wheelie_mama

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I had the panniculectomy this past Monday, March 22nd.  The surgeon who is also my bariatric dr removed 30 lbs (12 inches) of loose skin off my belly area! This is the first time in I have no idea how far back that I now have a flat stomach (its still swollen some now) and thighs!  Ive not seen my thighs in years!  I find myself looking at my legs, lap, stomach in total amazement!  I was told I would have a huge amount of pain, but thankfully the only pain I tend to have is nerve ending zaps that come at all different times and makes me jump.  My husband realized and pointed out to me that with the 30lbs of skin removal, I have now lost half my body weight from 17 months ago!!  I thank GOD daily for this blessing HE has allowed me...if it wasnt for HIM, this would not have worked like it has for me.  Thank you JESUS!

Insurance has ok'd for my belly skin removal/apron surgery!!!  Surgery is scheduled for March 22nd!  I'm excited and apprehensive at the same time!  The dr. has told me I probably have around 50 lbs worth of skin to be removed!  I can't help but believe this whole thing is a GOD THING for insurance to have ok'd it this fast!  I had gone to my bariatric dr., who is also a general surgeon and does the apron surgery about a week and half ago.  I got called five days later saying insurance had already ok'd it!  I knew my dr, was going to send insurance a letter stating that it is a medical necessity, but I didn't think insurance would ok it this fast!  Talk about crying like a baby when I was called!  Heck, the dr's nurse that called to tell me even started crying!  Thank you Jesus for all you've done and are doing for me!

It's been 14 months since my gastric bypass surgery.  I remember last Thanksgiving and Christmas.  It was SO HARD and depressing last year.  I was still in the mourning stage of having to 'do without' my LOVE of food.  It's hard to have to deal with something like that when the holidays are so centered around food!  This Thanksgiving, I busied myself helping celebrate my mothers' 70th birthday at the same time.  It was also a big PLUS to see a couple of my brothers that I had not seen since LAST holidays.  to a gastric bypass patient that is almost a lifetime of change!  My brothers couldn't get over the changes they saw in me!  My dad kept shaking his head saying he couldn't believe how much I had lost. 

Christmas, I LOVE TO BAKE!!!  That couple be a big problem for a gastric bypass patient!!  I chose, instead of eating everything I baked.. to give it away as gifts!  Special people like my pastor, music pastor, and the sound guy... all got my strudels!  Othre friends/teachers of my kids, etc. got chex party mix and cookies.  Here at home, I still keep cookies and some candies around for the family.  I keep the cookies I can eat... LOW CALORIE around also, so I don't feel so deprived!  I did do a 'dumb dumb' last night.  Our church had a 'Cookies, cakes and carols' special Christmas get together.  I did have my husband go to the goody table and get me ONLY the cookies I had brought that I could eat.  However, I ended up eating 4 of them AND some homemade wassail....ALL of that was WAY too much sugar for me, and I ended up having a 'dumbing', and having to go home early.  On the way home, my head felt like it was about to explode from the sugar up/down and by the time we got home.. I felt like I'd been hit by a train!  ALL that for a couple of cookies...dumb dumb dumb!!  Even today, as I was feeling better. my tummy still didn't feel 100%!

I am now down 210 lbs!  It blows my mind to look at progressive photos throughout the months!  I don't even look like the same person! I have more energy then I have ever had in my life...I feelgood about myself and I'm happier then I have ever been!  Granted, right now I'm having to deal w/hormonal issues that I was told by my dr. is 'semi' normal for anyone who has lost alot of weight.  The fat is stored in our fat, therefore, as the fat is lost, the hormones go crazy!  I will have to have a procedure on Dec. 23rd to help with some of the problems I've been having with the hormone issues.  If it doesn't work... a hysterectomy is in my future!  Even through the problems I'm having now.. I'd NEVER EVER take all this  back and wish I hadn't had the surgery.. this surgery is my LIFE LINE!!  I thank GOD daily for the gift of this surgery and for having an incredible surgeon and staff that have and still are guiding me to my new life!

Merry Chrismas and Happy 2010!!

Wow!  It's hard to believe a whole year has gone by already!  I remember shortly after the surgery thinking this is taking SO LONG!  Now, I look back and think WOW it's gone by fast!  I am now 200lbs down from one year ago!  One year ago i was in a wheelchair. not being able to walk more then a few feet.  Now, I am walking with a walker or cane a LOT.. In fact, I recently participated in a 'walk from obesity' walk a thon and walked ALMOST ONE FULL MILE!!  That is a HUGE accomplishment for me!!  It's also been amazing how much more energy I have now.  It's nothing for me to spend four or five hours doing house work or yard work now.  I can mow the lawn. all one acre of our yard..granted it IS a riding lawn mower., but it still takes energy out of you for sure!  I've not had alot of difficulties with m y surgery.  A few smaller things here and there.  I thank God daily for His granting me this gift and I still intend to do all I can do to succeed in it!

This is the first blog I've attempted since surgery.  I look over the last 9 month of my life and can't imagine the changes I've made.  In April 08' I started the journey of changing my life through gastric bypass.  I started multi-diciplinary classes that were required of me by insurance.  Each month I would attend classes, logging everything I ate for the month and charting any weight I lost.  From April until my Oct 15th surgery date, I lost 37lbs just simply doing what I was told to do in the classes... eating small amounts, stopping when full, more healthy eating, etc.  My surgery on Oct 15th, changed my life!  Every day it seems like I find a new bone that I can feel, or new sagging skin to notice.  I'm down 70lbs since surgery, making that 107lbs since I started my journey last April!!  I still look into a mirror and don't see the loss as much as my clothes show it or people state it.  I guess I am more negative about myself this way. 

My husband has been my constant support from day one.  He even joined the gym with me early December, and goes with me every other day to work out with a trainer.  I have good and bad days with working out.  Some days it's easier, some days it takes all I've got to get it all done. 

I've also been walking a bit daily.  Twelve years ago, I was involved in a horrific car accident that put me in a wheelchair.  Of course, being overweight didn't help, and being confined to a chair only added more weight on.  I promised myself that after surgery, I WOULD eventually get out of this chair and walk!  I am now up to 400 feet with a walker!  There are days that I just don't want to walk, but I have to keep pushing myself to achieve this goal!

The biggest drawbacks I've had have been recently with some hair loss and overall feeling tired, depressed and just 'blah'.  My dr. believes it is a b12 shortage and has me trying the sublinquals until my 4 month post op in a few weeks.  I am also cold all the time.  I'm not used to that one,, fat people are always HOT not cold!  I was told with the large amount of weight loss vrs the short amount of time I've lost,,, gets the body out of wack and makes one cold.  I have to admit, I'll be glad for warmer weather for sure!

I have good and bad days.  I've learned what plateaus are and despise them!  There are many days I would LOVE a good ooey gooey brownie but I've done well with NOT going there!  I've treated myself to sugar free popsicles and sugar free hard candies.  That way I don't feel 'as deprived' as I could be.