update

Well, I survived eating during the Venango Fair. I was so excited to try to eat Chinese. It was fine the first day, but the second day was bad. I spent some time over the garbage can. Oh, well. Now I just have to get through the Crawford Fair. I still crave tomatoes, and Italian dressing.
I feel good and am now in a size 14 jean. I did get a pair of 12's on and zipped, but not as comfortable as 14's. Into a regular XL shirt now, too. My new showmanship pants will need some major reductions and they were made the last week in July. Hope to loose another 10 pounds before school official starts on Sept. 2. My goal is to be below 200 before my 31st birthday!!!!

Sorry its been so long

Okay, people, I know it's been awhile! For all of you who've been asking for an update, and those of you who haven't-shame on you, here it is. I have now lost over 70 pounds and 25 inches from my body. Over 12 of the inches from my waist alone. I am now doing all my normal activities with no problems. I am averaging 5 pounds every week and a half. The only side effects I am having are hair thinning and not being able to hold down certain foods. The hair thinning is from not getting the 70 grams of protein a day...I'm lucky if I can eat 10 grams. But the doctors said it would stop and grow back. And of course its the good foods that I sometimes can't tolerate, like veggies and chicken. Rice, which was one of the don't eat foods, is great! Go figure.
I have been really busy in the barn and showing-that's my excuse for not updating the blog sooner. And no, I haven't been riding my bike yet either, still trying to work up the courage.

Bicycle

I weighed myself on Sunday, I lost another 1.5 pounds. Jarad said today that he can't believe how thin my face is getting and so is my upper body. Yesterday, in attempt to get fit, we both bought new bikes. We rode down the dirt road and I wrecked. I smashed my face into the birm of the dirt road for about 3 feet. I ended up just scraping my nose, knees and pride! I did get back on it and ride later. I am just going to stick to the flat surfaces for now.

Update

Weighed in yesterday, I finally lost 4 more pounds. I am about one-third of the way to the goal of 150 lost! I feel good, but still get tired easily. I have begun to try more foods, and have been lucky that nothing has bothered me so far. I am hoping once school is out to make meals for the week that are well balanced and definitely healthier than before. I think we may buy a Wii and get the new Wii Fit so we can exercise together. Jarad has lost about 15 pounds. Oh, and I have officially made the one month mark as of today!!!

Getting back into the groove

Sorry I haven't written in awhile, but things have just been crazy!! We went to a horse show over the holiday weekend, I didn't ride in any classes but did manage to ride around. Then with all the holiday socializing with Chantelle and family...I am still stuck at 40 pounds, but everyone says that happens and that I will start to lose more soon. I drank lots over the weekend and have been drinking more now that I am back to work. I can't wait for school to be over! I am ready for the summer. I am so tired when I come home that all I want to do is sleep. I need to find some energy to get some things done around the house.

Riding

Well, I finally got Jarad and Mom to agree to let me try to ride. I was able to ride both Presley and Peaches. I even managed to saddle them myself. It felt good to get back in the saddle, but I was really tired afterwards. I may ride Peaches at the show this weekend as she's a little smoother than Presley. All my show clothes are looking good on me, Mom has to work on taking in my Showmanship outfit and my chaps for me to use them this weekend. I'm kinda sad about the showmanship outfit as this will be the last time I probably can wear it. Oh, well, guess I get a new one then! I managed to fit into a pair of pants 2 sizes smaller than I would normally wear! They are snug around the waist still, but not uncomfortable, and look really good on every where else. Off to work I go...

Back to work

Well, today is my second day back to work. Its not as bad as I thought, although I am tired. Its been hard to get back into a routine of getting up in the mornings. The kids have been glad to see me when I am doing the home visits. They are all excited for me to return...I am up to 40 pounds lost now. I am in a size smaller of all clothes, including underwear. It is still hard to get enough protein and liquids. Yesterday was better with the liquids. I am doing better eating today too.

2 week mark

Well, I just passed the two week mark. I am feeling much better and have resumed lots of my "normal" activities. I am looking forward to riding again soon, although Jarad is not having it until the doctor releases me to ride, but I don't think I can wait until June 9th. We'll see....

Monday

Weighed myself yesterday, I've lost another 4 pounds, for a total of 32 pounds! I am starting to feel almost back to normal. Mainly still having some muscle pain on the left side of my abdomen, but it is getting better. So far I've tried many different "pureed" foods-applesauce, carrots, mashed potatoes, melon, banana, and eggs-and haven't had problems with any of it. I managed for three days in a row to get all the protein I am required to get, but didn't do so hot yesterday. I am not really looking forward to returning to work...

Staples

Went Friday to have the staples removed. It didn't really hurt, just sort of a pinch and took less than 2 minutes to get them all out. Dr. Barkan said the weird burn and pull sensation I feel near my bellybutton is just the muscles from being cut and stitched internally. Nice, huh? They were surprised at the Dr. office how much weight I've lost which made me feel good.
Jarad and I stayed really busy yesterday, we were on the go from 8 am until about 2 pm. It is surprising how fast I get tired now, I came home and slept for about an hour then went to Meadville with mom, I only made it to one store before I was ready to come home and lay around.
Today Jarad and I are planning to clean house (he's cleaning, Im supervising), and go shopping in Meadville. I do feel alot better with the stitches out, my skin isn't pulled tight and itchy now.

Weight loss

I weighed myself this evening...total weight loss since two weeks prior to surgery is 28 pounds!!!
I lost 12 in the two weeks before, so that is 16 in a week since surgery.

measurements

Okay its official...I'm sort of happy I did the surgery. Today in honor of my one week anniversary, Jarad helped me remeasure. I measured myself on April 28 and here were the results: stomach 54 inches, calf 20 inches, thigh 32 1/2 inches, hips 58 inches, bust 52 inches, and upper arm 15 inches. As of 3:43 pm today, they are now stomach 52 1/2 inches, calf 19 inches, thigh 31 inches, hips 52 inches, upper arm 15 inches, and bust 50 inches. Jarad joked that the only place I can't afford to lose more inches is in my bust! Ha ha! I plan on weighing myself this evening. I will post the results soon!

Okay, Im back...

I finally have enough energy to do some things so I thought I'd get back to writing. Today was a pretty good day, but I didn't sleep well last night and ended up sleeping until 9 a.m. I finally gave in and laid in bed...it was good to lay down and be comfortable, but getting up isn't easy or painfree. I guess I didn't really realize how painful this experience was going to be physically, mentally or emotionally. I feel really bad because Jarad is working so hard to do everything, and he's exhausted. He fell asleep when he came home from work today so I let him sleep for about 4 hours. He put the recliner out in the yard for me so I could sit in the shade and read and nap. He's been great! I managed to walk 5 times today...I even went clear to the creek by the house to let the dogs swim. It was tiring, but I'm trying to push myself alittle more each day.
Other than the discomfort on my left side, none of the other incisions are bothering me, and the drain hole has even healed up. My arms and hands aren't as bruised and I've managed to get most of the adhesive off. I now have lots of pretty yellow and purple bruises on my abdomen. I'm sure eventually I'll be glad I had this done, but I wouldn't do it over as of today. Besides hurting, I'm missing so much with work, the horses, etc. I did hang out some of my "skinny" clothes as inspiration and I hope to start practicing showmanship by the weekend. My goal is to make it to Meg's graduation ceremony on Saturday in Clarion, but 45 minutes in a car does me in so...it gives me something to shoot for.
Thanks for all of the prayers and thoughts, and I love having comments to read! I plan to take my measurements and weight tomorrow.

Monday 5th Day after surgery

Kelly is doing great. She walked 5 or 6 times today at least ate cream of chicken soup and took her medicine. She was a good girl. She even went for a car ride to cochraton with me. Somehow we got to laughing and she was trying not to laugh because it hurt and she somehow started sounding like a sick donkey. It was so funny we couldn't stop I was great she is doing it right now.

Saturday Night Sunday Morning

Well we had an interesting night last night. Kelly said her chest was hurting and seem to get worse. So at 9:30p.m. I called the surgeon and he said get her the nearest hospital A.S.A.P and get a chest scan to make sure isn't a blood clot. They did not find a blood clot they say nothing was wrong and sent us home. We got home a 4:00a.m. What a night I was up for 24 hurs at this point and was defiantly ready for bed.

This morning the radiologist read the x-rays and the hospital called and said Kelly has Pneumonia come and pick up a prescription. Kelly seems to be doing pretty good today considering everything. She has been taking less of her pain medication. Still tires out after her walks but all in all she is doing well.

some pictures of kelly in hosptial

<-- This is Kelly in the hosptial doesn't she look great with the tube in her nose? She really didn't want me to take this picture but I just could not help myself.










This is Kelly showing off her jeweley. Pretty sexy!!
Ok on a serious not. She has five incision with one drain which she was able to have removed before she came home,








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<---This is Kelly showing off her arm. They had trouble finding her vein so the went digging until they found some blood. They even tried to get blood out of her foot. That didn't work either so they had to take it out of her finger.

Friday

Kelly is home!!!! She doesn't feel the greatest but she is home. She didn't think it would be this bad when she came home. She said her stomach is hurting pretty good. I'm sure the ride home didn't help much even though she had a wounderful driver the drover her home. I'm sur once she is able to get some rest without everyone poking at her she will be feeling much better..

Day after

They took Kelly off of the morphine pump and started her on a different pain medicine. It seems to be working much much better. She was very naushes (sick feeling) with the morphine. She is walking great and is getting out of bed really well. The nurse didn't think she was urinating enough and said they may have to put cathater back in. I told her that Kelly normally only goes two maybe three times a day. She said well we will have to see what the doctor says about that. Then both of her ives infortrated so they had to take them out and find another vain to use her por ars are black and blue and swelled. It took the lady from the Ive team two tries to get the ive in. That really hurt when they werte doing that put she pulled threw like a champ. She is still really tired but it is so hard to get sleep they are always poking at her and checking something. She should be able to come home Friday sometime.

Wensday night

I talked to Kelly at 9 am and she said she was doing ok but very tired. They came into her room at 12 a.m. and got her up to walk and then came in again at 4 a.m. to walk then got her up at 7 a.m. to go and get a chest x-ray. She said she had to drink some stuff for the x-ray and it made her sick because she hasn't had anything to drink since tuesady at midnight. She seem to be doing well just tired. I will write again later tonight. I will try to get some pictures on here as well but no promises.

SURGERY

Ok Kelly wanted me to write on here so before I get started I just want to apologize for me spelling but I will try to do my best.
They took Kelly back for surgery about 7 a.m. and we talked to the Doctor at about 10:30 a.m. We finally got to see her at 12:45p.m. I was starting to get real mad they kept saying she will be out shortly NOT 2 hours later.
When we fianally got to see her she said her back hurt because the pressed the air out of her stomach ouch! Then the one nurse said she tried to put a pillow under her head and Kelly said no it hurts so the nurse thought she ment it hurt for her to lift her head so the nurse thought see would be nice and lift it for her. O what a mistake that was. The nurse said she told me what she thought of that and it wasn't nice. Kelly was tring to say it hurt with the pillow under her head. Hard to imagine Kelly saying anything like that HA HA!!
Kelly was in her room for about an hour and they came and got her up and had her walk. She had a little trouble getting up but walked fine. They when she came back to her room they had her sit in this big ass chair that two people could sit in and her feet didn't even touch the groud, big surprise that was HA HA. Then after about 20 minutes of that she said she wanted to get back in bed and the nurse said just a little bit longer. That really mad her her mad then to top it off the patient next door was groning I had to shut the door. We waited and waited for the nurse to help her get back in bed then she decided she was going to get up and get in bed her self so I had to run out and get the nurse. Once she got back into bed she slept most of the day. They came and got her up to walk again 2 hours later. She did great waled further down the hall, sat in the chair longer. Then back to bed to sleep some more. Then at 5:00 she asked to go walk and walk twice as far as the first time, she has a little trouble getting into bed but does great. Marryand I left at 6:00p.m. I think that was one of the hardest things I had to do. I'm sitting her know finding it hard to write. I will write again tomorrow.

Kelly is in room 335 and the phone number to her room is 724-589-6591

time

My surgery is scheduled for 7:30 am Wednesday, we have to be there by 6 am. Since its in Greenville and I have to do the suppository, I am getting up at 3:45 am to make sure all traces are gone before I have a 45 minute car ride to the hospital. Can't wait...I drank the "drink" at 4:45 and haven't stopped going since. Disgusting!

Loss

According to the scale at work I've lost approximately 12 pounds in two weeks! Yippee!!!!!!!!

Water

Well, it's just water today. I don't think it's going to be bad until lunch time, if I can make it through that, I'll be good. I have to start taking the "stuff" when I get home, so I'm sure my mind will be elsewhere besides eating. I have started making Jarad his lists of who to call and who to send email to, and he will be posting a blog on here too. Everyone should be updated, hopefully. I know that Jarad is getting nervous, I'm not nervous yet, just excited. I would like to be a fly on the wall in the waiting room with him and mom--mom will be reading and Jarad will be pacing. Dr. Barken said the procedure should only take about 2 hours, so they won't have to wait long. I will find out sometime after noon today what time the surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. I know it's in the morning sometime, just not the exact time.
I take back the not being nervous part...I'm not nervous about the procedure, I trust the doctor. It's afterwards that I don't know about...like what I will be able to do, etc. I don't want to give up much riding time and I have to go back to work on the 19th...plus Jason is coming home the week of the 19th and so is Chantelle, so I want to be up and about to spend time with them. I will post another blog when I find out what time the surgery is.

one more day of food

Well, Monday is the last day I get to eat my "diet" food. Tuesday it is strictly water and some lovely Fleet beverages in the evening. I have pretty much survived so far. Jarad and I have been doing lots of items on our to do lists to try to have them done so I don't have to worry when I get home. I'll be sure to let everyone know how Tuesday goes.

cheating

I'm in the process of making 10 dozen cookies for my friend's baby shower. I know, pretty stupid when you're trying to follow a liquid diet...So, I thought that one bite wouldn't hurt me. I mean my surgery is a week away yet, and I have to drink Fleet the day before. Well, I ended up getting extremely sick at work today- I went to the bathroom twice in a matter of 30 minutes. UGH! I don't think I'll be cheating anymore!

April 21

I weighed myself at work this morning. I've lost 8 pounds since Wednesday. Has anyone ever noticed how many food commercials there are on television? ALOT!!

April 18

Well, I think the worst is over (hopefully). I was so miserable yesterday that I forgot to tell mom "Happy Birthday". But I did call her first thing this morning. So I took my measurements, but am not ready to post them to the public yet. Once I get some smaller ones, I will post the big ones. I am working on downloading my before picture. The diet is definately suppressing my appetite, I only had a cup of pudding, cup of yogurt and 2 cups of cottage cheese today. I did drink about 60 ounces of water.
I also have made my first skinny clothing purchase-I got a great deal on a new jacket for horse showing. I am looking forward to wearing some of my favorite jeans again. I got them out today and was going through some other clothes. I am starting to get alittle nervous....

Information on bariatric surgery

Here's some info about the procedures they do, mine is the Roux En Y.


What Exactly IS Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Weight Loss Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is an extreme weight loss procedure that is performed in two steps. First, a small stomach pouch is created to decrease the amount of food that the patient can eat at one time. Next, a series of bypasses of the duodenum and certain other parts of the small intestine are created to reduce the body’s ability to absorb nutrients found in food.


Two Types of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Extensive Gastric Bypass (biliopancreatic diversion) - This is a very extreme procedure because portions of the stomach are actually removed and a small pouch is created and connected directly to the end of the small intestine. This procedure results in a complete bypass of the duodenum and jejunum. Most doctors consider extensive gastric bypass as a weight loss surgery procedure of last resort, because it deprives the body of a great deal of its daily nutritional requirements.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RGB) - This surgical treatment of obesity is what most people are typically referring to when they talk about Gastric Bypass Surgery. With the RGB procedure, a pouch is created in the stomach by either stapling part of the stomach together, or using a methodology known as “vertical banding”. Next, the doctor creates a Y-shaped section of the small intestine and attaches it to the pouch, bypassing both the duodenum and the first section of jejunum. This procedure reduces the amount of food that can be eaten and it also reduces both the daily caloric intake as well as the nutrient absorption rate.

Because Gastric Bypass Surgery restricts the quantity of food that can be eaten at one time, as well as causing “malabsorption”, which is the reduction of the small intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients, it is more effective than purely restrictive surgery options such as stomach stapling without the bypass portion. Most Gastric Bypass Surgery patients report reaching at least two-thirds of their weight loss goals within two years of having the surgery.

Risks Associated With Gastric Bypass Surgery

Various health problems resulting from nutritional deficiencies
Unexpected stretching of the pouch which, if left untreated, can eventually return the stomach to its original size
Band erosion which results in the destruction of the bands that are used in creating the pouch
Staple failure, resulting in the stomach returning to its original size
Leakage of stomach acid into the abdomen resulting in damage to other internal organs
Appearance of “dumping syndrome”, which is caused by the contents of the stomach passing too quickly into the small intestine, and can result in nausea, general weakness, excessive sweating, and diarrhea
Understanding the possible effects of nutritional deficiencies caused by Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric Bypass Surgery can result in anemia if too much vitamin B12 and iron is blocked from being absorbed. Reduced levels of calcium can result in osteoporosis and some bone diseases. Your doctor will prescribe certain supplements that you will be required to take for as long as the Gastric Bypass Surgery remains in place.

Remember that extensive Gastric Bypass Surgery is not a simple “instant fix” for being overweight. The decision to have either of the weight loss surgery procedures done should only be made after thorough consultation with your doctor and the weight loss surgeon who will be performing the procedure. Gastric Bypass Surgery is not a “set and forget” solution. You may require regular medical monitoring appointments as well as being required to eat special foods and take certain supplements or medications for the rest of your life.

First Entry

Okay, so I decided to start a blog so I could share my experience with everyone. I actually stole the idea from Deana, for those of you who don't know Deana, she has a blog site because she recently gave birth to twins. Today is the second day of my "liquid protein diet". It basically consists of broth, cottage cheese, yogurt, jello and water based beverages with no sugar. UGH!!! I knew my eating habits would change after the surgery, but not two weeks before it. The doctor put me on this type of restriction to help shrink my liver, I guess it makes the laproscopic surgery easier. For anyone who wants to know more about the type of surgery I am having, laproscopic bypass, check out renewedreflections.com, its great. It has alot of information and pictures of the procedure I'm having.
Jarad and I are planning to take my before surgery picture and measurements tonight, since after two weeks of liquids I don't know how much of a true representation it would be. The diet is making me cranky, imagine that. I think it's the withdrawal from the Mickey's Sweet Tea. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better. I went to walmart tonight and stocked up on jello.