mzlaura

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It's been almost 9.5 months since my gastric bypass surgery and YET it still feels like yesterday!  So much to say and reflect on. I've had my moments of complete happiness, sadness, confusion, failure, success, you name it i have probably had it. ONE thing i will say here and now is that this journey was much more different than i thought it would be. My stalls have ripped me apart and caused me to think i am a failure. I had some false assumption that i would be down at least 100 lbs by now and i just hit 80lbs today. So i am a slow loser and it will take me longer than most to hit goal.. OK! I didn't think i would be one that would dump and not be able to eat 4 bites of pasta but alas yup i cannot eat carbs anymore.. well i can if i want to pay for it by vomiting and severe stomach pain. NO THANKS!!! I didn't think i would develop a herniated disc in my back at 3 months post-op but I DID! I didn't think i would develop gastritis at 1 month post-op BUT I DID. I didn't think i would develop a ulcer at 7 months post-op BUT I DID. I am still dealing with severe constipation. Soo much to deal with at 29 years old. I am on over 20 medications a day for pain, etc.. Now before hearing my horror stories and deciding not to do the RNY ask yourself this...... IS IT WORTH IT? Are you in a much worse place now?? Are you able to handle the roller coaster of a ride approaching and potential side effects? Don't think for a second that it can't happen to you because it certainly can. The crazy thing is yes i have had 2nd thoughts through this journey and even regretted it at times but i would still do it all over again... crazy right?? NOPE not to me.

I want pre-op people to be aware of things that may and can happen don't think for a moment your an exception to the rule because you are not. As you can see above i have gone through a lot through my journey and i will deal with my surgery the rest of my life and still battle my demons FOOD, DEPRESSION, ETC. That will never go away. Even with me losing 185 lbs almost i still deal with these issues. I love my new body i went from a high weight in 4/2011 of 401 lbs to currently 216 lbs. I still see myself as a fat girl though.. when i look in the mirror i still have a hard time seeing how much i changed. I still tug on my fat i have left and hate it. I have lots of hanging skin that i will likely never be able to get rid of because of not being able to afford it. That's realistic though expect it! I would still do this all over again though despite everything.. my ulcer will eventually heal and my back hopefully will get better. I think it's important to know the great, the real, the bad, and the WOW.. to this surgery. It's not a game, you live with this decision the rest of your LIFE. Make the right one for you. Some people breeze through without 1 issue great for them. It's funny how some days you can feel collar bones and your face looks way to small and you think i am too bony... then you see your belly and think i am still too fat.... I DO IT ALL THE TIME! The surgery does work but you have to do your part too it's legit real not people just trying to make up stories. You will gain your weight back and stall even more if you don't follow the rules. You have to take vitamins the rest of your life another REAL STORY. I was one of the people who was so excited for my surgery that i thought i knew EVERYTHING haha think again... anything you learn on paper DOES NOT prepare you for the real deal. I will continue to lose SLOW but i just have to learn to be okay with that. It's what my body wants to do. Hope someone can read my blog and at least learn something or understand more coming from a person who has had this surgery. Goodluck to all you pre-ops and do know i DO NOT REGRET THIS ONE BIT. I just thought it would important for you all to see what i have to say 100% real.

And life is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GREAT! I never knew how happy i could be again. This surgery has saved my life!!!!!! I am now fitting into some non plus-sized stuff... size 18 jeans from a 30/32 absolutely CRAZYNESS! Trying to take it all in still. I went to South Carolina alone at the end of May for a week and had a blast!!!! Things are so much easier being over 150lbs less in weight from my highest. I have now lost 52 pounds since my gastric bypass surgery on March 5th, 2013. My highest weight was 401 lbs and a 62.8 bmi as of this morning i am now 245 lbs with a 38.4 bmi CRAZYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! I only have 95 more pounds to lose to get to my goal weight of 150 pounds all though i think i would be happy at 170 too i am tall 5'7. Saturday, July 6th is my 29th birthday and what an AMAZING year it has been i am truly celebrating my birthday this year and thankful for this new life i now have.

I cannot believe i have under 100 pounds to lose now and i am only 4 months out. I never thought i'd be here EVER. I thought i would be morbidly obese the rest of my life. I had over 250 pounds to lose when i started changing my life and habits in April 2011. If  you were to tell me i would be where i am now i wouldn't have believed you. I get so many compliments these days it's just like WOW! I get told how beautiful i am daily.. heck, people are treating me like a human being again and not some circus animal. Thank you god for this second chance AMENNNN.

I had my gastric bypass on March 5, 2013 everything went great. I am doing well.. woke up feeling so good today i am 5 days post-op. Have been having a little trouble getting in protein and fluids but i am working on it. So glad i did this!!

Verified with insurance and surgeon.. March 5th surgery date confirmed i am sooooooo EXCITED right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yet another stressful step i think i will stop worrying once i am in recovery LOL i am a worrier can you tell yet? I meet all the criteria plus some and did everything required yet i am still nervous. Everything has already worked out the way it's supposed to and i just need to let them do their thing and expect my letter for APPROVAL =D

Last step folks last step. On a good note, all paperwork has been submitted on Jan 24th then the rest Jan 28th and i was told by my case manager today that my file is with the review team now. All they have to do is review and approve and i am good to go! I have UHC by the way.

Feb 11th i have my last exercise appt until post-op

Feb 14th pre-op nutrition

Feb 20th pre-op diet and anesthesiologist appt / plus weigh in get rx's, etc

Mar 1st last day of work for my 6 week leave of absence.

March 5th SURGERY DAY yeahhhh

I have started ordering a TON of protein drink samples different flavors don't want to buy one big thing and find i don't like it.

Also ordered bariatric vitamin samples i am READDDYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Exactly 5 months and 1 day later i have a date!

MARCH 5TH, 2013 AT 11AM! PRE-OP FEBRUARY 20TH, 2013

I am having the laparoscopic RNY using the davinci robot. Here's to a new fresh start at a new and healthier life =)

So my appointment for January 15th with the director got bumped up due to a cancellation so i actually met with her January 4th. We ordered 2 more additional labs but she gave me the go-ahead and got me scheduled with my surgeon. I wasn't actually positive who i wanted there is 2 surgeons but i got my "preference" hehe So the day i meet with my surgeon and get my surgery date is....

JANUARY 23RD ~ Yup i will have my surgery date on 1/23! It's looking to be sometime in late February they usually book 4 weeks out for insurance purposes, etc.
Also i am down to 314.4 so i lost more weight even after the holidays they were proud! Heck i am proud. I cannot believe i started October 4th, 2012 and my surgery is finally next month.. i can officially say that now NEXT MONTH yeeeee so happy!

I have my last appointment with the director of the program before i get approved to meet with the surgeon. I will meet the director on January 15th, 2013. Will probably meet the surgeon 2 weeks afterward so by the beginning of February... and then starts the process for insurance approval. Thinking by the end of Feb 2013 i will have surgery if all goes well.

BTW i exceeded my weight loss goal.. they wanted me at 318.6 pre-surgery weight and today and my weigh in 316.8!!! Best news i could get before Christmas i am so excited Merry Christmas to me!