bjhollaway
7/08/04- I have been waiting for surgery for about a year. I was approved and had a date, Jan. 21, 2004 at WHMC at Lackland AFB in Texas. Unfortunatley, we had PCSed to Fort Riley, KS., and I was unable to make my surgery date. Now I am going through Tallgrass in Topeka, KS. I hope to have a date by next week. I've been working really hard at losing as much weight as possible, and quitting smoking is proving to be really tough. My weight right now is about 225 lbs.
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7/22/04- I got a date today, October 21st! So now I'm just waiting!!!
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9/25/04 I have had wonderful messages from wonderful people, and I appreciate it so much! I am less than a month away from surgery! I could not be more thrilled right now! I have gained weight recently, but for a good cause..........I HAVE BEEN SMOKE FREE FOR 8 WEEKS!!!!! I will never smoke another cigarette again! Well I hope not anyways!!!!!
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10/08/04 Next week I am scheduled for a pre-op visit with the doc on the 14th at 11am, then I head over to the hospital for my pre-op tests. My birthday is on the 12th, so all of this is a nice birthday present! Though I am having mixed feelings about many things. I worry about death, and I worry about the effect that my choice may have on my husband and family. But I gently remind myself that in the long run I will be healthier and most likely more happy. Exciting thing is to see my blood pressure go down, and the possibility of not having to take my Metformin any longer. That is exciting! Most importantly, I hope two years from now, I will be able to post here that I have conceived, which I have been waiting a loooooooong time for! Anyways, maybe I need not be so anxious and think about it too much! Interesting to see what I will have to say in a few months!!!!! The 21st of October is less than 2 weeks away now!!!!!!!
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10/13/04 I had my 26th birthday yesterday, and I think I also had my last piece of chocolate cake for the rest of my life, lol. Oh well, it's all worth it. I had a nice birthday, with Erick and the dogs. Erick got me a Yoga mat and a espresso/cappucino machine. Leroy really likes lying on the Yoga mat.
My anxiety is sky high, still going back and forth about whether or not I am making the correct decision. My heart races like crazy lately, and I can't sleep. Tomorrow I have a pre-op appointment with my surgeon, and then I have to go to the hospital for pre-op tests. I will probably feel better tomorrow. I slipped up on smoking by the way, but not too bad. I am currently drinking loads of green tea, taking my vitamins faithfully to hopefully clean out as much crap as possible before surgery. I will update again tomorrow, and then once again right before I leave on the 21st for surgery! Thanks for all of your support and listening (reading) to me whine! LOL
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10/14/04 Today I had my pre-op appointment with Dr. Dunshee and my tests done at St. Francis Hospital. Nothing new to report. Though I have decided I am making the right decision for many many reasons. Now, I'm just nervous about the procedure itself, and the after effects. I am excited!!!!!!! Oh yes, my weight today WITH CLOTHES ON, lol, was 246 lbs. I'll have a "naked" weigh-in before surgery next week. Seems as if I have gained most of the weight I had lost over the last 8 months.....
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10/20/04 Well it's finally here. It's the day before my surgery, and I am feeling a bit whacky. I am only "eating" liquids right now, it's not so bad, I'm not that hungry. Last night I had a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich compliments of my husband, Erick. It was a perfect "good-bye" to food! Lots of grease, fat, bread and everything else that is bad for me! I don't expect to ever eat another one again, but I can at least say, I once went to Philly and ate a real cheese steak sandwich, lol!
I also changed my BC to the Depo-Provera, so that is one less pill to take. No problems or side effects, I am actually impressed! I should have tried it a long time ago, duh! I also got new glasses today, which will go along with my new stomach, HA. Over the weekend, I bought all the food I will be needing over the next couple of weeks, and lots of fruity tasting waters. I also bought Splenda, and it's really really good! It tastes just like sugar. We used an entire box over the weekend making capuccinos and teas. I have plenty of broth, gelatin, and popsicles to eat for my first week. Honestly, I am not so worried about not being able to eat all the time. I'm looking foward to living better, exercising and most importantly eating better! Good luck to me, and good luck to those pre-ops that are reading this. Next time I make an entry, I'll be on the losing team!!!
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10/25/04 Well I am finally done, and have finally done it! I was in on Thursday and out on Saturday. I had no complications and have no complaints thus far. I am healing nicely, and feeling better everyday!!!!!
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11/6/04 I am feeling pretty good, and trying to get my energy levels up. I am 2 weeks and 2 days post op. I have experienced little pain since my first week. I am having pain on my side, where one of my six incisions looks funny. The rest of them are healed and scabs are all gone. I feel like I have stopped losing weight, I now weight 217 lbs. It may be contributed to my eating, I feel like I can eat a lot and do. I found I could eat some things that are not on the menu. I have put a stop to that, shame on me for lack of self-control.
My viatmins currently include 2 IronKids chewables a day, 2 Viactiv chews a day, and 1000mg of B12 a day. I am taking 450 mg of Wellbutrin a day, and 2 other medications. So far, only the Viactiv bothers my tummy. I am also on a full liquid diet. I finally found a shake that I like also. It is the Atkins Advantage shakes in chocolate. Everything else is completely disgusting to me. I am averaging 65g of protein a day. I hope to have 75 a day soon!
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11/24/04 Tomorrow I will be 4 weeks post-op, as of today I am at 205 lbs. Last week and the week before I had some issues. I become incredibly sick, not being able to eat, and each time I did becoming incredibly sick. It was miserable, it lasted about 5 days or so. I called my doctor, and was prescribed Carafate. It took about 4 days to work. Once it did, I was in heaven. That has been the hardest part so far. I was so sick I could barely walk, move, even talk. I was staying with my mother, who had also had WLS years and years ago, so it was very helpful to have someone there to support me, and to know exactly how I was feeling.
Now I am getting back on track trying to eat normal, and get my protein in. Getting water in is still proving to be difficult for me. Certain flavored water drinks really hurt and I can't tolerate them. For instance, I can drink the vitamin enhanced Fruit2O, but not the regular.
The weight loss is very exciting, and people I haven't seen in a long time are beginning not to recognize me right away. I don't feel any difference, but my clothes are very baggy and my face is a bit slimmer. I have always felt pretty good about myself, and now I feel even better. This is an amazing journey, good and bad. No one can prepare you for this!
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12/7/2004 I feel really really good! I have been going to the gym almost daily for a week now, and it has helped tremendously. I look in the mirror and see a completely different person. I am down to a size 16, from a size 22/24. I weight about 198. It was a very powerful feeling to know I have passed the 200 lb mark! My breasts are getting smaller, and sagging, my belly doesn't stick out as much, and my legs are out of proportion with the rest of my body. They look too skinny! Other than that, no compliants and no regrets!
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12/23/04- Well I more than 2 months post-op. I have had some issues, and have dealt with them. I haven't been feeling well due to my change in birth control. I am very stressed out with regular life stuff, I need to get that under control. I wish my diet was better, but my water intake has improved greatly. I am at 195lbs, still no complaints!
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1/2/2005- Happy New Year!!!! I now weigh 189 lbs, but my exercise has slowed a bit. I hope to pick it up this week since the holidays are over! The flab is attacking me! LOL. My eating is good, I can eat any kind of poultry, but I have a hard time with certain parts of pork. I can eat meals made with groud beef, but I can't eat much steak. I eat a lot of turkey jerky, and beef jerky too. It's a nice meal!
I look great, I really do. I have new photos, taken recently to post. I also have photos of myself in the hospital right after getting out of the recovery room that my husband took for me. Those are interesting!
My vitamins and supplements include 2 Ironkids chewables a day, 2 Viactiv chews a day, extra B12, Flaxseed Oil. I also drink Propel fitness water which provides vitamins. I also take Wellbutrin, Ortho Tri Cyclen birth control, and another anxiety medication. I used to take 7 to 9 prescription pills a day, now I only take 3! WOOHOOO!
I have been having trouble with people and my weight. I am soo sick of hearing how good I look from strangers, or aquanitances. It means so much coming from those I love like my mother, best friends, etc.....but I am sick of it from other people. So I don't know if I am being silly or what....it just makes me uncomfortable I suppose.
So other than that, no complaints about my pouch, body or the surgery itself. I am happy and proud of me. I still have NEVER vomited since having surgery. I have never vomited once, I think that says a lot!
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2/4/05 Still no complaints, I am down to 176, and I have also lost a few inches. When I first measured my waist it was 43, now I am down to 39. Before surgery my waist was 46, as well as my hips. I feel great, sexy, and I am still very happy!
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4/21/05 I am officially 6 months post-op now. I am down to about 155-158 lbs. My waist measures 34!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am holding steady at this weight. I have done incredibly well, and done much better than expected! I am very happy and lucky. I had doubts after surgery, but I would do it again. I can run without losing my breath and I feel better than I every have in my entire life. Also, I am in a size 5 to 7 jeans!!!! My dress size is about an 8 or 10. My breasts are still D cups, so I don't wear women's shirts too well. I think my boobs are here to stay no matter what. They're so loyal! lol
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10/11/2005
My boobs are not that loyal, I am officially a B cup. I also am a size 3, I feel and look great. I bounce around between 135-140 lbs. I can't complain. I have worked very hard, and I am reaping the benefits. I can go shopping anywhere now and wear anything I want. I can't say enough great things about my amazing weight loss.
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07/24/2006
It has been quite a while. I am about 155 lbs. I am well, and I have a lot of issues about body image. My entire body and life has changed. I am not miserable, just still a little confused sometime. I feel great physically, now I am just trying to maintain which is the most difficult part of all. Also, I am getting divorced, which is a very good thing. If you would like to see "after" photos of me, visit myspace at www.myspace.com/billiejeanh
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9/20/2006
I am pregnant! I am about 12 weeks along, and I am so incredibly happy! So, it is not fair anymore to discuss my weight :-) I am a little uncomfortable with the thought of weight gain at this point, but I am certain as the time draws nearer that I will be ok. I am going to leave my prepregnancy weight on here as is for now. As for nutrition, I am doing well, and I raised my intake by about 400 calories. I feel healthy and I can't complain. Thanks for reading!
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10/21/2007
Three years today! I would do it again and again if I had to, no regrets. I had my son March 27, 2007. I had lost all of my pregnancy weight by September, and am even below my pre-pregnancy weight now. I have some issues that are from another surgery with my back that is limiting me at this time. If it was not for my back pain, my energy levels would be at an 11. I feel so good about myself, and am so pleased with my body. I didn't think I would be doing this good after three years, but I am doing better than I had expected. Most of all, I am thankful that I was able to have my son, he is the greatest joy in my life. If I had to choose the best thing about my surgery, it would be him!!!
As for my stomach, I have issues with ulcers. The ulcers prevent me from eating right. Even when I can eat, I do not always eat high protein as I should. I am unable to eat much bread, which is fine. I can drink while I eat. I usually eat six small meals a day, I find that it provides me with more energy and regulates my glucose levels better. I am happy, healthy, and fit and that is all that matters!