I don't really know where to start, but I wanted to journal my post op wls journey. What I learn and what works and doesn't work for me. Why I did this, what comes, and the good and bad times along the way.
What led me to doing the RnY. I was a tiny kid growing up, and hit puberty late and there the havoc started! I had several hormone issues that started with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), and some other female troubles. By the time I was 19 I was on several different hormone replacement therapies, as if I was in menapause. Nothing was helping me. And the weight continued to climb. My testosterone was off the chart. Then it just continued to go from there. I tried diet and plenty of exercise and nothing took the weight off! I mean really good eating and lots and lots of exercise! Migraines were another huge issue. Years of fighting this battle and now bladder and kidney troubles came. In 2005 as new mom, I was told that I had psuedotumor cerebri or ptc. And was even told just how bad it was and what all could happen. Well I didn't want to deal with it, as it wasn't bothering me yet. In 2007 more trouble came. I now had high blood pressure. Really? I am very active and walk daily and all, how is it that things are getting worse. The headaches are getting worse and unbelievable. Asthma is out of control! So at the end of 2007, I decide with the help of my doctor that I need to see about wls. She explained to me that it was the only option. That with my hormone imbalance and high testosterone, that I needed medical intervention. Well I was reluctant but agreed to check it out further. So the journey started. In 2008, we became new parents again, via foster to adoption. And this stopped by journey of wls right in it's tracks. I struggled through and continued to get sicker, but I wanted my baby girl and so I put my health off. Finally the adoption was final in spring of 2010. I immediately started my journey over again. Then I had to leave town for a family emergency. I missed an appointment of my 6 months monitoring. So once again we had to start over. In this midst of this, I had a lot of life changing moments. I was getting sicker and it was unbearable. Then I lost my mom. And I knew that I had to get this done to save my life. So immediately I started eating what I would have to post op. I cut out things I couldn't have again, and so much more. I wanted to be successful! And I wanted my family to eat the same way. I am not cooking several different meals for one dinner. Finally, I met my surgeon in March 2011. I was at 327. (My highest and I went right back to this in the month of April was 339). And I got all my clearances and approval in April. Surgery was set for May 17, 2011. WOW! I can't believe surgery is really happening! But with the RnY, it was 97% to cure my psuedotumor cerebri! And I wanted ptc to be cured! That has been my biggest motivation all along in doing this! I turned 35 this year, and I am tired of being sick, nearly the last 20 years. I want to be healthy and feel better! I want to be well. I want to prevent diabetes. I want to be a healthy and able to do mom! I want to be a better wife, and that would be easy, if I felt better. So it had to happen! So there you got the run down that lead me here, well the very condensed version, but you can get my whys and my motivation.
So I did my 2 week pre-op diet and I found it wasn't to hard at all. Being as salad was my favorite food, it was really easy. I weighed in on May 17, 2011 at 315.6 lbs. And now I have to make it happen! I have to do this! Because when the weight is off, as little as 15% regain can make the psuedotumor cerebri come back! And I don't want to ever have that happen!! I'm tired of spinal tabs, and loosing my vision, and headaches, and and and and.... I want it gone!!!
So I came home and was on full liquid for 2 weeks. This included pudding, pureed foods, yogurt, soup, thinned out mashed potatoes, and other stuff. I did really well.
One week post op, I started walking! I was walking 1/2 mile and then up to 3/4 a mile.
Then I was able to move on to other foods for the next month. and that's going good too. But I am not pushing it really.
So my current weight to date is 297.2 lbs!!! And my blood pressure is back to normal and I am off my reflux medicine too!!! How awesome! Now I just need to get the weight off, and be able to kick the ptc! And believe you me, this chick is going to make it happen!!!
The only thing that has gone wrong, and it wasn't because of surgery, is a kidney infection. So I am on my medicine and it's getting kicked too! But all the fluids from the ivs, added a couple of pounds and slowed down this weeks weight loss. It's just there. But I know it will change soon too!
Starting next week it will be 2 times a day on the treadmill and one time a day on the bike!
I am making it happen!
