Seventh H.
January 25, 2003 I've been overweight almost all of my life. When I married at 18 I weighed 172 and thought I was too heavy. I've had 4 daughters. I was married for 23 years. I've been divorced for a little over 5 yrs now. 2 yrs after my divorce I met Terry and we have been together since. In 1986 I weighed 291 and over the next 10 years watched it rise to 328. I went on a couple of extreme diets inspired by pots at work. It was very hard. My ex was close to 400 lbs. and offered lots of resistance.I won 2 of them for losing the most weight and lost 100 pounds over the next year and a half going down to 228 and have kept off all but 30 of it since. I have had 6 cortisone injections in my back, 4 knee surgeries and countless cortisone injections in my knee since I injured it on 1990. After talking to 2 women at work that have had WLS I have decided to come to this site to find out more info
May 22, 2003.My consult with Dr Alexander was today. I am a candidate for WLS. They said they will send a letter to my insurance company tomorrow.
May 27, 2003. Yesterday was Memorial Day so I called insurance company today and they did not receive fax from doctor. After calling again they sent it again.
May 28, 2003. I called my insurance company and the fax was still sitting on fax machine at insuance company. They say it will be given to my insurance caseworker sometime before noon.
May 22, 2003.My consult with Dr Alexander was today. I am a candidate for WLS. They said they will send a letter to my insurance company tomorrow.
May 27, 2003. Yesterday was Memorial Day so I called insurance company today and they did not receive fax from doctor. After calling again they sent it again.
May 28, 2003. I called my insurance company and the fax was still sitting on fax machine at insuance company. They say it will be given to my insurance caseworker sometime before noon.
June 3, 2003 APPROVED !!!! My insuance company called me and told me I am approved. I called Dr office and the scheduled surgery for July 18, 2003 at 7:30 WOO! HOO!!
June 4, 2003 Stress test at Dr Alexander's office. I passed, even though I thought the bike ride they made me do was gonna wear me out.
June 9, 2003. Healthsouth at 5:30 am for EDG test. They were wonderful, after I finally found out where to go to. The sign at the front door was turned the wrong way so I was about 15 min. late and the phone number the doctor's office gave me for them was wrong. I was put under for the test so I knew nothing. Perfect for me :-)
June 26, 2003. I submitted a picture for my profile.
July 1, 2003. 17 days to go. I'm starting to get a little more nervous..but excited. I still have to go on the 11th for pre-surgery testing and pre-registration. It'll be nice to lose a lot of weight. I'm going tomorrow to buy the food, or drink :-( and the stuff that I'll need to get me through the first couple of weeks. If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate any and all advice.
07/07/2003
11 days to go. This'll be my last unskinny birthday :-)
But worried about the surgery. Still haven't bought stuff I need first couple of weeks. The web site I had in mind didn't tell me what I needed to know. A lady in the chat room here emailed me the diet her doctor gave her. That was extremely helpful. My doctor hasn't told me any thing about diet, I called 2 weeks ago to see if having dental work done before surgery and haven't recieved a call back yet. I called a couple of times. I also called my family doctor, they promised to call me back with an answer. I cancelled dental work. I Hope doctor doesn't let me down on surgery, he doesn't seem very thorough at this point.
July 10, 2003 8 days to go. I go for my pre surgery testing tomorrow and pre registration. I'm not sure what all of that involves. A couple of ladies have emailed me some diet plans and that helps a lot. Getting anxious now :-) and scared, and worried and at the same time can't wait to start losing the extra weight. Guess it's all normal.
July 11, 2003 Just got back from the doc. Everything went well. I surrendered to the vampire :-) Luckily they only took 4 or 5 tubes of blood and I was out of there by 1230 or so. They sent me to Quest Diagnostics for blood work instead of RHD. Then I went to the hospital and pre registered and then went to day surgery and registered there too. He says that I will be in until Monday night, not Sunday.I got them to give me a copy of the diet plan for the first few weeks at Dr Alexander's office. Looks like a diet of broth and water and popsicles :-)
July 14, 2003. No cortisone shot in the knee today. Doc says it hinders healing. So gotto tough it out for now, but it's not real bad since I'm off work. Tomorrow is my last day to eat real food.
July 17, 2003. Tomorrow is the big day. I had to put my car in the shop again yesterday...preventive maintainence HA! I put it in to replace the timing belt so I wouldn't have problems. The first mechanic didn't line the pulley up right and belt kept breaking, car started overheating, fixed this fixed that, flushed engine, radiator, then said it was radiator was bad, replace that...now come to find out it is cracked head.That's an upper engine overhaul. It was all just a guessing game, might still be. I guess I should have stuck with the old rule of thumb..if it isn't broke, don't fix it. Since I can't drive the next two weeks it will be a good time to get it fixed so me and my car will both be in the hospital. Still had a few last minute things to do before surgery but gonna do them tonight with my fiance since I'm on foot today. He's been pretty good thru this as much as he can but he still isn't there emotionally for me. He just doesn't know how. I'm hoping he'll come thru for me once the surgery happens and I'm not just talking about it. I spent the day with my ex yesterday because the mechanic is a friend of his and my ex is around 500 pounds. It's going to be a little easier to get up in the morning and go in for my surgery now when I realize a little more just how serious being overweight can be. He's talked to a dr about the surgery but he won't do it for him till he quits smoking. My ex walked with me to the fishing hole about 100 ft away and took everything he had to do it and I don't think he realized just how bad of shape he was getting in. I hope I can be an inspiration to him and he will quit smoking so he can have it done too. He says he's going to, I hope so.
July 21, 2003 Surgery took about an hour longer and cut was a little longer because my liver was lower and they had to go slower. I did a lot of walking. My fiance is behind all of that. I don't think I would've done as much if he wasn't there encouraging me so much. Maybe because he was pretty bored too. Yesterday morning they told me my left lung was getting slow so it really got my attention and I was up walking about every hour.But when the doc come in about 3 yesterday afternoon he said I was ok to go home. Before I went in I was told by my family doc that he would suggest to Dr A that I would be there till Monday night just for good measures. It was better being home last night. I was afraid it would be hard to get out of bed at home but I can lay on my side ok and it's easy to get up from there. I weighed last night when I got home and had gained 2 lbs, but I lost 3 last night and I'm at a 1 lb loss Woo Hoo!! I figure there's some weight from the tube and extra fluid that I'm carrying now too. 3-4 teaspoons is all I can eat at a time right now and I am stuffed. My cat usually sleeps on my stomach at night and he's having a hard time understanding why he can't do that anymore. I slept with a pillow on my stomach last night and he tried several times but I pushed him off the bed a couple of times :-( and he was ok with it. He's about 3 yrs old and pretty heavy so he won't be sleeping on me for a LONG time. Poor kitty :-( Guess in a few months I won't be near as comfortable either.
July 23, 2003 I had surgery friday. All was ok till around noon yesterday and I was borderline nauseauous. I had this stuffed feeling in my stomach all day so I cut back on my fluids because I was scared that I was overfilling myself. I've cut back on pain meds since last night, haven't took any today because doc was supposed to call in something different since I have trouble with Lortab anyhow. It's 1 pm and pharmacy hasn't heard from him yet so they say. I'm having problems with sinus drainage too. I felt yesterday like I was coming down with the flu. Today I just feel hot and cold and almost nauseaous. I've been drinking my fluids today, but no broth, just thinking about the smell of it gets me. I've been eating sf jello and popsicles since last night. I go to dr tomorrow. I have a drain tube but couldn't get it open..seems stuck. Ugggggggggggg..........
July 24, 2003 Finally got the pain med problem under control. They gave me some nasal stuff for sinus and another for pain. Big problem was Albertson's pharmacy. My doc tried 3 times that morning to talk to pharmacist and was put on eternal hold. So he finally faxed the medication in with no assistance from the pharmacy dept around noon. Then they told me that the pain med wouldn't be available till the next day around noon. Gee thanks!! So I changed pharmacies. Found one that had all 3 items I wanted, instead of only 1 and they even delivered to me for free.
July 25, 2003 I had my first post-op dr appt yesterday. Also had more bloodwork done. Since I was dehydrated they had a fishing tournament on both arms then FINALLY drew some blood. Still got the bruise from the test a week before surgery. Gonna look like a junkie when the bruises come out from yesterday. We closed on our new home yesterday, gonna get to move to Alvord on 4 acres in 2-3 wks. We've been working on it for about 2 yrs now. My fiance is going to have to do all of the work moving but he's ok with that. As soon as I get past the knee surgery and drop off some of this weight we are going to have the wedding that we put off in May. I want to be able to wear a dress that I pick out..not just the biggest one that will fit so he agreed to wait :-)))))))
July 28, 2003. I've been feeling pretty weak, especially in the mornings. Friday night I drank a protein drink before bed and finally Sat morning I felt pretty good when I got up.Saturday my doc called me and told me my blood work was great...to keep up the good work, that's a relief. Sunday morning I felt almost human. I ate mashed potatoes Sunday night and they were Yummmmmm. (Real food!!) Now Monday morning, I'm feeling just about normal. Since Friday I've only needed pain medicine in the afternoons and at night. I haven't lost any weight in the last 2 days but I was so dehydrated, I figure my body retained some of it since I am now drinking my fluids right. In the back of my mind I'm concerned that the surgery didn't work, but I know better.
July 30,2003 Fifth day in a row with no weight change. Hmmmmm. Gotta call the doc, second day with tube discharge...tan colored.
Aug 8. 2003 I had my 3 week checkup yesterday and got my tube out. He bandaged it and we said our goodbyes and when I got to the front counter like 3 minutes later to schedule my next appt I noticed my shirt was wet where it leaked thru already!! Had to go back in and get it redone and heavier gauze. My tube site hurts. I tossed and turned all night last night. I could move my foot the right way and it pulled on it...seemed like it was that bad. It's not as bad today. I've lost 26 pounds now "-) I have a mental problem with eating baby food. Gotta find some other option. My dad's heart surgery went OK yesterday. He's gonna have to have angioplasty done every so often looks like. Blockages are gonna be a big problem for him :-(
August 15, 2003 It's been 4 wks today. I have lost 31 lbs. My energy level is up a lot. I still have a pain where they took the tube out that shows up mostly when I lay down. My first cycle after surgery was 3 days after surgery..then the next was 23 days later, it's usually 26 for me..so that's close to normal. I lost all of my steri- strips 3 days ago and the scar is bright pink from the scab coming off. Seems to be no sign of infection. The other day when I picked my car up the guys noticed my weight loss. One of them told my ex later that he needs to quit smoking and have the surgery done because "that woman's lost a lot of weight" :-)))))))
August 18, 2003 I have added to my diet mashed potatoes, oatmeal, malt-o-meal, applesauce, scrambled egg substitute and cottage cheese along with good old yogurt that I've eaten till it's running out my ears. So I'm happy with that for now. For pureed food I added Underwoods chicken spread, I just can't get past the mental thing about eating baby food. But as far as real food that I can sink my teeth into I'm going to try to hold out until my 6 week mark. I have eaten a banana. I use them in my protein drinks or I get leg and foot cramps and they are a good source of potassium. It went down good. I haven't dumped but I have gotten too full. I love salad, but I'm afraid to try them yet too. I've lost 32 lbs now :-)
August 20, 2003 For breakfast today I ate between 1/4-1/2 cup oatmeal . A protein drink with banana in it for a snack. I use Isopure wheat protein isolate with 50 grams protein with 2 scoops that I got at Smoothie Factory. For lunch I had 1/2 cup cream of potato soup. For snack I had 1/2 cup yogurt (apple turnover flavor). For supper I am going to have underwoods chicken spread..maybe 1/4 cup with 3-4 club crackers. For a snack I will have some more yogurt or SF popsicle.I can't wait till 6 wks so I can try some more solid stuff. I will lose slowly for 3-4 days then the scales will sit for 4-5 days. I tried on my favorite shorts this morning that were WAY too tight before surgery, now I can wear them and slip my hand in the band
September 2, 2003 I just had an 8 day plateau and now the weight is starting to slowly come off again. I lost one pound on the 9th day and 3 on the 10th. I've moved on to solid foods. So far I've tolerated everything. I've tried chicken in several forms and flour tortillas are ok for me.
September 16, 2003 Another plateau!! I lost for 6 days(7 1/2 lbs)I've been the same weight for 11 days now. Since 1 week after surgery I have lost 5 inches in my bust, 10 inches in my waist, 3 1/2 inches in my hips and 4 1/2 inches in my belly. When I have plateaus I see the inches go down :-)
September 24, 2003 Still in the same plateau. I could have lost this much weight on my own....and have....and kept it off. It will get better according to what everyone says...but their weight is slowly going down. With the small amount that I am eating it SHOULD be melting off. This is my fourth plateau in 2 months..and this one has lasted 18 days so far.
October 4, 2003 Last night I had the strangest experience. Before going to bed last night I decided to take 2 Lortab(10 mg pain medication). I am due for a total knee replacement in about a month and I have taken these for about 14 years, since my injury. I decided since it was a Friday night and my knee had been hurting I would double up, which I have done many times before with no problems. I have to take Vistaril (anti-nausea) with it. So I took 2 of them too, also normal. I've noticed since surgery that it hits me in 20-25 min instead of 40-45 min. About 2 hours after that we were sitting in the floor in front of our new fireplace(we just moved in last weekend) and all of a sudden I felt a little dizzy, then I got this lower rib pain that I have had 3-4 times since surgery. It usually lasts only a little while, I thought it was from the ribspreader that they use during surgery. I had started to get up and sit on the couch to relieve the pain and I got dizzier. I told my fiance that I was getting real light headed. Next thing I knew he was in my face asking how many I had taken and I was super dizzy and dumbfounded. I had fallen over backwards(luckily we were sitting on the floor) he said he felt NO HEARTBEAT!! and he started pumping on my chest. I was out long enough to petrify him. When he pulled me into an upright position...that was when I came to. I was getting kinda sweaty. Once I stood up I was OK. A little weak. Then we went outside to get some fresh air and nausea hit me about every 15 min. I couldn't get sick but just coughing and trying would make me feel a little better after that. A little dizziness came with each one of the nausea spells. I think it was the Lortab. It had been about 3 hours since I had eaten since it hit me about 1 in the morning we debated going to the hospital and since I felt better and we believed it was the Lortab we just stayed up for a couple of more hours and he kept an eye on me like a hawk. I have been eating right and experiencing no other problems. Needless to say, I'll take the pain because I'm not going to take any more Lortab for a while.
October 5,2003 I Hit the 50 pound mark!! It took me 79 days
October 8, 2003 Dr. called me this morning, Boy that was fast!! Blood test results are in. I'm almost anemic, so he's gonna prescribe some slow release iron pills, low on B12, so I'm gonna get a couple of shots a month apart, magnesium was ok, protein was real good (6.9) Cholesterol was EXCELLENT!! Total(119) Good(37) Bad (73) Still gotta do the halter monitor but that's OK, I'd really like to know for sure that all is ok. He said the surgery does amazing things to cholesterol counts and that the iron and B12 were ok to be low because this is real common. And I've lost 53 lbs now Dr. scales showed 4 more lbs lost but I'm not gonna count them. Thanks for all that have been concerned and I can't stress enough importance when it comes to the fact that drugs affect us differently now and some can become life threatening. So pleeeeease be careful!!!!
October 15, 2003 I started out with a BMI of 43.3 and that's in the Morbidly Obese catagory. I've moved out of it into the Super Obese catagory. If I can lose one more pound I will be in the Obese (34.9) catagory. Woooo Hoooo!! I lost 99 lbs several years ago and I'm only 9 lbs away from reaching that weight again. I was trying to catch up with my fiance but he's lost 20 lbs since my surgery too. I now weigh what he used to. I'm gonna catch him eventually, if not I'll have a much slimmer man!! If I lose more than that I will be lighter than I've been since my first daughter was born 27 years ago. My cholesterol is down to 119. I've lost 56 lbs now and feeling and looking WONDERFUL!!!!!! This surgery has been a blessing and a half. My youngest daughter is coming this weekend to visit. She hasn't seen me since the surgery. I hope she recognizes me when I pick her up at the bus station LOL
Nov 7, 2003 I've lost 63 lbs now. Since the long plateau it has been coming off slowly and steadily. I have an appt with my PCP for bloodwork today and a B12 shot, an appt for a halter moniter on the 20th, stomach dr on the 11th. I'm still thankful for this surgery. I am unpacking clothes now that I used to wear when I lost 99 lbs(couldn't hit 100)several years ago. So luckily for now I have tons of clothes in my size since I stayed that size for several years. I have 4 daughters that have been getting my hand me downs. So everybody is benefiting from this surgery. I am 2 lbs away from that goal and if I get below that it will be a miracle in my book
December 17, 2003. It's been almost 5 months and I've lost 78 lbs. Me and my fiance are neck and neck in weight loss. He's only lost 15 lbs...but we are tied around 215. I know soon I'll pass him and weigh less but at least for now it's a little extra challenge especially with the holidays. I can fit into his pants now :-) even though they are now starting to fall off of him. I'm feeling pretty good nowdays. Still a little low on energy sometimes. Bloodwork is good. I'm ALMOST down to a 39 waist, which I haven't seen in ages. My total knee replacement is set for Feb 3, 2004. YUK!!
January 14, 2004 I've seen 210 and my weight is going from 210-214. My fiance has hit 208 now, so He's broke our new tie at 210. I'm down to a size 40 jeans now. I put on a pair of his pants the other day and they fit!! I wore one of his fancy western shirts that he said was a little too tight for him, but it swam on me :-) Guess that's cause guys wear their pants below their waist. My weight was 220 on Dec 5. At least it doesn't go over 213 now. But it's moving downward and upward real slow now.
February 5, 2004. We did it!! We got married on Jan 27. Picture are posted here
/>I made it down to 207 by our weddingFebruary 13,2004I haven't made it below the 200 mark yet, I lack 2 lbs but I am now "officially Just overweight". This is the lowest I've been in my adult life. I was 19 or 20 when I went over the 200 lb mark. I'm 47 so it's been a few years. My fluctuating weight has teased me and gone as low as 202 1/2, but now it's finally gone down to 202 which is a new low. Hopefully it'll fluctuate on down to 200 in the next week That'll put me 7 lbs away from the century club Hopefully my future holds for me some purchases at Victoria's Secret which was named after me (not really, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it)February 17, 2004 I finally hit below 200!! I've had a head cold since Sunday and been eating like I'm supposed to I guess. Well, the scales have been SLOWLY creeping downward toooo Tomorrow is 7 months since surgery. Now I have 6 more pounds till the Century Club. Look out!! Here I come!!!http://home.earthlink.net/~seventhheavn7/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/windyday.jpg"> />I've lost 94 lbs in 7 months. This picture was took on a windy day and I'm wearing my husband's jeans that it took me 6 months to fit into. Now they are too big but I can't see buying more now since in a month they do the TKR and I won't be able to wear anything but shorts for a few months. Then I get to go buy a new wardrobe :-)February 27, 2003 I bought some Floradix liquid iron suppliment yesterday. After taking daily iron tablets for a month my iron count has not changed. So ">http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid3619544 />
I finally weigh less that Terry. He's still lingering around 210. I'm down to 202 1/2 which is only 1/2 lb from being in the just overweight catagory. I've lost 91 lbs now. My knee replacement has been rescheduled for May 4, since I am anemic and my field nurse changed on me at the last minute. Hair loss has stopped, even though it wasn't very much more than normal.
http://home.earthlink.net/~seventhheavn7/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/weddingpic.jpg"> />I made it down to 207 by our wedding
February 13,2004
I haven't made it below the 200 mark yet, I lack 2 lbs but I am now "officially Just overweight". This is the lowest I've been in my adult life. I was 19 or 20 when I went over the 200 lb mark. I'm 47 so it's been a few years. My fluctuating weight has teased me and gone as low as 202 1/2, but now it's finally gone down to 202 which is a new low. Hopefully it'll fluctuate on down to 200 in the next week That'll put me 7 lbs away from the century club Hopefully my future holds for me some purchases at Victoria's Secret which was named after me (not really, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it)
February 17, 2004 I finally hit below 200!! I've had a head cold since Sunday and been eating like I'm supposed to I guess. Well, the scales have been SLOWLY creeping downward toooo Tomorrow is 7 months since surgery. Now I have 6 more pounds till the Century Club. Look out!! Here I come!!!
http://home.earthlink.net/~seventhheavn7/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/windyday.jpg"> />I've lost 94 lbs in 7 months. This picture was took on a windy day and I'm wearing my husband's jeans that it took me 6 months to fit into. Now they are too big but I can't see buying more now since in a month they do the TKR and I won't be able to wear anything but shorts for a few months. Then I get to go buy a new wardrobe :-)
February 27, 2003 I bought some Floradix liquid iron suppliment yesterday. After taking daily iron tablets for a month my iron count has not changed. So Feosol is not being absorbed properly. On Jan 1 I weighed 217, I now weigh 198. That's 19 pounds I've lost this year Woo Hoo. That was after 2 major 3 week each plateaus. I'm now 5 lbs away from the Century Club!!
March 9, 2004 I went today to retest the iron count in my blood. Doctor said I will probably have to have IV Iron fusions since I've always been low in iron. Nice of him to tell me huh? If I would have known I was borderline anemic I would have been more careful not to miss any vitamins. But he's been telling me my labs are ok. So I didn't get the signal I expected to get. I also went back to see Dr. A. They took pictures and are going to submit a request for a tummy tuck. I had only considered breast lift but I found out I can also get rid of my spare tire :-)
August 09, 2004 .I saw my ex sister in law last weekend. She talked to me (It's only been 3 years since I've seen her) and didn't recognize me. She turned to my daughter after talking to me and asked if I was going to be there later that day. Yeah!! I went from being the larger than all 4 of my daughters to the smallest.
October 21, 2004
I had RNY on 7/18/2003, 15 months ago. I have lost another 10 lbs in the 15th month. I am down to 159 lbs, putting me below goal. I see thin when I look in the mirror. My husband says I need to gain some back, Dr says I can lose 10 more and still be OK. At one time...about 8 years ago I topped out at 328 lbs. I am below half of that now. I got down to about 230-240 and stayed there for about 4 years, then slowly gained 65 of it back.
I was scared I was getting anemic because I am cold at 78 degrees and low on energy. I went to the dr with my husband Monday for his doctor appointment and my doc stepped in to say Hi and says you look pale. Come on, were gonna do blood work on you right now. The results came back great. I had to postphone knee replacement in Feb due to anemia. I couldn't get above 11. Now it's at 14.1 Woo Hoo!! Thanks to Resoursce vitamins for bariatric patients.
I Guess the paleness is due to lack of sun since I've spent the last 2 summers inside due to the knee...and I'm a redhead so I am light skinned anyhow. The low energy was withdrawal symptoms from the pain medication I have been on since May with the knee replacement, which is finally starting to see some good progress......but AWFUL slow. I haven't taken ANYTHING for pain for 7 days now so I can clean my system out and try to get back to normal.
There have been times that I have wondered if I made a mistake having the surgery and then I see problems that some of my overweight relatives are going through and realize that maybe I won't have those same problems since I am thinner now. So I am really glad I had the surgery and would do it all over again, even knowing what I do now.
I lost a lot of hair too. I had a lot to lose. But the biggest problem with that is....the thinner my hair gets, the wavier it gets and the frizzier it gets. I've upped my protein and I've been eating every hour or hour and a half trying to build myself back up and have only gained 1 1/2 lbs in the last week, I guess this new weight is right for me. I guess I wasn't eating enough since the extra food hasn't made me gain that much. So, that's all good.
Since I'm cold all the time this will be the first time in my life that I can wear sweatshirts and fuzzy sweaters, that's something that I used to be too hot natured to do.
And I don't miss sugar one bit