Sorry, Been A While. . .Life Is Crazy

Instead of re-hashing and re-capping the past 6 months or so since I've been gone, let's start with about a month ago. That's been interesting. For the past 4-6 weeks, I'd been so tired and not feeling well. I hadn't been able to keep in food--even liquids--down for over a month. So last Thursday (01/20/2011) I had 2 procedures at the hospital:

1. A scope of my throat and stomach to make sure that everything with my Lab Band was in place and
2. A modified barium swallow evaluation to make sure the MS hadn't effected my swallowing muscles

After both of those came out alright, I called my surgeon the next day (Friday, 01/21/2011) to have my band loosened. He was not in office that day so he said to meet him at the 24 hour Emergency room where he meets patients last minute. Well loosening the band worked great & I've been able to eat w/o throwing up since Friday. Amen & Hallelujah!! Really, it's been so liberating to just consume food withouth hurling. Don't EVER take that for granted. However, good thing I was at the ER b/c in the process of running routine blood tests and stuff they said, "oh my. . .you're so dehydrated, and your potassium level is too low, and you're super anemic." So there you go. . .almost 4 hours in the ER to get myself back to "normal". I never would've thought that not being able to eat would be an emotional experience. I mean, I was so totally weepy and exhausted. And I guess my body chemistry was all "outta whack" too so I guess the emotional part is/was to be expected. Just never really connected the dots. So all that mayhem and upheaval and foolishness as the result of the PVD (Puke Vomit Diet).

1Love,
Ky

p.s. On the upside, all things happen for a reason, and my nurse at Emerus ER was the coolest girl ever. Totally made a new friend for life. We exchanged phone numbers and are gonna get together.

p.p.s. (or is it p.s.s.?) I've also probably dropped another 25 or 30 since we last spoke. A good 10 of that is probably in the past month. Here's hoping that I don't pack those back on now that I'm able to consume stuff without it making reappearance. Here's what I look like now:

(That's my honorary li'l sis, Amanda, in the turquouse dress)

(No, the baby is not mine. . .even tho' it may look like I'm feeding him. )

It's a process. Slow & steady wins the race, right?

Been Awhile. . .

So I haven't blogged in a really, really long time. Life's been kinda crazy hectic. And still I don't have much to say. The journey is progressing. . .slowly but surely. I can't believe it'll be a year on October 29th. I'm down about 45 or 50 lbs. My surgeon is super pleased with that considering the MS and all; he said he'd be pleased if I lost like 35 lbs a year.. Me? Not so much. I was hoping for more like 100 lbs down in the first year. But at least going slow with it, I don't have that nasty hanging skin phenomenon. So, slow & steady right? After all, the early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. So I guess there's something to be said for hanging back and taking it slow and gradual--baby steps (a credo that applies in so many arenas). Immediate gratification is at times overrated. There are always consequences for rushing headlong into something, anything, right? Anybody can be smart after the fact: Monday morning quarterbacks, hindsight is 20/20 and all that. And I'm learning a lot in the process. Patience being one. I've also learned just in the past couple of weeks that an Eggo (or generic brand of your choice) waffle with a light smear of peanut butter along with a protein shake is a delicious breakfast and that low-fat cottage cheese is a versatile, protein-packed super food!! It's a wonderful substitute for sour cream on taco salads or baked potatoes or chili. You want a fast and healthy dessert? Mix it with some cinnamon and a packet of Splenda and OMG! So tasty and delicious. I will have to explore more uses for it. And when I do, I'll get back to you. Y'know. . .eventually. Oh yeah. . .this is me as of a couple weeks ago. In pictures, I can really see progress at least. Guess I had more to say than I originally thought.
This one is from June 2010 @ my 15 Yr Reunion
This one is from August.

And yes, the braces are new, too. Got those on June 18, 2010.

2010 is my Delta Year. Delta being the Greek letter for change.

Another Follow Up. . .

I just couldn't take it anymore. The vomiting, the tightness, the pain. Even though my x-rays last week said my band was not "tight". However, there are some other considerations for me such as the esophageal spasms as a result of MS. It's not a good combination. (Did I already go into that? Sorry if I'm being redundant, but the symptoms actually got worse!) I "stuck it out" for 3 weeks, and was going to try and wait until my scheduled appt. next Wednesday, but just wasn't able to tolerate it anymore--not keeping anything down anymore--not even my protein shakes or water which makes taking my daily medications problematic (I actually threw up a partially digested pill this morning. YUCK). Even after just a sip or 2 of water, my stomach feels tight and bloated like I've been eating nonstop at an all-you-can-eat buffet. It's painful. I have been having kidney pain b/c I'm a bit dehydrated--don't want to add the discomfort of a UTI to the mix. I have my MS infusion therapy on Friday; if I'm not well-hydrated for that (they recommend at least 40 oz. of water before I go in at 1), then they won't be able to get vein access. There's no way I woulda been able to drink that quantity of water. And I was often feeling weak and dizzy too b/c I flat was not getting enough food/nutrients. So today I broke down and I had to make an "emergency" visit to my surgeon to get my band loosened. Ahhh. Immediate relief. Oh yea, and I'd lost 7 pounds in 7 days!! Evidently, puking up everything you take in (yes including water) b/c of esophageal spasms stemming from MS is a GREAT diet! THAT MAKES 37 POUNDS IN RIGHT AT 4 MONTHS! (Which is rather great especially since there was a lady in there today who has only lost 55 lbs. in 2 years. I'd be seriously discouraged, but she seems cool with it.) Let's see how much more I've lost come next Wednesday. Stay tuned.

.

Went to the Doctor Yesterday

So I'm back not quite 2 weeks later. I went to see my surgeon yesterday about all the "yakking" which hasn't really ceased all that much. Okay, not at all. It's so random. One time I can eat a little fish and vegetables and be fine. The next time, I can take a li'l sip of water and spew like a geyser. I would say call me Old Faithful, but that's predictable. Me and my reaction to food beverage intake? Not so much. My friend Bonnie calls it Bulimiatric (instead of bariatric) Surgery. LOL!!!

ON THE UPSIDE: My x-rays are fine. The band hasn't slipped (which is an ugly phenomenon that requires corrective surgery), the band isn't too tight or anything like that. In fact, Dr. Felts said that if he were just treating the x-ray, he'd say, "this band needs to be tightened some". But he's not treating the x-ray, he's treating the whole patient. This particular patient has MS and that's causing some, well a lot, of the problem. See, my esophagus doesn't work normally. As with any other muscle, it can (and frequently does) have spasms. That's why I'll randomly choke on some water and always have the hiccups. Also, the band feels tighter when you have PMS. I guess water retention affects everywhere. And I been under some stress lately--which of course always makes anything worse. So there you have it. It's all connected. The human body is amazing--even when it's not acting exactly right. My gastrointestinal pyrotechnics displays are the result of a combination of MS, STRESS & PMS (say that 3 times fast.) So we didn't adjust my band at all. I'm set to see him again in 2 weeks, by then Aunt Flow should have come and gone along with her H2O hoarding cronies. Hopefully things will have calmed down by then. Oh yeah, and on the SUPER DUPER UP, UP, WAY UPSIDE: I'VE LOST 5 MORE POUNDS. 5 POUNDS IN 2 WEEKS. THAT'S AWESOME! THAT IS A TOTAL OF 30 LBS. LOST IN 3.5 MONTHS. (Especially considering that I saw a lady at the office yesterday who had her surgery 18 months ago, and she's only lost 50 pounds.) Okay, that's all for now. Back to work for me.

-KGB

February 2010 Progress Report

So I had a follow-up with my surgeon on 02/10/2010. Only lost 3 more pounds. Oh man! I thought for sure I would've lost more than that given the new workout program (see January post). Maybe I'd just packed on some muscle. That sounds plausible, right? Oh well, whatever the case, my doctor pumped some more saline into my band to further constrict my stomach. That is such a weird feeling. Like you can feel your stomach getting tighter. Almost like this all of a sudden full sensation. It's so odd. So we'll see how I do with that come next month. I'm hoping for another 8 pounds by then. Even so, I'm down right at 30 pounds in just over 3 months so I'm not really complaining. Really I'm not. My doctor also said I'm not getting enough protein. It's really hard to consume 60-70 grams of protein a day when you're not eating that much. so more protein shakes are in my future--those help. Increased protein intake-->more muscle development-->more fat burning-->increased metabolism (or metababolism as Homer Simpson says)-->more weight loss. So I gotta work it out.

And I really gotta figure out the new tightness thing b/c right now my name could be "Pukey Van Hurlenburg" or maybe "Vomitia Barfington". I feel like one of those after school specials about bulimia. Remember the one where the girl was throwing up in jars and bags and hiding them in her room so no one would know? Well, that's been me lately. I threw up grapes and yogurt people! GRAPES AND YOGURT!! That's some nasty -ish. I even threw up water. That happened at work. Fun. On the upside, I've been working with the same people for 10 years, and Mama works in my office, too. So this one lady, Leanora aka Lenny just got a paper towel and wiped off my hands whilst Mama wiped up the floor and I sat there looking dazed and confused going "it's just water. I promise it's only water." How sweet is that? Lenny said no big deal cuz she's 67 and raised 2 boys. She didn't even really stop eating her breakfast. Being the office baby has definite perks. So why all the upchucking? calling "Ralph & Europe" on the big white phone? worshiping the porcelain gods? Well, imagine pouring too much liquid too fast into a funnel that's too small. That's the basic concept. Stuff just gets stuck and then comes back up instead of going down. So I just have to concentrate harder on taking really teeny-tiny bites and chewing everything to the consistency of baby food.

All that being said, I really am making progress. People say they can really tell a difference--and especially the people I don't see everyday. It was really nice to hear my brother/trainer say to me the other day, "Man, it's just falling of of you." So let's go for a little visual timeline:

This one is 10-14-2009 (2 weeks before surgery):














And now here I am in the same outfit on 01/31/2010 (much better!)














And the last one is from a wedding on 2-13-2010. I like that I'm getting the narrow face and pointy chin thing finally:



So that's the latest. Feedback is welcome (and desired!) See ya 'round the Blogspot.

~K

January 2010Progress Report

I went to see my surgeon yesterday for a follow-up. 8 more pounds gone!! That makes a total of 24 pounds in just over 2 months. . .I'm pretty excited. I'm eager to see how much more I will have lost by the time I go see him for my February visit. I'm hoping it'll be an even more drastic change, and it probably will be cuz I started my brother's workout routine this past Sunday. It's so nice to have a brother that's a Certified (not certifiable tho' he's that too) Personal Trainer. He spent lotsa time researching the surgery and MS to put together a program for me. This is what it consists of:

"Tomorrow I would like you to begin on the exercise bike. 30 minutes and if you have any weights or bands I want you to do 4 sets of 12 to 15 curls, 4 sets of 12 to 15 shoulder presses, 4 sets of 12 to 15 tricep extensions, 4 sets of ab planks."

Biceps curls - //www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAq_ocpRh_I (12 to 15 per arm)
Triceps extensions - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf_UATtNspc
shoulder presses- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z_lOPJQ6Zk
ab plank- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ar2iRusnnc (two modified versions in this video as well) I HATE THESE TOO CUZ THEY LOOKED ALL EASY, THEN I WENT TO ACTUALLY DO THEM. I THINK THE PHRASE "NO PAIN, NO GAIN" WAS COINED CUZZA THESE BLASTED AB PLANKS!

(Oh crap! Just realized I've been doing 3 sets of 15 instead of 4. . .but really, 3 sets of 15 is not a whole lot less than 4 sets of 12 so it shouldn't be that bigga deal, right?)

Oh and so as to "shock my body", I've also been instructed to interject yoga which looks easy & relaxing, but is SO NOT!! (SEE MY EARLIER SENTIMENTS RE: AB PLANKS.) I think that was a harder workout than anything else. . .at least that's what my hamstrings are tellin' me. I always prided myself on being "bendy", but I have been humbled by Namaste Yoga. Downward facing dog my (__!__)!! FYI, the dog is facing downward cuz it passed out from exhaustion. Don't ever wonder why the final cool down pose is called "corpse pose". It's cuz the instructor tried to kill you! (No, really. . .I like it.)

So that's the latest, folks--for those of you who are actually following. Unless anything major happens, you'll be hearing from me again in February.

p.s. Random, Unrelated Comment: Isn't this picture of me from 1989 when I was 12 funny? I look exactly the same still!! Only my hair has changed. Or maybe not so random. I think I wanna be this size again. Whatcha think?

Uh-Oh!!! A Li'l Oops. . .

Today I did a "Bad, Bad Thing"
.

Like, LL Cool J, "I'm Bad".


If Michael Jackson still wants to know whose bad, the answer is I AM!



So what did I do? I cheated on my diet! I had a cheeseburger! So what if it was a Jr. Cheeseburger and it took me like 45 minutes to eat it. So what if the "powers that be" say you just let yourself cheat every once in a while? Seriously, I think I just consumed more calories in a single sitting than I typically have in 2 days. But I just had to have it. I'd just gotten my swine flu shot and BK was across the street, and I flashed back to those commercials they've been showing of the Jr. Cheeseburger. But I'm back on the wagon now. Sure it was good, but I feel a li'l bit stuffed & sick. Serves me right.

Contritely,
Kyla