Lisa's Weight Loss Surgery Journal

January 11, 2001
Happy New Millennium! :)

My Resolutions:
* Exercise More
* Find a New Job
* Take each day "one day at a time"

Well, I had a checkup with the dietician and surgeon this week. They were very happy with my progress! (and so am I!) Since I've lost over 100#, the Bariatric center gave me a T-shirt and a nifty little pin. I thought that was kind of neat!

So, loss-wise, I'm doing just great. However... a couple of weeks ago I started having problems with diarrhea. I went to my family doctor, who prescribed Lomotil and Colestid. They didn't work. So, when I say Dr. Inman this week, I told her what was going on. She prescribed Levbid - but it really makes me feel awful. I feel like my pouch is full of sponge, or something. It's just an awful, icky feeling and it makes me feel nauseous. I was off work for over a week, trying to just feel a little bit better! I'm back at work now, but still having diarrhea. At least I'm only having it once or twice a day, as opposed to MANY times a day!

Other than that - everything is just great! My sister-in-law, Carrie (my brother's wife) is going for the surgery. Unfortunately, her parents are really against the idea. :( Her mother even called her "stupid" for even THINKING of doing the surgery! So, this Sunday, I'm going to go with Carrie over to her parents' house and talk to them, to see if I can give them any information that will ease their fears. They'll probably call ME stupid, too, but what do they know! LOL! :) I think it's more stupid to be closed-minded and non-supportive of your obese daughter who only wants to improve her life and health.

OK, off my soapbox! :)

February 3, 2001
I haven't posted in a long while... sorry about that! SO MANY things have happened! It has been quite a crazy time around here.

My diarrhea and nausea continued to get worse, so Dr. Inman suggested I go to the gastroenterologist for an appointment. He is the same doctor who did my endoscopes, so i felt comfortable going to him. Well... he did an exam and found blood in my stool, and suggested that I have a colonoscopy. I did, and it turned out that I had a bacterial infection going on in my colon. They treated that with antibiotics (Metronidazole) and it took a long time, but eventually I started feeling a bit better. They also took biopsies of some polyps they found in my colon, and the biopsies showed that I had an "infectious colitis". Which I guess is what they were treating me for, with the antibiotics. I ended up missing nearly a month of work, and finally I just decided to quit my job. I had pretty much given up on trying to salvage any relationship with my employer anyway. Plus, I heard "through the grapevine" that he didn't "believe" that I was actually sick. (I'd like to make HIM sick by showing him pictures of the colonoscopy! LOL!). So, I am officially UNemployed at the moment. A bit scary, yes - but I have had some interviews and will hopefully find something better soon. I'm just going to leave it up to God, because this is obviously something bigger than me at the moment. I don't feel I have the energy left to worry about it - but I WILL get out there and at least fax out resumes and TRY. It's not like I can afford to stay home! OH well.

Bob's Mom is hanging in there still... she currently has pneumonia. Her doctors are totally amazed that she is still with us. Her cancer has spread, and the chemo is doing no good (but it isn't hurting her, either - she tolerates it very well!). From MY observations, she doesn't seem to be suffering in horrible pain, which we are all grateful for. She's still a very feisty ol' gal!

Bob is fed up with HIS job as well... he has been there for 10 years, and they have given him nothing but grief since his mother has been sick. He has been using his vacation days, and they don't like that. NEVER ONCE has his boss said "I'm sorry to hear how sick your mother is" or anything of the sort. Sometimes is just makes me feel so fed up with the human race, to think that people don't even care! *SIGH*

So, obviously it has been kind of depressing around here. But we're hanging in there!

Some GOOD news: My total loss so far is 120#~ :) Gotta love THAT! :) The other day, I was wearing Lacy's size XL Tommy Hilfiger sweatshirt. How totally cool! This time LAST year, I was in a men's 5x!

I will try to post a couple of new pictures on my picture page. We got a new Husky puppy and I have a couple of pictures of him... plus, I got my hair cut off SHORT, and had Bob take a picture of me in my "power suit" on the way to a job interview the other day! It is a real change.

Thanks, everyone, for reading and wondering how things have been going... I appreciate all your emails and well wishes! Take care of yourselves! I will post another update soon - when I have something interesting to report!

Monday, March 5, 2001
I'm back! Sorry I haven't posted in quite awhile... things started getting crazy real fast!

The good news is, I got a new job! I really like it. I am a secretary/receptionist in the Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy unit at the local county hospital. It took two interviews, then I got the job! I am thrilled, because the pay is about $2 more per hour than what I made at the zoo. The benefits are good, and I like the hours - I'm working 7am to 3pm. I really like getting in there early and getting home while there is still sunshine in the sky! :)

I knew it would all work out, if I would just leave it up to God.

As for my weight loss, I am really not sure what is going on. I think I'm on a plateau. I admit, I've been eating like a cow the past few weeks! I think it's the stress. I haven't really gained, but then I haven't really lost, either. I'm still at about a 125# loss, give or take a pound. Which I am thrilled with! I went shopping with another WLS friend a couple of weeks ago, and I found that I can EASILY fit into a size 18 jeans, and even some size 16 jeans! I bought this awesome blue suit made of a suede-like material... it has a neat python design on the trim, and a neat silver zipper... it's trendy, but it's still very office-friendly. I wore it on my 2nd interview, and I now officially consider it my good luck suit! It's the first new thing I've purchased for myself since I lost the weight. And, I bought it at Lazarus! I don't think I've EVER purchased anything at Lazarus! :):):)

I have posted some new pictures on my "after" page.

I am not sure if I mentioned the new puppy, but - we got a new puppy! He is a black and white siberian husky, and he's currently about 12 weeks old. We brought him home when he was 5 weeks old. He's quite a cutie, but a REAL handful! He is giving Worf a real fun for his money. They spend lots of time wrestling and play-fighting around the house.

That's about all the news so far... be sure to look at my new pics on the "after" page! Thanx for stopping by!

Tuesday, April 3, 2001
Hi! I am still loving my job... and I'm still losing! Can you believe I lost about 5# during the first three weeks I worked here? I now weigh 178 - a total of 133# lost! I can't believe it! I kind of/sort of have a "goal" in mind of being at 150#... it doesn't seem so far-fetched anymore! I'm wearing size 16 pants these days, pretty much, and the other day Lacy and I measured our busts - can you believe we are now wearing the SAME SIZE bra??? I don't know if that's good for me, or bad for her! LOL! I need about a cup size bigger, but just barely. Incredible!

Not really a whole lot of new stuff going on... still struggling with finances because Bob is no longer working. He is working part time and trying to get unemployment. I am really, really enjoying having him at home in the evenings! I hope he'll be able to find a job where he won't have to work nights.

We bought a new (used) car - a 1983 Trans Am. It needs some cosmetic work, but I just love it! It has t-tops, very kewl. We will be letting the Sebring go back to the bank *sigh*. Just can't afford the payments any longer.

My sis-in-law, Carrie, got approved for her surgery! She will be having her RNY with Dr. Huse on August 9th. I'm excited for her, and I find myself wondering if she has ANY IDEA how her life is going to change...! All for the better, of course!

May 9, 2001
Hey there!
Yes, I'm still hanging in there. Only 9 more days til my one year anniversary! I can hardly believe it! I now weigh about 173#, which is a total of 137# gone forever! :):):)

I have found lately that I am able to eat more then (I think) I should. And it is harder not to graze, and eat things like candy and stuff I've always had a problem with. BUT... the good news is that I am feeling so good that it is easier to work it off! LOL! So far, I haven't gained anything back - I'm still losing. But it is sooooo slow!

No, I'm not complaining. I am absolutely thrilled to be where I am. I will be posting a new web page soon, to commemorate my one year anniversary. I will include the "dimensions" I have shrunk from (my measurements) as well as the weight loss. And, of course, pictures! TTYL!

July 13, 2001
Happy Friday 13th! :)

Things are going just great. I now weigh about 166#, and slowly sliding my way toward the 150's. I can not remember the last time I weighed in the 150's! Probably some time in Jr. High school, or something! LOL.

I'm still wearing a 16, for the most part, in jeans... but I've tried on some size 14 jeans and they weren't too horribly tight. Probably a little tighter than I'd actually dare wear - but just the fact that I could get them on and get them zipped up made me feel just great!

Bob's Mom passed away on June 9th (which, ironically, is my birthday). It was very sad... but she looked so peaceful and so much younger and happier - I can't help but feel that she has gone to a better place.

I went to Kentucky Kingdom on June 16th, and WOW was that ever fun! I haven't ridden a rollercoaster in YEARS... but I sure made up for lost time. Lacy and I rode just about every coaster in the park, and lots of other rides. It is great fun to be able to go on rides again! The days of not being able to fit in the seats are O-V-E-R! Hallelujah! I can be a kid again. :) (not that I've ever stopped, and those who know me best will attest to that!)

I'm finding that living as a thinner person can be very, very WEIRD. In some ways, I feel that by losing the fat - I've lost my identity. When I see a morbidly obese person, I'm looking at them like "hey, i'm one of you!" - but I am not getting that "buddy" vibe from them. Well - it's kind of hard to explain until you've been there, but those of you reading this who HAVE been there, know exactly what I'm talking about. It's strange. Granted, I would not take back all the fat, the pain, and the problems... but it's an eye opener to see just how naked and vulnerable I am without all that insulation! I have to get to know ME all over again. And that's quite an adventure.

I still don't know if Bob will ever do the surgery. I hope he will, but I'm determined not to push him. Heck, I couldn't push him if I tried. He's NOT into hospitals and surgeries at all... it's scary to him (as it should be). I just hope that he will come to some sort of decision, soon, and do SOMETHING - not for ME, but for himself. He is so, so miserable. His blood pressure is sky-high, and his knees are killing him. He has that restless leg syndrome, and he has sleep apnea, and he's been having chest pains. All this equals VERY SCARY. I hate the thought of losing him, especially now when I am finally, finally able to go out and really start enjoying life again. I want to enjoy it WITH HIM.

Well - that's all the babbling I have to offer for now. Thanks for reading!

August 31, 2001
Hi! Has it ever been an interesting month!

Let's see, where to start... well, my sis-in-law, Carrie, had her surgery on August 9th. She's doing great! She has lost about 27# already. She did have a little fever and nausea while in the hospital and ended up in ICU a few extra days, but they got her back on track in short order. She has done well, the only little problem she had was a slight infection in her g-tube, which helped her get the darn tube taken out earlier! LOL! I have lost some more... in fact, today I weighed in at 156#! Which means I have lost 155#. After I lost another 8 oz., I can officially say that I am half the woman I used to be! LOL! :)

I am wearing 14's pretty comfortably now, and sliding into 12's. All this just in the past month! Obviously, I have lost some inches.

What else...hmmm... Lacy got her tongue pierced... (eek!)... she is really REALLY enjoying high school. She has made lots of friends, and she is doing well with her schoolwork, and she truly is enjoying it. What a relief. I hope things continue to go so well for her there!

I did have some more intestinal trouble (colitis again) the past couple of weeks, but it has pretty much cleared up. Except to say, prolapsed rectums and anal fissures are NO FUN AT ALL! I'm happy and healthy and all that, but sometimes I feel like the "butt girl". All my problems any more seem to center around my rear end! Geez.

Work has been interesting. I hated having to take time off last week when I was so puny, but at least I had some benefit time I could use for part of it so I didn't have to lose too much money. I was sooooo darn sick, having major nausea and diarrhea, that I really could've cared less. I had to take off 2 hours on Monday, to try to get Dr. appts worked out and whatnot, but boy did I ever make THOSE up! I ended up making up the time I missed, plus putting in a few hours OT. My supervisor was out all week with pneumonia! Thank GOD it is a three day weekend. I have worked hard this week, and feel like vegging for a few days. OH - except I won't be vegging on Monday. I'm doing another 5k walk - this one is starting from St. V's Carmel, where I had my surgery. Kind of a neat thing, I think! I'm also doing two more walks, one each of the next two weekends.

Another good thing: I have now been at my new job for 6 months, so I now have vacation time and sick time! Hallelujah for that. We are hoping to go to Gatlinburg in October, and do our honeymoon all over again. I can't wait! Except, now Bob is in the situation I was in. He can't get around very well at all. He is inching closer and closer to having surgery. He is truly miserable, and it scares the hell out of me. *sigh*

To celebrate life (and because I'm addicted, and because I got a great deal, etc. etc.) I got a new tattoo started! This one is a butterfly with a tiger face, and some floral work around it. I got the outline done, and will get it colored in on 9/13. Then, I'll be getting my big backpiece finished at the end of the month (Thank You, Uncle Sam!).

I've really been touched by the most recent signings in my guest book. You know who you are... thank you very, very much for your kindness! I am doing this web page as a therapeutic outlet for my own creative energies (and sanity), and it just floors me that people actually read it! LOL! I am thrilled beyond belief that me, little 'ole me, can be an inspiration to anyone. That makes me feel like a million bucks. Thank you, very humbly, from the bottom of my heart!

And on that note... I've got an appointment with my nice, warm cozy bed and the snoring man lying in it who gave up on his Night Owl wife hours ago... nite! :)

Tuesday, September 4, 2001
Hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend! I sure did - it was awesome!

For starters, Bob and I drove around town to the motorcycle shops this weekend. I am going to go the the ABATE (motorcycle safety) class next weekend, hopefully. The classes are all full til the end of the year, but I'm going to try to get in on standby.

I just HAD to try on some leathers... and WOW, I couldn't believe my eyes! I looked good! I fit into a large, but then decided that a medium jacket fit better! HOW COOL! *HaPpY dAnCe!*

I was also able to sit on a couple of bikes and try them on for size. I'd really love to get a Harley Sportster, but may go for the smaller (and cheaper) Honda Rebel for my first bike. I had Bob take some pictures of me on a sweet little Sportster I fell in love with... they're on my "after" page if you want to see. You can see my newest tattoo pretty good in that one, too! I've got the dopiest look on my face in those pictures, but oh well! I was havin' fun.

Susan, her DH Jerry and I went for our long walk yesterday. We made the 5k in just a tad over one hour. Probably would have made it faster, but Susan was having a rough time with one of her feet hurting her. (OW!). Afterwards, I went back to their house and met their two adorable little boys, and then we went out for sushi. It was pretty good! BUT... the after-effects are not so good. Remember the time I went to Red Lobster and ate lots of crab legs and then woke up to a stench rather like rotting animals, and thought there was a dead rabbit outside my open window? Well... same thing happened THIS time! I think I'd better stay away from fish/seafood altogether. Either that, or fit my family for gas masks! My goodness... NOT fun!

So, I've been kind of obsessed with motorcycle riding lately. Which is OK. It's going to be a lot of fun! But I certainly don't consider myself invinceable. I just want to learn how to ride safely, and have a good time. I'm not out to be the fastest or to impress anyone. I'm doing it for ME, because I just want to! :) More later.

October 15, 2001
Time to catch up on everything!

The bad news: Both Bob and I are now unemployed. *sigh* I had some more colitis problems, and suspected kidney stones, and the absences from work were just too much. So, I was asked for my resignation. Dumb idiot that I am - I gave it. I should have said NO, you will have to fire me! But, what do I know. I have learned a lesson. We are really in a severe, financial pinch - but I have faith that it will work out. I know that I will find the perfect job for me. In fact - I've got a second interview with a veterinary clinic this week. That would be awesome. I've also got other irons in the fire, of course - so I'm sure it's just a matter of a few weeks and I'll be a working girl again. Darn - all my interview clothes are falling off of me! LOL! :) I tried on a size 8 dress the other day, just for grins. Well - I got it on! I could never wear it out in public, mainly b/c of the tummy area being too tight. But the top fit great! So, I'm like a size 6-8 on top, and a size 12-14 on the bottom! Geez.

We had a wonderful vacation in Gatlinburg. Yes - we took the vacation, even though we are out of work! It helped that my parents paid for the hotel room. And heck - if you go down there and take advantage of the free stuff they want to give you for looking at time share condos - man! You can have a HECK of a vacation for free! We had a wonderful time. It was beautiful. Pictures are forthcoming!

Also... I managed to get into the ABATE class on standby, and I graduated on September 28th. I got the second highest score in the class! So now I am an educated, bona-fide, LISCENSED "biker babe"! How's that for cool? LOL! It's something I've always, ALWAYS wanted to accomplish, and I'm absolutely thrilled to have had the chance to take the class. Now, all I need is the Harley! LOL! :)

My friend Susan recently found out that her insurance is going to pay for her abdominoplasty w/hernia repair! WAY TO GO SUSAN! I can't think of anyone who deserves it more. Boy, is she ever tiny. She is going to look sooooo great!

Carrie (my sis-in-law) is doing just terrific after her surgery. She has lost 52# so far! She has a wonderful attitude, and I just know that she is going to be successful at this. It makes me feel so good, to see all these people I care about having good things happen in their life due to the WLS. Amen!

Not much else going on... I'm just pounding the pavement and taking it a day at a time! Please keep us in your prayers!

December 17, 2001

Newsflash!

I am now working at St. Vincent Bariatric Center! I am a Patient Service Representative, which means that I talk to patients on the phone all day and tell them about our surgery program and make consultations! It is a lot of fun, and at times we're pretty swamped with calls. I enjoy being part of the process of giving people their lives back, though! It's almost a ministry for me - I can share my story with people, and it helps me to remember where I came from. :)

Bob still isn't working. BUT. He did get his retirement money, and we got lots of bills and whatnot taken care of. Best of all, I got my early Christmas present - a 1995 Harley 883 Sportster! I love it sooooo much. At first, I was a little nervous. It is SO much bigger than the bikes I learned on at the ABATE class. But I've been out practicing, and I'm doing really well! I just wish it wasn't winter time. I have made a page of pictures if you want to go look:
My Harley Page!

Carrie, my sis-in-law, is doing wonderfully! I talked to her today, and she has lost 87#! In only 4 months! I think that is terrific.

Susan had her surgery last Wednesday... she is one tough lady. She had liposuction, abdominoplasty, a HUGE hernia repair, brachioplasty and mastoplexy with implants. Talk about a NEW WOMAN! My goodness! But I can't think of anyone who deserves it more.

Other than that... we're just hopping around, trying to get ready for the holidays. I think I have all the shopping done, but DEFINITELY not all the wrapping! Wish me luck... wrapping is my LEAST favorite part of Christmas. :)