Deborah S.

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

I just love the picture above, so Rosy and makes me smile.......


I am SO sorry to those who have written to me asking if I was still alive.....yes, but barely, haha, no I am fine.....sort of, but at least I know I am not losing my mind in that I had gained 25 lbs. in about 15-20 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What the Heck??  You ask.....well, add me to that pondering......So, here we go....

I am going to try to write/blog during this journey, which by the way I pray is a short journey....

I am at the moment facing the probability, albeit a low, low, low probability of Thyroid Cancer, but until it is ruled out, I am like thousands of other people in the USA who everyday are face to face with the thing we have all prayed and hoped we would never have ourselves, nor want our spouses, children, and families to have.....none of us want to deal with it, or have it in our family!  But reality is that someone we know, close to us, family or friend will face cancer in their lifetime, but for the first time in a long time, Heart Disease has surpassed Cancer as the # 1 killer in women.

If we can lose weight, add cardio to our lifestyle, which means regular exercise, not just to lose weight, and eat healthy fats, Omega Fatty Acids; Fish like Salmon, Tuna and Oily fish, Olive Oil and foods high in anti oxidants and high in fiber, we will finally see Heart Disease and Cancer as something that is not considered to be a #1 threat to Women and Men for that matter anymore!!

We could irridicate weight/obese related diseases in our lifetime as a threat to our longevity.


I was getting a school physical last month ( I am in school for Surgical Tech) I am studying to become a First Assistant during surgery, to assist the surgeon during surgeries.  I had to get a fasting blood tests done for the school prior to our clinicals in the OR.

I drove around with my lab  slip in my car for about 3 weeks because I just never was around the lab before I ate....

I had symptoms of weight gain, substantial weight gain, feeling like I had mono; sleep all day, wake up and then wanting to go right back to bed.  I kept gaining despite eating low carb / low calorie, and walking as much as possible, about 1/2 mile a day, I know its not much, but in school I have only 20 minutes to walk during breaks....but anyway, I was doing all in my power to lose weight which would have in the past, fallen off very fast.

As I was walking in the lab, I turned around, went back to my car and circled more tests because of my symptoms and knowing that something wasn't right despite emailing my dr and nutritionist (she was the only one who believed me by the way and encouraged me to dig deeper).

I sat in my car, went over the 1000 different tests available by bloodwork, and added on myself, Free T3, Free T4, and TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and micronutrients that my Gastric Bypass Doctor normally asks for just to see if my vitamins were low, were my protein levels low?  I had no clue, so I added on all those extra tests.

I then went about my business after the blood tests, and while scrubbing in and tying the surgical mask, I was looking in the mirror and noticed this huge thyroid gland staring me back in the face.   Hmmmmmm, well, the doctor will call if its abnormal, she is so awesome that way.

My hubby came home the next day and I told him how large my thyroid gland was, and that I could easily outline it with a marker just by looks, and my bloodtests were still pending from 4 days earlier.  It wasn't 5 minutes later the nurse called and said my TSH was off the charts, and consistent with Hypothyroidism and Thyroid Cancer.  

Well, that did not surprise me, because of my suspicions, and due to the fact that Thyroid Cancer is extremely curable, I was not freaking out, but was so happy to be vindicated in that I knew something was going on and that I was doing everything to lose weight, so I was right all along!

I am so glad to finally know that the weight gain wasn't because I was a "bad girl" as I have had a little sweets every now and again, but over 3 yrs I have been able to eat a little treat every now and again in moderation, and never had to worry about weight gain, so why now?

I went "Back to Basics" thinking, okay a few m&m's every now and again are adding up and adding to my rear, so I went back on protein drinks, walking more, and weight watcher's meals no higher than 300 calories and upped my salads, dark green leafies and fruits....

Got really strict, under 1000 or less, usually less, per day, and yet the weight came on at a staggaring rate, about 2 pounds every day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

So, now on the Levothyroxine I have lost close to 6 lbs, and I know its probably water, as I know hypothyroidism can cause your body to hold onto salts and water, so it may go up and down a little, but at least its coming down now...

Well, 

I have had quite a few emails from people that I have not read from back in September!  I am soo sooo sorry if that was you!!  I just have not been on here and I sure need to be more often!

I really have had issues lately, and I will just post it below here and what I have written to a lot of you, and it will hopefully help some of you as well as me! 

I am flattered that so many people have looked up to me, and it really really is hard, and to be in a public place and the mental responsibility I feel to succeed to help others, and now I am having my own struggles and looking to others ahead of me to see how to combat what I am going through.  Its really really important I think to stay focused on support and to talk about it and to tell others what is going on.   I hate sometimes, that I am sort of a "celebrity" in a way in the gastric bypass world in that I feel so much pressure to stay thin, do well and to help others....the pressure to succeed is really hard, and to also be in an industry that focuses on looks and to now be in that place of fighting the weight gain and I know its due to steroids, not over-eating, but nonetheless, its so hard, and I feel so much pressure and mental anguish about gaining just a tiny bit of weight.

I know most of you can relate that after seeing the scale go only down for so long, to see it creep up is just tramatizing and freaks me out!  I am really really having to just take drastic measures and its so hard now, its not like it was before, just not eat for a few meals and 4 lbs drops off at the drop of a hat, no....its really tough and an uphill battle.

Anyway, I know when the steroids are all gone, the water weight will come off, but its so hard to see 149/152 even today after drinking 3 bottles of water, but I will pee that out, haha, and just to see the 150's again is so mind boggling and upsetting it just is really affecting me.

I am turning it over to God, and I am doing what I know to do, back to basics and to just drink Nectars and protein only.

here is an email answer I have shared, and also a post I want to share, I know it may be a repeat, but worth talking about again I am sure.

Hope it helps people!

Please email me at my regular email, I have felt so bad that I never check my emails and see people who have emailed me and I didn't answer back, it makes me feel terrible.

Tommysgirl66@gmail.com

Love ya!

Deb

April 8th 2008  Scar and Thigh Revision/Breast Impant Revision and revised bigger lift.....they dropped more than I wanted even though they are much better, I wanted bigger implants with a bigger lift, so we are going back in to replace them with slightly fuller implants, too much skin still and they are too far apart.  I have 360cc's and want 450'cc  or 500cc's.  :)   Yes, really bigger boobs, still will be a D cup, but fuller now!



Previous Post......below


Thanks!  Sorry I haven't been online, but here is my new post for today and if you go back to my old posts in 06, you can see what i posted about plastics there.  i love dr fuentes, and would only go to him forever, no matter where he practices, usa or mexico.

his prices are really really good.

:)

Deb

God Bless!

Here is my new post.  Yes plastics is hard, but so worth it.  I am having my revision on APril 8th in Tijuana, with the same plastic surgeon I have always used.

Here is what I am posting now, 

please email me at Tommysgirl66@gmail.com

I rarely come on here, although I am trying to do so more often so I can keep up with support as it is key to stay motivated and to cry on someone's shoulder when at 2.5yrs post op, you are hungry again and gaining some weight!!!!!!!

New Post

I have had an issue lately with regaining a touch of weight, not much, but a little.  I got way below goal, 142, and now I am up to 150ish, but its due to steroids, so I am freaking out.  

I am catching it though and making myself only eat protein drinks for the next week, no solids and its hard.  Its so hard again, like it was where you are now....hunger kicks back in after 2.5 years, or 3 years, and so I can see this will be an ongoing battle for the rest of my life, its so miserable now too.   Back in the early days, you could eat anything and get sick, so you had a self control mechanism and would not eat bad, because it hurt bad if you did. 

SO now I have to wrap my mind around my new body and new problems of dealing with major hunger pains, its terrible.  I sometimes think its easier to be fat, as you are not judged now, and everyone is watching me now because I have become so high profile in the gastric bypass world and have been on tv out here in California, acting and modelling, so to have to be in such a high profile, public view, its really really hard.  

I wish I had the big metabolism like those super skinny models and actors, but its so difficult and I suppose I am always going to be a fat person in a skinny body and I have to realize that I have the control to stop eating and watch what I am doing so I don't regain the weight.

Its the most difficult thing I have ever done, and if anyone ever says, you took the easy way out, slap them!!  God will see me through this little "crisis" but its just something I will have to deal with forever I suppose.

Here is the story I emailed, and thought I would post it to share....

I know I am not really gaining big weight, but at least i catch it early because I do weigh every single day, and have since WLS, and I think that is why I can catch it early.

Please email me if you find yourself in this position too, and want to talk about it, I certainly do!!!

tommysgirl66@gmail.com

 I am going to post an article I just found online, and wanted to know if you both are facing this as well.  I will be 3 yrs post op this coming August, and for the past year, I have had a nurse practitioner tell me that she had WLS and after year 2, she started to gain it back and kept telling me I would too.  Well, I don't want to admit it, but now she is kinda right. 

I have gained about 8 pounds, due to steroids that they are injecting in my back, but I am not doing those anymore, I am finished now, but it is an uphill battle.

I am doing what they call a TimeOut Diet, all Nectar only for 7-10 days, and while researching this, found this article.   I have been hungrier lately, but really trying to only do protein, low carbs only...its hard!!!
 
Love you,

Deb
 
PLEASE Pray for me, that I can lose this 10lbs, about there, and get back down around 142, as I felt so light and good there!!  I just want to be under 150, as I felt the best there, but I am still under goal, but know I won't be for long if I don't recognize this before it hits 20lbs!!!!!!! YIKES!!  I have worked way too hard to go back up!!!

Love you guys, please please pray I will not gain anymore weight!!  I know you all must feel the same way, this far out, to see our bodies start to tolerate sugar again, and be able to eat a little more. 

I still can't eat much when it comes to meats and things, but I find myself hungrier now, and I know its the steroids, so I am trying to drink a bottle of water whenever I feel hungry first.   I am only snacking on cheese and nuts again, no crackers or anything like that...which admittingly, I have not been one to snack on bad foods, I had candy canes at Christmas, and I did not gain on them, low sugar and calories, so they were the one treat I allowed myself, but now I am really tightening ship here, and making myself not eat anything bad at all.  

I think I have been really good, never one to snack on cookies or brownies etc...although now I can have a tiny taste if we are out somewhere and enjoy a bite or two of something, but never push it.  I also cannot eat large amounts of foods either, I feel sick if I do, but I dont' dump like I used to, and I wish I would!!!!!!!! 

I am really constipated, and know if I were to go to the bathroom good, I would lose the weight too....so I am doing all nectar only this week with some low calorie weight watcher meals, only the meat though, and only fresh fruit and veggies for snacks....but not for these next few days, only nectar and salads.   Maybe I will seek out a colonic this week, so many people say it really really helps them!!  YUCKO!!  But hey, if it works!!!

 
love ya, here is the article
 
Deb
 
ARTICLE BELOW
 
I've talked to quite a few fellow gastric bypass patients recently and we all have one thing in common: About the third year after gastric bypass we get hungry. And we eat more. And weight starts to creep back on. In the worst case a patient regains so much weight a revision surgery is required to again reduce the stomach size and facilitate weight loss. In the best case, the patient catches the problem early and reverses the trend.
In my third year out when this happened to me and I saw the scale jump ten pounds I called my counselor at my bariatric center. She told me "Get Back-to-Basics immediately." She recommended that for ten days I eat like a post-op newbie. Jell-o, chicken broth, soft-cooked eggs. No solids. Lots of liquids. No snacking. Take my vitamins. Drink lots of water.
I was so terrified of regaining the weight that I followed her directions exactly. She told me, "You have already done this once when you had surgery. You certainly can do it again, and this time you are much healthier." She was right!
The first day was hell. I was hungry and crabby. The second day was not as painful. By the third day Back-to-Basics was routine. By the tenth day my weight was down 7 pounds, my body felt lighter and happier. I felt unpolluted. Best of all, my tiny pouch seemed to be tighter and less tolerant of over-filling and that's a very good thing! I was eating like a newbie again, recommitted to following the four rules and succeeding after weight loss surgery.
Now, to be honest, I've had to employ this technique more than once to get myself back on track and avoid weight regain. Sometimes I'll go Back-to-Basics for a long weekend, just to refresh and rejuvenate my body. I like the power the mindfulness of Back-to-Basics gives me, the complete awareness of my body and it's needs. I like being able to remind my mind and body of this powerful bariatric tool. I like that when I do see a weight gain I can quickly get it under control by employing past practice that I know works.
Are you in your third year and hungry? Give the Back-to-Basics a try.

I feel so badly for not updating until now, March 3rd 08, but life happens.   

I am still under 150lbs, but barely!  I weighed this weekend at 149, and I usually run around 142-145, so where have 5 pounds come from so fast??

My husband says not to worry, you can't gain real weight that fast, but its probably water, so today and maybe this whole week, I am back on drinking Nectar and eating only salads and meat.

I just am so afraid of gaining weight, that I will never allow myself to go above 150 again.....isn't that sad though?  I would have killed 3 years ago to be under 200lbs, and now I am freaking over 150lbs?   I am still under my goal weight of 165lbs, but because I am in Hollywood, living the lifestyle of commercials, movies, and tv shows, I act part time, that I have to maintain a certain weight.

It got me thinking about how sad is it that we have become so obsessed with weight that we will do most anything to stop it from coming back on.  I saw a show on BBC called Super Skinny Me, about 2 journalists who go to shocking lengths to get to a UK size 00.   That is like a 4 or 2 size in the USA.    I am a size 4/6, but usually a 6 because of my hips and thighs.

Yes, I have had a thigh lift, but I need another one, as well as my hips need revisions.  I am having my last surgery on March 31st.    I knew when I had the first thigh lift, I would have to probably have a revision to get all the skin that the first surgery had to take it off, and the 2nd is to perfect it, and pull it tighter. 

I am excited, and also apprehensive to some levels, but it was a much easier surgery than the LBL, which was so hard to recover from.

I also have become one of those people who freaks if the scale moves up an ounce, and I think most of us can relate that after going through the hell we went through with gastric bypass, we will do anything not to gain back what we have lost.   I see those shows on women who have gained it all back plus some, or half of it back and it literally makes me shake and freak out to see it.

I have to admit I have let a few bad habits slip back in, but as long as I was still at  MY goal weight, I was fine with it!!   Well, I am not fine with it anymore!

I also know that I am on a new medication that has probably had a lot to do with the extra 4-5lbs, so its probably all water.

I am detoxing my body right now, and after a year of being on medications I want to detox, so I am doing a big cleanse.   Colonix and a Purifying as well, so it will deal with detoxing the organs and blood, liver, and other vital organs and then the colon as well.  I am not looking forward to that part, but it will be so nice to know I am clean as a whistle and it will also give me back strength and vitality that I know my body needs.

I am drinking only Nectar today, Roadside Lemonade mixed with Crystal Lite Raspberry Lemonade which makes it taste bareable.

I will eat a small piece of steak tonight, as I still can only eat small portions, and a nice big green salad, and taking my protein drink before bed, as I remember protein before bed used to really make me lose the pounds.

I have a bad habit of eating candy canes, the cherry flavored ones, because they are low sugar and I can tolerate them and they give me a nice fix, and very low calories as well.   Well, no more candy canes for a while!!  Not until I get back to 145lbs again.

I can't even believe I am eating candy canes, but I found over Christmas, it was the one thing I could eat sweet, and not dump on.   I don't dump as much as I used to, I am now 2.5 years post op, and August will be year 3!!!  Its hard to believe its been that long, but I have such a horror that I will wake up in 3 years time to find myself back where I was before surgery.

I have to keep using my tool, and know that it is a tool, and even though I don't believe I will ever be 300lbs again, I just want to keep it real, keep it under control, and I can do it if I do what I am supposed to do.

So, all of you who are fighting this battle, which I think it will be a battle for the rest of my life, stay strong and remember, we didn't get this far to go back again!!

I will update a couple of pics, I have one from New Year's Eve where I was on the red carpet at a fashion event that I had to attend.  I wish it were the Oscars, but it looks like the oscars, haha.

Love you all!~!   No Worries!!   Nothing tastes better than Thin Feels!!!

Well, 

I finally had my thigh lift done on August 30, 2007.  I had posted, but it got erased and it was such a lot of work, that it bummed me so I didn't re-do it until now.

I went back to Dr Fuentes in Tj Mexico for my 3rd plastic surgery.  I am soooo excited!  I wish it would hurry up and the swelling would go down so that I could see what I would look like.

He lipo'd 600cc's out of each thigh and then injected 400cc's into each butt cheek.  I am soooo thankful for all the blessings that have been given to me.  

I had my Lower Body Lift on December 13, 2006
I had my Breast Lift and Implants (Augmentation) on May 31, 2007
I had my Thigh Lift with Liposuction and Fat Grafting to the buttocks...and scar revision of the LBL at the small of my back.

I was recovering at Perla's house, but she had some problems and the airconditioning was not working and there was no hot water, so I ened up going to the Lucerna.  I loved that hotel!!

The bellcaptain, Alonzo, was fantastic!  I just loved staying there, and I was only there 2 nights.

If anyone has questions about going to Tj Mexico, please let me know!!  I am more than happy to share any information because I love my doctor.

Just so you can put this part out of your mind, Yes, it is very safe to have surgery at CosMed.  Dr Quiroz is the Chief surgeon and founder of Cosmed.  He lives outside of San Diego in the USA on Coronado Island.  He used to have a clinic in Laguna Beach, CA.  they closed it down because they were driving back and forth to Tijuana and Laguna Beach and it was too much for them.

He is certified as are all the doctors, in Plastic Reconstructive Plstic surgery, which is really good, not just plastic surgery, but the full reconstructive plastic surgery!!  They are certified in both USA and Mexico and Internationally, very difficult designations to get.

Dr Fuentes lives in Tijuana with his wife and 2 sons, and did a residency in Mexico and the USA.  He also did a fellowship as did Dr Quiroz in Beverly Hills, with Dr Connell.  They both did a residency in the USA and Mexico as well.

Dr Campos is the laser expert.  He did a residency or fellowship or both, at a very prestigious clinic in Spain.

I would allow any 3 of these doctors to do plastic surgery on me.  I trust all 3 of them completely.  They are better plastic surgeons than the majority of surgeons I have seen in California and South Carolina.  I am sooo happy I did NOT go to Dr Katzen.  He would have butchered me!!  Dr Fuentes told me that any doctor who would do the vertical incision down the middle, did not have enough experience and skill, and it was also easier to do the vertical incision instead of the one he did for my Lower Body Lift.

Well, he said if I was not happy with the outcome, he could later hide the excess skin of my upper abs in the incision of my breast lift if it got to that point.

Anyway, needless to say, I did not need any extra skin removed, and I am very-very happy with my outcome!!

I also loved my breast lift.  It was very well done, and I only have incisions around the areolas and he was able to put in 360cc Cohesive Gel Implants in each breast.  I am now a 34D.  I was a 34 Minus A.

He was able to liposuction out (during the Thigh Lift) 600cc's out of my thighs (each inner thigh separately had 600cc removed)  He then injected (fat grafted) 400CC's into each butt cheek.  I am thrilled with everything!!   He also did a scar revision on my scar at the small of my back, from my Lower Body Lift last December, because it had healed very wide.

Well, I think I am now caught up here.  I do want to get my arms done and also a small/partial forehead lift, because my right eye is a little bit smaller, and he said it wasn't because of my eyes, it was due to a small bit of extra skin in the forehead.

Anyway, please email me if you have questions.

Check out these 2 Websites!!

www.CosMedClinic.com
www.NewBeauty.com/Fuentes

Love In Christ,

Deborah

Hi!

Well to start with, I have new breasts!!  YIPPEE  and they are perky too!!

You can read my old posts from my Lower Body Lift back in the December posts.

I went to Mexico on Wed. night and spent the night at the Grand Hotel in TJ with my son, Harrison.  He drove us to the border, and we caught a taxi to the hotel.

The next morning I got up and took a cab to the clinic.  Dr Quiroz was getting out of a taxi at the same time, and he opened up for us, there was a 2nd couple there, and let us in.

I went upstairs, and they took my vitals, gave me an anti nausea pill and a versed too.  Dr Fuentes came in and drew all over me, and took loads of pics before his markings and after.

He also said he was going to do a scar revision on the bottom left side, but that next time I come for my thighs (in 1 year due to nursing school) he will do my back incision which is really bad.


I had gained about 5lbs from 144, and I was weighing about 149 2 days before surgery, but I had not been able to go to the bathroom in over 4 days!!  The MRCP I had last week showed that I had a problem in my small bowel, but I took some magnesium citrate and also some milk of magnesia and antibiotics, and the night/day before surgery, I was pooping like crazy.  The morning of surgery I weighed nothing on, and weighed in at 148.2, with only 26% body fat.  He said that was very good.  I was hoping to be back down to 144, but I suppose I did not go enough, which I still feel constipated.

ANYWAY.....after I got home with the new girls in tow, cohesive gel implants, full C or lower D, he said too big and they will make my lift sag.  I don't appear to have incisions under my boobs, but I haven't looked yet either.

I am happy with them so far!!  

I sent some pics to my mom and dad, hopefully my dad won't freak out.  He thinks all plastics are a waste of time and money, my poor mom needs a HUGE body lift, esp. after having my brother.  My brother is against all plastic surgery too.  MEN!!

So, here are my stats:

153lbs right after surgery (hoping 8 of it is water/swelling)
The implants weigh 1.5 lbs each, so if I lose 5 lbs, that would be correct for my size.

5'9", 21.1BMI, Size 4/6 depending on cut, mainly 6's in pants, some 4's...Size Small tops??  Maybe Mediums now??  Not sure, as some Small tops have extra fabric at top.

---------Deb------------------------
Take care, and please don't hesitate to write to ask me questions!!

I have tried to answer most of them on here!

www.CosMedClinic.com
Dr Fuentes was my surgeon, tell him I sent you....you may get a discount, sometimes he can.....the implants I could not, as they cost $1,000 for the implants themselves, but stateside we are charged around $2000 per implant!!
Anesthesia is included as well as pre op and post op care

I stayed at The Grand Hotel in TJ, there is also The Lucerna, they are closer to the doc's office, which is located on San Diego Street, across from Angeles Hospital.

No matter where you travel in TJ, it is $5.00 one way, so I always just hand them the money, I heard people who asked how much, were charged a lot more, and then argued to pay the $5.00.  Five is the standard, so just hand it to them, and they will take it.

I paid $50.00 to Alex to drive us back from CosMed to the border, but I gave him $60 as I did not have any $5's with me.

I did not have to get out of the van or anything at all this time, very easy, and private, which I was glad for!!!

Take your pain meds with you!  Once I was in the van, I took 3 dilaudid and 1 phenergan for pain, and it knocked me out.  I also had Keflex with me from my doc, she would have give me a script anyway, but I had one from the dentist, for an abscess tooth this past week, and he gave me enough to cover my surgery.

 

If you have questions about getting surgery, costs, etc...Dr Fuentes will email you back via the "contact us" on their website  www.CosMedCenter.com

Giselle will also call you back if you call their toll free 877 number, she is awesome!!

 

 

 

Hello Everyone!!

Here are this month's STATs as follows:

5'9"
145lbs
Size 4/6 pants/dress
Size Small tops/shirts...(sometimes a Med depending on cut)
Size 4 skirts (sometimes a 2 depending on cut)

I took my pre-entrance exams this past week for Nursing School.  I passed!!  SO I start Nursing School on June 18th (one week of intro classes...1/2 day)

 

Right after graduation, they will start the RN program, which hopefully will begin in September so I will have a few months off between going to school full time.  That would be great!!  They said if not Sept, it will start in January, which would allow me time to have my thigh lift and breast lift, if I am not able to squeeze that in this summer. 

So, I am sooo excited!!  I can't believe I finally am fulfilling my dream of becoming a nurse!!  Yes, to answer those who are asking "Wasn't acting a dream as well"?  Yes, it was, but I had always wanted to be a doctor when I was a child, I can remember begging for a Doctor's kit that had all the tiny candy pills, remember those??  I wanted one so bad as a kid, but never got it.  I suppose Santa did not tell my parents, so they never knew to buy me one!!  LOL

Well, I had been in nursing school 3x in the past 15 years, and each time we had to move either to Germany, or to South Carolina, and the one time I was accepted to MUSC to start their nursing school, the program was frozen for 3 years!!  The year I was to start, we moved to Germany :(

OH WELL!!   God is Good!!  He is finally allowing me to fulfill my dream, and He obviously had reasons for this being the right time to do that!

I would love to finish my RN, and then get my BSN and who knows??  Maybe one day we will move back to Charleston, and I can work at MUSC in the Bariatric Dept, which would be my "dream job"!!

Wish me luck as I will have to learn to get up early again, and getting into a routine of studying again.  I used to be good at school, but that was before I was 40!!  I will be 41 next month!! YIKES!!

Update on the bile duct thing.....yes, it still bothers me.  I was severely nauseated today, so I stayed home.  We were going to go out and ride around by the beach, and just sight see a little bit, and go to the neighborhood of the houses they are building that we want to build/buy a house in.  I hope that will happen next year as I just want my own home!!  Sorry, OT again...

So, I am going to see Dr Alan Whitgrove next week, he was Carnie Wilson's doc, and he is going to look over my old films/records for Dr Nguyen, my surgeon here, just to see about my bile duct.  I am still experiencing pain and nausea on a regular basis.    

I hope he will see something in the films and then he can tell Dr Nguyen that I need to have the bile duct surgery done again with the stent this time.  Dr Byrne wrote to me and asked me to tell my docs to do a procedure that requires the "interventionist radiologist" to enter my liver through an incision and then into the ducts and then into the bile duct to place a stent.  If the stent stops the pain, then they can go back in later and do a dilitation of the duct through the stent.  I suppose they would then remove the stent, as I had been told stents placed there are not meant to be permanent, which I do not understand at all.

So, I am back down from the (3lb gain).  The nurse had told me no way I could gain 3 pounds that fast, and that it was water weight.  It was....plus being constipated.

Well, I am VERY homesick for the south!

I am sooo sorry I was not able to see Susann when she was here, but I had a dental appointment and when they got in there, they discovered that my filling had allowed food in, and there was an underlying infection and they had to drill out the old filling and a lot more, the whole tooth was gone!! So, they had to do some sort of temp thing and add antibiotics to it and seal it.  They also had to drill one tooth that had a root canal done and put in a temp crown.  That was only 4 hrs in the dental chair that day.  Then the next day, the crown fell out, so I had to spend another 2 hours in the dental chair yesterday.

Well, I am updating this in October, and I had another ERCP done on Oct. 2nd, and this time they said my bile duct was huge, but bile was flowing, so we are not sure what is causing all the pain.  I can also say that the hospital stay this time was 100% better than last year, at UCI.  I was on the Med/Surg floor, and those nurses were awesome, last year on the ortho floor, because there was no other bed, it was not good.

Well, I have rambled on enough, so I will sign off until next time!!

If ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT PLASTICS IN MEXICO, please go read my old posts first in December and January of 06/07.  I get too many requests to be able to answer them all one by one.  Most of the answers to people's questions are in my posts.

I did go to TJ Mexico for my Lower Body Lift.  The doctors are all USA Board Certified in Reconstructive surgery, so they are excellent surgeons, I love my results.  I am trying to get my pics uploaded soon for you to see.  I love my results and I would do it again, but only if I had a full 6 - 8 weeks recovery time.

I will get my thigh lift done next summer, and I am praying I can get my boobs and upper abs (extra skin) done before nursing school, but I don't think he has an opening that would allow me to do the surgery and then heal enough for school :(

www.CosMedclinic.com 

Dr Fuentes was my surgeon, but all are equally good :)

18 months post op..  5'9", 147lbs (up 3 lbs from 1 week in Hawaii) BMI 20, and I am still waiting to have Thigh lift and breast lift/augmentation in Mexico with Dr Fuentes.  I love, love him!!!

 "I highly recommend CosMed.   I get requests all the time for my thoughts on CosMed, and Dr. Fuentes, and if you go back and read my old posts, I highly recommend them.  I did have a really hard time healing...it took me a good 6 weeks to get to where I feel really good, but now I am feeling "normal" and its been about 5 months.  I cannot answer everyone's questions, so please read my old posts first, I am just too busy to answer all the posts...sorry.     I still say the same, do your research, surgery outside the USA is different, but if you go with that in mind, you will do fine.  I cannot say enough good things about Dr Fuentes, Dr Quiroz, and Dr Campos, each of the docs are wonderful!!  Just make sure they are right for you.  They are much more talented than lots of docs in the USA, and I hope this will help those who have written to me lately....with that said, here is my post for this month!!"    :)
..................................................................




Well,

I am VERY happy and SAD that I am 18 months out now!!!  I just spent a week in Hawaii with my hubby, and we had a great time, although I gained like 3 pounds!!!

I know 3 pounds is not much, but I am all of a sudden realizing I can now eat bad things like sugar (jelly belly jellybeans) left over from Easter, and it has little effect on me.

Now is the time to take the bull by the horns and show myself that being a size 4 is more important than a stupid jellybean!!!  I am throwing out all the candy today!!!  My son can just go buy more if he wants it!!

So, I am going back to the basics now, back to protein shakes and fruit and veggies and more salads and Wendy's Chili and lots more protein!!  :)

So, its time to act like a responsible adult and not allow myself to go backwards.  I know that I am still fine and below goal at 147, but I would like to get these 10lbs off of me!!!

I am also now praying about whether I should go to nursing school or to surgical tech school.   I really miss medicine and I am finally at a weight that will let me do things I couldn't do when I was heavier.

I really love surgery, so hence the surgical tech school, but I also love nursing, but I would have to get my LPN and then try to get my RN later, as its so hard to get into a program for nursing.

Aye yie yie, just lots of things going on in my life right now!!!  I feel so old all of a sudden, and just feel a real mid life crisis coming on.   I suppose that is normal??  I will be 41 in June, but I feel like I am in my 20's still.

I am going to try to post my photos from my Hawaii trip, so everyone can see me in a bikini!! YUCK!! I have to get my thigh lift and breast lift soon!!!

Speaking of bikinis.....I can't believe I allowed myself to be taped for a television show, Sunset Tan, in my bikini!!!  It was not what I was told it would be, taped behind a frosted glass and not showing me in a bikini full, but it certainly was!!!  I was soooo mortified.  The new show will air on May 28th, on E!, but not sure when my episode will air.  It is about me, losing weight and getting a spray tan to make me feel more confident going to Hawaii in a binkini......yeah, right.  Well, I did go to Hawaii, but I washed off the spray tan asap.....it was awful!!

I do not recommend mystic tans, but I did get waxed before the trip, and that was great!!! I highly recommend that!!

:)

Love to all who read this!!

God Bless


Deborah

Well, it was a fun day!!!  NOT!!

I woke up to my cat banging on the fireplace doors and there was some kind of animal in the fireplace.  So, I had to call the pest control people and thank God it was a bird only.  He got him out and the bird flew out the door!  Whew!

He got the bird out for $395!!!!!!!!!   but at least we can deduct it from the rent next month!!

I went yesterday and signed up at a casting agency and also a management agency and they will book me on jobs now for movies, TV shows and commercials.

I am excited and hopefully I can get lots of work now.

I am supposed to go on an audition tomorrow, but now I realized they aren't paying a dime, so I am not going to go.  Don't have time to learn lines for some student film.

I am hanging around at 144lbs-142lbs and not losing very much anymore, which is fine but for acting, I would like to be in the 130's.

I am looking to head back to Mexico soon for my breast implants/augmentation and also some lipo and fat injections, and that would be great!!

Its time to do the boobs!!!  My thighs too, but they can't be done at the same time!

I thought I had a clogged bile duct again, but it did not show up as clogged in the MRCP which is an MRI for the bile duct, but if they are small stones, it won't show up on the MRCP.

Our lease runs out in the end of July, and we are thinking we are going to move to Beverly Hills, Marina Del Ray or somewhere closer to Tommy's work and the studios.

Well, that's the only updates I have for now.

I am filming a movie on March 19th, Walk Hard with John Reilly and Tim Meadows, set in the 1950's and that will be fun!!  I had my costume fitted and now I am just hanging out waiting for the  19th.

I am going to get my hair rolled on the 18th to sleep in the rollers for the hair and makeup call I will have the next day.

I also will be on Boston Legal on March 27th, The Bride Wore Blood, that will be a fun one!

:)

Love,

Deb

January 22,2007
144lbs
144 lost!!!
Gastric Bypass 08/2005
Bile Duct Surgery 10/06
Lower Body Lift 12/13/2006

Well,
This has been a journey!!  The Lower Body Lift was really hard, but now I can say it was worth it.  I am so happy now, and my stomach is sooo flat and sexy :)  

Yes, I had my surgery in Mexico, and love my doctor, and was not scared, and yes he is very well qualified, moreso than most plastic surgeons in the USA that I have seen.  Please read my old posts before emailing me, because I can't answer all the questions that I get about this subject. 

I will be going back to Tijuana for all my surgeries and I am having my breasts done next. 

I stay at www.HaciendaMariposa.net for all my recovery and highly recommend it.  Email me if you have questions or reservation needs.  I am happy to answer all questions about this recovery house, and you can email me about bookings and reservations as I now help the owner with all reservations and bookings.   I love the staff, they are very friendly and helpful and all you have to do is relax.  If you don't see what you want, or need something...just ask!  That is key, to ask, because they don't know how to help you if they don't know what you want :)


This really did take the full 6-12 weeks to recovery, Dr. Fuentes was right about that.  I went back for my post op a couple of weeks ago, and he was pleased with everything.  I still have pulling and a tightness feeling, and he told me to get on some scar gel and to take my pain pills still and to not rush things.  My backside of my incision is the worst, and it still pulls  sometimes, and I use Kelo Scar gel on it, it has helped.

I still have to wear my binder for another 4 weeks or so, and I am starting to do more now. 

I went to my first acting class last night and I loved it.  I had a great time, and it was a lot more fun than I thought it would be.  I did take a pain pill when I first got there since it was a 3 hr class, and  then I had another class at 7pm-10pm, and that was the commercial class.  I had such a good time doing it.  I wish I had a lot more training and could get more out of my commercial class, but I learned a ton!!  I actually did an audition for the casting director, and did okay, but you could tell I totally did not have any training, and he said that was just technicality and it would come with training but that my energy was good and I did hit my mark. 

So, its all very interesting and I am looking to get my "Hollywood Headshots" soon.  I am getting them from a great guy, who is the "King of Hollywood headshots"  Kevyn Major Howard, and I am so excited about it.  I only wish my deflated boobs could get lifted and augmented before my pics, haha.....I will just have to buy some fake ones before I can go get my new ones.  I need at least 2 weeks recovery according to the doctor's nurse today.

Well, that is about it.

I am weighing in at:

144lbs
144lbs lost!!!!!!!   HOLY COW!!  I have lost a whole me!!!!  LOL

Well, if you are a newbie, please go read my old posts, and please take your vitamins.   I don't get paid by Vista, but if you are not on www.vistavitamins.com   you are not on the right vitamins.   I feel strongly about this, and I would hope everyone would realize how much your health is related to the vitamins you take.  I have NEVER had bad blood levels and highly recommend that you take Vista Vitamins!!!

Good Luck, and please email me if you have questions, but most answers are in my old posts, so please read from there :)

God Bless, and I wish everyone a happy and SAFE journey!!


PS....NEW PHOTOS NOW UPLOADED!!!

Love,

Deb