Can I Come In And Play?

I guess I'm kinda new to this board - but I see a lot of familiar faces.  From the main board and from my fellow May06 buddies.    I used to post in the May06 board a lot but kind of drifted away when I went through some serious medical conditions and my WLS was waaaay on the back burner.  I didn't connect with them anymore and the path they were on.  In January 07 - just 8 months after WLS, I found out I had a brain tumor.  At only 27 yrs old - with a 2 yr old daughter - it was pretty devistating.  In February, I had surgery to remove it - it was pretty non-invasive - as they went through my nasal passage to remove.  But there were portions of it that remianed wrapped around my carotid artery.  6 weeks after surgery I underwent radiation treatment to try and eliminate the remaining tumor.  I should mention - it was not cancerous - something to be thankful for.  But it was a very rare type of tumor that produced human growth hormone - giving me a rare disease called Acromegaly.  I now know that this disease is part of what led to my weight gain in the past few years and the difficulty I have had trying to loose weight.  The increase of growth hormone has caused lots of soft tissue swelling and my joints and such to enlarge.  As in - my feet are a size 13 - my ring size is 12 - etc etc.  And those are just the measurable effects of the disease.  The radiation will continue to shrink the tumor and hopefully decrease the ongoing growth - but nothing can reverse the effects it has already had on my body.  I get a shot once a month that also acts to reduce the hormone.  But, as bad as it all sounds, my life is finally starting to return to normal.  Or as normal as can be expected.  I still see a whole gaggle of different Dr's and I get poked and proded and scanned and what not quite frequently.  But I am feeling so much more optimistic.    Now that I have put some of my other things on the back burner it's time for me to bring my weight loss back to the forefront and focus on taking off these last 50lbs!  I lost 90 lbs from May06 to Jan07 and have not lost ONE lb since then.  I also haven't gained one - my saving grace.  Well - that's not entirely true.  I have gained and lost the same 5 lbs about 10 times in the past 6 months.     It's MUCH harder now.  Like a lot of people - I can pretty much eat anything.  My only lasting reminder of the surgery is that when I do consume WAY to much sugar (and no - not just a few cookies - as in a binge) - I become sick to my stomach for all of half an hour.  Not too much of a lasting reminder.  I do still recieve the benefit of feeling full on what I consider a normal portion now.  By no means my former small little WLS portions.  I feel like I can eat a normal meal now and be satisfied.  I am sure I am eating more then my surgeon would agree with - but I'm pleased that it's not like before WLS when I could have eaten 4 large portions and still squeeze in dessert.    So there's my mini blurb.  I wanted to introduce myself.  I'm very excited to become an active member of this community.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE to cook.  I love to share recipes!  I will definetely be trying to post on the accountability board everyday.  I'm loosely doing weigh****chers right now.  The point system is INGRAINED in my mind and heart so I like to count points instead of calories - but I also keep track of my protein grams everyday too.  I NEED to start posting on the move to loose - exercise is my downfall.  My fitness equipment has gathered quite a layer of dust over the past few months.    A few other mentionable things I guess. I am very happily married to my best friend.  He had WLS in 2002 and lost 200 lbs.  I am mother to a beautiful little 3 yr old angel names Katie.  Hoping to start TTC #2 sometime early 2008.  I am an accountant at a very large manufacturing company.  I am a SERIOUS crafter - scrapbooking, crochet, sewing - you name it.  I'm sure there's more - and I look forward to sharing and getting to know all of you better as well! :) MrsAmyB 322 / 227 / 173 Pre-WLS / Current / Goal

Welcome back to the forum!  I am not a regular "poster" myself, although I do read postings weekly.  It sounds as though the past year or so has thrown you a few curves, and placing your weight loss efforts on the back burner is totally understandable.  I hope that  your health condition continues to improve, and allows you to concentrate on yourself, and your weight loss, once again. Like many on this board, I continue to come back to keep myself grounded, and to help re-focus when needed.  There are people here to support you, even when you don't see it in a written reply.  (Many people, like me, continue to read the posts every day and keep up on the progress of others.  We are pulling for their success, sharing their challenges, etc.)  I hope that others welcome you back, and help provide the support and encouragement that we all need. My surgery was in May, 2005.  My highest weight was about 240 and I lost down to a low of about 135.  I have rebounded (I might as well just say it, "I have gained!") up to about 145.  I am trying to cut back on carbs, focusing more on the protein, water and exercise, and will get back to a more desirable 135-140 for my frame.  I never thought five pounds or so would make such a difference, but it does in how our clothes fit at this point.  Wish me well, and join in with us on the boards to support each other in efforts!

Thanks for the welcome!!  I've always been a big fan of the support I can get from online forums.  Alway shere anytime we need it! :)

Mrs AmyB,      Sure  sounds  like  you  have had  your  rough  times ..  Well  girl  today  is  a  new  day  and a new  begining ...  You  sound  like  you  are  very  talented  what  a blessing  ... I  just  wanted  to send   you  good  wishes  as   you  start  to  focus  in  on your  weight  issue...  Please  keep  posting  an let  us  all  share  in your  success ...  I  will  keep  you in  my  prayers !!  :-) Tami

Thanks Tami!  It feel good to feel so welcomed here.  Of course I didn't expect anything else but it's nice to come back to my post and see so many people who are here to support me! :) :)  I am very excited about my new beginning.  It's refreshing to focus on something like loosing the weight.  Something that is going to improve my health and make me feel better.  I've spend so many months focusing on the doom and gloom - I feel so refreshed to be doing something healthy for my body now! :)

Hi Amy, Of course, come on out to the playground we love new friends...All you have been thru and survived, is a testiment to the strength you possess ...You are going to make it to your goal, just set you plan and do your best to stick to it regularly, know that you are human and sometimes you will slip, but as I already said, you are strong and you control you destiny...Come in and post, it helps...  Alesia

Thanks for the welcome Alesia!! :) I'm so focused now.  It really changes your whole mind set when you feel good about yourself.  And just eating healthy everyday and feeling good about the fuel I put in my body makes such a big difference.  

Wow, have you had alot going on!!!! First off, Welcome to the Grad's Board! Second, I am so happy to hear that you did not have cancer and that they were able to remove the tumor and figure out exactly what was wrong~it sounds like you still have some ongoing treatment to deal with, but I'm sure at this point that's ok with you. Also, Congratulations on 90lbs lost! That's fantastic! Now that you have the time and energy to focus on weightloss again I'm sure you'll get the last 50lbs off. Hope to see you here often!

It has been the craziest 6 months of my life.  Such a roller coaster.  I've had so many scarey days where I didn't know what the next step would be - or whether I could ever put it behind me.  But I really should count my blessings - it's only 7 months later and I'm fairly optimistic that I'll be able to put this all behind me.  I'll always have to deal with the remaining issues and continue to monitor it - but I know I'm a lot luckier then some people who have serious medical issues like this.   Thanks for the warm welcome! :) 

Hurray!!!  Amy, I am SOOOOO glad to see you here! I'm so glad to hear everything is going good for you!  You have been through A LOT!  I sure missed you on the May board ... but I'm so glad to see you here! Welcome, welcome, welcome!!! Deanna  :)