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I am now a little over 90 days out.  I am soooo happy that I made this decision.  I'm down 50 pounds and have gone from a size 20-22 to a 14-16.  I can get into my size 14 jeans but I haven't worn them yet.  Sixteens are very comfortable.  I joined a gym and had my second session with a personal trainer today.  Prior to surgery I hardly ever left my house on the weekend.  Truthfully I didn't want to be seen in public.  Now I am driving 20 miles to the gym on a Saturday to work out.  I am not embarassed to be seen in public anymore and I am actually feeling attractive.  I haven't been able to say that for a very long time.  So, back to the personal trainer.  I know myself pretty well and I decided that if I made a commitment to a trainer and paid money that I will show up for training as well as the work outs in between.  I enlisted for six weeks because I believe that this amount of time will set me in a healthy pattern and give me enough time to see results that I will be able to carry on by myself after that.  Now for the not so good news.  I have been incorporating some carbohydrates into my food plan.  Some days I feel like I can eat too much at a meal without feeling full.  That really scares me.  If I go out I still order a turkey sandwich without bread and without any sides but I have been eating some crackers and pit chips.  I am definitely a carb addict.  OK, I don't want to dwell on that so back to the positives.  It so good to feel like I am amongst the living again.  I have been told that I have my sparkle back.  I used to take 30units of fast acting (Humalog) a day and now I am down to 5 and some days I don't need to take any.  I was on two blood pressure meds and am now off of both.  My sleep apnea is gone so that means no more c-pap.  I have also done well as a non smoker.  I had smoked since I was 15 or to do the math that is nearly 32 years.  I stopped smoking in October of 2007, because they wouldn't perform the WLS if I was still smoking.  I intend to remain a non smoker for life.  I wonder though if that isn't part of why I crave carbs, hmmmmm.  My thoughts and prayers are with each one of my fellow WLS patients and those who are waiting or considering it.  It is definitely not the easy way out and I can say that it is oh so worth while.  I am worth it and so are YOU!!!

I can't believe it is only five weeks since I had my RNY.  When I started the journey I had ballooned to 260 pounds, through liquid dieting I lost 15 pounds by the day of surgery and I am now at 222 pounds or a total loss of 38 pounds.  I am really starting to see the difference and so are those around me.  I am struggling to get all of my water in and have to admit I am tired of drinking shakes.  I would without a doubt do this over again if given the choice.  I know that I am going to live a healthier and happier life.  I'm not feeling like I can't be seen in public anymore.  I was put back on one of my BP meds but I know that it will improve before too long.  I have cut way back on my insulin injections and generally just feel so much better.  I definitely am VERY proud of me.  I'm proud of me for the bravery it took to do this, for being able to quit smoking, for caring enough about me to want to live.  The New Year is looking very promising to me and I can't wait to see all of the things I am able to accomplish.   

My surgery was November 19th and I was released from the hospital the following day.  The pain has been minimal, I'm just tired.  I am still on clear liquids and will wait until Monday when they pull my drain to see what I can start adding.  I really can't believe how uneventful this surgery has been.  I  feel fortunate.  I was very frightened the last two days before surgery and I shed a lot of tears.  I don't think anyone understood what I was going through until I saw the prep nurse the morning of the surgery.  She is a WLS patient and knew exactly what I was feeling.  That really helped.  Thank you Kerry.  I had lost 15 pounds during the 2.5 weeks before surgery and was disheartened to see that it came back during the surgery.  This morning that 15 pounds plus and additional 2 were gone.  So that makes 17 pounds down.  I had hypertension and took two meds, my blood pressure dropped to normal before I left the hospital and I am no longer taking those meds.  My blood sugar has dropped to a range of 140 to 190 which is really good for me without insulin.  I believe I will be off of the insulin within the next month.  I have family members staying with me until tomorrow and I have to admit that their meals smell good and at this point I would rather not be in the same room when they are eating but I stay.  To all of those who have or are about to undergo WLS I send you my prayers of support and hope that your experience is as uneventful as mine.  Nancy

By this time on Monday morning I will probably be completely sedated.  It has been a rough week.  I have gone through being scared, excited, anxious, and today I feel a little cranky.  I have been on mostly liquids since October 31st and have lost 10 pounds since that time.  My weight this morning was 251 pounds.  It was stressful at work this week trying to tie up all of the loose ends before I left.  I finally had to decide that whatever wasn't done wasn't done.  My brother is flying in from California this afternoon.  I can't wait to see him.  I'm not sure if I would have gone through with the surgery if I didn't have a family member here for me.  My sister-in-law is flying in on Thanksgiving afternoon.  I am hoping that I will have recovered enough to make the 45 minute trip to the airport to pick her up.  

I really can't wait to be on the other side of this surgery.  I know that it will be a challenge and I am ready to start a new healthy life for myself.  It was surprisingly easy to quit smoking after 30 years.  Today marks three weeks with no back peddling.  

I wish the best to those who are waiting for their approval, are about to have surgery or are now learning how to use their new tool.  Blessings to all.

 

After 13 months I received a verbal approval from the insurance company.  The Bariatric Clinic has received the letter but mine hasn't arrived in my mailbox yet.  Mail is a little slow in Montana.  I had my second consult with the surgeon today.  He's pretty much a no non-sense guy.  My surgery is scehduled for November 19, 2007.  I had a scare because when he found out that I had only quit smoking five days ago he said that wasn't soon enough.  So...........if you smoke and you are planning to have surgery please plan to quit 6 weeks prior to surgery or in whatever time frame they tell you.  They are starting me on a semi liquid diet immediately.  That means two protein shakes a day and one sensible meal.  Ten days before surgery I will be strictly on liquids.  I don't expect it to be a big deal.  I have smoked for 30 years and because of determination to have this surgery was able to decide when my last cigarette was going to be and that's the end of it.  Now that I have spilled out the semi-details, I can jump up and down, I can cry, I can laugh, and I can begin to feel like I am not only going to live a healthy and joyful life from here on out I am going to LIVE!!!  This has been such an emotional journey so far.  I have found myself admitting things to people that normally I wouldn't.  Such as, if I had my druthers I would not leave my house and I would not be seen in public looking like I do now.  I'm single and support myself so obviously I have to go to work and I have to wear the smile and act like everything's OK.  On the inside I'm dying and so ashamed.  But that is behind me now.  Again, most importantly I am going to live and that means to live without diabetes and the complications that come along with it.  I know that God has always been pulling for me even when I wasn't.  I am so blessed.