It’s been awhile since I updated my weight loss journey, so here goes. Many of you know I had weight loss surgery in February of this year. It was a tough decision, however ongoing health issues made it the right choice for me. A Parkinson’s drug side effect (obsessive eating), along with my lack of mobility aggravated my weight gain. During most of 2010 I felt very ill. I was extremely fatigued, suffered ongoing stomach pain, slept a mere 30 hours a week, and felt quite depressed. Extreme swelling in my lower limbs led me to have a battery of tests, including a liver biopsy. The results were heart-breaking, I was told I had NASH, otherwise known as Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. This condition resembles alcoholic liver disease, but occurs in people who drink little or no alcohol. The major feature in NASH is fat in the liver, along with inflammation and damage. NASH can be severe and can lead to cirrhosis, in which the liver is permanently damaged and scarred and no longer able to work properly.
My gastroenterologist felt I was a good candidate for bariatric surgery, a suggestion that initially shocked and offended me. I’m probably like most people and knew very little about weight loss surgery. The thought of it seemed weird and very scary. I was afraid it would turn my life into a food freak show. Luckily I was wrong.
I honestly feel like weight loss surgery has given me my life back. Despite some real challenges I haven’t had a second of regret. For me it was the best decision I could have made….it’s helped me find myself again. It’s wonderful to finally feel free from weight concerns and food obsessions. I have a new-found respect for my body and what I put in it. I sleep more soundly than I have in years, my liver enzymes are back to normal, I can walk without having to stop every 50 feet, my feet and back no longer hurt, my energy level has tripled, and I feel like the gal I once remember.
The journey has gone very smoothly for me. Luckily I haven’t had any complications. The first few months are the hardest, eating can be painful and food choices are very limited. However each day it gets easier and easier.
My diet is very different nowadays. I no longer consume bread, pasta, rice, milk, or sugar. Oddly enough, I don’t really miss them. For some reason my body craves different food. I try to get at least 60 to 80 grams of protein in a day, extremely important for bariatric patients. After the procedure the body absorbs fewer nutrients, which means additional vitamins/minerals is a lifetime commitment. Another strange challenge has been hair loss, which began 3 months after surgery. This common side-effect does reverse itself in time, however it’s still freaky to see a handful of hair in your comb.
I’m being very brave and posting a photo of me three days post-surgery. I’m in my hotel room recovering, and thought I better take this dreadful shot for the record. I also posted a few additional pics of me taken during the past seven months. So far I have lost 86 lbs. and have 20 more to go.
