The New Year is upon us and a time for new hope and resolve; maybe even a resolution or two. My last fills and attempted fill were not so good with my elusive port. We felt it was time for another try. Unfortunately, the result was the same as that in December. The port is moving and very difficult to access in it's current position. Luckily Suncoast Bariatrics was getting a new machine that would allow them to perform a procedure such as a fill under Flouro emissions, pretty much under X-ray, allowing them to see what's going on inside as they work. My next attempt was scheduled to be done using Flouro for this purpose. Unfortunately on my next visit the machine was not yet in service due to some overdue safety badges to detect radiation levels from the machine. Dr. Jessee still gave it a shot, since I had come all the way down there and she was the one that was able to access it before, even after things got difficult. She wasn't able to repeat her magic again this time however, and we decided to try again only after the Flouro machine was in operation.
The very next week, in fact it ended up being on my previously scheduled 9 month follow up, we came in to try the fill under Flouro. This was fascinating. Standing in front of the machine when they fired it up, I could see my insides on an x-ray screen live. I have to say it was pretty cool! They could see my band, and it looked like it was still in great position. My port on the other hand had flipped entirely, where the side that can be accessed with the needle for adjustments was now facing away from the skin. Through some heroic efforts on Dr. Jessee's part, she was able to manipulate the port through the skin where she was able to access the port from underneath. I have to say it wasn't easy and took more than one attempt, but the tenacity of Dr. Jessee made it happen. They drained the band and gave me some fresh fluid with what they refer to as a reset. Oddly enough in the end, they actually put less fluid back in. We were able to test this fill out, while still using the Flouro machine. I was given some tasty barium to drink, so it would show up on the screen as it went down. It collected in the small stomach pouch and would trickle through the band just as designed. Dr. Jessee felt we shouldn't rush to fix the position of the port as it would require surgery. If we waited some time for me to further lose more weight and stabilize, it would be better. Now she knew the exact method she would use from this session under Flouro, to give me subsequent adjustments. I was concerned, what would happen in the event of an emergency and I had something get stuck in my band, and needed an emergency adjustment. I was concerned that the doctors in the emergency room would be ill equipped to adjust my band through my port. Dr Jessee assured me that she would always be available for me and could always be reached via pager.
I am continually amazed at the dedication of Dr Jessee, Dr Ache, and the rest of the staff at Suncoast Bariatrics. My particular case has certainly had some challenges along the way, but they have always given me extraordinary care and gone above and beyond the call of duty. It's been over nine months since my Lap Band surgery, and despite some of the unusual challenges, I certainly don't regret it. I feel tremendously better; I'm able to sleep through the night; My diabetes is under control; and I've lost a bunch of weight! Thank you for this great gift; it certainly has changed my life!
God Bless!
me
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Where's My Appendix?
I'm back from my show and tell tour, and after enjoying my time there a little too much, it's certainly time for my next fill. After having some difficulties during the last two fills where hitting my port with the needle has been particularly challenging for the doctors at Suncoast Bariatrics, I'm a little apprehensive about going. The doctors have been as gentle as possible, but there is still some discomfort and inevitable bruising that takes place when you have a needle wiggling around in search of a port. This time was no exception. Unfortunately this one was even worse in that they weren't able to access the port even after sustained effort. It was very disappointing, since as difficult as the last couple fills were, at least they were successful in that the adjustment was accomplished. We decided to let things sit for a bit and try again after the New Year. The cause seems to be that my port has shifted a bit and seems to be at an angle towards my belly button. More on this development in a later post.
It's Christmas time now and along with the holiday cheer, I've got belly pain. Not from the aforementioned aborted fill and resulted bruising, as that has already dissipated, but from my right side, no where near my port or band. After several days of pain, my wife convinced me on a trip to the emergency room. Apparently most of my symptoms seemed to point to an appendicitis, which if not caught in time could be life threatening. On Christmas Eve Eve we ended up in the emergency room. It was an interesting experience, which included a CAT scan to check my appendix, which they couldn't find. This didn't give me a lot of confidence; for some reason I expected a hospital to know where my anatomy is located. On the plus side they were impressed with all my vitals. Thank you Lap Band surgery! It seems it has made me much healthier along with the weight loss. It was nice to get some physical confirmation of that. The CAT scan didn't find my appendix, but it did see my Lap Band and they said everything looked really good, which was another nice confirmation. In the end they didn't have an explanation for the pain and recommended I see my primary care physician as a follow up.
I was able to get in to my regular doctor's office. They didn't find anything wrong either and were concerned that perhaps it was something related to my surgery like scar tissue and I should consult with my surgeon. My next stop the next day was to Suncoast Bariatrics and they sent me to another hospital ER where they can run another battery of tests for them to review. As you can imagine, I was fairly frustrated by this point. Every hospital and doctor's office was a full explanation and battery of tests with the same result until now. Finally Suncoast Bariatrics had someone at the hospital that came right into radiology and made me feel quite better. I went through the tests and got a much better diagnosis even if it was a somewhat embarrassing one. Before I get to that, they did say that the Lap Band was looking good, but they did note that my port had shifted. They decided that we should wait and see if it continues to shift as sometimes it may shift back based on how and where the weight comes off. It wasn't a priority right now as the band was certainly not what was causing my current pain issue thankfully.
OK, now for the embarrassing part. Apparently to no one's surprise, I was full of it! Yes, it was as simple as being constipated. I was surprised as I felt like I had been regular, but maybe I wasn't going enough? You could see right on the CAT scan that I had my intestine full all the way around to my side where I was feeling the pain. They prescribed me some stool softener and sent me on my way. Again the hospital staff was impressed with my vitals as they indicated that my Lap Band surgery and certainly done a lot for my over all health, which was nice to hear. I certainly feel a lot better over all. I can breath; I can sleep; I can move comfortably on my own without feeling like I'm going to pass out. It's been nice. My body has gone through some changes and perhaps one of them is my body chemistry where I may not be relieving myself as often as I should. It could just be I need some more fiber? Within a week of taking the stool softener, I was pain free and back on the healthy track. It made for a bit of a stressful holiday week, but in the end I felt better for it and glad to say I haven't had any constipation issues since. Thank you to all of those at Suncoast Bariatrics for seeing me on such short notice during the holidays and helping me with my constipation. They didn't dismiss me just because my issue had nothing to do with my Lap Band; they gave me excellent care and made sure they got to the bottom of my issue. Without their care I may not have been able to go as I needed to.....
God Bless!
me
PS - The reason the hospital couldn't readily find my appendix on the CAT scan is that it is usually very small when healthy. It only becomes very noticeable if there is an issue and becomes inflamed; at least that is my layman's understanding. I certainly don't have a medical degree.
It's Christmas time now and along with the holiday cheer, I've got belly pain. Not from the aforementioned aborted fill and resulted bruising, as that has already dissipated, but from my right side, no where near my port or band. After several days of pain, my wife convinced me on a trip to the emergency room. Apparently most of my symptoms seemed to point to an appendicitis, which if not caught in time could be life threatening. On Christmas Eve Eve we ended up in the emergency room. It was an interesting experience, which included a CAT scan to check my appendix, which they couldn't find. This didn't give me a lot of confidence; for some reason I expected a hospital to know where my anatomy is located. On the plus side they were impressed with all my vitals. Thank you Lap Band surgery! It seems it has made me much healthier along with the weight loss. It was nice to get some physical confirmation of that. The CAT scan didn't find my appendix, but it did see my Lap Band and they said everything looked really good, which was another nice confirmation. In the end they didn't have an explanation for the pain and recommended I see my primary care physician as a follow up.
I was able to get in to my regular doctor's office. They didn't find anything wrong either and were concerned that perhaps it was something related to my surgery like scar tissue and I should consult with my surgeon. My next stop the next day was to Suncoast Bariatrics and they sent me to another hospital ER where they can run another battery of tests for them to review. As you can imagine, I was fairly frustrated by this point. Every hospital and doctor's office was a full explanation and battery of tests with the same result until now. Finally Suncoast Bariatrics had someone at the hospital that came right into radiology and made me feel quite better. I went through the tests and got a much better diagnosis even if it was a somewhat embarrassing one. Before I get to that, they did say that the Lap Band was looking good, but they did note that my port had shifted. They decided that we should wait and see if it continues to shift as sometimes it may shift back based on how and where the weight comes off. It wasn't a priority right now as the band was certainly not what was causing my current pain issue thankfully.
OK, now for the embarrassing part. Apparently to no one's surprise, I was full of it! Yes, it was as simple as being constipated. I was surprised as I felt like I had been regular, but maybe I wasn't going enough? You could see right on the CAT scan that I had my intestine full all the way around to my side where I was feeling the pain. They prescribed me some stool softener and sent me on my way. Again the hospital staff was impressed with my vitals as they indicated that my Lap Band surgery and certainly done a lot for my over all health, which was nice to hear. I certainly feel a lot better over all. I can breath; I can sleep; I can move comfortably on my own without feeling like I'm going to pass out. It's been nice. My body has gone through some changes and perhaps one of them is my body chemistry where I may not be relieving myself as often as I should. It could just be I need some more fiber? Within a week of taking the stool softener, I was pain free and back on the healthy track. It made for a bit of a stressful holiday week, but in the end I felt better for it and glad to say I haven't had any constipation issues since. Thank you to all of those at Suncoast Bariatrics for seeing me on such short notice during the holidays and helping me with my constipation. They didn't dismiss me just because my issue had nothing to do with my Lap Band; they gave me excellent care and made sure they got to the bottom of my issue. Without their care I may not have been able to go as I needed to.....
God Bless!
me
PS - The reason the hospital couldn't readily find my appendix on the CAT scan is that it is usually very small when healthy. It only becomes very noticeable if there is an issue and becomes inflamed; at least that is my layman's understanding. I certainly don't have a medical degree.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Show & Tell Tour
It's been over six months since surgery, and we are full in holiday mode. Spending Thanksgiving with my wife's family, we went up to Connecticut to see my family the following week. The air is heavy with anticipation, not only to see what people say about my weight loss, but also the added baby news. Baby news did seem to trump Band news, and as much fun as it might be to recount the telling of our baby news to the family, it is a bit off topic, so I will let it go as it came as a big surprise, especially with everyone initially focused on my weight loss. :-)
I will say expectations are hard to overcome, especially if they may be high, but I was over all pleased with the results. It's funny, but reactions although varied from person to person, seemed to all have some commonality as well. The initial reaction always seemed to be one of hesitant processing accompanied by a studying stare. I'm not sure if it was more of disbelief or in some cases I wasn't meeting up with their expectations. I will say I was handicapped by the weather and time of year. Not only was it Winter, but I was coming from Florida to Connecticut, which probably net an equivalent temperature drop to match my weight loss! I was forced to layer and wear heavy clothes negating some of the apparent benefits of my weight loss. I must say that I was a bit disappointed with some of the reactions as a result. I may have even got a comment of "that's it?" along the way. However, any less than stellar reactions, were often followed by a more congratulatory tone, especially once I took my coat off. I dare say that I may have been able to bask in the glory of better adulation in a warmer clime or better season.
I had some unexpected reactions as well. For example, I got a surprise gush or two, not from how I looked so much, but seeing me actually perform some simple feat of agility, that prior to surgery would've challenged me as a monumental task, such as bending over to pick up something from the ground, climbing stairs without the accompanying huff and puff, or walking in general for that matter. There were comments like "Oh my God, he's able to do......" Fill in the blank. I hadn't realized how poor my physical abilities had gotten to prior to surgery. Seeing my progress through the eyes of others was an eye opener. I'm very pleased with how far I've come, and appreciate all my friends and family who have supported me and gotten me to where I am now. It's truly been a journey and not a destination, but sometimes it's nice to stop and look around and appreciate how far you've come. Thank you all for all of your support.
I can't wait until my next trip, perhaps in the Spring, where maybe I can sport shorts instead of over coats! It was also my first time back on a plane since surgery, and it was so nice to leave the seatbelt extender behind. I fit comfortably into the seat despite being stuck in a middle seat. I was amazed on the difference. Last time I felt like I was stuffed into the seat like an over plump sausage in a narrow sausage casing. I would have to endure the stares of fellow travelers hoping I wasn't sitting next to them and impeding on their space. Now I felt like nothing particularly special or noteworthy on the plane; it was nice to just be one of the crowd. Thank you to all who made this vision a reality.
I will say expectations are hard to overcome, especially if they may be high, but I was over all pleased with the results. It's funny, but reactions although varied from person to person, seemed to all have some commonality as well. The initial reaction always seemed to be one of hesitant processing accompanied by a studying stare. I'm not sure if it was more of disbelief or in some cases I wasn't meeting up with their expectations. I will say I was handicapped by the weather and time of year. Not only was it Winter, but I was coming from Florida to Connecticut, which probably net an equivalent temperature drop to match my weight loss! I was forced to layer and wear heavy clothes negating some of the apparent benefits of my weight loss. I must say that I was a bit disappointed with some of the reactions as a result. I may have even got a comment of "that's it?" along the way. However, any less than stellar reactions, were often followed by a more congratulatory tone, especially once I took my coat off. I dare say that I may have been able to bask in the glory of better adulation in a warmer clime or better season.
I had some unexpected reactions as well. For example, I got a surprise gush or two, not from how I looked so much, but seeing me actually perform some simple feat of agility, that prior to surgery would've challenged me as a monumental task, such as bending over to pick up something from the ground, climbing stairs without the accompanying huff and puff, or walking in general for that matter. There were comments like "Oh my God, he's able to do......" Fill in the blank. I hadn't realized how poor my physical abilities had gotten to prior to surgery. Seeing my progress through the eyes of others was an eye opener. I'm very pleased with how far I've come, and appreciate all my friends and family who have supported me and gotten me to where I am now. It's truly been a journey and not a destination, but sometimes it's nice to stop and look around and appreciate how far you've come. Thank you all for all of your support.
I can't wait until my next trip, perhaps in the Spring, where maybe I can sport shorts instead of over coats! It was also my first time back on a plane since surgery, and it was so nice to leave the seatbelt extender behind. I fit comfortably into the seat despite being stuck in a middle seat. I was amazed on the difference. Last time I felt like I was stuffed into the seat like an over plump sausage in a narrow sausage casing. I would have to endure the stares of fellow travelers hoping I wasn't sitting next to them and impeding on their space. Now I felt like nothing particularly special or noteworthy on the plane; it was nice to just be one of the crowd. Thank you to all who made this vision a reality.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Belly News
I would like to apologize for being way behind in my blog updates. I've been side tracked due to a number of things going on and my blogging has taken a back seat as a result. I will try and make sure that I don't lose the continuity on the news and will try and go back to where I left off back in October and hopefully after a number of entries I will catch you back up to present.
With my last entry I had mentioned I was still having some belly issues related to my port. I would like to elaborate on that. The issue is not with my Lap Band itself, in fact I've always felt that the band was very well placed and comfortable. It is with my port used to give me adjustments. Back in the Fall it was getting more and more difficult to access my port due to some underlying movement in the port making it harder and harder to pin down with the needle. The resulting time with the needle in my belly just led to some discomfort and swelling that seemed to last a week or two afterwards. This soreness really took me out of my normal routine for exercise and the like. A couple of the times I believe even resulted in an infection, since the swelling and accompanying red streaking would only diminish after starting a regiment of antibiotics. More to come on future posts regarding my port.
On the subject of bellies, my wife's has begun to grow even while mine has shrunk. Some might think this is a result of her finishing meals I can't finish due to the band, or she is simply finding what I'm losing. Neither is true... In fact she is carrying our first baby! I know this seems to be unrelated news considering this is a blog on Lap Band surgery, but I disagree. Besides being a proud father to be, I honestly believe that Lap Band surgery and the corresponding weight loss has had a significant impact that may have led to my wife's current condition, and I don't mean that it made me more attractive to my wife either, although that may be true too. ;-P I'm speaking purely medically. One of my medical conditions I have/had is/was low testosterone levels. I haven't mentioned this before because I myself felt this was very unrelated to my obesity. Well I may have been wrong... I've been taking treatment for my condition for many years with minimal improvement. However, around six months after surgery my testosterone levels have dramatically increased to nearly normal levels. I don't see it as a coincidence that not long after surgery my testosterone level has begun to normalize and not long after that, I'm an expectant father.
Lap Band surgery is improving my health in even unforseen ways. Thank you Lap Band for helping me to expand my family. I much rather see my wife with a baby bump instead of the one I saw in the mirror my whole pre-banded life!
God Bless!
With my last entry I had mentioned I was still having some belly issues related to my port. I would like to elaborate on that. The issue is not with my Lap Band itself, in fact I've always felt that the band was very well placed and comfortable. It is with my port used to give me adjustments. Back in the Fall it was getting more and more difficult to access my port due to some underlying movement in the port making it harder and harder to pin down with the needle. The resulting time with the needle in my belly just led to some discomfort and swelling that seemed to last a week or two afterwards. This soreness really took me out of my normal routine for exercise and the like. A couple of the times I believe even resulted in an infection, since the swelling and accompanying red streaking would only diminish after starting a regiment of antibiotics. More to come on future posts regarding my port.
On the subject of bellies, my wife's has begun to grow even while mine has shrunk. Some might think this is a result of her finishing meals I can't finish due to the band, or she is simply finding what I'm losing. Neither is true... In fact she is carrying our first baby! I know this seems to be unrelated news considering this is a blog on Lap Band surgery, but I disagree. Besides being a proud father to be, I honestly believe that Lap Band surgery and the corresponding weight loss has had a significant impact that may have led to my wife's current condition, and I don't mean that it made me more attractive to my wife either, although that may be true too. ;-P I'm speaking purely medically. One of my medical conditions I have/had is/was low testosterone levels. I haven't mentioned this before because I myself felt this was very unrelated to my obesity. Well I may have been wrong... I've been taking treatment for my condition for many years with minimal improvement. However, around six months after surgery my testosterone levels have dramatically increased to nearly normal levels. I don't see it as a coincidence that not long after surgery my testosterone level has begun to normalize and not long after that, I'm an expectant father.
Lap Band surgery is improving my health in even unforseen ways. Thank you Lap Band for helping me to expand my family. I much rather see my wife with a baby bump instead of the one I saw in the mirror my whole pre-banded life!
God Bless!
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Race Report
I did it! Yes I completed a 5K. It was tougher than I expected, but that's partly because I have another infection in my belly around my port ( more on that on a future post). I decided that with my belly swollen I should take it slow and walked the whole thing. My wife was sweet enough to walk with me. She has been incredibly supportive through everything. It was her first 5K and we enjoyed walking it together. The race started and finished in downtown Tampa on 10/12. It also took us along scenic Bayshore Blvd, which is one of the nicest streets in America as it hugs the water in Tampa. It is very exhilarating to participate in a 5K. There are all types of folks competing from the seasoned runners to those just wanting to give it a try and get some exercise. You see parents running with their children and strollers; you see seniors impressing with their fortitude. I dare say sprinkled in among the rest are the Banded, myself included. Thanks to the Lap Band I was there and I finished! Thank you to all that made that possible.
We completed the course in exactly 58 minutes; certainly not record time, but prior to surgery walking even half that distance would have been unthinkable. I feel like I've come along way, but I'm just getting started! As I get in better shape, I plan on improving my times in future races. Thanks to my Lap Band surgery, I'm able to participate in activities that were previously impossible. Completing a 5K just got checked off on my list of goals after surgery and I have a not so lousy t-shirt to prove it.
Thanks,
me :-)
We completed the course in exactly 58 minutes; certainly not record time, but prior to surgery walking even half that distance would have been unthinkable. I feel like I've come along way, but I'm just getting started! As I get in better shape, I plan on improving my times in future races. Thanks to my Lap Band surgery, I'm able to participate in activities that were previously impossible. Completing a 5K just got checked off on my list of goals after surgery and I have a not so lousy t-shirt to prove it.
Thanks,
me :-)
Sunday, September 29, 2013
How Sweet It Is, Not To Be So Sweet!
I had my first follow up with my regular physician since my surgery. I was very anxious to get the results of my bloodwork. I'm happy to say that my glucose has gone down 67 points and my A1C has gone down nearly 2 full points! Although I'm still considered diabetic, these numbers represent a tremendous reduction in my sugar and gives me high hopes for a future free of diabetes. None of this would be possible without the generosity and support of the wonderful folks at Suncoast Bariatrics and the Palms of Pasadena with their life changing gift of free Lap Band surgery. Thank you!
me
me
Monday, August 12, 2013
Swelling, Shorts, and Milk too!
Seems like a while since I've made an update to my blog, so I apologize for the delay. I was waiting for a more significant event, but in a way I'm pleased that things have begun to seem normal. I decided to throw a few odds and ends together instead of waiting for a significant event. Normal life is more subdued; seromas and surgeries don't happen every day after all.
First I did run into a minor issue in the area of my port. I began experiencing some soreness or discomfort around the port followed by some swelling. After a few days of no improvement and it began feeling warm to the touch, I called the doctor and they had me come in. Dr. Ache examined me and probed me with a needle to see if we could drain any fluid. Fluid was minimal and we took advantage of having the needle already in to give me my second fill. She indicated that swelling around the port can be a common occurrence when your activity level increases. I certainly have been trying to up my exercise a notch, so this made sense. She also told me to keep an eye on it just in case it could be something else. I could call in and she could write a script for an antibiotic if needed. Over the weekend the swelling seemed to increase and the area became very red and warm. Also, I began to have a fever. I called on Monday and got the script and within a few days of taking the antibiotic, the swelling and redness began to subside. All told I would say it lasted about a week, so it was no big deal, but still noteworthy.
A small note on milk. On an earlier post I mentioned Skim Plus, which is a fortified skim milk with extra protein and vitamins and the taste more like whole milk. This is a great option, but there are others. If you visit the dairy section of your local grocery store, you will find many products with similar attributes. There are varieties of these fortified low fat milks, but also some complete substitutes as well. My friend Ilene made the suggestion of trying almond milk. I found a coupon and tried Almond Breeze, which came in many varieties itself including an unsweetened original and unsweetened vanilla, both of which are only 30 calories per serving. That was even less than the Skim Plus milk, yet still had the extra protein and vitamins, even more so in some instances than the Skim Plus. I've been using it ever since. Thanks Ilene. There are of course other alternatives as well including lactose free as well as many varieties of soy milk. My suggestion is to explore and find one that works for your tastes and needs. I primarily use it for the shakes and cereals and the almond milk works great for both.
I want to end with a great note and a first for me. I have begun noticing a difference in some of my clothes. They are hanging loose and some are even making me look awkward. One particular pair of jean shorts, I even turned in to Suncoast Bariatrics for their clothes room. To keep them from falling I had to tighten my belt to the point it would even create a pleat in the front. Luckily I covered it up with a shirt. This was a significant break through for me. Traditionally I would get rid of clothes because they would rip or become unwearable for being too tight or unbuttonable. Over the years I've given away bags and bags of clothes to Goodwill or the Salvation Army; all way too small as my midsection would grow and grow. Now for the first time I got rid of something because it was too big! It was only one piece, but it was a start and I'm happy to be moving in the right direction! Thank you Suncoast Bariatrics and Palms of Pasadena! This is an awesome feeling and it's all thanks to you.
me
First I did run into a minor issue in the area of my port. I began experiencing some soreness or discomfort around the port followed by some swelling. After a few days of no improvement and it began feeling warm to the touch, I called the doctor and they had me come in. Dr. Ache examined me and probed me with a needle to see if we could drain any fluid. Fluid was minimal and we took advantage of having the needle already in to give me my second fill. She indicated that swelling around the port can be a common occurrence when your activity level increases. I certainly have been trying to up my exercise a notch, so this made sense. She also told me to keep an eye on it just in case it could be something else. I could call in and she could write a script for an antibiotic if needed. Over the weekend the swelling seemed to increase and the area became very red and warm. Also, I began to have a fever. I called on Monday and got the script and within a few days of taking the antibiotic, the swelling and redness began to subside. All told I would say it lasted about a week, so it was no big deal, but still noteworthy.
A small note on milk. On an earlier post I mentioned Skim Plus, which is a fortified skim milk with extra protein and vitamins and the taste more like whole milk. This is a great option, but there are others. If you visit the dairy section of your local grocery store, you will find many products with similar attributes. There are varieties of these fortified low fat milks, but also some complete substitutes as well. My friend Ilene made the suggestion of trying almond milk. I found a coupon and tried Almond Breeze, which came in many varieties itself including an unsweetened original and unsweetened vanilla, both of which are only 30 calories per serving. That was even less than the Skim Plus milk, yet still had the extra protein and vitamins, even more so in some instances than the Skim Plus. I've been using it ever since. Thanks Ilene. There are of course other alternatives as well including lactose free as well as many varieties of soy milk. My suggestion is to explore and find one that works for your tastes and needs. I primarily use it for the shakes and cereals and the almond milk works great for both.
I want to end with a great note and a first for me. I have begun noticing a difference in some of my clothes. They are hanging loose and some are even making me look awkward. One particular pair of jean shorts, I even turned in to Suncoast Bariatrics for their clothes room. To keep them from falling I had to tighten my belt to the point it would even create a pleat in the front. Luckily I covered it up with a shirt. This was a significant break through for me. Traditionally I would get rid of clothes because they would rip or become unwearable for being too tight or unbuttonable. Over the years I've given away bags and bags of clothes to Goodwill or the Salvation Army; all way too small as my midsection would grow and grow. Now for the first time I got rid of something because it was too big! It was only one piece, but it was a start and I'm happy to be moving in the right direction! Thank you Suncoast Bariatrics and Palms of Pasadena! This is an awesome feeling and it's all thanks to you.
me
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)