It has been a very long time. 6mos 1day out. March 23, 2009.

Mar 23, 2009

Hello WLS Friends,

I know it has been a very long time since I did a posted in Oct 08'. Hope everyone is doing very well and a hand clap to all. And to all the people who were able to get WLS I feel "we are blessed" to have another chance at being healthy and to get our lives back. And to those who are in the process of getting WLS, or waiting for your date are blessed, just hang in there "YOUR DAY WILL COME".
I got busy with this new way of learning to eat and living that I some times go the the OH web site but don't take the time to post. Of course as you fellow WLS patients know it is a learning to eat all over again, this is process and a re-newing of your mind, body and spirit. I am just loving it.  However, I do my updates on the Realize LB website. As of today March 23, I am 6months and 1 day out from having my Lap Band surgery. As of March 11, 2009 I've lost 68lbs, gone for ever.
" All Praise be to GOD". I could not have done this on my own. I have had 3 adjustments, which on March 11 was my third. I feel so gooooood! I have so much more energy and feel lighter on my feet and I do not have the problems with leg, feet and back pain. My knees feel some what better since they don't carry so much weight, but the damage is there to stay but by losing it has added more time to the life of my knees and not getting a knee replacement probably for a few years. As far as my BP I was taking a 20 mg BP pill, for low BP, my PCP had to adjust it to 10mg and take the diuretic part out. Losing the weight was causing my BP to drop to low, this has corrected the problem. At my next PCP visit she will discuss taking me off completely.  My routine blood work came back a whole lot better, my glucose level went back down to 82, pre-surgery it inch up to 98 which put me at pre-diabetic I however will continue to take Zocor.
My first struggle was to eat, at first I had no appetite, Dr. Rashid advised that I eat small meals (2-3 ozs) 4-5 times a day, even if I was not hungry as she told me I was not eating enough.  Needless to say I was amazed, never in my life a doctor has told me I was not eating enough it was always you are eating too much. Then after 3 months, I started slacking off on the protein intake, calcium and vitamins, I realize I was doing more harm than good but now I make sure I get these in everyday," thanks to my WLS buddy who told me I was not following orders, she gave me a good e-mailing too" or (talking too). Also I live on Propel water and lots of plain water, I never knew water can taste so good. As a child my mother was always at the doctors office with me because of my kidneys, it was from not drinking enough water. I walk about 3 times a week 1/2 to 1 mile. I will start a aqua aerobics class in April.
Well I had a big disappointment during my Dec 30, 08' appointment, Dr. Rashid told me she was leaving to go back to the D.C area, but on a good note I now have Dr. Titus Duncan which originally was my first pick, so even though I miss Dr. Rashid, I love having Dr. Duncan. My husband was very pleased with Dr. Rashid but have been knowing Dr. Duncan since April 07' and he is just as thrilled. And on a good note my husband of 33.5 years is beside himself he has been my support 300%. He saw me go from 163lbs to 345lbs in the time of our marriage but never lost his love for me. He had always loved me for who I was and not who I have become, he just wanted me to be healthy. I ask all of you to pray for our grown sons, who struggle with their weight, and my daughter n' law. Even though as raising them from babies I did not want them to have the weight problems that I had all my life, so I cooked healthy meals low in salt, sugar and fat and they were not allowed to over eat, they had lots of fresh veggies and fruits. Yes they were allowed their favorite foods like pizza, candy and cookies but  I have always limited those foods. As they became adults they gained weight. I see this is hereditary from both sides of our families. Our oldest who just turned 31 on St. Patrick's day had lost weight since Nov. 08', Our youngest son (27) and his wife are loosing weight. My daughter n' law is a blessing she encourages our son, she is the best we could ask for. They got married on 07-07-07 and I told my son they were so happy being married because of weight gain. LOL
The other person in my life is my younger brother, I look to him as if his is my older brother I am 9 years older them him. He had Lap Band surgery in August 07' and is almost at his goal. He is my 2nd support, and encourages me to do the right thing. My mother also who had RNY in 1996 is not only my best Friend, she is an encouragement to me from her weight loss and she have kept it off, she went from a 328lbs to 145lbs,"my mom looks good" and she is so proud of me and my brother. I have a older sister who needs WLS but is at to great of a risk "pray for her" we love her but know she needs to loose weight for her health. My younger sister who never had a weight problem in her life is the best, she is a great because she encourage exercise, and if we did not live so far apart I would have her to be my exercise partner. You see all my family is in VA and I live in Ga, my husband's home town.
Another good thing is I am pulling old small clothes out of my closet that either I wore along time ago or I bought and never wore that was too small. I told my WLS  buddy, that I went clothes shopping and got some good deals. She ask what deals did you get, I told her it was free, she said how did you get clothes for free, I replied "I went shopping at home in all of my closets" OBTH my WLS buddy had her RNY on the same day I did, as a matter of fact I was Dr. Rashid's first, patient for that morning 9/22/08 @ 6am, then my WLS buddy was Dr. Rashid's 2nd patient, we had all our pre-wls appointments, on the same day, our endoscopy the same day. We were always at the hospital at the same time and the crazy thing, our husbands have the same first names, and they are the most caring husbands, they kept each other company a lot of days. We have not seen each other since our Oct 7th our follow up appts. We stay in touch via email. We are planning a reunion in the late spring. She is doing just fantastic, she is almost at her goal. She is my we can't wait to see each other, and the weight we have lost, our husbands are excited also.
Well I knew this would be a long post and maybe the next time I will not wait so long to post. I will also one day summit before and after pictures.
With love to everyone have a good day and stay on the loosing side. Take one day at a time.