Cathy_C.

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I am so excited to be starting this group!!!  We have a need out in this neck of the woods for a group and I hope that all of you in the area (and folks passing through!) will join us as we get to know each other, learn more about our journeys and have a good time hanging out.

It has been six months already, I can hardly believe it.  Especially since for a while there time seemed to be moving very slowly. 

The first three weeks after my surgery went perfectly.  I was eating things according to plan, drinking according to plan and my incisions were healing according to plan.  Then I started getting VERY nauseous whenever I ate.  Soon after, I started upchucking everything I ate.  I contacted the surgeon and went in to see him  - at that stage I couldn’t even keep water down.  They scoped me and found that while I didn’t have a full-blown stricture, I had some significant scar tissue in there.  They stretched me out and I went home fully expecting to feel better in a couple days.

Well, I didn’t feel better in a couple days – and I stubbornly kept thinking it would turn around soon.  Eventually, I ended up in the urgent care getting IV fluids.  Within a couple days after that, I was admitted to the hospital for 4 days and another scope.  When they sent me home, I really thought that the constant vomiting, weakness, light headedness, etc. were maybe just going to be with me forever.  That was definitely the lowest point.

Within about a week I was slowly improving, first keeping liquids down was an awesome milestone.  Then pureed foods, and eventually soft foods.  I was thrilled!!  After a week or two of food & water, I was already feeling stronger.  Since then I have been getting better and stronger every day.  The only other medical issue since that time was a weird, temporary problem with my right eye which has totally resolved itself.

The shocking thing was that as I started feeling better (right around 3 months after surgery) I decided to weigh myself (I hadn’t wanted to much at all while I was sick) and realized I had lost more than 60lbs!  Since then I have lost another 45 and crossed into the Century club!  I feel so blessed and grateful for this surgery.  Even with the complications and miserable time I had early on – it has been such a gift.  Now I enjoy cleaning my house again, and I am learning to enjoy gardening and home improvement projects.  I am even going on an anniversary trip to Disneyland (just my hubby and me) and I intend to ride every ride – because now I fit!!

To all the awesome folks at OH – thank you from the bottom of my heart.  You helped me so much all along this first part of my journey.  I would have probably lost it completely during the tough times if I didn’t learn from other OHers that they got through complications just like mine and were doing great.

To any pre-ops who may read this, please don’t be frightened by my story, because it is a success story.  We can do this, it may not be easy for everyone but it can change your life in a thousand amazing ways.

Finally, to my husband, you are the most amazing man I have ever known.  Your care and support all along this journey so far has meant so much.  Thank you for everything you have done and said…I love you more than I can say.

Have a wonderful summer everyone!

Well, I am 4 days out now and doing very well I think.  I am so grateful to have had my surgery with the terrific surgeon & team at UCSF.  I was cared fo extremely well which made all the difference.

I have eaten broth, sugar free jello, fat free cream of chicken soup and sugar free pudding so far and it all seems to have settled well.

So the focus now is on the task ahead.  Thanks to all of you who hve given advice & support along the way.

Cathy C.

As of today I am scheduled for my nutrition class (June 13th!) and waiting for a call back from the psychologist to schedule my eval with her. 

I also received some good news from my doctor.  He originally understood that the ins. co. would require 6 mos wait after I started the evaluation process before approving the WLS.  Well, it turns out that they start counting from the time he began treating me for obesity.  That means It could be now if the evaluation process didn't take the time it does.  But I am glad that it is a careful and informative process for sure.

I am beginning to believe that things going smoothly so far might be a sign that I am right in thinking that WLS is the right path for me!