hi, i am new here

my name is vickie but i go by vick.  i had my surgery 1/22/09, a rny. so far i have lost over 100 lbs, this includes my preop diet.  my surgeon wants me to get down to 160 but i want to get to at least 155.  if the truth be known, i would like to get to 135. my doc freaked when i told him this, he said i would be too skinny.  may  be so.  my weight is coming off a lot slower now. i lose about 1/2 to 3 1/2 lbs a week if any.  my hair is falling out like crazy so i got it cut very short. i have a hernia that my doc want to repair when he does my panni, sometime in aug or sept i imagine. sounds so early to  me, but the hernia is starting to bother me some.  i have a wonderful support group in my friends and family. my husband is a jewel.  i am 56 and have three kids and two grandkids.  in fact we are babysitting them for the month of july.  i feel ragged by the time the day is over.  well enough about me.  thanks for allowing me in this group. vick

Hey Vick!!
Thanks for posting!
I just wanted to say this about your goal weight.  You have to decide what you like.  Realize that your friends and family will start telling you that you are too skinny as you approach even 155 because they are not used to seeing you that way.  Take pictures of yourself and see what YOU think.  You are the only one that lives in your body.  Sometimes they tell you not to try to get back to your thinnest you ever were.  I starved myself in college and got to 130 and I loved it.  I am now 130 and that was 30 years ago so make yourself happy. 

Make sure you are taking vitamins and getting enough protein in regarding your hair.  It will stop falling out very soon because you are near the time that you stop losing hair.  Just know that it is very very VERY important to take your vitamins forever.  That's the one thing that can really mess you up and I've seen a lot of it.  Congrats on getting the panni.  You'll just love that too.

Thanks so much again for posting.  I'm looking forward to our members coming out of lurkdom and jumping out here to post.
hugs, Y

yvonne, i take my vitamins every day. i use the building blocks that are made for bariatric patients and my doc recommends them.  occassionally i only get in 3 instead of 4 calcium, but usually i am very good. believe me, i don't want problems because of lack of vitamins. that scares me.  i also get in between 60 and 70 grams of proteins sometimes in the 80's. my doc said 60 to 65.  i drink about 64 to 90 oz of water daily and i exercise about 6 times a week. what about you. how tall are you? i am 5 ft 6, so i think that 160 is way too much. i am really scared of the surgery coming up.  i hope that it isn't as painful as everybody says.  i think i am dreading the drains.  thanks for writing. vick

Vick, I'm about 5'7".  You are doing ALL the right things too.  Don't be concerned about the upcoming surgery.  I wish people wouldn't tell you that it is painful because it is different for everyone.  My RNY was way worse than any plastic surgery I've had.  Besides it's so worth it that I'd do it again in a moments notice.  They'll give you good drugs and it will be over before you know it.  Visualize the good parts, don't dread it...look forward to what it will do for you.  The drains are definitely no big deal.  They just hang there and do their job.  Stay relaxed and don't tense up, breathe deep and think good thoughts.  (Sounds silly but I'm serious)  I've done this a time or two.

As a matter of fact...during my RNY they got the orders messed up and when they pulled my epidural, they forgot to get the PCA pump from the warehouse.  I was without pain medicine for 8 hours.  This wouldn't happen these days but it was a long horrid story.  I kept telling myself that one day it would be a faint memory and it is.  I really cannot remember.  Don't hold back asking for anything if you are in pain but I think you'll find that you're imagining it far worse than it will actually be.
Many blessings, Y

Hi Vick and welcome!

First, congrats on losing 100lbs!  How AWESOME  U might start getting comments that you look too skinny or are u sick etc etc because some people have never seen u in the normal weight range you should be in.  My stepmom had surgery several years ago and she is 5'10 and she went down to 130 something and looked way too gaunt.  BUT she realized it too, so she upped the calories and is now in a comforatble 150 sometihing BUT wears a size 6-8.  Its crazy.

Just do what YOU feel is right for you.  Is there some secret/hidden reason u would like to be 155?  I know I want to be at least 200 lbs. I have 70 more to go.  I KNOW I will still be considered overweight, BUT I am ok with that.  ( I DON"T want to lose my curves lol)

Take care,
Monica

MONICA, I AM 5 FOOT 6 AND I WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH 135 BUT I WOULD SETTLE FOR 155. I WOULD HAVE LOTS OF CURVES THEN MYSELF.  HOW MUCH MORE DO U LACK TO GET TO YOUR GOAL?  GOOD LUCK ON YOUR EFFORT. VICK