Set the date with my Nutritionist

EXCITED!!!!! today I was able to set the date to meet with the nutritionist. I will see him/her in Mid November. So I am truly excited about it. This will be the appt where I find out how to start eating right and making my self more healthy. I am already weening my self off coca cola. :). If you only knew how hard this is for me. I am determined to win this battle. I am determined to be healthy for me and my life.

I had a few days of minor depression but I think it's because I feel nothing is happening but I perked right up when I heard the message from my doctor's office that I could set up the appt with the Nutritionist. I also have a follow up appt with he surgeon's office on 10/30.

Now here's another thing that I am having trouble with. They gave me this cup to start training myself to sip. Yes I said Sip. but I am struggling with using it. IT'S HUGE! Just take a look.

So you tell me, How am I going to be able to drink from this cup when I have my surgery? I have started drinking more water due to my hemorrhoids condition. Actually even before that I started drinking more water because I want to stay hydrated. Also, if I drink more water, I am not drinking Coke as much. My thoughts anyway.

Just not sure I can take sips on this HUGE sippy cup LOL

Taking My Medicines for H.Pylori

So this week, I have been faithfully taking my meds for this H. Pylori bacteria that came back positive in my blood work. For those reading this and like me have never heard of H-Pylori, it is called Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori). 

Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection occurs when a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infects your stomach. This usually happens during childhood. A common cause of peptic ulcers, H. pylori infection may be present in more than half the people in the world.

When signs or symptoms do occur with H. Pylori infection, they may include:

• An ache or burning pain in your abdomen
• Abdominal pain that's worse when your stomach is empty
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Frequent burping
• Bloating
• Unintentional weight loss

Complications associated with H. pylori infection include:

• Ulcers. H. pylori can damage the protective lining of your stomach and small intestine. This can allow stomach acid to create an open sore (ulcer). About 10 percent of people with H. pylori will develop an ulcer.
• Inflammation of the stomach lining. H. pylori infection can irritate your stomach, causing inflammation (gastritis).
• Stomach cancer. H. pylori infection is a strong risk factor for certain types of stomach cancer.

Now we know what I have right? right. So my doctor prescribed antibiotics to help me fight this bacteria. I take one tablet of Omeprazole 20 mg by mouth twice a day. Once in the AM before breakfast and once in the evening before dinner. After I have eaten I take one tablet of Clarithromycin 500 mg and two tablets of Amoxicillin 500mg twice a day by mouth.  All the websites that I researched these medications say that they are commonly prescribed for this condition. 

On October 7th, I began my two-week regiment. I cant say that I like taking these meds. I have been good at remembering to take them I think I forgot once to take the Omeprazole before I ate a couple times but I will take all the medicine until gone. So I will have a few meals where I will not have the other two but will take the Omeprazole. there's only been once that I forgot to take the other two after I ate. So I think I am doing pretty good. 

Til next time

Linda H. 

So, I am taking some Antibotics For H- Pylori

Well, you remember I said my labs came back. They showed that I was deficient in vitamins A & D and calcium. Then they hit me with the big one. I came back positive for H-pylori. What in the Name of God is that? The PA said that it was not a big deal and I just need to pick up some antibiotics and follow the directions on how to take them for the next two weeks.

I did not know what H-pylori was, so I was a bit concerned about this bacteria that was found in my stomach. So I went to Google and YouTube. I found one guy on YouTube that was very clear on describing what h-Pylori is and how to best get rid of it with medication and/or natural remedies to ensure it does not come back.

Check out his video here:

So yeah, there's that. But I am taking my medications. They prescribed me three antibiotics. I take Omeprazole 20mg. 1 capsule 30 minutes before I eat. I take it twice a day. ten after I eat, I take one capsule of Clarithromycin 500mg and two capsules of Amoxicillin 500mg twice a day. 

I decided even though I have a Vitamin A, D, and Calcium deficiency, I will not start taking those vitamin supplements until this H-pylori regiment is complete. However, I will talk to a pharmacist tomorrow to see which Vitamin A, D, and calcium would be good to take as I prepare for the weight loss surgery. 

So, there you have it. 

Til Next Time,

Linda H.

I got back my Labs today - Good and Bad news

I will always try to post the most current picture of me as I blog so you can see my progression. I will also try to make them a full body shot but I took this pic today after I found out I got my labs back. I wanted to have something that reminded of this day.

It was good news that I was not anemic as I had thought they would say and I would have to take iron pills and stool softeners and the whole nine yards. However, I was tagged with the H Pylori Bacteria. :( which means I have to take 3 prescriptions for two weeks and then have another test taken of my stool.

Okay, can I just say, who wants to do a stool collection for a sample? NOT THIS CHICK! I guess I will have to though. So After two weeks of the medication, which I start tomorrow, they will wait a month and test me again. YIPPEE... stool sample coming right up.

For the vitamin A, D and Calcium Caltrate that I need to start taking I can just buy those over the counter.

So, I am one step closer to my surgery, with a minor setback. I had said that I would start taking vitamin B12 to get me in the habit of taking vitamins daily for the rest of my life anyhow. So I am not too upset that I have to start early but I was really hoping I would not have to do the H pylori regimens.

I may do a post about my research on the bacteria and its affects. They say I should not worry about it but I like to know what things are and how to avoid them in the future. I guess it comes from foods I eat and the water I drink. From what my doctor's office said it some kind of acid in my stomach. So, I may have to switch up my bottled water.

My "WHY" for Weight Loss Surgey

I saw a youtube video about understanding why you want to have the surgery and talking about the real reasons and not just the surface ones.

So I thought, if I am going to blog about this process then I should really talk about the WHY. I mean we do things because we all have a motive or reason for it, right? Well, I do have a reason and it may seem shallow at first but hopefully, as you get to know me you will understand how REAL this is for me.

Well, If asked why I want to have this surgery, my first response is I want to live. I want to live a full and satisfying life. I hate when I am limited by what I can do because I am too big, weigh too much, or simply just doesn't fit.

I mean really I am a clothing fanatic but I hate going into a store and I cant get the cute dress I want because it does not come in my size. I HATE THAT!

However, when I really think about why I want this surgery, it causes me to pull back layers. Really when I just sit with my thoughts, I gained this weight to protect me from hurt. I was abused as a child sexually, mentally, verbally, and emotionally. My childhood was not the worst but it was not great either.

I was about 8 when I came home from visiting my biological dad and my mom did not recognize me because I had put on a few pounds. that is not what scared me. It was a few years prior to that I was introduced to sex. No he did not penetrate and it was only fondling but that was enough to cause this little girl to want to go and hide. thus I started eating. as a teenager, I would learn the skill of binge eating and starvation. When I felt bad about something or was scared, nervous or stressed, I would not eat thus causing myself to later binge eat and YES I would eat until I threw up.

So, saying that I had a love/hate relationship with food would be an understatement. I have always thought I was cute, and still, do. So my self-image was not the problem. For years I would psych myself to think that I was okay. Even though I would cry myself to sleep at night. I was an emotional wreck and cookies, candy, soda, and any other great tasting food would become my best friends.

I can remember not eating all day so I could eat later when I was alone.  I went on diets some worked and some didn't. My results were never permanent. The last diet I did was in 2008 and I lost 45 pounds and kept most off but have slowly started creeping back up to the 387 lbs I was when I first did the diet. In 2006, I knew a few ladies that had a gastric bypass surgery and I considered them to be weak and needed to just stop eating. Yep, most of the people judging me for doing the surgery, I was like you.

Now I understand that this is more than a weak persons tap out. It's actually fighting for your right to live healthily and gain some control. It takes a strong-minded person to say I am going to be successful with the tool that best gets the results that I want to see.

As of today, I weigh 343 and my BMI 59.4%. I stand 5'4. So you can just imagine how sluggish I can get at times carrying two other people with me everywhere I go. Well not, in reality, I am speaking metaphorically.

So that is my "why". I don't have diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and I have not suffered any heart attacks, strokes or anything else that goes with being morbidly obese. I plan on keeping it that way. So I am taking matters into my own hand and doing what I believe will be the best plan of action for me. I have chosen to live life to the fullest.

Til we meet again,

Linda H.

My New Youtube Channel

So I started a youtube channel to also document my journey.

Check it out:

My Vlog - Join me on my Weight Loss Transformation Journey

As I will use this space for my journaling and thoughts, my youtube channel with also be an expression of my journey and hopefully you will be able to see the weight loss "in Person" as it were. It is my hope that this will help others to make up their mind to have the surgery or not. It will be a support for those that need it. I am making myself vulnerable because I do try to live my life in private and don't really put myself out there but I need to do better.

What better way than to write my thoughts as I journey through weight loss and allow people to hold me accountable to be an example of success in this process.