SimplySteff

[font=comic sans ms,cursive][size=3]I have struggled with weight since I was 6 years old. Tried every fad weight loss trick out there. Tried "lifestyle" changes, tried exercising, tried purging, tried, tried, tried, Made for an extremely emotional teen and adult roller coaster ride. About 5 years ago I decided that due to several friends success with Gastric Bypass, I was going to start the process. Started and quit 3 times, it wasn't right for me at that point. This year in January I found out my dad was dying. He needed a liver because of some extremely poor choices with needles (prison tats and heroin). He had cleaned up his life, surrendered it to God and was serving the Lord. He had a wife of 23 years, 3 other daughters and was really on the right path. He worked with at risk youth and steered them away from gangs and drugs and towards God. 3 years ago he was diagnosed with Hep C and his world turned upside down. The choices he made when he was a teen and in his twenties came back to haunt him. I watched my sisters, step mom, aunts, uncles and grandparents trying to deal with his illness and need for a liver transplant. It changed my life. I realized I wasn't making illegal choices but, I was destroying myself just the same as he had. Maybe I had a few years before my choices caught up with me but, they WOULD catch up. I surrendered myself to the Lord, I admitted my weakness and leaned on His strength. That was on January 20th of 2012. I had my first appt for the WLS orientation in February and was really nervous. I was still scared of the Gastric Bypass but, determined to move forward for myself and my family. The surgeon detailed 3 surgeries and the final one he talked about was the Gastric Sleeve, his surgery of choice. It was like an "ah ha" moment for me. I went home and spent the next couple months researching and learning about the Sleeve. I prayed about it, discussed it with my family and decided it was the right fit for me. By the time I met my Surgeon for my first official pre op visit, I was past goal weight and he scheduled surgery that day! February 22nd I met the surgeon and my surgery was scheduled on May 8th, It was amazing how fast it all went this time. Of course, I had all the tests and classes in the time between January and May but, still it flew by. On May 1st, 2012 my dad passed away. I found out on May 6th that his funeral was scheduled for May 8th the same day as my surgery. I struggled with it, I called to reschedule and was told it would be at least a month out because they were booked. I do daycare, the possibility of time off in the summer was slim. I prayed again and talked to my mom and husband and decided to go ahead with the surgery. It was a hard thing to do and very emotional. I decided it was my way of honoring the most important decision he ever helped me make, even if he didn't know it. My mother, husband and kids dropped me off at Kaiser on the morning of the surgery on thier way to the funeral (I begged them to go for me). I was alone in the waiting room, then in pre-op. I was so scared that I was going to go into surgery without saying one last prayer with my husband. 5 minutes before I was wheeled into surgery he arrived. We prayed, I was wheeled in, I counted to umm maybe two (lol good drugs) and don't remember a thing until my husband was standing over me in recovery trying to cover my rear end because I was throwing the blankets off! Moved to my room with no pain, chatted with by best friend, hubby, oldest daughter, Mom and Pastor's wife for a couple hours falling asleep off and on. Got up about 3 hours later and walked after that needed to hit my little drug button and realized that the "good stuff" makes me nauseaous and hot. Only did that one more time the whole stay. The next morning I felt really good, sipped yucky chicken broth and walked, walked, walked...chatted with visitors and waited for the Surgeon to come visit. At 3 that afternoon he stopped by and I asked if I could go home...he said, "why not" and I was outta there 2 long hours later! Little pain on the way home but, tolerable, nausea the next couple days but, got my liquids in. Started my shakes the fourth day and been cruising ever since. First week lost 13 lbs (3 from fluids in hospital and 9 additional), next 14 days lost a whopping 0 lbs and today lost 3 lbs. for a not so grand total since day of surgery = 12 lbs in 22 days. Not thrilling like some of these "I dropped 40 lbs the first month people" but, I am pleased by it. I am hoping for a nice steady medium pace of weight loss. I think if I lose a little slower it will help me to acclimate to it a bit better. Although, it's going to go as fast as it wants to. [/size][/font]