gmoxley

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

  I signed up for the local Walk From Obesity sponsored by Inova Fair Oaks Hospital. It is being held Saturday, September 29th at the Fair Oaks Mall. If you are interested in helping support me, click the link below.

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=238204&supId=187880273

Went back to work yesterday. Survived the 2 hour morning commute, 8 hours of work an the 2 hour commute home. The hospital administrator, God bless him, has commanded me to work from home every other day for the next few weeks. Got up this morning and completed my walk without any problems. Had another normal BM, never thought I would be so excited about going to the bathroom. But I don't miss the incredable pain every four days that I had during the first weeks.

Well, it's only been six weeks since surgery, but somehow (unbelievabe to me) I've gone from 300 lbs. to 245 lbs. already. Today, I told my wife that my 3XL t-shirts that I wear to walk were getting too big and I would need to buy some smaller ones. Then I remembered that my twin sons, who are now off at college use to wear larger size t-shirts in high school then they do now. They have gotten thinner since going to college, thank the Lord. I went to their rooms and found their "too big" pile of XL t-shirts. The WOW moment came when I tried on a couple of the XL size and THEY FIT! I could not believe it. I knew I had gotten smaller, but I didn't realize it was that much. Thank God and WLS.

Went to work on Monday and felt dizzy and weak. I was stumbling around like a drunk. Dr. Patel's office told me to go to the ER. They admitted me and ran a CT Scan, MRI, X-Rays and blood tests on me. Kept me there for three days. Looks like my weight loss caused my BP meds to be too strong. They took me off most of them and I feel fine now. It's Thursday and I plan on going back to work on Monday. 

Attended a beautiful wedding today with my wife. It was a friend of hers that she teaches with. Had to find some of my old clothes to wear because my regular clothes are getting so baggy. Unfortunately the first weight I lost was my butt, and I can't keep my pants up anymore. I may have to go back to wearing suspenders again.
Did well at the reception only eatting a few cubes of cheese and some melon balls. Passed on the sandwiches and ham rolls.
Suffered through another bad session of constipation tonight. Man that hurts. I'll keep taking my fiber and hope it setttles down.
 

Well, I returned to work yesterday and spent most of the day walking around reconnecting with staff and internal customers. Ate a cup of chili in the cafeteria with the administrator of the hospital  joining me to find out how I was doing and how my surgery/stay went. After lunch I got a large unsweetened tea and drank it for the rest of the afternoon. Stayed until around five to spend some time with my second shift manager and his team. Driving home I got really tired and stopped to get some V-8 juice and beef jerky. Chewed it until I couldn't break it down any farther and then spit out the bulk. When I got home I was really tired and took an hour nap until dinner time.

Unfortunately this morning did not go as well. I got up at 6:00 AM and felt good. Went for my 1.5 mile walk and did well for the first half, then I got dizzy and felt weak. Got home and could barely take a shower. Afterwards, I was so weak I had to call work and tell them that I would not be in. I think some of my first day back decisions did me in. Not realizing how much the two hour commute would drain me, probably too much salt in the chili, the V-8 and the beef jerky, and drinking the large ice tea which had me peeing much more then usual and most likely dehydrating. I'm learning.  

Since we had everyone home from college and everyone had finished their summer jobs, we decided to have a family picture taken. After we went to Logan's Road House to eat. Rarely do we ever get to eat out together anymore. So, there I am looking at the menu and seeing all the things I used to order and trying to figure what I could eat at this stage. I remembered all the tips that I got from other WLS people and tried to look for something on the menu that fit. Our drink orders were taken and I passed, then everyone at the table said, forgetting my 30/30 requirement, that I needed to get water. Just then the wait person placed this tray of hot homemade yeast rolls covered in butter on the table under my nose. The aroma was almost irresistable. My son asked me if I was alright and I said, "No, I am not alright. I am trying to make sure I eat right and this is testing my will." But I survived and finally ordered a "cup" of chili. The waitress came back later with my chili and said "I'm sorry sir, but you meant that you wanted a "bowl" of chili, right? I told her no, the cup was what I wanted. I ate about 3/4 of the cup slowly and then stopped, even though I did not feel full. Then when the bill came I ordered a unsweetened ice tea to go, and drank it once I got home (30 minutes later). Another eatting out tip. All in all it was a good experience and helped me to know I can do this.

 Went to Dr. Anez for my "one month" check up. I've lost 40 lbs!! Everything is going well. I confessed my changing from pureed food to soft foods and they were cool with that. The PA said that the pureed food is required of everyone at first because some people have a hard time with learning to throughly chew your food. That isn't a problem for me so I'm OK. Stopped by at the hospital, next door, to see some people and let them know that I will be back next Tuesday. I'm glad to being going back to work, but I will miss the peace and quiet I've come to enjoy at home.

 Well last night I think I had my first "Dumping" incounter. I was taking my medication and since I take seven at night I was taking them one after the other without taking enough time for each to go through. They must have backed up and not gone through my pouch hole. I got real queezy, I started to sweat and I felt horrible. I laid down and suffered until it passed. I learned a valuable lesson. If this is what will happen when I overeat or eat sweets or too much fat, it will definitly be a good deterent.

  Well it's Saturday and I wanted to get out and do something. Took my daughter Grace to the movies to see Harry Potter. My first time, her fourth. Grace is a die hard Harry Potter fan and has practically memorized every book. The scale says I'm down to 264 lbs. It is so hard to believe that I am now down 46 lbs. from my heaviest. I'm noticing things are getting easier to do, like going up stairs and walking. Also, my fibromyalgia seems to have improved with much less pain. HEY!!