Veronica David
5 months post op
Aug 11, 2009
I am taking a look back upon the last several months. 2009 started out kind of rough. My husband was without a job. I am a stay at home Mom to 2 beautiful children. February I was able to go on a trip (we had paid for it while my hubby still was employed) to Nassau, Bahamas for the 10th anniversary annual meeting of Dachshund Rescue of North America, of which I am a Representative and foster home for. 5 days to rest and relax before my surgery. It was beautiful there..but I missed my family terribly. Just not a good traveler without my kiddos and family!hehe I came home from the Bahamas and was home for a week before my surgery. A friend of our family had passed away while I was in Nassau from complications (rather Dr. error) during her RNY. So, that made things even scarier.The morning of my surgery I checked into Clarian North. I had a sense of hope inside me. Yes, I was nervous..yet God had given me a peace about my decision to go through with the surgery. I was so nervous when I had to walk into the operating room and crawl up on the table. However, they got me knocked out pretty quick and it was fine. I remember waking up in my room and feeling HORRIBLE! I thought I had made the worst decision of my life!!! It was such a tight weird pain feeling. They kept coming in poking meds down me and having me walk and drink....none of which I was interested in. I remember walking in the halls and wondering how I was even staying upright since I am so reactive to anesthetic and was so sleepy and out of it. But my Mom stayed by my side the whole time so that helped. The nausea was the worst part for me. I even stayed an extra night because I just didn't feel "right." My nausea wasn't under control and the nurse said if I wasn't feeling "right" she would rather me stay than go home and have to come back. They were so good to me at Clarian North and I would highly recommend their hospital! Once home I got on the scales and I had already lost 18 lbs. Then I was losing like 5-6 lbs every couple of days. I still couldn't "see" any changes in the mirror but my family & friends were amazed at the difference daily. It took a few months before I looked in the mirror and saw someone different than the morbidly obese lady I was used to. I think it is almost like some head games or something your body plays with you. Now I can look in the mirror and see a huge difference!
After coming home it took several months before I had stamina to do much. After I reached the 2 wk post op mark I noticed a BIG difference. I felt better. Then at 3 wks post op I had to go back in for a scope as I was having vomiting and non stop nausea. I had developed gastritis. I was put on Nexium and told to take my carafate 2 times a day no matter what. I felt alot better within a week. The emotional roller coaster was amazing to me. I would cry at the drop of a hat and such. I have dealt with mood swings alot. It is not fun for myself or anyone around me. I was told it happens because our body stores hormones in our fat cells and when you are shedding fat cells like mad.....you get a hormonal fluctuation. Makes sense.
My hair is starting to fall out pretty steadily now. I am taking my vitamins and supplements regularly. I just have trouble remembering my clcium at every meal but usually get it in at least once a day. I have lost a total of 87 pounds in 5 months. I no longer have to take ANY prescription meds other than the nexium which I can stop in a month. I no longer have joint pain or sleep apnea. I no longer snore at all. I feel so much better than I did. have alot more energy now. I can finally say it was worth it.
WLS is definately not the "EASY" way out. It is a hard thing to go through. I am able t eat more now than in the beginning, and have just learned to make better choices for me. I do not ever want to go back down the road I have traveled. I know that I will always have a battle over desiring certain foods. I MUST stay aware of the right food choices. It is like recovering from any other addiction. You do not leave room for that addiction to come back in. If there is something you know will be hard for you to resist you walk away. If my family is partaking in something I know is a challenge for me...I will go to the other room or elsewhere so I am not tempted. Is it hard? YES!!! But this has been such a huge life change and huge committment I am not gong to take any chances in undoing it. It has to be for life.
I have enjoyed my kids, life and done more this summer than I have in years. This surgery has given me a new lease on life. You learn to enjoy the little things in life and nature and all God has blessed us with. There are bumps in the road, but you take it one day at a time. Sometimes just an hour at a time. But God is good all the time...and He is faithful and will help us every step of the way no matter what if we only trust in Him.
I am happy with the 87 lbs that are gone. I have to admit I almost get fearful at times that this is it...the weightloss is over for me. I go sometimes a week at a time without losing a pound now. I get discouraged about it. However, I have to remember how far I have come. Alot of times when we aren't losing pounds we are losing the inches. I can tell in the way my clothes fit. So, it is hard not to become obsessed with the numbers on the scales. A friend told me not to weigh but once a week. I cannot do that yet. I can say I am no longer doing it every day though. I usualy weigh every 2-3 days unless I notice a HUGE change in the wa my clothes are fitting. My surgeon told me to weigh once a month...no way I can make it like that yet...maybe someday. It is a journey. It does have alot of emotions that goes along with it...but yes...it is worth it in the lng run.
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About Me
Kokomo, IN
Location
35.6
BMI
Surgery
03/10/2009
Surgery Date
May 07, 2008
Member Since
