5 days later, 10lbs lighter!

When I went into surgery, I weighed 270lbs exactly. That was five days ago.

I'm now at 258.6lbs. Over 10lbs lighter. I know my weight loss will not be this drastic all the time, especially considering the sudden rapid diet change, but I'm enthralled. Suddenly all the pain seems worth it, to know this is actually happening. And to think how it'll continue to happen, especially as I start a workout regime and keep up the modified diet. 

THIS IS SO EXCITING GUYS! <3

Post-surgery!

So, it's been about four days since the surgery! I arrived at Baylor Frisco at around eight in the morning on Thursday, filled out some forms - I had to pay $350, there (thankfully, my father was kind enough to help me out with a loan) for the hospital stay. So, so far, the total payment has been $902.03, sort of a massive expense for someone who works part-time at Starbucks! Still, I'm sure it will pay off in the long run, I'm almost positive it will. We checked in and I went to pre-op, and it's all sort of a blur from there. My parents were with me the entire way, and I'm so thankful for that.

Pre-surgery, around nine in the morning - my surgery was scheduled for 9:30am, and I was practically asleep before I even got down the hall. I don't remember the operating room at all whatsoever, and woke up in the post-op room, tired and sore and really damn thirsty. I had some ice and some water, and my parents came back with me - I had my very own room, where I was put on a 23-hour surveillance. I was in room 200, my very own little room with a broken TV but it was immensely comfortable and wonderful! I had several things to keep me entertained, anyway. :) My post-op diet consisted largely of them bringing broth and apple juice, and me having to sloooowly drink them. It went well though, shockingly well! And my headcold situation was okay - the only thing that really sucked was coughing while having a painful abdomen. :(

Some friends of mine came around later that evening to visit me! One of them brought me flowers, and the lot of them were wonderful company, certainly bringing a smile to my loopy face. 

So! Since I've been home, I've been very slowly on my way to recovery. I've lost somewhere between 5-8lbs since I've had the surgery, and things have been going mostly well! The cold is still there, and still somewhat painful - and I've had a few discoveries on limitations. Creamy liquids is pretty much my main diet, things like protein shakes are great. I attempted some oatmeal earlier today that didn't go so well. :(

But as for recovery, I think I'm slowly but surely recovering fine. Walking around isn't so hard, but anything to do with lifting with my abdomen hurts quite a bit! I'm excited for when I can finally exercise, and look forward to that. Sorry for the lack of updates, hopefully I'll get on that more and more!

Two days!

And I'm down with an awful head cold. I'm really hoping this won't impact my surgery in any negative ways, I've been taking vitamin C supplements along with my regular vitamins in hopes it'll help. :( For now, all I can do is drink lots and lots and lots of liquids in preparation for Thursday, and hopefully I'll kick it's ass before too long.

So! Day two of my "phase two" diet, the diet I have to follow for three days before and around six weeks after my surgery is done. Thankfully, it's easier than I thought it would be. The protein shakes are surprisingly tolerable, and the oatmeal and soup are marvelous. I can so imagine getting sick of this soon, but for now it's okay! I'm not as hungry as I thought I would be, actually!

I am really tired though, and it seems odd how fatigued I am. I think I'm just used to a lot higher calorie count than I've gotten? Anyway, yesterday, this is what I ate:

Breakfast
One Muscle Milk Light, vanilla-flavored
100 calories, 15g protein
One packet Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal
160 calories, 7g protein

Lunch
8oz V8 Tomato & Herb Soup
90 calories, 3g protein
6oz 2% milk with whey protein
230 calories, 31g protein

Dinner

One packet Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal
160 calories, 7g protein

Tall Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino Light with 3 scoops Protein

180 calories, 24g protein

920 calories consumed. That's not so bad, especially considering I managed in well enough protein. I may need to cut back on the protein actually, considering I need to get 45-55 grams a day and I managed to shoot over that quite a bit. Also, I think I may start getting up early in the morning to take walks around my block, at least get some cardio exercise in. :)

T-minus 4 days!

This last weekend was the best "last hurrah" I could ask for. :) Starting tomorrow, I'll be on my phase 2 diet - which will consist largely of protein drinks, juice, broth, and oatmeal. I have to follow this through until my surgery on Thursday, so technically, today's my very last day to eat things I normally wouldn't be able to starting on Thursday. This weekend, I went down to Beaumont with my family to watch my grandfather get remarried, and had a lovely time! Now, it's time to get back to work, finish all of these last minute assignments I'll have due before I take a vacation from both school at work, and make all of these preparations!

When I first found out about the surgery, I crafted a letter to my friends and family on Facebook telling them my intentions and why I was doing it. :) This was written on October 1st, over a month ago - it's hard to believe everything's going so fast!

I have yet to set a date, but my insurance has just approved me.

Preferably before the end of the year, I plan on having the Lap Band surgery. I've been overweight - more than that, obese, my entire life. I cannot, honestly, cannot remember the last time I was under 200lbs, and I'm fairly sure it was during middle school. I have struggled my way through diets, only to "fall off the wagon" and start eating unhealthy because I "had no time to concentrate on that". I've had low self-esteem issues, no matter how much I tell myself and others just how fantastic I am. Three years ago, I was diagnosed with Asthma -- something that has had a majorimpact on my life. In Rome, I stayed at home on the days my parents would be walking a lot. In Paris, in London, I chose to take the metro or the tube everywhere I could. I've struggled with it at work, and have had to sit down to make it calm down. I've had panic attacks which have led to asthma attacks, which have led to worse asthma attacks. I've been in the hospital twice because of it, possibly three times. I've taken the elevator because climbing more than two flights of stairs sets it off. I've had to take pills every day, and puffs from an inhaler every day, just to keep ahead of it.

Recently as well, I've been having skin conditions that have put me into the operating room twice. My primary healthcare physician has voiced his concerns about Diabetes being a very likely risk if I do not do something about this. I've been ridiculed, embarrassed, and hurt from things that have been said about me by complete strangers. I know that this, especially my weight, is not who I am. I know that there is a much healthier, much happier person somewhere inside of me, and I have to find that person.

I'm not saying this because I'm asking for pity in any way, but because I know that support would mean the world to me. I have always had the most beautiful friends and family; those who have stood by me from day one, and I cherish you more than you likely know. I'm saying this because it's so important to me that I still keep you as friends as I go through this radical change, and that no one is alarmed by any differences that may happen over the next year or two. I won't deny that I'm excited, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't terrified. I'm afraid of getting surgery. I'm even afraid that my obesity and my weight problem is all psychological, and that I'll end up sabotaging myself. But... I know that if this does work out, if I do lose the weight I need to, everything will be so much better.

And I'll breathe easier. Literally.

To all of you: Thank you. For everything you have ever done for me, for accepting me as who I am. I can only hope you'll stand by me.

This all being said, I think it's time for me to go shopping! Here's to a new life. :)

Countdown! One week!

So yesterday, I went to Baylor Hospital in Frisco where my procedure will be done! I managed to fill out all of the paperwork -- only to find out that I was supposed to be at my doctor's office in Plano instead. Oops. I rushed over there, and they were able to do everything they needed to do, thankfully! Not without some scars though, of course.

The nurses couldn't seem to find my veins. And by poking around and looking for them, this is what ensues. Ouch. If this didn't happen every time I have to get blood work done, I swear it...

Still at 266lbs, but I have yet to start much of a diet regimen. I've sort of been enjoying the freedom while I have it to eat things that I probably won't be able to eat come next Thursday. On November 14th, I'll start my semi-liquid diet to tone down some of the fat around my liver - this'll make it easier for him to see, especially with the laproscopic surgery they're doing. I also received this book about Lap-Band and living with it --- the importance of proteins and vitamins and some various information regarding different weight loss options.

I'm really glad I've decided to do the Lap-Band -- the other options sort of scare me, what with the long recovery time and having staples in my stomach. I'm worried about erosion and possibly having issues with it, but I really, really hope this won't happen. Still! I'm nervous and excited all at once -- this is going to help me lose what I need to lose to be healthy. But I really hope that everything goes well, and that surgery turns out fine and everything will be alright and ready for me to return back to work as soon as the holiday rush starts off. At least we came out with sugar-free mocha just in time, am I right?

Thanks for following!
Mandii

A bit of background.

On September 14th, I went to my Bariatric Surgery Seminar. I listened as Dr. Hamn told the few of us about the three types of surgery we had - the Lap Band, the Gastric Sleeve, and the Gastric Bypass - to choose from. My friend, Nadia had the Gastric Sleeve, and my mother has been on her second year of having the Lap Band. Both have seen remarkable success, and I've watched my mother as she shrank to her ideal weight.

After the meeting, I had a personal consultation with Dr. Hamn. We spoke a little about why I wanted to do this, and what I expected from the surgery. I told him exactly why I wanted to do it, and he referred me to a psychologist for a psychiatric evaluation, and a nutritionist to speak a little about what I would be able to eat.

Within sixteen days, my insurance had verified me as a candidate for the Lap Band surgery.

Since then, I've been counting the days - thirteen now - until my surgery. I just finished my pre-op bloodwork, upper GI, and chest X-Rays yesterday. So far, I will be paying $552.03 out of pocket for this surgery, and that doesn't include unforeseen circumstances, anesthesia, and vitamins and supplements I'll need for my post-op recovery.

So! Welcome to my blog! I'm Mandii. I'm twenty-three, and I weigh 266.4 lbs. I've been overweight ever since I could remember, I remember weighing in at over a hundred pounds when I was only in the fourth grade. I was a size 10 when I was only 10 years old. I've been between a size 18-22 ever since I started high school. I suffer from very severe asthma which gets even worse when I exercise. I'm praying that this lifestyle change will completely eradicate it.

I work at Starbucks, and I have the best support system I could ever ask for in my friends and family! Thanks for following!