PeggyJ

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Merry Christmas!!  Wow, it is hard to believe that I am almost 7 months post-op from my lap RNY.  I added another surgery about 10 days ago.  I had my gallbladder removed by Dr. Jones on Friday, Nov 30.  Surgery went very well.  I went back to work the next Wednesday.  Did fine going back that early and other than being a little tired the first day back, it hasn't been an issue.  I have noticed some eating issues since surgery.  It is almost like I am back to the 2oz of eating.  I have to eat very slowly and very small amounts or I have horrible lower abdominal pains.  I have had diarrhea rather frequently as well.  Oh well, it will just help speed up the weight loss!

I had my 6 mo check up visit the last week of November and Dr. Jones seemed pleased with my weight loss thus far.  She asked if I had a goal in mind.  I told her originally I wanted to be at 160  but that after reading Cindy Snyder's blog regarding being content with a certain weight loss when you really wanted a lower number, I told Dr. Jones I would really like to be at 150.  She agreed that was a reasonable goal and that I could be at that number by my 1 year anniversary.  So my goal is 150 by 5/11/2008.  That means I have 44 more to lose for goal.  I know it is possible.  I just need to use this tool and be faithful to measuring for portion control and exercise.  God will give me the strength if I walk faithfully and call upon him for strength.  I am so thankful for this new life He has allowed me to have.  This body is becoming worthy of being His temple. 

I have joined the gym at work.  I haven't had much opportunity to use it yet due to gallbladder surgery but hopefully after Christmas I can do more than just walk and can start using some of the machines.  I especially would like to target the arms and midsection.  I have trouble fitting in time to exercise as I have two part time jobs in addition to my full time job so I am planning to use my lunch hour during the day to do my exercise routine. 

My hair is really falling out -- especially since this surgery a week ago!!!  I am able to see scalp!!  I am adding some extra protein to my daily intake and need to add some Biotin.  I have not taken that yet and wish now I would have started it at the beginning.  Hopefully the hair will grow back in as everyone says it will.  Another difference is temperature control.  I rarely wore my coat and often had my personal fan on at work prior to WLS.  Now however I am always cold.  I have goosebumps 70% of the time at work.  I bought a fleece jacket to have at work at all times because of being cold so often.  I also bought a down coat from Cabela's.  It is wonderful!!  So now I wear a long down coat, wool neckscraf, gloves and boots whenever I leave the house.  I have asked for earmuffs for Christmas -- if I can wait that long.  HaHa!  I bought myself an electric blanket for a gift to myself for Christmas.  Can you tell I am COLD!!! Ha!

I got my preop pics and 6 mo pics from St. V's at my last appointment.  Wow, did I really look like that?!  It is hard to remember being that big.  Actually it is rather disgusting to think that is how I looked.  I remember how bad I felt but have kind of forgotten how I looked.  Never again!  I have posted the pics on my refrig as a daily reminder of where I have come from.  My children have been so supportive.  My oldest son and daughter-in-law have been especially sweet and very affirmative in my journey.  My co-workers have been great as well.  Hardly a day goes by without someone making a wonderful comment.  Thank you Lord for that affirmation as well.  Even though it is great looking better and wearing smaller clothes, the best part is feeling SO MUCH better and being much healthier.

This is getting long so I will finish.  Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas filled with Christ's love.  May the busyness of the season not crowd out the true reason for the season.  May we each remember that due to God's great love for us, He sent his son to be humbly born in order that He might provide us salvation as a free gift if we would only confess with our hearts and mouths our sin and ask him to be our Lord and Savior.  If you do not know him as your personal savior, my prayer for you would be that 2008 would be the year that you would get to know Him.  He is patiently waiting for you. 

Peggy

11/11/07 was my 6 month aniversary.  I have lost 106#.  I made the 100# mark before my 6 months so I exceeded by goal by 6 lbs.  Yeah!!  I am still doing great other than a couple of what appear to be gallbladder attacks.  Marta from Dr. Jones office is ordering a couple of tests for my gallbladder and if infected or full of stones -- it will be coming out.  I knew this was a fairly common problem so I am not surprised. 

Went to Chicago and walked for hours without any knee pain.  What a blessing this surgery has been.  I have been able to regain my life back and throughly enjoy it. 

Oh my! I can't believe I haven't updated my profile in such a long time.  I remember when I was doing research and would come across a site that had pre-op information and then nothing after surgery I would wonder if that person died, didn't do well or what.  Now I am guilty of doing the same thing of not following through.  My apologies for anyone who is reading this.  I am now 4 months post-op and doing very well.  Thus far I have had no real complications.  I did go through a rather prolonged phase of dizziness when standing but that was resolved when my PCP cut my blood pressure medicine in half.  He seems to think when I get to goal most likely I can be off all B/P meds.  That is hard to believe since I have taken medication since 1986. 

I am feeling great.  My knees which were horrible pre-surgery are doing great --pain free!!  I walk without any difficulty and before surgery I was using a handicap parking tag.  No more!!!  I have lost 85 lbs to date.  I had a very slow weight loss during July and August.  That is when I added fruit to my diet so I have removed fruit and lo and behold the scale has been moving well again. 

I have gone from a size 26W pants to a size 16W.  I was wearing a size 4X top and now am wearing size 1X.  Needless to say I get compliments and comments every single day on my appearance.  I am just now really able to see the difference myself.  I know that sounds really stupid but it has taken a long time for me to see the actual weight loss myself.  I know I have been wearing smaller clothes but when I would look in the mirror I didn't see a big change in a long time.  That is finally changing.  I actually have a waistline once again.  Besides the physical change, many people have commented on how happy I seem since surgery.  I think that is true and most of it is because I am no longer experiencing pain with every step I take.  It is funny but I notice men in the hallways at work now speak and hold the door.  I guess overly obese women don't deserve the same kind actions huh??  Oh well. 

I am really hoping to hit the 100 mark before my 6 mo check in late November.  I really think I can make it as I have only 15 pounds to go.  I am looking for some different exercises to target some of the more problem areas such as my arms and tummy.  I definitely have bat wings.  Oh my gosh!!  But I am more than willing to wave my wings in celebrating my 85 lb loss. 

Almost 2 weeks post-op and doing OK.  Have had a few crappy days but overall doing OK.  Still battling to get all the water and protein in.  Still haven't had a day when I have gotten the full 64 oz of fluids in or all the protein in.  I developed hives for a couple of days so had to kind of start from the beginning to try and discover what I was reacting to.  No answer yet.  Have had a couple of days of vertigo but that is better today.  Planning on returning to work in 4 days.  Will try 1/2 days and see how things go.  I have a bit of a walk into work and several stairs so hopefully that won't be an issue.  The weight is coming off and I am able to tell a difference in my clothes already which is a surprise.  As of today I am down 21 1/2 pounds from the day of surgery.  My goal was to lose 25# before going back to work and I think I might make it!!

I am now sitting on the losers side!! Had Lap RNY 5/11/07.  Surgery and hospital time was easy.  My kids were there for support and lots of friends have been very supportive.  Thank you to those who prayed for me.  God was certainly gracious.  I had a little bump in the road yesterday with dehydration and had to spend 1/2 day in the local ER getting IV fluids.  Still managed to travel the 5 hr round trip drive to the surgeon and have my drain removed.  Thank you Stefanie for giving up your day.  Today I am being diligent to sip, sip, sip.  Don't want to feel like a pin cushion again for a while. 

Trying different proteins and working hard to find one that is pleasant to drink.  I found out prior to surgery that I am lactose intolerant so trying to be very careful what I consume.  It is amazing that I get too full to finish my 2 oz of food 3x a day.  Hard to comprehend that small of amount of food fills me up. 

Thank you Lord for this opportunity to regain my health and your protection over me.

It is hard to believe that in almost 2 weeks I will be having surgery.  Time has really moved quickly. I was sick for a week and then really busy with work so time flew.  I hope these next two weeks go by as fast.  At work I have been making lists of things that need done before surgery and lists of things that people need to know about for while I am out.  We are launching a new clinical study and it is a very busy time but my supervisor has been great about me being off.  In fact I have told the 7 gals I work with about the surgery and they have all been extremely supportive for which I am thankful for.  I have not told the rest of the department.  Didn't think everyone needed to know. 

I have a frequent cough that I am hoping leaves soon.  It is a leftover from the virus I had at the beginning of the month.  Everyone I have talked to that had the bug says it took them nearly 6 weeks to get rid of their cough.  That will take me right up to surgery.  Don't want to have a cough with a sore belly plus not a good thing with anesthesia. 

I had my nutrition class and pre-ops last week.  I was thrilled the nurse was successful with the venipuncture on the first try!!!  Never happens.  I wasn't quite so thrilled with the upper GI but I survived.  HaHa.  But hope I don't have to repeat that for a long time!!

My sample order from Bariatriceating arrived so I am going to start trying out some protein drinks so I can place an order to cover the first couple of weeks post-op.  I understand my taste buds may change after surgery so I don't want to buy a bunch but want some things on hand.  I have a bit of a problem with lactose so I won't be surprised if I can't tolerate the milk protein drink we were taught in NUT class.  When I opened up the sample packet something smells like hot chocolate mix but not sure which one but hopefully one of them tastes as good as the smell.  I am going to buy a few bullets as well.  I can make myself drink down 3 oz of something just to get protein in, even if I don't like the taste. 

Let the countdown begin!!

Today I faxed my approval letter to Heather at St. V and lo and behold she called me a few hours later to schedule surgery!!!  I can hardly believe I have a date -- May 11th.  She actually offered me a date 2 weeks earlier but my son is in a school musical and thought it best to wait until after his performance.  This whole process has gone so quickly and smoothly.  Not what I expected.  Saw Dr. Jones 2/21, submitted paperwork to Anthem 3/09, approved 3/15, letter received 3/21, surgery date given 3/22.  Wow!!!  Thank you Lord!

I received my approval letter from Anthem today.  I will fax it to Heather at St. V first thing in the morning.  I would love to get a date around May 7th or so but won't be surprised if it is the first of June.  I keep telling myself a few more weeks is not going to matter.  Patience is a virtue.  Right?

I called Anthem today to check on the progress of my claim.  I'm not sure why I called because it had only been a week, but I called anyway.  The gal said I was approved pending a date of service and that the letter with the approval information had been generated on the 15th.  I remember saying, "What?"  She repeated the same information and still I had a hard time believing it.  I guess this is approval but until I actually see the letter and talk with Dr. Jones' office staff, I am having a hard time accepting it.  Wow, that would mean I was approved in less than a week.  My heart is beating a little faster but I am trying to not get too excited in case this is just a 1st step type of thing.  Hopefully I will get the letter by Tuesday.  Even if this is not full blown approval, thank you Lord for this positive sign and encouragement!!

I went to the Fort Wayne  St. V. support group meeting last night.  Unfortunately I arrived about 10 minutes late due to getting lost twice but got in on the end of the introductions.  Apparently the facilitator didn't show but I found the meeting to be very information.  Several people were sharing stories about vitamins, protein shakes, etc. that was helpful.  But the hour FLEW by.  When the end of the meeting was announced I couldn't believe it.  I will definitely be making an effort to go each month.  It is an hours drive each way but I feel well worth it.  I am normally not a meeting/crowd type of person but I felt very comfortable and am anxious to get to know some of the other attendees.