sandra_92083
Starting weight 280lbs at 5' 8" BMI 42.6
9/6/03 (4 days after surgery) 274 (-6 lbs)
10/23/03 (1 1/2 months after) 233 (-47 lbs)
12/14/03 (3 1/2 mnths post-op) 215 (-65 lbs)
1/3/04 (4 months post-op) 203 (-77 lbs)
2/7/04 (5 months post-op) 196 (-84 lbs)
2/16/04 (5 1/2 months post-op) 190 (-90 lbs)
4/5/04 (7 months post-op) 175 (-105 lbs)
6/9/04 (9 months post-op) 164 (-116 lbs)
8/4/04 (11 months post-op) 161 (-119 lbs)
3/9/05 (18 months post-op) 160 (-120 lbs)
4/24/08 (4 years, 7 months post-op) 175 (-105 lbs)
1/31/11 (7 years, 5 months post-op) 180 (-100 lbs)
I would really like to have this surgery, it's been many years battling obesity and though I'm terrified of surgery I believe I'm ready. My husband is military and we have Tricare Prime as our insurance, I don't know what it will be like trying to get this procedure done through them- does anyone have any history with them? Good or bad? The first doctor I went to a year ago didn't believe in bariatric surgery and sent me to a nutritional class, here I am a year later, diets and excercise later, at the same weight! Thankfully, my new doctor sent in a referral immediately and now I have to have my appointment with Dr. Owens and then a request can be put through to the insurance company... I feel like I'm on trial! I want this so badly, and am afraid of being let down, I want to take control of my life and have a chance to be healthy... I am ready!
PHONE NUMBERS:
The Tricare Outpatient Clinic in Oceanside, CA
(760) 966-7500 (NP Butler)
The Coastal Center for Obesity: 800-554-9544
Tricare: 800-242-6788 (push "2" for referrals/authorizations)
Tricare Authorization Department Direct Line: 858-642-5884
7/26/03 - I went to the seminar at Coastal Center for Obesity today (well, actually it was held in the Chapman Hospital, next door!), it was a requirement and the next step I could take in the process! I have done so much research that I really didn't learn anything new, but I got to turn in my medical history and copies of insurance paperwork. I got to ask questions, and speak with a lady who had the surgery in December last year and has lost 100lbs so far, that was really good to actually speak with someone who's been through this in person!
(TIP TO ANYONE ATTENDING THIS SEMINAR: Take EVERYTHING with you, any proof of previous diets, even if it's a thoroughly written out diary. Write down every medical problem you have because of your weight, and either include this sheet with the medical history they give you to fill out, or write down everything on the paper they provide. Take a look at their website, under New Patient Forms, Pre-Op Questionnaire: http://coastalobesity.com/NewPatientForms/PreOpQuestionnaire.htm - this is pretty much what you will be filling out there at the seminar, or you can fill it out online and fax them copies of your insurance info.)
Now I get to wait a couple days until I hear something back - I'm a little unsure what I'm waiting for exactly, I don't know if they review my info. and send in a request for surgery approval to the insurance right away, or if I have to have some tests done first... I shall soon find out! I am a little stressed right now over whether or not I will be approved. I am 5'8" at 285lbs which gives me a BMI of 43.3, from everything I've read about Tricare (my insurance) you have to be either 200% of your ideal weight or 100+lbs over with a co-morbidity. I am about 15lbs under the 200% mark, and I'm not sure that I have anything serious enough to qualify as a co-morbidity! I have asthma and depression (though I've never actually sought treatment, so it's not documented) and my mother has diabetes... there is also history of heart disease and cancer in my family. I really want this, and am afraid it won't happen. I know I need to breathe in and out and just wait and see what happens next... I'm SO close to that 200% mark, I don't want to be penalized for those 15lbs, and I certainly don't want to try to GAIN weight so they will let me have the surgery!!! Ok... sorry! I had to get that off my chest, I'll update after I hear something this next week, please, PLEASE feel free to send me a note if you've been in a similar situation and have any thoughts or advice!! Thanks all!
July 31st - (Thursday) - Called insurace department at Coastal again, spoke with Andrea (8:40AM). She told me the paperwork was on it's way from their San Pedro office. Apparently the San Pedro office does the background work on the insurance info, to verify benefits and what the patients co-pay would be, etc. Then they send the information back to the Orange office where a letter is prepared and sent to the insurance companines. I checked back in the afternoon (4PM) and was told they hadn't received them yet, they are expected tomorrow. I was also told Tricare is one of the easier ones to do, so those leters should be completed and sent off tomorrow. Everytime I've spoken with them they say how quick Tricare usually is, and how easy they are to work with, that's encouraging!
It has been 18 days since I went to my PCM and started this process... I am praying things go smoothly with Tricare, as my husband and I are supposed to be moving to Georgia in just 2 short months, and I want to have at LEAST 1 full month post-op here to make sure there are no complications. I'm hoping to have a surgery date in the next 3 weeks, and I would like to be able to give my employer 2 weeks notice... I've been quite stressed over the waiting, but I'm hanging in there and praying for good news!
August 12th - I am APPROVED!! I called yesterday, Monday evening, and spoke with someone at Tricare and was told I am approved!! I had been calling all week, following up to make sure they had everything and that all was going the way it's supposed to go. The first person I spoke with was nice and said to expect a 5-6 day wait for a response. If you are going through Tricare, the first time you call them ask for your tracking #, it makes it a lot easier for them to pull up your file!
I am so excited. I called Andrea at Coastal today, but as of the afternoon she hadn't received the approval from Tricare, but I gave her my tracking # and will be following up with her tomorrow, after that she said she will send me on the the surgery scheduling when I get a date and find out all the tests and pre-requisites I need to take care of before I can actually get this done! I am terrified and completely and utterly exhilerated! We are supposed to be moving in about 50 days from now, I want to have surgery 2-3 weeks from now so I will have a decent amount of recovery time, and then I will continue seeing someone in Georgia for a few months after we move, I wish I had started this whole process earlier, but I can only thank God that things are moving along as smoothly as they are now... I will keep praying and keep my fingers crossed that they continue to do so!
Here is a brief summary of what has happened so far and how long it has taken.
1st day of my WLS journey
July 13th (Sunday) - went to see my PCM (NP Butler at the TOC in Oceanside), she wrote a referral and sent it to Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital for approval.
11 days later
July 24th (Thursday) - Received approved referral for 1 consult and 2 follow ups with Dr. Owens at the Coastal Center.
12 days later
July 25th (Friday) - Called Barbara at Coastal, was put on list to attend Saturday Seminar.
13 days later
July 26th (Saturday) - Attended seminar at Chapman Medical, presented by Dr. Owens, turned in complete medical history and copies of military ID and referral papers.
16 days later
July 29th (Tuesday) - Called Coastal to check status on paperwork, was transferred to the insurance department. I was told they'd seen my paperwork, and would be working on the letters to the insurace company soon.
22 days later
August 4th (Monday) - Letter was sent by Coastal to Tricare (it took 9 days - if you include weekend days - from the day I turned in my insurance info at the seminar until the day the letter was sent to Tricare, I was unhappy about how long this process took.)
29 days later from date I first saw my PCM.
August 11th (Monday) - Called Tricare in the afternoon and was told my request had been approved!
Almost a month from when I first started I got my surgery approval, now it will probably be another 3 weeks or so until a surgery date, but this is to give you an idea of how quickly things have moved along for me so far! I hope this information has been helpful to some of you just starting out on your WLS journey! I will continue to update as I learn more.
8/13/03 Wednesday - I spoke with Andrea at Coastal today, they received my approval paperwork from Tricare, and she is sending my info on to the surgery scheduling! I should hear from them soon :) I am sooo excited!!
8/17/03 Sunday - On 8/14 my information was sent to surgery scheduling, and a Lab and other test orders sheet was filled out for me, I was contacted by Rosa from Coastal that day to let me know, and she put it in a packet and sent it out to me in the mail right away. I received the packet yesterday, and the only things checked off on it for me are a bunch of lab tests:
LAB ORDERS:
CBC
CMP
HGAIC
TSH
UA
PREGNANCY
LIPID PANEL
HEP B & C PANEL
HIV
There are no other tests checked off on the list, so looks like I just need to get some blood drawn (oh goodie!) and I can move on to getting a date! I called my PCP at the TOC and was told since I was referred out my best choice would be to go to Coastal to have the bloodwork done, she was saying I'd have to go to the Naval Hospital on base if I didn't want to go to Coastal... it sounds easier for me to go have the tests done at Coastal, and that way they'll get the results faster too - I'll call them tomorrow and set up an appointment... not looking forward to the needles, but I know it will be MINOR pain compared to the surgery! Oh what fun! This is a terrifying and exciting phase for me... so much about to happen, I'm just trying to get each item checked off the list so I can get to the surgery date!! AHHHHHHH!!! :)
There are several other sheets of information and a couple forms to fill out included in the packet as well, they ask if you've had surgery where you were anesthitized in the past two years that you send copies of that information to them, I had wisdom teeth removed about 1 1/2 years ago where I was anesthitized, so I need to contact the oral surgeon and see what I can do about getting that information... just something else to keep me busy while I'm counting down the moments...
Good luck to you all, and I'll be updating again soon!
8/19/03 Tuesday - I attended the support group meeting last night, and then went to Chapman Medical (Coastal doesn't do labwork) and had blood drawn after (the lab is open until aroun 9 pm!) The support group meeting was wonderful, I was very inspired and encouraged after being there and seeing so many of those who've gone before me. I will be calling Coastal on Thursday probably to see if they've gotten my test results. I'm a little afraid I'll have to have it re-done since I'd eaten a couple crackers within an hour of when I had blood drawn, I didn't think about that, you're not supposed to eat before!! OOPS!! Anyhow, I don't want that to slow me down, so I'm hoping for the best. I'll keep you posted!
8/21/03 Thursday - I have a date! I got a rushed appointment to see Dr. Oliak at 4pm today - I think I was rushed in because they are considering me for a canditate to be on the Sharon Osbourne show about the surgery. I need to have my surgery done ASAP because of moving, so they have Dr. Owens doing the surgery since he was available first. I gave them my paperwork, was weighed, had blood pressure and temp taken, they measured me, took pictures and also hooked me up a little machine that tells you your body fat (mine was around 43% I think!!! YUCKY!) Anyhow, I'm scheduled for Sept. 2nd with Dr. Owens! AHHH!! I'm nervous! My grandmother is going to come stay with me for a week on Friday, Sept. 5th, it will be nice to have her there to help with the house and my husband and son, and me! It's hard for me to accept help from others, but this is such a huge thing I decided to ask for support this time... Send lots of prayers my way!
I have 4 appointments scheduled for Tuesday, August 26th - that will take the last half of the day and that should be everything I need to have done pre-op. I'm on my way!!!!
8/30/03 Saturday - My appointments went well last Tuesday (August 26th) - I saw Dr. Algazi, the psychologist, after filling out a 240 question personality test. She said from my results I am a little anxious, but everything else is normal. Sounds about right to me! I am definitely anxious! But, I had expressed my feelings last night on the posting board and got a flood of wonderful responses, and you're all right. I do need to let go of my fear and concentrate on coming through this surgery successfully, and coming home to my family and preparing to take on the rest of my life. So! Today I am going to concentrate on positive thoughts. :) On Tuesday I also met with a physical therapist, saw the anasthesiologist, and went to a pre-op teaching class. I also had to have a couple of my labs re-done as my white cell count was higher than they wanted the first time, I was still sick at that time, so I'm hoping these results will be lower!! I was there from 12:30-5:30. It was a long day, but it was really nice to have them all done at the same time.
My last day at work was Friday, it was hard to say goodbye! I will see them again before moving, I know... but still it was emotional. A lot of people brought in snacks, and it was sort of a little party, and I got hugs, and lots of best wishes. It's wonderful to have so much support, it helps me have the strength I need!
Just a couple more days and I will be at the hospital. I'm supposed to stop eating at 6pm on Sept. 1, and no liquids after midnight. I was advised to only eat light foods all day on Sept. 1 so that there is nothing left "sitting" in my intestines when they knock me out with the anasthetics, the lady giving the pre-op class was saying you will have less problems with gas pains if you stick with light foods your body can digest quickly the day before surgery.
So! Here I am! Nervous but ready! Thanks for all your comments, thoughts and prayers. I'll see you on the loosing side soon!
9/1/03 Monday - It's 8:30PM I'm getting my son ready for bed, and I just finished packing most of my things for the hospital. This is what I ended up packing:
1) Robe
2) Deodarant
3) Hairbrush
4) 2 Scrunchies
5) Chapstick
6) Travel size shampoo & conditioner
7) Travel size toothpaste
8) Toothbrush
9) Lotion
10) 2 books to read
11) Notebook and 2 pens
12) Discman, headphones, CDs and extra batteries
13) 1 time use camera
14) Printed list of allergies and current medications
15) Pillow and comforter
16) Slippers
17) Change of LOOSE-FITTING clothes to wear home from the hospital (I am choosing a soft cotton dress)
That's probably more than I need, but I want to have my bases covered since I will be stuck there for a little while!!
I have to do one of my sterile scrubs on my belly tonight, and one tomorrow morning before we leave for the hospital. I stopped eating at 6pm (we had a BBQ at a friends house, yummy cheeseburger!!) and I won't be allowed any fluids after 12 midnight tonight. Tomorrow will be HARD since I don't actually go in for surgery until 1:30 PM!! But, hopefully since we'll be at the hospital all morning I will be too busy being distracted to think about how hungry I am...
2 of my girlfriends and myself spent a couple hours at the beach and I have a very lovely burn on my face, shoulders, and back... so I'd better add aloe-vera to my list!
One of my friends will be posting my status before I come home from the hospital, and I will be adding my thoughts in about a week hopefully! Thanks again for all the well wishes and prayers, I'll see you on the losing side soon.
9/6/03 Saturday - I am home! I was discharged yesterday evening. I'm still very sore in my abdomen and around the drain site. I am having a hard time taking all the fluids I'm supposed to be taking. I'm making my shakes with 4oz of fluid instead of 6 to help get them down a little quicker. I've had a lot of gas, and have had a pain in my left shoulder because of it, burping hurts! Anything that requires using your stomach muscles hurts! The Lortab painkillers are wonderful, but they knock me out! So I try not to take them much during the day, they sure do help me to sleep at night. I have a very hard time getting comfortable enough to sleep.
I'm trying to learn how to take my shakes and other liquids in SLOWLY. I'll feel fine, then I'll take one extra sip and my whole stomach cramps up for a minute... it's a very uncomfortable feeling. Going by my scale I'm down 6lbs since the day of surgery, 4 days ago. I feel like I should be down a lot more after everything I've been through and how little I've taken in, but I am thankful for each and every pound gone forever!
I had some V-8 juice last night, it was WONDERFUL! I have also been craving water constantly, it's really annoying to not just be able to down a bottle!
I feel a lot of sensations in my stomach and intestines as they work.. I can feel things moving through my system... it's kind of disgusting! :) But I'm getting used to it all slowly. I'll update more about my actual hospital visit later, I'm very tired and it's hard on my stomach to sit here and type! I just wanted to let everyone know how things are going. Take care all!
9/13/03 Saturday - Well, it's been an interesting few days... I was re-admitted to the hospital on 9/7 because I was experiencing very sharp pains in my upper abdomen. Dr. Owens was afraid I might have an obstruction, so he asked me to come back to Chapman. I was there until 9/11. They did an upper GI and lower bowel follow up - lots of X-Rays and the nasty barium stuff (EWWWWWWWW!!!) and made me drink lots of shakes... which make me feel sick. I am beginning to think the shakes are giving me gas which is causing the pain I've been having. I haven't had it any where near as bad as I did the night I went to the hospital, but I have a constant bloated, sore feeling in my stomach. It's very frustating and annoying. I'm having a very hard time with my shakes and vitamins. I'm trying to figure out how to handle it, but am at a loss so far. I will update as I learn more about this, I'm praying for these weeks to fly by, it will be a lot easier for me to get my protein in when I can eat again!!!
9/18/03 Thursday - Things are going ok... I am feeling good pain-wise, it's all pretty much gone now! I am still not doing well with my protein shakes, it seems to get worse instead of better. I prepare them and drink about 4 sips and then feel so sick I can't stand it any longer. My Dr.'s office suggested I could try some other things, like soups, hot cereals, etc. It has to be drinkable though. I made some cream of wheat, and the 1 cup serving has taken me 2 days (3 different servings) to get through. I get full really easy, and if I push it and eat one too many bites, or if it's not watered down enough (actually I've been using skim milk to help get my protein in) it feels stuck in my new stomach... very uncomfortable feeling. I have a very hard time throwing up though, so no matter how queasy I feel, I haven't thrown up yet. I suppose that's a good thing! I am still tired a lot, and wish I was loosing faster, I'm down about 17lbs in 16 days, I wanted to hit 20lbs at my 2 week mark... I know I should just do what I can to take care of myself, excercise and work harder at getting my protein in, and the weight loss will take care of itself! But it's hard to feel like I'm failing already! Maybe I just expect myself to fail, I need to get over that and concentrate on taking care of myself... I'll get there eventually, but this is sure a learning process! I'm going to get my butt on the treadmill and do something good for me. :) I'll update again soon.
10/23/03 (Thursday) - I have been out of touch for quite awhile! We moved at the beginning of the month to Georgia and sadly I have not had internet access since then. We are stopping in at my husband's parent's house to use theirs.... Anyhow, I have been really sick. I have been throwing up a lot and feeling nauseated and weak constantly. I am finally getting around to getting an appointment with a local bariatric surgeon for follow up help. I keep most of what I try to eat down, what I throw up is usually just clear fluid. But everything I put in my mouth upsets my stomach. I am doing better on getting water in, I've discovered for whatever reason my stomach accepts it if I drink right out of the tap, strange, I know! I keep telling myself this won't last forever, but it's sure been hard to keep my chin up. My weight loss is going pretty good, I'm almost up to 50 lbs lost. My mother-in-law took me shopping a week ago and bought me a few things since everything I own hangs off of me by now. I was able to fit into clothes 2 sizes smaller, and I really can tell when I look in the mirror. I don't know that it's been worth all the sickness I've been through so far, but I think it will be in the long run once I can figure out what's wrong with me and how to fix it! Anyhow, that's my update for now. Take care all.
12/14/03 - Sorry it's been SOO long!!! It's been a little over 3 months now, and as of today I weigh 215 (-65 lbs) and I'm feeling great! I've added updated photos to my personal website if you want to check it out. I'm eating very small portions, haven't gotten up to my reccomended protein levels, but I try to make sure I eat the meats out of my meals first. I've started working again, and have been taking frozen Lean Cuisine or the Weight Watchers brand, I usually only eat about 1/3 of the meal. I still have problems every once in awhile with forgetting to chew good enough, especially when I let myself get really hungry. Then it feels like something gets stuck, and it hurts pretty bad, and usually ends up coming back up shortly. I try to keep a bottle of water near me at all times, and usually drink about 2-3 a day, and I've gotten into drinking at least 8-16 ounces of diet V-8 splash a day. I tried diet Snapple, but for some reason it REALLY upset my stomach and gave me diarrhea and cramping... it was awful. I think I'm lactose intolerant now, the last time I tried having cream of mushroom soup I got cramping and gas and diarrhea. It doesn't seem to affect me when it's in small portions cooked into things though. Anyhow! That's a quick update for the moment, feel free to contact me if you'd like to ask any questions or chat about anything! Take care all!
1/3/04 (4 months post-op, Weight: 203 -77lbs!) I am SOO close to my first major goal of getting under 200lbs, I'm really excited about that! I've been doing pretty well lately! Same basic problems for me, sometimes forgetting to chew meats thoroughly, not getting out and excercising enough (M-F I am up at 5:30am and not home until almost 7pm, and usually in bed by 9pm after cooking dinner and cleaning the dishes! I know no excuse is a good excuse, but I haven't figured out how to make excercise a priority amidst my hectic schedule!) I am feeling really healthy, and enjoying the constant weight loss, it's slowed a lot, but I still get those big jumps every now and then. I'll go four weeks with only 2-3lbs lost per week and then in four days I lost 6 lbs! It's a good feeling to keep up the continuous weight loss, I haven't seen any increases, though I don't weigh myself religiously. I did the first month, but now I just check in once a week or so.
2/9/04 As you can see my weight loss is slowing down! I need to pick up the pace to get things moving, it isn't really depressing me, because even though I may not be loosing that many pounds, I can see the inches coming off still, and I'm still getting compliments and comments from friends and family which continues to keep me going! I'm down to pretty much a size 16, 18 for some things. I had gone shopping and bought a whole new wardrobe mostly size 20 the day after thanksgiving, and EVERYTHING I bought then is loose on me now... my shirts will last still, because I can get away with wearing them a little loose, but any pants or slacks look REALLY bad now, very baggy. It's encouraging! I have occassional bad days with chewing, but for the most part everything is going really well, and I'm learning how to control my eating and urges now that I actually have the capability to eat again... I can also eat a piece of candy now and then, or a couple chips, but I try very hard to REALLY monitor what goes in my mouth!
2/16/04 - Just wanted to pop in and put down a quick note - DOWN 90 LBS!! I am SOO happy! I'm doing really good, had a rough afternoon/evening yesterday for whatever reason, but am continuing to feel good, and I am feeling good about how I look! I shopped at Victoria's Secret for the first time ever on Valentine's Day! It was SO exciting and FUN to be able to shop there and get something cute and sexy, and really feel sexy in it... what a change.
4/5/04 - I can't believe 7 months have already gone by... I'm feeling pretty good. I very rarely have rough days anymore (getting food stuck, throwing up, etc.). My weight loss has slowed down, obviously, and I'm noticing it bothers me! I'm sure I'll need to get used to this feeling, and I know I will eventually... but I guess I'm not 100% happy with my body yet, so it depresses me to see the weight not coming off so quickly as before. I'm in a size 14 jean right now... all my 16s are getting really loose. I can't remember EVER being a size 14... so I should be proud of that, I am proud of that, I just know I have farther to go. I would like to loose at least 20-30 more lbs. I've been walking on my lunch break a little more often, and that makes me feel so good. I just need to remember to bring clothes and shoes to change into! (I usually wear nice sandals/business causual dress.) Anyhow, everything is going pretty well right now! I've been losing hair though, my hair still looks normal, but I can feel that it's MUCH thinner than it was before. I'm trying some different shampoos/conditioners, we'll see if anything helps. I need to remember to take my vitamins religiously - that would probably help too! Any suggestions for hair health would be appreciated!
6/8/04 - Hello all, I can't believe I let 2 months slip by, I have been really busy at work. They've given me a ton more responsibilities, which is good, but it makes time fly by! I can't believe I've only lost 10 lbs over the past 2 months, that makes me sick! I worry constantly about my weight now. I look like I'm at a pretty healthy weight, I'm in a size 10-12 depending, the bathing suit I bought last week was a medium. I can't remember EVER fitting into a medium, and yet I am still really unhappy with my body. I keep comparing myself to others who are down to a size 6 after the surgery, or my friends around me. It's not just the weight I'm at still, it's the loose skin on my stomach and thighs, I just don't feel pretty. I know I could probably help myself out a lot with excercise, but as always I find excuses instead of making time to just do it. We have a small gym here at our work facility, and I was going there on my lunch breaks a few times a week, and need to start doing that again... every little bit helps! I have also been bad about eating candy. There is a bowl that sits on my desk for everyone who comes in, and I end up eating about 5 pieces every day, if it was once in awhile I might not think it was so bad, but it's EVERY day! I have gotten to where I eat junk food now and then, and I feel like I might be going back to how I used to eat, and that terrifies me. I felt really depressed yesterday, and I think it is because of not knowing what to do. I don't want to go back, I don't want to have the bad habits, I certainly don't want to gain any weight back... I need the strength to say no to junk food, that is my main weakness. I do good about eating healthy otherwise, and I still eat pretty small portions, I'm not feeling worried about that.
Anyhow, that's where I'm at, 9 months out. Feeling pretty healthy, just worried about where to go from here!
8/4/04 - Hello again! It's been another 2 months flown by, and here I am, almost at my re-birthday! I can't believe it's almost been a whole year. I feel like a completely different person than I was back then. As you can see, my weight loss has REALLY pretty much stopped. I have been battling with myself emotionally over that, whether I should beat myself up about it, and work harder to drop another 10-20 lbs, or if I should accept this number, and just work at being healthy. I have started excercising during my lunch break at the gym, only about 35 minutes, but I feel so much better about myself when I am active. I am down to a size 10, possibly smaller occassionally! I still see inches coming off here and there, just not pounds. I've been walking/running on the treadmill, and I started noticing the difference in my thighs within about 1 week, it helped thin them out a little. I guess I'm at the point where I feel like unless I starve myself the pounds aren't going to come off very easily. I do still have some bad habits with snacking between meals (I usually have a couple handfulls of crackers and probably a few pieces of candy). But, my portion size is still very controlled at meals, and I eat a Lean Cuisine or something like that at lunch, so I am controlling my intake there. I guess I know I'm not perfect, but I feel like I'm making the right efforts towards making good long term changes for a healthier me, maybe not the super-skinny me I had dreamed of, but a healthy me nonetheless. I don't think I will be happy with my body, but maybe I will learn to accept it someday. I have no regrets. I am thankfull for the opportunity I had to have this surgery, and to make the changes I so desperately needed to make.
On a somewhat different subject, I wanted to let anyone going through this same thing know: my hair loss was pretty dramatic, I think I must have lost at least 50% of my hair, it had gotten terribly thin, I didn't have bald spots, but my hair was VERY, VERY thin, and unhealthy looking. I was putting it in pony tails every day so I didn't have to mess with it. It has started to grow back in, and is MUCH healthier now, and I think that is because the weight loss has stopped, my body is starting to balance itself out. I talked to the lady who cuts my hair about how thin it was, and how I didn't know what to do with it, especially with the new growth being so short and uneven. She cut it to about 4-5 inches below my shoulder, so there's still some length to it (it used to be more than halfway down my back), she gave me some layering to add thickness, and also suggested volumizing mousse. There's a brand in the Salons called Guts, which she strongly recommended, but I am using Pantene Volumizing which has worked really well for me. Just follow the directions, towel dry your hair, generously apply the mousse, work through with your hands and then comb through to make sure it's evenly applied. Then blow dry your hair and style as desired. I blow dry mine upside down to give it even more volume. It looks SOOO much better that way! Anyhow, that's my update for now, hopefully I'll be checking in again soon! Take care all my brothers and sisters!
3/9/04 - Wow! It's been a year and a half already! Life is pretty much normal now. My weight is really holding steady, I gain a pound a loose a pound here and there, the funny thing is that my size has continued to shrink even though I haven't lost many pounds in over 6 months! I'm down to an 8/10; I still have a hard time believing that. I've never been this small! I am, of course, still not completely satisfied with my body - I have a lot of loose skin on my stomach and thighs, and I would love to have my breasts lifted! But, instead of just being depressed, I am working out - I'm doing Tae-Bo right now, and trying to tighten things up that way!
I'm going to a wedding this weekend, I will be seeing friends from highschool whom I haven't seen in over 7 years! I'm excited to see them, and to be honest I can't wait to show off a little!! :) I haven't had hardly any problems in a very long time. I still get sick when I over do the sugar, especially with things like candy and grape juice. I ate too fast today and ended up having to throw up, so that hasn't completely gone away, but it's a good reminder to take my time! I am working on drinking more water and need to work harder at keeping my iron levels up, I don't eat red meat anymore except for the occassional meal with ground beef, so that's been hard for me!
I'm going to update my WLS page right now, and I will check in again in a little while, I hope all is well for each of you - feel free to send me any questions you might have!!
7/10/06 - I am still alive and well! I've put back on about 10lbs that I lost, but am holding steady and still feeling good. No major complications or problems to report! :)
2/21/08 - Wow!! It's been ages since I checked in. I am up to 180 again, I was pregnant as a gestational surrogate for a wonderful couple, delivering in July of 2007 and because of the hormones to sustain the pregnancy and pregnancy itself I gained another 10lbs. I haven't been working too hard to bring it back off, but I know I should and am capable of doing so! I guess with my work schedule I haven't made it a priority, though I would really love to get back down to my lowest - these extra 20lbs are frustrating and I felt better before. Not too much going on, no complications. I feel really great pretty much all the time! I fill up pretty quickly, my problem is snacking and eating more than 3 times a day I think. Overall my habits have changed for the better and I'm thankful every day for the changes in my life because of the surgery.
4/24/08 - In late May 2008 I joined SparkPeople.com and began to track my weight and started some strength training, the lbs started coming off again. Within 1 month I have lost 10lbs and am at 175. My husband and I started the P90X program on Monday, 4/21/08 and I'm already seeing more weight coming off which is exciting! I'm looking forward to seeing if the intense work outs will help tighten up some of this loose skin on my thighs and stomach, which I've had problems with ever since the main weight loss after surgery.
I am still thankful I made the decision to have the bypass, and know it is helping as I recommit to weightloss and making myself healthy again! I plan to cycle again as a surrogate in the very near future and intend to be much more careful about my weight gain and my health this time!
1/31/11 - Holy HECK!! SEVEN plus years later... where has the time gone?? Yes, I'm up a little but I'm not worried about it too much. I delivered a beautiful little girl just 2 1/2 months ago and have already lost 20 lbs post-delivery and have another 10 to get down to my pre-pregnancy weight and 20 to get down to my goal of 160. I've been doing P90X for 5 weeks straight now and am excited to see the progress I'll have made by the end of the 90 days! I continue to use SparkPeople to track my weight and calories. I've moved towards flexitarianism/vegetarianism as well and am reducing the amount of animal products I consume.
About Me
Before & After
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