tillmacc

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It's been a long time coming but a change has finally come.

I am down two pounds since July! Nothing to brag about but at least no gain. I haven't done my measurements since July but plan to this weekend. Although the hips and thighs are still promiment, I'm certain I have lost inches somewhere (probably upper body as usual). I'm not complaining as I am happy with my progress and happy with how I look.  I was in my hometown this past weekend and not recognized by some of my classmates and a few old family friends. I thought I was the cat's meow! (picture posted today is from that weekend).

Now as to how I'm doing and feeling? I'd say pretty good these days. My ferritin level is still very low and I'm experimenting with a plan that I came up with to try before asking my PCP to consider injections. I will have it rechecked at the end of November to see if my plan worked. Otherwise I am feeling great. It is still a chore to get in my fluids and supplements but I remain steady as I understand those are an essential part of my new life.

As I look back over the past year this journey has been quite an experience. I would do it again a thousand times. I share with anyone who will listen how gastric bypass changed my life. It has also changed the lives of my family members through the changes I made in our groceries and food preparation. It's been a long time coming but a change has finally come for me and my family.

Today I celebrate my one year surgery anniversary. I am pleased with my success. I still have 10 lbs to lose and I'm sure I will get that off eventually. I am very happy with my decision to have gastric bypass and would do it all over again. I appreciate all of the support I have received from OH. Here are before and after photos.


       

I am down to 160 lbs which is only 10 lbs from my first personal goal of 150 lbs.

I'm feeling good these days. Thanks to Andrea U I made changes to my iron and I'm feeling much better. I am currently taking Bifera  (two tablets-twice a day). Hopefully the Proferrin will arrive any day now as they have starting shipping it out again. I will have labs drawn this week as I see my PCP on Friday to follow up on my iron and the orthostatic hypotension issues. The orthostatic hypotension is also much improved since starting the Midodrine. 

I'm looking good too. In my new profile picture I'm wearing a geometric pattern dress size 10! I also posted pics of me in a size 8 Banana Republic linen dress. Wooo Hooo! I was never able to imagine myself this size. 

I am enjoying my RNY. It's a lot of work and trade offs but well worth the improvement in my health and being "as fine as cat hair" keeps me motivated! LOL

I love OH and appreciate the help I receive from you gals and guys!

The past four to six weeks have been an experience. I battled the carb monster and won. I'm exhausted and freezing cold from the low ferritin levels but have a solution coming at the end of the month with Proferrin and a new electric blanket. I did manage to lose five pounds since March 14 (took 41 days instead of 30 because of the carb monster and lack of exercise). Overall, I am pleased considering the challenges I faced. I'm just glad I made it through. I couldn't have made it without OH. The postings with instructions on how to deal with the issues I was having guided me through. 

Thanks OH!

 

I am six months out today. I got a present, I weighed in at 169! That moves me from obese to overweight with a BMI of 29.9! I am so happy.

Who would have ever thought that I would ever see my collar bones or feel my rib cage and tail bone? I have decided that I want to set my personal goal to 150. I think I will be satisfied there. It will still be in the overweight category but I think it will work for me. Origianlly I wanted to get to the healthy/normal BMI weight of 135 but have since changed my mind. We'll see what my surgeon has to say about it when I return for my six month appt on March 25.

I’m feeling good and looking good.

Since my “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around” post my health and prognosis has improved. On January 19^th my endocrinologist officially released me Wooo Hooo!!! My A1C was 6.0 after no diabetes meds since my surgery date of Sept 14, 2009. I am only having occasional bouts of the orthostatic hypotension and I am able to get in way more than my minimum fluids. The TEE showed no PFO and I was told that the original echo interpretation was incorrect.  I have resumed my mile walk with Leslie Sansone. I’m using her two mile video on Comcast and trying to work my way up to the two mile. My cardiologist has me on a 30 minute restriction because of the orthostatic hypotension but I’m hoping to be released to walk in a 5K by the summer and Leslie Sansone will help me prepare for this.

 

Yesterday’s labs showed iron (8) & TSH (10.5). I found out that I’ve made the mistake of taking my iron with Synthroid so I’ve revamped my daily schedule to be able to take the Synthroid, iron and other supplements without conflicts. Hopefully by my March 25 surgeon’s appt my labs will show some improvements.  I had no real symptoms for this except for being cold which was normal for me.

 

 

I'm starting to get a little anxious about whether or not I will meet the 55% excess weight loss goal for my March 25th appt. Today I was 172.5 at home. I have to be 168 at home to match the four pound difference on my surgeon’s scales. That’s only 4.5 lbs from today but with my slow loss I may or may not make it. I’m also goal oriented so it’s difficult not to stress it.

 

Overall, I’m happy with my progress and looking forward to continued success.

As we approach the MLK Holiday I am reminded of the song “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around” and its significance today in my weight loss journey. Its lyrics are very encouraging to me as I face many obstacles that can bring discouragement but I am determined to press onward.  

Recently I endured comments about my slow weight loss. I realize we will not all lose the same amount of lbs in any given time period. I started at 214 on surgery date, my set goal weight is 135 and I currently weigh 179, that’s 34 lbs lost and 44.3% of my excess weight lost.  Since surgery I have lost 5 inches in my waist, 6.5 inches in my hips, 4 inches in each thigh, 3 inches in each calf, etc. etc. :)  Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around!  

Next week I will undergo a TEE to check the size of the PFO discovered while trying to figure out the source of orthostatic hypotension. The cardiologist told me I cannot participate in the 5K that I was registered to walk in next weekend because of these issues. There are two more in March and I should be cleared by then to participate in at least one of them. If not, there are more throughout the year.  Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around!  

I am sure these obstacles won’t be the last that I will face on this journey but regardless of what I am faced with I Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around!!!

I used to hear the old saints say "New Levels, New Devils", "meaning the higher you progress the bigger the problems). I am finding that to be true in life and even in my weight loss journey. Since my weight loss journey began at 243 lbs in January (working towards the 10% weight loss required by Blue Cross) I am down to 185.5. I have lost a total of 57.5 lbs and 24% of my total body weight, Since surgery on Sept 14 I have lost 28.5 lbs and 36% of my excess weight (when calculated against a goal of 135 lbs).

My diabetes meds were discontinued while I was in the hospital for RNY and my blood pressure meds were discontinued a few weeks postop. Since that time I have maintained normal BP readings and my labs on Dec 17 showed an A1C of 6.2 WHOOOHOOOO!!! The weight loss percentages, blood pressure readings and diabetes control are all NEW LEVELS.

Now on to the NEW DEVIL. My weight loss pounds appear low when compared to my peers because I am losing in small spurts while others appear to drop 4-7 lbs quickly. I get sick of having to explain my percentages as opposed to simple pounds. The big NEW DEVIL is orthostatic hypotension. I had an episode last weekend where I passed out and hit my face on the bathroom counter which left a really bad cut underneath my eye. I am hoping we can come up with solutions to dealing with this NEW DEVIL.

When it's all said and done, I no longer have regrets because of the satisfaction I feel with my NEW LEVELS. They are still greater than my NEW DEVILS!!!

I had two mini wow's this weekend.

The first was a compliment from a friend at work. I wear scrubs to work everyday but on Fridays I wear regular clothes. This Friday a friend at work said "Cynthia is disappearing, you can't sit a cup on her butt anymore"! That sounds like an insult but it actually goes along with a story that I have told about my but being so big that I knocked the light dimmer off the switch and later found it when it fell off my butt. LOL!

The second was during a visit with my MIL. On Oct 31 I saw her for the first time since surgery and she mentioned that she noticed my weight loss then. This weekend she told me that I had lost enough and should not lose anymore weight. I thought it was so funny because I have only lost 26 lbs. I have gone from 243 in January to 188 now, from size 22 in January to 14/16 now.

I am nowhere near goal but in my culture "thickness" is acceptable and being "skinny" is not. I really don't give a hot ham sandwich about culture's opinion. I am working on getting & staying healthy and for me I am nowhere near my healthy weight or size. I really am not sure what weight & size that is, although I originally set my goal weight at 135.  Don't know what size that is because I've been a size 20-22 for the past 25 years & don't remember 135 even as a child. But I plan to keep moving toward MY HEALTHY PLACE.

My ortho doc cleared me to run and to do the C25K. He said I will have to run on flat surfaces to avoid further damage to my knees. Start with walking and slowly work my way up to running by alternating (same as C25K) and don't over do it. I can follow those instructions.

He said I can try to run part of the 5K that I'm doing in January. He suggested jogging as I approach the finish line.  That's sounds fun!

Now on to Phase I: Remaining consistent with the walking I am already doing. LOL