Joan W.
May 9, 2007 Five Months! Time to update. Last August when I joined Weight Watchers, I weighed 204 pounds. This morning, when I got on the scale, it read 152. I guess that equals 52 pounds. Being classified as a ‘lightweight’ (less than 100 pounds to lose) and my slow metabolism makes this journey a little slower for me, but I am very satisfied. Yesterday, I weeded out most of my old clothes from the closet. Everything is too big through the shoulders and under the arms. I am using my 2X T-shirts as nightshirts now. I feel good physically. Since January, I have been attending a twice weekly strength training class. Since the weather has improved, I try to walk every day. Emotionally, it is a little more difficult. Eating has always been a coping mechanism for me. It has been a difficult year so far in that my mother has been seriously ill in Minnesota and at the same time, my brother-in-law passed away from pancreatic cancer. My sister, his wife, has early on-set Alzheimer’s. I haven’t had the food crutch to help me through these situations. As a result, many people comment that I am not my usual bubbly self. And I am not. Is it because of difficult situations in my life or is it coping with the situations without food? Or both? This is new territory for me, and I am allowing myself to feel my way along new ground without apologies to those that miss the ‘old me.’ My body: Can you say dumpling? Never before have I lost weight in my bosom. My breasts were dense and firm if a bit pendulous. No more. My breasts have wrinkles! Thank god winkles don’t hurt. Because of the strength training (I think), the fat is banding together in bulges on my upper thighs and it swings from my abdomen. The fat on my stomach remains stubbornly firm. No, it is not a pretty sight. I am closely monitoring my medications. Don’t have to take anything for type II Diabetes, but I am still on all my blood pressure medications except I no longer take the diuretic that I had been taking since age 25. Anything is an improvement. Eating: I haven’t experienced the dumping syndrome. I will sometimes have a bite or two of something sweet my husband is eating, but sugar is not part of my life. I do get the foamies if I eat too fast or don’t chew well enough and then I spend time upchucking. Doesn’t happen too often. My new hobby is watching the Food Channel. It doesn’t make me hungry or make me want to eat, but it seems to help fill a void. That’s strange, isn’t it?
December 12, 2006
Surgery was December 7, 2006. Dr. Ali, Hamot Bariatric Surgeon in Erie, PA performed lap surgery. It lasted approximately 5 hours. Dr. Ali was able to perform this by lap methods, but he said 3 or 4 years ago it would have been done open. Dr. Ali specializes in lap RNY's, but he termed me difficult. I am 4 ft, 9 in. tall, carry most of my weight in stomach and abdomen and had scarring and adhesions from previous surgeries.
I have some bruising and 9 points of lap entry. I am quite pleased that 6 days out of surgery I have little residual pain. I am very tender and sensitive, but no real pain. I have fluid retention and have not made it down to pre-op weight (196). The day following I was up 11 pounds. It is decreasing a little each day.
December 4, 2006
Today is day 6 of an 8-day Optifast prescription diet. I will have surgery on Dec 7. I had some challenges over the weekend but managed to follow the Optifast regime religiously. The bad breath is incredible from ketosis. I can smell my own breath.
November 24, 2006
I had my pre-op consultation last week. It was a lot of information to digest. I brought my husband along and he and I both took notes. He typed up a daily schedule for me to follow for the next two weeks – when to stop certain meds, when to get blood work done, and when to make follow-up doctor appointments, etc. I am so glad he is involved and supportive. I will be on an 8-day prescription liquid diet of Opti-fast prior to surgery, but no bowel prep. I have been doing SlimFast this week for two meals and one regular meal just to get in the groove. I have been off caffeine and diet sodas totally for two weeks. Just drinking water and skim milk. I am getting ready.
November 10, 2006
In preparation for WLS, I have been reviewing my list of medications. The amount of medications I take was the original driver behind my seeking WLS. My co-morbidities are: Hypertension, Diabetes, Asthmas/Allergies, High Cholesterol plus thyroid. I take medications for these medical conditions plus an anti-depressant and six various supplements. I have the following questions for my surgeon:
Will any of the medications I am now taking have an adverse affect for me when I have surgery - such as bleeding, renal problems, etc.?
I currently take a diuretic, will I discontinue that immediately after surgery?
How will I take my medications after WLS? Are they crushed and mixed with food?
Who will determine when and if I should cut-back or discontinue a medication as my weight loss progresses?
Will it become apparent to me with progressive weight loss that I may be overmedicated?
I will try to track here when and if I can reduce specific medications, substitute alternative medications, and substitution of alternative supplements
