8 Week Follow-Up

Hello NC friends!  Hope this finds you all doing well on your journeys in life.  I have to say, hopefully to the relief of many who are in the initial stages post-op, that I finally turned a corner at 6 weeks where I finally felt GOOD almost 100% of the time.  I was no longer regretting daily (yes, daily!) my choice to have weight-loss surgery.  Can't thank the ones that told me it "would get better" enough for helping to encourage me and keep my spirits up!  It did get better!

So yesterday was my 8 week follow-up.  Weighed in at a 33.something pound loss since I started my 10-day liquid diet on November 11th.  That is about a 22% loss where I "should" be at 25%.  When asked why I think that is, I told them that I just had an ultrasound where I was dignosed with an enlarged thyroid and a goiter.  They said that will definitely have a huge impact on my results and that for the time being we cannot compare me to anything "typical."  UGH!  So I did have my blood drawn to test all the RNY stuff and also my thyroid levels.  Won't know what we are going to do to pursue treatment of this until my PCP gets those results.

I am still having trouble with swallowing pills and eating anything with "weight" so they sent me over for a barium swallo test.  It showed I am having esophageal, I think they called them "spasms," where the doctor saw that as I swallowed "down" at the top of my throat, the bottom part was "pushing up."  FUN!  I am to start taking Prilosec OTC and keep working with my foods.  It should get better with time. 

I've fallen off the exercise wagon so they stressed that I need to get back on.  Went to the movies last night with Diane and she just joined the fitness center we belong to so we can be workout buddies.  Now if we can just coordinate our schedules!  lol 

Next Wednesday is my 2 month surgiversary.  I will take and post my pounds and inches lost on my profile along with photos of my new, SHORT haircut (I THINK I love it!  lol).  I've only lost 8 pounds this month so far so I'm anxious to see what that entails in inches. 

Allen is sick today, all curled up in the recliner, so I get to spend some time online reading posts!  Woot!  If you made it this far, thanks for reading and I hope you have a great weekend!

Shauna I am so glad you are doing much better.  I am sorry that Allen is sick tell him I hope he fills better.  I have thought of you often an I have hoped that you were doing well and real busy.  Its wonderful to hear that you have turned a page with the issues and I will continue to pray for the thyroid issues. We missed you the other night at group!  It was lots of fun we did clogging and Corey was so funny!!!!!

Leslie

Leslie,  Omg, clogging sounds like so much fun...I cannot imagine Corey getting out there!  Wouldn't it figure, the meeting we would miss.  lol  I will give Allen your message, thanks so much.  We'll be hoping to see you guys soon!

I am glad you are feeling a little better. I have thought alot about you. Glad to see you went to the movies last night!!!! Its good to see you do things for yourself like go get haircut. I hope that you and Diane can go to the fitness center together. It helps alot to have someone to work out with and the time passes by so much faster.

I hope that they get the thyroid fixed. I think that is the major reason you are not losing as fast as you did in the past. Now atleast you know the problems with eating food was something physiological going on and it can be fixed.

Can't wait to see the short haircut. I cant imagine your hair short!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am trying to not get sick before my surgery. Someone came in to office yesterday and she was snotty nose. I told her she better not make me sick or I could not have my surgery. Also the flu has been going around bad in Hickory according to my pre op nurse.

Tamara

Thanks, Tamara.  You are on my mind all the time too, especially the closer your surgery gets.  My hair is still freaking me out, but I am getting tons of compliments.  We saw so many people we know out and about today and noone recognized me...lots of double takes.  lol  One friend even said, "Shauna, it's not going to be long and I'm not even going to know you anymore!"  My clothing is definitely getting bigger so I bought another more tailored shirt today.  Will have to wear it in my next monthly surgiversary photos Wednesday.  ;)  Don't you dare go and get sick, girly!  I was so worried about that just before my surgery.  Maybe take a surgical mask and gloves with you to work next week?!  lol  Hope your weekend is flying by for you and that your surgery day is here SOON!

Shauna:

So glad to hear you are doing much better!  Think the wt will fall off faster once they figure out what to do with the thyroid!  I thought my wt loss stopped but am back to losing at about a lb a week which is better than nothing.  I am just grateful it is still falling...lol.

Take care,

Pam

Pam,  I'm so glad your weightloss has kicked back in for you!  When you aren't ready for that to happen, it's such a worry when a stall sets in, isn't it?  I can't wait for my thyroid thing to be figured out and for my weight to fall off just a tad faster.  I'm thankful that I am looking good with this slower rate, but I am ready for this belly to shrink away, that's for sure!

(((((Shauna))))),

I'm so very glad to hear that you are doing better my friend. You have been on my mind a great deal lately and I'm glad to hear that you are doing soooo much better.

Wishing you all the best as you continue your journey,

((((((Barb!))))))  Thanks for thinking of me...I am always thinking of you and your family.  Please let me know when you get a chance about how things are going for you all and how Ben is doing with his recovery and learning to live with his RNY.  I hope things are going smoothly for him and that things are looking up for you all!

Hi Shauna,

Ben is recovering well after his surgery. Like most of the guys, he's losing a good clip. He was just telling me today that he didn't think it was as fast as he wished it would be, but he's lost over 30 lbs and he's just about 5 weeks post op. I plugged his information into my favorite website, www.thinnerself.com and he's projected to lose 100 percent of his excess weight based on his performance to date. Not bad! He's still learning to live with his pouch, but he's doing well. He was out chopping wood today.

Ben was to return to work this past Monday, but went in to sign separation paperwork instead, making his layoff official. With that of course, are increased strains and tensions. While he has been actively looking and submitting his resume, nothing is coming of it and of course, that's unsettling at best and to be honest, pretty scary. Other than that, things are okay for now.

Thanks for asking,