Dalexis
continued
Sep 03, 2008
Nowadays, I find that, socially, a whole new world is opening up. From a dating standpoint, I'm attracting all sorts of interesting attention. Now, what do I mean by "interesting"? Well, women that wouldn't spit on my butt if I was on fire pre-op suddenly think i'm "fine". Go figure. LOL. I mean, don't get me wrong; this IS a visual world we live in. Do I let it go to my head? No, not really. It's not like I was a virgin pre-op. I did have my share of attention, its just from a different crop of women now.
Now, I guess I COULD be like some people and bask in this all this "newfound" attractiveness. But, its not really all that new to me. Besides, first and foremost, I'm going to be who I've always been. Yes, I can be a typical full-of-myself Leo, but I've always had a bit of the humble about myself.
Hell, why not? I love myself. :-)
Now, I guess I COULD be like some people and bask in this all this "newfound" attractiveness. But, its not really all that new to me. Besides, first and foremost, I'm going to be who I've always been. Yes, I can be a typical full-of-myself Leo, but I've always had a bit of the humble about myself.
Hell, why not? I love myself. :-)
Recent recollections
Sep 02, 2008
Lately, I've been looking back on my journey thus far. I have to say that I've been relatively lucky. I've never really put down on paper all of my thoughts regarding my journey. I guess i'm kinda private like that.
When I started this journey, I was tiping the scales at about 380 lbs. I know that's not much for some, but I was suffering from hypertension, sleep apnea (there is nothing scarier than waking in the middle of the night to find you're not breathing and fighting to regain your breath), borderline diabetes and pain in my knees.
As the oldest of my parents four sons, I was also the only one who wasn't "normal". I was always "the big one" or "that fat one over there". As I grew older, I graduated to "Big Man" so much so that at times, I could have sworn that was my name.
Anyway, after going through all of the evaluations starting April of 2006 (after I returned from my trip to Paris), on November 27th, of that year, I left for St. Luke-Roosevelt Hospital at 6am. In the days leading up to that trip, I talked to all those around me who important to me; I explained to my daughter what I was dying, why I was doing it, and what could possibly happen. Lastly, I spoke to my mom. The night before my surgery, she and I prayed together, she gave me her little Bible that she always traveled with, her rosary beads, told me she loved me, and sent me on my way. That November morning was the loneliest I'd ever felt; I didn't want anyone to come with me to the hospital and be worrying about me.
I arrived at the hospital by 7:30 that morning. By 11:30, after filling out some more forms, disrobing and sitting in the waiting room with a dozen other patients and their loved ones, I was led to the O.R. Further disrobing, I lay on the table with the i.v. in my arm and the mask over my face. Next thing I know, I'm waking up with another mask over my face, and hooked up to a machine that beeped whenever I didn't take a deep enough breath. I was just happy to have survived.
Thus far, I have had only one complication; a blood clot had been found and taken care of in my leg. For the most part, I've had nothing but good experiences since my rebirth; the ability to buy clothes off the rack, being able to physically do all sorts of things I was unable to do, sitting on an airplane without a)being offered a belt extender or b)being looked at like a freak with two heads, and, finally, the fun of not being recognized by ppl who hadn't seen me in a while..even now, almost two years later.
I must admit, this has, indeed,been an adventure; one I wouldn't trade for another. The best is yet to come.
When I started this journey, I was tiping the scales at about 380 lbs. I know that's not much for some, but I was suffering from hypertension, sleep apnea (there is nothing scarier than waking in the middle of the night to find you're not breathing and fighting to regain your breath), borderline diabetes and pain in my knees.
As the oldest of my parents four sons, I was also the only one who wasn't "normal". I was always "the big one" or "that fat one over there". As I grew older, I graduated to "Big Man" so much so that at times, I could have sworn that was my name.
Anyway, after going through all of the evaluations starting April of 2006 (after I returned from my trip to Paris), on November 27th, of that year, I left for St. Luke-Roosevelt Hospital at 6am. In the days leading up to that trip, I talked to all those around me who important to me; I explained to my daughter what I was dying, why I was doing it, and what could possibly happen. Lastly, I spoke to my mom. The night before my surgery, she and I prayed together, she gave me her little Bible that she always traveled with, her rosary beads, told me she loved me, and sent me on my way. That November morning was the loneliest I'd ever felt; I didn't want anyone to come with me to the hospital and be worrying about me.
I arrived at the hospital by 7:30 that morning. By 11:30, after filling out some more forms, disrobing and sitting in the waiting room with a dozen other patients and their loved ones, I was led to the O.R. Further disrobing, I lay on the table with the i.v. in my arm and the mask over my face. Next thing I know, I'm waking up with another mask over my face, and hooked up to a machine that beeped whenever I didn't take a deep enough breath. I was just happy to have survived.
Thus far, I have had only one complication; a blood clot had been found and taken care of in my leg. For the most part, I've had nothing but good experiences since my rebirth; the ability to buy clothes off the rack, being able to physically do all sorts of things I was unable to do, sitting on an airplane without a)being offered a belt extender or b)being looked at like a freak with two heads, and, finally, the fun of not being recognized by ppl who hadn't seen me in a while..even now, almost two years later.
I must admit, this has, indeed,been an adventure; one I wouldn't trade for another. The best is yet to come.
