2 year anniversary

May 12, 2011

It has been 2 years since my surgery. I am 63 years old and I have been obese for over 40 years of my life. I am not anymore. I am normal.

It is amazing the changes that I have been through during the past two years. The freedom from pain, fear of getting larger and larger and the emerging of my true self.

I have spent my life working around my size, trying to loose weight, pretending it didn't matter.

Since my weight loss of 110or more lbs., I feel reborn. I have gone from a 3X to a size 10 and a medium in clothing. I can walk without pain. I take no prescription medicine, only vitamins. I'm never hungry and I eat to live not live to eat. I enjoy my food but I don't think about it all the time.

I am so grateful to everyone at the Oregon Bariatric Department at Sacred Heart Hospital at Riverbend, in Springfield, Oregon. My support group has made all the difference in my successful journey.

Tonight I will talk at an informational seminar at River Bend in Springfield to people who are just beginning their journey. I hope I can inspire them and give them realistic expections so that they can experience the freedom I have found.
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Almost a year! 100 lbs Gone!!!

Apr 14, 2010

I have finally lost 100 lbs. It has been slow these last few months but during that time I have been loosing inches. I have went from a size 24 and 3X to a misses size 10-12 and a Medium. I can cross my legs, use my bathtub again, have normal blood pressure, stopped having stress incontinent problems and my feet and joints no longer hurt.

I love shopping for clothes and walking without pain. My family is very proud of me. I feel younger than my years now.

I still would like to loose about 20 more lbs and firm everything up. I don't have too much loose skin, but I hope that will get better with time and excersize.
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7 months out

Dec 16, 2009

I had my check up today and the new surgeon, Dr. Jessica Folek, at the Oregon Bariatric Center at River Bend in Springfield, was very pleased with my health and progress. I have lost 80 lbs. I feel wonderful. I have no regrets at all. I am so grateful that I was able to have the surgery.
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6 months since surgery

Nov 05, 2009

I have lost 70 lbs and have hit a plateau. But I am still loosing inches. I feel wonderful and I am in a size 16 jeans! I was in sizes 22 and 24. What a difference! I don't have much saggy skin, and I think exersize will firm it up more. My feet used to burn with pain after I walked and now they don't. My snoring is so gone unless I have a little wine. found out that there is nopthing wrong with drinking coffee--in moderation. But I have also found out that I can eat forbidden foods. So I have to grow up and use my tool and work the program.

My 6 months labs came back and everything was good except a little bit low in Vitamin D. But I had a huge difficiency 6 months ago so it is better.

My next goal is to get to One-der-land. Under 200. I have already rode a bike, weigh less than my husband and bought a pair of jeans.

I think I look pretty good for a 62 year old Grandma!

Keep it up everyone. This is a gift and we must use our second chance wisely.
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5 months since surgery

Oct 15, 2009

I haven't been on here for a while. 

I have lost 68 lbs!

I feel wonderful. I weight less than my husband. I can cross my legs at my knee. I can ride a bike. My blood pressure is normal. I don't snore at night.

I am so glad that I did this. I have been very careful to take care of my little pouch and eat right and take my supplements.

My husband is so happy that I am healthy and he is so proud of me.
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One month since surgery

Jun 05, 2009

Hi! Well,  it has been a month. I am now under 250# for the first time for years! I feel so much better already. I am trying to eat more solid foods but it is sometimes a trial and error method to find what seems to set well with my stomach. I am getting very tired of protein shacks but they fill out what I can't get enough of. I don't feel hungry but get light headed and an icky feeling when I need to eat. People are starting to notice that I am getting smaller and that is nice.
I have found out how many things I have bought and put away because they were too small and now they are fitting!
I notice so much about advertizing about food on TV and in magazines--I notice so many obese people and see what a health problem it is. I sure avoided thinking about it before.  I hope I never forget where I have come from and the struggle it has been. I thank God every day for this opportunity  to get back a healthy body.           
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Post-Op (2 weeks and 1 day out)

May 20, 2009

I had my appointment with Dr Yarbrough yesterday and I am doing great. I am down 27 lbs from 1st weigh in at the Center.

I went home and had a stage 3 meal. I had about 1 1/2 oz salmon and a small salad.
This morning I had two poached eggs. I was very full. I haven't been hungry all day. I probably should have a protein drink tonight but it doesn't appeal to me.

I feel so much better but still get tired all at once especially in the evening. I had a full house of children at daycare today.

I am so glad that I did this!
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1 Week

May 11, 2009

I had a marvelous Mother's Day. It was very weird fixing dinner for others that I wasn't going to eat. I found out that hunger was never my motivation for eating. This is going to take some head work! But that is OK. I feel very good. The protein shacks are fine--getting my water and vits and calcium and B12 in every day. I stopped drinking coffee that night before my surgery and had the headaches with the pain meds so I am now doing OK. I had very little pain. I've had some trouble sleeping, but then I did before too. I have enjoyed sugar-free popcycles and sugar-free hot cider. Decaf coffee is passable but not very good.

Best tip I was given? Take a stool softner each time you take pain medicine. Did the trick!
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Day two

May 06, 2009

Post Date: 5/6/09 1:15 pm

Hi everyone! I am feeling so much better today. I took a half amount of pain medicine and a anti-nausia pill. I drank my water and my protein drink and had yogurt and applesauce for lunch.

The nurses and staff an Sacred Heart at Riverbend were wonderful. Dr. Yorborough was wonderful. I have 5 purple bruises on my incisions but they are only tender. Once the gas worked itself out of my body I was so much more comfortable.

I am so happy that the surgery is over and I have had so much good training by everyone at the Oregon Bariatic Center that I know what to do to stay healthy.

Going to take a nap now.
Love to all,
Kathleen

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It's over and I am home!

May 05, 2009

Everything went very well. The people at Sacred Heart Hospital and Riverbend are wonderful and the hospital is like a fine hotel. Everyone was so nice.

I had some nausea with the pain medicine, so I backed off as I don't have much pain. It is hard to sleep for very long and my mouth feels very dry but I am drinking more water.

I do feel a little afraid of eating the protein drinks. They don't taste very good, although they did before the operation. I have alot of gas and I am breathing well. My incisions are bruised but not painful and lower than I though so that my bra isn't a problem. I did gain some weight from the fluids but is it coming off.

I am grateful to all my friends and family who have prayed for me and supported me. This part of the recovery is not fun but I am sure it will get better every day. I'm glad it is over.
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About Me
Springfield, OR
Location
29.1
BMI
RNY
Surgery
05/04/2009
Surgery Date
Jun 12, 2008
Member Since

Friends 19

Latest Blog 21

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