It's been a really loooooong time!!

Hi all,

It's been so long since I was here, I'm not even sure where to start an update.  I think the last time I posted was in August last year when I was leaving for Omaha to have my DS!

So...let's see...I had my DS with Dr. Anthone in Omaha NE on August 19th, 2009.  As of today, 9.5 months later, I am down 135lbs!  I have 31 left to lose to get to my goal weight.  I'm feeling pretty terrific these days!  My cholesterol is perfect, the symptoms of insulin resistance & PCOS are nearly nonexistent, no more back/joint pain...it's unreal!  My labs are all looking really good except for iron, which is low.  I've been battling anemia right out of the gate mostly due to an excessively long, heavy menstrual cycle that lasted 5.5 weeks (started 2 weeks before surgery & didn't stop until 3.5 weeks after!)  I had a series of iron infusions in October & November, which helped some, but didn't do as much as I'd hoped.  Right now I'm trying a couple different oral supplements, but am leaning toward the idea of seeing a hematologist, probably sooner rather than later.  My ferritin is super low, but my PCP doesn't seem too concerned...I think I'd rather see a specialist for their opinion.  My energy level is SO much higher now, although I still have some tired days because of the low iron.  But I'm able to keep up with my kids & run around & play, and I just love it!  I couldn't be happier with my DS! 

I'm enjoying lots of high quality proteins like steak, shrimp, chicken, crab legs...pretty much all meat!  Also lots of nuts.  Due to the amount of calcium I take, if I don't get enough fat in my diet, I get constipated, so I drown just about everything in butter!  I love cream cheese & I drink my coffee with real heavy cream.  Anywhere I can get extra fat, I take it!  Contrary to popular belief, the only time I get diarrhea or have foul-smelling gas is if I eat an excessive amount of white flour or sugar.  But I can eat something like a grilled beef brat with a whole wheat bun & have no problems.  Or I can have a piece of birthday cake or a cookie or two with no adverse effects.  I was lactose intolerant before surgery, and I still am, so I don't drink milk and I have to take Lactaid with ice cream.  But I can lots of cheese & Greek yogurt with no problems at all.  I was never much of a pasta or rice eater, so I don't miss them much.  I occasionally have a couple bites of either, but I just don't enjoy them like I do meat! 

Dr. Anthone routinely creates tiny sleeve stomachs, and mine was 50mL right after surgery.  It's stretched some since then & now I'm able to eat or drink about 4oz in a sitting, about 40% of what I could eat pre-op.

I had my surgery done open, and I've developed an incisional hernia, so I'm scheduled for surgery to repair it on July 26th.

I think that's about it...now you're up to speed!  lol

Hope all is well, take care!

WOWWWWWW... you are doing awesome in your wls jurney! I would Love to have you join us for one of our live support group meetings in pueblo if you can ever find the time. They are on the 2nd and 4th tuesday of each month from 6:30 pm until 8 PM.

Congrats on your awesome weight loss! Hope your hernia repair surgery goes well for you. I am scheduled for a hysterectomy  (uterus and left ovary) 2 days after your hernia repair.
So glad you are feeling energetic and living life more fully. Its amazing huh?

Hope your iron levels come up for you. You will feel even better once that happens for you. Thanks so much for checking in and sharing! Hope to hear from you again very soon!

Wonderful loss, congratulations.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers around the time of your hernia surgery.  I am pleased that you stopped by and shared about your progress in the last months.  Hugs