Tales of the Morbidly Obese

3 Years Ago Today

You thought I would forget didn't cha?  Well, how could I?  Three years ago today I was taking a walk down the hospital hall after having a 4 hour laproscopic duodenal switch operation.  It was the final last ditch effort to lose the weight I had been obese for almost 15 years when I had surgery. 

Here's how the day went.  Got up and had a 2 scoop Nectar Roadside Lemonade Protein shake- 46g of protein.  I played 2 long sets of doubles tennis in broiling sun.  Went sat in the swimming pool with my family.  Shower.  Looked at office furniture for my office.  Went to dinner with my mom and family at Ted's Montana Grill.  Had shrimp skewer and iceberg wedge plus those cute pickles on the table.  We went to costco for just a couple of things.  Whole family went to see Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D. Stopped by grocery on way home for milk and oj (I don't drink either).  Now home blogging.  Very GOOD Day.

I could not have done most of this 3 years ago.  I would be miserable and tired and the whole day would have revolved around where we ate dinner.  My life was very good before, but it is so much better.  I keep expecting more and more all the time.  The sky is the limit. 

I am about 144lbs today.  A touch heavier than I want to be, but fine.  I have lots of Dr. appts. lined up for this week.  I got my 3 year labs in the mail today.  They forgot to order D-25, but all the others look fantastic.  Can I give a big shout out to www.bbvitamins.com  chewable iron.  IT is a wonder iron.  2 chewables a day (about $20 a month) are keeping my ferritin and hemo in great shape.  Whoo Hoo.  PTH is normal after being high.  Everything looks good, real good.  

I have big changes in the works.  I will reveal more in the coming weeks.  Life is bumpy, but such a fun ride.

Peachtree Road Race 3rd Year in a Row

Well, I did it again.  It took me 85 minutes to go 6.2 with 55,000 other folks, but I did it and felt the best I have felt after a race.  Guess who did it too?  http://gettingswitched.blogspot.com/ Tia!    Go check her out.  She road to and from the race with us.  I am so proud of her.  She never gives up which is a pretty rare trait these days.  I want to get back into running more.  I am trying to sort my life out so I can exercise more and spend more time with the family.

My good friend I told you about this week got out of the hospital from his DS surgery today.  He has done amazingly well. The surgery took a little longer than they had thought, but he has gone gangbusters since.  He is happy.  These next few days will be the hardest for him as he deals with the disappointment and depression of those first days.  I can only keep telling him that each day gets better, and his whole life is about to change! 

My life is changing too.  I have several check-ups this month plus big doings at work.  Well, I have to get back to painting the little one's room.  Just say no to inky dark blue.  We have already done 3 coats with the primer!

Up and Excited

I couldn't sleep tonight.  Here I am at 5:30am- wide awake.  I am sure I cannot sustain this until evening.  Lots of things are happening.  I have a very good friend who is about to have duodenal switch surgery on Thursday iwth Dr. Smith at www.advancedobesitysurgery.com.  It is an exciting time for him.  I am thrilled for him.  He had to fight long and hard with the insurance company for approval.

3 years ago this month, I had duodenal switch surgery.  It changed my lifestyle significantly.  Yesterday, I had my bi-annual labs drawn in prep for my 3 year check-up.  It is a hassle, but is it worth it?  YES.  Life is different as a normal sized person.  I would not change the fact that I had surgery.  What would I change?  I might would have gotten counseling along the way.  Unfortunately, the psych that did my surgery clearance was not a fan of the DS.  It was not fun going through her process.  The emotional aspects of such profound changes are challenging for even the most rock solid person.  We have suffered many indignities in our obese lives.  Those experiences do not evaporate because I am thin now.  Sometimes I am sad for the times and opportunities I missed while obese. 

We each have a choice to make a change in our lives.  We often take the easiest path. This path to WLS is not easy.  It comes with many challenges, but it opens many vistas that were blocked. 

So to my good friend, Godspeed to a new healthy life.