fullfiguredbrotha

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07/29/2007    Hi All.... I am 4 months post OP... ( sorry for the missing updates, it's been a roller coaster ride) I am now at 295lbs. Thats more than 110lbs since I started (from 406lbs) this ride from hell... :-) Well lets see, the day of my surgery I had gotten myself down to 354lbs (my Dr put me on a 2 week, high protein liquid diet) I will forever hate him for that one. So in 4 months I have only lost 59lbs. I seem to have been hitting a plateu every step of the way. The depression hit me hard and early in on this race. But thanks for my colleagues & GOD, I made it through (my baby boy was a big help too). I've found that people see you losing the weight will try to undermine and trip you up. Even family doesn't want to see you make it sometimes. A cookie here. ice cream there... some folks want you to stay as you are... DON'T LET THEM!!!   I go to the gym everyday at least for 45 minutes. My blood pressure is excellent & the type II diabetes has disappeared. My leg swellinbg hasn't happened in over a month. I have had a bout with gout ( hey that rhymes). Between the Highblood pressure medicine & high protein it raises your uric acid levels. (Be Careful, Gout is painful). All in All I feel better, look better, I am better than I have been in many, many years. I wish I had lost more by now, but I'm not stopping. My GOAL is to be 180lbs (i think that's what I weighed in 7th or 8th grade) when it's all said & done. For right now, to use a cliche', I'm taking it 1 'pound' at a time. i will post some pics soon, with a shirt on this time. That stomach was scary. Speaking of stomachs: I forgot to mention the excess skin, that does not ( and i repeat) does not shrink back after 40 years. right now I'm just focusing on my goals, when i meet a couple more maybe we can think about plastics... All for now keep me in your prayers. Family life is tuff these days.

YEE HA!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!
Well it is finished... and now beginning. I'm home and feeling pretty good. the first few days I was pretty sore and I don't EVEN want to talk about that Catheter.... argh, just the thought gives me the creeps all over. Pitt Memorial was greatest. The nurses in the post op recovery room could use a little more care classes. That ran my bed into the wall and it snatch the oxygen off my face (just after surgery), but that was the worse part of the whole stay (and that dang catheter, argh!!). Greg and Kelly (my RN's ) were the best as well as there teams. I lost a good friend (Mr Morphine Pump) LOL. Still sore a little, I had to take the blood thinner shots home with me, which is a pain in the side literally. Dr Chapman and team did a remarkable job. I did have a drain plug on my right side for a couple of days but not a big deal until they took it out. It was a wierd feeling, not like that that catheter... glued shut my portals. My left side is sore and the gas feeling is gone down some. I hate that they shaved my stomach bald, I havent been this bald since 6th grade...  LOL.  My movement is getting better I'm walking further everyday. I'm still getting adjusted to drinking slowly. No solid foods until after the 5th of April. I will try to get a new pic up pretty soon. But on the day of my surgery I was down to 354, the low cal diet really works (short term). Thank you all for your prayers. Thanks Dawn for coming to visit. Look out Wal-Mart underwears here I come.

Been really busy lately and on this low calorie diet. I have had low energy becasue I've took a step further. Not only have done low calorie but Ive tried to limti my carb intake too. I've used the EAS & ATkins brand of shakes. they have 17G or protein and 100 - 110 calories with 1-2 carbs. I'm supposed to drink these (11oz) 4 times a day. but 3 days into the diet after getting past the starving feeling I wasnt hungry at all. At least 3 days I have only drank water. I figured that JESUS for 40 days and nights, I should be able to handle a few with water. 
My collegues and friends at work are really supportive and encourage me all the time. I 've uped my exercise to 1hour of walking a day with no weight lifting. No enrgy to lift, I fear I'll pass out.

I will provide an update tomorrow after I contact the hospital for my surgery time. I pray its firt thing in the morning. The quicker I'm in the quicker I'm on to smaller and better things...  lol
Wish me LUCK... never mind just pray for me.  :-)

Thursday... I spent half the day at the Dr's office. I swear they took about 20 vials of blood from me. (I cant feel my leggggssss) lol. 
I volunteered for the obesity research program. Well today they stuck, probed, prodded, enough already...  My Dr decided it would be best If I was placed on a liquid diet these next 2 weeks prior to my surgery. 4 High protein slim fast drinks a day. No solids & all the water or non-caloric non-carbonated  drinks is all I'm suppose to consume. That comes out to about 800 calories a day intake. They would like to see my weight down by 15-20 ponds before surgery. So it begins now. (or does it) I want to eat a big steak & Krispy Kreme before I go under.  :-)   We're still a go for the 23rd of March. I have to call on the 22nd to find out what time I need to show up. Not really nervous at this point but I am getting kind of figidy.  Also iA was about to take down my pics from this site, but my good friend highmaint64 explained to me the value of seeing my progression and how it helps others. so I'm leaving them up eventhough I HATE THEM WITH ALL MY MIGHT!!! countdown to SLIMDOWN IS NOW T-MINUS 14 days & counting. Woo Hoo!!

Well today I will have my pre-op appointment. I have to pre-register with the hospital and have a few more labs done. I have sarcoids (lung problems) so they want to have a few more tests just to CYA... lol. I'm kind of happy but no real emotions are coming out of me yet. When a friend asked about the surgery I had forgot about it for a second. Life has been very stressful lately and my attentions have been drawn away from these happy times. My family doesn't seem to care one way or another, but my sister is heading down to see me b4 I get out of the hospital. Oh yeah almost forgot they changed my date. Sacred the crap out of me. They called and said they couldnt do the surgery on the date scheduled (03/21/07) and needed to change it. I thohgt it was going to be postponed until september sometime, but they moved to the 23rd, which is better for me it's afriday and I knowmy youngest son will be covered for school. Well I'm trying to Keep the faith so Ya'll pray for me, Please!

I've reviewed this website for weeks. gaining knowledge and strength from each of your stories. I decided to try and give back. I have finally gotten my surgerey date: March 21st, 2007. I go for my pre-op consultation on the 8th. I have been trying since April of 2004 to have this surgery and the LORD has finally blessed me. My current weight is 382. I'm a little excited but I think the closer it gets the more I will start to act like my kid on Christmas  day. Prayerfully all will go well. I thank Queen 'B' & Miss Becca for all their help and information.  Our WLS group has given me tons of insight. I hope I can give a little back.