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So it has now been just about two and a half months since surgery and I am feeling great!  Lets recap some previous posts and give out the number run down:

Orientation [Edit Post]
on June 9, 2007 5:12 pm
Published

Today, 06/09/07 (for my later recollection), I attended my first class at the South San Francisco Kaiser Bariatric department weighing in at 317.4lbs.

12/01/2007: I am currently down to 283 and have lost a total of 34 pounds on my own since starting the Kaiser process back in June of 2007.

Now today, 02/14/2008 I am down to 219lbs!!!   Yes, I am two pounds away from a total loss of 100 pounds!  It is almost like it is not real!  It is incredible!  Not that it doesn't come without some hard work.  

The gym was a kick in the a$$.  My trainer had me circuit training, which is one intense work out that promotes cardio and strength building in one.  It was working great, but now it's time to change.  Yesterday I asked my trainer to take me off the focus of loosing weight, now lets look at muscle building and strength training.  We started our first session yesterday and I am so sore, but looking forward to tomorrow!  I told him that I want to be built by summer and he said that we can get it done if we start the focus now.

Other than that I am really getting sick of everyone asking "how much weight have you lost," and "what's your secret?"  It really does get so old quick, but hey,  it comes with the territory -- buyer beware! lol

Well that's the quick update with me...

I am now exactly a week out from surgery and everything is looking good so far...  I dont know exactly how much weight I am down because I think my scale is f'ed up but I am in the 270 range on my home scale, so I am at least looking at ten pounds since 12/03.  I am worried a bit because I really have not experienced any issues with the soft food and liquid diet.  No dumping, no nausea, nothing.

I am worried about not being able to tell when I am full, and stress that I will streach out my pouch.  I think I am just frraking myself out, but I really dont want to come back to this weight again!

I will arrive for admission Monday Dec 3rd, 2007 at 10:30 AM.  I am trying not to be worried, nervous, or anxious but I cant seem to help it.  I am getting everything ready to take  with me to the city tomorrow (heading down a day early to no fret about traffic the day of) as well as getting everything ready for my return home, ie cleaning and liquid/soft foods.  I am going to try my hardest to be released from the hospital Tuesday morning, but we will see how I am feeling -- I might be begging for more drugs .

I am currently down to 283 and have lost a total of 34 pounds on my own since starting the Kaiser process back in June of 2007.  I am hoping for a safe and fast recovery!  I also look to enjoying the time off from work during the holidays being that I work in retail.  This will give me some time to focus on me and my needs,  and reestablish a connection with my mind, body and spirit. 

Cheers

It has been some major time since the last time I posted.  Not that I just gave up on this site, or that I felt I was too good to post, but rather I have been dealing with a lot that has been taking my time.

So here is the update as of today....  I was given a surgery date of 12/03/2007 with Dr. Li.  I have decided on roux-en-y rather then the band because I feel it is better for me.  I just attended one of Kaisers pre-bariatric education classes, but I didn't really care for the layout.  It seemed to me it was very women oriented -- you could cut the estrogen with a knife.  I look forward to becoming a speaker post-op so I can give a true version of the "Man's" experience.

I have been scheduled for a pre-op education class back in SSF.  I hope that there is a lot to gain form this one because I am getting nervous.  I think it is all the preparation that I need to get in order that is bothering me.  I get freaked out with preparation, I have to maker sure everything goes as planned.

My nephew, who picture is at the top of my page, has found a bone marrow match.  He too will be in San Francisco at the children hospital to go through the transplant.  Thank god for the self-less person who stepped up to give his/her marrow!

I had previously planned on using vacation to cover my recovery time, however, know i have decided to use FMLA, and disability pay.  I will be able to save most of the three + weeks of vacation I have racked up for another time.

So Yesterday I went to South San Francisco and met with the Medical Director of the SSF Bariatrics Department, the Nutritionist, and Psychologist.  I could hardly sleep the night before I was so nervous.  The first appointment was with the director and it went really well.  She was happy to see that I was down to 294 from 317 two months prior.  She said that I only had four more pounds to go to reach my weigh goal for surgery.  She also said that she approves me to move forward without having to see her again. She explained this was not normal for her to do, but if I am cleared by my psychologist and nut I would be good to meet directly with the surgeon.  That put some pressure on me..  The meeting with the nutritionist went well too.  I talked to her about what I was doing and eating.  She was very happy with my progress.  She to cleared me to move forward.  The last one was the psychologist.  Boy oh boy was I scared about this one.  Talk about a lot of pressure.  I met with her and we talked about everything from my overeating to my anger.  Finally after and hour and a half she also agreed that I was ready to move forward without any further visits with her needed.  She said that I could have my surgery in the next two months!   The only other thing that was sprung on me was that I should have lap-band, although it is my choice. I am a Kaiser of Northern California patient.  With that, Kaiser covers and does both RNY and Lap Band.  Now, Kaiser has only started doing the Lap Band in February of this year, before that only RNY was covered by them.

Now when I spoke to the Medical Director of the Bariatrics department she asked me why I wanted Bypass..   Being that I had not even looked into the band, that was one reason.  Another was that I don't know how I feel about having the band in my body.

Due to my body size, successful weight loss since orientation, and age she recommended that I have the band.  One reason being the vitamins that have to be taken by RNY patients for the rest of their lives.  She said if I was forty she would recommend RNY, but since I am twenty can I see myself taking the vitamins for the next 40 to 60 years?  But if I am not mistaken, you still have to take vitamins with the band too...

The psychologist said that right now, with the RNY, the success rate is 50% at ten years out, and that the other 50% has regained almost all body weight back.  I am really going to have to do my research and figure out what I should do.....  Please offer advice you might have!!!

Well the work outs have been a bit ruff this week.  I only worked out four times, normally I try to everyday, and for not a very good reason.  One night I participated in Nation Night Out, but the other I just didn't make myself.  SO the workouts this week was challenging, but not as challenging as National Night Out.  NNO is a night where local law enforcement get out into the communities.  The NNO that I participated in was a city that had 39 individual block parties and we visited three of them.  Each one had it's own theme -- BBQ, Ice Cream Social, and sweets and treats.  The best part is I was able to refrain from eating any of the food.  Just before we headed out I had my dinner of tri tip and salad.  Then I was able to turn down all the foods that I would have loved to scarf down, ice cream especially.  I stuck to my guns and even showed myself how strong my will power is now.  To be honest even I was shocked I made it through the night.  I have really come a long way...

For the past two weeks out of ease and convenience I have been doing a protein shake for breakfast and for lunch.  Now I don't know if this is something that the dietician is going to be good with because I have yet to meet with her (08/15), but I hope so.  It is just so much easier to prepare myself now for the protein shakes for after surgery.  I have been getting mine from GNC CytoGainer, and I am very pleased with the fantastic taste!

My diet has been going well, however, I did indulge on two soft taco's from taco bell, but apparently that is suppose to be one of the healthiest things you can eat from fast food.  It was a late night craving that I had after getting off work at 10:30.

My routine has been going well aside from the Taco Bell and not working out yesterday.  I am getting more and more excited about my doctor visit on the 15th.

I want to explain a bit more about all the changes I have gone through since Oct 2006, making the last sentence of last weeks post more understandable.  I used to smoke a pack a day up until Oct when I decided I need to try to stop.  I was able to severely diminish the number of smokes I would have, but I was still smoking here and there.  Then I  went to my PCP in April, at which time I spoke to my doctor about surgery.  When I left the office that day I made a commitment to myself to completely stop smoking.

The day after orientation I started my current diet, following the outline in my Patient Information Book.  I take vitamins, work out regularly, and just feel overall 100% better!  I have a constant energy and seem to be happier.  I care less about how I am viewed by other people, and care more about how I view myself.

One example of this is this week, I found a bracelet that had been given out some time back.  It is like the Lance Armstrong bracelet that was all the fad a year or two ago.  Well on the bracelet has "Better Health Starts With You."  I would not have been caught dead wearing one of these before, but now I couldn't been more proud.  It is my constant reminder to  myself why I am doing all of this.

I have received my next appointment cards!!!!  I will be going down to Kaiser SSF on 08/15 for three appointments.  For people who are traveling from Sacramento they try to schedule all three appointments together to make it easier.  I have a visit with Dr. Stiles (Bariatric Department Medical Director), Jeannie Reed (Dietitian), and Danielle Hall (Psychologist).  I am already a bit nervous, but extremely excited.  This is the next step towards a healthier me!   This week for the diet has been another good week.  My boss says that she can really see it in my face that I have been loosing weight.  My cousin said that he can tell in my shoulders, which is a weird area, but whatever.  As long as I continue to feel better I am fine with it.  I cant explain what I am going through lately, I have a new outlook on everything.

I have finally told my parents about my plan for surgery.  I wasn't waiting because I was scared, nervous, or not wanting to tell them; I didn't want to jump the gun on the communication.  I was very happy to see that my mom was all for it.  She has been worried about my weight and the onset of diabetes.  My dad on the other hand, well, he seemed more scared then anything.  Then he said that he feels my weight was his fault because he didn't push me to play a sport during Jr. High and High School.  I couldn't believe my ears!  I told him this my weight had nothing to do sports since all through Jr. High and High School I was a biker (BMX).  We would go all day and ride, boosting jumps (haven't used that term in a long time) during the summer and riding everywhere.  In fact, I would always slim down in the summer because of all the riding that I did.  If my dad wants to blame himself for anything it would only be that I wasn't forced to eat really healthy foods growing up.

One person who I have neglected to tell is my grandmother, who I am very close with.  Until I know for sure that I will be getting the surgery, she will have to remain in the dark to prevent her from over worrying.  I barley hinted at the idea and she got very upset.  She will just have to wait for now.

Other then that this last week has been great.  I have been eating right and working out everyday.  The last couple days I even went up to forty five minutes on the elliptical machine.