doldes
One pound from goal!!!!!!!
Dec 11, 2008
Hello world!! 10 1/2 months post op and down 102 pounds and all I have is 1 pound left before I hit my goal. It has not been very long ago that I was being wheeled into the surgery room but I am off two of my meds and am living an almost unrecognizable life style. I went to England for 5 weeks with my work and walked everywhere. There is no way before I had the surgery that I would have been able to walk like I did. I was able to run all over the country, visit several old castles, Abbi es, and Minsters. It was one of the most exciting times of my life. I feel wonderful and am totally amazed at how I can so things so simple, like cross my legs. I was just trying on coats and was surprised to see that my size now is 8. At only 10 1/2 months, I should be loosing for the next several months still. After the next one pound loss, I have no idea of where I will finish at. I can not even comprehend it. This surgery was a very hard decision to make but I never had a lick of problems. I know I am very lucky. I still have a tendency to eat soft foods because it sits better in my stomach. I probably baby myself too much but am not really worried about it right now. I am just enjoying a life style that I have never before been able to have. My wish for everyone at this wonderful Christmas time is that you experience the same thing I am going through right now. My love to whom ever is reading this right now.
Have a happy and safe holiday season,
Debbie
Have a happy and safe holiday season,
Debbie
6 Months post op and very happy
Jul 19, 2008
Here I am 6 months post op, 79 pounds and many inches lighter. My health has improved, and I feel much better. I went today and bought cloths for the first time. After getting into, and then back out of my small cloths in the closet, I went out to get new ones. I have gone from size 22 pants to between 10 and 12 in the matter of 6 months. I can't believe it. I saw my surgereon this week and he is thrilled with my success. I have a hard time recognizing that my body has changed so much. When I see myself in the mirror, I see myself with the same figure just smaller. I see the weight coming off, and the sizes coming down but have a hard time connecting the two. I now weigh only 6 pounds more that my husband. I have never in 33 years of marriage ever been that close in weight with him. Don't tell anyone but I tried a pair of his pants on the other day. I am not quite there but was able to get both legs in his pants and just short of zipping them up. When that day happens, it will truely be a miracle. I am 24 pounds away from my goal and was asked by my nutritianist if I would like to change my goal as I was loosing weight so quick I will most likely pass my goal weight. She also wants me to try and slow my weight loss down if I can. I am loosing between 1-3 pounds a week on the average. There has been once or twice that I did not loose weight but was told that my body needs time to catch up with that loss of weight. That makes sense to me. Well here we go and lets see where this leads me. I hope the best for you and look forward to hearing about your adventures in getting your health back.
As Always,
Debbie
As Always,
Debbie
Five Months Post Op and counting
Jun 17, 2008
Well here I am just over 5 months out. I have lost 74 pounds and am feeling great. According to my tracking page, I have 29 pounds to goal. I saw my nutritionist today and she was thrilled to see my progress. She is one of the easiest people I have talked to in many years. One of the words of wisdom that she gave me was to only weigh myself no more than once a week. In the beginning I was not only weighing once or more times a day, but I would weigh myself after I went to the rest room. Can you immagine that? I was driving myself crazy. She suggested that I also get up 1/2 hour earlier each morning and get my treadmill out of the way right away in the morning. I tried it and guess what, I liked it. Eventhough all my instinks say to stay in bed, after about 3 mins. on the treadmill and I am good to go for the rest of the 30 mins., and then the rest of the day. My husband and daughters are very supportive and happy for me. I have lost over 30+ inches measuring only 4 areas of my body. My daughter (Katrina) measures me on the 15th of each month. I have gone from a 22 pants to 14, and that is just to this point. For Christmas last year my husband gave me a gift coupon to Penny's for $400.00. I know it will not belong and I will be doing some heavy duty shopping. My plans are to check into surgery to remove extra skin after I hit my two year date. I can't imagine not completing this process to it's max efforts. Thru this website I have met some really great people. You have all been sooo very supportive. I am very thankful for each and everyone of you all. I lost my Mother a month ago. She was my best friend but I know that she was very happy with me for making the decision to improve my health by having the surgery. One of the last times she looked at me from her hospital bed, she motioned to me to turn around so she could see my new figure and then smiled at me. I will always miss her. Be strong, be determined, and always be convinced that you can and will make it to your goal.
Love,
Debbie
Love,
Debbie
Three Months Post Op
Apr 17, 2008
I can't believe how good I now feel. I have had virtually no problems and have been loosing weight very well. I am now 55 lbs lighter, 25 inches smaller, not on my blood preasure medicine, and not on Liptor. I am over half way to my goal. It has only been 13 weeks which makes me wonder if I set my goal weight too high. I do not get hungry very often and then when I do eat, I sometimes feel like there is a lump in my stomach. I wonder if the reason for that is because I am still healing inside. It just makes me not want to eat. I know I have had many times that I thought, boy that is what I want to eat, and then after 2-3 bits, it does not taste as good as I remembered. For me the whole surgery was worth everything that I went through. It is something that I really would not like to go through again, but it was not soooo bad that I would try to convince others not to have it. The benefits to my health and life are very much worth it. I give a lot of credit to my nutritionist who has been there when ever I had any questions or needed suggestions. A small problem that I have noticed is that with my being on Coumadin, the doctors have not been able to get my blood level under control. I get tested every Monday but they have to adjust and readjust my pre scribed dosage. The nutritionist has said that she does not believe that my blood will get under control until most of my weight loss is finished. I am very excited to see what the future holds for me.
Until later,
Debbie
Until later,
Debbie
Well here I am again.......
Feb 25, 2008
Well here I am again. Tomorrow will be six weeks post ops. I am 32 pounds lighter and have had very few problems. I lost rather quickly at first and then it slowed to about one pound every two days. At that point I hit a plateau that lasted five days at 28 pounds lost. I was beginning to get a little bit upset with the whole thing and the two days that followed I got off the plateau I lost another four pounds. I am back at work now and happy to be there. I know that I am loosing inches but still can not fit into the jeans and tops that I will be wearing down the road. Once I start fitting into them, than I will believe that I really am loosing well. Now don't get me wrong, my regular work cloth are beginning to hang on me but I just can not fit into the cloths I would like to yet. The support that my email buddies give me is fantastic and I like to let them know what has happened as where I am is ahead of where they will be. I like to give them little hints as to what they may be able to avoid or what they may want to do. I only had one little problem since my surgery. I am on Coumadin and when I had my blood count after surgery, my IR count was 18.9 which is off the charts. Tomorrow will be 6 weeks since surgery and they are still trying to adjust my medication to leval out my blood count. I was down to 3.4 today which is tons better. The more weight I loose, the less medication I am needing. I will be seeing my doctor really soon and he will take me off my blood presure medicine and Lipitor. I can't wait. I am soooo tired of taking medication and vitamins. I go to a physical therapist on Friday to help me get going with a exercise program. I am really looking forward to that. Wish me luck..........
Until later,
Debbie
Until later,
Debbie
Happy that is over!!!
Jan 24, 2008
Boy, I am glad that is overwith. I was instructed by my doctor's office to arrive at the hospital at 6 a.m. My husband and daughter both came with me for support and a lot of love. When we got to the hospital, they were instructed to stay in the waiting room until I was preped for surgery. The nurse that escorted me into pre-op was very friendly. After being wieghted, I was lead into a room with bed and all the needed monotors and items. I changed into their very sexy (HaHa) surgical gown. She took all necessary preps and explained to me what was going to happen. She said that when I woke up, not to get scared because I would have a catheter, drain in my stomach, and a main line in my neck. She said all that would be put in while I was asleep. That all did happen like she said and I never felt a thing. My family was then brought in to say good by and I was wheeled into surgery. I asked the nurse who was taking me in, how many people would be in the surgery room with me. She said 8. When I got in the room I was asked to cross my arms, bend my knees, and put my chin to my chest while they moved me to the surgerical table. I did as instructed and a nurse than placed a mask over my nose and mouth and told me to take deep breaths. After several breaths she asked me how I was feeling. I told her I was scared. That was the scarriest part of the who ordeal. She responded that they were going to take good care of me. At that point she said that I would feel a sting in my hand as the anasthesia went in. I did feel a sting and then, lights out. I slowly woke up in recovery and was taken directly to my room. My family came in and stayed with me for awhile. The rest of the day I remember going to sleep and waking up, going to sleep and waking up. Each time I woke up, I looked over and there sat my husband reading. I told him he could turn the TV on but he just wanted to sit there. It was one of the sweetist things he has ever done for me. I could see that he really loved and cared for me. The next day the catheter was removed, the line in my hand, and I began liquids. My nurse asked me if I wanted to try walking and I jumped at the chance. I knew that the sooner I started moving around the sooner I could go home. That evening I was able to take a shower. Boy did that feel good! I went back to bed and fell fast asleep, even with wet hair. My doctor woke me the next morning and the first thing I did was throw my hands up over my hair. I knew it would look horriable. That was on Thursday and that day I lost the drain in my stomach. I was told that would hurt bad, and it did hurt but not as bad as I was prepared for. The nurse cut a few stitches and told me to take a deep breath. When I did that, she pulled it our in one clean swift move. Then the opening was bandaged. My doctor was great and he came in to see me twice a day. Friday morning, he came in and asked me if I felt like I wanted to go home and boy did I take him up on that. The main line in my neck was removed shortly before my release. That too was not as bad as I imagined. I was given two prescriptions to take home. I spent from Friday to Monday down most of the time. I continued to drain for several days after I was home. I got discouraged about the diet and felt shaky so I called my nutritionist and after speaking with her, felt tons better. She gave me many suggestions. Monday through Wed, my strength began coming back and the pain in my side (I had sharp pain when the drain was taken out of) began leaving. My husband took me to my follow up appt with the Surgeon and he told me that everything looked great! Since then, I have been feeling better and better. I just started walking on my treadmill today and am feeling better and better with the surgery. To date I have lost 15 pounds. Already, I have less back and leg pain. I know that it will take time to get all my strength back. Ho well, here we go with the rest of my life.
My Surgery is tomorrow (Tuesday 1/15/08)
Jan 14, 2008
I think I am ready for tomorrow. My bag is packed and bills are caught up on. A list of family and friends phone numbers are waiting for my daughter to use after my surgery. My last regular supper has been eatten, and a last min. trip to JC Pennys was made to find a robe. The house has been cleaned so I will not have to worry about coming home to a mess. My dogs seem to sence that something is going to happen. I will be showering in a few mins. making sure that I do not apply any moisturizer. No food nor water after 12:00. That is in 1 hour 15 mins. I do not feel nervous but just happy to get this thing over with. I want to start my new life. I am so totally greatful to my friends who have been so supportive. I really do appreciate all your help and suggestions. Please keep me in mind tomorrow. My thanks to everyone.
Until Later,
Debbie
Another step closer
Jan 11, 2008
I visited with my surgeon on Wednesday and got a lot of my questions answered. Dr. Fisher even explained every step of the way through the precedure, possible complications, and resolving those complications. If feel a lot more at easy. The following day I had all my labs done and now my only responsibility is to show up next Tuesday for the surgery. My doctor has given me 6 weeks off of work. I am not sure if I will need all the time but am looking forward to getting some rest. I have never taken a leave of absence from work before but am looking forward to the time off. I went to my first support meeting tonight and met several really nice people. One lady said that she is going to come and visit me in the hospital Tuesday evening. That is when the next support group will be meeting in the hospital and she wants to make sure that I am okay. I think I went to the support group on an off night as they had a speaker from a Life Insurance Company and I was not really interested in the subject matter. Oh well three more days to go. Time to get this show on the road.
Debbie
Debbie
Count down time.....7 left.
Jan 08, 2008
Tomorrow is my pre-op visit. I got home from work today and thought that the doctor's office would have left a message telling me if I need to go without eating as I have my labs tomorrow at my pre-op. There was no message on the answering machine. I guess I will stop eating at 10 pm and call the office in the morning to see if I can eat breakfast or not. I was told that the pre-op tomorrow should take about 2 hours. I go see my surgeron at 9:30 am and after he checks me out I will get sent down to the lab for my workup. I don't know what else I will be doing. I also plan to go on Friday to my first support group meeting. I know it is a little late to get started but it's better than not going at all. In one week the surgery will be over and done with and I will beginning a new life. What a kick......
Debbie
Debbie
10 days before surgery
Jan 05, 2008
Today is 10 days before my surgery (1/5/08). I am very nervous about the surgery. Every since I made the decision I try to invision what it will be like to go into surgery, and what it will be like to wake up after wards. I imagine what it will be like to take in water for the first time. I would like to know what is going to happen with as few surprises as possible. This weekend my plans include shopping for the vitamins, foods, and items that I will require for the first two weeks after surgery. People at work seem to want to relay to me every horror story that they ever heard on people recovering afterwards. Sometimes I wonder why people do not stop and think before they open their mouths. My doctor informed my work that I will be off for as much as 6 weeks. I was surprised as I was expecting to be back in 3 weeks. I have a stone in my gallbladder and the doctors have decided to take is out as well. They say if will be easy to do because they will be in the same area. As I said, I am nervous but am determined to do this. If anyone is reading this, please keep me and my doctor in your prayers.
Debbie
Debbie
About Me
Colorado Springs, CO
Location
23.6
BMI
Surgery
01/15/2008
Surgery Date
Sep 22, 2007
Member Since
