Peace, Love, and Protein Shakes: Vanessa's Bariatric Blog

I thought that I made my last entry for 2018 a few weeks ago, but I decided to reflect on the year. 2018 was surprising and difficult, yet I am still thankful. As this year comes to a close, I want to take time to remember what I am thankful for. I am thankful for my Creator, because They have made me and kept me alive for a purpose, even in trying times. I am thankful for my family, who always stood beside me and loved me through the good and the bad. I am thankful for my friends, who showed me that I am worthy of love, and that I can enjoy being single. You, dear reader, are one of those friends. Thank you so much for your loyalty! I am thankful for my work, because it gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment. I am thankful for my emotions, both negative and positive, because they make me feel more human, alive, and have greater empathy for others. I am thankful for my body, because even though it is not perfect, it is my own , rolls, curv

If there were one word to summarize how I’ve been feeling since my last entry, it would be: stuck. I’ve been stalled in my weight-loss journey, and while it is discouraging and depressing to say the least, I am still trying to hold onto hope that things will change for the better. Yesterday, I had a visit with the surgeon who I started seeing earlier this year, and he is still willing to work with me, but he wants to wait until next year to do any additional surgery. It’s so hard to wait, but the last thing I need are any additional complications that would come with another surgery. It’s almost three years since gastric bypass (three!), and I’m barely recovering from that, so I know that waiting is for the best, and for my ultimate health and safety. I wish that I had more positive news to report, but sadly, dear reader, I don’t. Here’s hoping for a better and brighter—and healthier!—2019. Peace always, Vanessa

Last time I wrote, about over two months ago, I mentioned that I had a stricture. I felt absolutely stuck. I still do. At this point, however, I have some more information, and a path to progress, somewhat. First, I was going through a lot of changes and loss recently. I've been dealing with the mutual ending of my relationship, as well as a temporary layoff and switch in companies at work. I was very anxious and depressed, which made waiting for my appointment with the specialist in May unbearable. That, along with prolonged nausea and vomiting, added to my stress. Yet I held on. Second, I had two endoscopes done with both a gastroenterologist and a surgeon to assess the issues with my stomach. The blockage was confirmed by the gastro and redefined by the surgeon as a "gastro-gastric fistula". It's a connection between my new stomach pouch and my old one that is small, but noticeable enough to be a major problem to say the least. It's like my old stomach is a

I found this out a few days ago at my checkup on Thursday, April 19th 2018, and I'm still processing it. My primary care doctor, after looking at my most recent Upper GI exam (I've had this done several times since surgery), burst into the room and just started drawing on the exam room table with his pen, wildly marking out things to me. I stood there, frozen and bewildered, and then I started to come to when I heard the words: "You have a stricture." A stricture is basically a blockage in the stomach that prevents food from being digested. For two years , I knew that something was wrong. Yet nothing was showing up in the exams. Until now. (Image caption: On the left of my doctor's drawing is a "typical" stomach. On the right, mine, swollen and distended, but with food being blocked from digesting because I have a stricture. ) However, since I don't have insurance, there's not much I can do about the blockage right now. I need

It's been two years since I've had surgery, and the one question I still get asked by people when I've told them about having gastric bypass is this: "Should I get it???" My not-so-definitive answer is this: Yes, and only if you're sure. This is because one, I've had it. And I've survived. If you'd met me a few years ago, I would have been the LEAST likely person to have qualified for surgery. I was headstrong and devoted to junk. Whataburger, Chinese takeaway, and Mexican breakfast tacos were a way of life for this near native of Corpus Christi, Texas. I've lived in Corpus since I was three, so I'm not a native Texan, but I got here as fast as I could, haha! So I know what it's like to have the mentality of a native Texan and yet have the stomach of a toddler. It is hellish and frustrating. But.... There are some great benefits. Near reversal of my diabetes! My A1c is a 5 at the moment.  No more sleep apnea mask! I can t

Happy New Year! I know that I haven’t updated in months, and for that, I most humbly apologize. I wish I could say that a lot has changed, but honestly, it hasn’t, and that is something I really want to address this year. In March, it will be two years since I had gastric bypass. It feels surreal. The good news is that I have been able to maintain a majority of the weight that I have lost since surgery. The bad news is that I have yet to make it out of the 200’s. “Onederland” is so close, yet so far away! (“Onederland” is being in the under 200 pound range, by the way). I’m not afraid to say that I am over 200 pounds, though, because before surgery, I was over 300 pounds, even closer to 400 actually. So I’ve improved quite a bit. Yet I know that it is not enough, and that is why I will continue to work on my diet and exercise program. I know what I’ve done, and I know that I can change it if I try harder. I need to drink more protein shakes, even if I get sick of them at t