MICHELLE B.
Well a year has come and gone............where has the time gone, so much has happened since that day I was reborn again.
To make a long story short I'll just give the important stuff.
PRE SURGERY: The most important thing I would say to do during this time would be to first of all relax, and allow God to prepare you for the journery your about to under take, allow him to guide you as he sends the nesscessary person in your life to ensure that you succed. I would also say start trying to get used to DRINKING more WATER(not flavored water, the pure stuff), try some protein drinks and get an idea on taste as well as cost, do your research, as each person is different, go to a re-sale shop and pick a couple of shirts and pants 3 size smaller as it will come sooner than you know. Check out the vitiams, and after care that needed for your time off. MOST OF ALL TRY AND STOP EATING AS MUCH..........
THE HOSPITAL STAY:
The surgery was a not bad, I got there around 6am and was in pre-op about 7:30am, then the surgery it self only took an 1 1/2 hour. They stuck me 5 different places around my stomach with the scoop and the scars are so small you hardley know they are there. I did not have a pain pump, but I did have a large hole on my side where they took out my gall blader, now that did hurt for weeks..........Once I was able to go to the bath room, they would start getting ready to let me go home. I had a small amount of pain so I was given shots mostly during the nite for me. I did not want to eat or drink I was not hungry at all, it was scaring me alittle.......... Then I realoze I not eat. As for the hospital it self, well If your in Houston it was central for my friends and family to come and visit as they only had to take 288 to Binz Street and there it was. The bad part was the cost of parking it was $7.00 no matter what time you came to visit. The nurses were the best and so loving and understanding. The whole floor was only for paitents like me, so as I took my daily walk it was nice to stop and talk with other paitents. MY DOCTOR ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
POST-OP
My first nite home, that did not go so well, I laid in bed not wanting to eat of course. and they told me about checking my temp. during this time as it was important. we during the nite I got a fever and had to return to the hospital for another two days, all because I got the flu as soon as I walked out of the hospital, I was so made, but then again since everything about my body was still weird, like giving birth, I was glad to get another two days of care in case anything went wrong with the surgery.
WEEK/1-12
During this time, still did not eat much, maybe 3 or 4 spoons full of yogurt, pudding and small amount of water........For the most part when I ate my protein shakes that was more than enough food for me. I was always soooo full so quick........I could not eat any sweets of any kind and still really can't after a year, it makes light headed like I've been drinking or something........... I could only have my soy milk with my protein drinks and water for the longest time. I ate small amount of veggies, and only chicken and not much meat at all, it was just too much trouble to deal with.
I have to admit, as I would loose large amounts of weight over nite it would scare me, I was never hungery, and I made sure I took all my vitiams my doctor required such as my blood pressure med, tums(750mg.) B-12 spray, and flinstone vitiams and that was it. I would also say that I did not try hard enough to get out and move around like I should have but I was so scared that something was going to happen, my recovery would have been alot nicer if I had, I was sore from all that laying around, don't get me wrong I was in pain and took my pain med's but I would have not had to take so much had I pushed myself more. It was more of a mind thing for me, cuz the weight was just melting off and I thought I could handle the change but I was more of an issue for me that the not eating or any pain I was feeling. The nite's were the worst though I could never lay in a place that would allow me confort. I only had that dumping thing once and that was because I just ate to fast.
FIRST 6 MONTH VISIT
Well I went to see my doctor and he says that by the time I come and see him I should weight about 160lbs and that I was doing just fine, I informed him that I had no issues and was very happy with my progress. It was the best thing I could have ever done for myself and would do it all over again. I must add that, after your first visit, and there after, continue to not eat any sweets, or bread, and meat, I just think you can really loose as much weight as you want but once you know you can have something like a soda it's taking away from the quick weight lose mode your body is in..........so just don't do it............don't even try a test taste to see if you can have it..........put it out of your mind..........you'll thank me when your body starts telling you ok this is all the weight your gonna loose with this surgery and the rest your on your own...................
1 YEAR AND 3 MONTHS OUT- NOW OVER THE 100LB MARK
Well I made it to my one year, and let me recap, I stated at 298 with a BMI OF 52 and dress size of 24-26. I was diognosized with ostoprosies, high blood pressure, and border line diebetic. I now weight 160lbs and my dress size is 12 not sure what my BMI is as yet, I no longer have any of the above health issues as before, my goal is to be 140lbs and dress size 8. so I'm almost there. I plan to have plastic surgery later this year, would love to have a full body lift but will settle for breast lift, and tummy tuck, and lipo and legs and butt.
Well I can eat regular foods and have been since about the 4th or 5th month, I still can only eat small amounts, I don't drink soda's and can only eat very little sweets, I rarely eat at fast foods they are just too greasy for me, I still drink alot of water, but stop taking protein shakes after the 5th month, bread and pasta fills me up too fast so I don't eat much, I try to stick to veggie and have found many differnent ways to make them. I don't have alot of hanging skin......THANK GOD..........I have not walk or worked out at all, but I do plan to change that..
