viqueenfan
1/26/05 _ 15 Months - Yikes it's been awhile since I've updated. I now weigh 154 - Was at a plateau for a long time. Found out last fall that I had a fibroid tumor the size of a softball. Had a hysterectomy in November and am finally through the recovery of that surgery. Lost a total of 11 pounds, so only 4 pounds from goal. Noone could tell if the fibroid was always there, but couldn't be felt because of being overweight, or if losing the weight made it easier to be found. Everythnig is going very well - I have started going to more support group meetings - I want to help others going through this process.
7/28/04 - 9 Month Checkup - down to 164.5 pounds. Everything is going great. Since I had my EGD in March eating is better - My pouch opening was almost completely shut. Food is not controlling my life anymore - I'm fitting into clothes sizes I haven't seen since Jr high or before then. I just got a pair of Abercrombie jeans in a size 10 - mostly wear 12's and some 14's, but those are older style jeans I have picked up at thrift stores. Best of luck to everyone wherever you are in your journey. I'm happy where I am, my main goal for surgery was my health and I have reached that goal - any additional weight loss is a plus. I'll update at 12 months - till then - ciao!!
3/16/04 - Thought I should update - I had an EGD yesterday at Unity Hospital - I had problems eating solid foods (beef, chicken) anytime I ate solid protein, I could only eat 3 - 4 pieces and would feel full. After 1 - 2 hours I would throw up - dog foam and jellyfish - If you've had it you know what I'm talking about. On 3/8/04 I ate 5 cashew halves and 6 protein chips and ended up barfing for 2 hours. I called on Monday and requested to be scoped. I had asked about this problem in January but was unsure if it was because of what I was eating or if I was eating too fast. Anyway it turns out I did have a stricture. My outlet was the size of a pin. They were amazed that I could even keep down water. The procedure was very easy and I was dialated. I'm going to try to eat some solid food tonight. I had been eating peanut butter,and drinking protein drinks just to keep my protein up, as my hair has been falling out. Hopefully this will work and I'll slow down the hair loss by increasing my ptotein. I did like the weight loss, 79.5 pounds, since last June, but 72.5 pounds since my surgery 10/14/03 seemed like alot, since I was a lightweight to begin with (234). If you are getting sick more than 2 times a week when you eat solid foods, or getting sick 1 - 2 hours after eating you should get it checked out. I wish I would have done it sooner. Take Care.
1/15/04 - 3 Month Checkup - down 63 pounds. Things are going good, some days are better than others.I have found that what will work one day for food does not mean it will work the next. I have been cleared to "eat anything" but have been sticking with things that have worked for me. I am in the midst of the "Honeymoon" phase and plan on taking full advantage of it. I am going to up my exercising, as I have not been as diligent as I should be about it. Head hunger has come and gone - here is how I deal with it. I just tell myself that I just can't have it now - more than likely I can eat it again, just not now. My biggest hurdle is feeling so good that I forget that I had the surgery just 3 months ago. I don't feel deprived of anything food wise, and don't mind others eating around me. I find that if I have to make the decision to eat something that I should'nt common sense will kick in and I make the choice not to eat it. I have to ask myself "is it worth it - is it worth throwing up just for the taste of it" most times the answer is no. Not to say that I have not eaten things that are always good for me. I did have a few cookies at Christmas, but only 1 at a time not the normal 6 or more that I would have eaten in the past. I guess we all come to terms with it by ourselves, of if it would become a problem I would seek help from a counselor or therapist. The hardest things to break are the behaviors that we are accustomed to, the surgery is a tool not a cure all. You have to take the good with the bad and hopefully learn a lesson from the bad. It is a journey and adventure! I asked about goal weights and was told that the do not set them. As long as you are in the healthy range for your BMI that is the goal. I think I will let my body decide when I am done losing. That is very freeing to me, not to work about the numbers on the scale and where I should be according to a chart somewhere. My diabetes is gone, I have so much more energy that I have had in the last 20 years, plus I haven't weighed this amount since my daughter was born 21 years ago! I am looking forward to doing things that I have put off because of my weight in the past. I will update more in the future. Best of luck to you all in whatever stage of the process you are in.
12/17/03 - 9 weeks - down 53.5 pounds. I would have never believed it. Sometimes it is very scary, I expect to see the scale go up and not down. Many times, after diet upon diet I did all that I was supposed to without any results. This is just amazing. To those reading my profile, don't give up, keep trying. It will happen and you will succeed. One thing I have found to be the most beneficial is to not compare myself to others who are on this journey. I truly believe that we all will get there, in whatever time our body determines. I am now in a size 18, down from a 24. I have not worn this size since before my 15 year old daughter was born! I have gotten sick on food that I have previously eaten, mostly meat. But even with that, I would do this again in a heartbeat. Follow the rules that your doctor has for you. My family has been very supportive and so have friends and co-workers. My daughters are waiting for me to "shrink" more so I can wear their clothes. I've had to give up my leather jacket, too big, and am now wearing one of my daughter's winter coats - size Large. She has a leather coat that is a medium that she told me I can have. I can't wait to wear it. This is so unbelievable. Overall my health is good - my diabetes is under control, no medications to take, I've gone from 9 medications a day to 1. The blessing of good health is more than I could have asked for. Happy Holidays to all - I'll update again at my 3 month checkup.
11/19/03 - 6 week check up today! I'm hoping that my scale and the one in the doctor's office are the same, then I'm down 40 pounds since my journey began. I was using the pre and post surgery numbers for my weight loss, but I thought that it should all count as a loss, hence my total number. Things have been going well, I'm not on regular foods, but have found some that do not agree with my pouch! Last night I had my first really bad bout with vomiting. Was in the bathroom from 5:45 - 7:30 pm I know I won't eat that again. For any pre-ops reading, even though I've been sick I would still do this all over again. I can't wait for my appointment this afternoon, I want to start going to Jazzercise again. I've been doing some exercising, but feel I need to really get going aerobically and I did Jazzercise up until last January. Also if you're looking for protein supplements, try the wlssuccess.com website - I tried a sample pack of both whey protein and nectar products. Wow - what a difference from the atkins shakes I was using. I've placed an order for 2 different Nectar flavors, they're great. Gotta go to the Doctor's office. I will update later.
10/27/03 - Thought I should update - I am 2 weeks post op and doing great. Surgery went extremely well - and once I am past the liquid phase it will be great. I am down to only 1 medication per day from the 9 I took pre surgery. My blood sugars are under control and in the normal range. I could not be more pleased, as my health was the main reason I had this surgery. I am down 15 pounds from surgery, added with the 9 I lost pre surgery that is a total of 24 pounds. I would tell any pre ops that read this that it is worth the wait, it will take alot of patience, and willpower to get through the liquid phase, but in the end it is worth it. For me I could never lose another pound and I would be grateful for the improvement in my health, especially my blood sugars. Thank you to all who sent me encouragement and best wishes on my surgery page.
8/28/03 - I've put my profile up, but did not give any information other than insurance.
I'm 44, happily married with 2 children. I've researched WLS for 2 years and toyed with the idea, but never fully committed to it. I work with 3 people who have successfully gone through
the process and made the decision to go forward. My main goal is to become more healthy. I have type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, and take 9 medications a day. Once I was told by my PCP that I might have to do insulin, my mind was made up. If I have to regulate everything I eat and when I eat due to my diabetes,but still have complications, I might as well take the next step and do something that will provide me the benefits of good health. 7 weeks until a new me.
