SaraMu1217

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 The weight loss finally stopped and now I'm to the point where I've gained a few pounds... how discouraging! I went from not being able to eat anything to eating everything... NOT good. For 2011, I have tried to implement new rules for myself, including less carb intake, minimal fast food and no soda. I've had slip ups, but I'm trying to not allow those slip ups to become habits. 

I've gained almost 20 pounds and it's amazing what a 20 pound difference can make. Everyone tells me I should continue to gain when in all reality I really want to lost maybe 10-15 of the gained 20. I look in the mirror and can tell where the gain went and look at my clothes as many have "shrunk". 

As long as I don't get to the 170 mark, I'll be okay. Once I see the 170 though, that'll be scary. In my mind, 170 has become the "point of no return". In winter it's hard to get myself motivated... I hate the cold, it hurts! So exercise beyond taking my dogs out, is not happening. 

There definitely needs to be some re-evaluation of my food/beverage intake and the lack of exercise. The surgery still works but now I have to make it work for me more than it working on its own as it did before.

My goal for 2011 is to lose 15 pounds and work to get my body back in shape and feel good about myself. I went through too much with these surgeries to just allow myself to fall apart. Slip ups are allowed, but bad habits are not!

 A lot has happened since my last post...

Here is the short version, well, as short as possible:

I had my Roux-en-Y at GBMC in March 2007. I was hospitalized April 2007 for Pancreatitis. I remained at GBMC for 10 days while my blood count was monitored and various tests were conducted. From there, my health went down hill. I was constantly throwing up and had numerous EGD's performed in the first 6 months of 2008. I lost all of my weight from March 2007 to January 2008 at a fast rate. From the constant vomiting, I developed an ulcer at the opening of my stomach. During the EGD's the doctor dilated my stomach in hopes it would remain open. This gave me relief for 10 to 14 days, then I went back to vomiting anywhere from 5 to 15 times daily!

 Needless to say, I was definitely second guessing my decision. While the surgeon had excellent skills, his bedside manner was absolutely horrible in my opinion. When I had first met him, he tried to sway my decision away from the gastric bypass to the lap band. Because I was 20, I understand he was worried about alcohol and drug use, but this was not an issue, which I reassured him of. My big loss of respect for him came when I was hospitalized in April 2007. He proceeded to tell me the fact I was getting sick was my fault. Keep in mind, I'm in the hospital for 10 days with minimal answers, feeling pretty down because something that is suppose to turn my life around is causing a conflict within my body and all he can say is I did this to myself?! There was no compassion or concern. I was just another number... another "success" by his standards. 

 My blessing during that 10 day stay was the Doctor who I had wanted to do my surgery visited me as a friend. Dr. Apparao Vanguri did one or two EGD's, saw me through another hospital stay related to vomiting in December 2008 and decided it was time to do a revision. On February 13, 2009, he went and did a revision. He removed the part of the top portion of the stomach where the ulcer was. 

 Even now, everyday is a challenge. I still vomit, although I can at least eat salads, seafood, sushi... without getting sick. I have learned when my cut off point is. I had to teach myself it is okay to throw away food. It's better than being 300 pounds again! To date, I have lost approximately 160 pounds. 

 Hopefully I will keep better tabs on my blog. This surgery for me has felt like a blessing and a curse, but ultimately, despite a few setbacks, it is a blessing. I am not diabetic and on insulin. I can play with my 15 year old brother and not wheeze or need to sit down/rest every 10 to 15 minutes. I can walk without my legs swelling and affecting circulation. I think overall, my biggest achievement with this surgery, beyond the physical, is the mental aspect... I have confidence in myself. My personality hasn't change, just the shell, but my confidence in myself, how I portray and carry myself, is at an all time high. I still have my shy moments, but my interactions with people have changed.

 I owe many thanks to Dr. Vanguri and his team in Perry Hall for giving me a second chance to make this surgery work for me in the manner it was intended. They gave me not only my health back, but in essence, my life.

And during that "while," I had my gastric bypass.

I lost 15 lbs in 6 days. Today is my one week post-op and I weighed in yesterday at the surgeons office. I was surprised because I didn't feel like I had lost any weight, but here I am, lost 15 lbs. So exciting!

That's all I'm going to update for now. Although excited, I'm still tired and a bit sore from the surgery, which was done by laparoscopic (or however you spell it.)

Take care everyone. And just for those who may be considering the surgery... it's well worth it!     

Need I say anymore at this point?


Ah!! I was approved on about two weeks ago and got my surgery date a week ago and the "official" date is March 22!!!

22 days at this point. I'm excited, but nervous, but I guess that is normal.

Yay!! I am just so excited!!

I have called for referrals and I'm working on school because I can't have the surgery over break. Actually my surgery is after break, the following Thursday.

Once again, YAY!!  

But I have a feeling I am going to have to prove myself in the next couple of weeks. Please pray that I hear back quickly about the approval decision. Having it hanging in the air can just be so obnoxious! haha.

I have to prepare for the day. I am praying for a positive answer and for me to start a path that will help.

Pray as I deal with the school and the meal plan! A lot of the food here I can't eat, so I have to come up with a solution and my family can't afford to buy me groceries all the time. HUGE prayer request for me.

Take care all. Bye.     

... that I can finally submit my "stuff" to the insurance company for a surgery date.

Praise God!!

But I have a feeling its going to be a rough road to travel, and prayers are appreciated.

I'm still aiming for March, but I am trying to have an open mind for May so that way if it does come down to May, I won't be disappointed.

I will update tomorrow after my visit with Dr. Von Rueden. Have a great evening everyone.

January 31 is coming around quicker than I had thought. I will be seeing the surgeon and the dietitian this time around and hopefully I will be getting my *drum roll* SURGERY DATE within the next few weeks. How cool is that?! I'm excited. I would really like for my surgery to be over my Spring Break, but I have a feeling that I'm going to have to wait until May for it to happen because I have to work on some other stuff. And basically from this Wednesday, if I had my surgery when I wanted, it would be 5-6 weeks from this Wednesday which at this point I don't think is doable unless by a miracle.

I am in prayer though... constantly. I am keeping the surgery somewhat low key at school though because I don't want to hear other peoples "opinions" of how they think I should not have it because I just "want to change my physical appearance."

Ah, no one ever said that the journey would be easy. It's a struggle all the way. But here's truth... if you don't struggle... you won't appreciate it when you get to where you want to be. True...?

So through the trials and struggles... I hope to have a better appreciation for the surgery and my second chance in life. Wouldn't you?

~Sara

I never realized how difficult it could be to eat three meals a day. All we're talking about is three lousy...small... meals a day, and it seems so hard to just keep up with that. I have a tendency to skip everyone breakfast, which as should know, is not good. And then I get hungry before lunch. It's just one struggle after another.

I would like to think that this journey is going to be easy, but it's far from that, isn't it? Yup, far from it.

But since the person monitoring my diet gave me these sheets to fill out on how much I'm eating and all, I feel more convicted to then ever to be honest. Because if I can't be honest now and start eating properly, I probably wouldn't be able to start doing it after surgery on a whims notice. So it's best to start now. I'm trying to eat breakfast, even if it is just a small yogurt that is Fat Free from Yoplait. *Yum!*

My appointment is coming up towards the end of the month, and I'm really hoping that I can lose two pounds by that time so that I can show the surgeon and others that I am capable of following the diet. But another problem is being at school can be VERY difficult. Not so much with portion control, but rather with the fact that everything is FRIED! Blech. We broil and bake everything here, usually to never fry.

But I'm praying that as I work with the school, they will be able to meet the needs for the new diet: >10 g. of sugar, carb, and fat. So we will see how that goes. I have to come up with a plan to present the school so that way I can have something in place for after surgery.

Alright, I've done enough rambling. Just thought it was time to update. Take care. <3           

I have been thinking of the surgery for about two years now, but my journey didn't really begin until July of 2006 with a meeting at GBMC and the following month was my consultation.

It's been a difficult journey because I will be honest, I thought it was the easy way out for the longest time. But after seeing what my mom has gone through to lose her weight via the Gastric Bypass, I know it is not easy. It is a life altering decision.

I am heading into my sixth month of supervised weightloss which means that after my next visit (end of January) I can have my claim, or whatever it is called, submitted to the Insurance Company for my surgery. I'm on my knees praying for it to be approved because I am wanting to be around and well when I'm 40. Given I'm only 20 now, I know I can get through this.

The have hit a few hardships, one is my insurance should be paying for all of my pre-op testing, but we continually get billed for ALL of it... I mean ALL. I received a bill for blood work that totaled almost $900. I'm in college... like I have that kind of money anyways. I'm grateful to have my mom in the healthcare system so she knows how to work the odds and ends of the system. My other hardship has been that I was originally going to have my surgery over my Christmas break, but the Insurance company went from 3 months of supervised weight loss to six, therefore uping me into my status of 2007 surgery. haha. It's really not that bad though.

I know the surgeon has some concerns about me being a college student and worried about me getting "off track." But being in a Christian environment, I know I will have the constant support that I need, not just from friends, but from the faculty as well.

It's nice having my parents support as well. My mom had the surgery, wow, seems forever ago... but having her support is nice. I also have the support of my dad and brother which will make my life a lot easier post-op.

I'm just going to keep praying. I know God will work this all out for His benefit.