AndreaLin

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

My weight has been steady with no significant weight gain. I currently weigh 175 lbs my BMI is approximately 28.

 

I had a transfer addiction of alcohol abuse, that lasted approximately 3 years. I sought medication assisted treatment to restore health and have been clean and sober without issue since

I have current issues such as migraine, gastric issues such as ulcer, stricture, pain when eating, vomiting, feeling like my pouch is too small, stricture.

 

Biometric screening every two years. Currently seeing surgeon and gastroenterologist, for possible surgery  of stricture and gallbladder. 

I created Gastric Bypass Complications Facebook group in 2016.

 

I never post here, but wanted to do a quick blurb: I lost 130 lbs over all and have maintained 100 lb initial weight loss with out a problem.

I am not having any vitamin/iron or other issues. I have not had any physical complications either.

 

Yep, I'm down 100 lbs and feeling pretty good. I'm starting to see a counselor nearer to me than Arnot because the drive is just too far. I need some support in maintaining good eating habits. I'm terrible about drinking enough water and terrible about desserts --- I won't eat a whole dessert or anything (blahhhhhh!!!) but I do want to taste it.

Next month is my new 'birth' day -- the anniversary of the surgery.  I don't feel the same way that many of the folks on here do: I do not feel that I 'reborn' on this day. I feel this was just a procedure to help me to become a more normal weight.

Four more months til my 1 year wedding anniversary! I'm looking forward to that.

I find I do not deal with stress as well as I did before -- the coping mechanism of food is pretty much a non-option, so stress has found a way to invade my life. But that's what the counselor is for.

I'll be posting a new picture soon.

In a way I wish I had: 

1. waited to have wls
2. waited until NEXT May to get married! 

The biggest problem being: I am changing so quicky that I have no idea what size I will be on May 17 and it is v.e.r.y difficult to buy my wedding dress! 

I DID find a dress... and it should be a keeper because it has a lace-up corset back thus allowing the wearer to have it tighter or looser. It fits rather tight now, on the loosest lace-up point, so by May, it should fit just about right -- and even if it is a little big... well, we'll just see that as a badge of honor! 

My fiance said last weekend he could finally notice in my face and upper body that I have lost weight.  I am now down about 36lbs. That made me really happy that he noticed! 

My mom has blessedly took over most of the wedding plans and even changed some things around a little bit and snapped the guest list in half. Just having her help is such a relief and my stress seems to be melting away (like my fat!) 

Plastic surgeons are already contacting me. This is so far removed from my Plan of Action just yet. I don't know if or what (if ANY ) type of plastics I will want done. It just seems like this is rushing things. I only just had surgery last month! 

Had my last group nutrition meeting and it was like a pardon from the Governor!  A whole new world of foods have opened up and I am happily eating peanut butter on crackers for lunch! (Only about 4... that's about all I can eat!) The other biggie for me was an egg! Ooooooo.... to have my first egg on Tuesday was such a joy! I had it with some cheese, salt and pepper and just relished every bite. I did not finish it.. .even just one small egg is almost too much... but the dogs sure did appreciate the leftovers! 

Other than that, I'm not too adventurous. Just really taking it slow. Still drinking 2 protein shakes a day and eating a high-protein Greek yogurt for lunch. This ensures I am getting at least 60 grams of protein a day  besides what I am eating. My calorie intake is probably only about 700 or 800 / day though I am not seriously 'counting' anything.  

The nutritionist also told us that We are NOT ON DIETS. We are experiencing a life plan. This really stands out for me. Not to be on a diet is heavenly. Knowing that this is a life PLAN makes it a daily decision to eat properly. 

How exciting that the scale is changing so quickly!  People are complimenting me daily that my face looks so much thinner already. It's a little daunting, to say the least, because I am not used to getting compliments! I try to just say thank you, without being a Shrinking Violet. But it IS in my nature to say... Oh Come On Now... surely you can't mean ME!? 

I still do not see any difference when I look in the mirror. I do notice that my clothes fit better and I am wearing quite a few things that I haven't worn in awhile. But I do not see anything different in the mirror. 

I plan to hold onto to one pair of pants as my "before" pants.

The only real downside is that I cannot really handle any food that is thicker than pudding or yogurt. I tried some Cream of Wheat that was just a bit too thick, I believe and ended up very very sick.  This was the first time I have gotten sick and it was NOT A PRETTY SCENE. I had dry heaves, sweats and finally very weak vomiting attempts. The tiny tummy does not have nearly the muscle that the old tummy did. 

Next week is another Nutrition appointment and I imagine it will be time to start soft foods. I'm nor really looking forward to it because I am worried I will not feel well after eating. 

Things are going well. I have lost about 30 lbs already!  I find it unbelievable that it took me SIX months of nothing but salad and fish to lost 30 lbs in 2006 and of course I couldn't keep it off.  You know, I did that so I would be able to fit into the airplane seats when I took my children to Disney and not have to ask for a seat belt extender.  That was the only real motivator for me to lose weight. Seems like a lifetime ago.

I feel so much better already. I have a lot more energy (though not enough to stay awake much past 7pm!) 

I am back to work full time this week. I TOTALLY enjoyed having 2 weeks off and then only working 1/2 days. It was such a luxury!  I'm lucky to have a quiet desk job so I'm not overly taxed during the day. 

Still on full liquids. Sigh. I don't much miss food-- and still the sight and smell of most food makes me quite nauseaus. I cannot BELIEVE how much people eat... and that I used to put away probably TWICE as much as the normies. Again: UNBELIEVABLE how your whole viewpoint, outlook and expectations change after surgery. 

I belong to several online YAHOO groups for WLS. I do not think I will stay on them, though. A lot of chitty-chatting, friendly talk. I do like that and how supportive the groups are, as a whole. .  They are a friendly bunch, that is for sure. But all the talk is focused on food. What they eat, what the are going to eat tomorrow. Food Food Food. So many people cheat and eat things they shouldn't and then tell us all about it. it's just not a very good environment for me. Maybe later after a few more months. I find myself comparing myself to them and feeling somewhat resentful that almost everyone there was eating soft foods after a week and I am still on full liquids at 4 weeks out.  I definately need to leave those groups!

 Right now:  i am just frightened of the long-term complications and being on these groups just depress me. 

25lbs down!  Yay! 

This is the second day back to work -- just doing 1/2 days right now and am really feeling much more like myself today. I had a lot of rest yesterday which was marvelous. 

The worst thing is that I cannot tolerate the thought of food. Just the smell, thought or sight/sound of it cooking or someone eating makes me very sick. My daughter is a practicing chef-in-training and watches Rachel Ray all the time. Just the words, "add the chicken broth to the mix" sent me right out of the room. BLAH!!!!! 

Still on liquids. Arnot Ogden people believe in 2.5 weeks of clear liquids and going back to work at 2 weeks. I don't see the logic in this because I feel pretty weak from not having any protein in my body.  But they are the experts.I'm just a mere participant. 

I go back to see the nutritionist tomorrow (2/20/08) for a post op visit. HOPEFULLY she puts me on some real food-- at least protein drinks.  My daughter is going with me and we will stop at David's Bridal on the way home to try on some maid-of-honor dresses.  I cannot even THINK about buying my gown yet. I have no idea what size I will be.

The surgery went very well. no complications (yet) and i was pretty sure something bad would happen -- i always figure if i boost up my What The Worst Thing Is That Could Happen then i won't be too devestated if it DOES actually happen. The hospital at Arnot Ogden was VERY crowded. To the point of waiting for beds. It was also hard to get into OR and my surgery was delayed by a couple hours even though they had called me on Friday and asked me to be there an hour earlier-- they wanted to 'bump me up one case' and put me 2nd on the list. I didn't get in until about 12:30 or 1pm. The surgery went fine. I walked in and laid on the OR table and was totally overwelmed. There is so much activity and just felt so numb to it all. Like this was a movie or something. 

 They strapped my arms down and the Anetheisologist put something "to calm you" into my IV. I remember answering him that "no, I haven't started to feel anything yet" and someone chuckling good-naturedly and saying, "don't worry, you will" 

That was it. The next thing i woke up.

The worst thing was waking up from the anethesia. I was so terribly groggy in the recovery room for 8 hours. There was no bed in ICU so they sent me right to my room. I was on floor 2B in room 15, i believe.  The hospital was so crowded that I had to have a private room!  Not that i minded. In retrospect, thank GOD i had a private room. I'm such a light sleeper and i'm also a very quiet person. Being able to shut the door and having privacy was extremely wonderful.  

Right away they started poking and pinching at me. Taking blood from my baby-size veins that seem to move whenever someone tries to get a needle in them, leaving me with horrid black and blue marks on my arms. Like a herion junkie, i wonder? I didn't sleep more than 10 or 20 minutes at any one time. It took me the first whole night to evaluate my situation. 

1. I had a catheter. No worrying about getting up to go empty my baby-size bladder every 10 minutes! YAY!  To me, this was a blessing. 
2. I had an IV. That was leaking. It leaked the entire time i had it in my left hand. The vampire woman who put it in was what I call a Vein Digger. She goes where she THINKS she saw a vein (maybe)  and then digs around with the needle until she finds it. She abused it too badly, I think, from that digging about, and it must have blown. 
3. I had to have that IV removed and put into another vein. I cried during this--- becuz of small veins and becuz it took about 3 hours to complete. The hospital being so busy and all. The technican who finally came said she felt sorry for me and took me ahead of someone else. Yikes.  Once the IV was in properly, my fluid intake was better, my BP went down and the pain medication really started to work. Prior to that, it didn't do much more than numb me up a bit.
4. i had a terrible certified aide. Please understand: i have NEVER complained about hospital help before. Heavens, I was a CA for 3 years while I put myself though college. I understand what they do, how they work, the little dramas behind the scenes. Been there.  This guy was very awful to me. He was abusive and mean. He said cruel things to me (one comment was " How was your dinner? Oh, I forgot, you didn't have one! " like this was funny or something. I just had surgery a few hours before. What the heck???)  Also, he wouldn't let me see my blood pressure reading at one point. He literally spun the thing out of my sight just as the reading was about to come up. This reading was important becuz my bp had been up and down all day/night and the doctors wondered why.  He also spun my night table away from my bed so fast that he knocked my ice chips off onto the floor. Then he wouldn't clean it up, he just kicked it out of sight. My mother called me in the morning and i told her about it all--there was more, i know this sounds like it was small, but there was more-- and she called the director of nursing.  This lovely kind lady visited me the next day! I cried to her about it too and she promised that aide would never again come in my room. He didn't. But he made comments outside my door the next couple nights. Like " I don't know what I did to deserve THAT but i don't care: less work for me!"  Nice huh? 
5. I had a yucky drain on my tummy and about 5 or 6 other small spots covered by clear tape. Those are the LAP marks where Dr Moon went in and performed his magic. The nurses came in and emptied the drain and later showed me how to take care of it myself when i was at home. It is very easy to do. 
6. I had no trouble swallowing but my lips and mouth were so dry. My poor throat was sore as heck. i ate as many ice chips as i comfortably could-- very slowly and methodically.  i worshiped the ice chip cup and said a very grateful "Thank You" each time it was filled.
7. I wanted to get up and walk as soon as possible. I was psyched up to do this. I've had Slice-Me-Open abdominal surgery before so i knew how bad it was and I was ready. Turns out: not near as bad as i thought. I was more groggy from anethesia wearing off than anything else. 

By day 2 i was walking around at least once a shift and everyone was so very impressed with me. Also I had the nicest aides! I really liked this one nurse Mary who i thought was just top notch. 

Day 3 i was depressed because I hadn't had any of my Welbutrin and i could feel it. I was very weepy when the NUT came in (Collen Bucher) and i asked her when she thought I could start taking it again. She said she was surprised it wasn't already on the medication list and she made sure that I received it that day. She also gave me a list of clear liquids and seemed quite upbeat that things were moving along well. 

Day 4. I was ready to go home. I think they should have actually kept me an extra day because I hadn't had a bowel movement yet and when I DID have my first one at home, it was VERY dark red bloody. Very scary. Scary? No, TERRIFYING. I was shaking when I called the doctor-- certain something was terribly wrong and that I had to go back to the hospital. He calmed me down and told me it was normal. NORMAL??? Yikes. This is why i wish i had been in the hospital. Then i could have been much more reassured. 

The ride home was terribly bumpy. i was quite irritable also. My poor fiance is really just the most loving and patient guy. He just lets it roll. I was swearing alot... and i only do this if i'm very irritable for no particular reason.  i hadn't slept well in several days, was just 2 days back on the Wellbutrin and hated the fact i still had that yucky drain in me. Blah. I STILL have it. I know it's important and everything, but I. Do.Not.Like.It. 

Weighed myself when I got home. Down 8 pounds. Yay! Not sure how much of that was water weight but the nurses did weigh me in the hospital on Day 3 and i wa 6 pounds MORE than when i came in!  I immediately felt cheated. What. The. Heck. GAINED.  Hello??!!  i haven't eaten in 5 days... how could it be MORE?   They said that was normal from all the IV fluids I had received and to be glad it wasn't like 26!  They had seen that happen before. 

So here's my stats: 

308/highest weight 
299/pre-surgery weight 
306/leaving hospital weight 
292/current weight. 

Ah, to see the 200's again! 

Glorious thing. 

It's Saturday. 2 more days! I'm really ready to go. I have not taken any aspirin/ale