Exciting updates ...

I have had the largest smile on my face all day. It is so exciting! NO NO ... its not the adoption, although I know it will feel this good as well.

I had my 1 year follow up with the nurse practitioner today. See I have to see my family doctor, my surgeon AND a nurse practitioner. Well anyway, when she walked in she was like "oh my I didn't recognize you!" That just started it. Such an amazing feeling to hear that. We looked over my blood work, she was excited to see that all that is going well, and said to just keep up with new dose of vitamin D (4000 mg a day now) and whatever I am doing keep doing it, everything shows that I am doing so well. She stopped for a second and looked at me, and says I don't get to say this that often, you are a success story. I'm just proud of my self. We then continued on, she showed me my measurements, and I just have to share them with you:

First way in date: 09/24/2009 - weight: 255.5 Today 02/04/2011 - Weight: 160.4
First way in date: 09/24/2009 - BMI: 43.17 Today 02/04/2011 - BMI 27.10
First way in date: 09/24/2009 - Neck (in) - 15.50 Today 02/04/2011 - Neck (in) 13.25
First way in date: 09/24/2009 - Waist (in) 50.75 Today 02/04/2011 - Waist (in) 37.50
First way in date: 09/24/2009 - Hips (in) 51.75 Today 02/04/2011 - Hip (in) 40.5

I am so proud of myself!!! AND unbelievably excited, I see it I finally see it in myself. Yesterday I was folding laundry held up my (cough, cough, Size 10) jeans and asked my husband, whose skinny butt do these fit, and he just looked at me, I said "OH yea, ME" hahahahaha.

I did tell her about my awful back pains, and the sever itching, she took one look and said "oh goodness girlfriend, we have to get that off you" Apparently it is worse then I thought, so I am on my way to plastics. I have a class April 19th for Plastic surgery after bypass, and then will move to find a surgeon, I have one in mind, that a bypass buddy of mine used. And she had amazing results. She made documentations about my belly and my hips, and maybe my boobs. I did tell her that i want my skin donated to the local children's hospital burn unit. And she was just happy that I would even do something so thoughtful.( its just my good nature to do that) But it looks that with in the next year I will have my plastic surgery done. She scared me when she said that it will get infected. I donut need nor do I want that. She said more in the summer it will get worse. (Oh the fear, but we shall see) Anyone ever have this problem? I am sure a lot of people have extra hanging skin, but anyone have problems with it?
 
When I was walking out of the patient room, Colleen ( my nurse practitioner) said look this is success, and everyone looked at me, she say a year ago she had gastric bypass, with in the year she lost 100 pounds and is doing amazing. I felt so great! One of the doctors told me I had to stay there today and tell all the patients that if you stick with it, and stay on track you can do it. SURE! Ill be a spokes person, umm, yea did I mention I am shy. I can talk on a computer all day, but in person I don't talk. (hahahaha)

To anyone reading this "thinking" about gastric bypass, I'll tell you from the heart, as a 27 year old, it is one of the best things I have ever done for myself. I have more self respect, and I enjoy life better now a days. I do things now I never have before, 5k walks/runs, my goofiness over came me in January and I put on a pair of shorts and a tee shirt, and jumped into the ocean for a polar bear plunge. I dress more girly. I love to shop for clothes now. I am 100% tom boy, BUT I have found them feminine side of me too. I still love to run around in my jeans and tee shirt, or flannel shirt, but now they are girls jeans, and girls tees and girls flannel shirts. I look forward to my flight to Vegas this October where I will not fill squished in my seat, or feel like i am litterly sitting on the stranger next to me. I look forward to being able to wear a bathing suit ( i hope a 2 piece but still to shy for that ) to the Bahamas April (2012) It was one of my best decisions in life. And to this day I will say despite the very few very normal problems I had I would not change a thing to this day.

OK I think I am done rambling, hope this finds everyone in good health. Not to cold from all the snow, ice and wintry mix (Brrrrrrrr) Come one spring and summer, I'm ready to get out and walk. And start practicing for my next 5k run/walk.

WOW!!!!! Great Job. Pat yourself on the back! Be proud. Smile a lot. Get lots of hugs from your your hubby. You deserve it! Congrats. Mag

Congrats on all your successes Melissa.  I love to read these updates from others that we have mentored through the process.  I hope that your plastics goes off without a hitch.  I would love to have the hanging skin off too.  I still want to lose more first.  Taking that one day at a time. 

Bring on spring, looking forward to long walks with the dogs.  Yayyyy loser's.  Come share again soon.  Hugs

WOW Melissa! You ARE doing awesome! And you sound awesome! You deserve the joy you are feeling. You sacrificed alot to get where you are. Just don't ever forget where you came from and let yourself go astray and regain!

The rash.. my daughter had problems with. It can get really raw too. It is very typical for those rashes under the skin folds to get yeast infections, due to no air being able to get to them. Best of luck in having it removed! Only know that if you d it before 2 years out, you will probably lose a bit more weight, and things may loosen up a bit..

WOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO Doing awesome lady!!!!

Wow, you are doing fantastic and have every reason to be proud.  Good luck with the plastic surgery.  I wish I could go that route but my insurance absolutely refuses to pay for it no matter how much medical evidence I have. So unless I win the lottery it's not happening.  As for the infections, yes I do get those though I don't get them as frequently any more.  A couple years ago I had a MRSA infection that had to be surgically removed.  After discharge from the hospital I had a home health nurse that came to the house daily to change the dressing as I had a huge hole in the back of my upper thigh.  Each day before she came I had to wash in something called Hibiclens.  It is a red liquid that is similar to what the doctors scrub in before surgery.  I found that while I was washing with it even though it was the middle of a St. Louis summer I wasn't breaking out under my skin folds.  Now I use it every day when I shower.  It doesn't take a lot - just a couple tablespoons washed into the area using the hand.  I find it over the counter at my local Walgreens and have also seen it a CVS.  I pay right at $10 a bottle and find that a bottle lasts me about a month and I think it is well worth the costs.  I have yet to find it at Walmart.  Just ask your local pharmasist and they should be able to help you.  Hope the info helps.