Laurien G.

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I know it has been way too long since I've been on here... Has it really been almost four years since surgery?!?  So much has happened. I have to admit that things have been great.   My weight is usually the last thing I think about everyday instead of the first and only.  The only complication I face is reactive hypoglycemia and major dumping...I've passed out a time or two to say the least... That will teach me to be aware of what I eat.  My son is almost 5!!! I can't believe it, and now we're considering when we'll have another.  I went from wearing a size 28 on my wedding day to a 8-10 everyday.  I get to chase my son and run with him while he bikes down the street.  It's amazing!!! Despite the bumps in the beginning this has been amazing. Would I do it again???  How about 100 times over!!! :-)

I need to record these thoughts somewhere where I can be held accountable.  It's hard to admit but the last three months are so have been INCREDIBLY hard on me. I've had to deal with an insane amount of life changes and stress: from my husband deciding to leave the military to questioning how stable we will be to considering buying a house to my son potty training to me being ill to last minute trips out of the state to job searching in a tough market. It's been hard on me and of course I went back to my old eating habits and the scale has been showing it.  It hasn't moved in three and a half months...the same weight.  It's VERY scary, especially as I approach my one year mark. I realize this happens to everyone as you approach the end of your honeymoon period, but I still have forty pounds to go!  I know I've been eating wrong and I definitely haven't been exercising the way I should be.  And my worst habit has been staying up late and eating carbs in order to stay awake.  It makes me sad when I think about it but now that I have admitted it to the whole world, I don't feel so bad. I've been eating foods I know I shouldn't be like: potatoes, bread (occassionally), in a blue moon a little pasta, sugar and cereal.  These are all foods I wasn't able to eat until I was about 7 months out from surgery.  And every since I figured out I can eat small amounts without dumping, it's been a horrible challenge.  I've come up wiht a list of alternative activities when I want to eat out of bordem or sleepiness or stress such as: drinking a protein shake instead, exercising, journaling, blogging, going to sleep when I'm actually tired, drinking water to make sure I'm not just thirsty.  I've been going back to the protein basics: tuna fish, cottage cheese, nonfat yogurt, lean ground beef, baked chicken, sugar free protein shakes, baked fish fillets and skim milk.  Just thinking about it sounds so boring!!!  I'll admit it: the not-so-good-for-you foods sounds wonderful!  Why can't they just taste bad??? And I'm going to change my schedule everyday so that I have to exercise. I'm still not sure how to do that but I'm going to have to.  I don't have a choice. It's the only way I'm going to be able to maintain my loss and lose more.  Right now, forty pounds seems like an insane amount of weight to lose.  So, good luck to me. 

Hello all.  This post in not in regards to weight loss surgery but seeking out advice and reassurance about a move.  My family (myself, my husband and my 2 1/2 year old son) are moving to Bloomington, Indiana in February 2009. 

We're a military family that will become civilians again on Feb. 20. We're so excited to go back to "normal" life. We've moved about 20 times between the two of us and WE'RE TIRED OF IT.  So we're making Bloomington our permanent home.   We're both originally from the midwest (I'm from Chicago and he's from Ohio) and want to move our child back to a comfortable and normal way of life (we've been living in California for the last year and a half ). 

Anyone have any imput on living in Indiana? Living in Bloomington, in particular? 

I'd appreciate ANY advice that is given!  THANKS IN ADVANCE. 

So believe it or not I did not drop off the face of the earth as so many have wondered. I've been incredibly bus... the last four months especially...which explains my absence at my GBS support group meetings, too.  However!  I have vowed and reserved the evening of Aug. 14th (the evening of the next support group meeting) to attend.  I WILL BE THERE!!! 

In June, my godmother(my second monther that helped raise me) died after an extensive battle with three kinds of cancer. She was an incredible Christian and everyone was so relieved to see her go in peace.  The best part for me in my thoughts is that now my grandmother, great grandmother, uncle and aunts have more company. 

Throughout the month of July I have been fighting a major bacterial infection that caused my very little appetite to disappear totally.  I was in and out of the doctor's office, taking tests and giving into my boss' advice to finally take an antibiotic.  I'm glad I did (even though generally I'm against them because of the over use of the products).  I am doing better but only at about 85% back. 

I admit I haven't been exercising in quite some time, but have been advised by my doctor to wait until I'm back to par because I had breathing isues with my infection (it was sinusitis, bronchitis and walking pneumonia at the same time!).   

I've updated my page with the few new photos I have of myself. I've lost about 102 lbs. since surgery and have about 30-40 lbs. to go (my goal is not really set in concrete).  I'm pretty comfortable with where I am now, but I get the feeling my body isn't finished. 

I've taken up my love of coffee again.  I think it's mostly because I've been so tired lately...LOL!  My favorite is still extra dark roast from Starbucks, but of course I refuse to pay the cost at the store. I just buy the cheaper stuff from the store and brew it at home.  Gotta love coffee mugs on the go. 

I'm running out of creative protein ideas. So if anyone has any ideas, I'd love ot hear them.  I've pretty much run the gammet and been through the Atkins cookbooks a million and three times. 

My hair finally stopped falling out and my nails are growing out like crazy!  My hair loss started early...about four months out.  I'm glad it's over.  And BTW the biotin helps with the regrowth BUT DEFINITELY NOT with the loss don't be mistaken about the difference!  

Does anyone else feel the way I do?  Your life is so different months after surgery?  The things you were okay with for so many years now just don't satisfy your tastes.  But there are other options now that you like. 

So how are you all doing???

P.S. Anyone know how to change the BMI under our photo and user details on our personal pages? That number is haunting me because it's not right!   UMMM...Never mind. I figured it out. 

So after many requests from friends and family I decided I'd better update my profile.  As of today I've lost a total of 60 lbs.  I haven't taken an updated photo yet, but my husband will be doing so for me tonight. He is a journalist and I trust his photographic talents far more than mine.  My whole family is eating healthier and the biggest change has been my marriage.  I have more confidence than I have in my whole life and my husband is now realizing it. At first he took it kind of as a threat and now he's using it as an opportunity to work on himself.  I feel like I can do anything.  My family an I go bowling on Saturday afternoons now on a regular basis.  I used to always fear going bowling for how I looked or how stupid I would look or something and now...I feel like I can truly live.  I don't fear ANYTHING...even death.  If I died today I know that I have truly lived my life the way it was meant to be lived.


Later that day....

I have added a few new photos to my profile for others to view.  Enjoy!

So here's an update on how I'm doing:

I'm down to 253 lbs., which puts my BMI at 46.2, which means I'm now in the extremely obese section instead of the super obese section.  YEAH!!!  I'm still dealing with some complications: soy intolerance, lactose intolerance, and hypoglycemia (as little as 10g of carbs will send my heart racing, vomiting and my head loopy).  Despite the complications, I am still grateful for the opportunity. 

Will be starting a new job on the 19th, personal assistant to a popular business owner in our area.  Very excited about that because the hours and location are perfect. I work from 9am-1pm and it's 4 blocks away from my son's daycare.  My 2 year old (turned 2 on Nov. 7th) is in full-day daycare.  HE'S LOVING IT!!!  He has his friends and they celebrated his birthday at school, in addition, to having a birthday party at the house.  He's loved all the attention.

Since today is Veteran's day, my husband and I have the day off. We're taking the whole family to Fisherman's Wharf this afternoon for some quality time.  I'm looking forward to it.  I'm feeling great. My joint pain is completely gone.  I haven't really achieved a lot of mini goals, but I feel bettter!

I can't believe on Monday it will be 2 weeks since surgery. That seems impossible, but everyday I look down at my belly (still patched with steri-strip bandages), I am reminded that this is not a dream! 

Not too many struggles...nothing out of the ordinary.  I have been beyond the blenderized diet. I'm not ashamed that I went beyond the recommendations of my surgeon because I haven't been able to find a protein supplement that works with my new pouch. Even soy--practically baby's milk--makes me sick.  I'm definitely getting better at getting all my protein in.  It feels good to get it all in while eating actual food (not drinking protein shakes in order to achieve it).  

Today I tried the toppings off of a pizza today and learned quickly that pizza is not my best friend. I experienced food being stuck and I mean STUCK!  I felt like I was going to die and if I wasn't going to, boy I wish I was.  It hurt so bad and I was actually more embarrassed (because it was at family dinner and I had to leave the table).   I definitely learned to importance of chew, chew, chew today! It was an experience I know I will probably have again, but am not looking forward to the next time.

My son is going to be starting daycare/preschool next week. He turns 2 on Nov. 7th. Oh how the time has flown by!!!!  I'm currently looking for a new job since I'll now have a lot of available time and daycare, by now means, is free! LOL. We put his name on the waiting list (which hadn't moved in months) and a couple of days later...BOOM!...he got in!  ISN'T THAT JUST LIKE GOD!  My husband and I have an agreement (thanks to the advice of some of you members....    (JK)  that I'm not allowed on my scale until my 2 week appointment with my surgeon.  Although the changes are quite obvious.  I've already had my first embarrassing moment (thankfully at home).  My son was running from his dad and grabbed my leg to hide behind me and in the process of him scurrying to the floor, he took my skirt down with him.  Needless to say, my husband enjoyed the free peep show. LOL.    I know others have spoken of this, but since surgery I haven't been able to get my husband off of me.  LOL. Not that I'm complaining. I never thought that area of our life could get any better but apparently it can! 

I'm having some trouble with drinking with meals because sometimes foods get stuck and liquids seems to help move things along.  Walking helps A LOT with getting things moving along, so I walk around the house after meals. 

I have some favorite foods (foods that generally work well for my pouch): 
-->refried beans with cheese, onions and maybe a little sour cream (for extra protein)
-->ricotta cheese with marinera sauce
-->Atkins low sugar protein bars (I can only eat 1/3 of a bar)

Turns out the day of my surgery, my husband and son came down with strep throat and yes they brought it with them to the hospital. I tested negative but my doc put me on Augmentin just to make sure.  She also said that I had my husband's viral infection, as well.  I'm just now REALLY getting over it.  After much sobbing and panicking my husband finally realized the seriousness of his actions and admitted that he should have gone to the doctor sooner (he had been hiding that he had been since 5 days prior to my surgery).  Unfortunately because my mom is here, she was in danger for having it, as well, so she was also put on Augmentin because she recently had surgery herself (about 4 months ago).  We're all doing a lot better.  And looking and moving forward.  Thank goodness for moms!  Mine is always on me about taking ALL of my MANY meds and sipping and protein, protein, protein.  Thanks mom!  Take a bow, mom!  We ALL love you.

Well, I guess that's all for this update. See you in a couple of days.  Bye!

This is for those of you who are pre-op and want a REALISTIC picture of where you MAY be a few days after surgery:

I can honestly say that I went from LOVING AND DREAMING AND FANTASIZING ABOUT FOOD to dreading when my mom says, "How much protein have you had to day".

Drinking is getting easier. Not having as much gas when drinking simple beverages like watered down juice and water.  Herbal, caffeine free, warm, sweetened (with Splenda) tea always goes down smooth. My new favorite is orange spice.  

Sipping instead of gulping drinks has been a difficult challenge, but having a painful gas bubble in your chest is enough to train you not to do so again.   

I've found that drinking and eating are a lot easier when I'm walking because the walking causes the gas to escape naturally in between bites/sips. 

Pain is only a problem when I let it become a problem. When I do what I shouldn't be doing...cooking whole meals for the family, sleeping on my side instead of my back, focusing on what needs to be done in the house instead of what I need to be doing to make my recup a complete success.  

Showering for me is sometimes a painful experience because we have a deep bathtub and my husband has to help me step into the tub without causing twisting in my abs.  I've found that my stomach is very temperature sensitive because of the puncture areas.  So for me it's a matter of rinsing my stomach last and before doing that adjust the temperature of the water.  

My steri-stripes (protective tapes over my incisions) are starting to peel off, which indicates healing.  

A few days out of the hospital and my little friend came to visit me.  I haven't had a visit in three or more months (I had lost track). So now I'm even more miserable and thinking, "OH NO!  Thin girls get their period consistently! LOL!!!!!" 

My first post-op appointment is on Oct. 31st.  I'm excited to see my progress. I'm banning the use of my scale by me until get an official check at my surgeon's office. 

My clothes are looser already.  I'm fitting into nightshirts and nightgowns that I haven't been able to fit into since my son was born (2 years ago).  I haven't tried to get into tight clothing yet because the incisions sites are still sore.  

I found a good way to alleviate my sweettooth (which apparently didn't get removed during surgery): watered down fruit nectar, 1:3 ratio.  It's just sweet enough to get a taste, but so sweet that it causes dumping. By the way, I drink in 1/2 cup servings so that means 2 1/2 tbsp. of nectar and the rest is water.  

I have collar bones again!!! I haven't seen them in so long that it was kind of disturbing! LOL.  I also have shoulder bones, not just a chunky arm that resembles a shoulder if you look at it at the right option.  

I no longer like peanut butter (for the time being) and I used to LOVE IT.  Before surgery I used to eat Reese's cups a few times a week and I could eat it out of the jar everyday.  But now there's something about it I just don't like. The consistency is okay. The taste is okay, but I think it's the feeling when it goes down.  

Well, I guess that's all of my observations so far. I'll be continually updating my blog as I observe new things about the new me!  Have a great day!

I'm feeling....
      Feeling cleansed (inside)
      Not so tired
      Not exactly relaxed
      NOT NERVOUS
      Comforted in knowing my mom, husband and son will be with me
      Blessed for having so many things
      Thankful that I have left the 280's and 270's behind
      Anxious to sit on the losers' bench
      Glad that I have so many supportive individuals in my support group
      Interested in how the other Oct. 15th'ers are doing this morning
      Gitty to see my name on the upcoming surgeries page
      
Thank you for all the support my OH family has given me. My journey would not have been the same without you!