Re: 5 Months Update/

[Guest guest]

,

Dr. Ren did my surgery. I could not get scheduled with Dr.

during my vacation in the Spring because I had 3 months

vacation. So, I traveled to New York and had my surgery there.

What are you taking at Shorter College? I wish you well with school.

> > Well, I can not believe it has been 5 months since I walked into

> the

> > surgery room and allowed my new life to begin!? As I reflect

back,

> I

> > can say that I am glad I had the surgery. This is the second

time

> I

> > have said this; basically because I wanted to give myself some

time

> > to really reflect on the last 5 months. I have been good. I

don't

> > expel alot of gas and I don't have diahhrea. As a matter of

fact,

> I

> > have to make sure that I drink my water or I have problems with

> > constipation. Ever now and then, I do have painful gas pains

that

> > makes it hard for me to move. The last time, pasta caused it, so

I

> > try not to eat pasta. I am not a big loser on the scales,

however,

> I

> > am a big loser totally. I can eat anything I want, however, I

try

> > very much to watch what I eat. I don't call myself dieting

because

> I

> > have done this for so many years, over 26 years. I have lost 60

> > pounds since surgery(90 lbs since last May- I started at 315 and

is

> > not at 225), 5 dress sizes from size 24/26 to 16/18 dresses and

> pants

> > and Med/Large shirts, 1.5 shoe sizes, from a 48DD to 40D bra. I

> > exercise 5 days a week by taking circuit training/step aerobics,

> > muscle strength. I will add kickboxing and water aerobics next

> month.

> >

> > It's the little things that have become B-I-G to me during the

last

> 5

> > months:

> > 1 - During the last month, I have flown 3 times. For the first

> > times, I did not spill over into the other person's seat. I do

not

> > feel the other person's body heat from being so close. Whenever,

I

> > let the tray down, it sits flat without sitting on top of my

> stomach

> > or on my legs. I had several inches of extra seatbelt left

instead

> > of using my extension.

> > 2 - I can feel my collar, pelvic bones and ribs. I remember

about

> 2

> > months ago, I was on my back and my arm rubbed across my

stomach.

> I

> > felt this knot; I immediately panic. I thought I had a knot of

> > cancer near my stomach. After further examining this " knot " , it

> was

> > my rib cage! I still laugh at this.

> > 3 - I used to sleep with my hands under my apron; now, my hands

> just

> > slids off my abdomen.

> > 4 - I can actually do step aeorbics with an extra step and don't

> feel

> > winded.

> > 5 - I can run upstairs or across the parking lot without passing

> out.

> > 6 - I have my 16 year old daughter asking to wear my shoes

because

> I

> > have gone from a size 11 W to 9 1/2 M/W. (I even have some

boots!!)

> > 7 - I am stopped at least once or twice a week by a different man

> > telling me " I like what I see " . I tell them that I like what I

see

> > as well.

> > 8 - I don't wake up 30 minutes after falling asleep grasping for

> > oxygen because my heart is racing.

> > 9 - I don't have pain in my knees, hips or back from carrying the

> > extra weight.

> > 10 - I thought that I had lost my bracelet only to find that it

was

> > further up my arm.

> > 11 - I felt great when I was purchasing a shirt from Hard Rock

> Cafe,

> > only to tell the cashier that the large was too big, can I see

the

> > medium. I did purchase the medium jersey and it isn't too small.

> >

> > I could go on but I will stop here. I have some challenges ahead

> of

> > me. My dream job vanished last Friday when the company closed it

> > doors and ceased all operations. Well, I did get a chance to

live

> > out one of my dreams during the last 2 years by working on a

cruise

> > ship; now, it's time to find a " real job, in the real world

> again " .

> > I am preparing to take the LSAT(Law School Admission Test) in

> > December. I have one month to prepare for it. My 16 year old is

a

> > Senior in high school. She takes applying for college and

> > scholarships very likely. So, I am having to stay on top of

that.

> > And the list goes on and on.

> >

> > Take care and thanks for listening,

> > in Atlanta, GA

> > BPD w/ DS & Gallbladder removal on 5/25/01