Brenda T.
Long over due update
Nov 17, 2013
Had surgery may 14/12 I haven't had any complications, thank goodness. My start weight was 258 and now I am 131 - 133 , I am very happy with the lose, lower than I thought I would ever be. I don't want to loose anymore. I eat between 1200 - 1600 calories a day. I do still watch the scale for any up trend, but so far it hasn't. The doctors are very happy with my success. And I absolutely love the tip at the nutrition class at the start that said never to eat more than a cup of food at any meal or snack. I truly believe that is what will make me successful longterm.
As far as exercise, I have to be honest, I don't do any. I go for slow walks with the dogs, but that is it. Other than house work lol. I'm not saying that that is the way to go, but for me I never could handle workouts, found no joy in it.
I would do this again in a heartbeat! I am surprised with the amount of loose skin, considering they called me a "light weight" I still would take this over my weight before. Before surgery I thought I would want to have a tummy tuck, now I don't worry about it. Mind you, if it were not a matter of money I would do it.
Love the new clothing, shopping is a real pleasure. I love value village!
The worst thing of this whole process was the waiting for the surgery, I thought I would go crazy! But time flies after surgery and the results are like changing. I still get blown away with all the changes. I think of food so differently now, it doesn't control me. I have been fortunate that I am one that reacts to sugar, I'm very thankful for that.
Can't think of anything else to add. The wait is so worth it!!!
Finally an update on my blog.
Aug 13, 2012
I can't believe how fast time goes by on this side of surgery. lol. And how busy things become. I wanted to make a blog right after surgery, but never got to it.
The surgery itself went very well and I was home after two nights at the hospital. I was very determined to walk right away, infact I walked every time I was awake. I truly believe this helped me with my healing. The staff at TWH was very kind and helpful.
I took painkillers up to 5 days post op, I was trying to be brave but learnt the hard way when I was in a ball crying in pain. So my advice take them if you need them. It really blows my mind how quick the body heals!
When I had my followup I was given some bloodwork to get done and the results showed that I was low in Vit A. So after a month of taking 10,000 IU I will get my blood done again.
Tomorrow I am three months post op, wow, time flies. I am starting to lose my hair, but I'm not worried, not yet anyway. lol
Now my eating.... I work everyday to get my protien in. I usually have half a protien shake a day, but have been taking a whole one lately because my protien is usually between 40 - 60 and that other half of shake helps boost it up.
A couple of times I have eaten too fast or a bite too much and I threwup. I also thought, without thinking, lol that a McDonald's icecream would be ok, ice milk right. NOOOO way too much sugar and I'm please to announce that I am a dumper on sugar.
I haven't craved anything, but there are times where I am really enjoying my food and want to eat a normal potion, but there is no way that I can eat much. The sadness only lasts a tiny while.
A weird mind game that I am going thru is the fear of carbs. Not so much fruit and veggies, but even somewhat of them too. But I have between 20 -30 g of carb a day. I don't eat anything unless it is protien, or has it in it. I haven't had bread, I don't want the carbs. I have had Kashi fire roasted veggie crackers, which are a nice flavor and have a bit of protien, with a piece of cheese. My calories are very low, but I know we aren't suppose to focus on that. I do track my food everyday, that way I can physically see where I'm at.
My weightloss is going great as far as I'm concerned. Started at 245lbs and now 189. I feel a big difference and get many compliments. It is so wonderful to move and do everyday things without the added bulk. My belly button looks like it has a frown because my it goes down on both sides. lol
That's all I can think of right now. Thanks for reading.
Surgery Date!!
Mar 31, 2012
I'm an early bird, I always have been, my appointment was for 9:30 but we got there at 8:05. At about 8:20 they called three of us in, they weighed us and took us to our single private rooms where we waited. I was to be the third one seen. It seemed like a long wait in the room, thank heavens my hubby is so patient. A nurse came in and asked some questions and took my bloodpressure. And was going to explain how to order the OF, but I told them I had already bought 2 weeks from someone who had it left over. And that was fine, I didn't need to order more. The nurse also gave me a hospital binder that explains your stay in the hospital, it wasn't for just RNY but for any surgery. And I have to take that to the pre op and the day of surgery.
It was between 10 and 10:30 when the surgeon came in. He asked me what I knew of the surgery and what complications I am aware of. Then using pictures he explained it all and let me ask any question I had. Very nice man. I signed the papers.
Then I booked my appointment with the nurse and the pre op appointment too. I did find out that they leave the 8am appointments for those who have diabeties.
The surgeon also said that probably in 5 years they will be doing this surgery on diabeties patients that aren't overweight because of how it "cures" it. They said they wouldn't do the restrictive part the same though because they don't need to lose weight.
My pre op appointment is Apr 27 at 11am. My surgery May 14 11 am. I start OF April 30. I can't tell you how excited I am.
Surgeon's Appointment!!!!!
Mar 20, 2012
Very very happy!!!!
May 11
Mar 12, 2012
I'm a little worried about going to St. Mike's because I haven't been there before, and where to park. And because they don't do as many surgeries as TWH.
I phoned TWH today and talked to Lorisah, I have talked to her lots of times. She is a nice lady. I asked her if it was ok to call once in a while to see if there was ever a cancelation. She said sure that is no problem, that I could call as much as I wanted they didn't mind. But they very seldom get cancellations. I felt great that she said they don't mind when people call often, she seem very patient.
Surgeon's Appointment
Mar 09, 2012
Had my last appointments Feb 6. They reviewed my file Mar 1. And got my call for the appointment Mar 9.
My appointment is with Dr. Ori Rotstein from St. Mike's. I'm crossing my fingers and toes that they will fill me in for a concelation. lol
At least I can breathe now and not sit on the phone.
Going Crazy
Mar 05, 2012
I am going crazy waiting for the phone call!!! I was told on Thursday that they did review my file and I can be referred to the surgeon. Now I am waiting for the call for the appointment.
My gut is so angry and impatient!!! I don`t know how to put it out of my mind, so all my days are wait wait wait. All kinds of thoughts keep going thru my head, from, did they lose my number? or file? I know they haven't, but I want to know why it is taking so long!!
I hate feeling sorry for myself but I don't know how to handle these emotions......
Waiting for review...
Feb 27, 2012
I am having a very hard time waiting, but there is nothing I can do about it. I'm so worried for whatever reason they won't review it this Thursday either. :(
Here is the emails that I have gotten from Sarah:
Your file has not yet been reviewed by the team because not all team members were available to discuss your assessments today during Rounds. Your file has been added to review next week. You should hear back about next steps sometime after that.
Take care,
Sarah
We try to review files as soon as possible in Rounds but, for various reasons, this can sometimes take a month or longer so you are still in that timeframe. As mentioned in our assessment together, next steps can vary for each patient. Sometimes a clinician may have some follow-up work for a patient or they may be put through for the surgical appointment. This is determined at Rounds. I assure you that this is part of our usual process and nothing out of the ordinary.
Take care,
Sarah
Last two appointments
Feb 07, 2012
I'm very excited that I had my final two appointments this past Monday Feb 6. This Thursday they will review it and call me either Friday or sometime next week with a surgeon's appointment!! EEEE so excited. The girl said that she is booking in March and that most likely I wouldn't be having surgery until April. But things are getting closer.
The Dietitian one on one was with Mary at TWH and she is a really likable lady. I didn't find the appointment uncomfortable at all. She went over my food journals and made recommendations and told me where I was doing good. She asked who the primary cook was, and I was honest.... I said restaurants. lol She asked if I was going to have a problem with that. I told her this is what my husband is looking forward to the most, eating at home. I told her I prepared to change that because it would be a waste to eat out and waste money on a meal and only eat a tiny bit of it.
She also went over what bingeing is and asked me what a large meal looked like to me. She had plastic food and asked me to pick what my portion sizes would be right now. She said she didn't have any concerns with me and that they will be there to work with me afterward too. She asked on a scale from 0 to 100 how ready am I to make these changes, and I said 100 and she smiled and she said that she thinks I am too.
The phychologist was a nice girl too, I think her name was Sarah. All kinds of questions in that appointment. Not just for how things are now but to cover any problems that I have ever had, so it brought up alot of the past. I'm really bad at dates of when things happened, but I could tell her roughly. I have come a long way from those bad times. I told her I feel I am a strong person and have done many hard things, (as in making hard decisions and following through). I said I have a very good support system and I've always been one that can ask for help. She said that was good to hear that I can ask for help. And she also said she thinks I am a strong well balanced person and she doesn't see any issues that would cause problems.
So very excited to be moving on and can't wait until I get a surgery date.
I hate waiting.
Jan 10, 2012
It seems to have taken all my focus, it's all I think about. Yeah sure I do other things, but my mind always comes back to this. grrrr.
I also know that thinking about it all the time doesn't make it come faster. I also know that even though I have this great forum for support and a very supportive husband and friends, it is really all mine and they can't help make it go faster.
I do know I'm fortunate that things are moving as fast as they are compared to others.
