Cindy C.
Hi, I'm a 46 yr old mom who's been too big for too long!
I started out in this world as a "skinny" baby; my sister said I looked like a bird. My mother became concerned about my size after I experianced emergency intestinal surgery at 18 months old. Although my pediatrician said that I was at a healthy weight, my (half) Italian mother took me to a doctor who prescribed a nutritional suppliment and a regime of increased food intake. By the time I was a first grader, I was a chubby cherub. It was at this time that I started using food for comfort to deal with my parents' divorce, the mean name-calling by my classmates and whatever misery this little clown was covering up. My weight yo-yo'd from my teen years through two childbirths; each adding an additional 20+ pounds. My health issues range from everything an overweight person can experiance. I'm tired of all the medication that I need to take and not being able to lose weight no matter how hard I try.
I have already gone through the Gastric-Bypass surgery experiance with my Honey who has lost over 100 lbs. I did all his research on the subject, I was his caretaker and I've lived through his triumphs and struggles; I've learned by his example. He is my support system now as I wait for the last piece of paperwork to be prepared and submitted to my insurance company. I'm patient but also anxious to get a surgical date as soon as possible.
DATE: WEIGHT: LBS LOST:
04/26/03 248 (BMI 43.9)
07/25/03 244 (-4) pre-op
08/04/03 225 (-23)
08/14/03 219 (-29)
08/21/03 214 (-34)
09/23/03 202.5 (-45.5)
10/27/03 191 (-57)
11/25/03 185 (-63) NOT GOOD!!!
12/23/03 176 (-72)
01/20/04 169 (-79)
02/24/04 165 (-83) ~7 months post-op
03/17/04 162 (-86)
03/31/04 160 (-88)
04/20/04 157 (-91)
04/27/04 156 (-92)
05/18/04 155 (-93)
07/19/04 153 (-95)
07/28/04 152 (-96)
06/04/03: YAHOO!!! I just found out today that I have a date for surgery; it's July 25, 2003! I am SO EXCITED and HAPPY to know when I will be REBORN!!!
My older son, Stephen (24), is having trouble dealing with my having surgery. He's my HEART; he doesn't like seeing me in any kind of pain. My younger son, Michael (15), is my SPIRIT. Not that he enjoys seeing me in pain, either; but he was one of my main caregivers after my last surgery and he's prepared to be there for me this time. I love both my boys VERY MUCH and want to be healthier for them as well as, for me.
06/21/03: Thirty-four days to go until my rebirth and I'm looking very much towards it. Tonight, I sent my BEFORE picture to obesityhelp.com and hope I did everything correct; it's good to connect a face with a profile. This has been a week from HELL! My beloved son, Mike, had a Go-ped (motorized scooter) accident and broke both bones in his lower right leg. We will make such a pathetic pair of healing souls within the next 5 weeks. Because of his accident, I had to miss my support meeting and didn't get to update with the rest of my Bari-buddies. Part of me wants to gorge on whatever "Bad" treat that I can get my hands on in the next 5 weeks but my body is starting to adjust to the new eating habits I've learned from my dietician and whenever I eat the wrong thing, I feel sick. I just pray that I'm not becoming lactose intolerant; I'm looking forward to the Carnation Instant Breakfast but NOT Glucerna; it's gross!
Until the next update; stay healthy!
07/15/03: I did all my pre-op testing yesterday and it's now 10 days until the big day. As always, I've procrastinated in trying to get the house organized for my post-op recovery. Too many hours at work, too many medical appointments, too many social commitments and not enough time at home to concentrate on what needs to get done. Tomorrow night I NEED to attend my Weight Management support meeting. Another thing; I'm allowing myself to get upset over other people's comments and opinions. At least, I'm not turning to food for comfort. Since I've made the decision to have this surgery, I am more aware of eating a more balanced variety of proteins, produce & carbs. And once I have the surgery; my stomach will certainly tell me what I can eat. So to my well-meaning loved ones: Please refrain from making negative comments. I am NOT DIETING anymore; but EXPLORING what foods my body WILL or WILL NOT tolerate.
7/24/03: Well, it's finally here and I will be having my surgery tomorrow morning at 10:00am. First, I want to thank all the members who sent messages to my Surgery page; they will sustain me through the journey I'm about to enter. Next, I need to appologize to Joann LaPorte for not calling her as I promised. Today, I've been SOOOO sick from taking the laxatives. I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome on top of a Hiatal Hernia & GERDS; it takes longer for me to cleanse. All I've had today are clear liquids and my stomach feels like it's going through a battle. I'm prepared for the worse but hope for the best. Well, I'll update when I get out of the hospital. Until then, goodnight...
7/29/03: I made it through the surgery with flying colors and was sent home from the hospital today. I'm officially on the "other side"; now my journey to weight loss and a healthier lifestyle has begun. God Bless my doctor; his expertise and gentle hands succeeded in giving me a gastric bypass free of complications, excellent post-op care and a flawless incision. My hospital post-op experiance was excellent except for a few snags that got themselves resolved. When it comes to discomfort, an Open RYN is pretty rough in the first few days then you feel a great improvement (~80%) afterwards. It is VERY IMPORTANT starting with the 1st day post-op to:
1. Get up and walk no matter how dizzy or stiff you feel
2. BREATHE, BREATHE, BREATHE to get your lungs functioning and your blood gases back up to their pre-op capacity. Do the Nebulizer treatments, if neccessary.
3. Experiment with the limited selection "clear liquids" offered on your food tray. A little of the melted strawberry sorbet adds a punch to the "diluted" apple juice.
4. SIP the Protein shake SLOWLY but if it's too thick and/or doesn't agree with you, mix with skim milk. And if it still bothers you, try Lactose-free milk with it. It worked for me.
5. SPEAK UP FOR YOURSELF & communicate with the staff; you are your best advocate. The goal is to make the recovery process go as smoothly as possible.
Anyways, I'm spending the next few days with my dad. He is learning the "hard way" about this new lifestyle of mine. He never realized that Carnation Instant Breakfast and popcycles come sugar-free.
8/7/03: It's been 13 days since surgery and I've lost 23 lbs; YAHOO!!! I'm now progressing into the "soft food" stage of scrambled eggs, tuna w/ LF mayo, yogurt, moist chicken & fish & lentil soup. As long as the food is moist, it will go down relatively easy and the fullness is comfortable. I've had only a few experiances of the food feeling trapped in my lower esophagus; it's uncomfortable and takes awhile to move into my pouch. I'm becoming more aware of feeling full without feeling stuffed.
This week, I've been able to walk further distances but still can't overdo without becoming tired. My knees can handle my weight better and don't hurt after a good long walk (~2 miles total). It was TOO humid today to walk outside. I'll be satisfied to find a large store or mall to keep up my walking. Until next posting; happy losing!
8/15/03: It's 3 weeks post-op and I'm down another 6 lbs (29 lbs total). I saw my GYN yesterday and it looks like the weight loss has cleared up some of the ailments that I've dealt with for years. My blood pressure is down to a very healthy range, also. I rewarded myself with an adorable "clearance" blouse size 1X (down from 2X or 20W) that fits perfectly. I'm very cautious about buying any new clothes since I saved most of my smaller sizes from the past.
I'm drinking about one shake a day and eating more solid but soft food. No matter how moist I make my chicken and scrambled eggs or how slow I eat my tiny bites, I still can experiance that "stuck" feeling in my esophagus. I do much better eating protein-rich soups, chili, soft meatballs and yogurt mixed with granola. I will be seeing my nutritionist on the 18th and will get more suggestions from her. Eating has become more of a chore and less of a pleasure now; I'm eating to survive and drinking to stay hydrated. Still, I'm glad that I had the surgery because of the improvements in my health within the last 3 weeks.
08/23/03: It's 4 weeks since surgery and I lost another 5 lbs; 34 lbs total. My friends & family are now stating to notice the change in me.
I had a bad experiance this week with "dumping". I didn't realize that one particular brand of non-fat yogurt has high fructose corn syrup as an ingredient. Directly after I ate the 8oz cup, I took my chewable vitamin. That extra bit of sugar caused me to dump so badly that I had the "spins" and momentarily passed out. Dr. Randall explained my sugar level went up to quickly thus causing a surge in my insulin level and a hyperglycemic attack. When eating this particular brand of yogurt, one has to wait at least 10-15 minutes before taking anything else that contains the most minute dose of sugar.
09/05/03: I'm down another 2 lbs (36# total) and feel this is because I'm not getting enough protein and/or water. I'm still having a hard time with all meat except steak & scrambled burger. I also developed a distaste for eggs made any style. Chili, soups, yogurt and anything mushy are the only things I can digest without pain.
Over a week ago, I developed a "leak" in my incision but my boyfriend told me that it was normal. Well, I excerted myself and caused part of the incision to split open. No matter what I did, it wasn't healing closed. I saw Dr. Yehia on the 3rd and he reopened the wound, irragated it with saline and banaged it. I have to clean it with saline twice a day for the next three weeks and layoff anything strenuous. I'll be returning to work on Monday, Sept. 8th; I'll let you all know how this new lifestyle of mine agrees with joining the workforce again.
09/13/03: I completed my first week back at work, lost 2 more pounds and I feel fine (yet a little tired at night). I fell asleep by 10pm every night this week. Working fulltime has put me on a better schedule for eating, drinking and walking. I found that I couldn't fit in my walking during my lunch break; I needed all that time to eat and digest my food. I decided to do it just prior to going home. I fill up my water bottle, put my things in the car and walk the parking lot around perimeter of the buildings where I work. Most of the dayshift has gone home and there's less traffic to deal with than at noontime. There is some uphill climbing involved and I strive to go around twice. After I finish, I hop in my car and go home. Although I have lost 38lbs total, the walking is now starting to bother the arthritis in my knees; it could be the uphill climbing causing this. Today, I bought special inner soles for my sneakers and knee stabilizers. Hopefully, these will relieve most of the impact to my joints. I plan on joining the gym soon in order to use the recumbent bike for non-weight bearing excercise. Right now, it's just a matter of affording it.
09/27/03: It's been two months since my surgery and I'm down to 202.5 (45.5 lbs total). I've been walking almost every day and tonight, I'm going dancing! My boyfriend & I are going to a dinner dance with friends that I haven't seen since before my surgery. It will be exciting to see their reactions. They all wished me the best prior to July 25th and have been asking about me since then.
My face & body have shrunk a bit. I'm fitting into more of my old size 14/16W tops and size 18W slacks. I'm also buying some new clothes in 14 Petite (my goal size for now) as my incentive to keep up with my excercising. For the first time in my life, my butt is starting to flatten out. I've been using wrist weights for all sorts of activity in trying minimize the size of my bat/angel wings. I look at it this way; whatever droops, they are signs of my success.
I get very upbeat when speaking about bariatric surgery and all its health benefits but there are the moments when I can mellow out and realize that I'm still the same old me inside a slowly shrinking body. I had a bit of an emmotional meltdown this past week and stayed home from work. The previous night I ate peanuts and pineapple chunks a little too late. The combination caused me to vomit in my sleep and wake up at 2am choking. I couldn't get rid of the acid in my throat; I had to sit up for an hour before I felt comfortable enough to go back to sleep. This really scared me and I just fell apart emmotionally from all that's been going on with me in the past two months. Just like the body has to catch up with the weight loss, your psychological being does too. Thank God for the monthly meetings that Dr. Randall conducts. I learn more new information about my post-op process each time I go to them. Until the next time; stay happy & healthy.
10/07/03: I was going to wait to update AFTER I got below 200 lbs. but I reached that 200 lb mark today and I think a 48 lb loss after 10 1/2 weeks out of surgery is pretty good for me. The medical scale that I've been weighing myself on at work did something strange today. Instead of registering 200 lbs with just the bottom weight pushed over to the 200 mark, I had to move the weight back to the 150 mark then slide the top weight all the way over to 50. I reset everything, got off then went back on and it did the same thing. I'm hoping this means that maybe I'm slightly under 200 or will be within the week (and I was wearing my baggy old sz20W jeans to boot). I've always worked on the "breaking a digit" method where I would only concentrate on losing to get down into the next digit range. Ex: If you're in the 210's range (210-219), you strive to get down to the 200's range (200-209). Small steps add up to giant strides.
Well, one of my size 14 finds (on Ebay) will have a purpose next May. I won an $21.00 auction for a beautiful new Jessica McClintock gown on September 29th and on October 4th, my niece asked me to be her maid-of-honor at her May,2004 wedding. The color & style are perfect. It does run small BUT I wouldn't want to find anything else before March. In fact, my feet are strinking so I won't order my shoes until I need to. I look at this as incentive to stay on track and not pressure to squeeze into something unrealistic.
I have to ease up on the excelerated walking for now; all the uphill climbing has been doing a job on my knees and they have been KILLING me! The recumbant bike at the gym is my next alternative. I don't know whether if I'm lacking something or if it's just the change of seasons but I've been exhausted lately. I thought the exercise would help but I'm still craving my sleep all day long. My eating is still the same as ever; if it's soft, smushy and loose, I have no problem eating my full servings. It's the solid protein that's my chalenge to get down no matter how small I cut the pieces or how slow I eat it. Also, I do better drinking my decaf coffee iced instead of hot; go figure...
10/08/03: I decided to re-weigh myself wearing a lighter weight pair of slacks & blouse than yesterday. Lo & behold,
I lost an additional 2.5 lbs (those darn heavy TOO-LARGE FOR-ME jeans!). So I can officially say that I'm BELOW TO 200 LB MARK - YIPEE!!!
10/12/03: Yesterday, I went to the wedding of one of my closest girlfriends, Deb, and I was able to wear my size 16W outfit from 7 years ago (my last all-time low before BIG re-gain). My friends who I haven't seen in months told me that I looked great. My girlfriend, Linda, told me that besides looking thinner, I have a particular happy glow about me that she hasn't seen in years (and we are talking about a 31 year friendship here). Thinking about it, I have to say that I feel blessed. I have the love of my family and friends; good long time people who have always been there for me. My father & I have an extremely close bond and I definately know that my mother is watching over me in heaven; she has always been the wind beneath these wings of mine. Whenever I was feeling low, she would say, "Cheer up darly, better days are coming". I believe she got this from her very English mother ( whom I loved dearly).
I have been so blessed lately with my health, the health of my two loving sons and all this love I feel around me from them, my Honey and everyone else who touches my life. Life is good...
10/27/03: Three months post-op and down 57 lbs. I'm down two sizes in my jeans (from 20W to 16W) and was able to squeeze into a 16 Petite suit that I found on clearance. On the down side, I might have a hernia near or at my pouch; I'll find out for certain next week when I see Dr. Yehia. All I know is that the area is very tender and it hurts when I cough, sneeze, bend over or have a BM. I'm doing everything my doctor instructed but I'm still very tired and not feeling 100%. Could it be that my body is reacting to the weight loss?
11/03/03: Saw Dr. Yehia today for my 3 month follow-up and I down another 2 lbs. He gave me a clean bill of health, confirmed that I do have a hernia and reassured me that it will not hinder any my activity. He said it can be repaired when I get a TT which I just might need when I lose the rest of my excess weight. He'll see me again in 6 months and hopefully, I'll be at goal...
11/25/03: Today I am 4 months post-op and I had my FIRST (and hopefully, my last) gain since surgery. I am 2 lbs. heavier today than I was one week ago. Was it because I was sick two days prior to weighing myself last week that I had a 4 lb. loss? Is it my latest craving for orange juice? That I'm not drinking enough water? I'm not exercising as much? Could it be that I've been very depressed lately (even though I'm on an anti-depressant)? Or is it just a combination of a lot of things? I'm still having problems with eating anything that ISN'T creamy, mushy or liquified. I tolerated at least 5-6 oz of steak tips that were in a marsala sauce over the weekend. I took small bites and ate them slowly; they went down so smoothly and I stopped when my tummy felt full. Maybe I've been substituting my water with the orange juice too much. Today I had a hypoglycemic reaction about 1-1/2 hours after I ate my breakfast. The only thing I had in between (30 minutes after breakfast) was 16 oz of decaf coffee. I tried some protein (string cheese) to see if it would help; it didn't. I ended up drinking some orange juice to aleviate the dizziness & shakes. I'm not going to beat myself up over this gain but I do want to get things under control.
12/09/03: I'm starting get my weight loss back under control (-4 lbs since 11/25) but it isn't easy. I get depressed & discouraged too easily when it comes to digesting my food. I'm highly sensitive to any kind of sugar or sugar substitute ingredients; it taste bad and turns my stomach. This includes bananas, tomatoes (except sauce), pineapple and any fruit or vegetable that has a hint of sugar in it. I'm still having a hard time digesting poultry & fish. Medium-rare steak & loose burger is good. My killer meatballs nearly killed me with pain on Sunday; maybe I made them too rich for my delicate stomach. I only had one that was the size of a golf ball and I was full. I guess I miss the comfort that food had once given me. Your life's problems don't go away and you have to depend on other means to get you over the hump. But on a good note, I'm totally blown away with being able to get into a size 14. Clothes that I earmarked for my goal of 140 lbs. are starting to fit me now. I feel fortunate to be able to move around easier, not get as winded as before and endure activity longer. With all this shedding the old and fitting into the new clothes, I've been side-tracked from getting ready for Christmas. This year, we are having a smaller tree and not as much decorations; but my tradition of home-made raviolis and Christmas soup remain on my menu. The soup is my mother's recipe and I was told that my soup taste that closest to her's. I know my mother would have been proud of my weight loss; she was proud of everything I did. I miss having her around at the holidays but she'll always be with me in spirit. If anything, always make memories with your children and those you love. Years from now, they won't remember what you gave them but they certainly will cherish the memories of the special times they spent with you. Peace to All...
1/3/04: Happy New Year to All! I hope the holidays were not too stressful for anyone. This was the first year in a very long time that I decided that nothing was that important to stress over that it would spoil the season for me and my love ones; it turned out to be very peaceful. This was also the first New Year's Eve in sixteen years that my Honey & I went out and partied. The dancing was great; especially in heels that I would never be able to tolerate when I was heavier. The weight loss and body transformation are still blowing my mind; I hope to have an After picture posted soon (although I have ~40 lbs to go until my personal goal). I have all I can do to limit my spending on new clothes. The clearance sales are great but I don't want to go overboard.
On a more serious subject; I've received e-mail about some members who are struggling to keep foods & liquids down. One has become so dehydrated that she needed to be hospitalized. May I stress the importance of keeping hydrated. If you are having problems, go back to square one and return to drinking liquids and eating the soft foods of the first stages out from surgery. This was the advice that my surgeon gave me. He would also prescribe anti-nausea medication if needed. I have a friend who was sent home attached to an IV with her husband changing it out for her bag every few hours for weeks until she was able to hold nurishment on her own. Don't get discouraged if you can't digest what other post-ops can. I realized that now matter how I serve my homemade tomato sauce, I cannot tolerate it in my stomach. I'm going to have to change my recipe for me until I can tolerate it. In fact, I cannot tolerate most of my home cooking. My fiance admitted that he also had a hard time digesting his own cooking. I thought it was ironic how we received six restaurant gift certificates this Christmas since we are now both post-op. But now I realize that this a good thing because we both can tolerate certain foods on each of the menus. Soups are a part of my main diet these past weeks. Anyways, stay positive and stay healthy...
01/21/04: Well, I'm almost 6 months post-op and I have another 21 lbs. to go until I reach the Century mark. My weight loss has slowed down to ~7 lbs a month but that's ok; if I can lose another 25-30 lbs. by May 16th, I'll be ecstatic! My niece is getting married, I'm her Maid of Honor and I still can't zip up the size 14 bridesmaid gown that I bought online all the way. I've been putting off buying another gown until the last moment so it will be closer to the size I need (which might be a size 16). I will not allow this to stress me out.
On a brighter note, tomorrow will be the 2nd Anniversary of my fiance's WLS and he has maintained his +100 lb. weight loss successfully. I would like to get his profile or at least, his Before & After pictures posted; he inspires me. Congratulations, Marfi!!!
01/28/04: I've been 6 months post-op since the 25th and I have maintained my weight since the 20th; which is 79 lbs. lost. I went to my monthly meeting last Thursday and found out why I was feeling light-headed & shaky two hours after my breakfast. I'm not getting enough fat in my breakfast to sustain me for 3-4 hours. Apparently, I needed to change from Skim to 1-2% milk when I make my oatmeal. I find that that little extra fat works and certainly makes the oatmeal creamy & fluffier (YUM!).
I went shopping for my bridesmaid gown last Saturday and I'm VERY happy to say that I was able to wear a size 12. The size 16 swam on me and the size 14 fit a bit loosely. The dress I ordered is a size 12 that fits like a glove. By May, it should fit comfortably loose (I hate tight clothing).
Lately, I've been at a peace with myself that I haven't felt for so long. Not only do I feel better but I'm looking better to myself. In the mirror, I'm looking more like my mother and to know that she is coming out more in me, gives me a peaceful connection to her soul. I feel that she is looking down from heaven and is very pleased with what she sees. My whole family has been very supportive and that really helps when you make such a drastic change in your life. Until you go through this surgery, you don't realize how much better your quality of life becomes. God Bless to all...
02/09/04: 6 Months-2 Weeks and down 82lbs. I wouldn't have posted my weight today except that I went to my GYN today and lost another pound since the 4th. Had a minor scare from my repeat mammogram; they still found a mass on some of the films taken of my left breast. My doctor thinks that my weight loss could have contributed to the mass-like films(extra loose skin). He checked me out thoroughly finding nothing unusual. The added discomfort I was feeling in that area turns out to be from a fall and landing against my ribs. They still want to repeat my mammogram in June.
Cleaned out most of my closet this weekend and found some nice surprises. Two incentive dresses that I bought years ago (in size 12) now fit me. Depending on the fit, I'm now wearing between size 12-14. I read my buddy, Jo Ann's profile update today and can agree with her that it's best to have loose, hanging skin at a lower weight than tight skin at a mobidly obese weight. Amen to that....
02/24/04: Day shy of being 7 months post-op and another pound down. Weight loss has slowed down to 4 lbs within the last month and I know why; I'M HAVING A LOVE AFFAIR WITH M&Ms!!! I eat only enough to satisfy my craving but not enough to get sick. I found out that my stomach cannot tolerate artificial sweetener (except in my fat-free yogurt) but can tolerate very small amounts of sugar. I found this out after Christmas when I bought some regular & sugar-free chocolate foil balls from Fanny Farmer. The sugar-free made me sick but the regular didn't. This was ok with me if done only on VERY RARE occasions. BUT Fanny Farmer went out of business in my area right before Valentine's Day, I got frustrated and turned to those little chocolate morsels with the candy shell. I can nurse a 1.67oz package for 1-2 days! Tonight is Mardi Gras and I'll be having the last of my little buddies; I'm giving them and all other chocolate up for Lent. I NEED to get back on track and stick with my behavior changes. I also found out that the closer you get to goal, the more activity your body needs to lose those last 20-30 pounds. I'm hoping to start Country Line Dance lessons next week and boot-scooty myself down into the 150's by the end of March. God Bless, take care and don't give up hope...
03/13/04: The weight loss now is like a snail crawl; ever so slow. I promised myself that I wouldn't weight myself more than twice a month but the scale keeps calling my name and I'm getting so discouraged that these last 20-30 lbs won't come off. I haven't picked up my bridesmaid dress for fear that it will be too snug. Besides the wedding, my son is receiving Confirmation on the 27th, my friend's daughter is making her 1st Communion in May (I'm making the dress) and I still have to plan my niece's bachelorette party; I'm exhausted thinking of it all.
Speaking of tired, I've been extremely tired lately. I take Zoloft which causes drowsiness but I'm wondering whether I need to change my dosage. I tried stop taking it for over a week; initially, I felt perky but I soon became anxious, irritable and depressed. I called my PCP and made an appointment for a physical. I haven't had any bloodwork taken since before surgery and maybe I'm runned down. Plus, I'm having too many food temptations. We'll see...
I finally started going onto the Main Message Board but I'm more of an observer than participant. I find that it's helping me stay on track; or at least, try to stay on track. Until later, have a good weekend...
03/15/04: Hi... just a quick note about something that made me feel so good about having this surgery. Yesterday, my younger son walked in the room while I was posting on the Main Message board and noticed my Before picture next to my post. He looked at it closely and said, "Geez, Ma, your face is so fat in that picture; I didn't realize you were that big" Then he continued, "Your face looks so much better and younger now; in fact, it looks a lot like how I remembered it when I was a baby". I told him that I was twenty pounds heavier (than I am now) when he was a baby and he replied, "Ya, but you still look good". These might not be his exact words but they are as close as what I can remember.
03/17/04: Happy St. Patrick's Day! I saw my PCP today because I had to call his office yesterday to reschedule my physical and his nurse was concerned about the fatigue I've been feeling. I'm ok except for what I'm going through maybe due to menopause; I've not taken estrogen since before surgery. He wants to keep me on my dosage of Zoloft for a little longer then will lower it. I'm going for my bloodwork by the end of this month so that he'll have the results by my physical on April 7th. We'll see if I'm deficient in any of my viatamins, minerals or whatever else. Anyways, he did compliment me on my weight loss (-86 total) and was glad that it was working for me. Intially, he wasn't in favor of the surgery but after seeing how well my boyfriend did on it (he's also his PCP) and how it took care of his Type 2 diabetes, he felt it would benefit me. He said that he knew how hard I had tried in the past to lose and how uhappy being overweight made me. He's impressed with how well my health has improved from a year ago.
I ended up staying home today from work. Between the snow storm that we're having in New England since last night and the doctor's appointment today, my spirit & flesh were not up to the stress. I've been depressed, anxious and stressed out for awhile now and I can't snap out of it like I used to in my younger days.
03/31/04: First, I have to thank Marsha for posting my "new" Post-op picture sooo quickly. Next, I have to say that I'm now 47, down 88 lbs and feel 200% healthier than a did a year ago.
05/19/04: It's been awhile since my last post and I'm down 93 lbs. I'll be satisfied to make the Century mark by my anniversary date on July 25th. I've become a very slow loser; especially now that I'm 15 lbs from my personal goal weight. April and May have been very busy months for me. I spent every spare moment in April making a 1st Communion dress for my girl friend's daughter, Michaela. It has 4 layers of appliqued/sequined netting for the overskirt and a seeded pearl bodice with embroidered appliques that I hand beaded pearls and sequins individually. I was quite pleased with it and my girlfriend, her daughter & family were overwhelmed by how well it came out. Michaela looked like a little "Irish Princess" in her dress with her hair up in ringlets adorned by a rhinestone tiara in the shape of the Cladaugh. The last three weeks were filled with my niece's Bachelorette party on the 1st (which I hosted), Michaela's 1st Communion on the 8th, my future sister-in-law's 50th B'day party on the 15th and my niece's wedding on the 16th. My niece, Deanna, looked stunning in her bridal outfit and I didn't look so bad, myself, in my size 12 Maid of Honor gown. Oh, I almost forgot; my fiance had my diamond reset in this most beautiful diamond setting just in time for this past weekend. I guess we will eventually get married when we feel the moment is right.
I'm still battling with the "hungry horrors"; I want to eat so many things at once but my tummy won't let me. And I certainly don't want to fall into the "grazing" mode. I'm so afraid to overdo anything that I don't think I'm eating as many "mini meals" as I should. I've had a lot of stress at work & home that I've been seeing my therapist more often. The people in my HR dept. suggest that I see a psychiatrist to change me from my Zoloft to another anti-anxiety med that won't make me so depressed & overwhelmed. I'm going to my therapist tonight and will get a name or two from her.
Remember, slow & steady wins the race...
07/30/04: It's been awhile but I recently celebrated my 1 year Anniversary on the 25th and I'm 96 lbs. down. I'm shrinking into size 10-12; but mostly 12's. I've never had so much new clothing; thank goodness for super clearance bargains! It's been quite a year of emmotional ups & downs. I had to change my meds from Zoloft to Effexor in order to get a grip on my panic disorder yet in a more effective way.
My DH & I just bought a camper that's settled on a site in York, Maine. We are calling it our beach home since it's walking distance to the shore and we are surrounded by green trees & grass. This is our weekend retreat after a hectic week of work; a place to veg out, smell the sea air and RELAX.
I hope to post a new picture soon. There's not too much difference in me since March (only 8lbs) but my top half is looking thinner (the bottom half isn't too bad, either). My skin is not only hanging but getting more wrinkled under the arms, in-between the thighs, under the butt, etc.... and excercise only does so much. But I move much more swiftly, I'm not out of breath and I'm finally FEELING lighter. My quality of life has definately improved.
08/03/07: Yes, it's been 3 years since my last entry. Well, it turns out that being on Effexor can cause you to gain weight. I do not want to say how much I gained back but it's less than half of what I lost. The last three years have been a battle. Effexor also makes your stomach VERY SENSITIVE to certain foods. I basically eat soft foods, soups and now I can tolerate chopped salad. I don't know if this has to do with the meds but I'm allergic to artificial sweeteners, especially Spenda and saccarine. I can tolerate small amounts of aspertaine (Equal). Oh, I can also tolerate good 'ole plain sugar but give me something that's sugar-free and I have a full blown DUMP. Any ideas of what I can do? There are days that I would rather have a feeding tube because eating causes me pain in more ways than none.
Photos
 248 My son, Stephen, and me in April, 2003. |
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 160 3/27/04 (my 47th B'day). I'm 8 months post-op, 88 lbs down |
Hospital Reviews
Member Interests:
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Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Sheldon Randall, M.D.
I first met Dr. Randall on the day that he performed Gastric Bypass surgery on my boyfriend. I was impressed by his bedside manner and concern for his patients; especially post-op when you need to call him after hours. I've had two pre-op visits with Dr. Randall and attended two of his meetings already. I was initially taken aback when he announced that his associate, Dr Yehia, would be performing my surgery instead of himself. Since then, I've read very good feedback on Dr. Yehia and he appears to have a very gentle manner at the meetings. I'm anxious to have my pre-op appointment and discuss my surgery with him. I had my pre-op appointment with Dr. Yehia on June 25th. He has very calming way about him with his gentle and soft-spoken manner. I'm very happy to have him for my surgeon. I'm also impressed by the Office Staff, Diane and Charlie. They both are very efficient in handling the paperwork and getting the "ball rolling" with approvals, surgical dates , etc... I consider to be in very good hands with this medical group.
Insurer Info:
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Network Blue New England
Blue Cross Blue Shield - Network Blue New England is the BEST! I would highly recommend this insurance for your medical needs. It took less than two weeks from when my paperwork was sent in until getting approved. Thank you, thank you, thank you BCBS!
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