Lisa's Weight Loss Surgery Journal
September 11, 2000
Hello! Yes, it has been awhile! Sorry about that. Lots of "interesting" developments.
First and foremost - if Debbie from Brownsburg reads this - I tried to get in touch with you, using the email you left on my guest book, but I get an error message back! I'd love to talk to you about Dr. Inman. Send me an email, or give me a call - 852-8344.
OK - here is what's been going on in "Lisa's World"...
A baby dolphin was born at the zoo! Staff is currently having to bottle-feed her, because she isn't nursing on her own. But, they hope to introduce her back to her mother soon. Keep your fingers crossed that it all works out - baby dolphins are extremely delicate!
We did get our siberian husky, but not the female we thought we would adopt. Instead, we adopted a beautiful red/white male named "Worf" (he was named after the Star Trek charachter, but we call him "Worfie"). He has one blue eye and one brown eye, and he is a LOVER! :) Here is our first family picture:
On my 4 month anniversary, I had another endoscopy. I had been feeling kind of nauseous and yucky for a week or so, and my doctor thought it would be a good idea to go back in and take a look, so we did.
My husband, Bob, went with me this time and drove me home. He seemed to enjoy my "silliness" after the procedure. Apparently, when I "came to" I said to him, "Why don't we have conversations anymore?" and then I told him I wanted a touch lamp. (!!!!!) Blame it on the drugs - Versed and Demerol, my good buddies. Bob thought it was hilarious! I'm sure it was, and I'm glad he got a laugh at my expense! *grins*
They found out that I have a very small (4mm) opening in my staple line. They don't seem too worried about that, because it's so small that nothing is going through. Since my stomach was not transected, there's no worry that anything will leak out of my stomach into my abdominal cavity - it just goes into my old stomach and gets digested. In addition to that, they discovered that I have an "incompetent lower esophageal sphincter". So... there is no valve working to keep food from my pouch from refluxing back up into my esophagus! They have me taking Reglan 1/2 hour before each meal, and at bedtime. The Reglan is supposed to make the muscles of the digestive tract constrict and move things through quicker. I guess it's working - I do feel a bit better.
Bob's Mom had to be taken back to the hospital yesterday - she has been coughing up blood ever since she was released from the rehab center. She went through a lot of testing yesterday, and we should know the results sometime this week.
I've been looking into getting a different job, and I have done the pre-interview testing for it (and passed!). I have an interview coming up. I was scheduled for a foot surgery, but that got cancelled - which was a good thing, because the interview will take it's place!
Tuesday, September 19, 2000
Hello! Well, I weighed myself today, and... (drum roll, please...) - I have lost 73# total so far! WOW! :) Two more pounds, and I'll be able to treat myself to my 75# loss "goal reward". I have some ideas of what I'd like it to be... which I will keep to myself! *grins*
We still don't know what's going on with Bob's mother. She went in for a CAT scan last Friday, and she goes in sometime this week to talk everything over with her doctors.
I had my interview with the airlines yesterday - keep your fingers crossed!! I wasn't really nervous - I tried to be as professional as possible, but I'm not the "suit" type... I also tend to joke a lot when I get nervous. But I hope they liked me! I should be finding out within the next couple of weeks if I get the job. I hope so!!! The most amazing thing... it's probably about a mile walk from where I park to the department I'd be working in! I did it with no problems yesterday. It's amazing - I kept thinking to myself, "Price - 5 months ago you'd have had to use a wheelchair to make this walk! Look how far you've come!!" Wow...!
On a kind of weird note... I had seafood for the first time post-op. It was WONDERFUL! BUT... the resulting flatulence was HORRIBLE! I've noticed that I am quite a bit "smellier" than I used to be - but THIS was EXTREME! The smell woke me up from a sound sleep. I thought there was a dead animal in the room! (don't you just LOVE my blatant honesty?) I don't mean to scare anyone off from having this surgery, but I'm just stating the facts! :) Maybe I ought to try bean-o! LOL!
September 25, 2000
Hello! Well... just a few things to catch you up to date as to what's been going on in MY WORLD (cue the "diddly-oop" Wayne's World type music here...)
I have now officially lost 75#! WOOHOO! When I figured out my "goal", I found that my "ideal weight" should be around 125#. So... I figure that I weighed 311#, and the average loss with this surgery is 80% of your EXCESS weight. That meant that I could realistically hope to lose about 150#. I was 186# overweight, and 80% of that would be 148#. So... this means that I am halfway to my end goal! And I'm not quite 5 months post-op!!! I am hoping to have lost 100# by Christmas. I remember sitting on my Mom and Dad's couch LAST Christmas, and we joked about me being 100# lighter a year from then. Wouldn't it be so cool if that came true? WOW! I just can't believe it sometimes.
Bob and I went out slumming this weekend... we went to two big flea markets, a bunch of "Goodwill" type stores, and we walked around Brown County again for a couple of hours. Did my back hurt? NOPE!!! The only thing that hurt at the end of the day was my feet. They were a little sore. THAT we can live with! LOL! It was so much fun, being able to get out and walk around. Walking FEELS good again, like it used to when I was a teenager.
I noticed this morning, as I was showering, that I can feel the bones in my shoulders and neck! Where did THEY come from? They've been hiding out under all that fat for YEARS! My ankles and legs look a lot smaller, too. I am currently able to wear size 24's easily, and I'm squeezing in to some 22's as well! I tried on a pair of size 20 jeans, and I only have a couple of inches til they will fit me! I will love that. But the big day will be when I am out of the "20 something" numbers! I can't even imagine wearing a size 18. I know I'll get there, though! And maybe even smaller. I don't know! My hanging down belly makes me have to wear larger sizes. Maybe when I lose the weight, I'll be able to have that ugly apron removed! I'd better start saving. *G*
Bob's Mom is still going through testing to find out what's wrong with her. We saw the Dr.'s interpretation of her lung CAT scan, and it sounded pretty strong that she has cancer. So, if everyone could keep praying for her, it would be much appreciated!
Bob's birthday was last Friday. He didn't want a cake, so I bought him an individual sized chocolate cheesecake. I couldn't find any candles, so I stuck a brand new mini-screwdriver with a yellow handle in it. I told him it was a "tool man's" birthday cake! LOL!
My friend Rena (the one I went to Vegas with) has met a great guy! I am hoping this one will work out - she deserves someone to love her and appreciate her more than just about anyone I know. I can't say enough good things about that girl... I love her dearly! She is one in a million. Her new guy sounds perfect for her! She describes him as a lighter haired "Al" from Home Improvement! :)
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