Five, Six, Seven Months Out...OH MY!

Well, I certainly bit off more than I could chew…no pun intended.    


It has been a very busy 3 months, with Fernando and Andante’s surgeries (more on that below), all of the children’s activities, taking on the directorship for the Our Lady Of Guadalupe Fiesta at our Church (which was last week) and for the Glorious Youth Choir’s Xmas Eve Mass (this Saturday).   We have been rehearsing since October…so yeah, I have been a busy girl.  So busy, I have barely seen my PT Nathaniel, who I actually miss!  ;)

So, instead of trying to give you a run down of the weeks that are now a blur, I will just go by month. 

As of October 3^rd of this year, I had officially lost    

80 lbs.   

Uh huh!!!  You know it!!!

As of November 3^rd of this year, I had officially lost   

91 lbs.   

That’s right!!!

As of December 3^rd of this year, I have officially lost   

100 lbs.   

Can I get a BOOYAH!!!

And, even though I fit into size 12 jeans, I did fit…and NOT tightly I might add…into a size 10 Hollywood Glamour dress for my girlfriend Dionne’s Mobster Casino Night for her 40^th birthday, which was at the beginning of this month!  It was a great day to celebrate for the both of us!!!

At the 6^th month mark, I had my check up with the Surgeon’s PA.  I was officially given the title of a medical success, and my surgery was deemed a medically necessary step in removing all signs of diabetes.  Yes folks, you heard it right.  I am off the diabetic list!!!  WOOT!  WOOT! 

In fact, the PA said he was impressed I did it in 6 mths.  My BMI is now in the range (which I believe is 28-31) where I am at my “goal” weight and they would be pleased if I stayed here.  I personally would like to see the last 20lbs gone, but I am not going to kill myself over it.  It will come off when it wants to.

As for the dumping syndrome, which from here out I am calling the spilling syndrome (so much nicer and more accurate), I don’t know why, but I am still affected.  The only problem is I do not know when it is going to happen.  It is so random with me, but it is never over sugar because I do not put the sugar into my body for fear of the spilling syndrome.  For example, my mother fixed Italian green beans the other night.  I have eaten them post surgery before, so I didn’t think anything of it.  Less than 5 minutes after eating them, I was in the restroom spewing them.  Not pretty!  Not sure why it is that I am affected this way, but I deal.  Still cannot eat chicken or cooked pork products.  Cured pork products do not bother me…go figure.  Anyhow…

One thing that has caught me off guard recently is the reaction people have to me who have not seen me in a while, or have only seen my monthly composite pictures on here and on facebook.  Honestly, I still fell like the heavy girl I have always been.  It is hard for me to even wrap my brain around how much I have lost until I stare at the pictures of each month that has gone by.  It has been a phenomenal physical journey, but it is one that my brain has not caught up with yet.  If it were not for the tags in my clothing, I would not see myself 100lbs lighter.  It’s so odd to me.  I have noticed it in certain areas of course, like my face and neck, and…well, The Girls have suffered a great lost, but when I look in the mirror, the difference is not as drastic to me as it is when I look at the pictures.  Not sure why that it…but I am sure I will be working on it in therapy soon!  *wink, wink*

On the flip side, both Fernando and Andante’s surgeries went very well.  Andante had an extremely easy recovery, thankfully.  Fernando had a slight set back in the beginning after the doctors found an ulcer on the old stomach because of a medicine he was taking.  Once that situation was stabilized, things calmed down for him, and have gone relatively smoothly.  I say relatively because I want to illustrate the point of following the diet to a T!!!   Fernando, from the beginning, has gone too fast in trying new foods before the doctor prescribed dates he was supposed to and he has suffered for it.  He has had more spilling issues than I can count.  I believe he has finally learned to slow down, for his sake.  It sucks when you have to go back and eat baby food for a while because you went to eating meat a little too soon.  So warning for anyone considering this surgery… LISTEN AND LEARN!  What the doctors try to drill into your head pre-op is critical to your recovery and lifestyle afterwards.  Again, we would like to thank you for all of your lights shining out towards us during their surgeries and recoveries.  We definitely felt the love.

******

So there is month five, six, and seven for you.  I can’t believe it’s been half a year already and I am at the doctor’s goal.  As I said in my last post; I know I am working at it, and I have totally changed my lifestyle and eating habits to achieve this, but wow!  Just wow! 

Once again, if you have any questions or comments for me that you would like to be confidential, please use the email button to your right, and I will get back to you as soon as I can.  Otherwise, please leave your love in the comments box below.

And though you know it, I have to continue to say it… thank you, for all the love and support y'all have shown and sent my way.  Y'all are making this very east and comfortable for me, and I cannot thank you enough.  I do have the greatest friends and family in the world...and a lot of them!!!

Wishing all of you a very blessed holiday season.

Seriously!

TinaMarie

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Four Months Out

OK, OK…I know!  I am late with my update.  I apologize.  For those of you who know me personally, September is a crazy time for my family with the start of school, soccer, dance, Girl Scouts, 4H, and to top it all off, The OLM Festa, so please forgive my tardiness.  I did take my composite photos on the 4 month mark, so even though you are seeing them half way through the month, they were done on time.  And at that time,

I had officially lost  74 lbs.   Booyah!!!

I am now down to 79 lbs., which is pretty darn awesome.  I did finally have to break down and buy some new undergarments.  I was trying to hold out until my goal weight, but that was just not doable anymore.  And… well, I found a couple of cute fitted tops in a size XL that fit, so I splurged a teensy weensy bit.  HEY…I went from a 2, sometimes 3X to an XL… I think I can spare a buck or two; especially since I got them ON SALE!!!  Can I get a BOOYAH???

I don’t have to go back into the doc’s for a check in until the 6mth mark, so nothing new and exciting to report there.

On the flip side, Andante will have his tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy/tube placement surgery this coming Monday.  Apparently, the clotting test that they normally test patients with is too sensitive for patients with Ig (allergen) issues.  I have to say, I wanted to SLAP the Hematologist and his staff, and the staff of the ENT after I had told them and showed them (the test from Stanford that the Specialist deemed unreadable because he reacted to everything on SPT, including the positive and the control) SEVERAL times that my son has severe allergies and his blood tests will not be normal unless the are specific, acute tests…but then again, what the Hell do I know, right?!?  I AM only a mom; not an educated woman!!!  ARGH! 

Sorry…rant over.  I feel better now.

Next Friday (a week from today), Fernando will have his Gastric Bypass done.  This will be his first surgery besides having oral surgery, so he is a bit freaked.  Probably even more freaked out than I was, already having had multiple surgeries, including 4 Caesarian sections.  I knew what abdomen recovery was like, so I knew what to expect.  Lucky for him, he has walked me through my process, so I am hoping that it goes as smoothly for him as it has for me, and he doesn’t freak out too much.  And I am hoping that this will relieve his recent bout with kidney stones.  The surgeon believes it will.  I hope so!

So again, a week by week play by play this month is BORING, but I will do it for my friends who are still considering Gastric Bypass.

Week 13

School, School, and more school.  That has occupied my week.  I am walking the girls too and from school each morning and afternoon, and I have noticed just how much easier it is now with 70+ lbs. gone.  What a difference.  I can breathe easy.

Only bad – Chicken still makes me hurl.  (Can you tell I am still not over it?)

Week 14

Gardening is great exercise.  Canning is not (well, it is, but it reminds me of Bikram yoga…just not feeling it!)  Enough said.

I am assistant coaching my girls’ soccer team this year.  I know I could not have done that last year.  Feels great to get out there and be able to kick the ball around with my girls, showing them how real football is played.

I am now on the quest to find the best Greek Yogurt out there that will not cause me to react.  It is amazing to me.  I had two different brands of Greek yogurts this week;  one I tolerated fairly well, the other made me unexpectedly dump,…and they had the exact number of sugars per serving.  ARGH!

Only bad – Some Greek Yogurts are not settling well with me.  I hate unexpected dumping.

Week 15

Doc’s office called.  Apparently, even though I walk in the sun every blessed day, I am using enough sun screen, and because my body is no longer absorbing well enough, I now have to take Vitamin D.  Are you kidding me???  I can barely swallow the mini pills I have to for my allergies, let alone this horse pill, gel-cap they gave me. 

Only bad- So many frustrations this month!!!

Week 16 

I have to remember to eat.  Never thought I would hear myself say that.  I am the type of person that will get involved with something and then have to see it through to the end, forsaking most everything else, except my children.  That being said, I will stop to feed them, but not myself.  I still do not have the hunger feeling, but being pre-diabetic, and having Gestational Diabetes, I know when my blood sugar has dropped too low, and that is when I know I need to eat.  I know…not good to let my BSL (blood sugar level) get so low, but because I do not have the hunger urge any longer, I do forget.  Thankfully, I haven’t dehydrated myself yet!

Only bad – I think I cannot tolerate pork ribs.  This week, I had them for the second time since surgery, with nothing on them but garlic and a touch of olive oil.  I have garlic and olive oil on everything, so I know it is not that.  If I am going to loose pork ribs, I am will cry!!!  At least I still have my beef!

******

So there is month four.  I can’t believe it’s only been 4 months out and I am over ¾ of the way to my goal weight.  Seems insane.  I know I am working at it, and I have totally changed my lifestyle and eating habits to achieve this, but wow!  Just wow! 

Once again, if you have any questions or comments for me that you would like to be confidential, please use the email button to your right, and I will get back to you as soon as I can.  Otherwise, please leave your love in the comments box below.

And though you know it, I have to continue to say it… thank you, for all the love and support y'all have shown and sent my way.  Y'all are making this very east and comfortable for me, and I cannot thank you enough.  I do have the greatest friends and family in the world...and a lot of them!!!

Seriously!

TinaMarie

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Best compliment EVER...well, to date, at least!

As of yesterday,
I have lost a total of
65 lbs.

The surgeon and my personal doctor believe 160lbs would be a good weight for me to settle at.  So with that being the goal mark, I am on the down low, as my Auntie Tonie likes to say.  Only 47 more lbs. to go.

I have to admit, I am feeling a bit anxious.  I have only taken one Holiday Photo with my children, and that was only because I didn't want them to look back when I am gone and wonder why I was never in the pictures with them.  This year, I am DETERMINED to take that Holiday Photo and ROCK it!!!  That means I only have 3 more months to get down to goal weight.  It hasn't been hard so far, but it has also been summer and the weather has been fantastically mild (thanks Global Warming).  Fall and winter will pose some challenges, but I am not giving up now.  Not after today's series of compliments.

Today was the first day of school for my two eldest.  As we did last year, we were ready and dressed bright and early, and then we took off and walked to school.  Traditionally, on the first day, the parents walk their children all the way to their classrooms from the front gate, which of course, I followed suit.  After x's and o's were given and received, and I got the girls off to their classes, and as I began to leave, some of my girlfriends (Especialmente Oliva. Gracias!), who have not seen me over the summer, began to gushing.  Now, I gotta say...that felt hella good!  They aren't gonna be the only ones with their sexy back!!!  To top that off, a handful of the teachers and office staff complimented me; a couple, in fact, said they did not recognize me.  That, I kind of find hard to believe since I am an extremely vocal and visual presence at the school, but I'll take it!

Aria (2nd grade) & Allegra (3rd grade)

After dropping them off, I walked home with my younger two; one in the carriage, and one by my side.  We were ho-humming along when I saw a couple of friends of mine, about to drive by in their truck.  So of course, I waved and called out to them.  When the finally recognized me, they apologized profusely because they didn't recognize me and gushed, too.  Ok,...a little odd to handle, I have to say.  Not really sure what to say in that situation, but I surfed my way though it...I think!?!

Andante 

 Adagia

And then of course, was this past weekend at my 20th High School Reunion Weekend (no comments from the non-peanut gallery!).  I was surprised to find out just how many of my old friends read this blog and have been following along on this journey with me.  Props to you all...you know who you are!  Thanks again for all your love, support, and compliments!  What a fabulous time!  And THANK YOU to all those who attended the picnic on Sunday for making sure my son had a reaction-free day!  It was amazing!!!

Matty & I - Saturday Night Lights  

 Andi & I - Sunday in the Park

I added August's composite picture to the slideshow for those of you following along.  I have received feedback from  some that they cannot see the slideshow pictures at all (friggin'...oh wait, I can't blame Yahoo! for this one, dang it!!!), so I am going to use this post to share with you the composite pictures as well.

As I have said before, I am extremely happy with my decision to go through with the surgery.  Only regret is not wearing the right bra for the last shot above!!!  Dang it!  In all seriousness though, I am happy if for no other reason than I am coaching soccer this year for my girls, which would not have happened last year, or in a million years, and that totally rocks!!!

Seriously!

TinaMarie

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Three Months Out

Three months since my surgery and...

I have officially lost 57 lbs.   Booyah!!!

I am so proud of myself, I totally want to treat myself to a new outfit, but I am fighting the urge.  I don’t want to buy something that I will only wear for the next couple of months and then have to give it away.  So instead, I splurged on some accessories.  My 3 month visit isn’t until the middle of the month, so I am hoping the number  will be lower and I can go and splurge again.  Go me!!! 

I finally got the Serious Transformation slide show up (RH column, near bottom), though I haven’t taken them for this month.  I have been so stinking busy with swimming lessons, my garden and canning what little the d*mn squirrels didn’t obliterate, the baby having surgery (she came out of it like a trooper, thanks to all who asked and prayed for her), trying to figure out why my son has a borderline clotting issue which made the hospital cancel his surgery, a family member’s passing, and the various other obstacles that I have encountered these past few weeks.  Hopefully tomorrow, I will have a breather as I am not scheduled to do anything but work out. 

Again, a week by week play by play this month is pretty boring actually, but I will do it for my friends who are still considering Gastric Bypass.

Week 9

Glad to report, dizziness is totally gone!!!  I have been working out with my PT, and walking more.  Other than that…same ol’, same ol’.

Only bad – nothing other than what I already reported; chicken still makes me hurl.

Week 10

Still going strong with extra work out and longer walks, but weight loss has stalled, which is extremely frustrating.   I know I am probably adding on muscle mass, but that is SO not helpful when the goal is loosing, not gaining or remaining the same.  Thankfully, I have the support of some really great friends who have gone through the surgery and know all about the lovely plateaus.   

Still drinking like a fish.  Water never tasted soooo good,…and I hate water.

Only bad - still being so friggn' thirsty it ain't even funny.

Week 11

Lost ONE SINGLE POUND this week, which was encouraging and frustrating all at the same time.  A pound a week is good for a GB patient, but it can be discouraging as well.  It took a lot for me to talk myself out of the onset of the depression I could feel coming on.  The only thing that kept me striving to break the plateau was knowing I was now fitting into jeans I had packed away years ago and looking good in them.

Only bad- Not loosing as fast as I was before, which is normal, but a mind trip!

Week 12 

Added in a bit of swimming last week and this week, since the children were taking lessons.  It is nice to be in the pool on these hot summer days.

I had an unexpected dumping episode the morning of the baby’s surgery.  I had eggs in the hospital cafeteria.  It HAD to have been the grease the eggs were cooked in, but whatever it was, it came right back up.  I have had eggs fixed all kinds of ways before and never had a reaction, so I am believing it was what was on the grill that caused the issue.  Whatever it was, I was not a happy girl for about an hour.

Only bad – Unexpected dumping. 

******

So there is month three.  Still going strong.  At the rate I am going, I should be down to goal weight before Xmas.  Howdy doody, that would rock!  

Once again, if you have any questions or comments for me that you would like to be confidential, please use the email button to your right, and I will get back to you as soon as I can.  Otherwise, please leave your love in the comments box below.

I can’t say it enough… thank you, for all the love and support y'all have shown and sent my way.  Y'all are making this very east and comfortable for me, and I cannot thank you enough.  I do have the greatest friends and family in the world...and a lot of them!!!

Seriously!


TinaMarie

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Like a Dragonfly

Finally... the first of the metamorphosis pictures are up.

I do have to say, it is a bit upsetting to see myself as I was, and I am not even done loosing yet. Before the first pictures you will see, I knew it was definitely time for a change.

After going through the ups and downs of every diet and weight loss medication, not to mention bearing 4 children as a gestational diabetic, I was at a loss as to what to do, but I knew I had to do something about my weight. At that point, I had decided to have GB (even without the reality check of pictures) just to stave off full blown diabetes.

It is amazing even to me to see the transformation happening, but that is not and never was why I had the surgery.  Even if I never loose another pound, even if I never fit into a size 8, it is still one of the BEST decisions of my life.  Getting the sexy back is just icing on the proverbial cake!

PS.  They're on the right...just in case you can't find them.  Scroll about half way down and they are there.

Seriously! 

TinaMarie

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Two Months Out

Well, it was two months yesterday since my surgery and...

I have officially lost 44 lbs

No, seriously...44 lbs..  Yeah, I know, I can't believe it either!!!  Booyah!!!

I am surprisingly getting a lot more comments and questions about my weight loss.  I find it kind of odd, actually.  I am not sure why it is different from when I would get comments in the past when I would loose weight. I don't know...maybe it's just me.  Either way, it does feel good that people notice.

The one outstanding compliment of the month came yesterday from my PT, who noticed how much easier it was for me to do some of the exercises I was doing pre-surgery.  Go Me!!!  (...and thanks Nan!)

I am still working on getting the monthly pictures up.  I am taking them for documentation purposes, but I still cannot get the day-of-surgery ones off my old phone.  Talk about frustrating!

Anyways, a week by week play by play this month is pretty boring actually, but I will do it for my friends who are still considering Gastric Bypass.


Week 5

Activity was still moderate this week.  I kept trying to push myself a bit more, but I was also still so fearful of creating a hole/leakage in my new routing. Dizziness is still here and there, but no where near as bad.

I was still on soft foods (until after my "one month" appointment that came at the 6 week mark, only because of scheduling issues), which was getting REALLY boring!

Only bad - I found out, sadly, that chicken and I no longer agree.  It is a strange phenomenon, but it has been reported that after surgery, some patients can no longer tolerate chicken, some beef, some fish, some have issues with other proteins, and some lucky ducks have no issues at all.  I got the chicken card!  It was a weird experience.  It was not like the dumping syndrome that one reads about.  It was literally put the bite of chicken in my mouth and start gagging until I got it out.  I managed to swallow one piece, and a few minutes later, that had to evacuate too.  So ok, I can no longer eat chicken.  Kind of sucks, but I am extremely grateful it was not the beef card though!  Dude...life without ribs, a good juicy steak...just ain't worth living!


Week 6

One month post-op appointment went fabulously well.  I marked in at 36 lbs lost since surgery.  Had a great talk with my PA about switching up foods and the like.  The only issue I had was my incredible thirst.  His solution...drink more.  WELL DUH!  But then how do I get eating in, because in the GP Bible (that they give you pre-op), it warns about the dangers of drinking after a meal, and recommends not drinking until 30-60 minutes afterwards.  The PA says to me, "Drink, eat, wait, then drink".  Sometimes, his sarcasm compells me to want to strangle him.  Good thing I get his dry sense of humor.

The PA clears me to start weight lifting very slowly, and to increase my walking as I can.  And he warns me of strictures.  Strictures are when food gets "backed up" in your new system because it cannot be digested properly and causes a clog.  The only way a bad stricture comes out is endoscopically.  YEAH, not gonna try that one!!!

Only bad - still being so friggn' thirsty it ain't even funny.


Week 7

OH MY!  I am here to tell you that what is called The Dumping Syndrome should be avoided at ALL costs.  The definition of dumping syndrome, as defined by the Mayo Clinic, is as follows:

Dumping syndrome is a group of symptoms most likely to develop if you've had surgery to remove all or part of your stomach, or if your stomach has been surgically bypassed to help lose weight. Also called rapid gastric emptying, dumping syndrome occurs when the undigested contents of your stomach are transported or "dumped" into your small intestine too rapidly. Common symptoms include abdominal cramps and nausea.

Most people with dumping syndrome experience symptoms soon after eating. In others, symptoms may occur one to three hours after eating. In either case, symptoms can range from mild to severe.

Dumping syndrome often improves on its own without medical treatment or after adjusting your diet. In more-serious cases of dumping syndrome, you may need medication or surgery.

It was totally my fault, but one I was unaware of.  It was not like I decided to eat a piece of cake, knowing I'd have a reaction to that.  This was ribs with a light bbq sauce on them.  The bbq sauce only had >1g of sugar, so I thought it would be ok.  I can have some small amounts of regular sugar in foods and not have a reaction.  What I didn't calculate was that this was one gram for every teaspoon, and pure sugar at that.  It was like I threw myself into instant shock; cold sweats, chills, shakes, need to throw up, dizziness, need to throw up, chills, sweats...did I mention the need to throw up???  Once it did finally come up, it was instant relief, although I could tell my new stomach was not so happy with me.

Besides that experience, everything has continued to go smoothly.  The journey into normal foods has been very slow, but at least I am no longer on baby food or broth for that matter.  I do still find myself turning to soup and the protein shakes just to get the protein in because I still have no appetite.

Only bad- dumping.  WAY bad!


Week 8 

As I mentioned before, it's all trial and error.  Increased my exercise level, and though I hurt still, it has definitely been worth it.  Dizziness is still around.

I am still adventuring into the realm of what I can and cannot tolerate eating.  The smell of chicken even makes me nauseous, but thankfully, I can enjoy tomatoes with no issue (some patients find the acid too harsh for their new stomachs).  I am still turning to soup and protein shakes for when I have to eat and/or to get my protein in.

Only bad - chicken!  Ick!  (...and oh, how I used to love it!!!)


******


So there is month two.  Not too bad, right?!?  Hey, I'm pleased...44 lbs down, how can I not be?

If you have any questions or comments for me that you would like to be confidential, please use the email button to your right, and I will get back to you as soon as I can.  Otherwise, please leave your love in the comments box below.

Thank you, once again, for all the love and support y'all have shown and sent my way.  Y'all are making this very east and comfortable for me, and I cannot thank you enough.  I do have the greatest friends and family in the world...and a lot of them!!!



Seriously!

TinaMarie

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