NESSA C.
I AM 33 YEARS OLD, AND I HAVE HAD A WEIGHT PROBLEM ALL OF MY LIFE. I HAVE DECIDED TO HAVE THE LAP RNY. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO BE ON THE "LOSING SIDE", AND JUST BEING ABLE TO DO THE NORMAL THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED....
JUNE 10,2006- I STARTED THIS JOURNEY AT 366 POUNDS AT 5'7", BOY WAS I IN SHOCK..IM ALMOST TOO EMBARRESSED TO POST, BUT IF THIS WILL HELP OTHERS IT WILL BE WORTH IT...MY SURGEON TOLD ME I HAVE TO LOSE 30 POUNDS PRIOR TO SURGERY, SO MY LIVER CAN SHRINK, MAKING THE LAP RNY LESS COMPLICATED...I 'M ALL FOR LESS COMPLICATIONS....I WENT FOR MY FIRST CONSULT IN FEB. OF 2006...I HAD A FEW SET BACKS...MY 7 YEAR OLD NEPHEW PASSED AWAY MARCH 28TH FROM A BRAIN TUMOR..I WAS PRESENT TILL HIS LAST MOMENTS ON THIS EARTH...I AM TOTALLY CHANGED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE, NOW I REALIZE HOW PRECIOUS LIFE IS, AND IT'S TIME I START LIVING!!!!!!!
AARON ANTHONY CLAVIER
10/20/1998-03/28/2006
I HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO LOSE WEIGHT...AS YOU CAN IMAGINE IT TOOK A WHILE TO REFOCUS ON MYSELF AFTER MY FAMILY'S LOSS, BUT I HAVE AND I AM NOW DETERMINED MORE THAN EVER!!STARTED ATKINS MAY 8TH..DOWN 16 POUNDS SO FAR!!!!!!MORE THAN HALF WAY THERE.....
I NEED A DATE!!!!!!!!!! A SURGERY DATE THAT IS!!!!!
JUNE 16,2006- HAD MY APPT. WITH MY SURGEEON TODAY..I HAVE A DATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JULY 27, 2006...NOW IT'S FINALLY BECOMING REAL AND I'M SO EXCITED...
JUNE 27, 2006- WELL IT IS A MONTH BEFORE I HAVE MY SURGERY. I HAVE STARTED IMAGINING HOW DIFFERENT MY LIFE WILL BE WITH A LIGHTER BODY. I AM STILL SCARED TO DEATH, BUT NOT SCARED ENOUGH TO NOT DO THE SURGERY. I KNOW THIS IS NATURAL, ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY TYPE OF SURGERY BEFORE. I HAVE MY EGD SCHEDULED FOR 7/7/06, I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT PROCEDURE, ACTUALLY I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SEDATION...I WONDER WHAT KIND OF PATIENT I WILL BE???????
WELL HERE IS MY LIST OF THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO:
1. GETTING AROUND WITHOUT BEING OUT OF BREATHE AND SWEATING TO DEATH.
2. BEING ABLE TO TIE MY SHOES WITHOUT PASSING OUT.
3. BEING ABLE TO SHAVE MY LEGS IN THE BATHTUB WITHOUT PASSING OUT.
4. BEING ABLE TO SIT IN A BOOTH, AND NOT HAVING TO ALWAYS MAKE MY GROUP WAIT AROUND FOR A TABLE BECAUSE OF ME.
5. NOT STRESSING OUT ABOUT WHAT KIND OF SEATS I AM GOING TO HAVE TO SQUEEZE INTO AT ANY FUNCTION(GRADUATIONS, RECITALS, ETC.)
6. CROSSING MY LEGS.
7. BEING ABLE TO WEAR PRETTY CLOTHES.
8. BEING ABLE TO ATTEND MARDI GRAS FUNCTIONS BECAUSE I CAN ACTUALLY FIND OUTFITS/ GOWNS THAT FIT.
9. BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL MORE.
10. BEING ABLE TO RIDE ON AN AIRPLANE WITHOUT SEATBELT EXTENDER.
JULY1, 2006- WELL MY SURGERY DATE IS GETTING CLOSER, AND I'M STARTING TO GET REALLY NERVOUS, BUT I AM STILL LOOKIING FORWARD TO HAVING A HEALTHIER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE LIFE. I HAVE DECIDED TO DO A MEDICAL AND LEGAL POWER OF ATTORNEY , AND ALSO A WILL...THE WILL THING IS REALLY KILLING ME, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO BUT I DON'T WANT TO HURT ANY OF MY FAMILY'S FEELINGS...IT IS ALOT HARDER THAN I IMAGINED, BUT I WILL GET THROUGH IT. I KNOW I WILL NOT NEED ANY OF THOSE THINGS ANYTIME SOON , BUT IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO BE PREPARED, AFTERALL IT MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER FOR MY LARGE FAMILY....I AM ALSO TAKING ON THE TASK OF PLANNING MY PARENT'S 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, WHICH WILL BE IN DECEMBER..HEY, I JUST HAD A THOUGHT, BY THEN I SHOULD HAVE LOST ENOUGH WEIGHT TO WEAR SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A TENT ON ME!!!!!YEAH!!!!!! ANYWAY, MY PARENTS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN MY LIFE AND I WILL WORK HARD TO GIVE THEM A REMEMBERABLE DAY!!!LOVE YA MOM AND DAD!!!!!!!!!!
OH YEAH-----EGD IS FRIDAY JULY 7TH,,WISH ME LUCK!!!!
JULY 5, 2006--WELL I HAD MY GALLBLADDER U/S MONDAY....GUESS WHAT??? I HAVE A GALLBLADDER FULL OF STONES, SO I GUESS THAT MEANS IT HAS TO COME OUT..I'M SO STRESSED OUT ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE THAT PROB. MEANS THAT IS MORE MONEY I WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT...BY THE END OF THIS JOURNEY, I WILL BE SO BITTER ABOUT INSURANCES THAT I HOPE I CAN ENJOY MY WEIGHT LOSS AND NOT THINK ABOUT IT SO MUCH....MY SISTER'S HAVE OFFERED TO HELP ME SO THAT IS SOME RELEIF, BUT I ABSOLUTELY HATE TAKING MONEY FROM ANYONE, ESP. FAMILY....I HAVE BEEN SO DEPRESSED ABOUT ALL OF THIS TODAY, THAT IT IS LITERALLY MAKING ME SICK TO MY STOMACHE. OH WELL, IT WILL PASS AND HOPEFULLY I CAN GET EXCITED AGAIN AND FOCUS ON BEING HEALTHY!!!!
JULY 9, 2006- WELL I HAD MY EGD FRIDAY, 3 WORDS....PEICE OF CAKE!!! I WAS 1ST CASE, AND I WAS BACK HOME IN MY BED BY 8:15 AM..TURNS OUT I HAVE A SMALL HIATAL HERNIA, BUT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. I THINK IT IS A COMMON THING IN OBESE PEOPLE...ANYWAY TODAY I WENT TO WAL-MART AND BOUGHT PRE/POST OP FOOD AND SUPPLIES.
MY LIST:
CENTRUM MULTI-VITAMINS
TYLENOL GELCAPS
SF PUDDING
SF POPSICLES
CHAPSTICK
MOIST WIPES
NESLTE QUIK POWDER SUGAR FREE
CHOCOLATE WHEY PROTIEN POWDER
LOW CARB SLIMFAST
PILL HOLDER
PILL CRUSHER
BLENDER FOR PROTIEN SHAKES
CHICKEN/BEEF BROTHS
TOMATO SOUPS
CRYSTAL LIGHT
SF KOOL-AID
I STILL HAVE A FEW THINGS TO GET BUT I WILL GET THAT A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE MY SURGERY.......
OH AND I AM DOWN 22 POUNDS....8 TO GO BEFORE SURGERY..IT HAS BEEN HARD BUT I KNOW I CAN DO IT!!!
18 DAYS TILL SURGERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JULY 17, 2006- WELL IT IS EXACTLY 10 DAYS TILL MY SURGERY..I AM DOWN 25 POUNDS..I AM HOPING THAT WHILE I DO THE 5 DAY LIQUID DIET PRIOR TO SURGERY I WILL REACH MY PRE-OP WEIGHT LOSS GOAL. TODAY I MET A PATIENT'S DAUGHTER THAT HAD WLS 3 YEARS AGO. IT WAS VERY COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT MOST OF THE THINGS SHE TOLD ME, I HAD ALREADY KNOWN , SO I FEEL VERY PREPARED AND WELL INFORMED ABOUT WHAT I AM ABOUT TO GO THRU..I HAVE ALSO READ THE WLS FOR DUMMIES BOOK, IT WAS A GOOD READ AND VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND....MY LAST DAY OF WORK BEFOR MY SURGERY WILL BE 7/24/06, HOPEFULLY I CAN GET MY HOUSE IN ORDER BY THE TIME OF SURGERY....ANYWAYS, I AM STARTING TO FEEL EXCITED ABOUT THE JOURNEY FOLLOWING SURGERY. I KNOW IT WILL BE ROUGH AT FIRST BUT IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT IN THE END TO JUST HAVE A HEALTHY AND LONGER LIFE!!!!
JULY 23, 2006- WELL I AM ON DAY 2 OF MY LIQUID DIET. SO FAR IT HASN'T BEEN TOO BAD AND I DON'T FEEL WEAK LIKE I WAS ANTICIPATING. I GUESS BEING ON A DIET FOR THE PAST 2-3 MONTHS HELPED THIS NOT BE SO BAD.. THIS WAS MY LIQUID DIET FOR YESTERDAY:
BREAKFAST: CARNATION INSTANT BREAKFAST WITH SKIM MILK
LUNCH: I GOT SOME TORTILLA SOUP FROM A LOCAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT AND THEY STRAINED IT FOR ME, SO ALL I ATE WAS JUICE. SO 1 BOWL OF TORTILLA SOUP.
SUPPER: ANOTHER BOWL OF TORTILLA SOUP
AND I DRANK ALOTTTTTTTTTTT O F CRYSTAL LIGHT ALL DAY LONG...
ANYWAYS 4 DAYS TILL SURGERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JULY 26, 2006--WELL SURGERY IS TOMORROW MORNING, I AM FIRST CASE. I DID ALL THE REST OF MY PRE-OP STUFF TODAY AND I ALSO HAD AN APPT. WITH MY SURGEON. I HAVE LOST 30 POUNDS PRE-OP, WHICH WAS MY GOAL...I HAVE TO BE AT THE HOSPITAL AT 5:30 IN THE AM..I AM FEELING ANXIOUS, BUT EXCITED AT THE SAME TIME. I AM READY FOR THIS JOURNEY AND I HAVE NO SECOND THOUGHTS..I WILL POST AGAIN AFTER MY SURGERY.....
JULY 30, 2006- WELL I AM BACK HOME FROM SURGERY..SURGERY WENT WELL, THE WORST THING I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH IS THE NAUSEA. I STILL HAVE MY JP DRAIN TUBE IN AND IT WILL BE TAKEN OUT WED. IT HAS BEEN REALLY HARD GETTIN IN PROTEIN AND FLUIDS, BECAUSE TOO MUCH AT ONE TIME REALLY MAKES ME MORE NAUSEATED.. WILL POST AGAIN SOON..
AUGUST 4,2006- WELL IT HAS BEEN A WEEK SINCE MY SURGERY. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN. I HAD MY JP DRAIN TAKEN OUT WED, AND THAT WAS NOT BAD AT ALL.. OH AND I HAVE LOST 9 POUNDS SINCE SURGERY.. I GO BACK TO THE DR. NEXT WED. AND AFTER NEXT WEEK I CAN START SOFT FOODS LIKE TUNA, CHICKEN SALAD, ETC... I HAVE BEEN REALLY BORED STAYING HOME, BUT TODAY I FINALLY DROVE AND HOPEFULLY I CAN KEEP MYSELF BUSY SO I DON'T DRIVE MYSELF CRAZY...MY WEIGHT NOW IS 327, WELL THAT WAS 3 DAYS AGO AT THE DR. OFFICE...IT MAY BE DIFF. BUT I AM NOT GETTING ON MY SCALE, I JUST WEIGH AT THE DOC'S OFFICE..
AUGUST 9, 2006- I HAD MY 2 WEEK FOLLOW UP, WHICH I FOUND OUT I WAS SUPPOSE TO GO BACK AT 3 WEEKS, OH WELL, IM A WEEK EARLY....I AM DOWN ANOTHER 7 POUNDS. TODAY I FINALLY GET TO MOVE TO SOFT /PUREED FOODS....THANK GOD!!!!!!! I THINK I WOULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF I HAD TO DO ONE MORE DAY OF LIQUIDS!!!!!!!! SO FAR I FEEL GREAT, MY DR. SAID I CAN START EXERCISING, WELL ACTUALLY HE SAID I COULD HAVE DONE IT SOONER..ANYWAY I WILL HIT THE GYM TOMORROW AND WALK ON THE TREADMILL..I DO GET TIRED AND SWEATY EASY, AND I THINK IT IS FROM BEING SO CAREFUL AND NOT PUSHING MYSELF PHYSICALLY, I WAS JUST SO SCARED TO PUSH MYSELF BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN DOING SO GOOD THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO MESS IT UP. I WENT TO WORK TO VISIT COWORKERS AND THAT WAS GREAT. IT IS JUST NICE TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE AND DO THINGS AND SEE OTHER PEOPLE!!!! ALSO, I AM SO AMAZED THAT I HAVE SHOWN SO MANY PEOPLE MY SCARS, EVEN MY MALE BOSS!!!! WHAT WAS I THINKING????? IT'S LIKE I WAN'T PEOPLE TO SEE THAT I AM NOT THAT PHYSICALLY SCARRED FROM THIS SURGERY , AND I STILL LOOK PRETTY MUCH LIKE EVERYONE ELSE UNDERNEATH MY CLOTHING....... I DO NEED TO LAY OFF THE SCAR SHOWING, I WILL TRY MY BEST NOT TO DO THAT ANYMORE, AND THE FUNNY THING IS THAT I AM THE MOST MODEST PERSON, I WOULD CLOSE MY OWN EYES IF I COULD TO GET AWAY FROM SEEING MYSELF NAKED...GO FIGURE!!!! MY NEW MOTTO.....
EVERYDAY WILL BE BETTER THAN THE LAST!!!!!!
AUGUST 16, 2006- SO FAR I HAVE BEEN FEELING GREAT..I'M AMAZED HOW GOOD I FEEL. YESTERDAY I STARTED WALKING. I JOINED OUR COMMUNITY REC CENTER, WHICH IS VERY NICE... I WALKED A MILE ON THE INDOOR TRACK AND A HALF OF A MILE ON THE TREADMILL, FOR A TOTAL OF 35 MIN..TODAY I DID THE SAME THING..I AM GOING TO MAKE THIS MY DAILY WORKOUT ...SO FAR I AM ACTUALLY ENJOYING EXERCISING..THE DIET IS GOING GOOD, I MAKE SOME CHICKEN SALAD AND I HAVE BEEN EATING ON IT ALL WEEK, BUT I'M NOT SICK OF IT YET SO IT WILL DO....MY CLOTHES ARE FITTING A LITTLE LOSER AND MY PARENTS AND MY SISTER TELL ME THAT IT IS VERY OBVIOUS I HAVE LOST WEIGHT, HOWEVER I HAVE NOT NOTICED THE SCALE MOVING FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW...I THINK I WILL GET RID OF MY SCALE, BECAUSE I AM BECOMING ONE OF THOSE SCALE ADDICTS, AND I DON'T WANT TO FOCUS ON NUMBERS...THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT I FEEL BETTER AND I AM GETTING MY ENERGY BACK....TILL NEXT TIME................
AUGUST 24, 2006- WELL IT HAS BEEN 1 MONTH SINCE MY SURGERY AND I HAVE BEEN FEELING GREAT. I WENT AND WEIGHED IN TODAY AND I HAVE LOST A TOTAL OF 16 POUNDS SINCE SURGERY..I HAVE BEEN WALKING 3-4 TIMES A WEEK FOR 30-40 MIN...EVEN THOUGH I DO NOT HAVE A BIG WEIGHT LOSS NUMBER AT ONE MONTH, IM NOT WORRIED BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I HAVE LOST ALOT OF INCHES BECAUSE MY CLOTHES ARE EXTREMELY LOOSE!!!! NOW I AM ABLE TO TRY ANYTHING, BUT I'M STILL A LITTLE SCARED SO I HAVEN'T TRIED ANYTHING MAJOR YET, BUT THAT IS MY NEXT GOAL....
SEPTEMBER 1, 2006- WELL IT HAS BEEN 5 WEEKS SINCE MY SURGERY, AND SO FAR I HAVE HAD NO COMPLICATIONS. I HAVE BEEN EXERCISING AND I AM ACTUALLY ENJOYING IT.. I THINK I HAVE MAYBE LOST 5-6 POUNDS SINCE MY LAST POST, BUT I WILL GO AND WEIGH IN NEXT WEEK ON MY 6 WEEK CHECK UP...I GO BACK TO WORK IN 10 DAYS, BOY DID THE TIME FLY BY REALLY QUICK. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN NOTICING MY WEIGHT LOSS AND THAT HAS MADE ME FEEL GOOD. I WILL TAKE PICTURES NEXT WEEK ON MY 6 WEEK CHECK UP TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE FROM MY PRE-OP PICTURES.
OCTOBER 5, 2006---I AM EXACTLY 10 WEEKS POST OP TODAY. I FEEL GREAT, AND I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH ANY FOODS YET. I STILL STAY AWAY FROM SUGARS AND WHITE CARBS, BUT EVERYTHING I HAVE TRIED SO FAR HAS AGREED WITH ME..I AM NOT SURE THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT I HAVE LOST, BUT I THINK IT IS AROUND 40-50 POUNDS SINCE SURGERY, NOT INCLUDING THE 30 POUNDS I HAD LOST BEFORE SURGERY. I ALREADY FEEL LIKE I AM GETTING MYSELF BACK. IT IS HARD TO EXPLAIN, BUT FOR SO LONG I HAVE BEEN HIDING BEHIND ALL MY WEIGHT THAT I NEVER REALLY VALUED MY OWN THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS. I AM SLOWLY LEARNING THIS AND I KNOW IT WILL BE A LONG ROAD OF SELF-DISCOVERY.....I KNOW I AM WORTH IT AND I DESERVE TO LIVE A GREAT LIFE.. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED ME THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY. I REALIZE I AM VERY LUCKY THAT I HAVE PEOPLE THAT REALLY LOVE ME AND ARE CONSTANTLY CHEERING ME ON....IN A NUTSHELL....NOOOOOOOOOOO REGRETTTTTTTTTTTTSSSS!!!! THE ONLY REGRET SO FAR IS THAT WHY IN THE HELL DIDN'T I DO THIS SOONER...I LEAVE FOR CLEVELAND MONDAY OCT. 9TH AND I WILL STOP BY MY DOCS OFFICE TO WEIGH IN.. I WILL POST AFTER THAT...I WILL FINALLY SEE IF I NEED THAT DAMN SEAT BELT EXTENDER, HOPEFULLY I WILL NOT, BUT I WILL POST TO LET YOU KNOW....TILL NEXT TIME........
