Michelle Smith
** 5 month surgiversary post**
Aug 08, 2010
Good Morning OH family!!! As of yesterday,I am 5 months out. I started on day of surgery @ 383 lbs. This morning I am @ 273 lbs. So far, everything has went textbook. I cannot convey how blessed I have been, to be able to have this surgery. I was self pay, (due to ins written exclusion) I fought with BCBSTN for about 4 years,before I realized that they truly did not care about my health. I finally had enough, flew to MX, plunked down $7500, & Dr V gave me a new lease on life. My experience from the time I landed in Cancun till this moment, has been nothing but good (except for a trip to Dead Lobster in Feb that almost changed my religion) LMAO!!!! Foamies galore after 3/4 of 1 piece of shrimp cocktail-lesson learned! That being said, I do not get enough water. I am aware of that,& I push myself everyday. some days I do better than others. I would rather drink my protein, than eat. I find myself not wanting to eat. I rarely snack, & once 6pm rolls around, I dont want anything. (I used to love late night big suppers-true southern style meals) My poor hubby knows,if we dont eat before 6pm,he is on his own in the kitchen. LOL!!! I tried JUNK the other day,& it made my stomach ache. Steak-umms. Pre-op,I LOVED those things. The other night, my hubby was craving them, so I caved,& bought a box. Can you see gag me with a steak-ummm??? It was just NOT GOOD to me. He thought they were fantastic. 
I weigh once a week on Fri, usually. I do give in & step on the scale in the middle of the week,if I feel"different". Usually though, Fri Am, after I pee, before I shower! I am OCD...LOL 
I take a multivitamin, & a daily calcium. I had labs done @ 3 mon,& everything looked perfect. I go back on my 6 mon for another set of labs.
I came off my BP meds at 3 months. My BP was bottoming out,& I was having near blackout spells, & 1 actual black out, at my desk. I never thought about the fact that I was taking a BP dose for 400 lb Michelle...LOL so my Dr cut the dose in 1/2, still too low, so she took me off it. BP runs about 110/65 anytime I check it now. pulse about 60'ish. (we have BP machine @ work) I only have to take a "maintenance drug" for my emphysema. I am completely off the spiriva powder. I am off meloxicab (joint pain) completely. The only med I take is daily hormone (I had total hysto 3 yrs ago) & advair 2 X daily.
I can paint my toenails. I can put my socks & shoes on without getting winded (I used to just let hubby do it for me) I can CROSS MY LEGS comfortably, & it looks good when I do it!! I can see my hoo-ha! (& let me tell you, I have a severe case of FUPA!!!) I get her waxed every 5 weeks, & my waxer told me that even she has lost weight. LMAO!! She better keep losing!!
I have not seen the inside of the elevators at work in 3 mon. I use the stairs. I can walk,& walk,& walk, & never get tired. I have found I like to walk FAST. Sometimes I get walking so fast,I feel like I am on one of those walk escalators at the airport. LOL
I have not had ANY problem with rashy/irritated areas from folded skin/panni area yet. I never did have that proble,so fingers crossed!!! I have always-everytime I get out of the shower,stood in front of the fan,& held all my folds up (boobs & panni) to make sure everything is DRY DRY DRY.
I have nationality neutral pancake boobies. (inside joke!) they are pitiful. That will be the 1st PS I get. My girls are gonna be overhauled!!! Not sure about the "TT,anchor cut,lower/upper body lift" stuff. I read about them, & it terrifies me. So far,I think I look pretty darn good. I think,if everything keeps going right, I may just have arms & boobs done. I cant wait to see what Missy does, & her results.She & I are about same height & started @ about same weight,so she is my muse. LOL
I am officially rambling, but I just cannot tell you how much this has changed me life,& I still have a ways to goal,so the changes will keep coming,I am sure!!! We are taking my stepdaughter & granddaughter to Disney in July,& I am SO EXCITED. I used to be a HUGE (pun intended) theme park fan, but the bigger I got,the less fun it was,till 1 day,about 10 years ago, I just stopped going. So,this will be like Xmas in July for me.
Anyone contemplating this surgery, get off the fence,& get on the bench!!!!
I will take some more pics & post soon. My collar bones are poking out!!!
