one year today!!

Today is the one year anniversary of my gastric bypass surgery. At my heaviest I was 291lbs. I started at CWM(the Center for Weight Management and Baristric Surgery) at 261lbs. Today I weighed in at 152lbs. I started at a snug size 22 and am now in a 4 or 6 (misses). It still doesn't seem "real" to me somehow.
It has not been an easy journey. Anyone who says that gastric bypass is the "easy" way out, has not done their homework! After having your innards rearranged you have to be very careful to follow all of the rules. You need to learn and execute proper nutrition and hydration. That means planning, weighing, measuring, taking all your supplements(vitamins,calcium etc.) The surgery adjusts your plumbing but they don't touch your brain. The reasons that I got so obese didn't go away just because I can't physically stuff myself anymore. I still have the compulsion to binge and/or make poor food choices. I'm working on it. I certainly don't want to have gone through all of this to regain the weight and end up where I started. My poor body can't handle the poundage.

Aside from the gastric bypass, it's been a rough year. First, during the bypass the surgeon found a 6inch cyst on my one remaining ovary(and attached to my bladder) so I had to have 2 surgeries the first day. Then after going home from the hospital I got really ill. Fever of 103, couldn't drink or pee, horrible pain and bloating. So... back to the hospital for another surgery to fix an internal hernia. Since I had 3 surgeries in 4 days, I had been on massive IV fluids and unable to move around much, I ended up in intensive care with congestive heart failure for a few days. Then... since I had been on so many antibiotics I developed colitis. The first few weeks were pretty miserable. While recovering from all that "stuff", I had been having quite a bit of pain in my right shoulder. It finally got to the point where I couldn't hold onto anything and couldn't raise my arm.... So... More surgery. I had 2 bone spurs, 2 tears in the labrum(cartelege),2 calcium deposits and 2 tears in the rotator cuff(the biceps tendon was hanging by a thread). The surgery went fine but the recovery was painful and required a few months of physical therapy. Just as i was finishing up with PT for the shoulder I started having some abdomilal pain and constant nausea... gallstones! Yup you got it... another surgery. That one was pretty easy though. My bariatric surgeon did it laproscopically and I really felt fine in just a few days. It's a good thing it was easy because 3 weeks after that I was scheduled for spine surgery. I had levels C-4,5,6,7 fused with bone grafts (discs removed) 8 screws and a titanium plate. Recovery is going very well. I'm now just waiting for my spine surgeon to release me so I can have my left knee replaced...

It would have been nice to have had a year to just consentrate on the weight loss and dealing with my food issues. But that's not MY life.

My mom is not doing well, but thank goodness my sister is taking great care of her (thanks Deb,you're the BEST!!)

I guess this sounds like a giant complaint. It's actually NOT. Although It's been a physically and emotionally demanding year, I have to say that I am really very grateful for the things that I have been able to have repaired and the fact that during this time I have managed to lose 109lbs. I am SOOO thankful for the support of everyone at the CWM and my fabulous kids and hubby. My poor hubby didn't know he was going to have to be a full time nurse!

so... there's my update..... aren't you sorry you asked ;-)

treadin'

OK so I had my 6 week post op check up with my spine surgeon. The X-rays of my new neck look pretty cool. There's a 1X4" plate held in by 8 screws. One of the levels that he tried to fix was too far gone (the vertebra had fused together over the collapsed disc)so he was only able to get two of the discs out and replace them with bone grafts. It is all healing nicely. He did a really nice job with the incicion. The scar is already barely noticeable.

I was hoping he would release me to have my knee replacement, but he wants me to wait another six weeks. So I figure that if I have to wait anyway I may as well try to work on my stamina. I figure the better shape I'm in going into surgery, the easier the recovery will be. Right? Right!

So... I started on the treadmill last night. I haven't really tried it since losing weight... because of all the surgeries and basically all my "stuff". It went pretty well. I managed to do a quarter mile at 2 1/2 mph. I know it doesn't sound like much. But for me that's HUGE. As long as my knees cooperate I'll try to do a few minutes every day.

A very merry Christmas to all!!

'Tis the season during which I normally "excuse" my gluttony as normal. It is after all "the HOLIDAYS". Even on the occasions where I was "seriously" dieting, I would suspend said diet in "honor" of any special day. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely think it's fine to have special treats for special occasions. If you're looking forward to a Christmas eve eggnog, by all means have one! It's not a sin to have a food treat. The problem comes in where "treat" turns into "binge".
As anyone who knows me can attest, I am definately a compulsive personality. I am also a bit of a perfectionist. If I'm going to do something ... I'm going to be the best damn-it. OK .... The piont here being.... I am having a mighty struggle with practicing "moderation". My brain "gets" it ... my "psyche".. not so much. Anywhoo I'm going to have a little eggnog... but I won't be using it to wash down... 12 butter cookies, 11 chewy date squares, 10 chocolate truffles, 9...... oh well, you get the idea.

Change of subject... sort of. I had my check up with my (bariatric) surgeon this week. My labs were all perfect...YAY! I am just 8 lbs from my personal goal of 148lbs. I would like to get there by my one year surgiversary feb 2nd. We'll see.

Enjoy the Holidays everyone!
me

Par-tay...

Went to my christmas party at the Center for Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery "CWM" (AKA my support group). I got dressed up and put on a face and everything. I even wore a dress. I thought I looked kinda cute (for an old lady).
There were maybe 60-70 people there. Mostly post ops in various stages of their journey. There were also some long term post ops (2-6yrs) who don't usually come to the regular meetings. It was good to see people a few years out who are still working their tool and happy with their decision. This is not a "quick fix" people! You still have to WORK at it for the rest of your life.
I must admit to a few "swell my noggin" moments. Got a bunch of comments on how good I looked ;-) even a couple people wanted to know about my plastic surgery :-o (lol). I haven't had any. Just got lucky in the excess skin department(have some but not TOO bad).We just won't talk about the "chesticles" :-/.
It was pretty shocking to me how many people brought foods/snacks which were not only NOT bariatric friendly, but downright unhealthy for anyone. I made sugar free-fat free cheesecake bites. I even wrote out the recipe and the nut. stats. they came out to just 20 calories each... and yummy! I brought the extras to Chai's house since she's hosting a work party tonight(I always make too much).
OK enough typing for me!
Have a great day all.....

OK Me too

1. Who are you?
Ummm Pat
2. What is your current health/weight status?
I have some health challenges. Chronic fatigue, sleep apnea, asthma, dejenerative joint disease, peripheral neuropothy, spinal stenosis, myelopothy,IBS.... ad nausium. Weight wise though I'm pretty good. I've lost a total of 131lbs so far and have just 12lbs to goal.
3. What does being "healthy" mean to you?
To have a body which will do what I ask of it without having to weigh what I would like to do against the consequences.
4. What is your ultimate goal?
I would love to be able to get back to work. I would like to have enough stamina to lead a "normal" active life. I would really like to not be in a state of either preparing for or recovering from surgery. Oh... and no pain would be nice too.
5. What is the biggest obstacle on your way to your goal?
Darn genes. And fear.
6. Who or what do you look up to the most, in regards to your goals?
Chai and Fatty. Sorry about passing on the crappy genes guys. I admire your determination to do the best you can.
7. If you could take a magic potion, instead of working for it, would you?
Well i guess I'm looking for a magic potion that would allow me to work for it. So... yeah absolutely.
8. What do you look forward to the most?
Getting to and maintaining my goal weight. Finally having enough stuff "fixed" so that I can work out and be a "hot mamma"
9. What is the biggest lesson you've learned so far?
Wishing won't make it so. Not everything can be "fixed" so you need to do the best you can with what you've got.
10. Do you have any big rewards planned?
mmmmmm.... nope

Thanksgiving!

* As of yesterday morning I have lost a total of 130lbs, 100of that has been in the last 9 1/2months! How crazy is thattt!!!
* I am officialy "normal"... not morbidly obese, not obese, not even overweight. I have not been a normal weight since... ummmm.... 1977... and not even all of "77" as I was preggers and chunked up pretty quick ;-)

SO... I am so very thankful for...
* Making the decision to go forward with the gastric bypass
* My FABULOUS surgeons who always manage to put me back together in better shape than they found me. Especially Dr Lapp who gave me back my legs.. I will forever be grateful.
*My wonderful husband who has proved that he really does love me through "thick and thin" ;-). The poor man didn't know what he was getting into when he married me. He has turned into the best nurse ever!
* My incredible kids. They have grown into the most amazing people. Caryn, so sweet so smart, hard-working,a loyal and supportive friend. I'm so happy she has a good husband who adores her. Bryan:Loving, caring, funny,devoted to his friends and family. I love that he has never(even as a teenager) been afraid to give his mom a hug in public. That he is openly devoted to his sisters and mom and dad. Shannon: my baby-girl Has turned into a very dear friend... I can't really say a bunch of mushy stuff because we are so much alike... it would be like tooting my own horn :-P.
I love you all bunches.
* my fabulous sister! The most creative, talented person I know. I am totally impressed with the way she has stepped up to the challenge of caring for our mother.
*My Mom I'm grateful that even with all of her challenges lately, she still has laughter in her days(thanks Deb).
* Emy my very bestest friend. Always listens. Makes me laugh. Makes me think.
*Melissa and Adam, My extra kids... also good friends I hope they know how much I
love them!

* My pups and the coop

that's about all the typing I can handle for now... everyone please enjoy the day and give the important people in your life a big hug!!

Still in one piece

Came home from the hospital yesterday. Feeling OK. I am taking some pain meds so I spend a fair amount of time sleeping. Sore throat, headache and killer muscle spasms in my upper back and shoulders. But overall I'm not feeling too bad. Hubby is taking very good care of me.
I guess I should explain what I had done, for anyone who doesn't know me. I have severe degenerative joint disease.... Which basically means my joints fall apart and get overgrown with bone spurs. In the past few years I've had a bunch of stuff repaired, removed and rebuilt. Knees, foot, shoulder and two lumbar fusions (with rods and screws) Then Monday I had yet another spinal fusion... this one was at C-4,5,6,7 where they went in and removed the bone spurs and the discs... replaced the disc spaces with bone grafts and then screwed a titanium plate over the whole thing to keep it stable while the bone grafts heal and grow into place.
When I've recovered a little more I'll start explaining my weight-loss journey which is the real purpose of this blog... Just got a bit side-tracked.....

time for some more meds..... ummm naptime... later... me