bobbalooie5169
It's been a while
Jan 29, 2014
I got a reminder that yesterday, January 28, 2014, was my six year surgeversary. I was so sick with a cold yesterday and it's SO cold here in Ohio, that I never gave it a thought. Wow! How my life has changed in those six years. I was at 361 pounds on that day, could only see out of one eye as a result of diabetic retinopathy. could not walk without help(ok, that has not changed very much), and was taking four shots a day of insulin plus several meds for high blood pressure. I am still a big woman. I think I have accepted that by now. I turned 63 years young on January 3 and I don't seem to be losing a lot of weight. However, this morning I weighed in at 235 pounds and that is way better than 361. I walk with a cane because my feet are permanently damaged and I have really bad balance. The wheelchair and the bariatric walker are sitting in my garage as a reminder. If we decide to go to a mall or perhaps attend the county fair where a lot of walking is necessary, we still use them. I no longer need to use those motorized carts at the big stores, however, as a shopping cart is enough help. I bought a three wheeled bike to ride but I have found that since my ankles are fused, I really can't ride it very far either. I have not given up though. Life is so much better than it was inside all that excess fat! I have not had the reconstructive surgery and that might help but I AM 63 and diabetic and do not see any wisdom in doing that. I am comfortable with the progress I have made and feel like I have had a lot of success. I have never been thin so it feels normal to be the size I am. Had i been able to walk more I might have lost a lot more (like some of my friends) but I can barely make it around the block one time, so I just do what I can. I have not gained back any of the weight I lost and that's good. For anyone debating about whether or not to have the surgery, I would advise you to find a doctor you trust and don't be afraid to ask any questions you might have. It is life changing, but the changes are all positive. There will be hard times but there will be many more good times and you will be glad you did it.
Dumping????
Jul 10, 2008
Last night was quite an adventure for me. Usually I'm in my jammies and houseslippers sitting at my computer by 9PM. But yesterday my good pal, Shirley got the bright idea that we go out and keep our friends on the picket line company. The factory we both used to work at was bought out by a foreign company and after the union voted down their offer of one half what people were making to produce auto parts, the new company locked the doors and hired "scabs" to work on their terms. This has been going on since April and about 600 people are now unemployed. Some of our best old pals were on picket duty last night so we thought it might be fun to be there. But first we decided to go out to eat. Shirley and I love to go out to eat! We went to a local restaurant known for it's "down home" cooking and homemade pies. I tried to be sensible and ordered baked chicken-please hold the potato. I got two nice pieces of chicken, dressing(my favorite thing, darn it), and hominy, HOMINY?? I don't think I've had that since I left home almost 38 years ago. Is that really considered vegetable?
But it was good and I ate half of everything. For some reason I always eat more when I'm with Shirley! (it must be her fult-right?LOL) Well, that would have been okay except our waitress then came over and asked if we were ready for dessert. I said "I don't do desserts, thank you." but Shirley said "Do you have any sugar-free pie?" "We have blackberry pie sugar-free." she answered. Oh my gosh! Now I really felt like I was back "down home" at my grandma's table. I just had to try that. Well, needless to say, after about three small bites my pouch started protesting and I knew I was done.
I placed my napkin over my plate as my hubby has taught me to do when I'm finished. Usually this signals the waitress to take my plate away but this waitress decided I needed a box. (See-it's never MY fault!) So I took a whole chicken breast, a spoonful each of dressing and hominy, and most of that big piece of pie with me. I wish I had left it there!
We then went ou to the factory equipped with lawn chairs and had the best time sitting under the stars and reminiscing with friends. They took turns walking the picket lines and visiting with us. It was great and I laughed for most of the three hours. I love seeing old friends!
When I arrived home at 12:30 AM, I was hungry again and there was that left over dinner. I nibbled on the chicken, ate the hominy and then started on that pie. It was a treat but I'm not sure it was completely sugar-free. At any rate, my pouch did not appreciate it! About three AM I awoke with a weird feeling and had to sit up and burp. I swear it was pure acid! I have not been that sick sonce my surgery and I don't ever want to be again! I sat in a recliner the rest of the night with my handy dandy emisis basin that I brought home from the barix. This morning it was full of blackberry seeds. Now I seem to recall that I was warned about eating things with seeds but I'm almost six months out and I guess I never thought about it. I love my little pouch and usually baby it a little bit. I guess I have been "reminded" that I need to keep doing that.
All-in-all, it was fun being out late last night but that pie was not that good and definitely not worth it! Was I "dumping?" I don't know. I had none of the other symptoms like shaking or sweating, but my tummy hurt and then, in turn, my throat was mighty sore from the acid. Never again!!
The Century Mark!!
Jun 27, 2008
June 13th I found myself back on the operating table again. This time it was for a "vitrectomy" to replace the gelataneous substance in my right eye.
My obesity, along with my diabetes and hypertension, has resulted in retinopathy and I had some hemmoraging in that eye back in August when my mother was so ill and I was caring for her. The eye has never cleared up and I had not been able to see out of it since then. My retina specialist was totally supportive of me having the bariatric surgery and getting my health back before we dealt with the eye and if ciurse, we were still hoping it would clear by itself. That didn't happen, so we decided to go ahead with the surgery. I had the same surgery on my left eye
in 2003, so I knew how miraculous this surgery was. Of course, no two surgeries are exactly the same and this time was a bit rougher. It's been two weeks now and I can see again but my vision is a bit distorted and I feel like I'm wearing someone else's glasses. And I still have a mild headache. It all makes me a bit queasy.. But the worst part for me was feeling the stitches inside my eye. Like having an eyelash in my eye all the time. That should go away as the stitches are absorbed. It is great to be able to use both eyes again, but I think I'm tired of operating rooms for now. And REALLY tired of recuperating, not being able to lift anything over five pounds, etc. etc.
The day I discovered that I had lost 100 pounds was also my follow up appointment for my surgery. I had a girlfriend take me to Fort Wayne then after my appointment we went out for Mexican food. My first restaurant Mexican food since surgery! It was wonderful and I had no problems from it. I had shrimp quesadillas and brought more than half home in a box for later. They were great! Now I have to re-lose two pounds, though.
I guess I won't do that again for a while....
But life is still good!
90 pounds gone forever!
May 28, 2008
It's fun watching my clothes get looser and looser, and knowing that I have a real excuse to buy something new! I'm even proud of the loose baggy skin on my arms. I have been on so many diets in my life and had some success, but the most I have ever lost at one time was 40 pounds, which I then gained back plus some. This is just phenominal for me. I am hoping that in a few weeks I can blog about losing 100 pounds and won't that be a banner day?
My biggest challenge is still the exercise factor. I have been doing some work around home that is evidently helping, but to actually exercise...no, I haven't found the right thing yet. Walking is still difficult, though it's getting easier, and I want to ride a bike, but so far, cannot safely get on my two wheeler and the three wheeler is very difficult to ride. I do good as long as I can keep moving, but if I have to stop for a stop sign or to slow down to turn a corner, it is very hard to get it going again. And there is no such thing as coasting on the three wheeler. It's constant pedaling and I get exhausted quite soon. I even had my hubby ride it to compare and he said it is about twice as hard to ride as the regular two wheeler. The scariest thing is turning corners as it takes a much wider space to turn it and you don't always have that luxury. I am still working on it, hoping that my legs will get stronger and I can ride farther, but so far, the bike is winning. As for the two wheeler, it is one I had when I was a teenager. It's been in my mother's garage for all these years so it is still in good shape, but with my posterior tibular tendon disfunction, I can't lift my foot high enough to get it over the crossbar and I don't have enough stability to stand on one foot for any length of time. This makes it almost impossible to get on the bike so I don't even know yet if I can still balance it. But I will figure something out. I want to exercise and I used to love riding my bike. I am not one to give up easily when I really want something. Summer is just starting, so I have lots of time! It might involve buying a new bike, but I will figure it out and I will ride with the wind in my hair and feel like a kid again!
Life is still good!
Time to blog!
May 24, 2008
So here's the story-on July 31, 2007, when I went to Ann Arbor for my first consultation, I weighed 361 pounds. The day of my surgery, January 28, 2008, I weighed 317. This morning I weighed myself and I now weigh 273. Not too bad, if I do say so myself. Had I not done something, I probably would have continued to gain weight, I could be over 400 by now!
So much has improved about my life so far and I expect it to keep getting better. I can sit in booths in restaurants now, fit in regular armchairs, walk around the block, even ride my bike for short distances! I am back to wearing some of my old clothes that I really like and even getting to buy a few new ones. I know I could lose faster if only I could exercise more, but I am limited by my foot deformities. Losing fast was never that important to me. Just losing is the whole objective and I am doing that! 88 pounds in less than ten months is nothing to sneeze at-right?
(I am trying to encourage myself here, so please don't mistake it for bragging.)
We have been busy sprucing up our little house lately and that has been my main focus. I actually painted a room all by myself. I couldn't have done that a few months ago! We also had new windows, new bathroom fixtures, and new hanging light fixtures put in a couple of rooms. Had the cermic tiles in our bathroom regrouted, and our living room painted(I was not brave enough to take that one on). It all looked so nice that today my husband and I went out and bought new living room furniture. I am so excited! This all seems like a dream!
Last week was my three month check up for my surgery. The visit went well and all my labs were good except I am still anemic, but then, I have always been. My NUT wants me to switch over to pre-natal vitamins as they have a bit more iron in them and I am also to add some vitamin C by drinking orange juice to help my body absorb the iron I am taking. And I learned something I never knew. Taking the iron and the calcium suppliments together is not a good idea because they fight for absorption and kind of "negate" each other. So now I am waiting at least two hours in between and it is a new challenge to remember them. I think I need a timer!
After my appointment in Ypsilanti, we were invited to good friend, Rob L's house for a cookout and reunion with other OH friends, Belinda and Tina. What a great time that was! I had not met Tina before, but she was easy to get acquainted with and as beautiful and swee- natured as the rest of us bariatric surgery patients are! Rob is a great cook and his family is very nice. My only regret was that we live so far away and therefore had to hit the road early. I would have loved to have stayed a bit longer to watch Tina's acrobatics on the back yard trampoline. Heck! I would have enjoyed trying it out myself if it would hold me! Maybe someday.....
Life just keeps getting better every day!
Return to Michigan
Apr 01, 2008
Anyway, the check up went well. I have been so obsessed with not losing fast enough etc etc... Dr. Schram says I am right on schedule. I guess it's expecting a bit too much for a 57 year old half- crippled woman to lose as fast as a younger person who can walk a mile a day. I have just now gotten where I can make it around the block with the help of my walker. I have lost 30 pounds since surgery. That makes 74 pounds lost since July 31. I should be happy!
I am down at least one size and I pulled out some old "outgrown clothes" and am starting to wear them. Going through them was like shopping! I didn't even remember some of them. And it felt great to throw the super-sized clothes I have been wearing back in the tote knowing I will never need them again!
The best part of the trip to Ypsilanti was seeing a couple of my OH friends there. Pne was a friend who had surgery the same day as me. He looks wonderful!( Men are so lucky to lose faster than us women! ) Another friend also came to see us and we had a mini-reunion right there in the lobby of the Barix Clinic. Since we were right beside the TV, we also got to see a couple of the staff when they came to check on the Tigers game. It was such a great day! And the ride home was very pleasant, too. No snowstorm this time and my husband and I bothe felt good, unlike the last two trips. I think we talked all the way home.
We did stop to eat at Max and Erma's which turned out to be a mistake for me. I had a mushroom swiss burger and thought I could just eat part of the meat and cheese and mushrooms without the bun or the fries, but I had to taste a couple of the fries and my pouch objected! Won't do that again! (note to self: french fries are NOT a good idea!)
Next appointment will be May 19. I sure hope they see less of me!
Hooray!
Mar 26, 2008
Did I say I was only going to weigh myself on Monday morning? Bad idea-I couldn't resist this morning and I'm glad I didn't. The scale moved!! I'm three pounds lighter today and FINALLY under 290-just barely, but I'll take it!
I am starting the five day pouch test today thanks to a good friend's suggestion and hoping to keep it going. I have an appointment with my surgeon Monday, March 31, and would like to imoress him a little. At least this helps my mood!!
I'm off to sing in the shower...
Attitude
Mar 25, 2008
Easter Sunday Night Ramblings
Mar 23, 2008
I'm Back!
Mar 15, 2008
I still can't see out of the right eye, but that's another story that will probably require a minor surgery. That will come later. I am just happy to have the other one cleared up! I asked all my friends to pray and they must have done a bang-up job because this is really remarkable to have the "debris" settle so quickly! About three years ago, I had no eyesight in that eye at all and they did a miraculaous surgery on it called a "vitrectomy" Basically, they opened up my eye and took all the gunky gel out of it and replaced it with nice clear man-made stuff. The next day when they removed the bandages, I could see again! Apparently, the man-made stuff is not as thick as the natural stuff was, and this time, it cleared up rather quickly. I am so happy! My right eye has been trying to "clear up' since September!
Our weather has decided to settle down and be more "springlike" too. The snow has melted except for the places where it was piled up, and I have gotten out to walk the last three days. I can only walk about a block so far, and it still hurts, but I can do it! I refuse to weigh myself, so I don't know how much this has helped. I might just start weighing myself on Monday mornings, like another friend who had surgery the same day as me says he does. Since our surgeries were on Monday, it makes perfect sense. But I will be upset all over again if the scale doesn't go down, so I'm not sure yet. Maybe I will wait until I go back to the surgeon on the 31st, IF i can resist the siren call of the scale! I do know that my clothes are looser. But I SO want to be able to say i've lost a lot like the rest of you.
I suspect that my insulin is slowing me down and I HATE that I had to go back on it. So much so that I am eating mostly protein and non-starchy vegetables so that I don't need my insulin as much. I still have one protein shake per day, thoughm and that sometimes raises my blood sugar a bit. It will get better though-won't it?
Well, I just wanted to let my friends know that I am definitely back. Watch out now!!
