This post should really be subtitled "Wow, I'm thin and almost bald, how cool is that?"
I posted here for awhile before my mini-gastric bypass on May 17, 2012, and for awhile afterward, so I thought I'd swing by and update in case anyone ever reads this
On the day of surgery, I weighed 232.6. I was a size 16/18, and I was sick - hypertensive, severely asthmatic, and my resting heart rate was around 120 most of the time. I wheezed, I ached, I had sleep apnea, and I was constantly exhausted. I'd given up my nursing job years before.
So, here's me, seven months later. I weigh about 128 on any given day. My butt is in size six jeans only because I haven't bothered to buy size 4s yet. My shirts are mediums or smalls. My scrubs (we'll get to that) are size small. SMALL, y'all. I mean, holy cats, who knew?
I can buy my undies in a size 5 at Victoria's, only they rarely have the 32DD I wear now (yay online clearance racks, no pun intended). And yes, TMI whatever. I wear a 32DD bra and anyone who doesn't like it can suck it, because come on now. That is just cool. I'd yell it in the mall, except it embarrasses the hubby and teenage son, and I do not want to pay for therapy for them.
Here's what else. I don't take any meds anymore. I mean, I take oodles and craptons of vitamins, but no actual medicines. I no longer have sleep apnea or asthma or hypertension. My blood pressure runs in the 120/70 range. That, for me, is huge. I took mountains of beta blockers before. I haven't used my inhaler since surgery except once the week I had bronchitis. That's it.
Now, here's the fun part. My daughter got married in November and I got to be the skinny mother of the bride. I wore a size petite medium dress to the wedding and it was a little big. I wore heels. Not eensy heels, FMP 5" heels. And I danced in them. I've gotten two jobs. One for a software developer, and then I decided I wanted to try nursing again. Heavy duty adolescent medical nursing, where I routinely lift kids who weigh 75 pounds minimum - by myself. Yeah, I thought I was gonna die the first few weeks, but now I have some muscle again and I love it! Having an actual income is nice, too, so I can go to Victoria's and frighten the staff.
So that's the good part. Now I'm gonna talk about Stuff I Wish I Had Prepared For Better.
1. I am almost bald. I mean, I've lost over half my hair. I actually have an appointment to see my stylist to discuss options this week. Wigs vs. looking like a cancer patient or getting a pixie, I dunno. I miss my hair.
2. My skin isn't awful, but it ain't pretty either. Those 32DDs look great - as long as we keep 'em harnessed. And a chunk of that cup size is from the skin under my arms. Gotta hold it in somehow.
3. My face looks like I've aged a bit. I was not prepared to trade being thin for looking older. My skin is way drier, too - I never needed moisturizer before surgery and now I am keeping Sephora and LUSH in business. My skin can't decide whether to break out or break down.
4. My nails are now so thin and short that I'm heading for the nearest acrylic nail joint on payday.
I've had a twitchy stomach since surgery. The MGB is a vertical sleeve with a six foot bypass, so there's nothing mini about it. Stupid misnomers. Anyway, my stomach seems to hold about four ounces. I can't do lactose, the gut hates chicken and pork and chocolate and bread. I live on crab meat, protein shakes, vitamins, beans, and cheese. Sometimes I also live on Chef Boyardee ravioli because my stomach, oddly, likes it. My stomach likes Taco Bell, also oddly, but not pizza or burgers.
So, very long post still way too long, I love my new body. I also hate some things about it. Nothing that can't be fixed with the reversal of gravity and a great surgeon, but still.
Is weight loss surgery the easy way out? In some ways. I don't work out. I mean, at all, unless you count the physical work inherent in my nursing job, or shopping for shoes at the mall. I don't count calories. I don't worry a whole lot about what I eat except to make sure that it has protein and that I won't be dry-heaving in an hour.
In some ways, it's not. See dry-heaving, above. It's a massive change. I never expected to see my collarbones again, much less my sternum or hipbones, but I can. I've lost over 100 pounds in seven months, and it's taken its toll on my body - my hair, skin and nails have all suffered dramatically for it. I have to taste tiny bites of food I haven't eaten recently to be sure I can eat it, because some things I can, and some things I can't. It's hard to explain, but those of you who have had surgery might know what I mean. Which can make dinner at the in-law's awkward when they tried to make food they thought I'd be able to eat.
And... what if it doesn't stop? What happens to me at 120, or 110, or 100 pounds? It's an interesting quandary. I feel like the loss is slowing way down for me, so it might be a moot question as I work hard to take in enough protein each day. I guess we'll see.
So, uh, hi again. How YOU doin'?