10 Week Update

I will try to keep this brief, but just wanted to let you all know how I was doing. As of this morning I have lost a total of 44 lbs (35 lbs since surgery). It still blows me away at how much better I feel. The past week and a half it seems like I had an appointment with almost all my doctors, including my yearly physical with PCP. Ready for some great news........drum roll please............my blood test results were INCREDIBLE! Prior to my surgery my cholesterol was a dangerous 268+, my LDL was over 200, and my HDL also sucked, and my triglycerides were also through the roof. My cholesterol is now 189 (lowest it's been in probably 20 years!), triglycerides are only 97 and my LDL is down to 131. My HDL is a little low at 39, but that will improve as my exercise program continues. Even better my friends is that my A1C (for diabetes) was a high of 8.1 in January, and it is now completely normal at 5.4. My diabetes is officially gone. I am a little anemic but that should improve now that I'm taking my vitamins everyday. Iron, magnesium, folate, and B12 can all be a problem with this surgery, and all of these levels are perfect right now. My primary care doctor tells me I am getting so healthy. Dr. Lebowitz (my endocrinologist) told me that he will see me in six months for one more check, and if everything still looks good he probably will not have to see me any longer. On the stricture side, I will have one more dilation on Sept. 13th. Hopefully this will be the last one, and it will be almost 4 weeks from the last one. So far I'm doing well with my food, but of course I'm still eating rather "mushy" food for now. Since I've been doing a lot exercise including some jogging with my walking, as well as some strength training, the cyst on the top of my right foot has come back in full force. I saw Dan DiChristina on Tuesday. First let me say he was really surprised at how much weight I had lost. He did an x-ray and we found out that I now no longer have one bone spur but two, in the joints on the top of my foot. This cyst has been drained a couple times and the past 4-5 years, and the last time it was full of blood. So, he has suggested and I agreed to have the cyst removed and have the two bone spurs removed. This will be done under local (no more general for me) and sedation. He told me that they will do it in ambulatory and I'll go home the same day and can weight bear immediately. I told him that I didn't want this to interfere with my exercise program too much or for too long, and he promised it wouldn't. He did tell me that I will have to let the incision line heal though . So, I will have this done on 9/21. So, that's about it for now. I hope all is going well with you and your families. Enjoy this official last weekend of summer. God bless and thanks for your kind thoughts and prayers. Love, Debra 239/195/125

This is wonderful news, Debra. Congratulations. Wow, your Diabetes is gone! I have lost 44 lbs. and I feel so much better. I move easier and I'm exercising! I flew on a plane last month and I "mostly fit" into the seat! My cholestrol went from 234 to 155! Keep up the good work. Mari

HEY DEBRA thats so great to hear you had perfect blood work. MINE was reall good too. WHERE getting so healthy and its wonderful! ALL THE BESt lisa

You are doing soooooooo great. Congratulations Isn't it wonderful how much better you feel with some excess weight gone. Good luck on your surgery will be praying for you. Deloris 309/288/235/135

Way to go Debra! This is excellent news and we've only just begun at approx. 3 months post. Isn't it wonderful! Jo

Debra that all sounds wonderful!! Our surgery date is the same and we have lost about the same. At the moment I am down 43 lbs since surgery. In total I have lost 64 lbs. Isn't this surgery a gift from God!! Keep up the good work. Laural 313/292/249