Potpourri for pre-ops...

[Guest guest]

Hey yall,

It's me again...another Rutledge toadie or moonie...as I have been so

affectionately called. LOL I don't mind the public ridicule. I have some high

(rhymes with MASS) self esteem. It would take much more than some juvenile

name calling to adversely affect me. Actually, I am not the real moonie.

It's my husband " Freaknasty " who is the moonie. You see, he has greatly

benefited from me having the new/old le back. To give any further

details would be TMI. And, this is a PG rated list right? I think there are a

few children on here. So, you adult ones...read between the lines. hehehe

I think I need a clarify what my role is here. I am not on this list to sell

the MGB. I do not earn a commission, and I am not on Dr R's payroll. I am

only here to contribute my experiences with the this surgery. I feel a moral

obligation to do this since other post ops did it for me. Otherwise, I would

not still be on this list. But, because I have become such " eye candy " , the

indirect advertising is unavoidable. The decision to have any WLS surgery is

very personal, so I don't seek to unduly influence pre-ops in either

direction. If you want it...go for it...it you don't...keep moving. I keep

saying it...no one will be upset either way.

In fact, those in my community don't broadcast that we have even had the

surgery. We don't really take too kindly to having miscellaneous folks all up

in our business anyway. So, I don't lose or gain anything if one choses this

route or some other route.

Marge wanted to know how I am doing. I am superbly, lady. If I were any

better I could not stand my self. My body is BANGIN, the TMI is SLANGIN...and

life is just grand. At five months out, I have lost 70 pounds. I lost 15

pounds last month after getting off to a slow start. I was only an average

loser at first. Month five represents my second highest monthly loss. I lost

25 the first month, 13 the second month, 10, the third month, 7 the fourth

month, and 15 last month. Someone said that they had never seen weight loss

increase in any month after four. Well, here I stand. I bet you want to know

what I did differently. Well, the first two months, I KILLED myself

exercising, and I didn't eat much because I was sick as a dog from nausea and

vomiting. Yep, a known possible after surgery effect. After the hormone

imbalance was corrected, I was good as new.

I stopped exercising for two months, and I started eating more. I eat only

when I am hungry, and I quit eating when I am satisfied...not stuffed. I

don't eat fast food, greasy food, white carbs, or meat. These items were food

intolerances initially. However, I can now eat anything I want, including

sweets. I just don't. But, if I want something, I eat it...and call it a day.

What works for me may not work for you. I was not a binge eater or food

addict prior to surgery, so my obesity issues may be different from most. I

was pretty compliant, and followed the regimen to the letter, with the

exception being the Actigall. Nope...didn't take it. My PCP and I decided it

would make my nausea worse, so we passed. And, I didn't get bile reflux.

However, I am getting scoped for the LLL of it in a month. I will post the

results. I am on the Climara estrogen patch. My Ob said he is taking me of it

in February...nausea or not. My weight loss should be slower by then, so I

should be ok.

I am almost in the best shape of my life. My starting weight was 272 and a

size 20/22. My body fat has decreased from 37.5% to 24%. I am currently a

very comfortable 14. To the naked eye, you would not know I had ever been

obese. I do tell my classes that I have lost 70, and I will be losing the

last 70 with them. I am still overweight/obese by the scale, but not overfat.

I will attempt to stop losing when I get to 18% body fat. I stop menstruating

with less than that. I am a full time homemaker and I teach a high impact

hip/hop funk aerobics class twice a week. In January, I will teach add an

intense " basic training " type class. Gwen ask me how did I go from morbidly

obese to teaching aerobics in five months. Very good question. Well, I am not

a true " fat to fit " success story. I taught years ago before I " let myself

go " . I had a certain amount of fitness even during my short (two years)

unwelcomed visit with morbid obesity. So, after a few months of cardio and

strength training, I was back in shape. I decided to start teaching again

because I am not disciplined enough to stick to a consistent exercise regimen

without some accountability. There is a true fat to fit success story. There

is a lady who teaches aerobics now who hadn't taught at all. She is a friend

of Stevie's. Does anyone know her? She is in Raleigh/Durham somewhere.

So, I said all this to say. The MGB was right for ME. It may/may not be right

for you. But, research and make our decision accordingly. Pay close attention

to risk # 21...the " other " and section C of the informed consent. I believe

in personal responsibility. Conversely, I don't believe in

excuses/bellyaching/whining/ if you have a negative outcome, after being

privy to the potential risks have been outlined.

Gotta run. I am late for class.

le

272/202/124

five months post op