Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014 In Review - for better or worse

Wow, I just cant believe its actually the last day of 2014 today!  It has been a game changing year for sure not only for me personally but also for the United States and the World at large.

For myself, if you read this blog, you know that In April I made the decision to have bariatric surgery (gastric sleeve) and on September 2nd, I actually went through with it and as of today, December 31st, 2014 I am down 65 lbs total from my pre surgery weight of 348 lbs!

In December, actually about a week ago, Xmas Eve, I got a huge diamond engagement ring from my long time (14 years) boyfriend, which made me very happy!

In the world, early on in 2014, we had to deal with these assholes Isis hacking off peoples heads.  I dont know about you but there is nothing there but sand and people that live in sand, why would anyone that isnt a soldier want to even be there?

There was the Malaysia airliner that went down somewhere in or near the indian ocean, never to be found again and another one later in the year that was shot down over the Ukraine.  I would stay off that airlines for sure.

We had huge mudslides in washington state that killed 40 people, what a way to go right?  Oh and how can we forget the Ebola scare in the US?  Unfortunately its still raging over in africa but didn't come anywhere near what a lot of people thought would happen on US soil.

We had Robin Williams suicide, NFL Players beating their wives and children, Bill Cosby rape allegations.  The deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner that lead to people rioting (protesting?) in the streets and even worse, the execution of several police officers.

On a better note, we also had more states open their minds and hearts to gay marriage and a few more that legalized marijuana.

We had the GOP take over the senate, the economy start to get better and I read yesterday that the gas prices are at the lowest price ($58.00 a barrel) since 2009 (i'm thinking the gas prices should be lower then, maybe under $2.00 a gallon)

And to end the year right, Sony pictures gets slammed by Lil Kim for a comedic movie about trying to assassinate him.  What a little bitch he is!  I guess he still doesn't realize that his whining made that stupid movie a smash hit because NOW everyone wants to see it!

All that come this way, Have a Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year!



Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to any and all that come here to read.

I look back on this year as one of a lot of change.  It started off slow, a lot of snow and bad weather.

In April, with the coaxing of a couple of friends, I finally made the appointment with a surgeon to get the bariatric sleeve surgery that I desperately needed if I ever wanted to live till I was 50!

In May, I could barely walk or bend over or breathe for that matter.  I was still not totally convinced about even having the operation.  It was a major change and expense even with my insurance.

By mid year, June, I was probably at the heaviest I had ever been, 350 lbs.  My diabetes and overall health suffered greatly.  I was diagnosed with sleep apnea now too.  I was taking 200 units of insulin a day and my blood sugar was still not under control.  The gardening that I loved so much, I just could not do.  The puppy I loved so much, I just could not play with.

By the middle of June, I decided I would just go with the flow, make the doctors appointments, pay my co-pays and see if that lead me to the surgery.  My pre surgery appointment was June 30th the surgery was scheduled for July 16th.

The day before surgery it was called off because of the Pulmonologist insisted I go on a CPAP machine before the operation.  I was going to give up, but I decided I would just do what I had to do to get the end result.

My surgery was re-scheduled for Sept 2nd.  And this time, I was present and accounted for.  I even brought my CPAP machine (which they never bothered to put on me or make me use while I was there, guess it wasn't so detrimental after all!).

My recovery into September was hard, I'm not going to lie.  They kept me in the hospital for 2 days because the anesthesia just wreaked havoc on me and lets face it, it was a major operation, removing 90% of your stomach.  It was hard and uncomfortable to walk, but walk was what I had to do.  I was out of it for at least 4 days.

I started to get better, I followed the Surgeons orders, and started to loose weight for the 1st time in years, I was actually able to lose weight.   Not only that, my insulin intake went from 200 units a day to 60 units a day.  Pre-surgery my A1c was 10.6, today, its 6.6!

So Today it is 3 months and 22 days since I had this gastric sleeve surgery and I am down 63lbs.  I still have at least another 100lbs to go but just being down this first 63 lbs, I feel like I can do anything.  I feel great, I am starting to look better and I go for walks now, and I can sleep on my back now!  (yes I got rid of that stupid CPAP machine that I never used!)  I cant wait till the spring I have so much I want to do in my yard and now I CAN!

As I look back on this year of change, I can honestly say that I am truly happy with the decisions that I have made for myself.  I have also learned that sometimes the decisions are hard but the rewards are great and the sacrifice doesn't really matter.

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas Everyone !!