athomas8413

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In my last post, I confessed that I had been drinking heavily in order to cope with my mom's death and other serious issues going on in my life.  I'm happy to say that after some encouragement from members of my OH family, as well as my immediate family, I'm slowly getting back on track.  I'm going to counseling and staying as busy as possible, and it has actually helped.  It hasn't been easy, but taking it one day at a time, sometimes, one moment at a time, really keeps me focused and grounded.  I know I have a long road ahead of me, but by trusting in God, and help from friends and family, I know I'll make it. 

On an even better note, I am 130 pounds lighter!  It's been  almost 10 months since my surgery, and I gotta tell you that I've never felt better.  I must admit that for a time I wasn't taking good care of myself or taking my vitamins or even eating right.  My appetite has returned and I seem to have more energy than I have in a long time.

I just wanna say  thank you to those of you who encouraged me and prayed for me.  Sometimes we don't think those things don't matter or mean very much, but oh how wrong we are.  It really does help, and I'm living proof that it does.  Love you OH Family!

The last time I posted I wasn't quite truthful to you all.  I have been having a really hard time.  As most of you know, my mother died May 31, 2008.  I was okay for a couple of months.  Then suddenly i began to drink again.  At first it was just a little bit, then it got really bad, to the point where I have been drinking everyday here lately.  Please family, oh please family, help me!  I don't know what to do.  Most of you know about my family and how they did me, as well as the pain I feel about my mom's death.  Tell me what I'm doing to myself, please!  I don't want to die.  I have so much to live for - my husband, my son.  Please family, help me.  Next week I will be going to a rehabilitation center for help.  Please pray for me.  Thank you for your continued love and support.  I love you guys.

Andrea

When I had gastric bypass surgery on 4-15-08, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that a little over 6 months later I would be 102 pounds lighter.  Words cannot begin to tell how I feel right now.  I am truly a blessed individual.  I am now 86 pounds away from my goal of of 150.  To all of you out there who are just beginning your journey, hang on tight.  It's gonna be the best ride of your life.

HOORAY FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I woke up this morning feeling rather ill.  I had a terrible headache, I ached from head to toe, and I had sinus pain and pressure.  I had to get ready for my doctor's appt. that morning.  When my husband saw me he asked what was wrong, and I basically told him that, though our family had already made several positive health changes in our lives (my 14 year old son has lost over 60 pounds in the last year, my husband has lost over 30, and then there's my tremendous weight loss as well) more needed to be done.  I want to change EVERYTHING!  I was in a real funky mood.  I sat down at the table and talked to him about everything that was on my mind - where our family was headed physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually.  I wanted better for us, that kind of stuff, and so on.  We talked about the things we wanted to do in the near future (hubby getting a better paying job, me opening a daycare, giving the house a face lift, getting better transportation, and joining a gym as a family).  Before I knew it, I was all excited and ready for my day to begin so   I jumped and began to get ready for my day.   And what a wonderful day it turned out to be! 

I was a bit disappointed after my doctor put me back on Norvasc for my HBP because it is still not under control, even after my RNY (oh well), but I dealt with it rather well.  We left the doctor's office and went directly to the pharmacy as I had lots of meds to refill.  While waiting for the meds, we decided to walk across the shopping center to have lunch at a wonderful chinese restaurant.  We ordered one sesame chicken and a large egg drop soup to share.  It was sooooooooooooo delicious I ate too fast and had to go to the bathroom to "relieve" that terrible full feeling we all sometimes get.  Still that didn't damper my day.  Later, we picked up my meds and decided to go visit  a couple of gyms.  We found the most perfect  one that allows children 14 and older to come work out.  Since our son is 14, we though that was just excellent.  We didn't sign up right away, but will be doing so the 1st of next month.  There's no turning back now! 

Throughout the whole day while riding in the car we played one of my favorite CDs and I sang to my hubby in my very best voice while looking straight at him (he gets so embarassed when I do that to him and I love to see that black man blush). 

At about 2:00 this afternoon, we went to visit my F-I-L.  It was a really nice visit, and we left at about 3:00 to pick Josh up from school.  When we got home the three of us sat around and talked, ate dinner, and looked up stuff on the internet together - you know - real quality family time.  I am so happy and so full of joy right now I could probably run around the block a few times, and I haven't been able to run in years.  

It just goes to show you that you never know how your day is going to turn out.  It can have a really crappy start and end beautifully as mine did today, or it could have a wonderful start and end up ghastly.  The point is, I won't take any of it for granted anymore.  I'm gonna be thankful for what I've got, better myself by making changes in areas where I can and improving the good points I already have.  But most importantly, I'm gonna be ever so grateful for each day I wake up to by embracing whatever comes my way with a better and more positive outlook.  Don't ya just love life?

 

On Sunday morning I traveled 93 miles from Montgomery, AL to Birmingham, AL and was admitted into Carraway Medical Center.  My esogaphus closed up and I couldn't even swallow water.  Everytime I attemped to drink I would throw it back up.  On Monday morning they performed an endoscopy to remove a second stricture within the past 2 1/2 weeks.  It went alot better this time because they sedated me and I felt no pain.  I hope this is the last time I have to go thru this,.  My weight loss seems to have stalled since I've been going thru all of this.  I'm not overly worried about that right now.  I just want to get my strength back.  I haven't eaten much in that past few weeks.  More importantly, I just wanna go on with my life.  Wish me the best.

Just wanted to let you guys know  what's been going on with me for the past couple of weeks.  I noticed that it was getting harder for me to swallow food , liquids, and medicine.  In addition to that, I had terrible abdominal pain that would not go away.  I went to see Dr. Touliatos (my surgeon) on Monday.  After running tests, it was confirmed that I had a stricture, a place in my esophagus that was closing up.  He told me that I would have to have a surgical procedure to open it back up.  On yesterday (Wednesday) he performed the procedure, and it was the most terrible experience in pain I think I have ever had (he could not use anesthesia because I have had problems with it in past surgical procedures).  I'm feeling better today, but I am still in a great deal of pain (am taking Lortab for the pain).  I'm just glad my ordeal is over.  I learned something very interesting about strictures.  Not only can it happen once at anytime after gastric bypass surgery, it can happen several times during the period of years after gastric bypass surgery.  So at anytime in my life from this moment on, I could possibly get another stricture and have to have the same surgical procedure as I had yesterday, and I am not looking forward to that.  The important thing for all of us who have had gastric bypass surgery to do is get in enough protein on a daily basis, take our B-12, and our multi-vitamins also.  That means EVERY SiNGLE DAY!!!!  If I'm honest with you guys and with myself I have failed to take all of my vitamins and protein everyday.  That's probably why I'm in the mess I'm in right now. 

Guys we owe it to ourselves to be good to ourselves and do just what the doctors have prescribed.  It would break my heart if I heard that one of you had to go thru what I did yesterday.  So let's take care of ourselves.  Love you all.

Andrea

Earlier today I submitted a post on the main message board regarding some heartaches I've been experiencing because of my extended family.  The encouragement and love I received from everyone was beautifully overwhelming.  I realize now that, though I may not receive the love and support from my biological brother and sisters that I have so much wanted over the years, my loving and supportive husband and son have always been there.  And now I have a new family who, though they don't know me that well right now, are willing to give me the love and support that every human being needs.  My new OH Family.  What a blessing indeed!  Thank you family.

Yesterday I celebrated 3 months post op from RNY.  I got to tell you that today, just for today, I feel great, although I am a little tired.  I have become more active and I am living and enjoying life.  I still don't eat very much, but I do get in quite a bit of protein in the foods that I eat everyday.  Everytime I think about how much weight I've lost in 3 months it just blows me away. 76 Lbs.!!!!!!!!  I'm so greatful for being alive and happy, and I hope and pray that more positive and happy things are yet to come.  Thank you OH Family!

Just wanted to let you guys know that things have been going pretty well for me these past few days.  I have lost a total of 56 pounds in just 9 weeks, and am  starting to see myself thru different eyes, and I love what I see.  I like to think that I'm coping rather well since my mom's death, but I do miss her terribly.  My life is going good despite several problems I have recently. .  

I want to tell you about my wonderful husband who I call "Nasseh".  16 years ago, God brought him into my life and blessed me with a loving, caring, and selfless soulmate.  I love him with all my heart and give thanks for him every single day.  He makes me feel special, but more importantly, I've learned to feel good about myself because of the way he has treated me over the years.  He rarely gets angry and never brings up the past.  He is a wonderful father to our son, and I hope Josh grows up to be just like him.  So many black families are without a good husband and father as a role model, and I'm just so thankful that mine is an exception.  He is a hard working man and I adore his quiet and gentle spirit.  

Please don't think that I'm bragging or being full of myself for the blessings I've received.  I have met so many wonderful people through Obesity Help and have learned so much about them and some of the wonderful people in their lives.  I just want to share with all of you something about my life that has given me a new lease on life, a new hope, something to cling to - my husband "Nasseh".