I'm ONLY overweight!!!

I AM NOT OBESE ANYMORE!!!

What. A. Morning.  

6:00 AM and a range of emotions already because for the first time EVER in my adult life, I am not obese, I am only overweight!!!

I knew it was coming, but still was so cool to weigh myself this morning and see these numbers.  I can honestly say I haven't been this weight since middle school.  In fact, I can remember SO CLEARLY in 8th grade, a boy coming up to me and telling me that he'd seen my nurse's records and knew that I weighed 184 pounds... (No HIPPA laws back then).  Not any more!  And hopefully, never again.

UPDATED STATS:

• Highest Weight (pre lapband 2009): 300
• Surgery Weight (lapband 2009): 283
• Ending Lapband Weight: 200
• Lapband weight loss: 100 pounds

• Revision Surgery Weight (RNY 6/5/14): 200
• Current Weight: 179
• Current Loss: 21

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS TO DATE:  121

Get back to work!!!

Well, my 6 weeks is officially over!  Time to go back to work...  I'm doing SO MUCH BETTER than 6 weeks ago - feeling really good.  I still have some very slight pain occasionally with my incisions - mostly in the large one that they used for the stapler, scopes, etc...  but all in all I feel great.  Learning my way around the new food requirements (i.e. super low sugar, fat, hydration, etc...).

I am at 181, which is so exciting.  I haven't been in this area since middle school, so it is pretty darn cool!  Of course, I'm in one of those "not-losing" spaces where I think my body is holding on for dear life to every ounce it can.  I'm certainly not eating much.  And the last few days I haven't hit my protein levels, so that is something I need to work on.  I was traveling late in the week, and feel like I'm not back on my "schedule" yet, so hoping that my going back to work will make me get myself back into a routine.

I bought a Ninja blender, which comes with individual smoothie cups - awesome!  Should make mornings a bit easier for me.  I don't like to eat first thing, but I'm learning that if I don't either do a smoothie or a protein bar, I won't meet my 60g requirement... so I've found both - the smoothie maker (Ninja) and great, low-sugar protein bars.  I got a selection of Quest bars and have been trying them - some not so good (Lemon), some wonderfully surprising (PB&J)!  Slow steps to the routine.

I've got my lunch packed, and I'm ready to go...  wish me luck!

3 weeks out and dumping....

I am 3 weeks out from having my revision surgery (tomorrow) and doing well.  I'm down to 187, which is VERY exciting and haven't been sick (throwing up) at all since the surgery.  I can't explain how much BETTER I feel, but suffice it to say that it's been great to be acid-free and not throwing up every time I eat!  I am onto my "mushy" stage, and trying a variety of different foods - it's like the first time all over again!  Ahh, those memories of trying to find something exciting to eat!

One difference with RNY vs. the band is that I now have to be VERY VERY aware of the amount of sugar that is in food.  I'm supposed to keep it under 15g per meal, which is a bit tougher than I originally thought.  This morning, I tried Cheerios Protein which were DELICIOUS and 15g of sugar... they came recommended from my NP.  However, I forgot to factor in the sugar that is in the milk (an extra 12g sugar) and about 20 minutes after I finished eating, I started feeling really crummy...  lightheaded, cold sweats, nauseous, etc.  Got home from dropping Liam off at daycare, and went to lay down for an hour.  About 2 hours after eating, I ended up with the runs.  All of which are "Dumping" side effects*.

Not fun, to say the least but at least I know now how my body will react to too much sugar!  All in all, there was a total of 27 grams, so clearly I have a limit.  Glad I was at home to experience the side effects!

On the other front, I'm still home.  Definitely out until 7/7 and most likely until 7/21.  It's hard, because I feel fine, and with my work ethic feel like I should be at work.  However, I still am getting tired REALLY easily, and take daily naps (sometimes 2) so I know I am doing the right thing to let my body heal up.

I started cleaning out clothes from my closet - I have a pile of shorts and capris that have gotten too big. I'm through 80% of my bottoms, and will tackle tops next week.  Fun to grow "out" of clothes in the too big way!  I'm excited to get a few new pieces to supplement...

That's all for now - will continue to check in and keep everyone posted!


* What is Dumping Syndrome, you might ask?  
A group of symptoms, including weakness, abdominal discomfort, and sometimes abnormally rapid bowel evacuation, occurring after meals in some patients who have undergone gastric surgery.

Still here...

Well, I didn't make it home today.  I just couldn't manage the fluids, especially with the narcotic.  Every time I'd get the pain medicine I'd fall asleep, so one more night here.

I've been moved onto Percocet (from delautin) and I've been able to stay awake more.  Also able to manage 4oz per hour since noon, so I am hoping I'll get released tomorrow.  I'm ready for a shower!!!

Thankfully I've had the same nurse all three days and she rocks.  It's amazing how much of a difference a good medical team makes!  I will go home with the drain... I think just for a week.

The gas pain has been minimal (knock on wood), but my left side of my abdomen where the main part of the surgery was hurts.  Ugh.

That's all for now... Keeping my fingers crossed that I will be homeward bound tomorrow!

24 hours later...

I can't even explain how much better I feel today (even with pain, etc...) than I was feeling prior to surgery.  I am SO THRILLED to not have the acid reflux anymore!

I got to the hospital yesterday at 6, and was very quickly moved into the pre-op holding area.surgery began at 8, and I don't even remember the anesthesiologist doing anything to me!  But, 3.5 hours later the revision was completed.  Room wasn't ready till 5, so I had to hang in the recovery room...  Apparently the hospital is really jumping right now!

I saw Dr. Carmody twice today...  Apparently scar tissue had completely encompassed the band which was causing all of the issues.  He scraped it all out and removed the scar capsule... That was the hard part...  He said the RNY bypass was easy.  I was able to see my new stomach this morning when I got my flouro, and it looks just like the pictures!

I'm still on clear liquids today - apple juice, Popsicles, ice chips and chicken broth. My BP has been REALLY low and I've been a bit dizzy so we are staying as 2 tbsp an hour for now and they will start me on protein shakes and CIB tomorrow.  If I can get 4 tbsp in tomorrow and everything is looking good I can go home.  Fingers are crossed!

That's it for today...  I'm going to take a lap, and then have diner (2tbsp vegetable broth),,,  yum (ugh).