11 months Today

11 months ago I was shuffling down a hospital hallway and trying to get some sleep with my morphine pump.  I would wake up thinking I slept all night to see that only 20 minutes had passed.  The first night was the worst, but very doable.   It has been better everyday since.  I had duodenal switch surgery 11 months ago today performed by this doctor.  He is a leader in his field and extremely cautious which is what you want when someone is slicing up your insides. 

I feel very good- so good that I forget what it was like for me 11 months ago.  You see I went to Cub Scout Day camp today with my sons.  11 months ago I was doing the same thing.  I was hot and uncomfortable and all my clothes were tight.  I can walk anywhere and pretty much do anything.  What I cannot do is lift heavy things.  I was an extremely strong woman at 280- not so much at half the size.  136 pounds are gone and I drastically changed my life- not all intended.  I would never want to go back, but you do make trade-offs for this. Still working through which ones are permanent.  I do miss my hair.  When you have major surgery and lose a shitload of weight, your hair falls out.  It fell out with optifast too, but it came right back.  It is coming back, but I am wondering if the texture may be permanently changed.  I also have some very lose skin which is also okay and fixable ( if I want more surgery).

Before I go on and on, here is my current supplement regime.  People have asked and I wanted to preserve it for posterity here on the blog.  I get my main supplements from Melaleuca.  If you want to know how to get some from them, email me directly.  I take the Vitality Gold for women AM/PM packets.  It contains my vitamins in 2 handy packets- one for morning and one for night.   I add the following as well : Proferrin ES (x2), Nature's Way Dry Beta Carotene (x1), TwinLabs Allergy A& D (x1), Biotin Caps (x1) and Sundown Zinc (1x).  I do not supplement with additional calcium and things are going very well in that department.  I have added the additional stuff because I have trouble with my iron, vitamin A, and my vitamin D in that decreasing order.  I added the Biotin and Zinc for my skin and hair.  So here is what the Vitality Gold nets me in 2 packets one for morning and one for night:

Vit A 3000 IU, 60% DV   Vit C 240mg 740%DV   Vit D 600IU 150%DV   Vit E 30IU 100%DV   Vit K 24.9mcg 31%DV   Thiamin 15mg 1000%DV   Riboflavin 17.1mg 1005%DV   Niacin 75mg 375%DV  Vit B6 9.9mcg 495%DV   Folate 700mcg 200%DV   Vit B12 20.1mcg 334%DV   Biotin 300mcg 100%DV   Pantothenic Acid 18mg 180%DV Calcium 1549.3mg 135%DV   Iron 18mg 100%DV   Phosphorus 192.7mg 19.6%DV   Iodine 150mcg 100%DV   Magnesium 400mg 100%DV  Zinc 30mg 200%DV   Selenium 199.3mcg 282%DV   Copper 5mg 250%DV   Manganese 3.36mg 168%DV   Chromium 120mcg 100%DV  Molybdenum 75 mcg 100%DV   Potassium 45mg <2%DV   Boron 3 mg   Proprietary Antioxidants and Proprietary Blend of Lactobacilllus acidophilus and bifidobacterium lactis 5 billion cfu.

My usual routine is:

AM before breakfast- Iron tab, Beta Carotene and Zinc

MId -Day or snack- AM packet of Vitality Gold

Sometime during the day.early evening- Biotin and A&D and Iron

Bed: PM packet

It may seem like a lot, but it is manageable especially since I do not have to add those horse calcium pills to the mix.  I am getting labs every 3 months and sometimes more often to tweak what I am taking to even out any deficiencies.  It is very important to supplement when you chose a surgery that has a malabsorption component.  Do your research before you decide and know all your options.  If you have questions, ask them. 

Comments

[Tia]

Hi Kim. Just wanted to stop by your blog and say hi! I met you Wednesday night at the support group (I was the lady in the 'Ireland' shirt) and just thought you were a wonderful (and funny) person. It was great to hear all the great advice and insight you had, it really motivated me to really get things going and explore all my avenues. Congrats on all your success!

[Soul Searching]

Oh, Kim! WOW!!! Do you see how frickin fabulous you look?! OMG!! I can only hope for results like those! Congrats, girl. I know you must feel amazing!