Checking in...

Hi all! I have a couple of different topics I want to hit on so I thought I'd put them all into one post instead of several, LOL! First, I had an Upper GI done today because I've had heartburn a few times since surgery and my doc wanted to make sure I didn't have a disruption. Well, Upper GI showed pouchy intact, but I do have reflux. So, I'm going to check with my surgeon and see what we can do about that. I was almost in tears when the radiologist said all was well!!! Next, I'm losing my butt shelf!! (Ya know, ladies, that shelf that sticks out from your lower back that is really the top of your butt!) I hadn't even noticed it, but hubby mentioned it today. I was walking in front of him and he put his hand on my lower back and said, "It's going, you know." I said, "What's going?" He said, "The top of your bottom is smaller. The pockets of your jeans used to be facing up, now they're actually ON your bottom." I said, "OH! The butt shelf?!" And he . So, when I came in the house I looked in the mirror and sho-nuff!! It's not there anymore! It's now a (getting nicely) shaped bottom!! Lastly, I just went over 2 months and am down 44 pounds. I'm so very happy. My next goal is 250 pounds (as of yesterday I was 282) and would like to be at or below that by the time I see my surgeon again on 8/23. Then, after that I want to get below my husband's weight of about 225 (he's a very solidly built 5'10" - all muscle!!). Then my goal weight of 175! I suppose that's all for now! Just wanted to check in, say hi, and that's about it!! Michelle Open RNY 5/3/05 326/282/175

While getting my pre-op testing done, I found that I had reflux, and worse - Barrett's esophagus, which is damage caused by reflux. (Barrett's esophagus is the most severe complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).) I now have to take prilosec everyday and I will have to go for an endoscopy once a year, every year. I didn't even realize I had a problem! I thought I just had heartburn alot. I thank God that I had to have that endoscopy done for my gastic bypass pre-op test, otherwise I would have let it go, and it could have turned cancerous. Sorry, I'm not trying to scare you, really! My advice to you is to take it seriously, and do whatever the doc tells you. Congrats on losing your "butt shelf"! That's a great "WOW" moment!

Thank you, Carol. I had reflux pre-op, too but the doc said that when I had my surgery it would go away. Apparently it didn't. I called his office today after the Upper GI and told his nurse (he's out today) and she said, "Which surgery did you have?" I told her the bypass and she just couldn't believe that I would have it POST-OP! What can I say?! LOL! I will definitely follow his advice. Michelle

Woo hoo on the butt shelf loss! Isn't it great when spouses notice things like that! I love it. Sorry about the reflux but I'm glad it's nothing more. Congrats on the 44 pounds gone forever. My next goal is similar to one of yours...to get below hubby's weight. He's 5'9" and weighs 178. I'm 5'2" and now weigh 180! I can't believe that before the end of the week I could weigh as much or less than him! 40 pounds gone for me. Oh, I'll mention one more thing. Today at Mervyn's I was trying on a skirt (we're going to see Phantom of the Opera (live version) in Houston this Saturday. My mom said take the 14 in with you when I grabbed the 16 and lo and behold it fit!!! We need to take in all these little moments and relish in them! Keep up the great work. Ana 221/180/130

GOOD FOR YOU!! I haven't been in a size 14 since I was in like 11th grade (and I'm not going to tell you how long ago that was!! ). How exciting for you! My husband had a docs appointment today and he told me, "Ya know, with all the healthy cooking you've been doing lately, I've lost about 7 pounds!" I said, "NO!!! You're not supposed to be losing weight!! I'm trying to catch you, don't make it harder on me!" Oh, well! Michelle

LOL Michelle, I can totally relate to the but shelf thing. Mine is fading too. Mine was so large that you could put a coffee cup there. My hubby hugged me yesterday and said every day there is a little less of you to love. Made me feel good. Congrats on the 44 pounds that is awesome. Keep up the good work. Kat

Michelle, Sorry that it's taking me so long to reply to your post! I'm SO happy to hear that your upper GI came back normal and that you don't have a disruption!! How is the heartburn?! Are you still having it as much as you were? I thought Dr. Weber said that should be gone after surgery!! Have you mentioned it to him again or are you going to wait til next month when you see him again?! Congrats on losing your "butt shelf"! That's pretty exciting! I mostly am smaller on top and the bottom isn't following suit as much as I'd like it to yet! But, I'm sure it's going to be leaving my body sometime!! Take care! Debb