FinallyLovinMe

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54lbs gone forever!

It's been the most amazing thing, losing the weight. My husband has been very supportive. He had started to notice that my clothes no longer fit and he took me shopping last weekend. For the first time in a really long time, I really enjoyed it. We only bought 2 outfits and some shoes but you would have thought I was on rodeo drive instead of just the mall!

Some of my co-workers who haven't seen me in a while, because of the nature of my job, were amazed at how I looked. One even said that I had more pep in my step.  My knees no longer hurt, and my back pain is diminishing. I can honestly say that I feel great! I'm getting my confidence back.

I won't say this has been easy because it's not. I still get the foamies if I eat too fast or too much in one setting. I'm learning what works with my new stomach and what doesn't. I don't think I was prepared for what everyone had been saying to me all along that my tastes in food would change. But let me tell you, they have really changed. When you can only have a small amount of food you become really selective in what you put in your body. It's like I've become a food snob. Trying to manage calories, protein and taste is a task. I will say that I'm glad I made this decision and I'm happy to put in the work.

Until next time,
Stephanie

PS. I joined the gym this past week and have been working out with a friend of mine.

Well, it's been 3.5 weeks since surgery and I can truly say my life has changed ... for the better. It has been quite an adjustment but I feel great!
 Most importantly ... 
I'm down 40lbs! since 12/01/07 pre-op diet.

I'm still on semi mushy foods and I would love to taste something crunchy besides saltine crackers, but the change is for the better. It has taken some time, but I've finally figured out where "full" is. It was at trial and error process. I've had the foamies more times in the last  2 weeks then I ever thought imaginable. I'm trying to get some tips on getting all of my protein in every day which has been a struggle but I'm working on it. My other big problem is water. I used to be able to drink crystal lite non-stop. Now, it's just  too sweet. I actually prefer the coldest ice water I can get. My husband has been really supportive and surprisingly so have a lot of my friends and co-workers. I was hesistant to tell anyone at first, but as the pounds are dropping I am more confident in the decision that I made to take charge of my health. It's been the best choice of my life.

I can finally say that I made it over. The surgery was without complication, and my recovery has been coming along well. I'm still sore and I had a little swelling that kept me in the hospital one more day, but I can truly say that I'm Blessed!  God has seen me through and granted me a new begining. I thank you family for all of your prayers and encouragement during these last few months, days and even hours.
The love you have shown me here has been more valuable than you will ever know.  Until then, I'll be right here, (slowly) sittin' down on the loser's bench.

Peace and Love,
Stephanie H. 

Well, It's 3:00 am and I'm so excited/nervous I can't sleep. I have to be at the hospital in the morning at 10am.

This feels like the end of a long trip, however I know it's the beginning of a whole new life. Pray that God keeps me and sees me through to a complication free surgery and speedy recovery.

Until tomorrow, I'll see you on the loser's bench...

Peace and Love,
Step

I had my final doc appointment today. I went in found out I lost a few more pounds, that was nice.
I left the doc's office and went to the hospital to do pre-registration and lab work. I have been poked, prodded, and tested all the way around now.
I just gotta get through Christmas and I'm on my way.....

*** 5 DAYS TO GO ***

Until then...

Peace and Love,
Step

I got on the scale this morning and I'm down another 5lbs! This pre-op thing is really motivating. I feel like I'm already warming up to get on the Big Loser's Bench..

9 DAYS LEFT until Surgery !

Until then, Be Blessed.

Peace & Love,
Stephanie

I know it's only been a few days and I know the pre-op diet didn't do it all,  but I jumped on the scale this morning and I have lost......
                          
        10 WHOLE AMERICAN  
        USDA PRIME POUNDS !
           
I'm one of those people who usually skips breakfast.  I know it's supposed to get my metabolism jumpstarted everyday. So, I started substituting a protein shake every morning on December 1st so that I would get used to having something in the mornings.  Well, I can now see the results. I can't believe it, something as simple as eating in the morning has helped me drop 10 lbs.

BY the way 10 days remaining until my surgery date. Until then....

Peace and Love,
Stephanie H.

Well, tomorrow I officially start the pre-op diet prescribed by my doctor. It's like an even lower carb version of Atkins than Atkins if you can believe it. It's designed to make my liver smaller. You see, it's my understanding that my liver is going to lay right over my newly decreased stomach after surgery. Shrinking it serves 2 purposes... 1) if it's smaller, then the doctor can manuver around it better during the surgery and 2) If it's smaller there is less of it to lay on top of my stomach and incision.

So, needless to say, It all seemed perfectly logical to me.
It marks the date as 2 weeks out for my surgery. 

You know they should really stop calling the Pre-Op Diet a diet.... for people, like me, who have had a lifetime of weight problems and issues with food, the word "diet" has all kinds of negative conotations. They should give it a new name... matter of fact I think I'll post a forum to find a new name for the pre-op diet...

Did  I mention I'm excited?!?!? 
Of course not about the diet..... but about the SURGERY!
Well there are my ramblings for the night, until tomorrow....

Peace and Love,
Step

 I HAVE A DATE!

The doctor's office called today and my ***life-changing-mind-altering-body-altering-new beginning-Blessing from God ***
(aka Surgery) date is .....

December 26, 2007!

Well, I was just looking over my profile and realized that I left out a whole lot. So let me fill in the blanks...

- early September 2007 - I mentioned to my OB/GYN that I wanted to have surgery. She actually suggested Dr. Webb. As a matter of fact her exact words were " He has great hands". As far as I'm concerned, I've already trusted her to operate on me when I had my c-section with my son and if  SHE says he's good then what better person to get advise from about a surgeon that another well respected surgeon. So I called Memorial Hospital and got information on the next seminar for his Bariatric group.

-mid September 2007 - I attended a seminar at the hospital. He reviewed reason to get the surgery, reasons not to get the surgery. The thing I likeda bout him was that he emphasized that WLS is a TOOL to help you obtain a healthier lifestyle and not a get out of jail free card. He was very professional and made a few jokes. He treated all of the other obese people in the room as  you would anyone else with an illness. He let you know up front that his goal was to improve your life not get you into cute clothes. I really liked that. I had my mind set on getting the lap band, but after hearing Dr. Webb talk about the options of RNY, Lap band and Sleeve. I was finding more and more that the Sleeve was right for me. Granted I did lots of research on my own, on the internet, reading medical journals...etc... That night I scheduled my first initial consultation with the surgery center.

-Late September 2007- I had my first meeting at Laproscopic Weight Loss Surgery Center (adminstrative side of the whole procedure) with Suzanne a surgery coorinator. She was great! They provided me with a binder of everything I think I could possibly imagine I needed througout this process. It had pre-op information, side effects, pre-op diet, post-op diet, risk factors, all the forms I needed my other docs to fill out. IT HAD EVERYTHING! and what I really liked is that she didn't just give me the binder and send me on my way. She went through EVERY SINGLE PIECE of paper so that I had a clear understanding of what I was about to undertake. At the time my husband was out of town and she even conferenced him in so that he could ask questions too. She also disclosed the bad news that not only was my surgery not covered by my insurance company but was also not covered by the other insurance offered by my job. She gave me the price and I was like are you serious?!?  Now I look back and think, It's like buying a new car except, I won't depreciate, I'll be getting better with time and I'll last a lot longer.
 During my initial orientation with Suzanne, my husband brought up the fact that  my sleeping habits had gotten worse and he could tell a noticeable diffence when I slept. He told suzanne I had been putting off having another sleep study done, which was true. She advised that I could not make another follow up appointment until I had a sleep study done. Needless to say, I'm so glad she was so forceful with me. I went to my PCP and got a referral for a sleep study with a cardiologist. I had my sleep study a few weeks later. Turns out I stopped breathing 80 TIMES AN HOUR at night! When I heard that I was like WOW, GOD HAS TRULY BEEN PROTECTING ME THE ENTIRE TIME! 
Well now, I'm on a CPAP machine at night and I have never slept better or had more energy during the day. I don't feel nearly a worn out as I was feeling before. My memory is better, my concentration is better and most of all I don't snore, which delights my husband abundantly.

-early October 2007 - I went for my orientation class at LWLSC. It was filled with all of the other potential WLS patients. I even saw a woman I met at the seminar I attended. It lasted for about 3-4 hours. They reviewed all of the pre-operative tests I would have to go through including all of the medical clearances I would need. They scheduled my appointment with the dietician/nutritionist, the phsychologist, my upper GI and my initial appointment at Dr. Webb's office.

-mid October 2007 - Can I just say Barium tastes like a milkshake without the flavor. I had my upper GI and it appeared to have positive results.

-late October 2007 - Met with Dr. Webb, he seemed to want to answer any othe questions I or my husband might have. He also ordered an H-pylori test.

- Early November 2007 - My Gallbladder decided the my stomach was getting all the attention and I had a gallbladder attack. At first I thought it was just really bad intestinal gas... but then it started feeling like a contraction in the wrong place. I woke my husband up at 4:30 AM and was like honey, something is wrong, get me to the hospital now. I was throwing up and my right shoulder felt sore but most of all my upper abdomen was in pain. They ran some tests, did an ultrasound and found the stones meaning that it had to come out. The good news is that my gallbladder was not infected and Dr. Webb said that he would wait and take it out at the same time as my sleeve. The bad news, it has to come out  and NO my insurance still won't pay for a portion of the surgery except removal of the gallbladder. Talk about getting over and the fleecing of America. I want my premiums back!

- My wedding anniversary November 13th.  We spent a week in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. I had a terrific time. When we got back, I found out that my loan to fund the surgery had finally been approved. Now all I was doing is waiting on the check to come in the mail.

- THE CHECK HAS ARRIVED!, and wouldn't you know, the bank has this policy of holding anything over $5000. So the wait is on... AGAIN.....

-THE PRESENT.... as noted in the previous blog entry, I've had all the tests done, gotten clearances from all my doctors, i'm sleeping with a CPAP machine, and I've paid the final pre-op deposit.... I'm waiting on a surgery date. God willing, I'm going into 2008  with a new perspective on my health and a renewed hope and faith in all that God has in store for me and my family.