cdgalvin
Please login to post to cdgalvin's support wall. If you don't have an account, registration is quick and easy.
Debby M. 21 years, 8 months ago
Congranulations on your weight loss, you look great in your pics. Thanks for sharing your story with us about your sister, it is hard sometimes for our familys to really look at us. But boy are they sure suprised when they do. God bless you, you really deserve it.
kimberley B. 21 years, 9 months ago
Cynthia, CONGRATS to you...those 1/4 of the weight loss pics are amazing! You may still be large but you have to be so proud of yourself. Your face looks happy and look at all of the room around you. Keep it up GF..YOUR doing great! KimmieTN
charanewme 21 years, 9 months ago
Cynthia Who's the new chick on your profile page ??? You look fabulous congratulations. Charlene
skinnierone44 21 years, 9 months ago
Hi Cynthia, Just wanted to say you look mmmmmaaaarrrvvvveeeeeellllllloooooouuuuuusssssss. You have done so well. I can really see a difference keep up the great job. Take care and God Bless you {{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}} love you Kathy
Mary H. 21 years, 9 months ago
looking good lady!!!!!!!!!!!1
blank first name B. 21 years, 9 months ago
Hey Cynthia, thanks for the kind words about my website. I appreciate it. Congratulations on your weight loss. Keep in touch and may God continue to richly bless you of whatever you heart desires.
Tparker 21 years, 10 months ago
Cynthia-I know how you feel. At work, if anyone goes into a closed office and closes the door, I automatically assume they are in there talking about me and it isn't good. It is definitely a problem we have with our self-esteem and that is so much harder to work on than weight. I really think sometimes that is why we are overweight because it gives us an excuse to hide behind and a reason for people not liking us. In fact, it is our problem as you said that we have to overcome. I'm sure the majority of people think we are both fine people, we just don't think so and we really need to work on that if we ever are going to be healthy. I'll work hard on it if you will too. We'll try and encourage each other. I think your other poster on this topic had some really good advice that we can both use.
kylakae 21 years, 10 months ago
Cynthia, I've always said that it is easier to lose the fat than it is to lose the fat person in your head. Be kind to yourself. Don't worry if people exclude you, just go out of your way to be kind to others and the rewards will come home to you. The rewards come from inside you, not from other people. It comes from the knowing that you are a good person. Start by assuming the best of everyone. Assuming the worst tends to get you the results you expect. So does assuming the best. Remember that you deserve to be thin and healthy. Look yourself in the mirror every morning and tell yourself that you are beautiful and that you are a good person. Eventually you might start to believe it. Love and hugs to you!
cdgalvin 21 years, 11 months ago
Hello ALL! Well it has been a little over two weeks since surgery and I am doing pretty good. I had my first post-op drs appt. and I am down 25 lbs! Surgery went well, however I was not really prepared for what all my body was going to have to go through after surgery. I thought that my surgery would be just like my sister's (She had open RNY 1 year ago) but I found out that my extra 100lbs put me into a higher risk group and gave me some extra things to have to contend with after surgery. For instance, my sister came home from the hospital with her one drainage tube removed and no staples. I, on the other hand, had 26 metel staples from my breast to about an inch above my naval, one feeding tube on the left and a drainage tube on the right. I also had a tender swollen spot in the center of my chest between my breast(I found out from the nurse that this was just a fluid deposit...it has since gone away). I ended up staying in the hospital an extra day because my "monthly", which always causes me to be anemic, started just before surgery, and it, coupled with my Lovenox (blood thinner to prevent blood clots) caused my hemoglobin count to be too low 7.8. The Dr wanted to give me a transfusion but I begged them to wait (I have been through this blood count thing before)in the mean time the Lovenox was stopped. Thank God, my monthly stopped and the blood count became steady. During my time in the hospital they also had a rough time keeping my oxygen levels up so I had to spend all sleep time with my Bi-Pap machine in place. Finally, this also was stable and I was allowed to go home. ( I did go back on the Lovenox shots at home but I had to go to the hospital here in Joliet to have my blood tested after a couple days to make sure my count did not drop again.) Coming home from the hospital, a little over an hour drive, I felt really good. I could not get over the feeling of relief and wonder of finally being a post-op. I felt like a person who has had a near death experiance; like I had been given a new life. I smiled all the way home. The kids had the house set up conveinant for me. We had decided that I would sleep on the couch because my bed (which broke down because I am too heavy for the wooden slates) sits on the floor and was too low for me to be able to get up from with my tender incision and all. They laughed at me with all my gadgets that the hospital had given me, BUTT KLAMPS to help me wipe my behind, SOCK PUTTER ONNER that I wish I had had before, EXTENDED SHOE HORN that I have yet to use, SPONGE ON A STICK to help in the shower, and my favorite,THE REACHER which my husband calls "the lazy stick" that enables you to pick up anything that is slightly out of arms reach without getting off the couch. The first couple of days went ok. I took it easy took my pain medicine and enjoyed my jello and popcicles that I had bought before going into the hospital. But then my sister called me and said that I should be getting my protein in. I tried to drink the VERY EXPENSIVE protein drinks that we had purchased for this occasion, and found that I HATED THEM! I later went out and bought a powder which I also hate. I take it from this that my experiance with the protien is going to be a real adventure. I am still experimenting! My worst day so far came after three days home when I began to have the worst time trying to move about with the tubes extruding from my sides. These tubes hurt me everytime I moved and I could never seem to get used to the heavy bulb on the end getting in the way of my arms. I called the dr to beg to have these removed and was told how important that it was to keep them in for two weeks at least. I had to "get a grip" and resign my self to living with these forign things (which made my squimish husband gag to look at them)proturding from me. But Monday, the 10th finally came and the tubes came out. My new freedom made me want to get out and walk, which I have done a little everyday. However, I think I may have overdid things yesterday because I walked 3/4 of a mile with my sister and I felt wiped out today. I have decided to take it slow and let my body tell me when it is ready for more. I have been eating soft and ground up foods this week and so far so good. I do still have a lot of gas however, and water hurts me when I first start drinking it. My heart Dr. Dr pantano was not very happy to hear that I had not been using my Bi-pap machine (because there was nowhere to put it next to the couch). I promised to "get back with the program." He is worried that my oxygen levels may still be droping too low when I sleep (Sleep Apnea). All in all though, I am very plesed with the surgery and I am looking forward to the rest of the journey. Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive! Thanks KAREN BARNES for being my "spur of the moment angel" I'll be calling you soon.