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8/3/06 -- I am back from vacation at Vegas. What a blast! My husband hit it big out there too! $40,000 and yes we brought a majority of it back! I layed out by the casino's pool in my bikini! I still have swelling from surgery but didn't feel too out of place. I haven't been in a bikini since I was in third grade! I have some skin that doesn't know what sunlight even looks like!
Another 75 cc's drained this past monday at the doctors office. I will see him again in one week for possibly more drainage removal. I also had him look at a lump I found on my left thigh over a month ago that has not went away. He may be cutting it out and getting it checked.
I started my new nursing job with Hospice. Orientation is going well. I sure hope that I like this line of nursing. Time will tell.....

7/25/06 -- Staples are now officially out! Those hot, stabbing pokers! I heal really well as far as the incision but the staples always get irritating and red hot. The doctor drained of 85cc of fluid from my abdomen. He states this normal and it is actually a relatively small amount compared to others. I will see the doc in another week to drain off more if needed. I feel much better now but I am still afraid to sneeze.

7/18/06 -- I am having definite computer problems the past couple of days and didn't back up my profile like recommended! So here I am trying to catch up for lost information. Word to the wise -- always send yourself a copy of your profile everytime you make changes! You'll regret it if you don't some day.
I had my tummy tuck done on 7/13/06. Wow, does it hurt afterward too. I have my other abdominal surgeries done laproscopic and this is the first time for a full incision. I have swelling and am not sure what the final outcome will look like at this point. At my post-op appointment I weighed in at 130. Wonder what it will be after the swelling goes down?

5/6/06 -- Well, shame on me for not updating sooner! I have been back from my cruise for quite some time now. I had an absolute blast! I can't wait to go again. It was great going on the cruise this time. I felt comfortable while sitting in the seat on the plane ride there. I actually fit in the seat without the next person feeling as though they had to deal with the overflap from me! I felt comfortable in my shorts and swimsuit too. We took great pictures and I self-conscience about having my picture being taken. What a year will do to change it! I have been fluctuating a couple of pounds. I am at 132 now a couple pounds up from my lowest. But I feel very comfortable with this weight. I need to get back into my weekly weigh in habit though. I am still a size six pants and S/M top. I would not want to go any lower in size though.
I am hoping that I will have enough vacation time to have my tummy tuck done in the fall. The TT would definitely make the pants alot less lumpy looking. The bikini will definitely be out next summer!
I am attempting to get pictures on my site, but as you can see....not yet.
Well, until later.....

3/13/06 - With staples now removed and recovery pretty much done at a week and a half. I feel great! I did not realize how much the gall bladder was affecting me until it was gone.
I was weighed today and after the swelling is gone, I am at 129! This is the first time I have had a doctor tell me to not lose anymore weight and to eat a snack to keep my up. Wow! Did I ever think I would be at this point!
I am now getting the final touches together for my cruise next week for Mexico! I can't wait to finally meet my fellow RNY friend from Arkansaw. We have talked to over a year now (preop and postop). We started this adventure at the exact same weight and heighth and originally the same surgery day too until she had to postpone her's for a couple of weeks. We are pretty much at the same amount of weight loss too! Too many coincidences!
When I get back I will write again!

3/5/06 - Well, the gall bladder surgery is now complete I had it on March 3rd. Wow, the abdominal pain makes me rethink whether I want the tummy tuck. I am sure with time, this will pass and I will want it again.
The first day after gall bladder surgery was horrible. Everytime I moved or repositioned myself, I would get waves of nausea. It took approximately 16 hours to get the effects of anesthesia out of my system. That's the worst - dry heaves with abdominal incisions.
I go to see Dr. Elias on Monday (3/6/06) and to see what's under this beautiful dressing he has left me on my tummy. It is so covered I couldn't even guess whats under it at this point!

2/1/06 Where has the time went? I can't believe that is almost a year since my surgery. I have lost 103 pounds since then and am now in a size 6 pants and a s/m top. I would have never believed that this is where I would have been one year later. No more daily medications to take. I feel so energetic and alive!
I will be having surgery on March 6 for my failing gall bladder and then off to my cruise! I wanted to be sure to get this taken care of before the vacation. I can only imagine getting into Mexico and either taking another attack or worst of all....needing to have it out while I am there! Yikes, not in a foreign country! I don't speak Spanish so who knows what could happen. I might wake up without something I really need and am not ready to give up yet!
Even with all this being said...this is a small price to pay to have my life back. I will take the crappy gall bladder (which is probably the result of my rapid weight loss) for all the experiences I have already received this past year and the many more that I will have in the future.
What I accomplish in a day/week/month is astonding and I would have never had even thought of attempting it before!
See you on the other side without my gall bladder!

12/5/05 Well, where do I begin.... just home a couple days ago from being hospitalized for what we are still not sure of. This past week while at work, I began to have excrutiating abdominal pain that would not be relieved by anything. It started right after lunch (soup and a salad) and progressively got worse until I finally had to leave work (how I made it home was a miracle). xrays in the ER showed two possible small bowel obstructions. By the time they were able to get the CAT Scan begun, this was resolved on their own but my gall bladder was distended, along with two loops of small bowel as well as a cyst on my right ovary. This pain continued for three days. Morphine injections did not relieve the pain and demeral/visteral only made me sleep through the pain until it was time to have another. At the completion of three days, we still were no closer to finding out a definite cause. Dr. Elias thinks I ate my salad too fast. (????) I still think it baffles him as to what was going on. At my return to home I now find that I weigh 140 pounds now. I was on IV fluids for three days, nothing my mouth. I didnot anticipate losing any more. I find out today that I am officially in a size 6 pants and am beginning to look at wearing small tops too. I really hope that this losing tapers off now. What a problem to have.....

11/21/05 Back from my nine month post op appointment!! I am officially at goal weight. I have lost a total of 92 pounds. The doctor and I have discussed that I now no longer need to lose any more weight. I think that if I lose anymore I begin to look too thin. My eating habits are doing well. I took a break for one week from the walking due to cold weather. What a mistake! I instantly gained two pounds. Well, I can tell you this, I went immediately to Gander Mountain and bought myself a good insulated ski coat, gloves and hat and began to walk again that day. I am getting back into the good habit I started. I truly missed the time I had in the morning to get my thoughts together. My days actually go alot better when I get that time in the morning.
I officially bought myself a few new pairs of pants this past week. My 10's are way too big and the 8's seem to be getting looser. I bought a few pairs of size "6" and they fit but a snug. I truly feel that they will fit with getting back into my walking routine again. I am sure that once I get my tummy tuck, they will be just right. The problem that I have is always getting them to fit around my waist and then they are baggy across the rear. Oh, what a change from this time last year!!
I will be getting my labwork drawn. Results to follow with my next doctor's appointment.

10/4/05 - About 7 1/2 months out and down 85 pounds. I just received word that I have been approved for a tummy tuck! I do think I will need to put it off until the spring though. I will need to train someone for my current position I have at work and then start my new position this month. I will be starting back to college for my BSN in less than three weeks. By the spring my parents will be back from Florida to possibly help out with the kids if I should need any help then.
Yesterday, I also booked my cruise with my new WLS friend from Arkansaw. I can hardly wait until I get to finally meet her! We met through this website when we originally had the same surgery dates! (Her date was postponed a couple of weeks). I am so excited with all the exciting things coming up! Cruise, plastic surgery, college and advancement at work. WOW!
The only downer going on in my life right now is that I have been on a plateau for three weeks now. I am hoping to get off of it soon!
Til later!