cappy11448
In December of 2012, I took my first vacation in years. My husband and I flew to Budapest and took a river cruise on the Danube. I hadn't traveled in over a decade because of my size, and my husband was getting frustrated that my weight was limiting us so much. So I decided to make the trip.
I was 385 pounds, and I reserved two seats on the plane so I would not have the embarassment of either crowding the person next to me, or worse. The trip was wonderful,but I just couldn't keep up, and had to miss a lot of the tours.
One day, while sitting in the lounge reading, I had the opportunity to speak to a young woman who told me she had taken this trip a year ago and was taking it again. She had lost over 100 pounds in the interim. I asked how she had lost the weight and she told me she had RNY.
I had often considered WLS, but it seemed so drastic. I was hoping the medical community would find a less invasive cure. But that day, I realized I had to do something or I would be house-bound by my weight and my life would be a downward spiral, ending in illness, and an early death.
My weight gain was slow but steady. I was thin as a child and the weight gain started at puberty. If I plotted my weight over my lifetime, I gained 5 pounds a year. 50 pounds per decade, I had many successful diets, but as soon as I lost focus, the weight would pile on, and I was back to my inexorable weight gain.
In January of 2013, at 385 pounds, I went to a WLS information meeting. The doctor said the first step was to schedule the initial 1/2 day consultation, and they had one appointment open that week. I called first thing the next morning, I got that one appointment for the next day, and I started my weight loss journey.
I met with a NP, Nutritionist and a Psychologist. I started the 3 month supervised diet required by my insurance. Pam, the NP said something that really spoke to me. "You will never be alone in this struggle again. We are here for you." It brought me to tears.
I thought the Nutritionist was "from another planet" when she told me I was to eat only 3 to 4 ounces of dense protein a meal. I always had at least 8 ounces. But I decided that day that if I was going to do something as radical as having a surgeon remove most of my stomach, then I was going to follow the program to the letter. And for the most part, I have done so.
The plan was to start immediately eating as if I were post-surgery. This meant 3 meals a day - minimal or no snacking. Each meal consisted of 3 to 4 ounces of dense protein, all the healthy green veggies I wanted. The plan allowed for 1/2 cup of starch, but I chose to stay low carb, knowing that carbs trigger cravings for me.
It took only about a week before I realized that I could not eat steamed veggies three meals a day without going nutty. So I started my search for interesting vegetable recipes. It ironic that while eating so little, I am putting so much more effort into cooking and preparing foods. I find that I have to have tasty, interesting meals to help me say "no" to the foods I shouldn't eat. I tell myself "You cannot have that Chinese food, or that pizza, but you can have that Chicken in Spicy peanut sauce with pan fried cabbage." and that makes it possible.
I had my surgery on May 1, 2013. I had lost 50 pounds before surgery in my 3 month supervised diet.
My surgery was easy. I was so afraid of it, and it was such a non-issue. I asked for lots of anti-nausea meds, and had no nausea after surgery. I appreciated that the whole surgery team came through and introduced themselves before the surgery. It calmed my fears. I had little pain and didn't need anything stronger than tylenol for the pain. I had very little gas pain. They sent me home after one night, a day early because I was doing so well.
Getting used to my new stomach was a bit more challenging. The recovery was not fun, but not terrible. It was always manageable. I could only eat an ounce or so for the first two months. At week 7, the swelling went down in my tummy and I could consume a little more. By three months, I was eating 2.5 ounces per meal.
I'm 6 months out now, and I can eat 3 ounces of dense protein and an ounce or two of veggies. I've lost 153 pounds total. My health and energy are better. My mobility is much improved. I still have a ways to go, but I am so happy I had the surgery. If you are thinking of it, do yourself a favor and make it happen. It is life-changing.
Update, 1 year later
I am now 16 months post surgery. I have reached my surgeon's goal, my own goal, and have exceeded my own goal by 16 pounds. My BMI has gone from 60.5 to 24.9. I have lost 220 pounds. My only co-morbidity was sleep apnea, and I no longer need my CPAP. (thank goodness). The pain in my back and knees is gone.
I'm in maintenance now. But I am finding I am skipping meals occasionally because I am so afraid of gaining weight. So I am still losing. I'm going to have to be more disciplined about getting all my calories in every day.
I love my sleeve. this is the best thing I've ever done for myself.
Plastic Surgery
At almost two years post-op, I had plastic surgery to remove some of that excess skin from my belly. Again, I worried about the surgery but it was so un-eventful. I had surgery at noon on Monday, was in recovery about 4pm, and was up to my room by 6pm. I woke up feeling fine - no pain, no nausea, not even a headache! By 8pm, I was up and walking. The nurses were so impressed and said that they often had to drag people half my age to get them to walk! Tuesday morning when the surgeon visited, I was sitting up and knitting, watching Netflix on my ipad. He was so impressed that I became known as "the knitter" in his office! hehehe
I took pain meds for two days, and then switched to Tylenol for one more day. The pain was annoying when I moved, but never bad. They removed the drains this week, so I'm good as new!
I had a lot of extra skin on my belly and the plastics took care of it all. The surgeon told me he removed over 5 pounds of skin from my belly! I am so happy with my belly. It looks like it did when I was 14 - before the weight gain started.
In general, I am also doing well. I have been maintaining my weight at about 157 to 163 pounds which is just where I want to be. I eat to plan, mostly. I allow myself to stray from the plan more often now, but I keep a diligent eye on the scale.
I am so glad I had weight loss surgery. It was the right decision for me.
About Me
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
