Three Months Later- 68 Pounds Down!

 

Today it has been three months and eight days since surgery.  I am down 68 pounds and have dropped 4 sizes in pants!  I finally feel pretty good most of the time.  Perfect, minus my hips still adjusting to my new weight and I still have an ulcer that seems to not want to heal.  Otherwise, though, having surgery was a great decision and I am so glad that I did it.

I start a new job on Monday in Downtown Greenville.  I have to pay to park everyday, which is new for me.  So, today I booked a spot 4 blocks from my office building and (I think) I am looking forward to the walk twice a day- except when it's raining or snowing, of course.

I am still waiting to see Dr. Murdock about my blood pressure meds.  Because I have lost so much weight, it is really time to adjust them.  I have been afraid to work out because sometimes I get really light headed and dizzy when I move too much.  Really looking forward to seeing him and getting that taken care of. :)

I went though my work clothes and had to get rid of 20 pairs of pants that were too big.  I am now in the smallest clothes that I own (mostly 14's), which is a good feeling.  I even tried my wedding gown on this week and it is also too big.  I am smaller now that I was before Jason and I got married!  I still have a ways to go, but I will get there. :)

Eating Out- Chick-fil-a Saves the Day!

http://www.chick-fil-a.com/

Having a gastric bypass changes your life in many way.  One way, the biggest way, is what you can and can not eat, portions and sugar intake.  More than a little (about 5 grams) will making you violently ill.  Plus, if you have gone though everything to get where you can eat real food again, you don't want to sabotage yourself by eating foods that will stop your weight loss.  

Enter Chick-fil-a!  Chick-fil-a has started offering grilled chicken nuggets in their kids meal!   Add in the fruit cup option (instead of fries) and sway out the soda for a milk, or in my case, a diet lemonade (sugar free) and you have yourself a great, size appropriate meal on the go!    To top it all off, you get all this for a little over $3 and in my case it took me two sittings to finish it. 

On another note:  I weighed this morning, the first time in about a week, and I met my second weight loss goal- UNDER 200 lbs.  I weighed in at 198, a weight I haven't seen in over 6 years.  That is about 59 pounds lost.  

A big thank you to Chick-fil-a for making it easier and tasty! 

2 Months Later- 53 Pounds Down!

I just got back home from my 2 month check in with Dr. Ross.  I must say, after everything I was going though last time I saw him, I, today, have NO complaints! I am down 53 pounds. :)

This time a month ago I was dry heaving so violently and so often that I seriously, at times, thought I would die.  I was so sick that when I was finished I would lay in my bed and cry! Come to find out after going in for an EDG (where they go down your throat with a light) and countless medications and calls in to the office, that it was MILK! Dr. Ross found out during the EDG that I had an ulcerated incision (inside) which was causing me to crave milk.  So, I was drinking a LOT of it because it was the only thing I could get down.  My cousin, who had the surgery years ago, told me that she couldn't drink milk any more, which promoted me to try to go off of it and see if that helped.  I was so desperate at that point, I would have done anything! So, I went off of milk for a few days and voilà!  I was not sick or nauseous at all.  Of course, I had to test this out and try one glass of milk, just to me sure.  I did and that whole day I was back to being sick.  What a relief to find out the source of my problem-- lactose intolerance!

Now that I am well, I just have to get my blood pressure meds adjusted so I don' t get light headed when I move too much.  Then, I am going to start working toward my first exercise goal of running a 5K!  I'll  keep you posted.

Recovery: One Month Later

Friday, April 13th, marked one month post op.  Today, Sunday, April 16, 2012, I am weighing in at 216.8 pounds.  Which means I have lost 39 pounds!  I tried on a dress yesterday that I hadn't worn since before Samuel was born and it fit, that was a pleasant surprise. 

I have heard that some people say that having bariatric surgery is the "easy way out."  For me, at least, there hasn't been anything easy about this journey yet.  Yes, losing the weight is great and there is something to be said for feeling like you are taking a proactive approach to your health, life and well being.  However, this really is a life change, and not always an easy one. 

People have asked me about feeling hungry or wanting to eat things that I can't.  The truth is, for me, that I have to force my self to eat.  The thought of eating is no longer enjoyable to me in the slightest.  I would really be happy if I never had to see food again! :)  I am never hungry.  Ever.  What does happen is that I feel like I have to eat because I know if I don't, I will be sick.  So, it's more like the brain telling the body to eat versus the stomach.  Learning to listen to my body and find a balance of the signals has proven difficult for me, but I am getting better at it.  Not enough food= nausea, sugar drop and dry heaving.  Too much= stomach pain, nausea & dry heaving.  Sometimes, for me, getting it perfect still means nausea and dry heaving!

Nausea has proven to be my biggest enemy during this time.  Currently I am on a double dose of nausea medication (one that they give chemo patients for nausea) and I am still in the bathroom at least once a day (if not more) dry heaving, sometimes violently, which makes me very sore and exhausted.  I will be calling the doctor tomorrow about some more help with this.  They have been great about helping me find a solution to get though this period, but we haven't yet found the winning combination.

I really had hoped to be further along in recovery by this point.  I feel like I have had a rough time, although, I have not had any complications from surgery at all.  According to the docs, everything I am going through is normal, although different for every person.  Apparently, nausea can last 3 days or 3 months and there is not way to tell because each patient is different.  

I have started walking with a friend four days a week.  We walk for 30-40 minutes during her lunch break.  Beyond that, I am still not leaving home regularly because I never know when I will be sick.  Baby steps, I guess.  The truth is, if the nausea and dry heaving would go away I would feel great!

I am very ready to feel good and normal again... or just NOT nauseous would be fantastic! 

What is Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?

Who did your surgery?

Surgeons are not known for their bed side manner.  If you have had surgery you know this.  Most surgeons are very technical and black/white.  I have had seven or so surgeries over the course of my life and have found this to be true.  However, Dr. Ross must have been cut from a different cloth! He is the gentlest and kindest surgeon I have ever met.  He has a very caring and gracious spirit about him.   When you are with him, you know that he cares about you, as a person, first.  That is so important when having a surgery that is this serious.  I would recommend him (and have) to anyone that is looking into bariatric surgery.  He is fantastic! :)


 
Dr. Ross is board certified by the American College of Surgeons. He graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina and completed his general surgery residency at Spartanburg Regional. As bariatric medical director and primary bariatric surgeon, Dr. Ross has performed more than 1,100 weight loss surgeries.

Dr. Ross is dedicated to helping patients regain healthy, active lives. He is a member of the South Carolina Medical Association and the American College of Surgeons. He is a member and a fellow of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and is actively involved in the Bariatric Society of the Carolinas.

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