Nearing 4-years Post-op! Wow!

Mar 14, 2017

Well… I’m approaching the 4-year post-op mark so I thought it would be fitting for me to post a quick update! I wish I were more faithful when it comes to posting blogs, but I guess I’m just so busy between working full-time, being a wife and mother, and enjoying life! Anyhow… life is good! What better way to start this? Having my Vertical Sleeve has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m happier, I’m healthier, and I’m a mother! All because of this life-changing surgery! That’s not to say this journey has been easy. There have been bumps in the road, but there has always been a lesson to learn from them!

 

If there’s one thing I want to tell people… it’s that this surgery is NOT the easy way out and it’s NOT something to be taken for granted! Do not think that you’re going to have this surgery, lose weight, and never have to worry ever again. Because just as easily as you lose the weight, you CAN regain the weight! Especially the further out you are from surgery! (Not to be all Debby-Downer, but just read the statistics!) Although I have not had any regain as of yet, I do NOT want to be a part of that statistic! I knew from the start that regain was a very real possibility, and I knew from the start I was going to fight against that! At four years out I see how easy it is to eat… and eat… and eat! Food goes down much easier now, and MUCH faster! Personally, I find that I can easily consume 2,000+ calories a day if I’m not careful! I also find that I’m hungrier… and much sooner than I used to be!

 

So what does this mean? It means I have to focus harder on good sources of protein. I have to find things that are going to keep me satisfied longer. I struggle with this at times, but so far I’ve made it work! One thing I find that helps me, and is something I’ve always remembered from my bariatric classes, is to AVOID drinking calories. I DO NOT drink soda, juice, shakes, smoothies, etc. I strictly drink water, iced tea (unsweet), milk, and occasionally coffee. On occasions I will treat myself to an iced coffee somewhere.

 

So does this mean I’m perfect? No way! I still eat junk! Many days I find myself eating ice cream, cookies, cake, and other not-so-great for me foods. But I also don’t wallow in the fact I slip up. I just try to make better choices and remain mindful of my weight and where I’m at. I weigh myself almost daily, which has been a HUGE help for me. I know many individuals find it overwhelming to weigh so frequently, however for me, it keeps me in check. If I see the scale starting to go up, I know I need to make changes. In other words, the scale keeps me accountable.

 

At nearly four years post-op, exercise for me is hit and miss. I do well for a while and get into a good routine, then I slow down. Just like anything else in life, it ebbs and flows, so I just go with it and stop stressing about it. I recently purchased a FitBit and am hoping this will help motivate me to move my body more. I know how important exercise is for the long-term success of this surgery. I would really love to focus more on lifting weights and building muscle, however this is something I’m still working toward.

 

Mentally, I still struggle with my appearance. I have a lot of loose skin on my arms, upper thighs, and belly. I can cover it all easily, but to see myself in the nude is depressing. Plastic surgery is just too expensive at this point, so I just deal with it. Even though I’m half the person I used to be, I still see myself as the “fat girl” in the room, or that people are staring at me because of my weight. I never could really wrap my head around the fact that I now fit anywhere or that I don’t have to turn sideways to squeeze between cars in a parking lot. And believe it or not, I STILL worry that if I sit in certain chairs, I’m going to break them. There are occasional moments where I look at myself and see this new person and think “wow, look at you!” but generally it’s only if I see a side-by-side picture. I guess this is what they call body dysmorphia?

 

Like I said… bumps in the road. That’s why they call this a journey. There will always be ups and downs with almost anything in life. It’s all about your outlook and ability to celebrate the big AND small successes, and move past the minor setbacks. Almost four years ago I was an incredibly unhealthy and unhappy 311 lb shell of a person. Thanks to my vertical sleeve gastrectomy I’m healthy, happy, and feel whole!

 

This is a journey that has no end and I’m going to take it as far as I can go!

 

If you for some reason find yourself reading this and want to add me as a friend, or want to ask me any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. I’m always happy to make new friends and answer any questions I can!

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Two Years and Counting...

Sep 03, 2015

Well... it's been a long time since I've written a blog. It has been two years and three months since I've changed my life! Having the vertical sleeve gastrectomy has been the best choice I've ever made for myself. I am happier and healthier than I've ever been and could not have done this on my own. It has been such a huge change but I feel that with all of the research I put into this from the start has served me well.

This is NOT to say it has been easy. I had a fairly easy recovery and no major concerns, but I can attest (as many have as well,) that the further you get out from surgery, the harder things become. You get hungry. You can eat more. Introducing "slider" foods becomes all too easy and they go down way too easy! I know this all first hand!

I am a bariatric patient... I'm not perfect. I have eaten things I shouldn't have. But I don't beat myself up over it. I move on and make note of what I need to change or do differently. I am constantly trying to change things and shake things up. What worked for me a year ago doesn't always work for me now. Same goes for something that may have worked last week! I am always evolving.

I started this process weighing 311 lbs and the lowest weight I've reached was 161 lbs. NOT my ultimate goal of 150 lbs... but I was happy to say the least! I currently fluctuate between 162-168 lbs. When I start creeping over 168 lbs - I start to worry! I allow myself a little wiggle room for those occasions I splurge, but once I hit 168 lbs... I know it's time to buckle down and get those few lbs off! I do not want to allow myself to keep going above those numbers because 5 lbs turns into 10 lbs and then to 20 lbs.

No, I do not track religiously like I used to. No I don't work out like I used to. But the fact of the matter is - I still TRY. I had this surgery... this MAJOR surgery to remove most of a MAJOR organ in my body! I did not go through all of this for nothing and I am not going to take it for granted. It is my hope that I can read this post next year and STILL be maintaining where I am at (or who knows... maybe less).

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8 Weeks Post-op (posting a few weeks late)

Aug 05, 2013

Well – it’s been two months since surgery and what a ride it has been! To say it’s been easy is a little bit of an understatement, but I can say that it does get easier every day.

I started this journey weighing 311 lbs. With dieting in the months before surgery and a little help from my one week pre-op liquid diet, I was able to get down to 277 lbs for a total of -34 lbs prior to surgery. Since surgery two months ago, I have lost an additional 32 lbs, for a total of 66 lbs gone.

I feel like I’m a slower loser than most, but hey, I’ll take whatever I can get! I doubt I would have gotten this far on my own! I would have thrown in the towel 30 pounds ago!

The surgery itself was as I expected it to be. Recovery was about the same. Pain wasn’t horrible, however it did take me about four weeks to start feeling normal again. Naturally I was tired early on due to the lack on nutrition I was getting, but this has since gone away and I have much more energy now.

Most days I get anywhere from 600-700 calories (sometimes a little more) and I typically get in my 60-80 grams of protein. I still do one to one-and-a-half protein supplements a day to help because there’s no way I could get it in any other way.

For the first five to six weeks I was nauseated a lot, especially in the morning if I attempted to drink water (especially cold water). That has since subsided for the most part. I still have moments of nausea, but it’s nothing horrible and I think it deals more with eating too fast, which I’m trying to work on.

Yes, I’m still hungry, however most of the time I think it’s more mental than anything. And even though I feel hungry, food in general never truly sounds good to me and I find that I force myself to eat most of the time because I know I have to.

A large portion of people have moments of regret in regard to the VSG surgery. So, have I had any yet?

The honest answer would be not really. I say not really because I don’t regret it. But I find that I get frustrated sometimes at how little I can eat. (1 oz of chicken and I’m stuffed… really???) BUT then I quickly remember, this is why I had the surgery! Prior to surgery, I could eat, and eat, and eat and still have room for more! So I think it’s just trying to get over the thought that 1 to 2 ounces of food will fill me up rather quickly.

I have been out to eat several times since surgery. The first time was the worst and I wanted to cry, but I made it through. Since then I’ve been fine and always find something that fits in my plan. My husband and I are taking our nephews on a weekend vacation this coming weekend, so it will definitely be a test for me.

All-in-all, I’m really thrilled with this surgery so far and am happy to finally be getting my life back. I cannot even begin tell you how terrible it felt to be trapped in my body and feeling so helpless all the time. I was stuck in a horrible cycle of dieting and failing. I finally feel like I have a tool to help me succeed for once. I know I cannot depend fully on my newly sleeved tummy to do all the work. I have to put in quite the effort as well, and I’m prepared to do so!

 

*** Now 10 week updated: As of this morning I weighed in at 239.8 for a total loss of 71.2 lbs (pre and post-op). Feeling better all the time! ***

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Living the Sleeve Life!!! (Vivir la vida de la manga!)

Jun 13, 2013

Vivir la vida de la manga! (Living the sleeve life!)

It's official! I'm now sleeved as of May 28th! (2 weeks ago!) I cannot believe it's over already! It seems like it took me forever to get to this point, and now here I am, on the loser's bench!

My experience has been great so far and no major complications. I did return to the hospital a week after surgery for something called Paralytic Ileus, but they were able to correct it in a day and I was feeling much better.

When I started this journey I weighed in at 311 lbs. I lost 34 lbs pre-op and have lost 12 lbs post-op for a total of -46 lbs. Today I weigh 265 lbs. I couldn't be happier! I am a little burnt out with liquids and am slowly working my way to puree foods.

So far, no regrets! I'm happy to say I'm Living the Sleeve life! Vivir la vida de la manga!!!

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May 28th sounds like a wonderful day...

Apr 15, 2013

May 28th sounds like a wonderful day... for a vertical sleeve gastrectomy!

Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. Things really have progressed over the last two months! I completed my psych evaluation, had my exercise consultation, received my cardiac clearance, and met once again with Dr. Carlin on April 12th. Everything has gone smoothly and I am scheduled for my VSG on May 28th (which also happens to be my grandmother's birthday).

I have been researching daily on this procedure and I'm excited to start my new life. I've learned so much from this site and the people who post here. You all truly have provided me with a wealth of information! It's because of forums like these that I feel prepared to undertake this life change!

Now all that's left to do is wait... I think that has been the hardest part through this entire journey. Hurry up and wait. I know that this is the right path for me and I look forward to walking it!

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Goodbye Roux En Y... hello VSG!

Feb 20, 2013

Yesterday I met with my surgeon, Dr. Carlin of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. What a super nice guy! He never made me feel uncomfortable, he was very professional, funny, and just overall very personable. (First impressions are always a big deal for me).

We talked about everything under the sun in regards to my history, the surgeries, what I wanted, and what he thought would be best based on my past medical history, as well as my labs.

To be honest, I had my heart set on having the Roux En Y surgery. It's the surgery I researched the most and in my mind, that's what I was prepared for. That was however until we discovered that it's not going to be the best option for me.

Dr. Carlin discovered that I am very anemic. He said that from his experience, those patients who started out anemic (even IF they had brought their iron levels back up) tend to have many complications from the RNY surgery and several times a year require iron infusions, and also puts me at a higher risk to develop a heap of other complications.

He seemed very concerned and honest when he said that if I were his mother, sister or other family member he would not recommend it. Of course he left the decision up to me. He just recommended strongly against it.

We talked about the sleeve and he feels like it will be a better fit for me, and I do not disagree with him at all. So I have since opted for the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I feel very confident with this decision and have begun researching more into it. I have done a little research on it, but since I figured RNY was going to be the best, I didn't dig as deep into it as I probably should have.

After my appointment I met with Wanda, the Bariatric Coordinator to schedule my next appointments. I will have my psych evaluation next Tuesday, Feb. 26th and my exercise consultation on Wednesday, March 6th. I'm also waiting for my appointment with the doctor to clear me for surgery. Once all that's complete, I go back on April 5th for my pre-surgery visit with Dr. Carlin and to schedule surgery.

I also found out yesterday that I do not need a pre-approval for surgery from my insurance company - so everything is good to go. I just have to finish up the last few steps, and I'm done. I'm so thankful that we were blessed with such great health insurance through my husbands job.

That's my update for now. As things get moving I'll be sure to update more.

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Gallbladder... be gone!

Feb 19, 2013

Well - last Sunday I had a horrible gallbladder attack in the wee hours of the morning. I dealt with the excruciating pain, vomitting, and ultimately dry heaving for four hours before I drove myself to the ER. After running some tests they decided to admit me Sunday afternoon. By Monday afternoon I was in surgery to have my gallbladder removed (thank God!) They were able to remove it laproscopically and I felt SO much better after surgery. Good enough that they allowed me to go home that night. Yay me! I stayed off work for a week to recoup and have since been back the past few days. Don't get me wrong, I'm still sore and tired, but it could be so much worse. I had an open appendectomy (almost 3 years to the day of my gallbladder) and THAT was painful!

So, I'm happy to be on the road to recovery and I'm happy to say that tomorrow is my very first appointment with my RNY surgeon! I'm all kinds of nervous, excited, etc... Doctors in general give me anxiety because I'm always concerned that they're going to comment on my weight. At least at this appointment he already knows I'm fat, so that's already out of the way lol. I have everything in order and am looking forward to getting things done.

While I was in the hospital with my gallbladder issue, I had to miss my psych evaluation, so that's now rescheduled for February 26th, and my exercise evaluation is set for March 6th. Seems like things are moving right along and I'm excited for that.

I'll be sure to update sometime after my appointment tomorrow!

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Moving Forward...

Feb 04, 2013

Last Tuesday, January 29th, I had my all-day group appointment with the bariatric nurse (Wanda) from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. I learned so much more information while I was there and I feel even more at ease with my decision for RNY Gastric Bypass Surgery. I am now scheduled to meet my surgeon, Dr. Carlin, on February 20th. I'm excited, yet nervous.

While I'm waiting for my appointment, I've been trying to lose some weight to get a head start on things. From what Wanda said, as long as everything goes smoothly, surgery could be done in as little as three months from now. This has me excited and hopeful (though I know not to get my hopes too high).

I already know that my insurance covers this procedure, all I need to do is follow the process and do everything that's required of my beforehand. (And no, I do not have to do the 6-month weight loss plan prior to surgery due to my BMI.)

I really feel like things are moving along now and I'm anxious to start my new life on the loser's bench.

I'll update more after my surgical consult!
- K

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New beginnings

Jan 10, 2013

Today feels like the beginning of a new life for me...

It may seem silly to say considering as I haven't even met with a surgeon yet, but TODAY is the day I took the first step and called the Bariatric Surgery Center and spoke with someone. I was super nervous, but thankfully the woman was very friendly and put me right at ease. She took my information and I now have my first appointment scheduled for January 29th! However I'm not sure what I should call this appointment... it's kind of like a consult I suppose.

It's an all day thing (9AM-4:30PM) and I'll spend most of the day with the nurse / dietician, learning about the surgeries, what to expect, foods, etc... then I'll meet with the surgeon and have a physical done.

Thankfully, I'm lucky enough to have BCBS of Michigan and they do cover the RNY procedure (I called in advance) however there are certain requirements. On the up-side, they will waive the 6-month required medically monitored diet with a doctor because my BMI is over 50. Not that it's good that my BMI is that high, but it does make things go a little faster I suppose.

The nurse I spoke with today seemed to think the entire insurance process should go smoothly. It also helps that the hospital I chose is a Center Of Excellence recommended by BCBS.

If things go as planned, I could be looking at surgery in early Spring. That just seems crazy to me! But I'll take it! I've been researching for months and months and I finally feel like things are progressing.

Here's to new beginnings!

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About Me
MI
Location
28.3
BMI
VSG
Surgery
05/28/2013
Surgery Date
Oct 24, 2012
Member Since

Before & After
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311lbs
160lbs

Friends 31

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