A NEW ME IN THE MAKING....MY MAJOR DECISION TO CHANGE
by Amber Newmeinthemakin Holt on Monday, December 19, 2011 at 2:57pm
So, I have been debating as to whether or not I should tell anyone, because I was worried about what everyone would think, but I don't care anymore, so here goes. On August 30th, 2011 I had gastric bypass surgery. (For those of you that dont know, its weight loss surgery)
It took me a long time to come to the decision to do this, but when I was going to the doctor every month, and having him tell me that I had something else wrong with me every single time, I knew it was time to do something. I didn't want to let my husband and my children watch me slowly die.
I know some will ask, "Well why not just eat better and exercise?"
1. I didn't eat much, or eat unhealthy to begin with.
2. I was doing what I could, due to being left paralyzed from my neck down after having a tumor removed from my spinal cord in Dec 2009. I had PT twice a week for at least 1 hr per session, and nothing was helping. My blood pressure was at stroke levels even with being on 3 meds, and I had diabetes that wasn't being controlled even though I was on a VERY restricted diet, as well as 3 different meds for it.
Bariatric surgery was my ONLY option at this point. The day after surgery things were already improving. I have since been able to completely go off of my diabetes and blood pressure medications, my cholesterol has dropped 100 points, my arthritis has improved some, and I am getting more feeling back in my legs and feet. I feel better overall Oh, and not to mention that I have lost 56lbs in three and a half months.
For anyone who says that this is the easy way out, THINK AGAIN! I was paralyzed, and had to learn to walk again, among other things, and this Bariatric surgery is harder than that! Right now I can only eat about 2 ounces of food. Yes, 2OZ! All I can drink is water, and I have to have at least 64 oz per day, and it takes me a minimum of 30 minutes to eat the 2oz of food that I'm allowed. If I eat any faster, it gets stuck, or I have severe pain.
I have already been to the ER because I ate a bite of meat (that was on my okay to eat list) and it got stuck in the finger size hole that my food passes through. I felt like I was going to die. I could hardly breath, drink, swallow, or even move for that matter. If I eat ANYTHING at all that has even a trace of sugar in it, I dump. That means, that I get chest pain, heave for 30-40 minutes, with nothing coming up, except slime, feeling like my internal organs and my chest are being ripped to pieces, and the WORST headache and back pain I have ever felt in my life.
I am also required to have 75grams of protein daily, which is VERY difficult, due to not being able to eat or drink much. So since I am unable to get all required, even though my protein levels are fine, my hair is falling out. Good thing I have a lot! I also have to take 3 flintstones chewable vitamins daily (not all together), along with 1500mg of calcium citrate daily (2 hours before or after the vitamins) , 1000mcg 2-3 times a week, and 100mg Vitamin B1 weekly, on top of my other meds that I've been on since my tumor removal. And I have to either crush them, or cut them in two, and wait 10 minutes between each individual pill, or they will get stuck as well. When your stomach holds less than 2oz, that's not easy to do, and still be able to eat something. I knew all about all of this before I made the decision to do this, and even though its extremely hard, this is one of the best decisions I have EVER made!
If you want to comment on this, then please do so, but if you have negative thoughts, PLEASE think about them, and ask me questions before you judge. I do care what other people think, and I respect your opinions, or it wouldn't have taken me this long to let people know about it, however I didn't post this to be bashed.
Katy Perry - Firework
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