Michelle P.
My Journey
Jul 14, 2007
07-14-07
Well I am anxiously awaiting my nutrinist appointment on Monday the 16th. I have filled out my Daily food Diary for today. I had made a fried chicken recipe with chicken breasts. I knew from the ingredients that it was going to be quite fattening. After I was filling out the diary, I looked up the nutrianal facts on the recipe card. Just for a single serving of chicken it was a wooping 1067 calories, and of course I had more that a single serving. I am really not very good about reading the calories on packages, but I very eager to learn. Well, for all the food I had today which was not much, because I usually only have 2 meals a day, which will have to change on the very near future. I had 2127 calories, so hopefully that will be ok for my nut appointment to review. I have been absolutely addicted to this site all week. I almost think I should turn off my computer to get anything done. I have really loved all the forums and all the great advice. It made me very prepared for my consultation when I got a 100% on my test on gastric bypass. She said she rarely ever see anyone that gets that score. I love watching Big Medicine so of course I see allot of advice on there. Well, enough for there, got to get to bed. Church in the morning.
07-17-07
I went to my appointment with the But here in Modesto by my surgeons office. It went well, I learned a few new things. I plan to go on the two-week diet prior to surgery, if they notify me of my date and give me that notice. It is pretty strict. Just worried that I will pass out with that small amount of food. They basically want me just to eat about 4 oz of meat and one or two ounces of fruit, with some protein shakes. I was able to schedule my psyche appt today. I am a little disappointed that she does not have an opening until August 1st. The only thing with that is that I am on a scheduling conflict with the boys Dad. He can only take care of them the first two weeks in August. I was really hoping to get all the requiments in prior to the end of July. So I could have my surgery that is of course that I do get approved right away. It is hard to worry about having this surgery and who will have my boys while I am in the hospital. I have no family where I live. I just don't like to have to rely on other people when it comes to my children. So, I am eagerly awaiting this appointment. Hopefully she will submit them rather quickly. Even with that I is may not even have my surgery in August. But I am praying. The weather has been nice hear lately so I have been taking a walk with the boys in the evening.
07-23-07
I had quite a frank conversation with friend of mine today. She is an OH member and just had RNY surgery In May. She told me how she had just reached her onderland goal. I was so happy for her. The conversation was like coming out of the closet. It is amazing to be honest to someone about food. I thought it was amazing to actually talk to another person about the amount of food I would consume if I was at a party, buffet, friends house. It is amazing how for so many years you just act like weight is not an issue. I hid it behind clothes(I was not hiding anything)and feelings and all sorts of things. For some reason I had this image of a skinny person in my head. Until I walked by a mirror, I was like "is that what I really look like?" Is that why I avoided all mirrors? I have not actually tried on clothes in a fitting room in over 15 years. I am really thankful for this site, it is a site where I can be me, I can actually put up pictures that make me look fat, because that is what I am.
07-24-07
I am feeling exhausted this morning. Aidan threw his first fit at Kindergarten camp today. I have put away his toys, and will need the have a talk with him when he gets home. I have so much work to do around this house. Not to mention getting a job. I am so in need of some extra income to close the gap on all this expenses I have. I just want to go back to bed. I need some caffeine, but I have already given it up. I need to find another way to give me a pick me up. I wanted to share that a few days ago, I went to my first support group meeting. I have 3 somewhat close by to choose from so I thought that I would start now pre-op. It was close by my mother in laws house so it was easy for me to drop the boys off and go. I am awaiting my psych appointment in another 6 days. I know after that it will fly by. I want to make sure that I can go on my pre-op diet the two weeks before. I fill that I have lost some inches or inch around my hips and upper abs. I am not sure if it is the fact that I cut out soda or that I was doing well for walking that week or so. I have been bad on the walking, it has gotten warmer here in California and more humid, so I have not wanted to get out and sweat more. I believe that I am getting healthier. I have allot more energy and have done allot less sleeping. I do hope I don't loose this energy post op. I have felt a little anxious lately about some more issues and the lack of a job. I really need to find one soon. Who would have ever thought that I would be included to do things again with my soon to be ex-husband and his family. But I am in the good graces again I guess. We are headed off to the county fair. So, I have to work on my eating addiction going on. I love fair food, the mini doughnuts, the funnel cakes, the hamburgers, the corn dogs, and the cotton candy. I think I am Templeton from Charlottes Web. Right now I having issues. It will be the last time I will be able to eat this type of food, so I fill that I will be in mourning. Hopefully I will be able to conquer my addiction. But, if I don't eat a cart load of food, I won't be able to stop thinking about it. My psyche appointment was today. I went to go see Dr. Bricon-Moll in Manteca. It was a very quick appointment only about 25 minutes. She felt that I was very well educated, and had done plenty of research. I did tell her about some of my new worries as far after post op care and complications. So, as soon as she submits that we are all set to send to insurance. I may be saying a have a date now very soon. I am having some anxiety right now however. I just received a notice from my roommate, she is moving out. She has lived here one year and it was the first person I have ever lived with other than my family. She stayed in her room all the time. She cooked and had her private bathroom and entry so we never saw each other. Unfortunately that is 500.00 less a month that I will have for income. I went on a testing for an AT&T position, which I passed. The hours are from 12-9, 4 weekdays and then 12-6 on Saturdays. I can’t work those hours being a single mom. It would be okay of I had family that could watch them. So I am back to square one. 08-04-07 I NEED A DRINK!!!!!!!!!!!! When I say that you would think I would need an adult beverage, yea that would be nice but what I really want is an extra large Pepsi. I have had a bad mommy day, and I just want to sink my sorrows into a large ice-cold soda. Since I have mourned that part of my life I can only dream. Let me start by telling you all about my day. We were invited to a children’s birthday party today, so because I don’t think ahead I go right before the birthday party starts to go pick up a gift certificate. We were at the store and my boys were playing with the round display that holds all the gift cards from various stores. My children were putting their action figures on it, and I had asked them to stop. As I was paying for mine, the children decided to see how fast the display could spin around. Just as that happened every single gist certificate fell all over the ground. Let me just say I was mortified!!! There were so many of them. I don’t think they are going to want us back in that store again. Needless to say I put them all back neatly. So we head off to the birthday party. My boys were acting so shy that, I could not get away a minute for some adult conversation. Finally after being there about an hour, they found some cars to play with give me about 30 seconds until I hear crying and screaming. Along come moms and kids telling me my son got hit in the head by a weight machine. And hear I was just thinking how nice it was for the peace and quiet a few seconds earlier. So, To make a very long story short he did get a pretty big gash on the top of his head, I did take him to the emergency room where he did get 1 staple for his head injury. I can’t wait until I have this surgery and I can keep up with my two very ACTIVE toddlers. I will just have to find another way to relieve stress other than my carbonated sodas. If you are a Mom or a Dad I am sure you all have had days like this, and I am sure I will just look back and laugh. Last night was the best night. I sent an email to my friends and asked them to celebrate my last real meal with me at my favorite Mexican Restaurant. It was a blast. I can’t believe how many people showed up! It felt like my birthday even though I can never get that many people together during December. So I’ am very supported by a group of really great friends. My Mom has totally been on the bandwagon as well. She has bought some of my vitamins that I need. I have also got her addicted to Bed Medicine. We have gotten very close the last few days; we have been trying to walk twice a day. We are even going to have a strength-training instructor come to the house after my surgery to help with the muscle loss, and some of the sagging skin that I hope to avoids. Yea, wouldn't that be nice. I have had so much energy this past month from watching what I eat and giving up sodas for good. So, I am so happy to say that I am ready for this weight loss Journey. I am ready to go mountain climbing, white water rafting, hiking, and bike riding. Make room for me on the looser bench because, here I come! So, today I start my pre-op diet. So lets get a drum roll please ...because the scale said 220.9. I have not seen that number in a while, I know it will jump up about 5-7 lbs by the end of the night, but with this diet who knows it would be nice to shed some before surgery. Well, I am off to have my 4oz of fruit this morning.
08-14-07 (1 Week to go before surgery) Where do I begin today is going to be crazy. My son Aidan started Kindergarten today; I was a crying mess. I can’t believe my baby is now in school. I know he will make his Dad and me very proud. I have my pre-op 4-hour class today at the hospital. It is 25 min after school ends, so I have to rush over there and not be too late to this class. I hate being late anywhere; it makes me very nervous. So can you believe this pre-op diet is actually working? My scale says I have lost 8.3 lbs. since I weighed 227 last week. The reason why I am doing this is because diets do not work for me. I have been putting my foods and exercise on dailyplate.com. I love the site it has allot of brand names that I do use. It has been very helpful. Too cool my BMI is now at 41, wowsers. 08-18-07 3 days to go! I had a very busy day yesterday getting ready for this surgery. I did get to meet my surgeon and have my pre-op appointment. They gave me another test and I got a 100% on that as well. Since, I had no questions I was only in there about 5 minutes. Then I had to be at the hospital to register, do my pre-op blood work and EKG. I will be at the new wing of the hospital that is high tech with private rooms. It will be nice when my boys come to visit. Now for this weekend, I have allot of stuff to do before Tuesday. I have to mow the lawns since I will not be able to do that for a little while after the surgery. Pack a suitcase for both my boys going to stay with their dad while I am out. BTW he is taking them camping, so I am a little nervous about that. Cleaning the house, packing stuff for me for the hospital. Well, I better get to it. Well, the weight is melting away there is no doubt about that. I still have the large belly, and seem to be loosing everywhere else but there. Soon enough my clothes won't fit and I will be complaining I have nothing to wear. I have to be honest. I was not doing to good with my foods; I really had nothing that I could eat in my house until my designated grocery day. Well, I went and I lost more weight because the more I eat the more I loose. I am still struggling with my protein shakes, I don't like the smell anymore, and I am afraid that I am going to get sick. I am lucky to not have thrown up yet even though a few foods came close. Those were a tomatoes and Swiss cheese and salami. My boys are not eating as good, but I am sure that will improve when my diet changes. There have been some changes in my life recently and I am hoping to go back to work very soon. I had a 2nd interview with a company a few days ago and I am hoping for them to call me in to do a drug test and that I get the position. That means getting a really good routine in now on my vitamins and protein. I will have to start bringing my lunch and making sure I don't forget it. Well, it is has been a little while since I have updated. I had a tough week last week. A week ago today, I suddenly came down with a terrible fever and chills with no flu like symptoms. My 1-month post op was the next day. I spoke to the PA Diane and was adamant with her that I thought that I had an infection from surgery. She did give me some samples of an antibiotic, and since I have felt sore on both sides of my tummy. I can tell the antibiotic is working, because soon after I take them the pain goes away. She also gave me some Nexuim for the heartburn feeling soon after I eat. My blood work came in within normal range for my protein levels. She feels that I can concentrate on mostly my food with protein rather than shakes.
Well, I spoke to Dr. Coate’s office about the possibility of changing insurance. The kids will now have Kaiser that means my Healthnet will drop, and go to straight medical. She said that Healthnet has a really fast approval time. Like in less than a week I could be approved. But with the regular medical it is like a 4-8 week process of approval and they want 5 years medical history. So, hopefully I can postpone changing until after my surgery and still shoot for an August surgery.
I just did my weight loss indicator and it said that I should loose about 102 lbs. It really seems like I will be too skinny. I am still going to keep my goals at about 95-97lbs to loose.
07-26-07
07-30-07
08-01-07
08-08-07
Well, I getting quite impatient about my unschuduled surgery. I went to the phych appointment on 08-1-07. 7 days ago and she still has not sent it in to the surgeon. I really want to have the surgery the week of the 20th, since the boys Dad took a week off for that same reason. I was hoping to have it already approved. I will call Dr. Coates office tomorrow to see if they got it yet. I know inpatient is my middle name. I have been very amazed with the amount of energy I have had. I have been doing great with no soda, I was offred one today but poliety declined. I am planning my last meal this Saturday with a couple of girlfriends.
08-09-07
I GOT APPROVED!! My Surgery is schduled for August 21st. It only took 3 days for healthNet to Approve. I am so excited. It has been a wonderful day. Praise the LORD!!!
08-11-07
07-20-07
Tomorrow is my big day, I was a little nervous but now I am feeling better. Hey I may actually be able to sleep tonight. I took the Bowel prep stuff. I got it at Target for $1.07. It was in the lemon flavor. Tasted just like I was drinking the Real lemon juice. I can still taste it but I am feeling better now. Well, I am off to get dinner ready for the kids and put my bag by the door.
08-24-07
I am post op. I had my surgery. It was really behind because all the cases before me were a little bit more complicated. I asked how my liver looked, and she said that it was in great shape and my surgery only took 60 minutes. She said to tell everyone how important the pre-op diet is. Soon after the surgery I was feeling pretty good almost no pain. But then the gas pains started and they were horible, I looked like my stomach was distended, I was pretty misrable. If it were not for the gas pains I could of ran laps around the hospital floor. My really good friends came to see me, I am so lucky that I have their support. I dont know what I would do without them.
I gained 8 lbs, but they are going down very rapidly. Well, all for now. I will update more later.
08-26-07
6 days post op! I am feeling pretty good. I had got rid of most of my gas pain but it comes all back again after I eat or drink something. I have lost all my fluid weight from the hospital and a few more after that. The scale said 214 this morning. I fell like I am cheating doing my weight first thing in the morning like it is not acurate. I got my boys back from their Dad's a few days early, I really am not ready for that. My blood preasure has still been an issue as noticed by some really bad headaches. But, now that I have the kids back I have to drive them to school. So, I will probally just take tylenol so the pain does not kick up my blood preasure. I am ready to not feel like I just had surgery and be real active again.
08-29-07
First Wow moment, first goal met, and 1st meal. Well, the other day, I realized that my knees were touching, and I could feel my bones. I stood with my legs together. Kinda cool thing. Today I weighed in at another drum roll please 209.5. That makes my first goal met at below 40 BMI. Yipee. So I had my fist meal this morning and I am in Stage 2, I did have small bites of some scrambled eggs. I have not had the full feeling yet. I go to my first post op appointment today. I feel really good. I woke up this morning and did not have any pains getting out of bed. So, I am healing.
08-30-07
I had my 1 week post op appointment today. I saw Diane the P.A. She had said everything looked good but I needed to up the calcim pills I got. I am a little bummed. I am pretty sure that I am Lactose Intollerant. I really love my milk especially with my preotein shakes. I wish there was a way around surgery that that would not happen since we need that preotein and calcuim. Well I am now down 20lbs from 227-207 today. I think Iam lossing around 2 lbs a day, I am sure that will slow down now that I am eating real meals.
09-08-07
08-15-07
Well, I have allot to say. I reached my "onederland" goal!!. I am really excited. I got on the scale today and was 199.4. Yippee. It has been years since I saw anything under 200lbs. I am started to get compliments. You never know if people really are noticing or just saying that because you had the surgery. But as of today I am down 27lbs. Since my pre-op diet. 17 from my surgery. I have to say I am really proud of the weight loss. I am needing to still focus on getting my protein shakes in, or in a couple of months I am going to be complaining about my hair loss. I am still in the same clothing size, it is however baggy in the rear and in the legs.
g I had thrush since it is common after this type of surgery. I had some white on my mouth and after I ate it kinda burned. The doctors office called and did not think it was Thrush. It did end up going away, they think I was dehydrated. So, at least I know what to look for now.
So many new changes are going on like, the boys Dad moved in, probally going to start working in another 2 weeks, and some other things. I have my lab work this week, so I will blog more later.
09-26-07
Allot of changes have occurred here in the last two weeks. My kids Dad moved back in, my youngest son started pre-school, and I go back to work again next week. With all the changes I do forget my vitamins once in a while.
As for the weight loss, it has slowed down a little. I loose about a pound every 3 days. I have lost allot in my legs, butt, and chest. I am waiting for my stomach to even out with the rest of the weight loss. I would be in smaller size if that were the case. I did squeeze into a size 18 yesterday. I have to buy medical scrubs for my new job so I don't know if I will have to change sizes frequently or not.
10-21-07
I hit my first big stall. I was at 191lbs for 3 weeks. I actually gained a pound here in there during that time. I started a new job, that requires sitting for about 8 hours a day. I have been a stay at home mom for the past 4 months. I got some walking and exercise by taking the dog and kids to the park. I lost 2 lbs doing that, so I decided to go again, this time I did some running. Looking forward to seeing ig that did any good tomorrow. I had my 2 month lab work done a few days ago, I am sure Dr. Coates office will call or mail them to me. I hope I am in good range.
11-14-07
Well, as of today I have lost 48 lbs and have 48 to go, so I am halfway, and I am not even 3 months post op. I do have my 3 month postop appointment next week, so I will do my blood work at the end of this week. I really like the compliments that I am getting now, even if people dont know that I am loosing weight. I really like my new job, I try to walk during my lunch hour to give me some weight loss during the week.
1-14-08
Wow, first time posting in such a long time. I am down 60 pounds today! The month of December went by very slowly for me. I have increased my protein and I am starting to loose weight once again. I have really enjoyed going shopping for new clothes. I have not bought to many new things, still using my hand me downs. I am in around a size 14 right now. I can go into any store and try on clothes, which is way cool. I have been recently been noticed my the oppsosite sex, which has been so strange. It is kinda sad that you dont get noticed until the weight comes off. Well, I have included some new pictures just in case you want to take a look.
2-19-08
I will be 6 motnhs post op in 2 days. I have my appointment with the doctors office on that day also. I am doing really good down 68 lbs today. I really love my RNY and I would not change it for anything. The amount energy I have is amazing. I love exercising (walking)and can't get enough. I sometimes have a problem sleeping, I have so much energy. Must be the new B100 vitamins I bought. Life is great right now. I started dating again, as in my last post. I have actually dated a few guys sinse, but I do like one guy so I am going to see how it goes. It was so cool to actually be able have a date for Valentines Day. I will update and see my visit goes as far as how the labs came back, but so far so good.
