shea02
10.13.04 - hi all.. i am a 34 year old stay at home mommy to my son joseph. he is going to be 2 next month and is getting oh so "terrible"!
i have decided to have this surgery to be healthy for me and my family. i want to be able to do the things i am physically unable to anymore due to the "ailment of the week" i experience... lol (not really!) i have a wonderful husband who is supportive of me in all i do and loves me more as each day passes, but i want to be around for a long time to experience his love and my love for our family.
i was a very thin child, a chubby teen and well...apparently at some point, i have really grown into myself! hee hee
i have had my consult with dr.brathwaite and also have completed all of my pre-op testing and am just waiting on some of the paperwork to be faxed over to his office.
as soon as they have it all (which should be this friday) they are going to seek my approval from the insurance company! may i take this opportunity to say: "WOO HOO!!!!!!!"
10.14.04 - tomorrow is the day i go back to dr.brathwaite's office to drop off the last of the paperwork. hopefully it will all be in place and my letter will go out asap! can't wait to hear that all of my test results were o.k. and i can move on to the next step!!
10.15.04 - so i dropped off all of my paperwork and had my follow up with the gastro dr. apparently they found that i have the bacteria that causes ulcers. this was discovered when they did a biopsy during my endoscopy. it is really common and all i have to do is take a bunch of meds for 10 days and i should be fine.dr. b's office said that i should hear from them monday afternoon, if not then to call them later in the day to follow up and make sure everything is in order. i am excited but at a stand still... it feels like the classic "hurry up and wait" scenario! lol
i have also been telling more friends and family about the surgery. i'm getting mixed reviews. whether or not they approve or disapprove, everyone has been supportive...
i'll write more when i hear from the insurance company...=)
10.20.04 - i just found out that the sleep study results show i have sleep apnea. i am going tonight to get the c-pap machine and have to be on it for at least 3 weeks before my dr. will perform the surgery. i also am waiting to hear back from the dr.'s office as to whether or not i will need another endoscopy since they found bacteria in my initial biopsy...hopefully it will all flow smoothly and i will be writing with a date next time i post. =)
10.25.04 - i got approved!!!! i got approved!!!! i got approved!!!!surgery is scheduled for november 23rd. i'll be in the hospital for thanksgiving but i don't care! i will be giving thanks on the losing side with my family at my side!!!!
10.30.04i received a call from judy at dr. brathwaite's office yesterday informing me that they want to remove my gall bladder while i am having my rny. this was the first of anything wrong with my gall bladder that i had heard. apparently, i have a bad case of stones and they would like to remove it to prevent any attacks or complications after the surgery.
not for anything, but i made peace with the fact that i am losing the majority of my stomach and 60% of my intestines, but another organ? i'm kind of attached to my body parts and would like to keep them in me! lol
but, in the end i told judy that if this is what the dr. feels is best for me, then i give my consent...
11.07.04my surgery is in a little over 2 weeks and i am having a lot of feelings regarding my mortality. it didn't hit me until last night and i have decided to write a letter to my son and my husband in the event that i do not make it through my surgery.
i wasn't sure if the things i was feeling were a little too over the top since "aunt flow" showed up today (heehee) but apparently, it is common to have these feelings.
writing these letters were the hardest thing i have ever done but actually have some relief now. if there is the chance that god has other plans for me, then i can go in peace and know that the light of my life, joseph, will always know how much his mommy loves him. and my husband although i am sure he knows, will have a special love letter from me to turn to for comfort and support.
but since i am going to come though this with flying colors, we can all read the letters one rainy day and hug, kiss and be thankful that mommy is there to read them to her "boys"....
11.16.04one week away from surgery and i am getting nervous...
i have my pre-surgical testing this afternoon. then medical clearance on wednesday.
my son's 2nd birthday is this friday so i am trying to concentrate on that to get me through this week.
the excitement is also a little overwhelming. the thought of my whole life changing to make me a healthier person. i've also ridded my house of anything "bad" so there isn't any temptation.
although today i was a little hungry. sugar free jello and amino acid drinks aren't that filling when you have a normal size tummy! heehee =)
11.16.04so my pre-surgical testing is done. it went well. i was in and out within 2 hours.
a new friend of mine had his wls yesterday so he was in the hospital and i stopped by to see him. he looked great and is feeling ok. i'm really glad his surgery went well.
i have my medical clearance appointment tomorrow afternoon and then that is really it until the big day... 6 days away...
11.20.04well kids, just 3 short days to go and i am feeling much calmer than i thought i would. i am mentally prepared and my pantry is stocked with my "new" foods.
i went to the vitamin shoppe that a neighbor of mine owns and purchased some met-rx protein plus powder for protein shakes. it is supposed to taste really awesome. a workout guru friend of mine had recommended it so i am going to try it. 42 grams of protein per shake.
i also purchased my liquid vitamins, isopure and got some whey samples. let's just say that i'm prepared like a boyscout! =)
i have also been receiving such an overwhelming amount of support from everyone here at obesity.com that the words "thank you" can not possibly ever be enough. everyone has been so welcoming, informative, loving and as i said... so super supportive. i truly appreciate everyone and their well wishes for me. it is so wonderful to have all of you.
i will probably update once more before i go in on tuesday...
=)
11.22.04tomorrow is the big day! i just called the hospital and i have to be there at 7am. my surgery is scheduled for 9am.
the next time i update will be from the losing side!
WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!
=)
11.28.04i am 5 says post-op and in a lot of pain. no matter what i try to take a sip of, i have excruciating pain in my stomache. i spoke with my doctor a little while ago and he advised me to take mylanta. i did and still feel terrible. he thinks it may just be that my stomache is irritated but wants to see me tommorow.
i'll post more when i am feeling up to it. ( i have lost 15lbs as of today.)
=)
11.29.04i went to the dr this morning and saw the pa there. she prescribed protonics and told me to drink, drink, drink..
i said i am trying, trying, trying but the pain has only gotten worse. after she gave me a quick exam, she pulled my drain out.
it was the mos PAINFUL thing i have ever been through. i have had 8 surgeries and one child and NEVER felt anything like this.
i went home and went to bed. after sleeping a few hours i woke up feeling like a new person??? it seems that i was either allergic to the material the drain was made out of or my body tried to heal around it. so i am sill in pain but can tolerate it. amazing...
i am off to bed but wanted to post on the exciting update!
as of today i have lost 19lbs.
=)
12.09.04i have had some troubles with eating and drinking. this afternoon i was at my primary care physician to have bloodwork drawn for my surgeon and my primary hydrated me with 2 liters of saline. i feel a little better but we shall see what happens tomorrow.
i am not able to tolerate really anything. i am nauseous all the time... i have been to the surgeon's office 3 times and still have no idea whay this is happening to me. my husband is at the pharmacy picking up the third prescription this week to see if maybe this will help.
i should have the bloodwork results tomorrow afternoon so hopefully we will find out where this is stemming from.
as of today i have lost 25lbs.
12.25.04merry christmas!
it's been a while since my last update but there has been so much going on. after receiving the bloodwork results i found out i had pancreatitis and was hospitalized over a week. it was serious but is improving. i also have an ulcer which is still causing me much grief and i cannot tolerate much food or water. i am vomiting a lot and am still nauseous all the time. i am on a little "medicinal cocktail" as my husband calls it and it involves 4 meds several times a day. i'm not really sure how much it is helping but things are improving a little.
my family has been taking off of work to care for my son and my husband is on vacation this coming week so i hope to get my strength back so i can care for him on my own.
on a positive note, i am down 31bs and actually saw the results in my clothing tonight. my family came over and my mom hosted thank god! but my old snug clothing was hanging off of me! it finally felt good to see some results.
as of today i have lost 31 lbs! =)
01.24.05it has been 2 months since surgery and i am still feeling terrible. i am now experiencing pain from my gallbladder and may need another surgery to remove it.
i am going this afternoon to have another bloodtest done. it seems that i am going almost weekly for these tests and i am at my wits end. it is so frustrating to not be able to do anything that i want.
the nurse at the dr.'s office has been great but i am on 5 medications daily and am only 34. i had this surgery to be healthy. i am anything but that. all the weightloss in the world could not convince me to ever have this surgery again.
i hope to have an answer today regarding my gallbladder and if not, will patiently wait through another week of pain and nausea.
as of today i have lost 43lbs.
02.05.05well, i had emergency surgery last thursday night and was hospitalized for over a week.
i am still nauseous all the time but am feeling a litte better since surgery.
i am having some issues with my heart and need to see a cardiologist about a pacemaker and i am freaked out about that. this has been a long road and i really want to get to the end and be healthy!
as of today i have lost 51 lbs.
02.08.05
i am feeling a little better today. slow and steady wins the race right? food is still very difficult and i have found that i am not tolerating fluids much either. i am going to try a protein shake for dinner tonight to see how i do with it since my food intake is terrible.
as of today i have lost 56 lbs! =)
02.21.05well things are going MUCH better!!! since my surgery my whole body is healing and i am feeling better each day. i have been going out and bought some new clothing which is looking great. i also have gone to the gym and am getting on a schedule to keep up the weight loss. i have hit a bit of a plateau and am a little discouraged, but since i am feeling so great i will take the plateau! =)
as of today weight loss is still 56 lbs...
03.07.05
well, things are moving along really well. i am feeling better and have been going to the gym 4-5 times a week. i am still having food issues but remember that i must eat to live. it used to be the other way around!
i have been on a few shopping sprees since my old clothing looks ridiculous on me and a friend even donated some so i didn't have to spend such a fortune at the store. but honestly? shopping is soooo much fun now. i get to buy what looks good on me, not what fits me.
well, i have to go i am on my way to the gym to tone these muscles and hopefully have some success with not too much excess skin.
as of today i have lost 63 lbs! (and i am in a size 16 jeans!!)
03.28.05it has been a while since my last update. i haven't lost much more weight but i think i am losing inches from working out. i can see my "problematic" areas and do a hundred crunches at the gym in hopes of eliminating my pot belly! eventually i will get a tummy tuck but for now i am so satisfied with my results. i feel so wonderful!
food has become a bit more challenging. although i still eat a very small amount, the old demons are there tempting me to eat unhealthy. i have allowed myself to have a small taste here and there of foods that aren't prepared the healthiest way. after almost all of them i feel icky. my body isn't used to it.
i have also found "vitamin water." it is wonderful. i am getting in much more vitamins in the day due to this water. there is sugar in it but only 8grams. it sort of tastes like really watered down fruit punch or orange drink or whatever flavor you want. i prefer it over other drinks out there right now but i am sure that will change soon enough!
i will update again soon!
as of today i am down 67 lbs.
04.26.05
so it has been a month since my last update. nothing much is new. i am still stuck at my plateau and get discouraged some days. but most days i feel wonderful. new issues arise with self-image and how i want to look and how i really look.
i have terrible hair loss. i think it may actually be slowing down a little, but last night i saw how thin is is getting in the front. i hope it stops soon.
other than that, nothing really to report! i hope for my next entry i have a decent amount of weight loss to report!!
as of today i am down 71 lbs.
05.24.05
so another month has gone by and so ,uch has happened. my weight loss is still progressing but very slowly. i tried to push myself at the gym and was doing leg presses at 140 lbs and hurt my back. one step forward two steps back.
i also have a bad cold which is making me sleepy and crabby. lol
but in other news, i was offered the job i wanted and have been waiting for since last year. i started joseph in daycare today and my first day back to work is tomorrow. it seems to be going well for joseph since i haven't received any phone calls from the daycare center yet!
i'll update more when i lose more weight...
as of today i am down 76 lbs! =)
06.28.05so another month has gone by so quickly.
a lot has been happening with me. i have gone back to work and it is going well. eating has been difficult because it is so easy to eat badly. there are days i cheat. no denying it. but for the most part i am trying to be good. i also make sure to limit my intake. as the months progress i notice it is easier to eat much more. now i make the effort to stop.
i am feeling wonderful and shopping like a madwoman. i really enjoy it now. i bought my first bathing suit in a regular size for the first time in i can't tell you how long.
well, i must get back to work...
as of today i am down 86lbs.
=)
08.11.05so it is going.. slow but going. i am feeling great and danced the night away at a party saturday night. actually my mom and i crashed a wedding at the catering hall where we were. it was pretty hysterical.
i attended a support group meeting tuesday night for dr.b. i haven't been to one in 3 months so it was great to see cathy, carole and sarah. they all look so awesome. steve couldn't make it because he had tickets to the yanks game. if i had tickets i would have blown off the meeting too! lol
as of today i am down 91lbs.
10.18.05it has been way too long since i have updated.
i am doing well. having issues with my husband and we will most likely separate, but i am not willing to go into detail here.
work is ok. very stressful and a lot of traveling.
i feel great, work out all the time and am finally a 10.
as of today i am down 108 lbs.
12.22.05a lot has happened... i am getting divorced and while we are not staying together we are still best friends and it is very amicable.
i am saddened that joseph will not have the life i so wanted for him with mommy and a daddy to come home to. but he will be ok in the end.
i am working a ton and traveling a lot for it. i have also met someone.
we've been seeing each other for a few months and i adore him.
as far as eating / working out etc...
i am a bit of a bad girl. i pretty much eat whatever i want when i want to. overall i eat grilled chicken ceasar salad but there are times i cheat wayyyyyyy bad. like a happy meal. or a piece of candy. i feel that while i had this surgery to be healthy, i am not going to forever deprive myself of things i want. it is in moderation and i literally eat so little of it i am mostly wasting money.
i also have been drinking for a few months. not drinking like alcoholism but when i go out. i found that i am ok for a few drinks then they hit you like a ton of bricks. beware of shots!
i haven't been to the gym as much but i am in the city all the time and walk all over the place so that helps.
i am not putting this all out there to be lectured so if you feel so inclined to preach to me, don't. save it please. i am an honest person and have no reason to lie or hide anything. there are plenty who have had this surgery and make the "wrong" choices, they just choose to keep it to themselves.
oh yeah, as of today i am down 110 lbs.
.01.13.06the holidays were ok. my family was here for christmas eve and i went out with billy for new year's. i have been very baaaaaaad lately.
with the holidays and going out with my friends there is much alcohol consumption. i find that i'm until, well, i think emeril says it best "BAM." i don't know what happens but it all hits me at once. so i am curtailing the drinks a bit.
work sucketh. i am looking for a new job. that's another story...
i seem to have made a new "friend." (you know who you are *wink*)
went out to dinner and drinks this week and had a blast. felt like a kid in high school. we'll get together again soon and maybe even have another cocktail!
that's about it..
as of today i have lost 155lbs
=)
