Linda J.
APRIL 18, 2007 ~ CENTURY!!!!!
Apr 21, 2007
APRIL 15, 2007
Apr 16, 2007
Bob and I vacationed in our fav state, PA. We enjoyed a Taylor Hicks concert in Lancaster and a musical play, Taffeta, at the Allenbury Playhouse.
Lancaster is the home of the 'all you can eat buffets' and it was difficult to accept that I couldn't eat the quanitities I still wanted. But, I was able to taste everything I wanted to taste. 59 years of habits take awhile to change. Speaking of which, I also celebrated my 59th birthday on the 13th of April. My sweet dh even had an accordian player serenade me at dinner!!!
So many wonderful experiences this past week, but the one that stays with me the most is how wonderful I felt about just being ME. I wasn't being stared at and scrutinized.
Of course, we hit the outlets and then some. Shopped till we dropped. Parked the car and did a lot of walking. Even lost 1/2 lb!
And, I never had a 'bad hair day'! Got a new wig...short style. I think it suits me the best. I am so comfortable in it and feel it looks natural. One of the waitresses even commented on liking the style...it was similar to her style!
Life is good. At 8 months post-op I am already a changed person....both physically and mentally. And, for this, I thank God everyday.
FEBRUARY 7, 2007 (6 MONTH POST-OP ANNIVERSARY)
Feb 19, 2007
Today I celebrate my 6 month post-op anniversary! I have lost 70 lbs. since the surgery; plus 16 lbs. prior to surgery, for a total loss of 86 lbs.! The loss is not as quickly as I hoped; but I have not been as active as I could have been. Getting this couch potato off the couch has been a constant battle.
I have decided to not have the second stage of my surgery, the Duodenal Switch. Now, 6 months post-op, I find myself not prepared to accept the possible complications of the DS, i.e., malabsorption and bathroom issues.
In addition, I have lost a great deal of my hair. This has been devastating. My hair was thin prior to the surgery, but I had a lot of hair. I have lost so much hair that I will not go outside without wearing a wig.
But, there is a great trade-off! I no longer suffer from the pain of spinal stenosis….I can stand and walk pain free! I am no longer diabetic! I no longer have hypertension! I have ditched my antidepressants meds! And, the sleep apnea doesn’t seem to exist. I need another sleep study to confirm this. So I guess wearing a wig isn’t the worse thing in the world!
JANUARY 7, 2007
Feb 19, 2007
Today I celebrate 5 months post-op! As of my surgery date I have lost 61.5 lbs, with a total loss of 77.5 lbs.
I have much to ponder. Dr. Gagner has suggested doing the DS, the second half of my surgery, next month....before my BMI gets too low for approval. I am now torn. There is a part of me who does not want anymore surgery; I do not want to deal with the possible complications of the DS. Yet, my doctor tells me that there is a great possibility that in time I will regain. However, many people have the VSG as a stand alone surgery. Decisions, decisions.....I continue to pray over this and hopefully I will make a good decision for me.
OCTOBER 11, 2006
My dh and I just got back from a wonderful autumn vacation to Niagara Falls, Canada. We had a great time. The falls are awesome and we saw such beautiful foliage as we drove over 800 miles round-trip and visited many small towns.
But, it was truly a learning experience too. I realized that I equated having a great time to eating mindlessly. I realized that my whole adult life, being on vacation meant eating anything and everything, and that it was a huge part of my 'entertainment.'
There were times when we were away that I actually was brought to tears because I couldn't eat everything on a buffet or I wanted to eat more than my new stomach could hold. Imagine....crying over food!
Yes, this was a learning experience. And, I am grateful for every lesson. I have learned that I can have the most spectacular time without food being the center of my life. I can enjoy just being with my dh; sightseeing; watching a stage performance; taking over 350 photos; feeding ducks; walking through an aviary while tropical birds fly by; going to a butterfly conservatory and feeling the wings of a butterfly kiss my cheek..... And, I can go to a restaurant and order from the Kid's Menu or from the appetizers and rejoice in not being able to finish my plate and ask to take the rest of my meal to go.
Yes, this vacation was enlightening! And, it was the first vacation that I returned from having lost weight!
Life is good....
(Well, except for the vertigo that I'm dealing with.) But, this too shall pass.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2006
Feb 19, 2007
I can’t believe that I had surgery only 5 weeks ago. My recovery went smoothly and uneventful. I feel great!
It amazes me that such a small amount of food satisfies me. 2 oz. of tuna, or 1/3 cup of cottage cheese, and my meal is finished! I also drink 1 protein drink a day to supplement my protein intake and of course, vitamins. I find myself eating 3 meals and 3 snacks a day. I try to stay under 900 calories a day.
Also started walking on my treadmill. It’s not easy due to the pain in my back, legs, knees, and feet, but it is getting better. I’ve been able to walk ½ mile in 25 minutes. Not ready for the Olympics yet….but at least I can walk in a supermarket without tears welling in my eyes from pain. That was such an unexpected WOW experience! I usually have to look for someplace to sit for a little while in the supermarket ….a pile of cases of canned goods, or the edge of the dairy department’s section. Anywhere, for just a bit of time to get the pressure off my back. The last time we went to the supermarket, I was able to do a large shopping and not have to sit once! Oh, it felt real good to sit in the car when we were finished….but I didn’t leave the store in the indescribable pain that has been my shopping companion.
Having the surgery was truly the best thing I could have done for myself. It has given me a wonderful tool to use in my quest for a healthier me!
In the first 5 weeks I have lost 24 lbs! I can’t remember when I lost 24 consecutive pounds so easily in such a short period of time. Added to the 17 lbs I lost prior to surgery, I am down 41 lbs!
Life is good.
AUGUST 7, 2006
Feb 18, 2007
I remember looking up and seeing my husband and my son Chris….and I’m crying, really sobbing. I’m in the recovery room but I’m not crying from pain; I’m crying because Dr. Gagner was not able to perform the Duodenal Switch. Because of a hernia I have which takes over the whole left side of my abdomen, and scar tissue from previous surgeries, the doctor felt he would be putting me at risk if he continued the total surgery. He would have had to keep me under anesthesia longer than he would want. It was difficult, he told me, to just do the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, the first part of the DS surgery, but he did it. The plan would be to do the DS part in 12 months.
I was devastated. I researched the various surgeries and decided the DS was the surgery for me. But, here I was, with a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, a surgery I knew little about, and looking at yet another surgery within the year!
Eventually I realized that everything happens for a reason and I am where I am supposed to be and I cannot change that. My journey may have taken a different route, but the destination is still the same. I am grateful.
On Tuesday evening my Angel, Sue, came by to visit me. She was so sweet and encouraging. She is at her goal weight and looks terrific!
Through all this, the pre-op testing, the pre-admit testing, and the surgery, my husband was always by my side. He is a wonderful guy…it’s so true what they say about the second time around. I found me a keeper! We just celebrated our 11th year wedding anniversary.
About Me
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
