brown_eyed_girl_1981
~October 7, 2006~
Well, I had my 25th Birthday on September 28th. So far I've lost 42 pounds!! I hit a little plateu, and I think I'm finally off it.
I still can't get my mile on the treadmill done in 15 minutes, but I sure am working on it. The closest I've gotten so far was a mile in 18 minutes. I'm starting a new job Monday, very excited about that. I'll be starting my water aerobics class as soon as possible. I'll know once I know what my work scedule will be. Back to Swimming laps also :D
I'm eating more solids now. Oh and Kraft has fat free cheese slices that are very good!! So far I've only had the cheddar flavor, but I plan on trying the others also.
I bought myself a George Foreman Grill. I would definately recommend if your considering this surgery, or if you've had one to make sure you have one. I love it. I cooked boneless skinless chicken breast on it and it was sooooo yummy!! It also didn't dry the meat out.
I'll keep you all updated.
~September 12, 2006~
I took my dog for a walk last week. The first real walk with her since my surgery, and we ended up getting chased by 3 loose dogs!
On another note...I'm at the end of my period. I weighed myself this morning and I'm down 29 pounds! So close to 30. I am hoping to have a 30 pound loss by the 16th of September which will Mark my first month post op.
My 25th Birthday is September 28th. I'd like to Be in the low 220's by then. Wish me luck!
~September 7, 2006~
Get this... I'm having my period. Again! I was starting it the day of surgery and had it for a regular 5-6 day period. Now I'm having it again. Twice in a month! It's normal though, not all heavy and horrible. I'm having a "normal" period. I haven't had them like this in years. I'm so happy! Who would have ever thought getting a period would be such a good thing. lol
~August 31, 2006~
I met with Dr. Overcash today to have my staples removed. Let me say I feel so much better without those darn things. My skin was really getting more irritated each day. I was told it was my body rejecting them, that it was time for them to come out.
How is the weight loss????? Well...........I'm down 23 pounds!!!!!!!!! In 2 weeks! YAY!! That's 23 pounds gone forever! I saw a few of the others who had surgery the same day as me, and one of them said she could tell in my face that I've lost. Dr. overcash told me to weigh myself only once a month. (oops lol) I didn't tell him how much I've been weighing myself. I will stop, maybe I'll have to bring my scale to my mom's house and leave it. Naaaa...not yet! lol I'll at least weigh no more than once a week.
As far as everything else, I get to add pureed chicken, turkey, cottage cheese, fruits, and tofu(yuck) to my diet. I'm very excited to add something new.
No Dumping so far which I am totally not complaining about. I'm eating so slow and being very careful to avoid dumping.
23 POUNDS GONE!!!!!!!
August 25, 2006
Hey guys, I am so sorry it took me so long to update on here. I spent some time at my moms after surgery. Surgery went well. I think I shocked the nurses by my ambition to get up and walk. The day of surgery I felt so sick and tired and light headed and the nurse said we could turn around at the end of the hall and I said NO WAY. I kept telling them I wanted to walk to feel better. I went into the hospital with the knowledge that the more I walk the better I will feel. Sure enough Thursday I completed 36 rounds (around down the hall, around the nurses station, up the hall around the other nurses station).
Before that however Thursday early morning I asked the nurse if she could help me out of bed into the rocking chair (I hated laying down). This was at about 3 a.m. As she was helping me my tube that went into my nose down to my stomach fell out. It was sort of like a wet noodle (I laughed as best as I could for just being out of surgery less than 24 hours before).
I really enjoyed my night time nurses. They were very nice, and kept telling me how good I looked (because I was up and on the go) I had a couple fevers, and my blood pressure was up because of the stress of the surgery but it all went down. I was given a few shots (or maybe it was in the iv for the blood pressure). It was never to the point where it worried me or anything. The only thing I complained about was how dry my mouth was. I litterally felt like I had a sand paper tongue. Thankfully the nurses kept getting me cold water for my sponges so I could at least wet my lips and mouth. I learned after the catheter was removed and I was going to the bathroom that if I swished water around in my mouth then spit it out, that it helped with the cotton mouth.
Thursday late night I kept getting muscle spasms in my stomach. It hurt so bad, but by Friday it was all over. I haven't had the problem since. I was told that it was more than likely because with the surgery they cut through muscle and everything. Sometime in the night too I was having dry heaves and was given a shot of phenergan (sp?). I have not had the problem again. As a matter of fact I havent had any dumping at all (nock on wood). In the early morning hours my IV went bad. Every time the pain meds went through it would hurt. They kept trying to find a vein to work with to start a new IV and had no luck. They even had a nurse from ICU come up and try to start one. Turns out all my "good" veins had been used to draw blood lol. I've always been told my veins are deep. Fortunately Dr. Overcash told them not to worry about it where I would be leaving later. I felt so free without that darn IV. I was up and walking more. No tube in my nose...No Catheter...No IV... YAY!!!!!!
Well, Since then things have been interesting. Not only did I go through surgery but the day of surgery I started my period. I'm not sure if thats why I felt so bloated or not. The day after I got home it said I weighed 4 pounds more than the day I went into the hospital (how could that be??) BUT the following day it was down. I am assuming it was water retention and the fact that I was having my period. The day of surgery I weighed 262 (possibly because of my period??) Today acording to my scale here at home (if it's accurate) I weigh 249.8.
I am walking every day. I shoot for at least 1/2 mile at a time(aprox. 3-4 times a day), still takes me 10-15 minutes because I'm slow lol. It's also very sandy out here where I live so it slows me down. I can't wait to start going back to the YMCA.
The food has been something else. One day it tastes good, the next I'm making myself tolerate it. The protein powder is nasty. I bought the natural flavor and it tastes sweet. I thought it would be like plain and tasteless, but it's not.
Goodnight everyone.
August 14, 2006
Only 2 more days! I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. Well, I'm really only nervous that something may go wrong. Other than that I'm fine. I have so much to do yet. I'm working on getting my housework taken care of, organizing things and making sure everything is set up to make things easier after surgery. I live in a small place, so I have to utilize any storage space that I have. I still have to finish laundry, wash my windows, floors, and walls, shampoo carpets (and couch). I'll get it all done though. I just want to make sure everything is done so that I wont have to worry about it for a while. Well, other than daily stuff such as vaccuming. Ohh I bought one of those swiffer sweepers, it is soo light. I think it'll make life after surgery so much easier because I'll be able to do touch up jobs. I can use that on my hard floors (no bending down to sweep into the dust pan) and carpets, and it's alot lighter than a vaccume cleaner. Lets hope that it'll help me at least keep up with things.
Well, I suppose I better get back to my housework.
~July 7, 2006~
I'M APPROVED!!! I'm soo excited and happy that I really don't know what to write. I have no idea how I got so lucky and so blessed. I am thankful to God for answering my prayers. I can't believe I allowed myself to worry as much as I did. The first thing I did was call my mom when I found out. I can't believe that next week I will be having surgery. This is great!!! Jaime has her surgery this Wednesday, and I have mine next Wednesday! I need to get off the computer because I can't sit still any more. I need to go do a little dance. Thank you soooooo much to those who prayed for me. Thank you to Jaime for putting up with me, especially these past few days. Thank you to my sister too for putting up with my babbling while I was so nervous. I am looking forward to being on the losing side. Thank you all!!!!!!!!
~August 1, 2006~
Good news! Good News!!! Patrice called me today, and Everything has been submitted to Tricare, I am "officially" waiting for approval! YAY! HEHE.... lets just pray that I get approved. I haven't even really thought about "what if I am not approved", well that is until recently. Since I've been waiting I've been wondering if I'll be approved. I am so worried. Please pray for me, as I will pray for all of you.
I'll keep you all posted. Patrice said I should know something within 4-5 days. Thank you Patrice, without you I probably would have lost my mind a while ago.
~July 29, 2006~
Yesterday I drove to Ormond Beach to meet up with Jaime. We went to the support group run by Celeste Momin. Jaime had met her before, but i hadn't. It was just the three of us which was nice because I didn't feel bad for asking a bunch of questions. Celeste is so full of energy and life!! It was great having the chance to meet her. I'm sure I will go to some of her meetings in the future too.
Meeting Jaime was great. I was actually kinda nervous because we had only talked on the computer and by phone. When I met her though it was like I'd known her forever. It is very easy for me to talk to her. We went out for chinese for dinner....yep you got that right!!! It was a very nice day. Whats more...I'm not the only one that can spend hours in Walmart!!! :D It's nice knowing I wont be going through this surgery alone. Next time I see her will be when she's a "loser". Her surgery date is the 9th, and I plan on going to visit her in the hospital.
I lent Jaime my book "Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies". Its a very easy read with alot of useful information and recipes. It's a book I'm sure I'll be using throughout my journey. I recently ordered "Before and After: Living and Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery" by Susan Maria Leach. I'm waiting for that one to arrive, I ordered it off Amazon.com so there's no telling how long it'll be until it actually gets here. Well, today I subscribed to the OH Magazine. I can't wait to get my first issue.
I guess thats all for now. :D Have a good weekend!!
~July 25, 2006~
It feels like it's been a month since I turned in all of my paperwork, but it's only been 2 weeks. I sure hope Dr. Overcash comes back soon, and I hope everything is okay with him.
A while back I ordered a bunch of protein powder samples and let me tell you so far the chocolate ones have been nasty. The only one I like so far is the strawberry one.
~July 20, 2006~
CONGRATULATIONS JAIME!!! Her insurance company approved her for the surgery...YAY!! I'm so excited for her. She's another patient of Dr. Overcash. I sure hope I get approved too. *Keeping my fingers crossed* I feel like I'm coming down with something. I thought it was a head cold or allergies but I'm not sure.
~July 14, 2003~
I called Patrice, because I'm so impatient to find out if anything has been sent on to my insurance company. The one thing were waiting on is the letter from Dr. Overcash and then she can submit everything. Unfortunately she said Dr. O will be out of the office until the end of the month :( .
~July 12, 2006~
I got my letter from my primary doctor on Monday and let me say I am very impressed. Dr. Eagle's wrote a very nice letter. Lets just hope I get approved by my insurance company. I faxed everything over to Patrice yesterday morning from my computer and waited to hear from someone letting me know if it went through okay, but didn't hear anything. So, on my way to the nutrition class I stopped in and hand delivered it just in case the. :D.
The nutrition class was quite interesting. In all the reading I've done I never knew until yesterday that Ketchup is considered a concentrated sweet. I'm also glad we went over vitamins because I was so confused by all of that. It sure was a helpful class.
~June 28, 2006~
My psychiatric evaluation went quite well and was much easier than expected. I guess I had nothing to worry about after all. Dr. Ungson asked me several questions. He even asked me if I ever hear voices in my head lol... my answer jokingly of course was "only my own!" lol I'm so glad Dr. Ungson has a great sense of humor. He also made it known that he and his counselors are there to help me following the surgery too. Until next time...
~June 20, 2006~
I had my consult yesterday with Dr. Overcash. Overall it went well. I appreciate the fact that he's so straight to the point. No nonsence, thats what I need.
Patrice was VERY nice. She was very pleasant, and explained to me everything that I have to do for the insurance company part of things. I already set up my appointments for my thyroid test (June 22), and next week I have my psyciatric evaluation..
Well thats about it for now. I'll keep you all updated.
~June 15, 2006~
YAY!!!!! I have a date for my consultation with Dr.Overcash!Amazing how something like a consultation with a surgeon can make me feel so excited and happy. I feel like jumping up and down! lol MY appointment is on Monday June 19th!!!(my sisters birthday) This is really, really great! Turns out that since I have Tricare Standard I didn't need a referall from my primary Doctor. My mom is going with me, because the woman who called me reccomended that I bring someone since there is so much information to take in. It'll be nice having my mom there, she's been such a big support in this decision already. I'll write again after I have my appointment.
On another good note...today is my little brothers birthday :D
~June 12, 2006~
I have a surgeon name!! Dr. William Overcash, now I just need my appointment date. Hopefully I will hear from them tomorrow with my appointment date, as long as this tropical storm doesnt get worse (grrr...). Anyway, Keep your fingers crossed for me that I don't have too long of a wait time. I'm just so darn anxious.
I'm sick and tired of the backaches, and my feet hurting, and more. It's hard to sleep, and every morning I wake up feeling like someone has stabbed me because my back hurts (feels as though I've had the wind nocked out of me). I even bought a new mattress in October of 2005 (less than a year ago, a good one too!!), hoping it would help.
There are many reasons why I want to loose this weight. My health is the first reason. I want to live life to the fullest, and I feel this weight holds me back. I feel like I haven't really had a chance to live yet. I want to be a mother someday and not have to sit back and watch my kids play, I want to play too!
Lets face it, I've been obese for a very long time. I can't remember the last time I could actually look down at my feet without bending over (my boobs are big, and my belly is big). To tie my shoes I have to lift my foot up on a chair, most of the time I just wear slip ons. I sweat more than most, and I have to use deodorant in many places to prevent rashing. (under boobs, under belly, crease of legs). This is soooo not the life I want to live. Please pray that everything works out well for me to have this surgery.
Goodnight, I'll re-post when I find out the exact date I will be meeting with Dr.Overcash.
~June 5, 2006~
Hi, my name is Pam. I'm 24 years old, I've been overweight (in milder terms) for over half my life. I went on my first "diet" at the age of 9 & When I was in the 5th grade I attended Weight Watchers, I've tried a group called T.O.P.S. (taking off pounds sensiby), however I never got the weight off. I would lose weight only to gain it back plus some. I do believe if it werent for the many diets I've attempted that I would be much heavier than I am right now. I'm hoping for approval from my insurance company for this surgery *keeping my fingers crossed* My primary care doctor, Dr. Eagle has already told me he is all for me having the WLS. He's such a great guy. Right now I am just waiting, kinda like a sitting duck. My current weight is 267 and I'm 5' 5" tall.
