Tishka

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I can not believe this amazing journey that I have been on for almost 8 months now (since surgery).  I could never have dreamed I would be where I am today.  My life has completely changed - inside and out.  I have more energy that I ever thought possible, more confidence and am definitely the happiest I have ever been with myself.

I have 6 pounds to go to get to my "final" goal weight of 130.  I think that is reasonable.  My original goal was 130 - 135 and I weigh 136 right now.  I have decided to go for 130 for several reasons.  1) I think I still have some I need to lose.  Still carrying some fat around that I am not happy about.  But I know that if I build up some more muscle, that will help.  2) If I reach 130, I can say I lost more than I weigh.  Maybe that's a small thing, but it's just a good goal for me.  Maybe that will be incentive for me to stay there.  3) That weight will put me right into the middle of the "healthy" BMI range.  Not top, not bottom - but right in the middle.  I think that's a good place to be.

I met a man.  A wonderful man.  The kind that makes me happy and likes me for who I am.  It's still new, but I have a feeling he will be around for a while.  It's an amazing feeling.  I can't imagine my life being any different than it is now.  It's amazing.

Love my RNY!

I just visited my surgeon for my 6 month appointment and so much has happened since the day of surgery.  I have officially lost more than 100 pounds since my starting weight (over 70 since surgery on 10/6/09).  I am about 20 pounds away from my original goal weight of 130, and I am almost into a "normal" BMI.  I have my 20 year class reunion coming in July and I am well on my way to being at my goal by then.  I also bought my first (EVER) 2 piece swimsuit and took the kids to the local pool.  (We're not talking a bikini here, but it isn't the long "big girl" cover up suits I used to wear either).

I went to my regular doctor for a couple of minor things, and he removed the comment that I am "over weight" from my file.  He was so proud of me.  It was strange for me to think that he was the one that originally was so against me having the surgery and then he was so happy for me that I was doing so well.

Wearing a solid size 10 jeans, mostly women's medium shirts (or a junior's large).  I can't believe I can wear juniors clothes.  So strange to me!

Love my RNY.  It was the best decision I ever made for myself.  Absolutely no regrets - except that I didn't do it sooner.

Yesterday (2/6/10) was my 4 month surgiversary.  I am so bad about updating on here!

I have reached so many goals since my last posting.  I reached wonderland on 10/27/09 (only 3 weeks after surgery).  Today, I am down a total of 98 pounds (including 40 pre-op).  The Century Club (-100) is within reach now.

I can now shop "regular" sizes.  I bought a size 10 dress to wear to my Mother's wedding this coming weekend, the day before Valentine's Day.  Many of my relatives will be there that have not seen me in quite some time.  I am anxious to see what the comments will be.

I am no longer "morbidly obese" or "obese" according to my BMI.  I am now in the "overweight" category.

I only have 2 pounds to lose to reach the 100 mark, and 5 to lose to be at the weight I was at when I got married in 1994 - the lowest I have ever weighed as an adult.

So many milestones in 4 short months.  I amazes me to look through my pictures and see the progress.

I truly LOVE my RNY!

OK, so Tuesday was my two week surgiversary and I I am amazed by so many things today.

Overall, my post-op journey (so far) has been basically uneventful (minus one day of nausea when I learned I needed to have something in my pouch).  Nothing has been difficult to swallow or keep down (even the food I have tried the last couple of days).  Not even "uncomfortable".  No challenges at all.

The scale is moving.  Pretty well for a lightweight (in my opinion - although I know better than to compare to others).  I am down to 205 from 16 pounds since surgery in 15 days.  Better than I expected, actually.  Pleasant surprise.

"Onderland" is within reach.  Only 5 more pounds to go.  I expect to be there soon.  I haven't been there in so many years - I can't even remember the last time.

I had purchased a pair of slacks for work in a smaller size, knowing I would need them "eventually" as I lost weight.  Bought them on sale.  I figured it would be at least a month after surgery, if not more before I wore them.  I wore them to work TODAY.  They were not tight at all, and fit rather nicely.

This week was my first week back at work, so today was my 3rd day.  I received multiple compliments and questions today (how much weight have you lost?).  No one knows about my surgery.  Even though I'm down 16 pounds since surgry, I think it LOOKS like more.

I also realized today that I have 7 pounds more to lose to be at the 1/2 way point to my goal.  I had lost weight prior to surgery and I can't belive that I am that close to being half way to where I want to be.  It's amazing to me.

My face is slimmer, and I found something.  I think they're called collar bones!

Sorry for the long ramble.  I can't believe the difference I can see in two short weeks.  I'll post some updated photos soon.

Tish

Well - I finally made it!  I am now officially a "post-op"!

It almost doesn't even seem real to me.  I know I had the surgery - trust me - I have the bruises to prove it!  I have a little pain, but not much.  Other than that, I don't feel much different than before.  I am following my doctors rules of sticking to liquids and protein every hour now, but I have no nausea and no problems with tolerating anything.  Nothing has "come back up" at all since surgery.  No real complications to speak of.

I feel GREAT!

It's so strange that I waited so long for this to happen and now it seems like it happened so quickly.  Trust me - I'm not complaining!  I'm so anxious to move forward with the rest of my life and see the numbers on the scale keep dropping!

Yeah - me!  I'm a "Post-Op!".

Move over on the loser's bench!

October 6th, 2009.  That is the date of my RNY surgery.  I will be travelling from Eugene, Oregon to Coos Bay, Oregon (about 2 hours away - give or take) for the surgery.  This has been a long road, but I'm sure it has all been worth it.

It has been almost a year to the day since I joined OH.  My last blog entry was from October of 2008!  (Geez I'm bad at this!).

I attended an informational seminar in on October 23, 2008.  From there, I applied for the Oregon Bariatric program and was accepted in January of 2009.  I then started their program which consisted of a 3-month diet, appointments with a dietician, psych eval, etc.  They were apparently having problems with the program because their surgeon was leaving (which of course, I did NOT know at the time).  I was almost the point of getting approved in July of 2009, when the surgeon left and there were no other surgeons at my locatl hospital.  I made the decision to drive to Coos Bay instead of wait on RiverBend hospital.  I think I will be happy with that decision.

Dr. Tersigni seems like a wonderful surgeon.  At least this way, I chose my surgeon instead of just taking what was available to me.  I will spend a full week in Coos Bay (two nights in the hospital, the rest of the week in a local motel so that I am close by in case anything happens).

I am in the middle of the "Two Week Freak" right now.  On a two-week liquid only diet.  It has been complete HELL!  I am hungry all the time and want to eat everything.  Oh my gosh - I am so glad I only have 8 days left!

I can't wait for the next phase of my life to begin!

The good news - I'm already down 49 pounds from my highest weight - before surgery!

After an appointment with my physical therapist and discussing how much pain I have been in recently on a consistent basis, she mentioned that she happens to be on the board of the Oregon Bariatric Clinic.  She suggested that I should consider the option of surgery.