Well, it is a little over 14 months since I had my surgery. I can remember looking at other web sites where the individual had gotten lax about putting updates and pictures and wondering "how could they do that???" "It's so important to the people who are looking at it." Well, guilty. It becomes a combination of things. Life is soooooo much different for me now than I ever could have imagined it would be 15 months ago. I'm busier and as Fran Daro, has said "Now I have a life!" Additionally, it seems like I have only the same things to say. Life has truly settled into a now comfortable pattern and it seems like I don't have anything NEW to report, so why report at all? That's not right.
Since last posted I went on vacation and a cruise. I spent my 1-year celebration somewhere in Walt Disney World with Hilary and my husband. We had a ball. It was nothing like it was the last time we went (I think in 1996). Hilary and I both struggled just to get around and every night we had to take Motrin and prop up our feet. I think I even remember soaking mine a few times. We just couldn't handle too much walking and the heat would really get to both of us. This time, the heat was still uncomfortable, but going in late April and early May it isn’t too hot yet, and the crowds of summer haven't arrived yet. We hit 4 parks in 4 days and had a fabulous time. Then my husband and I took a cruise on the Disney Wonder. During the cruise, we also spent a wonderful day at Disney's private island and both my husband and I treated ourselves to a massage in lovely tents on the beach. All in all it was a fabulous trip, with loads of wonderful memories.
I had my one-year check up at Dr. Fobi's office. It was my last visit at their Bellflower location. Hilary's upcoming 1 year checkup will be in their new Hawaiian Gardens location. I had blood work done and since I haven't heard anything, I assume that all is fine. I take my vitamins religiously and am truly trying to make sure I'm getting a good balance in the food choices I'm making. I talked to Filomena (the physician assistant) who has been there since the beginning of my Fobi journey. She said I'd just been through the "honeymoon" period. That now it gets harder. She told me how she stresses that there are 4 things which I must do to maintain my new weight loss.
While I was there, I asked Filomina if I could peek into my file, back at the beginning. They take digital pictures of the patient for their records and to send to the insurance company. They are unclothed pictures, and needless to say I didn't exactly have any of these floating around, so theirs are the only ones I've ever had. I was just so stunned. I couldn't stop looking at them. I found myself remembering that I wondered if they would be bad enough for the insurance company to realize how badly I needed this surgery. (They were, insurance only took 4 days to approve). Anyway, I just was overwhelmed at how I truly looked before. We took pictures like this of Hilary before her surgery, but I found myself wondering how I could get a copy from Dr. Fobi's office of mine. I don't know what I'd do with them, but it would be a helpful reminder to look at them once in awhile. A real motivator to exercise when I'm feeling lazy. Mostly though I just felt so grateful that I'd done this. As I've said before, there's never been one moment of regret.
I'm back exercising on a regular basis. It feels great. I am working on making it one of the most important parts of my life. It comes before everything else it's that important for success.
Recently I read something which talked about drinking water. It said that in order to LOSE weight, you need to drink one ounce of water per day for every 2 pounds, otherwise your body is constantly fighting off being dehydrated. I have no idea how that works for someone who weighs 300 pounds like I did. 150 ounces of water!!??? Argh! But for where I am now, that's my goal every day. I need about 85 ounces.
My weight loss has slowed down. I am still loosing. Last week I weighed 167.5 pounds (originally 298). I've often said I if I never lose another pound I can live with it. I certainly can and quite happily. I'm not particularly hung up on numbers. Recently I bought some clothes which were size 8/10, and I was stunned. That's not the norm, usually I'm running at 12/14 level, but the 8/10 was a nice treat.
I finally attended a Bay Area support group meeting. It was held on a Saturday and well attended. Dr. Lee was there, and it was the first time that I had seen him since being released from the hospital!! I was trying to describe to people about my scar and how different it was/is and ended up pulling down my pants and showing off. I also met some great ladies who are already scheduled to have their surgeries. I gave them some tips and wish them well. I could tell by their up-beat attitude they were going to do just great. The old "once my mind is made up. NOTHING is going to stop me and I'm GONNA have this surgery" attitude. They've checked around and decided that this is right for them. It was an interesting meeting and I enjoyed making some new "Fobi Friends".
This past week I had my annual mammogram. I just wanted to share a couple of things about this year vs. last and previous years exams. First, the gown actually fit me! I explained to the technician about my weight loss. I wanted her to put a note in the file for the person who reads the exams. When they compare to the one I did last year. Since I've lost 130 pounds they are going to wonder whether there was a mistake on the file or something. I had to show her that the gown didn't touch together in the last year and this year it wrapped across me. Simple pleasures are so great. The best part was the actual procedure. I won't know for sure until I have them done in the future, (it may have been the technician) but it didn't hurt. AT ALL. The pressure was minimal compared to before. Later I wondered if they have to press so hard on big breasts because it's needed to get a proper picture. Oh well, I'm not complaining, I'm thrilled. I wasn't someone who dreaded going or didn't go because of the discomfort, but last year I could feel tears welling up in my eyes when I was having it done. It hurt. This year, pfffft nothing and it was over. It's also much easier to do the self exams now. These are little added bonuses to losing weight that I had never even known existed.
As I approach my one year “birthday”, I find that I really can’t put into words how this surgery has changed my life. I actually feel like for the past year, I have HAD a life. I have not attended my one year checkup as I am writing this but it is on the calendar.
When I started this journey, I had aches and pains throughout my body. I had bad knees, my back always hurt, and just walking around the house could make me winded and tired. I had acid reflux so bad that I never wanted to go to a doctor because I knew the first thing they would say to me would be to loose weight. I battled with hearburn and acid reflux for about 8 years. I lived on Pepcid AC for the last two years before my surgery. While I’ll never know if the acid reflux caused my asthma to get worse or if it was my weight, it was very bad and I felt I could not take a deep breath without coughing. It is amazing how these things can totally take over your life and make your quality of life horrible. I never wanted to leave my house because it was too much work. Then I saw information on Dr. Fobi and asked my mother to check it out. She was in more of a need than I was for this surgery. As she did her research, she got me paperwork. It was just in case I wanted the surgery. The thought of the surgery seemed too strong of an option for me at first. But then I began to think about how much I hated to walk behind my mother. I didn’t like what I saw. I used to think that would never happen to me, but I was well on my way. I looked at where my life was going and I realized that while this surgery seemed severe, my weight was killing me.
My weight loss is at 110 pounds. I started a year ago at 252. Every day I start my day I can’t help but smile when I run the bar of soap over my body. I find that getting dressed is easier. Simple things like getting in and out of a car are rewarding. At work, my chair could not have arms because I was not comfortable as my thighs would rub against the arms. My current chair has arms. I even have room to put my arms at my side.
I have personally had some challenges in the past few weeks. This are my own challenges and you must remember that every person is different. I was not a faithful vitamin taker. However, a few weeks ago I began to feel pain deep in my legs. It was pain that went to the bone. I was really scared. I battle arthritis due to another condition and I wasn’t sure if it was bad arthritis. However, pain pills did not make the pain any better. I was scared and began to think about my life. I realized that it could be vitamin related. I got up and took my vitamins and since then I have been taking them religiously. As a result, the pain has past. I am going to verify both with my regular doctor and Dr. Fobi’s office that the lack of vitamins could have caused this pain. But since the pain has gone away I do believe it is vitamin related. For those considering the surgery, it is important to follow all the rules.
I know that many potential Fobi patients are sabotaged by their friends, family, and co-workers about “butchering” yourself to be thin. I have only told a handful of friends, only a few family members know, and only one of my co-workers knows. This is your life and you have to do what you have to do. Please do not let what a so called friend says keep you from making this decision. I got my dream job in November of 1999. Since I began my job I have lost 40+ pounds. My co-workers have noticed. They all ask me “what diet I am doing”. I simply tell them that FOR ME, simply eating smaller portions works. I also explain that I am not on a diet. I chose this way of life for myself and it works for me. I go further to explain that each person is different and you have to accept a life change of some form to have the weight come off. What many people need to realize is that I had morbid obesity as do most Fobi patients. If you think about the people around you who are sabotaging you, they are not morbidly obese. Their bodies probably process fat in a different way. There is nothing worse than having that “friend” who wants to loose 10 pounds because they are “such a cow”. They have no idea what battling 100 extra pounds is like. I am reminded of the last week before my surgery. A very good friend of mine was chatting about my impending surgery with a family friend. Her family friend told her that she should prepare for me to die on the table. I did not die on the table. I think I am better off than I was when I was younger. However, that family friend who said I would die on the table, she has gained well over 75 pounds in the past year. I have asked my friend to tell her that if she wants more information on the surgery I’d be more than happy to chat with her. The family friends answer was “I’m going on Weight Watchers.” I see obese people these days and I want to run up to them and tell them there is help out there if they want it. However, it is a personal decision that every person must make on their own.
I’ll let you all know how my one-year check up went.
