Hair, and the loss of it....

Today is day 92 since my gastric bypass, and I've lost a total of 80 pounds.  


I've been reading a great deal lately, in the book I mentioned in my last post, and also a book called Fat No More - Long Term Success Following Weight Loss Surgery by Gail Engebretson & Robert Magnan.  What a great and oh, so reassuring book to read at this point in my process!  Why, you might ask?  Because I'm finally at the point when my weight loss isn't all singing and dancing with hardly any effort being exerted.  It's suddenly gotten more difficult!  


It all started a few days ago when I noticed more than the usual amount of hair in my brush.  It happened the next day, and the next!  When I washed my hair, even more was in the drain!  I knew this normally could happen between the 4th and 7th month most often.  I'm a little early (always the early bloomer), but there's no question - my decrease in hair is here.  I'm telling myself that thinner hair is not as big a deal as walking around with 80 more pounds on me, and the health benefits are completely worth it, but geez....  my hair?  ::Sigh::  bummer.


I'm also noticing that I'm hungry more often lately.  I have been losing weight, but more slowly, and I am concerned that I've gotten lazy - I'm not calculating precisely the protein I'm eating, I'm more guessing.  I'm eatting plenty I think - but I know I should be planning ahead, not counting backward and guessing at the protein amounts!  Fortunately, Engebretson's book addresses these and many other obstacles that frequently befall post-weight loss surgery patients. 


My plan:  write it all down again before I eat it and think about the big picture, talk to (or write to the gang at the WMI online support group and get some online support).  If I've heard it once, I've heard it (or read it) a thousand times: - "...we're all in this together, to improve our health and to let go of our old, harmful habits..."  And, I have to admit that I have learned that identifying problems and not sharing about them isn't especially constructive.  There's no questions that support is a key factor in weight loss success.  So - back to some healthy habits with renewed vigor.


It's late - more later...
But I'll celebrate for a moment my successes - I guess it's helpful to identify that 80 pounds is pretty good!  *high fiving my supporters who read this*


Good night.

Clothes, 80 pounds, and a smaller size

We all have something about ourselves that we wish we could change.
Sometimes you can, and sometimes you can't.
The important thing is to try.
                                           by Kris Carr, 
                                           from Crazy Sexy Cancer


Somehow these words really struck me.  Of course, the documentary Crazy Sexy Cancer was also really great, but these words, spoken by Kris at the end of the show, were so powerful I felt I needed to share them.


I *am* trying to make my efforts at losing weight really count.  I'm down a little under 80 pounds (Yes, I said 80!) since my efforts to lose weight really started in June.  I now weigh about 275.  


So I'm getting ready to actually rejoin the work world, assuming I find someone who wants to hire me, and I'm facing something I hadn't really thought of.  Clothes!  I need something to wear for job interviews, and this morning I spent all of the very generous gift certificate that my mom bought me for this very purpose.  Now normally, spending money on anything - even clothes - is not  terribly difficult for me.  I *like* spending money.  But I have never really loved clothes shopping.  That's probably why I've spent more time online shopping rather than going into a store and actually trying clothes on.  What this whole experience brought up for me though, was recognizing that I've suffered from a lot of emotional pain related to the clothes topic.  The struggle about how much I weight, what size I am, and often not being able to find anything that fits even in the "Big Girls" section, (or the "Big Girls store) store doesn't go away magically just because you've gotten a gastric bypass, I've learned.


This morning I was uncomfortable trying to figure out what to order!  I had a gift certificate from an online/catalog clothing store to spend.  I could guess what size I am.  But I didn't really know.  It didn't seem real that I could have lost sizes even though there was plenty of evidence that I've lost two sizes minimum.  Finally I went in the bathroom and measured myself.  I sat down and sent off my order with at least a little more data in hand, and at least I have some baseline measurements for future reference.  


I'll plan to mention this at the support group, but I'm really glad that I bought the book by Connie Stapleton, Ph.D. entitled:  Eat It Up! The Complete Mind/Body/Spirit Guide to a Full Life After Weight Loss Surgery.  I'll provide a review once I've read it, but I'm finding that there are some emotional issues that are lingering from my still-fat mind.  I knew this was coming, or something like this, it still caught me off guard, however.


I'm back in the saddle again, writing and thinking about the blog.  I've got a few topics percolating, but I'd love some suggestions.  Anyone have anything to discuss?  Drop me a line if you do...


More soon!

My Progress So Far...

So it's been almost 7 weeks since my gastric bypass.  Lots of really exciting things have happened already as a result of my surgery (aside from the issues related to my cyst), and it seems appropriate to celebrate these accomplishments.  


The initial list of medical problems that I suffered from that lead me to the Weight Management Institute was frightening.  But look!  Some improvements are already evident, and this is only the beginning.

• High blood pressure:
• I still suffer from high blood pressure, but "my numbers" seem to be improving!
• Chronic pain from osteoarthritis in my knees, ankles and low back: 
• ✔Dramatic Improvement in all areas have been noted!
• Non-insulin dependent diabetes:
•  ✔My blood sugar is consistently excellent, and I am no longer on medication for my diabetes!
• Chronic heartburn from GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease):
• ✔My heartburn and GERD are cured!  No more heartburn pain or need for medication since the surgery!   
• Severe sleep apnea requiring the use of a C-PAP machine at night:
• I continue to need the CPAP at this time, however as I continue to lose weight my doctor's suggest that this will likely change.
• Impaired mobility -  I was having difficulty getting around without a cane:
• I am much more comfortable walking, and already I can get around most of the time without a cane except for longer distances.
• Periodic venous stasis wounds on my legs requiring daily wound treatment and aggressive compression treatment ranging from compression hose to the use of a lymphedema pump.  
• ✔No wounds since the surgery.  Minimal episodes of swelling in my lower legs, though I do wear a less unpleasant form of compression most of the time. 

All in all this is pretty exciting news.  Today when I saw my dietician for my routine visit,  we did a body composition test showing that while I am losing both muscle and fat (which is to be expected), even with minimal exercise I'm losing a solid amount of fat.  My ultimate goal is to lose 3 pounds of fat for every 1 pound of muscle.  Today I am at 1.75 pounds of fat for every 1 pound of muscle.  This gives me a goal to work toward.


Other positive information from the session with the dietician: I can eat most things now as long as I am cautious about the food textures (apple skins, stringy veggies, dry or overcooked meats, etc.).  Of course I am eating really small amounts of food, still.  I am supplementing my diet with the same protein powder I used for the months before my surgery when I was on the "partial liquid diet".


I have lost 50.7 pounds since I started the "partial liquid diet" on 6/4/10.  I broke the 300# mark on 9/27/10.  Follow along for continued progress, and please join me in celebrating these exciting improvements in my weight loss efforts.  I admittedly have a long way to go -- but it all seems possible to me now when I consider the progress I've made so far.  


For those of you in my "fan club" who have been supporting my efforts - thank you so much!

A letter to my family and friends

This is a letter that I sent to my dearest family and friends.  I wanted to share it here, too, somehow as a part of the process and experience I am dealing with as I face this surgery.  It is intimate, and honest.
Hi there, my beloved family & special friends,

I thought I would send a little update and reminder that Wednesday, August 11 -- less that one measly week away -- is the very big day that I will go have my gastric bypass, and hernia repair.

Since the beginning of this current adventure, back in November 2009, I began losing weight.  Back then it was sort of informal.  No one at the clinic focused too much on numbers of pounds, or even asked how we were doing with our weight loss.  But don’t get me wrong- there was lots of talking about food, and feelings and portion sizes and food label reading. 

By June things were a little different.  On 6/4/10, Dr. H said,”You will have to lose 30 more pounds before surgery. I have lost 37 pounds total, Since Dr. H's requirement, I’ve lost 27 pounds – good enough to go forward, and enough for my “team” to be proud of my efforts.  YAY!

So, Wednesday morning, at 5:30, I’m scheduled to check in at the hospital for my 2 - 2.5 hour procedure scheduled to begin at 7:30am.  I’ll be at Good Samaritan Hospital and after a little while in Short Stay I’ll be moved to unit “6 Center,” to a specialty surgical unit for abdominal surgeries.  I have heard that I’ll be cared for by specially trained RNs who have won awards for their outstanding care on 6 Center.  I’ll have a catheter in place for luxury peeing, and a pain pump for luxury pain management. 

So there you have it!  Some might say the answer to my prayers, others might say this is something to be grateful for -- a second chance at life.  I say:  I am grateful and I do know that it’s going to be hard work, and that’s after the surgery! I’m looking forward to it!  

Much Love,

Lynn, Lynnie, La, Ba, Noe (depending)