My road to Weight Loss Surgery and beyond!!!

Never Thought....

2011-06-03T23:16:00.000-05:00

...I would travel so much! I have always liked to travel but it is so much more enjoyable now. Last November I went to India. It was a wonderful experience. The people, the places, the culture and oh I can't forget the food! Which was a bit hard to enjoy sometimes since my tummy is still so sensitive but the food I did try was good. I had never had Indian food before so it was spectacular to get authentic Indian food for my first experience.

We traveled a lot in the country too we went from South India (Bangalore) to Northern (New Delhi) and everywhere in between. Since we spent a good amount of time on the go it was hard to get in a solid meal in. I took protein bars and drinks everywhere with me. It was a life saver and I highly suggest anyone traveling to do the same. It was funny packing food but it was one of the best ideas and it gave me plenty of room to bring souvenirs home :-)

The sites were amazing and I know I would have never gone on this trip if I hadn't lost the weight. I love that I am living my life the fullest now!

Little 'ol me at the Taj Mahal

Little monkey friend behind me

Couldn't go to India and not get a Sari

Grocery Shopping, India has HUGE avocados'!

Feelin' Fine!

2011-06-03T22:49:00.000-05:00

As of today I am 145 pounds lighter! I am feeling great, so great I often (too often) forget to blog. But I have not completely forgotten about it. My life is pretty routine now. But every once in a great while I get a bit out of control and eat too much, too fast or the wrong thing and my body reminds me that it was a no-no. So yes I do still get sick sometimes but I think of it as a friendly reminder that I am doing bad to my body and it brings me back to the reality of things. It has been 1.5 years since my surgery and I am reminded everyday that that was the greatest day of my life. It was the greatest day of my life because it was the day I took control and everyday I look in the mirror I see the wonderful product that came from me taking the step to get healthy!

May 2011- 145 pounds lost

I hate exercising!

2010-07-23T10:40:00.000-05:00

So if you don't already know, I despise going to the gym! I just don't want to go to a stinky place full of stinky people to wait for a treadmill and then have someone stand behind me the whole time waiting for me to be done. It's just not my cup of tea it rack's my nerves. But exercise is important to keep your body healthy and to aid weight loss, so I am searching out alternative exercise practices. I guess I could get some workout machines and make my own little gym at home but honestly who wants those ugly things laying around the house? Not me! Plus none of those things are fun. So on to fun exercise! I hula hoop and boy oh boy is that a work out and now I am going to try to roller skate.

I am old school and not a fan of roller-bladding (sp?) so I got me some quad skates (there easier to stand in). Besides how on earth do you use brakes if they are in the back I am use to the front brake. Everything I do has to have an end goal, my hooping led me to hoop walk a half marathon and my skating is hopefully going to get me in to Roller Derby. I thought about being a Derby Girl but realized I bruise like a peach so I decided that I could be a referee. Being a ref will get me into Derby and that will get me up and moving more often since they have practice like 5 days a week.

So I guess we will see how it goes, I will keep you updated on my skating and if I find any other fun ways to get my exercise in :-)

Hair Loss

2010-07-10T09:53:00.000-05:00

Recently I got a comment from a reader concerned about hair loss after surgery (Hi Tammy!). Hair loss can certainly be a side effect of any surgery, it can caused by many different variables i.e.: anesthesia, hormone levels, stress, nutrition and the list goes on. The good news is it most often a temporary side effect. It could be anywhere from a minimal to extreme. Personally I have really thick hair, i was loosing chunks of hair daily (totally clogged my tub drain) nobody could visually tell I was loosing my hair but it took it's toll on me mentally. It is hard when you are use to having long thick hair and it is thinning right before your eyes even if no one else notices.

After talking with my doctor about the issue he reassured me that it was common and the problem will correct itself after I hit my 6 month mark. He was right I am 9 months out from surgery and my hair loss has slowed and it is starting to grow back.

The bad news is there isn't much you can do to prevent it since a lot of it has to do with hormone levels and your body readjusting to your new diet. To keep loss to a minimum I would suggest strictly sticking to your doctors recommended diet and vitamin regimen.

It made me feel better to have my hair cut, I mean I cut it short! It also helped me not notice how much of my hair was falling out (until I swept the floor or cleaned the drain, haha).

So I hate to say it but there isn't much you can do to prevent the loss but it only lasts a couple months then you look forward to new healthy hair. My nails are growing like crazy now too!

I hope this helped answer some questions, I wish I had better advice on how to prevent it but I guess somethings are out of our control but again not everyone experiences hair loss so who knows you might be a lucky one. And if all else fails go buy some wigs and enjoy having a new hairstyle everyday and not having to comb your hair :-)

Crazy Hormones

2010-06-14T12:24:00.000-05:00

My body is still all out of whack. My monthly schedule is all messed up which in turn makes my emotions like a roller coaster ride (and not the fun kind). The doctor says that everything should level out now that I have passed the 6 month mark. I hope it goes back to normal soon. I am thinking I should probably make an appointment with my psychologist to make sure I am still on the right dose of my meds since my body has gone through all these changes.

Another side effect of the rapid weight loss is hair loss. Thank goodness I had thick hair to begin with because I have lost a ton of hair! I keep cutting it shorter and shorter because I can not stand the feel of thin hair. Nobody can tell that I have lost hair but I know and so I try and keep it styled so I don't get down about it being thinner. Again the doctor says I should start to get my hair back now.

It is hard to believe all this craziness is caused by a hormone change. On the plus side as of today I have lost 118 pounds! I only have 32 more pounds till I'm at my goal and then I get to start thinking about reconstruction, if I need any. Which right now I don't think I will need any but only time will tell.

What I would do for a 7Up!!!!

2010-06-13T18:21:00.000-05:00

I am craving 7Up like crazy! This is not my first random craving, for awhile I wanted Cracker Jacks so bad I actually went and got some (not a good idea) I learned my lesson there, you would never imagine how many empty calories are in those things! Anyway I tried carbonated beverages once before and it was not good, it feels like fireworks going off in your stomach, but again lesson learned!

So as much as I want a 7Up I am trying my hardest to resist the urge, I hope my will power holds up!!!!

6 Month Check up.

2010-06-10T12:29:00.000-05:00

I had my 6 month check up! Everything was great I am at my doctor's goal weight for me. I was so excited. I still have 50 pounds to loose to be at my personal goal but I on the right track, WOOHOO!

I participated in the Music City 1/2 marathon in April. That was a lot of fun, but I realized that marathons are not my thing. I enjoyed doing it once but I seriously doubt I will do it again. Since then I have been keeping up my hula hooping, it is the only exercise I have found that I truly enjoy.

Right now I am in a stall pattern with my weight loss. I try and not get discouraged because I know it is what is best for my body. The good thing about plateauing for awhile is it gives my skin a chance to keep up. I have been very lucky so far and I don't have much loose skin. I do a lot of "Off Body" hooping to keep my arms toned.

Now that it is summer it is so nice to be able to wear a bathing suit and not be self conscious. I have been doing many things that I didn't before, like boating! Also I went to Denver last week and I was so excited that the seat-belt on the airplane fit me! It buckled with no problem and I had extra slack in it. Before I use to struggle with getting them fastened and was so embarrassed when I had to ask for an extender. It's the little things that make a difference :-)

Here is the most recent picture of me, it is like night and day from where I started!!!

Feeling fat again :-(

2010-03-28T23:09:00.000-05:00

I am feeling so fat the past couple of days! I was out of town for work and was eating out every meal. I tried to be healthy but sometimes it wasn't so easy. I had way to many carbs and am now feeling so yucky. I weighed in today (I do it every Sunday) and have not gained any weight. I am happy about what the scale says but I am still feeling fat. I did a 10 mile hoop-walk today so hopefully I will get back to feeling good soon. Now that I am home I am getting back into my routine and getting back into my healthy food.

I have my 6 month check up at the end of April so I am excited to see what the Dr. Boyce has to say about my progress! I have to do blood work at this appointment, boo, I hate having to give blood. But hopefully all will be well, I am mostly concerned about my iron count. Iron is a big deal especially because if I need infusion's it will be BAD iron infusion's make me SO sick, all iron makes me sick but I can not become anemic that is really bad. So fingers crossed all will be well, I have been taking my iron pills and multi-vitamins (which all make me not feel so good because of the iron) so I am sure all will be well.

Time to get back to eating better and working out. It's amazing how far off track you can get when you are out of your comfort zone. But I did enjoy those dessert's I had :-) I guess a treat every now and then isn't too bad as long as you don't take it too far and know when to say when. Will power is key.

Hooping fun!

2010-03-14T16:25:00.000-05:00

Had a great time teaching people how to hoop and showing off my skills :-) This is how I have been exercising it has really helped me get active!

Thank you to Amanda for the great pictures!

Picture updates :-)

2010-03-12T08:54:00.000-06:00

Me 4.5 months after surgery!

I'm such a slacker.... Sorry!

2010-03-11T09:23:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone, sorry it has been so long since I have written I am the worst! But I am trying to get better! Well the good news is I am not such a slacker with my weight loss :-) As of today I am down 90 pounds! I am still training for the Country Music Half Marathon, we are about 6 weeks away from the event. We will be doing 8 miles this week, YIKES! 8 miles of hula hooping might just kill me, haha, but I guess I better get to it since the event will be 13.1 mile of hooping!

I am struggling a bit with crazy cravings right now. Like Cracker Jacks, I want them so bad I can't stand it! I do treat myself to them every once in a great while but I know better than to make it a habit. Do you know how hard it is to find cracker jacks now-a-days? VERY which is good for me it keeps temptation away. I am also a bit disappointed that they don't come in boxes anymore and they don't put enough peanuts in them (peanuts are my favorite part)!

I have been trying to avoid buying clothes since I am dropping sizes so quick but I think I am gonna have to break down and go get some new pants, mine are barely staying up, lol. My mom tells me everyday "Those pants need to be taken to Goodwill" so I guess when I go to donate all my old stuff I'll pick up some new sizes :-) It feels so good for my clothes to be baggy and not so tight I can't breath.

The weird thing is even though I have lost 90 pounds I don't see myself any different. I mean don't get me wrong I feel great physically but I don't feel that I have changed on the inside which is good. I am happy and getting to do things I never thought I would before, like hooping a half marathon!!!!

I guess I better get off here and get myself to the store before my pants fall off again and I moon the world, lol!

4 pounds to half way!

2010-01-23T20:08:00.000-06:00

Thats right as of today I only have 4 pounds to loose to be at my half way mark! I am so excited to have gotten here so fast! I have been training for my marathon and it is amazing how much better I feel now that I am exercising on a regular basis. I have never been the athletic type (really I have avoided exercise like the plague) but now that I am thinner and it is easier to do I am enjoying myself.

I walked 3 miles today and am planning to do the same again tomorrow. It is not regular walking though I am hoop-walking (walking and hula hooping at the same time). I love hooping and it is such a great work out. I did a lot of off body hooping today, which consists of swinging the hoop around in circles either over my head or to my side. It is wonderful for strengthening and toning arms. I really need that right now because I am getting some sagging skin on my upper arms, BOO! The rest of my skin is keeping up pretty well with the weight-loss which I am extremely thankful for!

I will keep you all updated on my hooping marathon training and of course my weight-loss, only 79 pounds left to loose!!!!!

Also here is a link to my Bio for the Hooping the Half Marathon, hope you enjoy! It is hard to write about yourself!

New Year, New Me!

2010-01-06T06:37:00.001-06:00

I made it through the holidays with no problems! The food temptation was great but I over powered it and came through the last of the year with a 60 pound loss! I really thought it would be hard with all the temptation but I set my mind to succeed and came trough with flying colors.

New for this year is I am starting to train to Hoop a half marathon! I am very excited to be apart of this wonderful group of women. The charity is called Hooping for Hope and they provide exercise classes and hula hoops for breast cancer survivor's. It's a great cause to help survivor's get back into exercise and feel good in their body's again! This charity is close to my heart because a close family member is a recent survivor and it is hard to find charity's that focus on the after care and well being of survivor's so I find this to be a amazing program to have and contribute to! We will be hula hooping the Music City Marathon on April 24th here in Nashville.

THis is gonna be a major challenge for me for several reasons but I am excited to be a part of this group and it will help me with my weight-loss goal. I am hoping to be at my goal weight in April so that will be another great milestone, one finishing a marathon and two loosing 150 pounds!

Healthy here I come!!!!! It's gonna be a great 2010!!!!!!

(Also if you would like to make a donation to sponsor my race feel free to contact me, we appreciate all the help we can get, and it's tax deductible!)

All I want for Christmas is......

2009-12-18T06:40:00.001-06:00

All I want for Christmas is to learn how to take my time eating! HAHA, yes I still have not learned to take it slow and have been getting sick again. I don't always clump but I do get nauseous and burp allot.

On a lighter note I signed up to start training for the Country Music Marathon! The Marathon is at the end of April (which if I stay on track should be when I reach my weight goal). I never in my life thought I would participate in a marathon but this group is special it is called Hooping for Hope and the group will Hula Hoop the 1/2 marathon to raise money for the Hooping for Hope a charity that provides fitness classes for breast cancer survivors. I personally love hula hooping and can't wait to get started on my training!!!

There's a light at the end of the tunnel....

2009-12-14T08:29:00.000-06:00

I am feeling much better now. I think my hormone levels are playing tricks on me so some weeks are bad but a little encouragement is all I needed (Thanks Kim!).

I had a holiday party/housewarming this weekend and that was great! I got to see all my friends and family and got to show off my new house. I did really well considering there was a ton of food around my house, I am trying to give it all away now so the temptation leaves, but so far I am doing good!

I am having an issue with not being able to eat in the morning with out getting sick. Also I have been eating to fast and making myself sick. So I am working on those things because clumping is a horrible feeling and the dry heaves that comes with it is painful!

I am defiantly on an up swing now and looking forward to the rest of the holidays!!

Dark Days

2009-12-09T06:53:00.000-06:00

I am doing great with the food thing I started solids about 2 weeks ago and that is going well. The issue I am having right now is more of the emotional ups and downs. I feel horrible and angry oh so angry! I was warned that this might happen because of the effect rapid weight loss has on your chemicals in your brain that have to do with moods. I am not motivated to do anything! I REALLY need to start working out I know that will help with the foul mood but I can't seem to get myself going.

It seems that every little thing pisses me off right now, I really hope I can get over this soon because I hate feeling like this. But somethings I have no control over. If I am not angry I am crying, I can't seem to get myself together enough to get through the days. I go home and don't want to leave so I don't get anything done and then I just sit there knowing I could be working around the house and nothing sounds good enough for me to get up to do.

I am just feeling really alone and not motivated. I hope I can pull myself out of this depression cause it sucks being sad and angry all the time.

Also I am not loosing any weight right now and I know it has to do with my depression but also doesn't help with my depression (it's a double edged sword).

Thanksgiving

2009-11-30T06:27:00.000-06:00

I made it through the biggest eating holiday that was ever invented!!! It was much easier than I ever imagined. I ate nice and slow and mostly just had turkey. It was easy to concentrate on eating my 3 oz slowly as everyone else was busy eating too, I didn't feel rushed and spaced out my bites, 2 of the 4 keys to not getting sick! Unfortunately the whole weekend wasn't will out incident. I did get sick the next day. I went to moms to have leftovers and was a bit to eager. I ate to fast and got myself sick. I pretty much ate to fast and paid the heavy price!

I was very surprised that I wasn't tempted to eat a bunch of junk. I credit alot of that to my taste buds being a little off still. Things don't taste the same anymore. I was certain that the food I had made for the holiday was horrible and nobody would eat it but on the contrary everyone said it was the best they had tasted! If it was up to me I would have thrown it all away because when I tasted it, it was gross!

All and all it was a good holiday and now I know Christmas will be a breeze!

Solid FOOD!!!

2009-11-20T06:59:00.000-06:00

I have been graduated to solid food!!! It is so nice to be able to eat real food again! I had chicken the other day and it was so good! I could only have 3 little pieces before I was full but those 3 pieces took me about 15 min to eat. I took the rest of the chicken home and have been eating on it for 3 days now. I can't believe how much money I am saving!

I tried to take my dog for a walk the other day but it did not go well, he was pulling to much. So I am walking alot just have to leave the doggie at home for now. I am starting a more in depth work out next week, so I will let you know how that goes! I am gonna start slow with some swimming (I love swimming).

So far I have lost 25.5 inches! I m so glad I am loosing slow, it is helping my skin keep up :-) So far no saggy skin!!!! WOOHOO!!!

I am looking forward to next week and Thanksgiving! I have already planned out my dinner and am looking forward to some yummy turkey!

I want you all to keep my friend Kim in your thoughts and prayers, she is having her WLS the Monday after Thanksgiving. Pretty soon she will be apart of our LOOSER'S club, YAY!!! So here's to Kim can't wait for you to join us, hope your excited! I'm excited for you.

One Month Anniversary!!!!

2009-11-12T16:37:00.000-06:00

I can not believe it has been one month today since I was in the hospital!!! It feels like it was forever ago. Everything is going well I had a little bit of solid food today and it went down well! I am really looking forward graduating to Phase 3 on November 23rd! Phase 2 seems like it is lasting so long but four weeks down 2 to go :-)

Clumping

2009-11-11T06:42:00.000-06:00

For those of you who do not know what "Clumping" is it is basicly when you eat something that is either to dry, not the right food or you eat it too fast, and your tummy rejects it by making you vomit!

This happened to me for the first time last night! It was horrible! But I felt much better after I purged the food from my body. I think my problem was I ate too fast. So after that I was back to liquids only for the rest of the day to let my tummy have a rest.

Clumping was too bad but it is not something I wan to happen again, I HATE throwing up!!!!

But today is a new day and I paying better attention when I eat so I can prevent having clumping happen again!

It's been awhile

2009-11-11T06:35:00.000-06:00

Sorry it has been so long since I have written! Life has been crazy, I had family come visit and right before that I had to have my house fumigated (yuck!). But I am back now! I had my first post-op apoinment last week and it went well! I was told I could start going some light exercise, I was excited about that. Also I am only a couple weeks away from getting to start eat non-mushed food again!!!!

My incision sites are all healed up and now I am just treating them with some special cream to help them not scar.

As of today I have lost 40 pounds!!!!!!!!

Loosing like crazy

2009-11-01T18:04:00.000-06:00

I am down 34 pounds since the start of my journey!!!! I can not believe it. I am feeling ok but am having some issues with food. Since I started Phase 2 last Monday which is the Pureed Food Phase, there have been ups and downs with this so far. I am having some pain and nausea when I am eating. This does not happen all the time so I know it is either me eating too fast or my food is too dry. It is a horrible feeling when this happens. I have to stand up and pace around the room for awhile and I always pray I do not vomit!!! If I where to throw up I would have to go back to all liquids for a day so my stomach can recover. So I try to avoid that at all costs!!!!

I am still in shock that it has been three weeks since I have had a soda! I don't think I have gone this long with out one since I started drinking them when I was child! I have never been able to quite them but now I am proudly 3 weeks cold turkey into my no soda life. I will never be able to have soda's again, the carbonation's is very bad for the tummy and I hear it is very painful. I try to stay away from things that I have been warned are painful :-)

So as of starting week 3 I am doing great and only minor aches and pains nothing I can't handle.

It is also exciting that I am down 5 points on the BMI scale!!!!!!

Better days ahead!

2009-10-22T15:52:00.000-05:00

I am feeling much better today! I realized I can't drink the protein shakes too early in the morning. So I switched to all clear liquids yesterday and I am feeling great today.

I am looking forward to Monday when I get to start eating pureed foods! I really wish I could have pudding, but that is not on the menu yet :-) I am also excited that Phase 3 of my diet starts right before Thanksgiving! I can't wait to have some home made turkey, sad I know but it gets me through.

I realize it has almost been 2 weeks since I have had any solid food!!!! That is just amazing to me especially because I have not been hungry or really missing eating. I guess that is the point, I think my life change is on the right track! I am excited to get to start working out soon too! I have been researching different workouts that look fun. As soon as my incisions heal I am gonna start Hula Hooping again, YAY!!!!!

So as of right now I am doing good and getting my liquids in today hopefully I will finish out the day well and be able to start counting incident free days :-)

Bad Days.... I'm having 'Em!

2009-10-21T07:01:00.000-05:00

The past couple of days I have not been feeling so good (as I am sure you can tell since I didn't post). Yesterday I was doing good in the morning but I got a little carried away and drank some protein shake a bit to fast (big NO-NO) so my last hour of work was spent pacing the floor trying not to puke, in the worst pain since I was in the hospital. After that the only thing to do was go back to clear liquids because my tummy and throat could not handle anything thicker. The plumbers where at my house all day yesterday so I didn't get in a nap and then I didn't get to bed till 9:30pm so I am really tired today. Also I am still having trouble drinking my shakes today, which is not good because that is how I get the main amount of my protein which is very important! I have really bad heartburn this morning too! I just took my morning Pepcid so hopefully that will help clear that up (fingers crossed). So I am not feeling so good this morning either. It is still early and I am hoping I get to feeling better today...... I will keep you all updated!

Back to work

2009-10-19T06:53:00.000-05:00

Today is one week post-op! I am feeling good for the most part. My wrist (where the IV was) is hurting really bad! So I think I am going to go to the doctor today and see what is going on.

I am back to work today, and so far so good! I know I am only one hour into the day but I am sure I will be fine to do a whole shift. This is good cause we where all expecting me to out for at least two weeks.

Not much to report, just trying to in al my fluids :-) It really is harder than it sounds (especially when you can't chug the yucky tasting stuff :-P)

I went to a BBQ yesterday and I wasn't tempted one bit to eat! I was surprised cause the food smelled good but I had no desire to eat it. So I that as a god sign!

Guess I better get back to work!

Day four after surgery...

2009-10-17T17:36:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to you all.... I am doing fine, still having trouble getting all my protein in but trying my hardest!!!! I am doing all my regular activities, like shopping :-) So I am getting my "exercise" in! And no pain at all, just a little pressure when I drink to fast but I can fix that :-) So as of today I have lost 15lbs!!!! WooHoo I love being a looser!

Day two at home.

2009-10-15T20:01:00.000-05:00

I am feeling great! Getting all my liquids down and out. I am following the doctors orders and everything is working out great. I am not on any pain medication which is nice. I went shopping today so my walking was well spent.

I think I am almost ready to go back to work, it is pretty boring just sitting around the house all day. I think I will go back on Monday and test it out see how it goes. I only work 4 hours a day at the office so I think I can handle it.

I'm out of the hospital!

2009-10-14T15:40:00.000-05:00

I had my surgery on Monday October 12th 2009. THe day of surgery I had to be to the hospital at 8am surgery was scheduled at 10am. Once I got to the hospital everything went very quickly, before I knew it I was being woken up in recovery. I had a really hard time coming out of anaesthesia. I will not lie I wanted some one to kill me and put me out of my pain! I had the worst first night, I was nauseous and had to get up to pee every 2 seconds, but I did get all my walking in. The second say in the hospital was better, I was still nauseous and still hadn't passed gas (which is a big deal, it is very important to pass gas as soon after surgery as possible). I slept like a rock last night with no pain meds. I was feeling great this morning when they came to ultrasound my legs to check for blood clots. All my tests came back perfect so I was ready to Rock and Roll out of that place :-)

I got strict instructions on what I need to, so now I am home taking my meds and drinking my 64 oz of fluids. So now I am doing all my fun ankle pumps and breathing exercises to make sure I stay healthy and not go back to the hospital!

I will post more later I am a bit tired right now it was a long drive home, but I did want to let everyone I am doing well and made it home safe and sound!!!!

THank you for all of your thoughts and prayers they really helped me thought the 2 hard days I had!!

Much Love,
Zee

T-Minus 2 Days!!!

2009-10-09T20:35:00.000-05:00

YAY!!!! I am so close to my surgery day, I am so excited!!!! I am all ready for my hospital stay. I met a nice woman who is having her surgery the same day so we have been chatting. We plan on trying to do our hospital walking together (it is extremely important to do as much walking as possible after surgery, even a 100-ft walk is very important, it helps prevent blood clots that can be fatal). It is nice to know someone who will be in the hospital at the same time that is going through the same procedure! I am all packed up and have been doing my breathing exercises, I also packed up some busy work to keep me occupied in the hospital. I have knitting, books, cards and games for my 2 night stay, I hope I am not to drugged up to enjoy them (but I sure am not gonna refuse pain meds if I need them).

I will keep you all posted on my surgery and post-op :-)

Last Pre-Op Appointment

2009-10-01T07:20:00.000-05:00

My last Pre-Op appointment was yesterday! It was a very long day packed with tons of information!! So a bit of background for new readers, I live in Nashville but I chose to have Dr. Boyce do my surgery, he is in Knoxville so it is a 3 hour drive for all doctors appointments. His team is nice enough to try and schedule as many of my appointments on the same day as possible so I don't have to make so many trips. So I had 3 appointments yesterday!!!!

The morning started out at 8am with an educational class that covered the rest of the pre-op prep and also went over the post-op diet. It was a ton of information but thankfully they give you a CD that has all of the information on it plus alot more!

After the 3 hour class I met with the trainer, he gave me some exercise to start doing. They are nothing strenuous just simple ankle rotation's and shoulder shrugs. They do not seem like much but they are very important! They help keep the blood circulating which is key to preventing blood clots that can be fatal!

Then I went on to see the Nurse Practitioner. She did final paper work and gave me what I needed to go on to the hospital and have my final labs done.

So off to the hospital I go it is now a little after 1pm! I got the hospital with only slight detours (I am horrible with directions). So what did I do there you ask? I pre-registered for surgery so we got all the paper work filled out and then they took me back to have blood drawn (YUCK). I got to answer more questions (they started to repeat, it was kinda annoying) and have (what I think was a gallon) blood taken to do final tests to make sure I am healthy and ready to go under! Finally after meeting with the anesthesiologist and getting a tour of a room I will be calling home for my 3 day stay I got to start heading home at 4pm! All in all it was painless (except for the vampire lady that drained my blood) it just was a long day and seemed even longer when I had to drive 3 hours to get home.

Now I am all ready for surgery! All I have to do is wait for Oct. 12th and try not to gain any weight (which won't be hard). I do have some meds I have to take before surgery but those are preventive medications and won't have any effect on my routine.

The Psychology of it

2009-09-25T08:15:00.002-05:00

If you think WLS has no effect on your brain you are greatly mistaken my friend! One of the first changes I noticed with myself has been my thinking. Part of the psychology of it is you have to 'reprogram' your brain to accept this new way of life. In addition to relearning how to eat there are also great mental challenges you have to go through.

Right now I am mentally preparing for surgery and the more I think about it the more I discover new aspects of my life that this procedure is going to change. Aside from the physical and health changes I am going to through, I am also gaining self confidence and courage. I am really looking forward to the possibility of being able to discontinue all of my medications too!!!

As for courage, I have had small specs of courage come out already. I have been being a bit bold this week. Self confidence is peeking it's gorgeous head in my life lately too. I have been making lists of things I want to do when I am finally healthy and able bodied. Like what you ask... Like entering a dance contest, participating in a marathon and about a million more adventures I have always wanted to do but have been putting off because I am not confident enough to do.

Now more of my genuine personality has started coming to the service. I have had up a defensive wall up and have been a not so nice person at times all due my insecurities because of my weight. But anyone who really gets to know me knows that I am nice, kind, happy person and more of that side of me has been evident the past month.

It is amazing, I haven't even had the surgery yet or even lost very much weight but something in my brain just knows that I am on my way to it and has already started changing to adapt to the new me!!!

Don't get me wrong I do not think WLS is going to cure all of my problems but I do believe it is the first step in the right direction!

Well I think that will be all my rambling for right now. Look for more to come soon!

17 days till surgery WOOHOO, I am getting supper excited!!!!

Hugs,
Zee

Insomnia

2009-09-24T02:10:00.000-05:00

Well I am writing this at 1:30 in the morning because I can not sleep. My mind is racing with a million what if's? I am natural born worrier so I have tried to keep my mind off of the surgery part of the process for as long as I could but at last it caught up to me! I guess it being 18 days out kinda put a spark in the old worry! There is really not too much left for me to do but sit and wait, I have one more pre-op appointment next week and then I am all done till surgery day. I do have some loose ends I need to tie up but I am not sure where to start with those.

I am still debating who really needs to know I am doing this. I mean well I am sharing it with everyone who has the internet but that isn't the hard part. If you found this blog you where looking to know more about WLS. I just don't know if I feel like going through the process of telling everyone and them asking me 101 questions. When this all began I was gung-ho about telling everyone in my life, I had made up my mind and that was that! But unfortunately I had a couple bad responses to the news that set me back. Don't get me wrong they did not change my mind for one second about what I was doing but they did make me not want to tell anyone else. It took to much strength to stand up for my decision I felt that maybe it would have been better not telling anyone at all. So now that I have told My best friend and my family I am not sure I want to tell any one else. I am sick and tired of being judged for doing what is best for me.

On the other hand what if something does happen to me and I don't make it through surgery? I know how I have felt when I have lost friends suddenly. There is one friend in-particular that I still think about and miss every day and when you loose someone young so quick it is hard and you wish you would have been able to say goodbye. So now the questions is do I tell everyone incase something happens so they will have closure?

So many options so little time to decide. Maybe a letter will be good enough. But how do you write that kind of letter? I can imagine the start "If you are reading this I didn't live through surgery...." that is some heavy stuff right there! Not sure I could produce one of those at this point.

All of this runs through my mind when I lay down to sleep and I can't get it to go away, so that is what brings me to writing at 1:45 in the morning when I should be cuddled up dreaming.

Oh and don't forget I have to make out a 'Living Will' (I know the fun keeps on coming tonight!) I am a fairly smart girl but when it comes to things like that I might as well be a 2 year old. I don't know what to do, it over whelm's me, I just want someone else to make that decision for me! But I know I am 28 years old and have to make that decision on my own, no matter how hard it is. So this brings me to the faith issue. Am I ready to meet my maker? What do I really believe in? Should I be kept on life support? and if so how long and under what circumstances? What happens if I don't do a 'Living Will'? I think that might be kinda selfish to put that decision on my parents but who knows maybe they would make a better choice than me! Lord knows I have not had the best judgement so far in my life.

Wow this is turning into a novel, LOL, and these are just my pre-op worries! I will need a ton more space for my post-op concerns! I guess after wake up alive in the recovery room I will start writing the post-op issues, haha, I sure do hope I wake up alive!!! Not sure I could handle another death of a close friend (hardy har har). My best friend told me "You better not die on me or I will go to TN and kick your dead ass!" can you feel the love :-) I told her I would haunt her if I died, I always like to have the last laugh, hehehe.

I think it is time for me to try and get some rest again I have to be up for work in 3 hours, UGH, work is not going to be fun today! Thanks for letting me babble (like you had a choice) and feel free to offer up any advice, but be nice I am already teetering on the edge of insanity!

Much Love,
Zee

Embarrassing my doctor :-)

2009-09-23T08:06:00.006-05:00

Do you think Dr. Boyce gets embarrassed when he reads my blog? Since I brag on him all the time! I hope not I am just stating what I think about him! I wouldn't drive 3 hours out of my way to go to a doctor I didn't think was the very BEST!!!! I truly wish everyone could be one of Dr. Boyce's patients! He has such a great program set up there in Knoxville, TN it is no wonder his center was one of the first in the Nation to be a Center of Excellence (lucky #7 actually)! At the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery they help you from start to finish with your weight loss journey, because they know YOU are the key to success.

So I don't care if I do make him blush a little he deserves a big hug for helping so many people get the tools they need to become healthy!!!

I'm going to be a Dr Boyce cheerleader the rest of my life

"Ra-Ra-Ra

Watch out, we're here!
Everybody stand clear!
Let's shout, let's cheer!
Our victory is near!
Weight Loss, Weight Loss!
That's our name; we are the best!

GGGOOOO Dr. BOYCE!!!!

Ra-Ra-Ra!!!!"

LOL can you tell I didn't attend many sporting events in high school?! But that me little cheer, I will work on it :-)

Talk to y'all soon!!!!

Much love,

Aziza "Zee"

Insurance for the Un-Insured!

2009-09-14T07:21:00.006-05:00

Alrighty everyone I am in the home stretch, I have 27 days till my surgery day! One thing I was a bit worried about the surgery is the aftercare since I don't have insurance I was scared about what might happen incase I have complications! All of my worries where put to rest, last time I talked to Dr. Boyce he told me about this awesome coverage that is provided for his self pay patients. It is basically Post-Op insurance for people that don't have insurance, "Insurance for the Un-Insured".

It is called BLIS and it is only available through pre-approved surgeons. Yup you guessed it my wonderful Dr. Boyce is one of those selected to offer this awesome program! When Dr. Boyce told me about the insurance he was very excited to be able to offer this to his self pay patients. It gives us piece of mind. Dr Boyce has an excellent success rate and an extremely low complication percentage so I am positive I won't need to use BLIS but it is nice to know it is there just in case. Better to be safe than to be sorry!

Not every surgeon can be approved for BLIS it is a process they have to go through, and only the best is welcomed to offer BLIS.

Here is a link so you can read more about the BLIS program offered to Dr. Boyce's self-pay patients BLIS

All right y'all thats it for this post...... More to come....soon!

The Date is Set!!!!!!!

2009-08-25T07:40:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone I am writing today to share the good news! My date for surgery is finally set!!!!! October 12th 2009 is my day!!!!! I am so excited and nervous and scared all wrapped into one!!! It is now crunch time for me to loose as much weight as I can before surgery to help the surgery go smoothly. I know it sounds funny to have to loose weight for weight loss surgery, but it benefits the surgeon during the operation and also it helps you kick start your new life style.

I have one more pre-op appointment that will happen 2 weeks before the surgery date and then I will be all done with my pre-op requirements.

So everyone mark your calendars for October 12th and check back often for updates on how I am doing post-op, I am hoping to at least post once a day post-op (providing I am feeling well enough) and let you all know how I am doing 'The good, the bad and the ugly" Get ready for no holds barred truth, YIKES!!!!

Talk to you all soon!

The Diet, it's totally do-able!

2009-08-07T09:19:00.003-05:00

All right so here is the skinny on the medical diet..... It isn't a bad diet at all!!! It is very simple to follow, there is a bit of measuring but nothing hard. To help me keep things straight I measure all the food out and pack it into individual servings as soon as I get home from the grocery store. This way if I am in a hurry I know if I grab a bag of carrots to eat on the road I know it is the right amount to be one serving. Meal planning is a big help when planning your day, if you make a plan and stick to it it will help you stay on track with your diet. I know if I don't plan out my meals I am more likely to 'just grab something quick" when I am hungry and the "Something quick" is usually not a healthy choice. I personally have to plan out my meals so I don't get a quick fix with junk food, lol!

Here is a short list of some of the things that are on the list of approved foods for the diet, there are more choices but too many to list, also there is portion size you have to follow, this is just a small example of what is on the diet this is NOT the full diet or guidelines:

STARCHES

Dry Cereal, Cooked Pasta, Diet Bread, Cooked Rice, Regular Bread, Bagel, Baked Potato, Roll, Saltine Crackers, Melba Toast, Pretzels

FRUIT

Apple, Orange, Peach, Apricots, Banana, Prunes, Cherries, Grapes, Strawberries, Grapefruit, Melon

VEGETABLES

Asparagus, Cucumber, Radish, Green Beans, Spinach, Broccoli, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Cabbage, Okra, Tomato, Carrots, Onions, Turnips, Cauliflower, Peppers, Zucchini

DAIRY

Skim Milk, 1% Milk, Low-fat Buttermilk, Reduced-fat Yogurt

MEAT

Turkey Breast, Veal, Chicken Breast, Center Cut Pork, Low-fat Lunch Meat, Canadian Bacon, Lean Beef: round, sirloin, tenderloin, roast, ground round, t-bone, Seafood: cod, flounder, trout, halibut, tuna in water, salmon, oysters, Cottage Cheese, Medium Egg, Egg Substitute, Low-fat Cheese

FATS

Margarine, Low-fat Dressing, Mayonnaise, Peanut Butter, Reduced-fat Mayo, Oil – Canola, Olive Oil

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

So that is the skinny on my diet, each Doctor will have his own dietitian and diet to follow so diets may vary but this is mine and a good example of what you can expect.

So Close......

2009-08-06T21:42:00.002-05:00

I called today to schedule my surgery!!!!! I was so excited to finally be able to set my date. To bad I lost my debit card and couldn't set my appointment with out it, EEERRR!!!! SO I am on hold AGAIN till my new debit card arrives. Right now Dr. Boyce is booked up till Mid-September, by the time my card gets here I am sure he will booked into October. Which is ok, it will give me time to get moved into my new house and get all settled before the big day!

So now it is time to step up my game and follow my diet exactly. I have been kinda following it but now since the surgery is a little over a month away I need to follow it more precisely to get the maximum benefit from it. The good news is I like all the food on the list and there is a good variety to choose from :-) I am still struggling with the liquid part of the diet, it is definitely going to take some getting use to! The deal with the drinks is you have to not have anything to drink for 30 min before a meal no liquid during the meal and nothing to drink for 30 min after you finish eating!!!! I know it is killing me, I am so use to drinking while eating, I think this might be one of the hardest part of my new life style.

For now I will work on my diet and I will keep you all posted to when I get my debit card and FINALY set my surgery date!!!!! It is so close I am getting really excited!!!!

Feeling Good

2009-07-08T08:39:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to post and say I have been following my diet and I am feeling GREAT!!! I am not loosing much weight but I just feel better with my better food choices. I will admit I ate junk food this past weekend for the holiday and WOW could I feel the difference.

No date set yet, I am still saving my "Wompums" (as Dr. John would say) HAHA.

Here is a picture of my wonderful doctor, Dr. Boyce, so you all can put a face with a voice
and if you decide to have your surgery in Knoxville he can be your doctor too :-)

Update

2009-06-25T07:55:00.002-05:00

Hey there everyone!!! First of all I want to thank you all for your support in my journey! I know I haven't posted in awhile but I have been busy working on my diet and everything I have to get in order before I go in for surgery. This part of the process is a long one but well worth it in the end!! So please forgive me if I don't update as much as I did in the beginning but it will pick up again soon.

Since my insurance does not pay for the surgery I am saving my pennies, so as soon as I have enough pennies I will be able to set my surgery date. Dr. Boyce and his staff have been very helpful, they offer a savings plan and as soon as enough money is saved up in the account it is surgery time!!!! This is a great option that is only offered to those of us who have gone through Dr. John's Call Center, so to get started call the Call Center and talk to Dr. John about Weight Loss Surgery!

On a lighter note (pun intended) I have been on the medical diet given to me during my last appointment and I have lost 4 pounds!!! I know it doesn't sound like much but it will be a huge help when I do in for surgery. The diet is geared to help you start your life style change and any weight loss will be beneficial to the surgeon during surgery, 1) less fat to cut trough to get to the stomach, 2) shrinks your liver so it is not in the way while the surgeon is in there doing the procedure 3) It helps kick start your life change and gets your mind set right so you can have optimal success after surgery 4) makes you feel good to loose some weight no matter how small the amount!!!

OK that is all for now, keep checking back and I will update you as I progress!!!

Weight Loss Surgery Questionaire

2009-05-29T07:22:00.006-05:00

Here are the Pre-Screening Questions to help you decide if WLS is right for you. Copy and past them to an email or word document and send them to Dr. John to start your weight loss journey :-)
________________________________________________________________

For Driver’s who are truly interested in Weight Loss Surgery? Call, email or Fax the below information to Dr John’s Trucker’s On Call Center. Dr John will talk to each driver personally. See Trucker’s ON Call Center contact information at the bottom.

Name:
Age:
Sex: M F
Height: 0'0" Weight:000 pounds BMI:
Employer:
Do you have Insurance?
If yes does it cover weight loss surgery?
Call back phone #:
Number of years obese:
List of diets tried including medically supervised attempts:
Medication list and dosage:
List of previous surgical procedures and year of the procedure:
Do you have any of the following, answer with yes or no:
-High Blood Pressure
-Diabetes
-Sleep Apnea
-Indigestion (GERDS) requiring medication or over the counter medication
-Cholesterol elevations
-Muscle or arthritis problems, Back pain/surgery
-Lung problems or Pulmonary Hypertension, Heart Disease/Angina, heart failure, COPD
-Previous Cancer Treatment, Gout
-Metabolic Syndrome (Circle if you have HBP, Diabetes, Cholesterol, a BMI over 40)
-Liver Disease. For example Hepatitis, Cirrhosis.
-Female drivers only: Polycystic Ovaries, Menstrual Irregularities
Alcohol consumption:
Tobacco history:
Reason you are interested in weight loss surgery?

Dr John’s Trucker’s ON Call Center
Fax or call 8am- 5pm M-F EST
Phone: 865-862-8902
Fax: 865-558-9551
Email any time: jmcelligott@ohswest.com

Recovery Time

2009-05-27T07:52:00.006-05:00

Every person and every procedure has it's own personalized recovery time, so this is something you will not know exactly until you meet with your doctor and decided which procedure is right for you.

As for me I have chosen to have the 'Sleeve' done, which will be done laparoscopicly (laparoscopic surgery has a shorter recovery time) my down time will be anywhere from 2-4 weeks. The good news is they do not want you to lay in bed you will be up and moving around right after surgery, so you won't be bed ridden you just can do strenuous activities, like work. Personally I do not have a physical job but I do have strenuous chores at home, like walking my giant dog, so I will need help around the house for about a month to make sure I heal properly.

Pre-Op Diet

2009-05-27T07:44:00.002-05:00

This diet is awesome it is simple to follow and has yummy choices on it. It is a very important part of the process, the Pre-Op diet helps you start changing your eating habit's which is extremely important. It also helps you start loosing weight which will be beneficial during surgery. The main goal is to get as healthy as possible before surgery which will be beneficial both during and after the surgery it will help speed up the recovery process.

So far I am doing rather well with the diet, I will admit I have had some slip ups but I am only human, plus my birthday was last week so I gave in and had cake :-)

Just a Reminder

2009-05-27T07:41:00.001-05:00

This is a long process but it is a major surgery and a life style change that you have to embrace, you have to make a life long commitment to yourself and your body, I made my commitment and if you think you are ready to make your commitment take the first step and call The Dr John Truckers On Call Center and they will get you started on the right path 865-862-8902

UGH decisions decisions!!!

2009-05-27T07:31:00.003-05:00

Now that I met Dr. Boyce and have the information I need to make my decision it is crunch time. I will be honest I changed my mind 3 times it was a process it took me 2 weeks but I finally decide that the Gastric Sleeve is the procedure that is best for me. The Sleeve is the procedure I had chosen months ago but after talking to Dr. Boyce about all the options I had a choice to make but in the end I believe that the Sleeve will be the best option for me.
Now I am getting closer to surgery with every tick of the clock, I haven’t set a date yet for surgery but just knowing it is in the near future gets me SO excited!!!! Finally I will have the tool I need to drop this weight once and for all and to be a healthy person I deserve to be!

Next step……… SETTING A SURGERY DATE!!!!!!

Next stop, the Consultation

2009-05-27T07:28:00.002-05:00

All right now we are rocking and rolling!!!! Next stop consultation with Dr Boyce, I am excited to finally get to sit down with him one on one and chat about my options and what will be best for me.

Yay tests! And the hard kind I didn’t even have to study for these ones. First thing is first we get to find out what my BMI is, the way BMI is calculated by using your height and weight then the fancy machine pops up this magical percentage (well not exactly but the height and weight part is true but the rest is determined by some math equation I don’t know or understand I assume). So as of May 13, 2009 I am 5’9” (which I am excited about because that means I grew and inch) and I weigh 300 pounds so that means I have a BMI of 44%. According to Mimi (that’s what I named the machine that calculated all this) I should weigh 143 pounds, which mean I am carrying around more than double my ideal weight that is 156 extra pounds I am lugging around everyday! So that was the standing there test (yes I renamed them all) next I get to do the breath into the bag test that one was super easy too, and they gave me this yummy lemonade to drink, at least I thought it was yummy since I was starving since I couldn’t eat before the appointment so I could get all these fun tests done.

After doing the ‘Breath into the bag’ test I got to talk with Dr. Boyce we went over my options and we talked about what my goals are and which procedures would do me the most good. And then I had to do the worst test of the day I had to put a close pin like contraption on my nose and breath into a tube for ten minutes!!! I know it sounds silly but really I was not liking my nose being pinch and breathing through a tube and it is hurts your jaw to keep it open that long.

But the good news is after all my suffering all my tests came back normal so I am now ready to rock and roll!!! I did need blood work done also but I had that done a couple weeks before at a lab in Nashville so I just brought the results with me.

Now I get to go home and make the final decision on what procedure I want to have done, YIKES another major decision!!!

Ok! Went to a rocking seminar and know I have found my doctor what’s next?

2009-05-27T07:27:00.001-05:00

Well the dread step is next…… Calling your insurance company to see if you’re covered….. Dun Dun.

This is where I can offer no advice; my insurance does not cover my surgery. Some of you will more than likely run into this situation and unfortunately those of us with out insurance coverage don’t have many options. In my case I am having to pay out-of-pocket which is a bit of a bummer but on the plus side I don’t have to wait for the slow poke insurance people to set my surgery date, HAHAHA, see there is a silver lining to every cloud!

My suggestion to those of you with insurance is to look at your policy and it should let you know if weight loss surgery is covered. There be some exceptions but everyone’s insurance is different so it is best to either look it up or call and ask your agent what is covered.

And that's all the advice I can offer in this area :-)

My next hard Decision

2009-05-27T07:25:00.001-05:00

I finally found MY surgeon!!!! I am very excited after spending many months “interviewing” doctors I finally found one I am comfortable with. And the winner is……… Dr. Boyce.

Now for a bit about how I found a surgeon and things that you should look for:

I had no idea where to start so I used good old Google to help me locate a local surgeon’s here in Nashville. After calling several doctor’s office’s I found out that they hold informational seminar’s to explain more about the procedures and so you can ask the surgeon’s question’s they also give you a packet of information and paper work to fill out just incase you decide to carry on. I went a couple here in Nashville and learned a lot. I knew the surgery was right for me and I knew which procedure I wanted to have done I just hadn’t found the doctor that I wanted to work with. My search continued for several more months until one day while at work we had this awesome guest on the show for “Coffee with the Doc” (you guessed it, it was Dr. Boyce) we talked a bit after the show (as much time is aloud in my busy day like 3 minutes, haha) and then I called back and talked to some of the great people that work in his office.

After talking to Dr. Boyce and his staff I decided that maybe it was time to look outside of Nashville for a surgeon I feel comfortable with. So I made the trip to Knoxville to see what they had to offer me.

I could tell from the moment I walked in the seminar that this team was different and that I was on the right track. The seminar they conducted was not like any other one I had been to, it was a million times better. I walked out of the seminar with a sense of security in knowing that this team really cared about me and my success. I was really excited to get the ball rolling and meet with Dr. Boyce for my consultation!!

Here are few tips for choosing your weight loss medical team:

Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence
That there is a support team, you are not just choosing a surgeon you are choosing the whole team- Nurses, dietitian, exercise trainer- a good team is very important because they will be your support system before and after surgery they are a key to your weight loss success.
Support groups are also very important here is a link to a support group- Knoxville Weight Loss Surgery Support Group

What next?

2009-05-26T20:09:00.000-05:00

Ok so where do I start?

I started with a basic Internet search (but you need to be careful there is a ton of miss information out there!) I spent 6 months close to obsessed with finding out every detail of every option I had available to me in the whole world!!!!

Here are a few websites that I found helpful in answering some of my preliminary questions.

BMI calculator

General weight-loss surgery information

Find a Bariactric Surgery Center of Excellence

Here a few guidelines you can look through to see if you may be a candidate for WLS:

-100 pounds or more of excess weight; or a BMI of 40 or greater
(Excess weight is the difference between the patient’s actual weight and a healthy weight.)

-A BMI of 35 or greater with one or more co-morbid conditions

Some common Co-Morbid conditions:
* Type 2 diabetes
* Heart disease,
* High blood pressure
* High cholesterol
* Obstructive sleep apnea
* Acid reflux/GERD,
* Cancer
* Depression
* Osteoarthritis and joint pain
* Stress urinary incontinence
* Female reproductive health disorder

If you have any questions or think Weight Loss Surgery is right for you call The Dr John Truckers On Call Center at 865-862-8902 tell them you want to talk about WLS with Dr John!!

The start....

2009-05-26T19:00:00.003-05:00

"I knew I was a bit over weight but I never saw myself as OBESE much less morbidly obese. Looking in the mirror today I finally see it, "Wow, when did it get so bad?" I ask myself almost in disbelief that this is happening to me. But it didn't happen over night this has been happening for more than half of my life, today is the day I realize I need help. I never thought I would be 304 pounds!!!! That is more than double the average weight for my height. So now that I know I need help it is time to decide what kind of help is going to be best for me.........."

The above insert is how I felt 2 years ago, I am writing you today to share my journey and hopefully help some of you who don't know where to start or even if Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) is right for you. My goal is share every detail of my journey and describe every step along my way of WLS and hopefully help others that are in the same situation.