SharonG
On March 6, 2017, I had my 14 year surgiversary.
Can't believe how time passes! For a few years, I was having concerns about gaining here and there and, at one point last year, had gained back about 25 lbs from my lowest weight. Stress and hormones played a role, as well as changing absorption. It was beginning to creep up. I finally resorted to dieting, just like a 'normie' would, and took off 16 lbs last summer and have been maintaining in a close range to that weight since then. This morning, I was still there - about 10 lbs over my lowest post DS weight - when I stepped on the scale. To me, that is the most amazing thing about the DS - I don't fluctuate 50, 70, or 100+ lbs anymore! I still have to pay attention to what I eat and exercise, but still think it was the best decision for me!
Below is a photo of me from November, 2016 (last one I have!)
On March 6, 2013, I celebrated my 10 year surgiversary! Big milestone for me! While I struggle with some regain, I am dealing with about 15 pounds above my lowest weight. I am NOT dealing with the 135 lbs I started out with pre-op. But, I also know that the DS was not an easy way out. I still have to be careful with what I eat, drink and need to continue to exercise. Weight comes on much more easily now than it did the early years post op.
I have been reflecting on the time and events that lead up to my decision to have the DS. About a year before, my primary care physician had suggested WLS and told me I was an ideal candidate. Having watched me go up and down the scale 120 lbs and have lots of co-morbidities, he commented to me that, if I continued to go in the direction I was going, I would most likely be dead in 10 years.
Well, here it is 10 years later and I am a much healthier and happy person. Very grateful for the DS and the changes this surgery helped me make in my life.
Milestones for this year included visiting Iceland and hiking on active lava fields and taking a helicopter ride into the Grand Canyon :-) Ten years ago, I would have been over the weight limit to fit in the helicopter!
3/6/2012
9 Years! Hard to believe how quickly time flies. And how bad I am about updating. Still glad I had the DS. I hover 8-12 lbs over my lowest weight, sometimes a bit higher, sometimes a bit lower. All in all, not bad. I am able to do so many things that I could not do 9 years ago. I did hike 28 miles of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu last September!
Post Date: 9/22/11 7:00 am - Exercise and Fitness Forum
Good morning,
I promised to report back on my experiences hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The hike was 45 Km (about 28 miles) over 3 mountain passes, the highest climb and descent was over 3500 ft up and down in a single day. I am happy to say that I survived the trip intact! I hiked and camped 3 nights and 4 days before reaching Machu PIcchu. High altitude hiking was a new experience for me, but I don't believe it affected me dramatically worse than normies who never had the DS. I took diamox and drank the coca tea as suggested. I did notice more shortness of breath than usual, but I found that improved when I doubled my iron intake. Just a theory, but I think our bodies start working overtime to produce red blood cells when the air is so thin and those of us who do not have a lot of iron supplies feel it a bit more. I actually started feeling a bit better after I doubled the dosage.
While it was tough, I am happy that I accomplished something that seemed so out of reach just a few years ago. I never would have attempted something like this at my top weight of 285 lbs and with several co-morbidities!
I have pasted a few of the wonderful views along the way below.
Best wishes,
Sharon
Sunrise from the tent - day 3
On the trail in the cloud forest
Amazing Views of ruins only assessible via the trail
Dawn in the Andes
7/18/2011 - 8 Years + Post Op
I have been so lazy about updating, but want people to know what post-op life is like further out. Life has been busy and good, for the most part. Still maintaining 8 - 10 lbs above my lowest weight, still working out, taking vitamins and trying to eat protein first. This surgery was a lifesaver! Since my last post, I ran a half marathon for the first time in my life, traveled to Bermuda, Chicago, Australia, the Outer Banks and Barbados. I have been hiking a lot and working out in the gym. Big goal this year is to hike 28 miles of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu!
I have had some iron issues again, but they appear to have improved after an infusion in December. I had shoulder surgery in January and have been busy with physical therapy and weight training to rebuild strength.
5/5/2010: Just Over 7 Years Post Op
Just wanted to give a quick update. I had my 7 year surgiversary on 3/6/2010. All in all, things are good. I am still struggling with a few extra pounds. I am about 10 lbs up from my lowest weight, but holding steady. I had my heavy duty blood work last September. While some of my numbers were a little low (selenium and magnesium, calcium borderline), most everything looked pretty good. It is good to regularly check our bloodwork so that adjustments can be made. I have increased the items I was low in and adjusted others and believe my tests this year will show an improvement.
I ended up with a shoulder condition early last year that has required extensive physical therapy and recovery time. While it is better, I have not been able to return to tennis and golf. It was a really hard adjustment to realize that, even though I can not do the activities that I want to do, I can still be active. After physical therapy, I transitioned to a personal trainer to help with conditioning and I am running again after many years of not running (something I did to lose weight 12 years ago). I signed up for Team In Training and am preparing for a 1/2 marathon in June for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Who would have ever thought I would attempt to run/walk 13.1 miles for charity 7 years ago? Last weekend, I completed 12 miles, something I never have done before. It was hot and muggy and I was super slow, but I finished 12 miles, nonetheless.
I still focus on getting 80- 100 gr protein in daily. It is the other junk I am eating that I need to focus on. This last year, I noticed that my ability to eat more really increased. Add to that some major stresses and I found myself falling back into old habits; habits that I thought were gone for good after having the DS. It's a constant adjustment, but I have to remind myself how I do not want to go down the slippery slope of bad eating habits again.
One of the things that struck me recently was that I have been wearing the same jeans for almost 4 years now. That never happened to me before having the DS! I always yo-yo'd huge numbers, so I rarely wore jeans for any period of time before having to buy different sizes. I looked at a couple of the pairs I bought in 2006 recently and actually realized they were out of style! So, even though I am struggling with a couple of pounds of regain, I have to feel fortunate that it is not the huge numbers that I used to see before having this surgery. It has been a lifesaver!
2/22/2009: Almost 6 Years Post Op
Where does the time go? I will be six years post op in March. Last year was tumultuous - I went back to school and worked full time and went through several personal trials. All in all, I have gotten through a tough year relatively intact. Weightwise, I dropped to my lowest last year, then gained a few pounds. I seem to be fluctuating between 5 - 8 lbs. above my lowest weight. It is more of a struggle and maintenance has become very much like a normal person - If I eat too much and don't exercise, then I gain weight. My body seems to have adjusted post operatively pretty well. I have finished most of the reconstructive surgery, although I still would like to have the excess skin removed from my thighs. Am I still happy with the decision to have the DS? yes.yes.yes.
7/28/2007: Update on Blood Tests
My blood levels were retested (after 3 months) and I am happy to report that some of the issues I had appear to be related to medication for an unrelated condition. My cholesteral levels dropped back to 184 and my HDL is very good - 68. It appears that the only items I am still having issues with are zinc and iron. The iron levels and hematocrit came up a bit, but not dramatically, so they still remain a little low.
Post note: I eventually had 2 massive iron infusions which helped return my iron levels to normal.
05/13/2007: 4 Years Post-op Update
Four years has passed since having the DS. I am still amazed at all the changes that have taken place in my life. My health, while not perfect, is much better. I enjoy many activities including golf, skiing and belly dancing. I started the second phase - reconstruction - of this journey last year. At this point, the struggles for me are learning to maintain weight (something I never did in the past) and adjust to the changes that have taken place. I still would like to lose about 10 lbs., but the harder struggle right now is to just maintain where I am. So far, I fluctuate about 5 to 8 pounds.
It has been a little over 6 months since I had a lower body lift with buttock auto-augmentation utilizing flap grafts. I also had an anchor incision for the tummy to reduce the bulge above the belly button. There are very few people who have had the LBL with buttock auto-augmentation using flap grafts and I have periodically reported my progress so others may know what to expect.
At 6 months, the area where the flap grafts were created has softened considerably. Most of the swelling has gone down. The buttock area is still a little “Sharlo,” but I have noticed that it has gotten a bit smaller as my surgeon predicted. My surgeon wants me to wait 6 months to a year before we even consider lipo if it is still too bodacious. The good news is that I still have a butt! This procedure has made a nice change after having had a rather flat and square butt most of my life, no matter what I weighed. I am still very happy to have had this procedure done. The LBL made a huge difference in body contour.
The scars are fading nicely, although they are still red in some areas. I am still amazed at the fine stitching of my surgeon, Dr. Jabs. My scars will be nothing more than tiny white lines when they fade completely.
On April 21st I actually did something I never thought I would do – I belly danced in public! I never really imagined myself doing this, especially after years of being morbidly obese. Belly dancing has been a fun form of exercise for me. It did take a lot of pushing by my instructor to get me to do it. I even bared the anchor-cut tummy to the public (with a bit of fringe). I purchased and used Dermablend to hide the scar. It works pretty well. I put a few pictures from my student night on my OH profile so that you can see how well the dermablend covers the scars.
The scars from the breast lift and axilla repair are fading nicely.
My lab results were very different this year, for the first time since pre-op my cholesteral levels went up. Some of the deficiencies that I have chronically had post op suddenly went away. I don't know if this is due to medication I am taking for another condition or if my body is suddenly able to absorb more efficiently. Very strange, though.
My hematocrit has remained a bit low since having the LBL. I had another medical condition that started about the same time. I believe this also contributed to the lower number. I am hoping to bring the numbers back to normal soon.
I still have 'fat head' days, although I do not feel the awkwardness that I did when I last posted in January.
All in all, life is good.
02/02/2007: On Being a Slow Loser....
My weight loss was very slow compared to many. In the beginning, it was even worse than average because I had issues with keeping anything down (due to an esophogeal motility issue and stress) and my body went in to starvation mode. I was fearful that I had made this dramatic change to my body for nothing. These fears turned out to be unfounded.
The best thing about the DS has been that, even though I plateau a lot, I do not gain the massive amounts of weight like I used to in short periods of time. Prior to the DS, I remember freaking out when I gained 18lbs in a single month. It did not take much for me to continue the climb up the scale. Even though my weight loss post DS has been slow, it has been a slow and steady LOSS, not weight gain.
I am almost 4 years out and have continued to lose a little weight here and there up to this point. I am shocked that I am actually near my personal goal and near a normal weight range. I still have not 'arrived' at my goal, but I am close and a heck of a lot better than I have ever been before. I saw my PCP recently and he is very happy with my progress. As far as he is concerned, I have neutralized all my comorbidities that I had prior to WLS. It is the first time in my life that a doctor ever said that I could lose another 10 pounds, if I want. It's like so many people have said before - the DS leveled the playing field for me, but I still have to work at it. If I don't watch what I eat and don't exercise, I will gain weight.
We can be slow successes.
01/28/2007: Reflections - Adjusting to a different 'me'...
I made the following entry on the plastic surgery forum as a response to a post on adjusting to being thin. It really reflects how I feel right now, so I decided to enter it into my story.
Sometimes it is hard for our heads to catch up with our bodies, isn't it? My WLS was almost 4 years ago. I lost the bulk of my weight in the first year and a half and remained at a relatively stable weight up to my third year post op. I still was not at the weight I wanted to be, but I was not gaining and had lots of time to adjust to weight loss. I was still slowly losing a few pounds here and there. Plus, I was around a weight I had maintained before, so it was not so new to me or to people who have known me for years. I try to focus on eating healthy and being active as keys to keeping the weight off long-term. I have been up and down the scales more than I care to mention. Maintenance is still a new way of life to me.
The plastic surgery procedures I had in August and October really changed the shape of my body. I always had curves, but I also had blobs of skin just hanging there and it was really unattractive. People commented and complimented after the breast lift and axilla repair and it seemed relatively normal. Outwardly, the change was subtle (most people don't see me with my shirt off!). The main difference was that I could finally wear shirts that fit.
The change after the LBL was more dramatic. Even with the 'SharLo' butt, I still went down about 2 sizes in jeans and pants. The new shape is so much better than the old - having the hanging flaps of skin removed from the hips and the shelf taken off the butt resulted in the loss of only a few pounds, but really changed my shape. Suddenly, people who knew me for years started saying how 'tiny' or 'skinny' I looked. It felt very uncomfortable.
First of all, I could still stand to lose at least 10 more pounds (even my PCP agrees) to be a 'normal' weight. I am trying to adjust to the new size (a territory I have not really been before), yet still accept that this may be the best I can do, maybe I can't lose 10 more pounds, but I need to learn to be okay with this weight. I am healthy and close to a normal weight. Here I am trying to get my head around the new me and I have people telling me things that distort the image!
My mother actually said she was worried for my health and I looked too skinny. She said it in a kind, concerned way, but it still was still shocking and uncomfortable to hear. This is the lady who took me to Weight Watchers at 12 or 13 years old! I tried to explain to her that I was healthy; I was not skinny, I just looked different than the 'me' she was used to seeing.
Then there was the well intentioned friend who baked cookies and cake and gave me a basket full for Christmas this year. This is someone who also struggles with weight and has made a few disparaging comments about my choice to have plastic surgery. I did have to wonder if this was a subtle form of sabotage. It was hard to be graceful, say 'thank you' and shut up.
I finally decided that I need to not only give myself time to adjust to the 'me' I am now, but I need to try to give others time as well. But I am also pushing back when it makes me uncomfortable. I have actually told close friends who keep pushing the 'you look skinny or tiny' thing that the compliment is appreciated but not helpful or based in reality to me. Most have been supportive.
I think what I want most is to walk into a room and just be greeted normally - not assessed for what I look like and what weight I happen to be at the moment. I have worked hard to move from a life of morbid obesity and illness to where I am today. I spent so much time focused on weight and appearance that I missed out on a lot of experiences. I really want to move on in my life and try to 'live out loud' while I can.
I think the acceptance of ourselves comes in stages. I keep telling myself to enjoy the 'wow' moments because they will eventually become normal. I have okay days and I have 'fat head' days. It is just all part of the adjustment process.
01/18/2007: I am now 3 months post-op from a lower body lift with buttock autoaugmentation. What a huge difference this procedure made in the contours of my body! According to the scale, I am down about 7 more pounds, but I am actually down almost 2 sizes! The buttock area continues to be swollen, especially after exercise. I have been told to expect this for an extended period. Still extremely pleased with the results!
It is hard to believe that it has been almost 4 years since having the DS. I recently saw my PCP and he told me that, with the DS surgery and subsequent weight loss, I have essentially neutralized all my comorbidities.
11/8/2006: As I was converting my profile, I looked over my old list of things I wanted out of wls and the changes I hoped for in my life. To some degree, I have gotten everything I wanted out of WLS and more. 3 1/2 years later, I am undergoing plastic surgery.
On 10/18/2006, I had a LBL with buttock autoaugmentation (utilizing flap grafts). It has only been 3 weeks, but I am pleased with the results to date. My plastic surgeon continues to exceed my expectations! (As mentioned below, I would be happy to provide any information and share pre/post op pictures if you are looking for a plastic surgeon in the DC metropolitian area.) As far as weight loss is concerned, things are still going well. I am even down a few pounds post-op, in spite of not being to exercise and the swelling that is so common after this procedure.
9/16/2006: On August 11th I had a BL and axilla repair. I am now 5 weeks post-op. My recovery was uneventful except for an allergic reaction to something that was used during surgery, possibly the surgical tape or the glue they use underneath the tape. It did not show up until about 6 days post-op. I ended up with a lot of swelling, redness and blistering. When it appeared to be getting worse rather than improving, my PS was able to get me in to see a dermatologist immediately for confirmation. I went through a 12 day course of prednisone, which resolved all the issues. It did flare once again after the prednisone was complete, so we followed it with another short 6 day course of prednisone. It appears to be mostly resolved at this point.
Other than the allergic reaction, the recovery was not difficult at all. I actually felt better at 5 days than I did at 10 days because of the allergic reaction.
My results to date definitely exceed my expectations! My Plastic Surgeon is A. Dean Jabs, MD, PhD, FACS - he is fabulous! He is a very skilled surgeon with a great bedside manner, very responsive (especially when I had weird stuff going on with the allergic reaction) and just a genuinely nice person. I would be willing to provide additional information or pre and post-op pics if you are interested in seeing an example of Dr. Jabs' work or are researching plastic surgery options. I can be reached via the email address above.
I am scheduled for the LBL on 10/18…so it’s all starting again! Scary and exciting at the same time!
7/7/2006: According to my scale, I am finally down another 5 pounds! I have been really trying to scale back on the carbs and to increase the protein and the exercise. I am taking an appetite suppressant when I am having wicked cravings. My PCP and I talked about this and decided that this may be the way to help me with the plateau I have been at for so long. It seems to be working. I am not taking them daily, just when absolutely necessary.
I have also been looking in to plastic surgery. I would like to have excess skin removed from under my arms (at the bra line) and mastopexy as well as a few other procedures. My first consult was a bit disappointing. I guess I had high hopes that I would be able to use this doctor. It just was not a good consult. A friend recommended another PS to me and I consulted with him yesterday. It went really well. I have another consultation next Tuesday with a third PS. This is just another phase of this journey!
04/11/2006: I am just past my 3 year mark and am doing well. My weight loss has all but stopped at this point, but I seem to hold steady within a 5-10 lb range. I still have not lost the last 20 lbs that I wanted to, but I am healthy and very active. Even though I am not where I would like to be with my weight, I am so much better! I can move pretty well and try to remain active. I work out at the gym, walk, and bicycle and take belly dance classes. Last fall, I learned to Viennese waltz and attended several balls throughout the season. I skied a few more times this year and am actually looking in to golf lessons. I am so thankful that I can move freely again and know that activity is going to be key to keeping weight off long term. I also know that I am going to have to revert to 'dieting' to get off the last 20 lbs. Going through the surgery and the post op issues can be difficult, but it has been so worth it!
03/24/2005: It has been so long since I have updated! I just passed my 2 year mark and seem to be doing well. I have lost about 105 lbs and would still like to lose another 20-30 lbs. I just had my blood tests done and will have my physical on Monday. Hopefully all will go well. The weight loss has really slowed down, but, thankfully has not stopped. I am trying to pick up my physical activity to get at least 20 more pounds off. Health wise, things are much better. Many of my pre-op medical issues have gotten better, although they have not disappeared. I still continue to follow-up with my surgeon, Dr. Elariny. As time passes, I am more convinced that this surgery has been a lifesaver. I feel healthier than I have felt in several years. I can move easier and have actually started doing things I never dreamed I would be able to do again. In January, I actually went skiing and had a good experience! I have started belly dancing. I can shop in normal sizes now, even though I am still not where I want to be. Movie theatre and airplane seats are comfortable. The thing I find hardest, yet the most important, is getting all my vitamins. I really have to work hard at getting them in each day. I still try to supplement my protein although I just started daily supplementation again as I had not been doing so on a daily basis for a while. I can eat pretty normally now, which is very scary! I do notice that I have more bathroom issues now than I have had since surgery. I spoke with a friend who is further out than I am and he suggested that I cut back on the white carbs, which I am now trying. Just seems curious that I have not had these issues until this point. All in all, life is good!
04/20/2004: I saw my surgeon, Dr. Elariny, in March for my one year check up. All post-op tests came back normal except my PTH levels came back extremely elevated. This means that I am not getting enough calcium and we are working to correct. Unfortunately, medical issues found during my pre-op work-up are still around and have not gone away. Dr. Elariny has been following me for this as well and has been really great. Physically, I feel so much better with the weight loss. My cholesterol is 162 - better than it has ever been in my entire adult life! My blood pressure has been consistently normal since my surgery. I have not had to take blood pressure medication in over a year. The issues with throwing up post-op were stress related and have been minimal for several months now. For the longest time, I could hardly eat anything. Now, I can eat almost a small normal meal! I will post an updated picture soon.
02/03/2004: It's been almost 11 months since my surgery and things are much better now and have very few, if any side effects from having the DS. If I am really stressed, the throwing up issue does usually rear its ugly head, but this is no longer a frequent occurrence. I am grateful that the bathroom issues have been minimal, so long as I do not go crazy with fats.
I am down about 85 lbs now and would like to lose 45 more. I am still a slow loser, but it is steady. I am not complaining - my weight is so much better than this time last year.
I will be getting my 1 year blood work done next week and am hopeful that my numbers will be good. I had a rocky time around Christmas and New Years because of a non-related health issue. During that time, it was really hard to get all my vitamins in. I am pretty much back to my normal vitamin routine. It is so important to take your vitamin supplements and get in your protein!
I will post again when I have my 1 year results.
09/30/2003: Gosh, time flies! Things continue to improve. I have been able to be off the road enough to know that the issues I am having with throwing up seem directly related to heavy stress in my life. I am working to reduce the stress and it is getting better. I had another health scare because of some abnormal results on pre-op testing that did not appear to improve, but my surgeon believes we can just watch it for now. I can't say enough about the thorough pre-op testing that my surgeon performs for his patients. It was a real pain at the time, but I am grateful that things may have been detected early and can be managed.
Weight loss is still slow, but steady. I am about 70lbs less now. For almost 7 months out, that is slow, but I am not complaining. I have lost about 50% of my excess body weight. I am trying to increase the exercise so that I will make it the rest of the way.
By the way-- I am just plain obese now - no longer morbidly or severely obese. Yeah!!!! Things are continuing to improve! I will post more later.
08/02/2003: It's been a while since I updated. I continue to do better, although I have discovered that a good deal of the issues I am having with throwing up may be stress related. I travel frequently on the job and have done so since returning to work post-operatively. It was not until I had a few weeks without travel that I did not have any problems. As soon as I returned to travel, the situation started again. Traveling all the time is stressful to me and has always been. I guess now my body has decided that it is going to continually remind me! I am trying to get past this, but work is not helping right now.
Weight-wise, I continue to lose at a rather steady pace. Although I have not weighed on the doctor's scale, according to my home scale I am down about 55lbs now. The results for my Vitamin A levels and metals were good - all within normal. Protein is normal, but at the very bottom of normal range. I continue to supplement.
I actually just got back into an old pair of size 16 jeans this week! It was very encouraging to be able to get them zipped and to wear them all day long. Progress!
06/13/2003: It's been a little over 3 months since surgery. I am slowly losing weight - about 40 1bs. My progress is a lot slower than I expected, but at least it is steady.
The problems I have with eating are still around, but not quite as bad. I had another EGD and found that my esophagus is no longer straight, which may be contributing to the problems I have been having. In addition, I have ended up with esophagitis and gastritis again. I keep taking Nexium and hope that this will pass. I am starting to believe that a good portion of the issues I am having is due to the hiatal hernia repair.
Some days are really smooth - food goes down, nothing comes back up. Other days every bite is painful and I end up throwing up. Today was one of those days where things would not stay down. I ate about 2 inches of a subway tuna sub and it just did not want to stay down.
The good news is that the bad days are getting to be fewer and farther between. I hope that this eventually just passes.
My 3 month blood work is looking good - cholesterol is down from 240 to 170. I am awaiting the results for vitamin A levels and the metals. My blood pressure has returned to normal and I have not had to take meds for it since surgery. My joints hardly ache these days. My ankles still swell on occasion, but nothing like the daily balloons they were before surgery. My BMI is down from 44.8 to 39.5. I have moved from morbidly obese to severely obese. At least that is a milestone.
Health is returning!
04/22/2003: I had a few really rough weeks, but things seem to be getting better. I finally was able to see my surgeon on April 4th and discuss some of the issues I am having. He believes I may have some delayed emptying of my stomach, which is making me very nauseous. I was also vomiting frequently and having lots of pain with eating most foods. I have been on medicine for the last two weeks and things have gotten better. In addition, I was not getting even a small portion of the daily requirements for protein. I just could not stomach a milkshake. Several of the people from my support group suggested I try some of the protein from ISHOPHERE.BIZ. It does seem to go down really easy. I am now getting my daily minimum requirements for protein most days. It does make me feel more energetic. I have ordered some more new samples from VITALADY.COM as well. They are so nice and have some really great stuff, too.
My surgeon has referred me to another doctor to have an EGD performed. He wants to be certain that there is no stricture. Even though that is less common with the procedure I had (vertical gastroplasty w/sleeve gastrectomy), it does sometimes occur. I also had a tumor that was biopsied pre-op, so it will be time to check it out again. Another lovely scopes day! This is scheduled for May 5th.
I went back to work last week. It is good just to be around people again. I have actually taken my first post-op flight and am working at a customer site this week.
Weight loss has been slow, but steady. It was about 20 lbs 1 month post-op. Definitely not the numbers I was hoping for, but at least I am going in the right direction. I am trying to increase the walking and plan to start working out at the gym again.
03/24/2003: I went for my first post-op check-up. Unfortunately, my surgeon is very ill right now, so they had another doctor take his place. This doctor does not perform the BPD/DS and did not know the particulars for my surgery, so he really could not answer my questions. All in all, a disappointing visit. I would rather have waited until my doctor recovered. Weight loss is very slow. I thought I would have been weighed pre-operatively at the hospital, but they did not weigh me. I don't know what I started out at. I know I gained more since my last visit at the surgeon's office, but don't know how much (visit was in December). Based on my last 'official' weigh in during some outpatient procedures in the beginning of February, I have only lost 9 lbs. Kind of disappointing after not eating for 2 weeks. My next visit in a few weeks with the nutritionist at my surgeon's office will be a better indicator. Trying to stay positive. There is no turning back now!
I have submitted my pre-op photo twice - where is it?
03/18/2003: Things are slowly getting better. Yesterday I actually had a 'what have I done?' moment when a small bite of scrambled egg hurt. Yuck. It got better as the day wore on, though. I was getting concerned about how much everything hurt when it hit my chest. Since I had the DS, I still have a pyloric valve and do not have a stoma. I was beginning to freak out that something had gone wrong. I still cannot eat very much and definitely nothing dry or heavy. I am trying to keep my water intake up there and trying to take protein and vitamin supplements as prescribed.
I have started walking in the neighborhood a little. I feel dizzy and lightheaded a lot, but this seems to get better as I walk. Sip! Sip! Sip! Walk! Walk! Walk!
My first post op visit is 3/22/2003. I will post after that.
03/13/2003: I'm back! I am now 1 week post op and feel like I am starting to come back to the land of the living. Phewww! I was beginning to wonder when that would happen. I had a few mishaps, but nothing that was earth shattering. My surgery was on March 6th at 11:00 am. I was so nervous about getting everything done in time that I asked my sister not to come too early to pick me up. Boy, what a mistake! They ran into traffic and I barely made it to the hospital by 10:00 am - a half hour late. Not to worry, everything was okay because everyone else at the hospital had also ran into the same traffic and was running late. I was escorted down to the pre-op unit and told to change into one of those lovely gowns. My sister, Mom and Dad then came in and kept cracking jokes the whole time. I guess we were all a little nervous. Because I was dehydrated, it was extra hard to find a vein to start an IV. After six tries they finally got one started enough to give me the 'I don't care drugs.' Dr. Elariny came in and started looking at my chart. He asked me some questions, wanted to make sure I understood everything that was going to happen during and after surgery. He was very kind. After he was sure I had no more questions, he left and said he would meet me in the OR. The anesthesiologist came in and shot versed into the IV as we were heading down the hallway. I never even remember getting to the OR.
The next thing I remember was waking up in PACU and immediately feeling like I was going to throw up. My throat was so dry I could not say anything. I finally croaked out NAU-SE-A! The nurse immediately put the little tray under my chin and I threw up. I ended up being in PACU for about 3 hours because they could not get the nausea under control.
It was about 7:30 - 7:45 pm when I was transported to my room. My Mom and Dad and sister all helped me get settled and left. I was really out of it and still so nauseous that I could not move my head. Through the night they kept trying to get it under control, but to no avail. I mean, this was The Exorcist strength stuff! Finally the next day in the afternoon the anesthesiologist came up to see me. They got me on a regular schedule for anti emetics and gave me a steroid that is supposed to help when this happens. Within a few hours things began to get better.
03/03/2003: Here it is just 3 days until surgery. I have been strangely calm the last few days. Of course, that could be because I have been busy clearing out a flooded basement! Still trying to wrap up lots of stuff before Thursday. Trying to stay focused.
02/25/2003: Like most of you, I have been up and down the scales more times than I care to remember. After losing 112 lbs (125 lbs from my all-time high) in 1995-1996, I thought I was finally on the right path. Wrong! I was jogging 15-20 miles per week and using phen-fen to control my appetite. I did not account for things like the FDA pulling part of my solution from the market and joint injuries, as well as upheaval in my life and my typical reactions to them - to eat. It was not long before I was back into the MO category, only this times things are different.
Within the last year I have had several medical complications - asthma, joint pain, HBP, increased cholesterol, reflux, recurrence of irritable bowel syndrome, etc. - all those things that come with obesity. The final straw was last July, when I had a bad fall on a cement floor. I damaged my knee and still cannot seem to return to normal. Most of the damage was to the nerves and the surrounding tissue. It was very scary not being able to feel a good portion of my leg for weeks! It was also the final straw. I had to do something.
My primary care doc has been trying to help me with my weight struggle for many years. About a year before he had suggested WLS, but I was not willing to even consider it. Right after the knee injury a friend of mine told me she was looking into WLS and told me about Dr. Elariny. I did my research, made my appointments and here I am - 8 days away! I am going to have what is commonly called the duodenal switch. In addition, I am having hiatal hernia repair and several other procedures - your basic 40,000 mile overhaul! I will post after the surgery and let you all know how things go. I will also get a pic out there.
I started a list of what I want out of wls and the changes I hope for in my life:
1. Be healthy again.
2. Feel better physically.
3. Feel better about myself.
4. Walk without hurting.
5. Have more energy.
6. Start living again.
7. Stop hiding from people who have not seen me since I gained so much weight back.
8. Have a wardrobe in one or two sizes (and stop spending a fortune in clothes in 7 different sizes)
9. Climb stairs without hurting at step 3 or 4.
10. Fit comfortably into airplane and theatre seats.
11. Shop in normal clothing stores.
12. Buy panties and bras from Victoria’s Secret.
13. Feel comfortable in jeans again.
14. Wear shorts without them riding up between my legs.
15. Be able to hike again.
16. Take travel holidays and not worry about whether I am going to fit everywhere we go.
17. Be able to walk into a room and not feel like everyone is looking at me because of my size.
18. Be able to meet a group of friends twice and be the same, normal size both times!
19. Stop kicking myself for the yoyo’ing with weight gains and losses.
20. Wear pantyhose without my legs rubbing together.
21. Have a few scars fixed.
22. Not panic whenever my picture is taken.
23. Feel attractive. Not feel fat.
24. Tuck my shirt in when I feel like it.
25. Stand for a long time without my back, knees and ankles killing me.
26. Look in the mirror and like what I see.
27. Like shopping again!
28. Wrap a regular size towel around myself.
29. Bend over without hurting.
30. Fit into 'One size fits all' items.
31. Learn how to belly dance.
I will continue to add as the mood strikes.
