As tomorrow marks the two month post op mark and beginning of this journey I have invited my Biggest Looser's Allison Sweeny voice to join me for this update. "Your starting weight was 342 pounds and your current weight is -beep beep beep beep beep beep beep- 290 pounds for a total weight loss of 52 pounds and total percent weight loss of 15.2%." Yeah me!
It has been a challenging couple of months, but you can see the progress I've made since day one and I assure you all that I am very pleased. I have met my first goal of being under 300 pounds and am announcing my newest goal. Since reaching my first goal focused around weight in a number aspect I have decided to set my sights higher, focusing my second goal on percentage of weight loss. My second goal on the JStew Journey is to have a total percentage of weight loss of 25% setting my new weight goal as 256.5 pounds. I am hopeful that this goal will be attained and excited to see what new goals I can set once this second one has been reached.
As most of you know these past two months, while proving to be very effective, have also been very trying. It was recently discovered that I have gall stones and will now be requiring a second surgery to have my gall bladder removed. I met with the surgeon today and he is hopeful that this will eliminate the chromic pain and nausea that I have endured for the past few months making my journey that much more enjoyable. The surgery has been scheduled for April 12th and my current focus is making it to that date. While it is still guaranteed to be a bumpy and ill ride, I am anxiously awaiting my second endeavorer in the OR and not looking forward to another round of anesthesia! Once this second surgery is performed, we are hopeful that my journey towards continued weight loss and a healthier me will be one of enjoyment.
I want to thank everyone for their continued prayers and support.
xoxo
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Mystery Solved?...
As most of you know, the past few months have been quite trying for myself. When you take a girl who grew up healthy and happy her entire life and throw her into a season of ill and trying times you are certain to be left with a rather large mess.
I am approaching my two month post op mark and what a journey it has been. I have recently been on a mission to find the source of my continued discomfort during what should be a journey of enjoyment and excitement. After many test and the help of my surgeon we have discovered that I now have gall stones. I meet with the surgeon tomorrow to discuss the laparoscopic cholecystectomy that I will soon be having and the hopes of a return to a happier, healthier self.
While I know I still have a long road ahead, with an added surgical recovery, I am hopeful that the best is yet to come. Until then I am reminded of the story I shared over a million times with my uncle when I was a younger girl called The Little Engine That Could: "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..."
I am approaching my two month post op mark and what a journey it has been. I have recently been on a mission to find the source of my continued discomfort during what should be a journey of enjoyment and excitement. After many test and the help of my surgeon we have discovered that I now have gall stones. I meet with the surgeon tomorrow to discuss the laparoscopic cholecystectomy that I will soon be having and the hopes of a return to a happier, healthier self.
While I know I still have a long road ahead, with an added surgical recovery, I am hopeful that the best is yet to come. Until then I am reminded of the story I shared over a million times with my uncle when I was a younger girl called The Little Engine That Could: "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..."
Thursday, March 17, 2011
and the Saga continues...
No worries folks, I am still alive! Since I am sure you are all relieved, I'll also share a bit of good news with you all. When my journey started nearly two months ago I weighed 342 lbs. After weighing in with my surgeon today, my current weight is 297 lbs! That not only takes me out of the 300's but also puts my total weight loss at 45 pounds in less than two months. Yipee!
Things have been pretty much the same since my last update: nausea, pain, vomiting, exhaustion, etc... I was scheduled for a follow up with my surgeon today where we discussed how my journey had been going thus far. It seems as though I may just be getting the short end of the stick where recovery is concerned, but he laid out some plans for the next couple of weeks in my journey in an effort to err on the side of caution. I will be having another EGD done as well as an abdominal ultrasound where he will be looking to see if I have developed any ulcers and checking to see that my gall bladder is still functioning properly. Provided he finds no problems with those test, we will continue to "wait it out" and hope that the crummy feelings will dissipate. In the event that 6 months post op I am still having problems with nausea, pain, etc he said that he will be "going back in" to see where the problem lies.
We also are having to address an issue with my iron dropping dangerously low. After having routine lab work done with our hospital PATH screening, it was discovered that my iron is still lower than it should be. I have added more iron supplements to my diet to try and increase this because if it is not brought up significantly I will be seeing a hematologist and receiving iron infusions. Low iron can make you feel tired, fatigued, weak, dizzy, etc. It can also cause a desire to eat peculiar things (such as ice which I have been consuming by the bags) along with pale skin, chest pains and many other symptoms. Couple the nausea / pain / vomiting feelings with the iron deficiency and a chaotic day to day life and you have one drained girl!
I am starting to get the "are you happy you did this / would you have the surgery again" questions and unfortunately I think that it is still to soon to tell. Am I pleased with the weight loss? Absolutely! Was I prepared for this much of a struggle post op? Not hardly!
Things have been pretty much the same since my last update: nausea, pain, vomiting, exhaustion, etc... I was scheduled for a follow up with my surgeon today where we discussed how my journey had been going thus far. It seems as though I may just be getting the short end of the stick where recovery is concerned, but he laid out some plans for the next couple of weeks in my journey in an effort to err on the side of caution. I will be having another EGD done as well as an abdominal ultrasound where he will be looking to see if I have developed any ulcers and checking to see that my gall bladder is still functioning properly. Provided he finds no problems with those test, we will continue to "wait it out" and hope that the crummy feelings will dissipate. In the event that 6 months post op I am still having problems with nausea, pain, etc he said that he will be "going back in" to see where the problem lies.
We also are having to address an issue with my iron dropping dangerously low. After having routine lab work done with our hospital PATH screening, it was discovered that my iron is still lower than it should be. I have added more iron supplements to my diet to try and increase this because if it is not brought up significantly I will be seeing a hematologist and receiving iron infusions. Low iron can make you feel tired, fatigued, weak, dizzy, etc. It can also cause a desire to eat peculiar things (such as ice which I have been consuming by the bags) along with pale skin, chest pains and many other symptoms. Couple the nausea / pain / vomiting feelings with the iron deficiency and a chaotic day to day life and you have one drained girl!
I am starting to get the "are you happy you did this / would you have the surgery again" questions and unfortunately I think that it is still to soon to tell. Am I pleased with the weight loss? Absolutely! Was I prepared for this much of a struggle post op? Not hardly!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
The Learning Journey...
Let me first start off with the weigh in update: Your starting weight was 342 pounds and your current weight is 302 pounds with a total weight loss of 40 pounds! Since January 25th the percentage of weight I have lost is 11.7%. Talk about success, just don't ask about the ease of that success...
Have things gotten any easier? Absolutely not, no way Jose, not a chance! I am getting more accustomed to the constant sick / nauseated feeling, however the pain issue is becoming greater which isn't helpful. Top the sick and pain feeling off with the inability to sleep coupled with long demanding days and you have one completely "spent" girl!
All of that being said, I have discovered something that is becoming increasingly harder to deal with: living in an environment where bariatric surgery patients are minorities. And yet, even as minorities, it amazes me how everyone knows exactly what you should be doing better than you as the informed patient does... Unless you have been through exactly what I or any other bariatric patient has been through, then you have no right to tell us what we are supposed to be doing every second of the day. While I can not speak for everyone, I can tell you what I need. Support? Yes. Encouragement? Yes. Understanding? Yes. Lectures, overbearing opinions, negativity? NO!!!
What a journey this is turning out to be... I am learning so much about myself, others and life in its entirety. Here's to continuing the journey and making it out alive...
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