My goal was 190 lbs from 260 on my surgery date. As of today, I weigh 171 pounds. Just a little more than I had anticipated. I’m now in size 32 from size 48. The downside is that I now look 20 years older. I do not regret having the surgery, it’s just a huge adjustment with the extreme weight loss. If you’re considering having a gastric bypass, I highly recommend it.
My current A1c is 5.2, down from 8.5. I’m no longer on insulin, heart meds, or blood pressure meds. My kidney function started going down, but for some reason has started going back up again. Not too concerned about that just yet.
I’ve started fishing again, which I thoroughly enjoy,y so be looking for posts about my adventures in my kayak.
On the day of my surgery, I weighed 260 lbs on my bathroom scales. That number is off because of my leg cast. This morning, after a cast change, I weighed 253.8. Nearly 7 pounds gone. But, on the day I started my diet in preparation for this surgery, I weighed 291 pounds. That would be 38 pounds gone. I’m happy so far with the weight loss.
Four of the five incisions have nearly healed. The one above my belly button still has the glue and looks rough. I’m assured by the doctor that everything looks good. I have an appointment with my surgeon’s coworker next week as my surgeon is on maternity leave. There are a couple of things that I need to discuss with him. The most important item is my iron levels have dropped dangerously low. I’m taking iron supplements so I’m waiting for my oncologist to call with an appointment for an iron infusion.
Although my iron level is low, I don’t regret having the surgery at all. The weight is coming off and I haven’t seen these numbers in several years. I haven’t had a soda or tea in three weeks, nor do I miss them. I was drinking six to eight Diet Dr. Peppers in a day. I replaced them with Sprite Zero after I realized the sodium content was lower in the Sprites. But still, I drank way too many sodas in a day.
I’m still waiting on my Crow Boot. I went to the orthopedic doctor yesterday hoping it had come in. I was told next week maybe. They put me in another cast and not a Moon Cast. Meaning I can see my toes now. By the time my Crow Boot comes in it will be four months in a cast. It has been a nightmare! I’ve mastered going down the stairs but coming back up sucks. Lately, I’ve been crawling up them. I don’t get out of breath nearly as bad doing the crawl. I don’t go anywhere I don’t have to go to. Well, I went to Bible study this past Saturday but that was just to get out of the house for a little while. My wife is not the best driver I’ve seen. She acts like a sixteen-year-old being behind the wheel for the first time. She over-corrects every move she makes. She literally scares me to death. She will make a fifteen-minute drive last over an hour because she doesn’t do interstates. Don’t get me wrong, I love my wife I just can’t handle her driving. She’s an excellent caregiver and I tell her that nearly every day. In fact, when I do get my Crow Boot, I’m taking her to the beach or to the mountains for a few days to show her my appreciation.
I spoke with the Bariatric surgeon on Monday and discussed my options. We both concluded that the gastric bypass was the way to go. She was a young doctor and my wife questioned her ability. I think she was just jealous of her looks. We talked about the class that I am going to have to take and the three visits I have to have with my general practitioner. Those will all have to be scheduled. I think I’m going to wait until the first of the year to start this because of the temptations with all the Christmas foods.
My next appointment was with my Gastrologist on the same day. I found out that my stomach ulcer had healed and I can now reduce the meds that I am taking. That’s good news because that was one of the concerns I had with the Bariatric surgery. I also found out that I had a Hiatal Hernia. This can also be taken care of during the Bariatric surgery.
The doctor visits will take three months. If I start in January, that would mean that the surgery would not be until April of next year. There is no mention of any amount of weight that has to be lost but there are several things that I have to do these three months. I have to keep a record of my meals, which I already have an app for that. I have to go to the gym or somehow show that I’m at least trying to exercise every day.
This is going to be a long drawn-out process but I’m ready for it. I’m tired of looking the way I do and feeling the way I do.
Grayfeathersblog 