Deborah J.

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Hello All!  It has been 10 years and 3 months since I had my surgery.  I weigh 140 pounds and wear a size 6.  I'm 55 years old, but I look like I'm 45!  See my pic is you don't believe me!  This surgery has been the best thing that I ever did for myself.  It saved my life and changed my life for the better!

I met John, the love of my life and we were married 4 years ago.  We honeymooned in Antigua at a Sandals resort!  It was absolutely wonderful!  

I have not had any major complications from the surgery.  I have to take multi-vitamins and calcium daily.  I use the gummie vitamins and chew calcium.  They seem to absorb more easily and all of my blood work and vitamin levels are normal.  But I am religious about taking them.  I can eat about a cup and a half at one time.  If I eat meat then I can't eat as much.  I still occasionally have a problem with chicken.  I can't eat chinese food at all.  I don't know what it is about it, but it makes me sick every time.  I think it may be in the MSG.  I can eat very little sugar.  I have to use sugar substitue when baking, etc. Sugar makes me feel very weak and I have to lay down for a couple of hours if I eat to much.  I do have esphogeal spasms at times.  During these episodes I can't eat or drink or even swallow my saliva.  This only happens rarely now and when it does it only lasts a couple of hours.  In the beginning it happened at least once a week. and lasted longer.

So the question is…. After 10 years, would I do this all over again?  ABSOLUTELY!  NO QUESTION!  I would have the surgery again and again.  I can't stress enough, however that you have to make up your own mind and you have to be ready to make the changes to your eating habits in order for the surgery to be a success.  It is not easy and you still have to work at it every day.  But this has been so WORTH IT!

If you have questions, I'd be happy to help in any way possible.

 Been a long time since I've updated! Sorry! But I've been going about the business of LIVING! I will have my 50th birthday in August! And I've never been happier! I weigh 130 now. Which is perfect for my height and bone structure. I wear a size 4. I've had a tummy tuck, breast lift and implants and butt lift. Just call me the Bionic Woman! LOL! Dr. Van Hoy in Birmingham, AL. did the plastic surgeries. The breasts were the most painful! Hurt every time you breathe! But all is ok now. I still would like to have something done with my thighs but will have to wait to win the lottery. I had to pay for all my surgeries. Cost me $19,000 for everything.

I only have rare occassions when I have a problem eating. Sometimes chicken, pork or eggs will cause me a problem. Sweets can still cause me to have what I call sinking spells! LOL! If I eat too many sweets I get so I have to lay down for an hour or so.

My life has been wonderful since I had the surgery! I got a divorce the 1st year. Which is something that I didn't have the confidence to do before. I'm now happier than I have ever been in my whole life. I've recently sold my house and bought a new townhouse close to my work. I do many things that I would have never tried or couldn't do because of my size. I water ski, scuba dive, swim, and hike. I work out 3 or 4 times a week at the gym. This summer I want to try parasailing! I've actually been going on vacations! Something that I never did before. I just got back from the gulf coast, Ft. Walton Beach. Had a great time there with a friend!

It has been over 4 years since I had the surgery! I would do this again, again, again if I had to! For all you folks who are thinking about the surgery.... Make up your own mind...This is a life time change....But it works!

Good luck to all! 

HELLO! Look at that smile on the lady in the photos! She is so HAPPY! Just wanted to update and let everyone know that I'm doing FINE! It has been 2 years and 1 month since my surgery and I still would do it again in a NEW YORK MINUTE! BEST thing I've ever done for ME!

I will be having hernia repair again and a tummy tuck on June 18th...1 MONTH!!!! I'm so excited! Dr. Van Hoy in Birmingham is doing the tummy tuck and My favorite DR...Dr.Stahl will do the hernia repair! I went and saw Dr. Stahl last week and when I went in, I had printed off my before picture and I asked him if he remembered that person in the photo! He was so astounded when he looked at that picture next to the NEW me! I also took a picture of me and another girl. I was in one leg of my old pants and she was in the other leg! I thought Dr. Stahl was going to fall out! He took the pictures out to the girls in the office and showed it to them... I heard one of them say..."Dr. Stahl, doesn't that make you feel good?" and He said "Yes, it does make me feel good." WELL... I can tell you this, it makes me feel good too! I thanked Dr. Stahl again for being such a caring and wonderful DR! HE IS THE BEST!

I'll update after my tummy tuck and let you know how good Dr. Van Hoy is! LOL! I'm planning a butt and thigh lift in August and will do a breast lift after that. So I'm going to be a NEW WOMAN! My insurance denied the tummy tuck, so I'm having to pay for all this on my own...Thank GOD for 401K! LOL!

Email me with any questions. I love to talk to others who are either wanting surgery or have had it! Good Luck! Would I do it again! HECK YES!

 I now weigh 122! Is that not unbelieveable! I have not weighed this little since I was 18 years old! In fact I'm smaller now than I have ever been! I've lost a total of 138 pounds! I've been stable at this weight for the last 2 months and I'm actually trying to gain about 10 pounds. My BMI is now in the THIN range! I can eat just about anything, but I still can't eat very much sugar!

I've had to have hernia repair in the last few months, but the hernia came back. So now I'm waiting to get approved again but this time I hope to get a tummy tuck at the same time!!! Just waiting to hear from the insurance company. I'm excited!

I'm am so happy that I had this surgery! My life has changed so dramatically! I'm the happiest person in the world now! I love the new me! Email me with any questions you have! I love to hear from my WLS buddies!

 I've lost another 7 pounds since I updated last. I now weigh 134 which is a total loss of 126 pounds in 11 months. My 1 year anniversary is coming up on the 20th of April. I can't believe how my life has changed in a year! I'm happier now than I have every been in my life!  I'm wearing size 4 slacks and jeans!   I've gone from a size 24 to a size 4!!!   Good luck to all!

Just a note to let everyone know that I've lost 118 pounds. I now weigh 142. YEHA!!!!!! My BMI is now within the "IDEAL" range! I've never been IDEAL!!!!! LOL!! I feel great!   Don't hesitate to email me! I love getting mail from other folks interested in the surgery!.

 Hi All! Hope everyone had a great Christmas! I lost another 15 pounds since the last update. I now weigh 151! That a total of 109 pounds gone forever! This is the first holiday that I didn't gain weight!!

Feel very good! No problems with food! Just can't seem to keep clothes that fit!! I'll take that problem any day since they are getting TOO BIG!!!! Wearing size 10's. But they are getting loose. It's really hard to believe, however I'm losing my BUTT. I've always kidded my Mom, because she doesn't have a BUTT. Now I'm getting the same problem!!! I don't care though, I'd rather have the GONE ASS instead of the BIG ASS any day!!! HA!!

I welcome any and all emails. Talk to you all next month!

 Lost another 7 pounds this month. I now weigh 166 for a total weight loss of 94 pounds!!! The weight loss is slowing down as I get closer to my goal. I would like to lose another 30 pounds or so. BUT if I didn't lose another pound I would consider the surgery a success!! 

I'm wearing some size 10 slacks! I'm losing inches even when the weight lost doesn't show on the scale. So all you gals out there who say you are on a plateau .... YOU ARE STILL LOSING INCHES!! So don't despair!

I've updated my web site, too, so check it out. I love getting all the emails from my WLS buddies, so don't hesitate to email me with any questions or suggestions!! Good Luck to all!

 Lost another 10 pounds! Weigh 173 now! My energy level is great. The B12 shots are helping me tremendously! Wearing some size 12 slacks! Would I do this again???? Heck YES!!!!!! I know that this surgery has saved my life!

 WOW! I've broken the 200 mark. I now weigh 194. That is a loss of 66 pounds!  Happiness is being under 200!!!!