GRANDMAr

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Hi All!!

It's hard for me to believe that yesterday was 2 years since I was sleeved.

Lots has happened to me since then and since my last blog. I am in BIG trouble with my weight loss (or lack there of). When I was 9 months out I was about 10 lbs. to my goal. Now, I am about 20 pounds to my goal (a 10 pound weight gain). The last couple of years have been difficult and the last even more so. About 2 years ago I was diagnosed with a melanoma on my foot. I found it during a pedicure. Just the word melanoma scares me. I had surgery and it was removed and I had a clear margin. Other than 6 month check ups with my dermatologist, I am fine. But after the surgery, I stayed inside my house for about 2 months. I was afraid to go out of my house. I live in Florida and it is difficult to escape the sun. Sun terrified me. We went away with out family and in order to be with them, it meant being outside. I actually forgot about it.

About a year about, I found that my spinal issues were getting worse and walking was just about impossible. I was seeing a FANTASTIC pain management doctor who worked wonders, but after almost 5 years, there was nothing he could do to help me. The pain progressed and again, I was usually house bound except if we went somewhere that had a scooter. I decided I had no quality of life so I went to see a neurosurgeon. My spine is a mess and he picked one area to start with. We started with the cervical spine because of the horrible headaches every morning that woke me up. At the end of February, I had the cervical surgery and although it takes a full year for a complete fix, I feel much better.

In June strange things were starting to happen to my right leg. I would not lift my toes, turn out my ankle or stand on my toes. None of the symptoms were common to the kinds of issues I was having. The doctor send me to a vascular surgeon who determined that everything was fine (for my age.......63yo). Then I had 2 tests, one which was so painful. Nothing. Then another test and he found a tiny dot. He didn't know if it was a tumor or cyst. After another test, we found it to be a cyst. Six weeks ago I went for my next surgery on my lumbar spine. It has been very, very painful and a slow recovery. For 5 weeks I had the help of pain meds. Now, I'm trying not to use it even though I still have horrible pain. I am starting to 'walk' with a walker. Up until today it was mostly in the house. Today I went to a store and walked the entire place (followed by a looooonnnnggg nap) with the help of my walker. I even managed a few steps up and down.

Why tell you all this stuff? How does this impact my weight? 

During extreme pain, I was given steroids to help reduce the acute muscle pain. Each procedure required more steroids to reduce the internal swelling, especially during surgery. And I cannot forget the pain meds and muscle spasm meds. Lastly, total lack of exercise.....NO  walking. Sitting around all these months has led to improper eating. Strangely at night, not during the day while I was a lump on a log. I am up 10 pounds and because of all the meds, fighting constipation on a weekly basis, requiring me to take laxatives (the only thing that works). 

For the first year after being sleeved, I did not eat ANY of my trigger foods.....bread, pizza, rice, fried anything and my all time favorate, pasta. Now I have eaten it all except for pasta. I do not binge on any of these things. Pizza is 1/2 - 1 slice (not 3 or 4), bread (only the good stuff, not packaged), rice (brown only and usually not more that a spoon or 2)....and so on. 

I am not trying to make any excuses! I just feel like I am in a spiral fall. All my new clothes are too tight (makes me really pissed). I am pretty sure my surgeries are not over. Looks like I am facing 2 new knees and any other spinal problem. 

I NEED HELP! I need more than a you can do it. I don't know where to start. I've tried starting with a liquid diet but I guess without the incentive of knowing that would get me my WLS, I find it almost impossible. IF there is anyone facing what I am, I'd love to hear what you have to say.

Thanks for letting me ramble on!!!!!!

I look forward to hearing some of your suggestions.

9 months have come and gone! I tried to add a recent photo but I couldn't. I was able to change my after picture and the picture for my inputs.

Anyway, I am feeling so much better! I can do so much more. If I didn't have spinal issues, my abilities would be even more!.

We just got back from St. Maarten. I was worried about what would be available to eat. I did just great and even lost a pound. I brought my protein bars with me and used them more as a snack since I did not have the luxary of getting something in the hotel store. What a great idea! We also brought our insulated water jugs. We drink constantly and like our drinks cold. Each morning we would fill our jugs with ice and fresh drinks.

My hubby (who is on a diet) and I shared every meal except breakfast. Breakfast was a buffet which used to bed a nightmare for me. Not now! I had scrambled eggs each day without bread or potatoes. I took fruit, too. I made sure to eat my protein first with veggies coming next.

I think I am getting close to my goal. My doc does not believe in giving patients a goal because he feels it stresses us out too much. So, goals are left to us. For me, my goal is more of a size and feeling. I would like to be a "perfect" size 10 on the bottom (or medium) and a size small/medium on top.

To put things into perspective:

• Before WLS, I wore a size 18W (which were getting tight) in bottoms.
  • Now, I am wearing a size 10 or 12 (or medium) in bottoms.
    • I am close to being that "perfect" size 10.
• Before WLS I wore and XL to 2X on top.
  • Today, I wear a small or medium (sometimes even an X-small) on top.
• And this might be TMI but I was wearing a size 40DDD bra before surgery (which I was busting out of).
  • I now wear a size 38DD. I can not longer wear a bra the provides full coverage. I got a little smaller but I also deflated.
• Surprisingly, my foot is smaller. I think it probably just got narrower but I can sometimes were a size to 1/2 size smaller and some of the current shoes I have are too wide.

With my current sizes, I believe another 10 pound loss should do the trick! I am hoping to be where I want by my 1 year surgiversary. I realize this is slower than most but I also know that each journey is different. I am pleased with my loss, even though it is slow. At least my scale and clothing sizes are getting smaller!

Health wise, which was my main reason for the surgery, I am coming along:

• I no longer have high BP and I no longer takes meds.
• My thyroid has improved so my dosage has been reduced.
• I am no longer pre-diabetic.
• I no longer have high cholesterol or tryglycerides. I still take the cholesterol meds because I cannot take asprin or other natural blood thinners to protect my heart.
• I no longer need 2 new knees.
• Although I still have major issues with my back, the shots I take last longer.
• I couldn't walk for 2 years. Now, when my back is in good shape, I can walk further and longer.

I am still so happy with my tool and I don't regret having the surgery. It is a huge live change....but who knows how long I would have lasted with the health issues getting worse.

• Age at time of surgery: 61
• Height: 5 ft. 6 in.
• WLS: Sleeve
• HW: 261 lbs. (recorded....could have been higher at some point)
• SW: 241 lbs.
• CW: 175 lbs. (give or take.....it can fluctuate)

It's  hard to believe that I  am already 5 months sleeved! This journey has been very interesting and, at times, very difficult. 

In spite of being  5 months out, I still experience some difficulties. I still have great difficulty knowing what should be my last bite. I know that by taking small bites and waiting after swallowing should help, but it doesn't.  Exercise is another challenge. I am disabled and it impacts my ability to walk.

Well, I live in Florida and the weather is warming up day and night. Know what that means? It now makes sense to turn on the heat in the pool. You know what that means?  I can exercise daily!!!! 

I want to share so many of the ositives I've experienced and continue to experience, but first the basics........

Highest weight: 261 lbs. Current: 186 lbs.

Height: 5'7"

Age at time of surgery: 61

Date of surgery: Oct. 21, 2016

Size in bottoms: 18w +  Current: 10-12

Size in tops: XXL. Current: Sm.= Med.

As far as my health goes:

NO more pre-diabetic

No more high blood pressure

NO more sleep apnea

No more high cholesterol or trigycerides

No more knee pain

I still suffer from back issues but that is due to my spine. The weight I carried around did permanent damage. Still, I can walk more than I could before....which isn't  too difficult since I could barely do before.

What have I learned from this experience? 

I wanted this surgery even more than I knew. 

My health was worse than I expected.

I am stronger willed than I thought. After all, you have to be to drink your meals for 3 weeks and then just swallow them for another 2.

But most of all, I learned that each journey is different and we CANNOT compare ouse lives to others. Some lose more quickly than othets. I have always been a slow loser and I still am. Some find the journey impossible, I haven't.  As I said before, there are difficult times but not impossible. For sime, they are counting on WLS as the answer, I know it is just a tool and needs me to continue the lifestyle changes I have made. Some do not realize the changes it makes on your relationships and the impact on your life. I realized that from the beginning.

So, I guess the big question is.....Would I go though this again??? FOR SURE, WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT!!!!