tknow1978
It's been a while, post op week 18
Oct 08, 2010
Ht: 5'7"Wt: 221.4 (10/7/10)
226.8 (9/30/10)
231.0 (9/23/10)
232.0 (9/16/10)
236.0 (9/09/10)
237.4 (9/02/10)
241.8 (8/26/10)
So it has been a little while since I have written and I do want to keep a record of my journey so lets do a little catching up. I have started back to work, about 2 weeks ago. Through a fortunate chain of events and a very kind manager I have returned to an equivilant position in my old department. My back is doing much better, but I can't say I am 100%. I'm ecstatic about the progress I have made. I am still in PT.
Going back to work 4 months post RNY was interesting. There were actually some people who didn't recognize me at first. I don't particularly love all the attention and comments, but its not that annoying either. I'm such a skeptic I always question the honesty of some of the compliments. And if I hear another person say, "You had a nice long vacation didn't you?", I'm gonna flip out. I know for the most part people are joking, but it gets old. And when the comment is followed by 20 questions about the exact nature and degree of my injury you have to wonder about the commenter's intent. Most everyone already knows I was out because of my back. And I do realize that people, even nurses, don't undeerstand what all that entails. I wouldn't have been off work if I could have safely done my job. I think too people assume since I am back to work everything is 100% normal and pain free. No, I am just doing well enough to go back to work. In fact one girl was complaining about not wanting to take a patient because of a back ache and I was just listening and she must not have liked the look on my face, because she says," You can sit there and smile since you had your surgery." Mind you she is thin and fit, so I'm not sure if she is referring to my gastric bypass or if she thinks I did have back surgery that I was scheduled for. Anyways, I just told her that just because I smile doesn't mean I don't hurt. Lifting patients is a part of our job description and if we can't do it we shouldn't be working in a hospital. I wasn't trying to be mean, I just feel strongly that patients depend on us and if we can't perform our duties we should work elsewhere. I'm sure as time goes on people will be less and less nosey about my gastric bypass, back problem and medical leave. I actually don't mind intelligent honest questions. It's when people have a point to make or not so subtly disguised opinion to give that I get annoyed. I actually work on a bariatric unit and venture to say I am the most educated on the subject now. I love sharing info with patients and co-workers, because I just feel like people should have all the available info when ddealing with such a life changing endeavor.
Alright more about me and my jorney... The weirdest thing IMO happened to me mentally. When I hit about 235 lbs, I kinda had a mini freak out. I had this big fear that I wouldn't lose below this, which has turned out to be totally unfounded. After some thought, I have decided that it is because that weight, for me, was the point of no return. At that weight I had several unsuccesfull weight loss attempts. I had recently had a baby when I hit 235. I think my metabolism was out of wack and in retrospect think that maybe it was the early beginnings of my hypothyroid, diabetes and PCOS (though I wasn't diagnosed until later). I'm glad that weight loss milestone has passed. In fact lately, since I have been more active and in less pain, I think I am losing a little faster. I always recognized the fact that I could lose weight with this surgery, but I was afraid to hope for a goal that might be out of reach. A couple days ago it dawned on me that my weight loss isn't slowing, I'm doing great, and I could possibley be "thin" in the not too distant future. My goal is now 150 lbs. and I really believe I can do it.
In other news, my sister was just diagnosed with MS. She has had symptoms for a long time but they were getting worse. I have been worried about what the future holds for her. I also found out that my uncle, who I thought had a bad back cause he drags his leg, has some unknown type of demylenating nerve disease. My other uncle died from MS complications when he was 26. Not a good family history, I know. My sis has had pleurisy and costal chondroitus in the past month and is having surgery next week to remove a corrective bar from her chest. I don't know what I would do if something happened to her. I'm praying.
I'm encouraging my sis to take better care of herself, diet, excercise, etc. And I'm trying to make sure I do the same. The new schedule since going back to work has thrown me for a bit of a loop though. I work 3 - 12 hour shift on weekend nights and some days it is very difficult to get in all my protein and fluids. And a coulple mornings I forgot to take my meds because I fell asleep on the couch after work. I'm definitely devising a plan and wont let this become a habit.
Hopefuly I will report back soon with my progress.
0 Comments
About Me
Pensacola, FL
Location
45.6
BMI
Surgery
06/03/2010
Surgery Date
Dec 28, 2008
Member Since
