I have an inquiring mind and have been reading up on Gastric Sleeve. Most of the things I have read are so encouraging. People seem to be very honest and tell you the good and bad. Some people though are very angry and regret having had the surgery. I have had my doubts, but each day I feel more excited about the prospect of going through with this.
I have had 20 surgeries in my lifetime. I think that is probably more than my share, so I'm not afraid of the surgery itself. I just want to live through it. And from what I can tell, most everyone does. I have to have a hiatal hernia repair along with the gastric sleeve.
I know for sure that I will be going to Mexico. I know for sure that my brother will go with me. I know for sure that I have the financing because I secured a loan and the money is in the bank. I don't know for sure where I am going though. The place that I have been working with hasn't answered me in a few days with additional questions. That makes me nervous. So I have inquired at a couple of other places. We shall see. I will most likely be having surgery on September 11th, 2015.
As far as before photos, I am forcing myself to take some because I know I will want photos to compare the before and after.
My daughters are not happy. They think this is dumb. Of course they do. They are afraid that their mommy will change and become a different person. I will change. I know that for sure. But I'll be a healthier, happier me who is a lot more fun and has more energy and stamina to do with them all the things we want to do.
So, that's it. I'll let you know when the big day is.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Saturday, July 25, 2015
To Sleeve or Not to Sleeve
My little brother who is 46 years old is a brave soul. In his desperation, he went to Tijuana, Mexico 3 years ago and had gastric sleeve surgery. Needless to say, when I heard he was going to do this, I was quite afraid for him. He hadn't told very many people about his plan. He had been morbidly obese for so very long and he was just sad and miserable. He has two young daughters and he was just plain missing out on being the fun dad that he wanted to be. His lifelong friend found out and told him there was no way that he was going to let him go alone, so he bought a plane ticket and went with him.
Fast forward 3 years. My brother is doing fantastic. He is so healthy and so much happier. He doesn't hesitate to let me know that the whole thing isn't a magic wand. The surgery is well, it's surgery. It's a big deal. They cut out most of your stomach. That's a huge trauma. He said he didn't really feel good for about the first 6 months.
Today, he is so well. I was with him last week (he lives 800 miles away from me). Just watching him walk around the park with us and do all the things he was doing was just joy. I am so so happy for him.
My nephew had his done about 5 weeks ago. He is down 58 pounds. I've spent time with him. He is still the funny, fun guy he always was, but I can tell there are great changes coming his way. I am so proud of both of these brave men.
As for me, I have decided to go forward with the surgery. I am at my heaviest right now. I weigh 194.5 pounds. To some people, that isn't heavy. Well, it's all perspective. I am 5' 5" tall. I did not have a weight problem as a child. I was not heavy in High School. When I got married I weighed 111 pounds. I have 3 children and with work, I was able to lose most of the baby weight I had gained. Then when I was 32 years old, I had a total hysterectomy. I had endometriosis so badly that they couldn't even recognize my ovaries anymore. They took out my entire reproductive system. Ever since then, I have battled and battled. I'm the "fat" sister. I'm the fat "sister in law". No, no one ever says that to me. In fact, I'm well liked and even loved.
The trouble is that I am getting sick. My cholesterol is too high and the doctor is always threatening medication. I have a fatty liver. My feet hurt. My hips hurt. I'm not motivated. It's hard to move around.
You see, my body remembers being trim and thin. I am not and have not been comfortable for many years.
What have I done about it? I've done it all. I became a member of Weight Watchers when I was 24 years old and accomplished my weight loss goals and became a lifetime member. I went to aerobics classes several times a week. My clothes fit and I looked and felt pretty darn good. After the hysterectomy, I did diet after diet including Weight Watchers. I walked for miles and miles for exercise. I joined Water Aerobics. At one point, I was on Phen-Phen, I loved that stuff and had a great year and lost lots of weight. Depression was my enemy. Just fighting that every day really kicked my motivation out the door to do anything in the exercise department. I have done the Liver Cleansing Diet, The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet, The Juice Lady's Turbo Diet, The Whole 30 Diet, The Glygemic Load Diet, The Hay Diet, The Wheat Belly Diet, The Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diet, The Atkins Diet, The Cabbage Soup Diet, The Fat Secret phone application, Weight Watchers, etc, etc, etc. I even saw a diet doctor and went on some horrible medications. It was Phentermine and Topamax. Those worked well and I quickly lost 20 pounds, but the side effects were bad. My hair fell out and I almost started wearing wigs. My skin started getting very bad acne. My digestive system still has not recovered fully.
That medication diet was the last one I went on. That was 18 months ago. Since then, I had to have a horrible hip surgery where they removed my trochanteric bursa on the left side. I have bursitis on both hips. It is debilitating. The surgery was very difficult to recover from. I was on crutches for 10 weeks. I have gained so much weight. I'm still in pain and I am convinced that it is this extra weight that is putting the strain on those bursa and keeping them inflamed.
I have decided to go ahead with Gastric Sleeve Surgery. I have gone through the screening and have been cleared to have it done at the end of September. I'm hoping to have my brother with me there. My husband will not let me go alone.
I've studied and read for weeks everything I can possibly find so that I know what to expect. This isn't my first rodeo as far as surgeries. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I have had 20 surgeries. So I know all about that process and the gas that they fill the abdomen with. I have a hiatal hernia which will be repaired as well.
I am now counting the weeks until my surgery. I know that it's a big commitment, but it's a commitment to health.
This blog is to document the journey. I found a great before picture from my nephews wedding last week. Good motivation.
Fast forward 3 years. My brother is doing fantastic. He is so healthy and so much happier. He doesn't hesitate to let me know that the whole thing isn't a magic wand. The surgery is well, it's surgery. It's a big deal. They cut out most of your stomach. That's a huge trauma. He said he didn't really feel good for about the first 6 months.
Today, he is so well. I was with him last week (he lives 800 miles away from me). Just watching him walk around the park with us and do all the things he was doing was just joy. I am so so happy for him.
My nephew had his done about 5 weeks ago. He is down 58 pounds. I've spent time with him. He is still the funny, fun guy he always was, but I can tell there are great changes coming his way. I am so proud of both of these brave men.
As for me, I have decided to go forward with the surgery. I am at my heaviest right now. I weigh 194.5 pounds. To some people, that isn't heavy. Well, it's all perspective. I am 5' 5" tall. I did not have a weight problem as a child. I was not heavy in High School. When I got married I weighed 111 pounds. I have 3 children and with work, I was able to lose most of the baby weight I had gained. Then when I was 32 years old, I had a total hysterectomy. I had endometriosis so badly that they couldn't even recognize my ovaries anymore. They took out my entire reproductive system. Ever since then, I have battled and battled. I'm the "fat" sister. I'm the fat "sister in law". No, no one ever says that to me. In fact, I'm well liked and even loved.
The trouble is that I am getting sick. My cholesterol is too high and the doctor is always threatening medication. I have a fatty liver. My feet hurt. My hips hurt. I'm not motivated. It's hard to move around.
You see, my body remembers being trim and thin. I am not and have not been comfortable for many years.
What have I done about it? I've done it all. I became a member of Weight Watchers when I was 24 years old and accomplished my weight loss goals and became a lifetime member. I went to aerobics classes several times a week. My clothes fit and I looked and felt pretty darn good. After the hysterectomy, I did diet after diet including Weight Watchers. I walked for miles and miles for exercise. I joined Water Aerobics. At one point, I was on Phen-Phen, I loved that stuff and had a great year and lost lots of weight. Depression was my enemy. Just fighting that every day really kicked my motivation out the door to do anything in the exercise department. I have done the Liver Cleansing Diet, The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet, The Juice Lady's Turbo Diet, The Whole 30 Diet, The Glygemic Load Diet, The Hay Diet, The Wheat Belly Diet, The Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diet, The Atkins Diet, The Cabbage Soup Diet, The Fat Secret phone application, Weight Watchers, etc, etc, etc. I even saw a diet doctor and went on some horrible medications. It was Phentermine and Topamax. Those worked well and I quickly lost 20 pounds, but the side effects were bad. My hair fell out and I almost started wearing wigs. My skin started getting very bad acne. My digestive system still has not recovered fully.
That medication diet was the last one I went on. That was 18 months ago. Since then, I had to have a horrible hip surgery where they removed my trochanteric bursa on the left side. I have bursitis on both hips. It is debilitating. The surgery was very difficult to recover from. I was on crutches for 10 weeks. I have gained so much weight. I'm still in pain and I am convinced that it is this extra weight that is putting the strain on those bursa and keeping them inflamed.
I have decided to go ahead with Gastric Sleeve Surgery. I have gone through the screening and have been cleared to have it done at the end of September. I'm hoping to have my brother with me there. My husband will not let me go alone.
I've studied and read for weeks everything I can possibly find so that I know what to expect. This isn't my first rodeo as far as surgeries. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I have had 20 surgeries. So I know all about that process and the gas that they fill the abdomen with. I have a hiatal hernia which will be repaired as well.
I am now counting the weeks until my surgery. I know that it's a big commitment, but it's a commitment to health.
This blog is to document the journey. I found a great before picture from my nephews wedding last week. Good motivation.
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