Today, it is officially 18 days until my surgery. Am I nervous? Uh ... yeah.
It seems like the last year has gone like lightning. From the moment that I determined that I was going to try and have surgery (at one time, even considering the notion of lap band surgery, which I now realize that for me would not have worked at all) to this point, things have moved quickly. Even though there has been a lot of "hurry up and wait," some of it has been of my own making.
Things only recently have begun to feel really ... real. My last visit with Dr. O'Rourke, the surgeon, sealed it for me. He wants me to lose more weight before the surgery, but has no intention of putting it off any further. So ... it's a go.
Last night, I took the one step that I had been dreading --- ordering protein products. As one of my fellow gastric-bypassers (I'm going to start calling us GB'ers) told me, the miserable part isn't the surgery so much, but the protein shakes.
I visited the website of Unjury (a very weird name ... yes), a company that produces protein items for people who have had surgery, diabetics or those who are just looking to lose weigh. I ended up ordering a container of vanilla shake mix (which somehow seems less intimidating than the chocolate or strawberry), a container of "chicken soup" and a starter pack, which has samples of the other flavors of shakes, etc.
This should seem simple, but with all I've read and heard, the notion of making this commitment was rather off-putting. Other GB'ers have said that their tastes changed after the surgery. A friend of mine who had the surgery roughly three weeks ago said that he was only able to take in small amounts of protein and fluid. A couple of sips, and it felt like he'd eaten a Thanksgiving meal. Plus, the shakes had become nearly intolerable.
The flipside is that he is dropping weight fast. Of course, on roughly 500 calories a day, a person will do that. Ideally, 1,200 is a good calorie amount for weight loss, but if you can't stuff it in, you're sort of stuck.
I still find it hard to wrap my head around this notion. Then again, I'm almost a walking stomach. Feed me, Seymour ... feed me.
When these niggling thoughts crowd into my head, I always have to stop and remind myself that this is going to be life-changing on many levels. The biggest one is my health.
A recent flareup of tendonitis proved that to me. I sat in the chair this morning at Longview Orthopedics while the talented Dr. Lauder administered a cortisone shot to my left wrist. My hand had become nearly unusable from pain, which had spread from my thumb to my shoulder. I told the doc that I was having surgery at the end of the month. I asked him if it would help the tendonitis if I lost weight.
He said that weight loss helps "nearly ever system in your body."
I believe him. As the days wind down, I'm sure my case of nerves will get a little worse. But the upside of this experience will far outweigh the downside ... no pun intended :)
Friday, February 10, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Fear of photos
As the calendar counts down to the surgery date (39 days as of this blog post), I decided I had better take a look at the column that will appear in The Daily News the week before my surgery. It's amazing how much my perspective has changed since I first wrote it.
The chip on my shoulder has been sloughed down by knowledge. I've talked to so many people who have either had or are having this same surgery, and I am feeling confident.
At least, at this minute I am. There are those other times when I literally shake thinking of the days that lie ahead. The changes. The fear. The pressure I will place on myself.
When those moments hit, I remember something that my mother has said often: "There but for the grace of God go I."
I have nothing of which to be afraid. This journey is a positive one. There are others of my family and friends whose journeys are taking them to places of darkness. Mine ... is all light. I am lucky. I am blessed.
I am not afraid.
In the spirit of not afraid, I am following through on uploading those full-body photos that I talked about in my last post. My co-worker, Dawn Johnson Deal, took the photos. She did a great job. For my last photo, she told me to "pose like a model." I'm glad she did, because my first photo really shows how nervous I am ... arms tucked behind my, one hand crept into the jeans pocket. I chose to use the last one, my "glamor" shot :)
As I even think about putting these pictures on display, it feels almost surreal. I don't look at myself in photos. I don't allow parts of my body to be snapped. My stomach, my double-chin, my back. Oh boy.
My new friend, fellow gym rat and gastric bypass patient, Jennifer Christensen Zacher, gave me some advice on the subject of photos. One of her regrets, she said, is that she didn't document the changes in her body as they occurred. With her surgery, Jennifer lost a tremendous amount of weight and now looks simply amazing. She is healthy and proves it by doing Zumba at our gym, Lite Weights for Women.
I'm going to follow her advice. So, this is my first set of photos. What you are seeing here is a woman who is completely out of her comfort zone. I am exposing my tender underbelly (no pun intended), but I do not ask for sympathy or compassion.
As Popeye said, "I yam what I yam."
The chip on my shoulder has been sloughed down by knowledge. I've talked to so many people who have either had or are having this same surgery, and I am feeling confident.
At least, at this minute I am. There are those other times when I literally shake thinking of the days that lie ahead. The changes. The fear. The pressure I will place on myself.
When those moments hit, I remember something that my mother has said often: "There but for the grace of God go I."
I have nothing of which to be afraid. This journey is a positive one. There are others of my family and friends whose journeys are taking them to places of darkness. Mine ... is all light. I am lucky. I am blessed.
I am not afraid.
In the spirit of not afraid, I am following through on uploading those full-body photos that I talked about in my last post. My co-worker, Dawn Johnson Deal, took the photos. She did a great job. For my last photo, she told me to "pose like a model." I'm glad she did, because my first photo really shows how nervous I am ... arms tucked behind my, one hand crept into the jeans pocket. I chose to use the last one, my "glamor" shot :)
As I even think about putting these pictures on display, it feels almost surreal. I don't look at myself in photos. I don't allow parts of my body to be snapped. My stomach, my double-chin, my back. Oh boy.
My new friend, fellow gym rat and gastric bypass patient, Jennifer Christensen Zacher, gave me some advice on the subject of photos. One of her regrets, she said, is that she didn't document the changes in her body as they occurred. With her surgery, Jennifer lost a tremendous amount of weight and now looks simply amazing. She is healthy and proves it by doing Zumba at our gym, Lite Weights for Women.
I'm going to follow her advice. So, this is my first set of photos. What you are seeing here is a woman who is completely out of her comfort zone. I am exposing my tender underbelly (no pun intended), but I do not ask for sympathy or compassion.
As Popeye said, "I yam what I yam."
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Serendipity
First off, I am happy to report that I have a new date for my surgery: Feb. 28. I got it confirmed today with the scheduler.
The new date is exactly seven years to the day since my father died. Strange how things work out sometimes. The nice thing ... my lucky number is 7 (having been born on 7/7/67 ... what else could it be?).
As my editor here at the paper said: "Serendipity is real. Go with it!"
It gives me about a month to err on the side of caution here at work (our schedule is clear from the end of February through March).
Like everyone else who goes into this surgery, there's no clear answer as to whether the skilled hands of the surgeon can make those tiny incisions and do the job or whether it's going to take a much larger cut. The bigger the incision, the longer it takes to heal. The greater the chance of hernia and infection. Etc.
So, despite the tears I shed over my decision to put this off, I have come to terms with it and am happy with my decision.
A young woman who goes to my gym (the lovely and wonderfully inspiring Jennifer Zacher ... who I just friend-requested on Facebook, so she should be able to add her two cents into these discussions) put it into perspective for me.
Jennifer had gastric bypass a few years ago, so she knows where she's coming from. She told me that my surgery just wasn't meant to be on that day. Maybe the surgeon would have been having an off day. Or ... another reason.
I buy into the notion that everything in life falls into place when it is supposed to, so now it's time to look at the new date with anticipating eyes.
I have a goal between now and then, besides the obvious ones of control and weight loss. One of the things I told myself when starting this blog is that I want to break down some barriers for myself and hopefully for others. One of my biggest fears has always been photos taken. Specifically, photos of my body. Not naked photos or something like that ... oh, hells no! I'm talking, run-of-the-mill pictures that most people take for granted. Ones that show body areas below the neck.
Even my profile picture for this blog is strategically placed. It is designed to show my head and part of my shoulders. Ever since I was little, I've been self-conscious of my broad shoulders. I feel like a linebacker.
I've decided to fight back against my own self-esteem issues. I am going to ask a friend to take some"before" photos for me. In the spirit of (nearly) full disclosure, I plan to post them here. They might not be pretty, but I'm not going to sit around and pick them apart either. Everyone will be able see where my challenges are. My stomach is by far the worst and will undoubtedly be the one area that will take the most work. For someone who has the classic "metabolic syndrome" (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and polycystic ovarian syndrome), the stomach usually is the place where the fat gathers.
I'm excited to kick that syndrome to the curb.
The new date is exactly seven years to the day since my father died. Strange how things work out sometimes. The nice thing ... my lucky number is 7 (having been born on 7/7/67 ... what else could it be?).
As my editor here at the paper said: "Serendipity is real. Go with it!"
It gives me about a month to err on the side of caution here at work (our schedule is clear from the end of February through March).
Like everyone else who goes into this surgery, there's no clear answer as to whether the skilled hands of the surgeon can make those tiny incisions and do the job or whether it's going to take a much larger cut. The bigger the incision, the longer it takes to heal. The greater the chance of hernia and infection. Etc.
So, despite the tears I shed over my decision to put this off, I have come to terms with it and am happy with my decision.
A young woman who goes to my gym (the lovely and wonderfully inspiring Jennifer Zacher ... who I just friend-requested on Facebook, so she should be able to add her two cents into these discussions) put it into perspective for me.
Jennifer had gastric bypass a few years ago, so she knows where she's coming from. She told me that my surgery just wasn't meant to be on that day. Maybe the surgeon would have been having an off day. Or ... another reason.
I buy into the notion that everything in life falls into place when it is supposed to, so now it's time to look at the new date with anticipating eyes.
I have a goal between now and then, besides the obvious ones of control and weight loss. One of the things I told myself when starting this blog is that I want to break down some barriers for myself and hopefully for others. One of my biggest fears has always been photos taken. Specifically, photos of my body. Not naked photos or something like that ... oh, hells no! I'm talking, run-of-the-mill pictures that most people take for granted. Ones that show body areas below the neck.
Even my profile picture for this blog is strategically placed. It is designed to show my head and part of my shoulders. Ever since I was little, I've been self-conscious of my broad shoulders. I feel like a linebacker.
I've decided to fight back against my own self-esteem issues. I am going to ask a friend to take some"before" photos for me. In the spirit of (nearly) full disclosure, I plan to post them here. They might not be pretty, but I'm not going to sit around and pick them apart either. Everyone will be able see where my challenges are. My stomach is by far the worst and will undoubtedly be the one area that will take the most work. For someone who has the classic "metabolic syndrome" (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and polycystic ovarian syndrome), the stomach usually is the place where the fat gathers.
I'm excited to kick that syndrome to the curb.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Delayed ... for now
As much as I wanted to have my surgery on Jan. 10, I have ended up having to change the date.
First, I greatly disappointed myself over Christmas by going on a binge ... something that the surgeon had strictly forbidden. When you eat sugary and fatty foods, you run the risk of swelling your liver. Dr. O'Rourke had explained that every patient comes in with a fatty liver, so the ideal is to lose weight and shrink it.
Rather than lose over Christmas, I gained.
That was part one. Part two is that my thyroid test came back low ... and had been so for a while, it would seem. This is the reason my energy level, which had been running high until about a month or so ago, has been in the toilet.
Finally, I made a decision: I need to be strong both mentally and physically for the challenge ahead. So today, I reluctantly made the call to OHSU to reschedule my surgery. I don't have another date at this point as the surgery scheduler is still off for the holiday, but I am going to see if I can be slotted in for the end of February.
This will also take a lot of pressure off in regard to work. As it was, I was going to be rigidly kept to a two-week recovery period because of a co-workers vacation plans (which I certainly didn't begrudge her). If I can get in at the end of February, then that will give me a month-long window of time if I need it. I doubt I will need it, but it takes a lot of the pressure off.
In one way, I feel really badly about this. Mainly because I feel like I let not only myself down, but a lot of others. Then I realize: I can't let what others think about my decision affect me. I have to do what is right for my body and my health. So ... February it is.
In the meanwhile, I am back on my protein concentration diet, carefully metering out the carbs. By the time my new date rolls around, I should be back to feeling strong and healthy once again, ready to meet this next challenge.
I just keep thinking ... this race isn't a sprint ... it's a marathon.
First, I greatly disappointed myself over Christmas by going on a binge ... something that the surgeon had strictly forbidden. When you eat sugary and fatty foods, you run the risk of swelling your liver. Dr. O'Rourke had explained that every patient comes in with a fatty liver, so the ideal is to lose weight and shrink it.
Rather than lose over Christmas, I gained.
That was part one. Part two is that my thyroid test came back low ... and had been so for a while, it would seem. This is the reason my energy level, which had been running high until about a month or so ago, has been in the toilet.
Finally, I made a decision: I need to be strong both mentally and physically for the challenge ahead. So today, I reluctantly made the call to OHSU to reschedule my surgery. I don't have another date at this point as the surgery scheduler is still off for the holiday, but I am going to see if I can be slotted in for the end of February.
This will also take a lot of pressure off in regard to work. As it was, I was going to be rigidly kept to a two-week recovery period because of a co-workers vacation plans (which I certainly didn't begrudge her). If I can get in at the end of February, then that will give me a month-long window of time if I need it. I doubt I will need it, but it takes a lot of the pressure off.
In one way, I feel really badly about this. Mainly because I feel like I let not only myself down, but a lot of others. Then I realize: I can't let what others think about my decision affect me. I have to do what is right for my body and my health. So ... February it is.
In the meanwhile, I am back on my protein concentration diet, carefully metering out the carbs. By the time my new date rolls around, I should be back to feeling strong and healthy once again, ready to meet this next challenge.
I just keep thinking ... this race isn't a sprint ... it's a marathon.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Wheee! Riding the roller-coaster ...
I could have also called this entry the ode to the surgery that almost wasn't ... at least, not on Jan. 10. But after a few phone calls, it's all good, I found out this morning. Phew!
I don't know if I misunderstood (possible) or what happened, but on Monday when I went down to the hospital's Center for Health and Healing (a brand new facility on the waterfront), I was shocked and dismayed to discover that my surgery was scheduled for Jan. 17.
There was a (not so slight) problem with that date: My co-worker, Dawn, had already graciously moved her vacation to another date to accomodate my Jan. 10 date. This was going to throw a major wrench in the works. I had resigned myself to a new surgery date in late February. But ... that didn't happen. Someone who had planned to have the surgery on Jan. 10 had canceled, and I slipped right into the spot.
I spent one night worrying about having to wait. I didn't think I would chicken out, I just wondered how long I just don't like waiting. Those who know me, realize how impatient I can be. Toe-tapping, arm-crossing and drawn-out-sighing are not out of the question ... hehehe.
My day at OHSU on Monday consisted of the pre-surgery medicine (blood work, an EKG, urine test and vitals). Then I got to meet the surgeon. A friend had told me that Dr. Robert O'Rourke had a terrible bedside manner. I asked Rick what he thought of the doc, and we both agreed that he seemed fine. Honest. I like honest.
He told me that I needed to lose more weight, but did not set a goal. He said the main reason to lose more weight is to free up the liver of any excess fat that you are able. During the surgery, this vital organ is lifted out of the way in order to access the areas that they need to staple and re-section (the stomach and intestine). Some patients have been known to have problems from the liver being lifted in such a manner. One woman I know from an online forum (called the Thinner Times Forum http://www.thinnertimesforum.com/index.php? --- it is a site that I recommend to anyone who is considering the surgery because of the level of experience that the members there have) reported having her liver "crack" during surgery because of last-minute binging. Ummm ... I'm not interested in that at all.
Dr. O'Rourke laid out the risks. He has done 500 surgeries, and has only had one complication ... from which the patient did die. It was a leak in the intestine, which is rare but happens, he said. I try not to think about it.
The doc also decided that since I had an old heart attack that shows up on my EKG (when it occurred, I really have no idea ...), he wants to have a cardiologist sign off on me. So, on Dec. 20, I go back to OHSU to see one of the specialists there.
Things are on track, and I am down to 26 days. It still feels unreal. As I sit here, I am listening to the song "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield. It's what's been ringing in my mind for a couple of days now.
"Today is ... where your book begins: The rest is still unwritten."
Yeah, I totally get that.
Have a great day!
I don't know if I misunderstood (possible) or what happened, but on Monday when I went down to the hospital's Center for Health and Healing (a brand new facility on the waterfront), I was shocked and dismayed to discover that my surgery was scheduled for Jan. 17.
There was a (not so slight) problem with that date: My co-worker, Dawn, had already graciously moved her vacation to another date to accomodate my Jan. 10 date. This was going to throw a major wrench in the works. I had resigned myself to a new surgery date in late February. But ... that didn't happen. Someone who had planned to have the surgery on Jan. 10 had canceled, and I slipped right into the spot.
I spent one night worrying about having to wait. I didn't think I would chicken out, I just wondered how long I just don't like waiting. Those who know me, realize how impatient I can be. Toe-tapping, arm-crossing and drawn-out-sighing are not out of the question ... hehehe.
My day at OHSU on Monday consisted of the pre-surgery medicine (blood work, an EKG, urine test and vitals). Then I got to meet the surgeon. A friend had told me that Dr. Robert O'Rourke had a terrible bedside manner. I asked Rick what he thought of the doc, and we both agreed that he seemed fine. Honest. I like honest.
He told me that I needed to lose more weight, but did not set a goal. He said the main reason to lose more weight is to free up the liver of any excess fat that you are able. During the surgery, this vital organ is lifted out of the way in order to access the areas that they need to staple and re-section (the stomach and intestine). Some patients have been known to have problems from the liver being lifted in such a manner. One woman I know from an online forum (called the Thinner Times Forum http://www.thinnertimesforum.com/index.php? --- it is a site that I recommend to anyone who is considering the surgery because of the level of experience that the members there have) reported having her liver "crack" during surgery because of last-minute binging. Ummm ... I'm not interested in that at all.
Dr. O'Rourke laid out the risks. He has done 500 surgeries, and has only had one complication ... from which the patient did die. It was a leak in the intestine, which is rare but happens, he said. I try not to think about it.
The doc also decided that since I had an old heart attack that shows up on my EKG (when it occurred, I really have no idea ...), he wants to have a cardiologist sign off on me. So, on Dec. 20, I go back to OHSU to see one of the specialists there.
Things are on track, and I am down to 26 days. It still feels unreal. As I sit here, I am listening to the song "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield. It's what's been ringing in my mind for a couple of days now.
"Today is ... where your book begins: The rest is still unwritten."
Yeah, I totally get that.
Have a great day!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Let me tell you about Joan ...
I can't believe how time has flown in this journey. It was only back in May that I stepped through the doors at Lite Weights for Women, scared to enter such an unfamiliar environment yet excited to know that this was just the beginning of a lifetime commitment to health and wellness.
I've learned so much from Joan at Lite Weights. She has been a source of great inspiration to me. If this starts to sound a little bit like an ad for her gym, please forgive me. That is not my intention. But what she has going on there is just too good to share.
First off, it is only for women which for a woman of not only my size, but my shyness level, this works wonderfully well. I feel 100 percent comfortable there, sweating in my less-than-flattering workout attire.
And then ... there is the boutique. I have found so many wonderful things. The other day, I had to let Joan know exactly the presence of Lite Weights has meant to me. I have never felt "feminine" really. I have always been a jeans and T-shirts kind of girl (first), then woman. I think I can count on both hands the times I have worn a dress in my life and that includes bridesmaid dresses and my own wedding gown.
At the gym, I have found jewelry ... blingy, with rhinestones, which I have fallen in love with totally. When Joan brought in bellydancing wraps that jingle with coins, I was drawn to them and got one. Bellydancing has been one of my goals for a while, but not only was I too heavy to fit into any of the attire, I simply could not move well enough to be able to consider it. I am getting closer and one of these days, plan to take a class through Parks & Rec to learn the moves from a "real" instructor rather than the DVD I bought off of Amazon.
Then I got a jangly ankle bracelet to wear with my bellydancing gear. And the other day, Joan was talking about doing something at the gym with this form of dancing perhaps (I say perhaps because ... I don't want to commit her to something that may not work out).
I guess what I'm trying to say is that, for the first time in my life, I feel ... womanly. I have to think that this is entirely appropriate, since I am of the feminine sex.
I like being a woman. I am starting to feel comfortable in my own skin, and I am reveling in this newfound feeling of ... girlishness? Yes, I'm 44 years old and finally feel like a girl. I'm not sad over it. I'm glad that I finally got to this point. I wish I had done this so long ago, but I guess that everything happens in its own time. There is no rushing destiny.
On a related note ... one that I am so very pleased to share: It looks like a bariatric surgery support group is going to make its way off the ground in the very near future. Joan has volunteered use of the gym as meeting space, and she is working with some other friends (I shall not name names, as these people have undergone the surgery and have told me, but I'm not sure if they have shared it with "the world" so to speak as yet). When the time comes, all will be revealed, I am sure.
There is so much we can all learn from each other. Great information to share and just general support. Every person has their journey and their cross to bear. This is ours.
As the time and date become clearer, I hope to provide information to The Daily News for a Community Event item. I will also put information here and out on Facebook. The organizers also hope to bring in speakers, perhaps from OHSU.
Have a wonderful day and blessings!
I've learned so much from Joan at Lite Weights. She has been a source of great inspiration to me. If this starts to sound a little bit like an ad for her gym, please forgive me. That is not my intention. But what she has going on there is just too good to share.
First off, it is only for women which for a woman of not only my size, but my shyness level, this works wonderfully well. I feel 100 percent comfortable there, sweating in my less-than-flattering workout attire.
And then ... there is the boutique. I have found so many wonderful things. The other day, I had to let Joan know exactly the presence of Lite Weights has meant to me. I have never felt "feminine" really. I have always been a jeans and T-shirts kind of girl (first), then woman. I think I can count on both hands the times I have worn a dress in my life and that includes bridesmaid dresses and my own wedding gown.
At the gym, I have found jewelry ... blingy, with rhinestones, which I have fallen in love with totally. When Joan brought in bellydancing wraps that jingle with coins, I was drawn to them and got one. Bellydancing has been one of my goals for a while, but not only was I too heavy to fit into any of the attire, I simply could not move well enough to be able to consider it. I am getting closer and one of these days, plan to take a class through Parks & Rec to learn the moves from a "real" instructor rather than the DVD I bought off of Amazon.
Then I got a jangly ankle bracelet to wear with my bellydancing gear. And the other day, Joan was talking about doing something at the gym with this form of dancing perhaps (I say perhaps because ... I don't want to commit her to something that may not work out).
I guess what I'm trying to say is that, for the first time in my life, I feel ... womanly. I have to think that this is entirely appropriate, since I am of the feminine sex.
I like being a woman. I am starting to feel comfortable in my own skin, and I am reveling in this newfound feeling of ... girlishness? Yes, I'm 44 years old and finally feel like a girl. I'm not sad over it. I'm glad that I finally got to this point. I wish I had done this so long ago, but I guess that everything happens in its own time. There is no rushing destiny.
On a related note ... one that I am so very pleased to share: It looks like a bariatric surgery support group is going to make its way off the ground in the very near future. Joan has volunteered use of the gym as meeting space, and she is working with some other friends (I shall not name names, as these people have undergone the surgery and have told me, but I'm not sure if they have shared it with "the world" so to speak as yet). When the time comes, all will be revealed, I am sure.
There is so much we can all learn from each other. Great information to share and just general support. Every person has their journey and their cross to bear. This is ours.
As the time and date become clearer, I hope to provide information to The Daily News for a Community Event item. I will also put information here and out on Facebook. The organizers also hope to bring in speakers, perhaps from OHSU.
Have a wonderful day and blessings!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Water, water everywhere ...
While talking to a friend the other day about her niece, who had gastric bypass surgery on Dec. 2, I realized what my biggest fear is regarding this surgery.
I am not afraid of the complications that could occur during surgery. The notion of leaks and my liver cracking in the middle of the three-hour operation don't worry me as much as the aftermath and the battle of wills that is going to take place with me, myself and I.
This friend's niece was thirsty after the operation. But immediately following the surgery, you are only allowed 30 cc's of fluid (of course, you are on an IV, but that dry mouth issue can't be solved by a tube in the vein).
I am ... a gulper. I love water, dosed with Crystal Light or the generic equivalent. When I exercise, I drink it like it's going out of style. I love the taste of it in my mouth and the feeling of it sliding down my throat.
My new life will consist of sip, sip, sip. A mouthful at a time, taking care not to stretch the egg-sized pouch that will be my "new" stomach. That is what scares me the most.
I can handle the hunger and the pain. But thirst ... that's quite another story. I think it's time to get my mind in gear and start sipping. Maybe if I can train myself in advance, the day of reckoning won't come as much of a shock.
On a lighter note, the other day while Christmas shopping, I bought two cotton sleep sets at J.C. Penney. They were on clearance and cost $12.50 altogether. Now ... that wasn't the thrilling part.
I have always been larger in my top than my bottom. I bought this in a size XL (I wear a 3X or larger in my top). I almost rejected the set outright, then realized: I can wear the bottoms now ... and the top further down the line. Something to look forward to :)
I guess in the scope of things, water and size XL clothing don't seem that important. But to me ... they are what I have to hold onto. That and freedom from diabetes. Good things come to those who wait ...
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