Melanie Mullins
Long Time No Hear From.....
Jul 29, 2008
I still have to slow down.....I still look at food the same way from when I was overweight and have to catch myself to say Im not obese anymore and I can't eat that way anymore. Old habits die hard but I am so much more aware of what my body and stomach tells me than what it told me a year ago. I was 285lbs and now Im 145lbs, I went from size 24 to a size 8. I couldn't be more pleased with the results and the excess skin is just a reminder that I have come a long way and its a much better way of living now than what I was living before which was HELL. I can't complain.....I mean damn, I can fit into decent clothes now. A few extra rolls here and there won't kill me. I appreciate the opportunity thats been given and we only live once so why not enjoy life and be able to live it comfortably. So with that said, hope everyone has a great day and I'll try not to stay away too long. God Bless 
2 Months Post op
Jul 31, 2007
. I've lost 30lbs since surgery. I know that doesn't seem like alot but I lost 30lbs prior so Ive lost a total of 60lbs. Which isn't that bad when you add the two numbers together. The losing weight has been a bit slow. I lose about 5-8 lbs every two weeks. Im a little worried that its not doing its job but I would rather have it come off slow than too fast cause I don't want to much hanging skin. I guess if it was a problem Dr. Suh would of said something at my 1 1/2month visit right? 
Oh, I don't know but Im just glad its comming off. Its alot better than before I had surgery so I won't complain. I saw Dr. Suh on July 16th and when he told me I can eat anything and everything except, snacks, cakes, cookies, fried food, chips, popcorn and sugar I was extatic!
I wasn't eating those things anyway but now I can eat sandwiches, fruits, veggies, soft tacos, burritos, salads, etc. I was so happy! I was thanking Jesus cause it gets a bit rough when you are only on the soft food diet. The food doesn't taste as good as it used to. The string cheese, eggs, cottage cheese, and yogurt get a bit monotonous after a week of just eating that. I got very discouraged and tried to eat things I shouldn't have been eating yet. But once I thought about the reprocussions of it I stopped and got right back on track. You have to kick yourself in the rear sometimes in order to get back to what your suppose to be doing
. I sometimes get depressed just watching other people enjoy their food, cause I can't anymore. Even though they say, oh you are going to eat slower and enjoy your food, you really don't cause after two-three bites your done and everyone else is still gettin down and you sit there and get nauseated watching them do it cause your too full and can't eat anymore. If I try something I shouldn't be eating like a chip or cheezits, boy do I pay, I get deathly ill
. I dry heave for about 5min until the stomach ache subsides. It sucks but in a way its good cause it keeps me on track 
. You just can't eat the things you used to. Although everyone is different I do know a few people that can eat whatever they want and let me tell you thank god I don't have that problem or else the surgery was a waste for me. Im glad I have huge reactions to the fat, sugar and fried stuff. I mean that is why I had the surgery in the first place, to get rid of those bad habits. But so far its going and every day is a new adventure for me. I will tell you, those clothes I couldn't fit into and now I can sure do make having the surgery well worth it. Well hope everyone is well and don't hesitate to leave me a note or email. Talk to you all soon next month.....Ciao
Post Op 1 Month
Jun 27, 2007
. I do apologize for my lack of promptness. But boy has this past month been crazy and it doesn't help that I don't have a pc at home to just jump on OH and post something
. Well to get started on June 1st which was a Friday, I had the surgery and let me tell you the surgery was a piece of cake . It was the moment I woke up and smelled the roses that the reality kicked into high gear that I just went through with this procedure and there is no turning back. Once I woke up they put me on a morphine drip and that was ok for a while until my body started rejecting it. I was sicker than a dog and throwing up blood. Because they cut my stomach there was blood in it and since I was throwing up I was throwing that up. It was awful
. Then there is the gas or should I say oxygen they pump your stomach up with to see the inside, this was a mother! Naturally the doctor has to suture you back up and some of the oxygen gets stuck in there. The only way to get it out is to walk and get it moving out of your system and fart it out
. As gross as that is this is the reality of it. And its not that easy to get out, I mean this gas is stuck in there far deep within your body and its a mother to get it out. Its very painful and irritating when you are tired and sick and they want you to walk around. It hurt to walk! But since I did everything the nurses told me to I was able to go home in two days. Once I got home it only went up hill from there taking one day at a time. Getting plenty of rest and watching tv was the perfect healer. Within a week I had my staples out and I was walking every where and shopping. I healed very nicely and I never took any pain medications. I did it al natural! I think that made a huge difference. But once everything settled then those demons come back
. Im not gonna lie I still have cravings and the soft diet get old and just disgusting to eat. You get tired of eggs, cheese, cottage cheese, pudding and jello. As wonderful as these foods are and as tasty as they were before surgery, you get sick of them every single day and every meal. I am craving variety and flavor. But I have cheated a bit I've had tuna sandwich(half of a half), couple of chips (Tortilla), and chicken. Although I will eventually be able to eat these things, I'm not suppose to right now. I had to cut them out and get right back on the soft diet until I am told to increase my diet, I need to follow the Dr's orders. I have not any gained weight it just stopped it and thats why you need to follow the Dr's. There is a reason for the foods being introduced at certain times and thats so you can lose weight at a faster pace on their diet. I have to come to grips with the reality that I have to change my habits even though I don't want to
. This is the nature of the beast. I have lost 15lbs so far and before surgery I lost 30lbs so a total of 45 so far. This will be a long process but a learning one as I go along. I have to remember it took me over ten years to put the weight on and its gonna take me a while to get it off and keep it off. I just have to keep focused and realize there is a payoff to this and thats being healthy forever. Well I will chat with you guys later. Talk to you soon.
Ciao
Hip Hip Horray!!!
May 29, 2007
Ciao-
Its been a while......
Apr 26, 2007
Ciao for now!
One more hurdle to go
Feb 14, 2007
Hello everyone, since the last journal I found out some more information that might be of importance to you. I found out that the approval process for my insurance is already approved, which is good. But what Im waiting on is my doctor is affiliated with a medical group and since he is part of their group the group makes decisions on approvals for gastric bypass surgery. So I have been waiting for them to approve it. Depending on your doctor and if he is affiliated with a medical group the decision will be made by your insurance and the medical group your doctor is affiliated with. I know its extensive but maybe its for the better. God knows better than I, timing is everything! And patience is virtue.....Good things come to those who wait. So I found out today that my approval is almost complete, my doctor referred me for the cardiology, psych eval, and endocrinology. So once those dr visits are done then the approval is complete and I can finally get my consult for Dr. Suh. Im getting very excited and am hoping this last hurdle doesn't take too long to do. Wish me luck. Until next time....
Ciao
Waiting for Approval
Jan 29, 2007
I officially finished my classes for the gastric bypass requirement from the insurance on Thursday Jan. 25th and I called the doctors office they received the work and are forwarding it to the Insurance. Now is the time to be patient and wait. Its all in God's hands now and not my own. I was told by my doctors office to check back in on Thursday to see if the approval came back cause they said it takes about 72 hours. I am just trying to stay calm and collective and wait until I hear something. Until next time,
Ciao
One more class to go
Jan 23, 2007
Last night I went to Dr. Suh's seminar for the gastric bypass and I was very impressed with his knowledge and expertise of the surgery. He gives a very honest and true opinion on the surgery. I felt a peace about him, that he wasn't just "selling the product", but really telling it like it is....which is, it takes the surgery and me to make the transition work and have a successful outcome. I am realizing that the closer I get to surgery. I have one more class to go which is this Thursday night. And then first thing friday morning I will submit the paperwork to my doctor. My doctors office told me it usually takes about 72 hours to get approval but they assured me I'm gonna get approved no problem. I did everything I was suppose to do and thats all that was needed. Exciting times are ahead of me! I need to start getting ready mentally and physically for the surgery. I need to start implementing better food choices and start geering up for the change..... I know thats what I should of been doing but I guess it just didn't seem real until recently now that everything is moving so fast. I will let everyone know what is comming ahead and thanks for all the support.
Until next time,
Ciao
