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 

Post Christmas Afternath: The Good, The Ugly and The Taboo

I really hope you all had a great Hoiday! I know that I did, it was wonderful spending time with family, friends and being thin. It was nice not looking at the pictures and hating myself. It was nice being able to move around the kitchen, cooking, doing the dishes without back pain and exhaustion. It was nice not to have my formerly fat ass knock stuff over. It was nice! 

So I am going to talk about my first Post WLS Christmas 

The Good: 

The good was everything that I had been given a second chance at life this year. It was amazing opening clothes from my Mom and knowing that they were going to fit. It was amazing knowing that I might have to return two sweaters to Kohls that I know are going to be too big and a fabulous CK coat in Houndstooth finally a Houndstooth coat. 

Being able to move, I did not realize how much my obesity had not allowed me to move freely around the house, kitchen etc.. After my Mom got sick with her auto immune disease it left me to take care of a lot and I did it all without complaint now. My energy has tripled and watching myself being able to do that is amazing. Also, on Christmas morning moving around cooking and doing laundry its fantastic. 

Eating, it was not hard I knew my parents would ensure they had sleeve friendly foods for me and my Aunt who has a VSG as well. I am happy to report she lost most of her regain. She looks great. It made my life easier. 

The Bad: 

Grandma was not with us this year. So weird to have X mas without my amazing Lala. But she was there in spirit and cooking. Her directions on how to clean and cook will always stay with me. She just missed a really good meal. 

The Taboo: 

Alright here is where I am gonna get down dirty and real! Did I eat cookies YES did I eat cheesecake YES! Did I enjoy it YES I DID! Did it repeat on me? NO WOULD I DO IT AGAIN YES! Was I scared to eat them NO! That is my CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE! I make it every year its decadent its fattening and damn its good. I worked my ass off to make this cake. 

So here is where the taboo is broken. People assume after WLS you can never have cake again. For the first few months yes you really cannot break plan. But are you allowed on Holidays yes you are! For gods sake its one day a year. I had a sliver of it and I was happy with that. One cookie I was happy with that. In the past it used to be three pieces of cheesecake, six cookies and then once I digested that I would go back for more.  It is TABOO talk to discuss this after WLS. 

I asked my NUT if I can one piece of cheesecake and she goes Katie you are 22lbs from goal you are compliant yes you can. I did and I enjoyed it now onto cleaning my room!

I Stopped Taking Pills But I Take SO Many Vitamins... WHY

This picture below brings fear to most WLS patients eyes. I know for me it does, Vitamins are the bane of my existence. I am going to admit I HATE taking them. No one likes taking them, they make you sick, they taste nasty and most of all their horse pills. I have been through so many Vitamin Regimens since beginning my WLS journey. 

This all starts after seminar when you have your first blood draws ( or at least did it did for me), I was anemic, deficient in Zinc and other stuff. I cannot remember the last time I had taken this many vitamins. 

Now I am only down to calcium and a multi and some other supplement I cannot even remember the name of it, all I know it is orange and helps w my back and inflammation and it does not hurt me. 

Lets use my last blood work as a prime example of vitamins, my Vitamin D was high and they wanted me to stop taking Vitamin D? Well where do I find calcium without it!!! Luckily, my WLS center started to carry Calcium Powder without it. So instead of taking my citracal which I think I bought stock in, I mix this powder into my water bottle twice a day and I get my calcium not a bad deal at least it goes down ok. Anyway now my multi has to be taken three times a day. I do it breakfast lunch and dinner or around then depending on when I can drink. 

Alright after my rant Why do we have to be tortured the rest of our lives? 

Take your Vita Viga Vetamin

So why do we have to take them? Well before we were operated on our stomachs were quite large, I know mine was by the sheer amount of food  I was able to stuff in it. Now, that I am sleeved I am lucky if I get the proper amount of nutrients in. Vitamins are taken as extra support and then ensure that we are ok

Thats all take your vitamins