Talk to you all soon.

Hello All,

I have not updated in awhile. First of all just go over this dreaded 3 week stall and resulted in a 5 pound loss. I have learned that I am mildly dumping only in the evening. I get really hot and flushed all over after eating my evening meal. I decided to move my heaviest meal to mid day. I am fitting in a size 18 which is great and loving the inch loss. I go see the surgeon on 27th of month and I am looking forward.

I updated pictures but it is such a blurry picture. I am loving the way that I look in my clothing. Food still does not spark my interest at this time. I am having to force myself to eat. I am still loving my RNY.

I have completed my first month post op. YEAH!!! It has truly been a busy month, with hospitalization and drain catheter in my back. I survived and now since the drain was pulled I am getting my strenght back. What can I tolerate in a month. I can drink fluids freely, eat one egg, one wing, some crackers, some vegetables and a few non appetizing items... I have lost 17.7 lbs in one month. Current weight is 233.3lbs per surgeon scale. I feel like I am losing more inches than anything, my bras and panties are fitting looser and all of my pants are loose in the waist.

Mentally, I am still dealing with head hunger,not physical hunger. It is just that i got so used to having certain food as a part of my life..well I can't exactly say food, it was chocolate. Chocolate was the staple of all of my work meetings, driving home, whenever feeling sad etc. Now I am coming up with some creative ways to offset the crave for soft gooey chocolate. I just get busy doing other things, like drinking water, having chocolate flavored pudding, or even just taking a nap. I have survived and I am determined to just keep it up.

I started back riding my bike ,but then I got sick the same week and ended up in the hospital. I will attempt to get back started next week. Well that is it so far. Update soon.

So, I got sick last week, ate 1oz of cheese last wednesday evening, then I got really gassy and stomach was churning like crazy, continued through all dayThursday, Friday and Saturday. Saturday morning it was so bad I called surgeon who said that I should come in but my surgeon is 2 hours away and my pain was so intense it felt like labor contraction. I went to local hospital who did ct scan and found I had fluid in my abdominal cavity but stated it should reabsorb, then discharged me from hospital on Reglan, I immediately called my surgeon who said I needed to get to hospital in Houston for a CT Scan with contrast because fluid should not be in my abdominal cavity. Then that evening my temperature started to elevate, so I decided to take drive to hospital , found that I have a abscess behind my old stomach, so I ended getting it drained by a catheter placed in my back in radiology, (which hurt like hell), now sitting waiting on culture results to make sure on right Medication. I am thankful that I am a nurse and was able recognize the symptoms of something wrong and abscess did not cause more problems and lead to more surgery.

Hello Everyone,

Well, third week post op. I am offically starting in on the soft mushy foods YEAH!! I have lost another 5lbs. My current weight is 235lbs. I am so excited. I have been working the tool and pretty much afraid to eat anything but I am trying to make sure that I get my protein in.

I had one bout of nausea yesterday, my mouth just watered and foam came out of my mouth, I was using a straw for my protein drink,  which is a NO NO, once I stopped no more nausea. I feel like I am losing so many inches though, I was able to move my belt over another loop. YEAH, my bra is currently on the last hook, so I suppose, I will be buying new bras in the future but I am going to wait till I can decrease the cup size down.

I started back training on my bike, but I get so tired so easy now, before surgery I was able to ride for 45min at cadence of 68-70 rpm, now I can barely hold 60rpm for more than 15min, I will build back up though and take it real slow.  My big ride is not until Sept. 18. I will have to make the most of these next few weeks so that at least I can hold a good cadence.

 

Hello Everyone,

I am now offical and post op 6 days post op..YEAH!!!!!! My worst day of all of the second day,  I had terrible nausea after I was taken off the IV Morphine, I was converted to Loritab Elixir. It only took 5ml and it was too sweet and I started with the nausea and vomitting of foam with the taste of blood, well then they started me on Phenergan IV which made me HIGH as a kite. I was afraid to take the Loritab after that so I opted for the Phenergan till I was able to get the nausea under control.  I was sent home on Saturday July 3rd with the drain in place YUCK!!! That was the most painful of all of my other little six incisions. I had to empty the drain three times a day and clean the area around the drain but it was minor. The problem was keeping my 18 month old from thinking that the drain was some kind of toy. LOL. 

Today, I went for my first follow up appoinment and drain was pulled. I have lost approximately 7lbs from my scale, not bad in a weeks' time. I am focusing on getting my fluids in and keeping hydrated. I have decided to just walk around with a bottle of some fluid attached to my hip as a constant reminder.  My surgeon removed the drain without any problem and all of the other small bandages and I felt such a relief, I can move freely. WOOTEY WHOOOO!!!!!! I will return to work next week. I am so looking forward to the next few months that all I can think about is what is next?

I had weight loss surgery in 2002, with VBG and I remember the feeling of being able to move freely and my love for clothes. I just want to be able to choose to wear what I please and not be dictacted by size and locations to shop from. I want to enjoy life with my son, learn to dance the salsa and marague, learn to swing out and feel confident and sexy about my moves. LOL just a few of the things I want to do.

Well, I have been on this roller-coaster of weight loss for several years. I believe that I have lost and gained over a 1000 lbs in my life.  I have been as small as 168lbs and have finally decided to have the RNY surgery.  I am very active and have no problem with maintaining an exercise routine, problem is I LOVE SWEETS!!!!!!!! My surgery is scheduled in two days. I am getting nervous and excited at the same time. I just hope that Hurricane Alex stays away.