tillmadd

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Dec 25, 2011

 Dec. 25, 2011

Merry Christmas to all! This Christmas is by far the best Christmas ever!!! I say that because my Sleeve has allowed my to enjoy a ever so priceless gift...that of course is a new lease on life! My life these past 7 weeks has changed so dramatically. Today I am 264 lbs. since my pre-op visit 10/26/11 that will be a total of 41 lbs. What a significant change. As of 2 days ago my type 2 Diabetes is in complete remission...I have gone from an A1C of 7.7. to an amazing 6.7 that is so incredible. I am off all meds for diabetes and cholesterol a total of 5 meds!!! 

I am actually trying to make it to the gym 3 days a week...that is my goal! During the holiday break and getting adjusted to being back to work I have slacked off a bit but will get back on track this week....and for sure for my New Year's Resolution. I can actually do a continous 30 minutes on a treadmill and walk another 15 minutes on the track as a cool down for a total of 2 miles! WOW!!!! 

My energy levels are thru the ceilling. I am down from a size 24 and 3X top to a  size 20 and 1X top!! Wow I look good. 
Cannot wait to see my new body 100 lbs down that will be 59 more lbs. I will post again with more NSV next week! Happy Holidays to all & God Bless!

Nov 24, 2011

 November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving to ALL!!!

I must start my chapter 4 blog by stating that I am so truly thankful for my sleeve procedure, my surgeon, my NUT, my support group, my OH friends, my family, my friends, and most of all GOD! I have been so truly blessed in 2011, I sat last night reviewing in my mind all of the blessings, and journeys I have taken this year. I have traveled to Baltimore twice this year to visit with family, to Wisconsin Dells, and Las Vegas. My children are all working, and two in college, my daughter's MS is very stable on her new meds, my parents are well, my sweetheart is still alive despite waiting on a heart transplant, he also had a very successful heart surgery this summer, a successful career, a good health evaluation from head to toe, (pre-op hurdles) and finally this life-saving surgery! Thank you Jesus for all of these blessings! Thank you for the courage and discipline to push forward and face my fears. Thank you for surrounding me with loving family and friends that supported me thru my journeys. Thank you for believing in me at my darkest and weakest moments, I fully realize I am not perfect and will continue to struggle with all of my vices, especially food. Dear Lord please continue to keep me strong along this journey, I will trust and lean on you and persevere in my most trying moments. Thank you, for loving me more than I can ever love myself, and thank you most of all for sacrificing your life so I can have eternal life. In  conclusion, I  am most grateful and thankful today for my life and all of these blessings that have been bestowed upon me and family. Thanksgiving wishes and blessings to all of you! Keep losin" Keep fightin' don't look back and keep your eye on the prize...future health! To be continued...

Nov 17, 2011

 November 17, 2011

Today is day 11 of my dearest sleeve, and yesterday was so eventful good and bad.  During my journey I had agreed with myself to only weigh myself on Wednesdays. I weighed myself when I left the hospital last week 11/9/11 and I weighed 294 which is down 11 lbs. from my pre-op diet of liquids. Yesterday was also my first post-op visit with my surgeon, and luckily I weighed in at 287...wow 7 more pounds. My surgeon is so happy with my healing process, I have had very little pain or reflux, no vomitting. So i walked out of his office on cloud nine, then a couple of hours later I went to my WLS support group, which is a great resource for me. I left my meeting and met with my boyfriend and children at Buffalo Wild wings for a school fundraiser. I went into this event knowing I probably would not be able to find anything on the menu and would be OK drinking water, as of course I don't have much of an appetite. As everyone was eating, I felt strange for the first time ever, I looked at all the food I would of eat in the past, then ordered mac n cheese from the kids menu. Yeah, i know 10 days out not a good choice, but I justified to myself that it is mushie. And it would be ok if I chewed it until it melts down. Then I ate a teaspoon of spinach/artichoke dip my favorite, and it is like pureed. So I can only eat 3tsp of mac n cheese and stop.

I must admit I feel guilty as my sleeve is not ready for mac n cheese, so sure enough I get home and lie down and I have reflux from HELL!!! I am so disappointed in myself, why could I not resist, my tummy is still healing. Well, I forgave myself and realize there will be days like this...willpower and better choices here on out.  I am strong and I can do this!!!

Nov 12, 2011

November 12, 2011

Today is Saturday, Day 6 with my sleeve love affair. I cannot begin to describe how my sleeve is the best gift I have ever given myself!! To begin unwinding my recent excitement into words...hmmm...most basic my life has been renewed. This journey in my life is a symbolic comparison of a caterpillar eating her way thru life too numb the pain, crawling into my crystallis, and eventually emerging as a beautiful beaming butterfly. How poetic right?

To summarize my last few days...Wednesday 11/9/11 arrive home, suck down the liquid meds and painfully crawl into my bed under my comfy blankets. My adult children were discreetly hovering around the house in case I needed any assistance, which pleasantly surprised me. I have 4 children 24-16 yrs. and all of their lives I have never been ill enough to be hospitalized much less having two surgical procedures. My children are my life and as much as I say this is for me, this sleeve was also for them. i want to be the mom who can still travel and stay active and have fun with my kids. Day 4 cannot sleep I have boundless mounts of energy ??WTF as if I been swimming in cocaine?? I have not had this much energy in about 8 years, before the diabetes diagnosis. Anyhow cleaned the house..white-glove spotless, went shopping for chewable calcium citrate, and a pair of new spanx!!! gotta have those to rock this butterfly body! I felt like I could run a mile. After a couple hours running errands I did get a bit tired. Day 5 ran to mall quickly GNC new blender rocks, grocery store,  and nieces bday party. WOW WTF am I dreaming because I have not experienced true hunger at all this week .Thank you God for giving me this new lease on Life! Stay tuned to chapter 3.

Nov 10, 2011

 November 10, 2011

Today is a new day on a new journey for me. It wasn't until about 3 weeks ago that I entirely accepted that I must prioritize my health, and the seriousness of improving my health. For all of my adult life, I have taken care of my children, ex-hubby, family, my students, and my boyfriend. Unfortunately, I have always put the needs of others before myself.

Well, its a new day! Monday was my surgery day 11/7/11 I began my life again. It is the beginning of my journey to a healthier me. The first two days in the hospital were bearable, I was in moderate pain, especially with moving my tummy hurt. My hospital care was average at best. The nurses I had were knowledgeable, and concerned, but the seemed so understaffed. I had to wait for having IV's changed, to go to the bathroom, etc. So a side from being understaffed I guess my stay was ok. On day three, after surgery Wednesday (surgery was Monday) I finally was untethered to an IV,morphine pump oxygenation machine, leg circulation machine etc. I could se the bathroom without assistance and shower!

Going home was the best. Just to get in my bed, made me feel so much better. The liquid painkiller comes in handy, my tummy is still sore and bloated but life is good! now its off to sip, sip, sip, and move,move, move,... until chapter 2