One Year Post Op: Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

 On January 13, 2020, I had a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. VSG, if you will. A weight loss surgery that removes about 80% of your stomach leaving behind a tiny banana shaped pouch. 

I decided I wanted to investigate this surgery and my chances of being approved for it in August of 2019. I asked my doctor for a referral to the Weightloss and Wellness Center of Springfield. She was more than happy to refer me as she knows how much I have always struggled with my weight. During my first set of appointments, one with a behavioral health professional, a nurse practitioner, a dietician, and a physical therapist... I found out that I qualified for the surgery and for insurance to cover it. This didn't necessarily make me happy. This news meant that I fit the profile of a morbidly obese person and could have an invasive surgery to completely change the natural size of my stomach. It didn't deter me though. I went to every class, every appointment, kept journals and logs, exercised, proved that I was worthy to be a part of the program to change my life. 

The day I got the call with my surgery date, I was sitting inside of Head West sub shop about to dive in to my delicious vegetable sub (add banana peppers), and I was beside myself with excitement. The few people in the sub shop probably thought I was a nut. I called my husband and my mom and said "This is it. I'm doing it. I'm scheduled for 1/13/2020." My mom, husband, and employer were the only people that knew I was even doing this. I did not make it public knowledge. Not for fear of judgement. Y'all can shove your judgement up ya butts.... I didn't make it public knowledge because it was SO personal to me and such a "me only" choice. I didn't want everyone's opinions on the matter. Therefore, the world found out AFTER I had the surgery. 

My highest weight was 12/5/2014. The day after I had Carson I was 284.4 pounds. I was 15.6 pounds away from 300. That shook me to my core. Granted, I had just had a baby.... but the fact that I allowed myself to get that big.... AGAIN.... it broke me. I'm not going to go into the details of my depression after Carson and how hard being a mom was.... but my weight was a big part of that depression and I'll never get those beginning days with Carson back. I wish I would have looked past all of that and just focused on my sweet boy.... but we can't live in the past. 

1.3.2015 - Heaviest Weight 280 lbs

So, from 2014 to 2016 I obsessed over my weight and food... again. For the millionth time in my life. 2014 is when I started to really get into a plant based lifestyle. Not perfectly, of course. No one is perfect. 

In June of 2016, I got pregnant with Dean. I was still big, yes, but not as big as I was with Carson. With Dean, I ate a completely vegetarian diet. I was so much healthier with Dean and his pregnancy was so much easier. However, I stayed in the 260's when he was born. I got myself down to 240ish when he was about 9 months old. 

Then Carson got his autism diagnosis in February of 2018. 

I spiraled. 

6.6.2018 - Around 270 lbs

Again, not going to get into all of that, but it wasn't a good time in my life. I gained that little weight I had lost back AND got myself into horrible debt.... again.... (seeing a pattern here?) 

So, in 2019 I made that decision to try something else to help me get healthy again. A decision that could only be mine. 

I don't regret it. 

I am one year post op. My starting weight was 268.1. My BMI was 40.5. 

Today, I am 191. My BMI is 29. I've lost over 40" off of my body. 

268.1 pounds to 195 pounds

I feel better. That is what's most important to me. I no longer feel like I want to crawl out of my skin. I can cross my legs and fit places better. I feel healthier and have more energy. 

For the last several months I have hovered between 187 - 191. It discourages me a little, but it also makes me happy that I am able to maintain this weight without a lot of effort. Do I want to lose more? Sure. I'm not going for supermodel skinny here, but I'd like to be in a healthy BMI and I'd LOVE to get rid of the excess skin hanging around my midsection that causes me rashes and a whole lot of discomfort. 

I have a consult appointment with a plastic surgeon on 3.19.2021

I cannot wait. 

It’s Been a Year

I have not done a blog post since last February. It has really been one year since I checked in here. The good news is, Andrew and I are only in $1,200 worth of debt one year later and it will be paid off this month. It is my van. The only other debt we will have is the house. It’s amazing how much of a difference one year can make. We will be 100% debt free minus the house. FINALLY. After 13 years of working and paying and budgeting.... we are here.

The biggest thing now is, well, me. I have to make sure I still stick to a budget even though we’re out of debt. I need to be smart with money. We can start making extra payments on the house. We can save up for vacations or something nice. It’s going to be so wonderful. I have to stay on track, though. We all know I am the one that gets easily distracted.

Carson and Dean will be starting a new Autism Clinic on Monday! I have been waiting for this day for a couple of months now. I am so excited for them. They do so well when they’re in ABA. I know ABA is a controversial topic, but for my boys? It’s helping. They’re thriving. Dangerous behaviors almost disappear when they’re in ABA. I’m very thankful for that.

I want to do another purge of stuff in our house. I know Andrew just loves that. I’m feeling crowded and overwhelmed again so I know it’s something I need to do. Minimalism is still something I strive for.

I quit Hy Vee after 4 years. Was I mad at them? No. Was I unhappy in accounting? No. I just needed something that worked better for my situation with my foot and my kids. I found a part time job working at Butler Funeral Homes in their administrative office and I love it there. It is an amazing company to work for and the schedule works out perfectly for what we need as a family. I work 8-5, two days a week, no weekends. Holidays are an on call rotation and so far, I haven’t had to go in.

The only other big update I have is that on January 13, 2020 I had a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. VSG surgery if you will. It’s a bariatric procedure that removes 70-80% of your stomach to assist in weight loss. I am 3 weeks post op and I am doing well. It’s been one of the hardest things I have ever done and it takes a lot of planning and patience..... but I am glad I did it. I’ve lost almost 30 pounds so far and I already feel better physically than I have in a long time. I had been working towards this procedure since August of 2019. To anyone that says this is an easy way out....... you can shut up because you have NO idea how hard this has been or how hard it will continue to be. Once I’m close to a year out - the magic is gone. Yes, the stomach is still small.... but it can easily be stretched back out and I could easily fall back into old habits and gain the weight back. It’s just as hard to lose weight this way as it is any other way - it just physically keeps me from overeating. I puke if I eat too fast. I puke if I drink too fast. I puke if my stomach doesn’t like the food I put in it..... there’s a lot of pain and a lot of puking. But again, I don’t regret it...... most days.