This is sort of an after the fact (couple weeks) blog post.  Couple weeks ago while at my prostheticist, I was trying on a new socket on my leg and was taking a few steps when the leg literaly fell off.  Can you guess what happened next?  Yep I hit the floor and even better landed on my stump.

Well actually the pin on my liner actually hit the floor first, then the bone nob in my stump and then my knee hit the floor.  Can you say "DANG THAT HURT!!!!!!!!!", well I actually said something using a few more colorful metaphors but you get the picture. 

My first big worry was that I had busted my stump open, I hear that is always a big possibility when falling like that.  My prostheticist slowly rolled my liner off, he was figuring the worst too.  Luckly no blood poured out on us, WOOOHOO!!!  Now came the concern of did anything break in there?

Well after some grunting and groaning I did get up off the floor and into a wheelchair he had brought into the room.  I must say that I am quite proud of myself for doing that on my own with no help.  Couldn't walk but atleast I got up.  Off we went to the X-Ray machine and after a few tense moments the results came back that I had no broken bones, WOOOHOO!!!

This all happened 3 weeks ago, and basically I have been confined to my wheelchair due to either leg too swelled to get on or leg being too painfull to walk very much.  I bruised the muscle pretty bad and think I jammed my knee too.  The muscle in the stump isn't as painfull as it was but when I walk (using my walker) the knee can hurt and make me rely too much on my arms for support.

If anyone has any advice please pitch it.  I am scheduled to go on a business trip in a couple weeks and I have to be walking to go. 

But I am doing better and starting to walk again it just feels like I am starting all over again from scratch on walking and it really really frustrates me to no end.

Well as of a week or so ago I have lost 61 lbs according to the doc's scales.  I look in the mirror and see the same guy staring back at me, little more gray hair but still the same guy.  Everyone else goes ape over my weight loss and I am still wondering what they see that I don't.  I go back to the doc in a few days for next checkup, need to go jog around the building a few times prior.  :-P

I have noticed the cloths not fitting the same.  Some things that were tight on me last year are now falling off of me.  I have went cloths shopping some in the last month and I am wearing cloths now in sizes that I wore in High School.  That I guess is the most impressive part of this as far as self image goes.

Another very big thing that has happened is that I seem to be more at ease with the movement with my prosthetic now.  It doesn't bother me near as much as it used to.  Actually mostly now it is almost completely pain free.  Think it boils down to my excisive weight caused a lot of pressure on my leg and stump area and now that it has lessened considerably the force isn't as bad. 

Just wish now my balance would get better.  Hate having to occupy one hand with my cane but till I get more balance back and strength in my leg area, will just have to carry it.   Gives me something to swing at all the whipper snappers.  :-D

Something else I want to ask y'all about and see if you have an opinion/answer for.  With my weight loss and buying new clothing I have found that I am buying cloths based on things not directly related to the clothing purchase.  For example in buying pants, you normally buy pants by looking at the waiste size and pant length.  I can't do that now, I have to buy pants in relation to how they fit my legs.  My right leg has gotten rather muscular and thick and normal size pant legs in a waiste size for me are way too tight and I most times start doing the Incredible Hulk transformation with them just bending my leg.  So now I buy pants based on the leg size and fit resulting in some baggy saggy seats in the pants.  Anyone experienced this have any advice beyond what I already do?  I know it doesn't help being 6ft 9in tall with a 30-31in inseam either, but nothing I can do about that.

Well I have just noticed I am about to start writing a book so I will cut it off here before I have to start asking for an advance.

Y'all have a good one and remember we are only limited by our desire and deviousness.

50 lbs total weight loss since October!!!!!!!!!!  I was sweating bullets waiting in the waiting room for my weigh-in.  But after getting off the scales the nurse told me that I had lost more weight and was up to a total of 50 lbs total weight loss.  WOOOOOOOT!!!!!!

I was worried that I had gained weight, but NO!!!!! BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

How Y'all doing?

Well had my doctors appointment late yesterday and then an adjustment on the lap band.  Officially, according to the doctor's scales, I have lost 33 pounds.  I say I have lost more but not going to argue with it.  It is pounds off that I am determined to stay off.

The adjustment to  the lap band wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, so future adjustments will not be all that bad.

My goal is still to lose a total of 200lbs.  It may take me a few years but I will lose it.  I just love the new feelings and the ability to move easier.  As I have said before in an earlier blog that if you are overweight by a large amount you should look into this surgery.

Next big event is Thanksgiving and then Christmas.  It will be interesting but I think easily manageable.

Big Bear Hugs to all my friends, whether you know me or not.

Well it has been almost a month since I had my lap band surgery and life is wonderful.  Weight is coming off and I am feeling sooooo much better.  At my first weigh in little over a week after the surgery I had lost 22 lbs. 

Now a few weeks later the weight loss has slowed some but I am still almost 40 lbs down now.  Walking has gotten easier too, it should get a lot easier in another week or so when I get a new (smaller) socket.  The weight should continue to go down, though at a slower rate now that I am back on regular food. 

What I love the most about this lap band is the fact that I don't feel hunger any more.  WOOHOOO!!!!!  Eating now is a necessity, not something to use as a stress relief or comfort food pick me up.  I actually have to remind myself now to eat.  I think all this is wonderful.

I heavily recommend that if you are overweight (and not just a pounds though) PLEASE look around your area for a compitent physician to talk to about this surgery.  I did it to save me and so I can be around for a while to bug my wife for many more years.  Of course I didn't want to make her a rich woman that fast.  :)

But seriously my friends, PLEASE look into this. 

Will give you an update in a few weeks after my next weigh in and band adjustment.