Deanna W.

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

 Has it really been a year since I've updated my blog?  Good gosh how the time is flying by!  My life is so busy now and I'm so active that I just don't have the time anymore.   As you can tell because it's 1:15 in the morning and I'm updating my blog!  Get to bed already girly!

Well I'm happy to say that my vitamin issues have sorted themselves out for the time being anyways.  I had to up my D intake to 100,000 daily and it has done the trick.  The last time I had it checked I was up over 80... woohoo!   All of my other levels have been coming back normal as well which is comforting.   I do still have the nag in the back of my head, wanting to check them just incase but all is good.

Life itself couldn't be busier.   The kids keep me on my toes and ever moving.  For that alone this surgery was worth it.  I have no idea how I would have managed being over 300 lbs with the energy of these two.  Life as the new me is now becoming the norm.  I have a hard time remembering what it was like, the old me.  I see myself in pictures but I can't 'feel' like her anymore.  My head I guess has finally caught up to my new body.

Skin issues continue to be a pain, only for cosmetic reasons.  I have bat wings that will flap in any small breeze.  My thighs and belly are jelly.  Surgery to correct these issues isn't on the horizon for financial reasons so I'm doing the best I can and being creative with my attire.  Someday maybe, we'll see.

Well things are starting to turn around when it comes to my vitamin levels.  Calcium and PTH were 'good' considering how low my D was.  This is where the endo and I seem to disagree.  I don't think he quite 'gets it' that I need a lot more D than he is suggesting.  He wanted to put me on 4,000 iu daily and that should be enough.  Well I was taking 50,000 of the D2 and my levels only went from 18 to 27.  He said, you should be toxic!  I then had to explain AGAIN that I don't absorb fats and that is why this gel D2 is useless and I need to go onto a dry D3.  That is when he prescribed the 4,000 iu of D3, only upping it by a small margin over what I was already taking.  I have since taken matters into my own hands.  I've stopped taking the D2 gel and have switched to a dry D3 50,000 daily.   Is it working?  Likely but I haven't got the numbers yet.  I have to go this week for blood work and see my endo on the 22nd of July.  I'll know then what the numbers are doing and I'll just have to take the flack that he might dish out for me doing what I felt best for myself.  We'll see how that goes..... but I can tell you this, I have started feeling much better lately, more like my old self.  Is it related to the D level?  Not sure but some of the brain fog that I've been living with seems to have cleared.  It's one of the issues I plan on discussing with him later this month.

I also have started to realize that I might be one of the few DSers who has a form of dumping syndrome.  I've been a bit more lenient with my diet lately and have had a few sugary drinks... after consuming I am really dizzy.  It doesn't always happen but if I drink something sugary on an empty stomach, whoa!  I had a double double from Timmies the other morning when I had to start work at 7am and I could have sworn it had a couple shots of vodka in it because the effect it had on my vision and stability was about the same as if it was vodka.  So *slaps wrist*  lesson learned and I need to get back to focusing on what works for me and leave the crap that wasn't good for me anyways alone.

As for the weight, still hanging tight around the 160 mark.  Sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less, depending on where I am in my monthly cycle.  I really don't weigh myself very often anymore, once or twice a month maybe?  The scale has actually made it's way into the basement and I only dig it out when I get curious.  What a free feeling that is!  I am not staring at numbers and fretting over numbers anymore... YES!!!

Well it has been a while since I've updated.... life is busy busy busy!  I seem to have stabilized now at around 160 lbs.  Sometimes I'm a little lower, sometimes a little more.... I think a lot of it has to do with where I am in my cycle and of course what I've eaten the day before, if too salty I tend to retain water.

I've been referred to an endocrinologist now.  I've had my first initial appt. with him but have to go back for a follow up on the 29th.  I'll get the results of a long long list of blood tests that he had done.  Some that my family doctor hadn't been doing so I find that reassuring.  According to the last set from my family doctor my globulin was low and my vitamin D was also low.  I haven't been able to get my D up into the normal ranges yet but I also suffered from low D before surgery so I'm sure that is a contributing factor.  I'm a pale fair skinned gal who lives in the great white north so there isn't much time to bask in the sunshine.... hopefully I'll get some good tanning in this summer and help boost that level up as well as the treatment my endo is going to suggest.

I feel pretty good despite the two low levels.  I actually sleep on my back! LOL  I haven't slept on my back ever in my life, not that I can remember anyways.  I was always a tummy sleeper but that position is no longer comfortable as my back gets sore quickly.  The fact that I am now able to breath again has made sleeping sooooo enjoyable.  I suffered from sleep apnea prior to surgery for I'm not sure how long but I bet it was years before I was even diagnosed.  I struggled through both pregnancies only being able to sleep bolt upright in a computer chair to halfways keep my airway open... even then I sometimes woke up gasping for a breath.  It can be so easily taken for granted.  Just being able to fill my lungs completely with air and not feel like I'm lifting up a heavy weight on my chest as I do so is amazing.... it's as good as sex.... ok well not really but damn it feels good.

Anyways, life is good for the most part.  I know my DH worries still because all of my levels aren't perfect and I take so many supplements a day but I don't think he really knew what to expect.  Hopefully with the help of my endo this worry will ease in him some.  I'd like for him to come to terms with accepting this new me and not worry because in all honesty I was very unhealthy before surgery and I could have had a heart attack or stroke at any time.  I think he sometimes forgets what I used to be like and how difficult life was for me.

That's all for now... I'll update once I talk with my endo!

Hi everyone!  I'm a couple weeks late for my one year update but I wanted to wait until I had all of my lab results back before doing so.  To date I have lost 143.5 lbs!  I only lost 2 lbs last month and haven't lost anything this month and I'm completely happy with that.  My BMI is 24.9... NORMAL!!! LOL.... if I didn't have all this excess skin I'm sure that number would be even prettier, but we all know that scenario I'm sure   

Here's a few pics of my journey over the past year.. http://dakidz.piczo.com/surgery1year?cr=4&linkvar=000044

Ok, the results of my labwork that had issues.... (these are in SI units)
Vitamin A... 1.10
Vitamin D... 18
Potassium... 3.2
Total Protein... 59
Albumin... 38
Globulin... 21
A/G Ratio... 1.8

My daily vitamin regime...
Vitamin A... 30,000 IU
Vitamin D... 2,800 IU (plus a bit that is in with my calcium citrate tablets)
Potassium... 2400 mg (prescription 600mg 4x daily)
Iron... 300mg (prescription)
Calcium Citrate... 2400mg 

My protein intake has been in the 90 - 100g a day range but I will admit that I have been eating more carbs lately as I'm trying not to lose too much more weight.  This may have come at the cost of my protein levels falling slightly below normal. So I'm back to concentrating on more protein and have added in a protein drink daily as well.... (blech!)

Potassium has been my biggest struggle.  I just can't seem to get that one into the normal ranges!  Has anyone else has issues with this?  and if so how much did you need to take a day to rectify the problem?

My vitamin D is also low, something I struggled with preop as well.  Is it possible for us to take too much D?  I was thinking of ordering Vitalady's 50,000 dry D but wondered if that would be too much?

Thanks in advance for the help and advice!

I can't believe that almost a year has gone by since my surgery.  Life couldn't be more normal and I couldn't be happier with the decision that I made.  I'm down to 165 lbs now, I do bounce around a little bit but that is my low for last month.  I'm getting a lot of comments from people now saying "You don't plan on losing any more do you?" or "I think you are where you need to be".... I even had someone tell me the other day that I looked like I weighed 125 lbs.... PFFT!  I laughed quite loudly after that one but people just don't take into account the size of my frame and the amount of extra skin I'm carrying around right now.  As my mother used to tell me, "You're built like a football player... or a brick sh!t house" ... so 125 lbs I will never be.  My GP told me that he'd be happy to see me at 165 lbs and the last time I was there he asked me if I was still losing.  He looked mildly concerned when I told him yes but I also reiterated that there will likely be a bit of rebound weight so going lower still wasn't a big concern for me.  I'm scheduled to go in and see him near the end of this month for my big huge list of blood work that needs to be done so I'm sure we'll discuss this issue more then.  Anyways, I'll update again in a few weeks when I have my one year surgiversary!

I'm down another 6.5 lbs this month, bringing me down to 183.5... again I'm happy with that!  Life is really normal and I haven't got much to complain about, infact I'm feeling pretty good these days!  (aside from the darn cold I'm fighting off at the moment but c'est la vie).  I reached a nice milestone this month.  In college, the last time I remember being this size, I owned a pair of Ikeda jeans.  I loved these jeans.  But they only fit me for a short period of time because I started gaining weight rapidly right after I graduated.  Well I've had these jeans tucked away in a box in the basement for years now, 16 to be exact.  I finally fit into them again this month   Mind you they are totally out of style now.  The jeans are so tapered that I have to sit on the side of the bed to wiggle the hem over my ankle and foot, but that was the style back then.  So things are really great. I'm starting to tread into new territory now since I don't remember being any smaller than this.  I was likely a preteen or younger the last time.  Anyways, I'll update with some new pics soon!

8 months?!  Has it really been that long?! Whew time sure is flying by.  
I lost 10 lbs last month.... not too shabby, I'm happy with that.  People are really starting to take notice now that I've lost weight.  Why now I'm not sure but especially at work I am getting a lot of comments.  I'm also getting asked "how much more do you want to lose?"  Which is really hard to answer!  I think I'd like to lose another 25 lbs, bringing me down to 165.  But when I say this people look at me like I have two heads and think that I don't have another 25 to lose... I do, truly I do but it is flattering to hear.  In all honesty though, if I didn't lose another pound I'd be satisfied.  I feel normal, like I blend in with the rest of the world, which is such an amazing feeling! I've never felt that before and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

I made it!



Finally! I gained and lost the same 5 lbs last month yet the scales wouldn't tick over and let me make it to 199! I was on pins and needles the entire month waiting and waiting. Finally a few days into my 7th month I made it into the elite clubs! (I was 300 lbs on the day of my surgery so onederland and century club happen at the same time for me)

I had a big slow down in the amount of weight I lost last month but I think I've discovered why with my recent lab results. My dosage of thyroid replacement was off again. It was too high a couple of months ago so we adjusted my meds down and then the weight loss slowed down as well. Sure enough I was hypo and I needed to have my dosage increased back up a bit. Hopefully this will kick start the weight to start coming off again.

The rest of my labs were ok except for iron and potassium, which I am now on prescriptions to help get them back up to the normal ranges. The meds for potassium are working and the gas that I was experiencing from the supplement is easing so life is good again. I go back again this week to have it tested one more time.

I find it so hard to believe that I am only 3 lbs away from being in the 'overweight' BMI range! Bye bye obese! Anyways, I'm so happy to finally be able to post that I'm here!

I haven't posted much lately because life really hasn't changed that much to be honest.  The pounds are still coming off but this is the first month where I've noticed a dramatic slow down.  I've been averaging about 15 lbs a month up until this month when I only lost 8 lbs.  Still nothing to sneeze at I know but it's not as much as I was hoping it would be.  I think I'm now entering into the stage where the loss will be slower and smaller from month to month.  Which I'm ok with as long as I keep going down and not up.  Since the surgery I've lost 94 lbs and I have another 56 to go until I reach the goal that I've set for myself.  I was hoping to celebrate 6 months and 100lbs lost but c'est la vie!  Maybe next month LOL

I'm still losing my hair.  It's pretty depressing because I've gone from having hair so thick that it was difficult to wrap an elastic hair tie around it twice.  Now I could wrap the same tie around it 4 times.  I don't even wear my hair up anymore because it looks silly to me.  Like I have something to prove that I can grow hair and show off my whimpy little pony tail.  Anyways, I'm hopeful that it will stop falling out soon!

I've been doing a little more shopping lately. I'm wearing a size 16 pant and an XL ladies top.  It's a bit freaky and cool at the same time, walking into regular sized clothing stores and actually trying stuff on.  The sales people don't look at you all weird like because you're shopping there.  So that is really neat.  I bought my first article of clothing from Old Navy yesterday! woohoo!  I really liked shopping in there, obviously because I made 3 trips to the dressing room with my arms loaded with stuff each time. 

So that's about it on me right now.  Hopefully next month I'll check in having reached Onederland and acheived the Century Club membership (both of them happen at the same time in my case ;-) 
TTFN!

Sorry folks, I so need to vent right now.
I seriously am having more issues with my appearance now that I've lost 80 lbs than before I had the surgery.  Before the fat was ugly but it was firm-ish and didn't move around all that much.  But now afterwards I feel even less attractive and more like a freak.  At a little over half way to goal I have sagging skin with patches of fat hanging in them all over my body.  I have 4 boobs (if you can call them that)  2 of the 4 used to be my armpits but now they look like a bunch of nickels hanging in the toe of a flesh coloured sock.  My arms hang, really hang, and the skin is crepe like.  My thighs akin austrian shades. When I lay on my side in bed, sure there is a hip bone that I've never seen since I was a small child but on the mattress is a puddle of flesh and fat that looks like a pool of heavy drapes.  I'm scared to think of what I'll look like as I get closer to goal.

I never had issues with being naked in front of my husband until recently. I'm more embarrassed now than I was at 300 lbs.  I went into this journey to become healthy but the healthier and easier life gets the more my appearance becomes an issue.  I really never thought I would want to consider plastic surgery.   We seriously couldn't afford it so I don't even know why I let my head even go back to considering it.   Not to mention it scares the crap out of me.

I'm sure I'm not the first person to go through this so any advice on how to get my head around it all would be most appreciated.  

Thanks for letting me vent.