SandySue777

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Need to take a day and redo my site.  Remarried in Dec 2009 to a wonderful man from Denmark.  Will update photos when I can along with my story.  You can find me on facebook, Sandra White Outzen.  Just put in friend request that it is from here or I might not add you.

I didn't realize how much time would fly by between posts.  I look up and another two months have gone by.  Ooops!!!
I met with Dr. Spaw last week and he almost didn't recognize me.  I have lost a total of 60 pounds   AND I went from a size 26 to a size 16.  The 16's are actually getting baggy on me.  I haven't lost a lot of weight, but I have lost inches.  I received the lab report today and I am very excited sbout my results.  My diabetes is still gone - no meds for that!  It's a miracle.  Here are my other numbers listed by type, range, and actual:

blood count 36-48 ----   41.5
calcium 8.4-10.6 ---       10.0
potassium 3.4-5.1 ---      4.4
protein 6.4-8.3  ---            7.7
albumin 3.5-5.0  ---          4.6
triglycerides <200  ---     141  this used to be over 1500
cholesterol <200  ---      181
hdl (good) 34-91  ---         37
ldl (bad) 65-165  ---        106
vit b-12-  211-911  ---      430
ferritin 10-291  ---              70
folate 5.38-24.00  ---     17.60
vit d-25 oh 20-57  ---         47
pre-albumin 20.0-40.0 - 23.2
pth intact 14.0-72.0 ---    68.2

Everything was in range!  That hasn't happened in 20 years.  I couldn't believe it.  I cringed when the envelope came because I figured it would be bad.  Surprise Surprise!!

I'll write again soon.  I'll put new pics up in the next day or so.  I'll talk to y'all later. 

Sorry for not posting in so long.  Work - Work - Work!!!  Weight loss is going very slow.  I think I was eating too much cheese.  I am still living off of beef jerky, cheese, beans, cashews, and protein shakes.  I haven't officially weighed but I think I am down around 40 pounds or so.  I'll post a new picture soon.  You can see it in my face...  especially if you look at pictures prior to the surgery.  All of my shoes are too big.  My feet were fatter than I realized - LOL!  

Now - I want to gripe about something.  I am about to get tired of seeing the Jared anniversary commercials where he has lost 250 pounds and has kept it off for 10 years.  I went back and looked at when that started...  does anyone else out there think this guy had gastric bypass besides me!!  He did not lose that weight eating five 6" subs a day with baked chips and diet soda.  Give me a break!!

Ok - I'm over that.  Not much else is going on.  Working like a dog and getting ready for vacation in April.  We go to see some folks on my husband's side of the family.  They haven't seen me since last year so they will be surprised.  Every year when we go to see them we plan a day to go to Brown County.  For those that don't know what this is - it is a small community with 300 local artists (everything you can think of).  Food, art, furniture, glass blower, nut shoppe, spice shoppe, etc etc.  You can drive through the streets in the area but you have to park on the outskirts - and WALK everywhere you go.  It's about 25-30 blocks total.  Shops line every inch of every street.  It is AWESOME!!!!  It will be a lot easier for me this year to get around to more shops. 

Gotta run - will write more soon.

I have lost 30 pounds!

Ok.....  I thought I was going to die last night!  I never saw the attack coming.  (No,, I wasn't mugged - it was a food reaction).  I went to Publix because they have the best deli lunch meat.  I bought Boars Head Ham.  I ate one slice and for the next hour I thought I would die from pain!  I used to think not being able to throw up again was a good thing, but I would have done anything to get that ham out of my stomach and make that feeling go away.  My heart was racing and my mouth was watering like I was going to be sick any second, but no dice!  AND this started right when I sat down to watch American Idol!!  Could there have been any worse timing???  Jeez!!  I hovered around the kitchen sink for about an hour.  I tried to drink a little water after it stopped, but it felt like it would start up again so I just went to bed.  I'm not sure what caused that - I have eaten ham before - but I can go the rest of my life and never experience that again! 

I have an appointment scheduled for 02/07/08 to see Dr. Spaw.  This is my first real appointment since my surgery.  The last time I saw him I was only 10 days post op.  I will be 2 months post op this Saturday.  Everyone keeps asking me how much weight I have lost and I really have no idea.  My scales have never worked right and I decided not to get a new one.  The Dr. said stay off of the scales in between visits anyway.  I guess we are tempted to get on them every day to look for new results.  Day to day that can mess with your head.  I am okay with weighing in at his office.  Seems more dramatic when I get the results.  Soooooo....  be on the look out for a post on Thursday with my new weight listed on the "ticker". 

Sound the horns!!  I am soooo excited!  I finally made the decision to go and buy some new pants today.  I was getting tired of my other pants sliding down all day, and even as much as ya'll know I hate to spend money, it was time!  Past time.  I haven't actually weighed since my last visit so I didn't have actual weight loss to guide me to a new size.  I just picked up a few pairs of pants and selected several different sizes in each style.  I tried on every size and low and behold the last size in the pile actually fit!!  I almost didn't bring it in, thinking it would be too soon to wear something that small.  Now to a skinny person - it won't seem small, but I haven't seen this size since high school.  I actually put on an 18/20 and they fit with a little wiggle room.  Prior to WLS I was wearing a 24/26.  I started to buy clothes that were even smaller so they would last longer, but decided against that at the last minute.  I don't want to be uncomfortable until I lose more weight.  I'll just hit Wal-Mart until I get to my goal weight and then go buy business clothes in my new size at the malls.  I can't wait!  I was so excited when I looked at the tag and saw 18/20.  I won't know how to act when I get into single digits!  Woo-Hoo!!    

I have had a few people ask me why I haven't written especially since they knew I went to a support group this past Tuesday.  Two reasons - One, I have been so busy that I haven't had a chance, and two, I wasn't exactly sure what to say about it.  I think I need to go to another one before I can really say if they benefit me.  This past meeting was mostly about whether or not there should be a few smaller sessions added.  There were also few questions about protein and other things to expect before and after surgery, but because I researched this for so long it wasn't new information for me.  The added benefit for me too is that I work with two people that had this surgery over a year ago and I picked their brains clean every chance I got, still do actually.  I haven't asked their permission to use their first name in my blogs so I will wait to use their names, but they have both had consistent results.  The best part for me is that I am for the most part on the same track that they were.  I have yet to have any surprises.  Dr. Spaw and his staff also told me what to expect and it has been dead on.  I have had ALL good days except for one day last week.  Thursday night and most of the day Friday to be exact.  I felt terrible, I couldn't stomach eating or drinking anything without getting queasy.  I'm not sure what that was all about, but it passed by early Friday afternoon and I was able to eat dinner.  

It won't be long before I need to go shopping for clothes.  My blouses and tops are still doable, but the pants are another story.  I walk around pulling my pants up all day.  It's a nice problem to have, but it is getting on my nerves.  I have a few pairs of pants that I haven't worn in a few years and I tried them on the other day.  I couldn't believe they actually fit (they are almost too big already), but I still need to get a few more to get through the next month or so. 

I will be taking a new picture later today to post on the website.  Other than my clothes getting bigger I do not feel like I have lost anything.  I think it is still too soon to see a big change.  Besides, I see myself everyday and the changes up to this point are so subtle.  

I go back to see my PCP this coming Tuesday.  I have not seen her since my surgery and I know that she will be happy about my results so far.  She has never seen me below 250.  I will also get my A1C Hemoglobin checked to see how my blood sugar is doing.  To date I have not had to take any insulin or pills.  I have had a few stressful days at work recently and that did drive my blood sugar up to the 130 range a few times, but I do not take insulin until it goes above 150.  With that being said I'm hoping that all is still good and I will not have to take any pills or shots, even temporarily.  The only shots I may have to continue are my B-12 shots, but I won't know that until my results come back.

To update an earlier blog - I am still cold.  I can't seem to get warm.  It looks like I am going to have to break down and get a coat.  There was a day where it got too hot in the office, but I didn't break out in a sweat like I normally would.  I guess this is just one of the changes that I will have to get used to.

That's all for now.  Yes, I know - I'm pretty boring.    

Talk to you soon.    

I talked to my Dad last night for almost an hour and you'll never guess what 90% of the conversation was about.  Food!!!  Ha.  My parents divorced when I was about 3 and we did not see or talk to each other very much until about 7-8 years ago.  Our conversation proved that you don't have to be around someone to take after them.  We both have the same eating habits.  We love food, and lots of it.  The better it tastes - well, that's just even better.  We were laughing our guts out at some of the stuff we used to do.  Like go out to eat, stuff your face, go home, and within the next half hour you are looking for something else to eat.  I needed more food like I needed a hole in my head.  It's weird, there are a lot of people that say they felt guilty after eating something they shouldn't.  I never felt guilty, even after I was told I had diabetes.  I guess I just found some sick way to justify to it myself after the fact. Whatever the case, I ate - well shall I say overate - because it tasted good.  Plain and simple.  I grew up in a family that celebrated everything around food.  That improved over the years with all of the stuff coming out about food and overweight related issues, but don't think for one second that we couldn't throw down at a meal!  My mother's pot roast - only heaven on earth!!  With cornbread and all of the potatoes.  I could live off of that!!  Well, not anymore - there is no where to put it.  :)

My dad is very happy that I did this for myself.  My new step-mom is watching my transformation and is actually considering the surgery.  She wants to see how well I do first.  So far so good.  

Earlier today Scott and I rode around and looked at property in the hills again.  He snacked on potato chips while I ate beef jerky and protein thingies.  I won't go as far to say they are chips.  They might be crunchy, but they aren't potato chips! 

I'm going to sign off now and go see my Webkinz pets.  Listen, when you sit around after surgery with nothing to do... this website will suck you in!!  Now I'm addicted.  I spent so much time in there and earned so much webkinz cash that I bought my pets everything under the sun.  Robin Leach could do a story on my pets!  LOL

See ya'll soon.    

 

Hello!  Well, I ended my first week back to work.  All went great.  This may have been a short week, but the days were long.  The anxious feelings are starting to get better and I'm getting in a routine of drinking and eating the required amounts around my crazy schedule.  Still not where I need to be as far as eating and drinking, but I am getting closer.  Some days are just better than others, take today for instance.  I was able to eat about 2 bites at lunch before my stomach revolted at the thought of putting anything else in it.  All I could do was wait the required hour and start drinking protein water.  I DO NOT WANT MY HAIR TO FALL OUT!  

I had a few people tell me they were surprised that I posted the pictures of myself directly after the surgery.  They were glad that I did, but not sure if they could do it if they were in my shoes.  My answer to that was simple.  Prior to the surgery I read everything I could get my hands on, but the only photos I could find were before or after photos.  That can be and was a little misleading.  You do not go in for weight loss surgery and come out weighing 120 pounds.  You come out of surgery groggy, bloated, and looking like a train wreck just happened.  It wasn't a bad thing, it was just part of it.  Anyone considering this surgery needs to know that you wake up feeling bigger than when you went in (they fill your body full of air so they can work without damaging surrounding organs), you are in pain, and can possibly be sick to your stomach.  You do not wake up and go shopping for size 8 jeans.  Before and after photos are an incentive to show you the benefits (there are many) of the surgery.  So for anyone considering the surgery - you just need to be prepared for everything in between the before and after.  

I'm still happy that I made the decision to do this, and I laugh everytime I drive by a fast food place and think of all the yummy things I used to get.  My brain says "Pull over and get a 'whatever'", but my brain giggles and says "Well stupid, what are you going to do with it if you buy it?  Big Mac's are just a wee bigger than an egg!!"  I just keep driving and thank God that I am getting healthier and my diabetes is gone - all the while remembering that junk is what got me into trouble in the first place.  So every time I crave junk, I just think of all the shots and pills I took every single day to control the diabetes and other complications caused by it.  

Stay tuned....  talk to you again soon.