Changes One Year Later

They say that it happens as you lose weight you gain confidence... you gain self respect and learn a lot of about self worth.  As the pounds came off I started to learn things about myself that I did not know before. They are as follows 

1. I am worthy of this body I have fought hard. 
2. I am worth of a man that loves me 
3. I am worthy of health happiness after all the sacrifices I have been through. 

For many it seems we wake up thin over night, and in reality it seems like we do. In a mere 12 months I went from 300lbs to a healthy 160 lbs . I lost an entire person that is how I look at it. I was carrying an entire woman around on me, two people intertwined on each other feeding off each other. 

I am now whole as I look at myself, the smile the confidence she is there. The woman on the outside matches the woman on the inside. I was ALWAYS there.  The picture  below is me being random. But you can see I am thin LOL. 

Friends come and go into our lives. People had warned me about I might lose friends, I always prided myself on having a large group of friends and some really close ones. The ones who stood by me no matter what but this surgery also introduced me to an entire group of people from the WLS community. We met through facebook, exchanged christmas cards and it turned out a few of us had the same surgeons and we met up a few times. One woman came to New York from Ohio we went to lunch, it was fun being around others sharing the same journey as you. I had two immediate family members have the surgery before I did, they were my rocks and although we have had varying degrees of success re weight loss we all are in better spots than we were. Actually my aunt and I want to see if we can get a 2 for 1 Plastic Surgey and then she will go in for the second part of the VSG. LOL 

Anyway it started small, my so called best friend told me I took the easy way out, this was a girl I have been friends with for over fifteen years and shared many memories with. I poo pooed it and she was ok. 

Then it happened... HE happened 

It an amazing series of events I met the love of my life. Josh. I work at a CVS as a tech and  his Mom and Grandma are customers of mine. One random Thursday in May they came in I happen to never work on Thursdays but this day I did. Grandma needed medication and she lost her pills, well I got them through her insurance for her. I have an obession for nail art and my boyfriends Mom does too. She asked me where I did my nails, hair etc... and we just had this instant  bond. So grandma asks me if I am married and I say no and jokinginly I said set me up. LOL She goes hmmm I think I know the perfect person... the two women look at each other whip out their phones and show me my future husband LOL. Anyway I go ooh he is cute who is that? She goes my son hes 36 nice guy. I said here is my number. At the time I was talking to a few different guys and I figured what was one more. Well I had an app on my phone that blocked weird numbers because of an ex. Well Josh had tried to call me text me and didnt get anything. His mom walks in a few weeks latr and asked me what happened. I was mortified. I told her I had forgot about it and told he why. Well when I looked into my blocked mailbox there were messages I textted him immediately. We started texting and he said he would call me that night. What I did not know is that JOSH HATES THE PHONE! I know that now. 

I may talk a lot but now with tech I prefer texting. I only speak at length with my immediate family and some friends. Well he called me and we talked for three hours and I was shocked, he texted me after and was like I never talk a lot. 

Anyway we made plans for our first date that Saturday. Just coffee early enough we both could bow out. 

Well  I went and met him...... and It was Love

The Monetary Consequences of Obesity: Diet Programs and How Surgery is Cheaper

Today was an interesting day... I was thinking a lot about the changes that I have gone through in the past year and how surgery was the catalyst for all of them. I look at my WLS as my turning point... I look at it as the point in which it all changed. 

Since May 16, 2014 the following has happened to me positive and negative. If, people had told me there would have been some casualties along the way I would not have believed them. I do not know where I would be without my parents, friends and family.  

This past year has been a whirl wind for me and now I am standing on the precipice of major changes in my life. 

This past May I met two women that would change the course of my life forever, acting as catalysts for me to meet the love of my life.  Two women came into the store where I worked one forgetting their medication. I helped the older of the two and we started chatting, somehow they get it out of me that I am single and wanting to meet someone.  Well the two women look at each other and nod in agreement and go to me  my son and my grandson will be perfect for you. Turns out to the two women had a guy for me they thought was perfect for me. 

So I took out register tape and wrote down my number. I took a HUGE Risk in by doing  this. I did not think anything would come of it. 

Last year I was dating a crazy guy and so that I had this block on my phone so I could not get calls and or texts from strange numbers. Well the guy kept on trying to reach me. Finally, his Mom came back in and asked me. I asked for his number and texted him immediately. He seemed nice on text, at this point I had NO idea what he looked like except from an old picture on Facebook. Well... we texted that day while I was at work and I told him call me when you get home. 

Anyway.. despite people who know me as a caffeine addicted talkative person.  I have honestly grown to hate the phone. Really hate it.  Because in this day and age I have grown to despise the phone and prefer texting and or messaging. 

Well we spoke and it felt like we knew each other our entire lives. We talked and talked and talked about how much we had in common.

Well the rest is history... :) 

So now onto the real reason I posted. Recently, I have moved and was going through a lot of my boxes. I found my old bills, doctors bills and recipets from all of the weight plans I have done prior to surgery. 

They were as follows 

1. Weight Watchers Meetings 

2. Optifast 

3. Atkins

4. Medifas

So I took what bills I had grabbed my phone and it totaled to around 2000. I could not believe it! 

One Year Later

Sorry I have not updated in a rather long time, it has been a rather busy Winter/Spring for me. Starting Social Work School, new job and finishing public health. I have literally had no time to breathe let alone time for myself... 

Things are finally settling done allowing me time to reflect in how May 2014-May 2015 has been. It is almost my one year surgery anniversary. I do not know where the time and or pounds have gone. 

This time last year I was in the final weeks of prepping for surgery, paper work, pre op classes and getting myself and family ready. I just remember eating to oblivion LOL this time last year as I knew I would not be able do it again... it

I can still see the entire day as it was yesterday the wheeling in, the being out under and waking up.. not realizing it was over. The surgery had been done and I was on my way to a new life or was I? Waking up into the unknown was scary... 

The unknown it was, it was uncharted territory for me. I had read as much literature as I could joined every online support group I found. Spoke to as many people as I could but now it was me. My altered digestive system was permanent. 

It was a lot of questions and no answers in those first twenty four hours, other than good pain control and ice chips. I was SOOO thirsty I just wanted to water, iced cold water anything to drink. I was too tired for food to think and even want it. I knew I was getting all my nutrients from the bags hanging from my arm. 

It was a club on the floor, it was nice to see other WLS patients we lapped each other in the hospital walked, farted and burped our way around to prevent blood clots. Another thing about that I did not sleep well at all the first night I had a screaming roommate and they kept coming in to make sure I was alive and give those damn heparin shots ( thank god who knew I had Factor 5 leiden). 

Well that first night ended and I woke up it was morning. I remember seeing the sun creeping into the sunlight I had a nice view from my room. I can still see it. At 8am bright and early they came to get me for my leak test.  They did this early to make sure there was no leaks and if there were I could be brought back to the OR. 

As the wheeled me down I knew I could have water. The magnitude of the situation hit me,  as it was early in the morning I did not want to call my parents and wake them as it was early. I was an adult I was on my own with this. It was my life now my body I was in control. 

As they put me onto the table for the leak test the x ray machine was placed where it had to go and I was titlted backwards and told to drink. As I drank the liquid the pain hit. It was horrible. I looked to my right and saw it, saw my VSG. There it was this little tiny pouch that was now my tummy. It hit me at that moment.. I was on my way to freedom. 

.... A Few Hours Later 
I can still see it the water sitting on the tray the ambivalence to it. I love Water I can drink anyone I know under the table.  I did not want to touch the water. Sitting there I was like i am not drinking well I sipped knowing I would be in the hospital longer. 


Coming Home...
I was discharged and sent home. I walked out of the hospital feeling great, I think I had great pain control. Came home and showered that was the first thing I did showered. For a minute I thought I was gonna be thin LOL. Well the hard work was coming up. Making those first protein shakes was horrible... I did not want to eat I did not want to do it but I had too. This was all that was keeping me alive. 

As the months went on the lbs came off 

Valentines Day Sleeve Style and Single

This is the first year I am thin for V Day; honestly in the back of my mind Prince Charming would be sitting here with me, ready at his avail to bequeath me with gifts. Well he is not, thank God my Dad is here hes  my Valentine again plus he got me WLS gifts how can I complain and my Mom cant complain either. I love my parents more than anyone or anything in the world and my little Yorky too. 

But it is hard, seeing everyone pair off, have families and here I am alone and single and ready to mingle. I always look it at this way while all my friends were single in their early 20's and college years I was not, I was seriously involved with a great man whom I am still dear friends with to this day. The reasons that relationship ended are simple we wanted different things but are still invovled in each others lives. 

Having this surgery changed my life I am sitting here hovering in the high 160's not the 260's 160's, being told I am too thin and need to stop losing soon, cracks me up. 

I break down my life into three areas personal, professional and academic. When they are all in balance I am happy. 

Personal I break down into as family, health and love life. 

Professional: Work

Academic: School

Professional and Academic are in great balance right now

My health, my family and all that is great but my love life is lagging seriously lacking. I seriously thought being thin would make it easier and then I realized my size was not the issue its just hard to meet people in the real world. 

Sometimes I wish he would just appear but I guess he wont so happy V Day Sleeve Style 

You Need to Eat More....

Yesterday I saw my NUT Janet and it was the first time I had seen her since the holidays. I am now a mere ten lbs from goal. They told me I could stop losing weight now and I would be fine at 170. I explained to her, I did not get this far and cut out my stomach to stop at 170 lets push to 160. 

Well they were worried because I had lost 29 lbs in two months, I mean I did not change much of anything. Ate what I normally did so my body likes my sleeve LOL. Anyway I decided to listen to her and slow it down, I was getting worried because if I stretch my arms enough while undressed I can see my rib cage and sternum. I dont want to look like a walking skeleton. 

I did this surgery to be healthy. 

Food was always the enemy to me, it was the enemy. It was a dangerous relationship I had with food, we loved each other and hated each other. Food was there for me when no one else or anything was. Since surgery I have embraced such a full life now, I have amazing friends, a great job and am finally getting my MSW. 

I am busy but I love it. I am happy a little tired I am not going to lie and ensuring i am eating enough. I then realized I am losing weight way too fast. So now I  have to increase my intake a bit 

Saving My Life

Friday it will be 8 months ago, Dr M walked into the waiting room w Dr. G and said Mr and Mrs Pojer surgery went great. Katie did wonderful she has a tight sleeve, thank god she had surgery the fat around her liver would mean diabetes and insulin by 31, shes a young woman with her entire life ahead of her.

Eight months ago, I was coming off an operating table groggy and out of it. All I remember is the anesthesiologist going Katie sweetie its over, Katie its over wake up.. As I was moved off the table I breathed in, I looked around disoriented from the medication.

I just wanted my Mom or Dad or Aunt who has an RNY. I just wanted someone from my family. I was in such pain and the nausea started to hit, I propped myself up and tried to vomit. The agony the nurses told me to breathe. I did not want to breathe, I just wanted my Mom.

After realizing what I just did I was in and out of  sleepy for a bit and finally I saw my parents. I was like how did it go, how did it go am I gonna be thin. My dad of course blurts out look pictures from your surgery... LOL the pictures they gave. My Mom was concerned w my vitals and pain control I was like where are my glasses???

Well eight months later I have to say I SAVED MY LIFE! EMBRACED MY LIFE.

I am a different person WLS saved me.

123 Gone 16 to Go Living My Thin Life

I am now thin, I am going to say I AM THIN! I AM HEALTHY I AM NO LONGER MORBIDLY OBESE. 

A mere eight months ago I was 298 lbs going into surgery I am now 176 fifteen lbs to my goal, I am no longer afraid of the scale, I am no longer afraid of shopping. This year I can wear a teeny einsy weeny bikini. 

I am now a healthy woman, healthy! I look in the mirror and I see her the woman I was always supposed to be. The energy is so high I feel amazing! 

Now I am working as a Pharmacy Tech for CVS, I LOVE MY JOB!  It is physical because I am on my feet all day bending moving and stocking. I have been stocking the pharmacy for the past two days. There would have been a time, I would have been exhausted tired and out of breath now I am not. 

Sitting here I was debating on whether to go and speak at seminar tomorrow or now as I am tired and recovering from a sinus infection. I am watching my 600 lb life and I then realized I HAVE TO GO TOMORROW, my life was saved by this surgery. If, I do not share my story whose life wont be saved?

For god sakes I was just put on my Gym's WOW board and share my story. I have worked my ass off, I HAVE A NEW LIFE. Never in my life would I have been a size 10! I am almost there.

A year ago I was 300lbs now I am 176 almost there. 

I thank god every day