jodic1966

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 The scale has been dropping rapidly this week..about a pound a day. SO this morning when I got on I was thrilled to see I am under 300 pounds!!!! I haven't been this weight since I was in my mid twenties. I like the parallel between weight and kids...after more than eighteen years they are considered ready to be on their own and its time for them to move out. My excess weight has been dragging me down for way too long and its time for it to move on! Thank you DS  :D

As many people have pointed out one of the not so great aspects of this surgery is that many people lose their hair. Add me to the list  :(  and I didn't have that much to begin with!!! So yesterday I went to the store and got some new hair! It is long with loopy curls and I love it. It is unapologetically romantic and I am amazed at how quickly I have become used to wearing it. I took it off last night and just about cried at my poor little head. I also woke up this morning thinking how fast can I put it back on! My family has a history of baby fine thin hair so after wearing this Pre-Raphaelite mane I may never go back  LOL. I did get a few strange looks at the birthday party I took my son to this afternoon but everyone was too polite to say anything. I know they were thinking...umm...she didn't have curls halfway down her back the other day......hehehe...who cares..I am beginning to feel beautiful for the first time in a long time.

Oh and the last thing I will mention is that I have been dealing with the dreaded hemerrhoids for the past three months and nothing was helping. I was about to go to the doctor for the heavy duty stuff when I read about this stuff called HemClear. I thought what the heck and ordered some. I've been taking the capsules and using the cream for two days and the problem is shrinking! Amazing...something that does what it is advertised to do  :D

I will try to update more often in the next months but I will freely admit my life is rather hum drum...I kind of like it that way. Other than my physical changes not a lot is happening. I am not having much if any anxiety about the weight loss. Its as if I am finally becoming, physically, the woman I envision myself to be. I truly think my self image has been stuck at around 18-200 lbs. I just remember being so shocked when I would see pictures of me at 400 lbs or catch a glimpse in a mirror. Major denial going on there! Maybe when I actually get closer to 200 I will begin to feel some anxiety but who knows. I'll keep you posted  :D

 Wow...December and the first part of January have been a whirlwind. I have enjoyed it all even though some of it has been exhausting.

Trying to get ready for Christmas was stressful. It snuck up on me and I had to do the last minute shopping thing which I *despise*!! Then there was all the travelling. I had my three month check up with Dr Sudan on Dec 19th and he was very happy with me overall. He did fuss a bit about my vitamins (or inconsistent taking of them) and it was deserved. I knew going into the DS that vitamins are non-negotiable. I just have a tough time getting into the habit of taking the ones in the middle of the day. Must get better about it!!

 Anyway..then right after Christmas we went down the mountain to see my family in SC which was fun. Matthew turned out to have an ear infection so we went home early to find out our house had been broken into. So the next week and a half was filled with getting a security system installed. Then we were off to Florida for a week. It was gorgeous and warm down there and I was able to walk around Legoland from 10am to 5pm and Disney's Animal Kingdom almost all day. Losing that 100 pounds really helped with walking! The arthritis in my knees was bothering me by the end of Animal Kingdom and to be honest it still hurts. However...the silver lining is that I had gone to Catherine's looking for jeans at the beginning of the week because the pants I took with me were falling off. I found a pair of size 30's that fit great...for about three days  LOL  now I can pull them off without unbuttoning them. The size 26/28 pajama bottoms that were tight two weeks ago are now comfy and are keeping me toasty as I sit to write this  ;D  I had gone to Lane Bryant and everything was too tight which is why I went to Catherine's. Brian is annoyed that I spent money on pants that I have shrunk out of. This is a problem I *never* thought I would have!!!! So while I am a little peeved about the money too I'm thrilled that I'm still shrinking.

I should be in Twoterville by the end of the month!!! I haven't seen the 200's since I was in my mid- twenties. That kinda' makes me sad that I spent so much of my adult life super morbidly obese. However it has made me the person I am today. Looking back I don't think I would have as much empathy for others who are suffering. I saw a lot of obese people on this trip and I wanted so badly to tell them about the DS but I know that is not constructive. I have been on the recieving end of those conversations and since I wasn't ready to hear it...we will just say it didn't go over well. All I could do is say a prayer for them that they are happy in their lives and if the DS is for them they will be guided to it like I was.

Oh its good to be home though. Granted its below freezing and the heat on the side of the house our bedroom is in seems to be broken. LOL  the joys of home ownership!! Still...we had a great trip, we are home safe, I lost weight even though I ate ice cream almost every night, and I had to get a new ring to wear instead of my wedding ring that was falling off. Granted its a cheapo Micky Mouse ring but I like it and its two sizes smaller than my other rings ;D . 

Ack..the heat is off in the computer room too and my feet are freezing. Maybe moving to Florida isn't such a crazy idea after all! I don't mis being fat but I do miss being warm LOL

 ugh...having a first grader in the house sometimes sucks. This is one of those times. I thought he had gifted me with strep throat but my doctor said the test was negative which is something. I still feel like poop though! I have been in the bed all day with a sore throat and stuffy nose.

I'm hungry but I'm not if that makes sense. I was going tho go to the Grocery store today but that ain't happening! So I'm picking through what DS friendly food we do have. I found some of those protein bullets and mixed it with my water and have been sipping on it all afternoon. The nurse yesterday told me my blood sounded thirsty when she tried to take my blood pressure. Dehydration terrifies me so I have really been pushing liquids even though I don't want to drink them. I just hope this grunge is over with soon. I *detest* being sick. Although with the hectic way things have been lately a day in bed has not been too awful ;) but it will get old fast!

I will brag on myself and say my PCP was thrilled with my progress (I had not been in his office in about six weeks) and I am down probably thirty-ish pounds since I was there. He cut my blood pressure medication in half! hopefully next time I go in he will tell me to stop taking it altogether! Woot! 

Time to take some Tylenol and go back to sleep! cold begone!

 This morning I realised I am one third of the way to where I want to go. That is astounding to me. This surgery is just an amazing tool! 

On a not so great note I am beginning to realise I am lactose intolerant. I have been avoiding milk since every time I drink it I seem to bloat up and have horrible tummy aches. I got some Lactaid yesterday and had a small cup and things seemed ok. This makes me sad since I have often said pre-surgery my drug of choice was ice cream. Since my birthday in mid November I have been slowly working my way, one spoonful at a time, through one of those single serving containers of Hagan Daaz. I don't really miss it though. Whatever...pulling old clothes out of the closet that I haven't fit into for years is much more fun than a bowl of ice cream!

I have an appointment with Dr Sudan on December 19th. I'll be very happy when he clears me for regular food. The soft stuff is getting old. 

My energy is beginning to pick up although I am still wiped out by the time bedtime rolls around. Yesterday I ran errands, met a friend for lunch, did the grocery store, did a little pre-Christmas cleaning and hosted a play-date for my six year old son's best friend all afternoon. I think I was asleep as soon as I crawled under the covers! However I wouldn't have been able to do a fraction of that a month ago. I am sore and my back is complaining but it will get better. I swear by chiropractic care and will be getting an appointment ASAP. 

Ok..I'm babbling now and not really adding much that is constructive so I think I'll go goof off on this gorgeous Saturday. 

It is strange that it's only been two months. I feel like its been a lot longer. I did take pictures last month but I didnt think I looked much different. maybe this month will show something. The weight seems to be coming off in fits and starts. Of course this week I am not expecting much since last Saturday was my birthday and even though I got my protein in I had carrot cake for dessert. I have been nibbling at the single slice since then and threw it away tonight. Thanksgiving is on Thursday and we are having too much food. I will indulge in the dressing and cranberry sauce but concentrate on the protein. We are not huge turkey fans and since DH is British we are having a rib roast. I did get some turkey legs to roast but I don't know how they will turn out. All my son said he wanted was sweet potatoes. Great. 

So anyway...my energy seems to be picking up some. today I couldn't sit still. Son is sick with strep throat and I had to drag the poor thing to town for last minute errands. Even after we got home I cooked two or three things ahead of time for Thursday. of course my feet are complaining and I am wondering if this is the appearance of the fabled energy or if it was just adrenaline. I'm hoping for the former...I hate being such a slug! Our house is a pig sty and I want to clean but it has been so difficult.  Did get a start on the living room (I am shocked at how many Legos and Cheerios we had in our couch!) this past weekend so maybe it is the energy...I sure hope so!

Im struggling to remember to drink...I have contemplated getting a Camelback backpack like the hikers use. I think most of them hold around 70 ounces which would be ideal. At least I am not gagging at the taste of our tap water any longer! I'm happy to report that quirk seems to have gone away. I just have to make sure the water runs until it is really cold before I drink it. The bottled water was getting expensive and the packets of crystal light never did float my boat.

ok..I'm going to have to stop here. my IPad really doesn't like blogging on this site and watching the screen jump up and down is giving me a headache.

Its been a little over a month since my big day and I've lost a little over 35 pounds. That is amazing to me...especially since if I do what I'm supposed to do it should *never* come back. That just floors me. I know there are ways to eat through the surgery and fail but I do not want to be one of those people.

My clothing is fitting better but I don't see much in the way of changes. Although Brian swears he sees the changes. Of course my two female assets are flattening out and going south which is rather sad. I've always been blessed in that department so having them deflate is a bit disheartening!

My moods are all over the place. My temper this weekend especially is volatile. My poor son is going through an independant phase and wants to make all his decisions...well...he is six and if we tell him to clean up he needs to do it...his choice to not do so will result in some unfortunate consequences...poor kid. He reaped quite a few bad consequences this weekend. It also didn't help that Brian has been sick and is hibernating the way he does when he is not well. OK...pity party over. LOL

Life is good overall. I am healing up and getting back to normal. The central incision is still open but I can see the end in sight on that. So hopefully in the next week or so I'll be back in the pool  :D  

I'll try to post again soon when I am feeling more upbeat. 

 The title says it all. I'm two weeks out from having surgery and while I am grateful I am able to drink and keep it down, I am hungry! I thought after surgery that pretty much went away but I am fantasizing about food. I have a stack of recipes I am collecting on notecards next to my computer. My husband is not being very sympathetic. He keeps telling me I signed up for this and need to suck it up. Which I do but I'm having a tough time. Last night I had a *tiny* lick of blue cheese salad dressing and it was *sooooo* good. I guess what I'm craving is flavor since the protein shakes are mostly sweet. Most drinks are leaving my mouth coated in this weird, fuzzy feeling so I'm sticking to plain water which is probably better for me anyway. I'll be glad when Dr Sudan says I can have some mush on Monday. Yay Mush  LOL

So on September 20th 2011 I had my DS done by Dr Ranjan Sudan in Durham NC. The procedure took about nine hours because he discovered my gall bladder was full of stones and had to come out. Otherwise it would have been more like six. My poor husband was frantic out in the waiting room.

Due to the gall bladder being removed I have five incisions instead of four. The central incision being a little larger than the others and its been giving me some problems. Nothing major but enough that it warranted a trip back over to Durham when my local surgeons wouldn't touch me. Proper wound care is all it seems to need but it will take a while longer to heal which is a bummer since I'm a swimmer and I want to get back in the pool!!!

The other hiccup I have had is while I was in the hospital the IV lines kept failing bacause my veins are so skinny. If you are a tough stick or you know you have skinny veins insist on a PICC line. It was kind of freaky at first when the lady came to put it in but it is SO worth it!! THey can administer meds and draw blood from it. If I ever have to go back in the hospital I am insisting on one so I don't come out looking like a domestic abuse case!!

So far I've only been allowed liquids and hopefully after my appointment with Dr Sudan next week I can move on to mush. Yay mush!  LOL After most of the last four months being on liquids (the last month that's all I've had) mush sounds like haute cuisine. Actually there are lots of variations to try and I am chomping at the bit to try some. My system is tired of liquids and I feel like I have to go #2 every single time I go potty. I'm not sure that is normal but I imagine it just because there isn't anything solid to hold it together so it comes out faster. Yuck...but that is part of becoming a DS'er I have noticed. Poop talk is pretty common. I just hope this feeling of having to go all the time isn't going to be my norm from now on. 

I've lost about twenty pounds (according to my scale) since the day before surgery and I'm happy with that since I'm only two weeks out. I'm trying not to get on the scale all the time because I don't want to be obsessed with the numbers. Its a rush to finally see the scale going down though after all that I've tried. I'm beginning to fit into clothes I have had in my closet for ages and I can see changes in my face already. So far, even with the hiccups and the liquid diet, I am loving my DS!!