I'm No Longer Obese!

I'm so freaking happy I saw my Nut the other day, when she calculated the % of extra weight that I've lost she calculated my BMI. My BMI came @ 29.7 so I am no longer obese! I never thought I would be so happy to say that I am overweight. I am 30 years old and at 5'9" and 200.5 pounds I am the smallest then I have been since I was 14 years old. Can you believe that? I started my journey literally pouring out of a size 28 weighing 365 pounds, which put me in the Super Morbidly Obese category. I am now in a misses size 14 and simply overweight. How cool is that? I cannot wait to hit onderland, I am so close. My goal weight is 175 pounds, which arguably is a little high but I'm tall and have a large frame and bone structure. I need to update my profile with some new pictures! This journey has not been easy but it has been so worth it. Thank you everyone for all of the support that you have given me. This site, your kind words of support & encouragement and your sharing of your own journey has helped me more than words can express. I only hope that I can return the favor. ((Hugs)) Jaimee

Way to go!!! You had surgery on my birthday, we're the same height, and started at the same weight too. Too funny. Sure hope I look as good as you do when I'm 10 months out!

Thanks Darrah! That is funny; same height, weight, etc. Wishing you continued success! Jaimee

Jamie, You have done an amazing job. I too hope I do that well. I was wondering if I could as u a question? U said it was not an easy journey... I was wondering if some of u would mind sharing what the hardest parts of the journey are? I about to begin my journey and I think it would be helpful if I know what they are so they dont blow me away when I have them.... Thanks to u and anyone else who would care to share. Keep up the great work. Mariah

Thanks Mariah! Well, its not an easy surgery. We often tend to forget that this is a MAJOR surgery, not just a minor event. Everyone is different and there are people who sail through surgery and post op life without any complications. My surgery itself went okay, I just had a HORRIBLE time w/ nauseau and vomitting for the first 8 months. I did okay the first week or so after surgery but then I would get so sick and I had a hard time keeping anything down. They ran a ton of tests, there wasn't anything medically wrong with me, my pouch is just exteremly senstive. Basically all I did was and I would be able to tolerate one thing one day but then get sick off of it the next day. Throwing up all of the time got really old and it got really, really depressing. For the months of Nov and Dec I pretty much lived off of supplements. That wasn't at the advice of my Surgeon or Nut, I just couldn't deal with it any more. I was missing work, etc. so I just decided to stick with shakes, yogart, etc. I got my protein and vitamins in and I started feeling a lot better. I think I just needed to let my pouch heal and let my body get used to all of the changes. I slowly started introducing food again, I would try one new thing every day to see how my body reacted. I'm 9 1/2 months out now and I'm at the point where I can eat more things. I'm not exactly eating as well as I should be but it will come in time. There is a little bit of fear there; I got so sick off an egg before that the thought of eggs makes me gag. And don't get me started on eat, LOL! I still get sick sometimes but its not nearly as bad and it doesn't last as long. I think it is important to understand that even if your surgery goes smoothly, you can still have a hard time down the road. I was so concerned with making it out of surgery alive and passing the leak test, I assumed it would all be smooth sailing. And that's my fault that I didn't recognize that it might not be that easy. My Surgeons office went through all of that with me pre-op but when you want something so bad you tend to assume that things wont happen to you. So it was a little rough. There were some times that I had regrets. I think that is normal. Pre-op my life revolved around food; it was weird to go from that to being so afraid to eat. I can't help but wonder if I was subconsciously making myself sick because of all of that fear. But I got through it and I am very happy. Thank goodness for anti-depressants! Best of luck to you on your journey. Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions. ((Hugs)) Jaimee

Thanks so much Jaimee, that was really helpful. Its easy to read a bunch of stuff on a paper and wonder if this happened to one person out of a million but they still had to list it or something thats happened to someone u know. I think reading your story will stick with me more than a list on a paper. Im sorry you had to go thru it but thanks for sharing. I think for me learning of others struggles with help me if something goes wrong after my surgery I will not be as scared and I will know that thiss to shall pass. Also what is the leak test? I have never heard anyone mention that. Did u have a band or the RNY Thanks for all your help Mariah

Hi, I had the RNY. The day after surgery they take you down to Radiology to do an upper GI scan. You drink Barium and they watch it go down your throat and into your pouch. If there are any leaks they should be able to see it then. Its an easy "test", but barium is nasty! Jaimee

Congratulations!!! That is just wonderful! I'm sure ONE-derland is just around the corner! I also would like to hear what the hardest parts for you have been. Great job!! Sam

Thanks for the congrats Sam! I posted my story in a respone to Mariah. Good luck to you on your journey! Jaimee

Thanks so much for the information! Did you mention once your partner was thinking of surgery? I just wondered how she was responding to the changes and the post surgery sickness etc? I worry about how Eric (my boyfriend) will be with me getting sick and all the fun stuff that comes with this surgery. You should try to come to the clothing exchange in July!! Sam