EricaJ
I'm a 29 year old wife and stay home mom of 5 year old twins (Ashton and Eric). I have been overweight my entire life but never thought I would ever want to have this surgery. I saw the program about Carnie Wilson and made a decison then that I would do it. I can't wait until I feel good and can be the active person I would love to be. (I'm pretty active now even though I'm about 130lbs overweightI just want to feel better when I'm being active LOL!) My surgery date hasn't been set yet because the Dr. went on vacation (of all the nerve)3 days after my consultation. My insurance approved it over the phone, the next day, so I'm expecting to have it done in early June. I'm soooo excited about the surgery, more so than I ever thought possible. I can't wait until I can feel comfortable in arena seats and amusement park rides. I think it would be nothing short of miraculous for me not to be self conscious about going with friends swimming or water skiing. Not to mention how great it will be to buy "normal size" clothes off the "normal" store racks. I want my life back and I'm GONNA GET IT!!
Please feel free to email me I would love to have a buddy through this.
I FINALLY GOT MY SURGERY DATE!!! June 10th. After waiting on my doctor to retrun from vacation, (the nerve of him going on vacation during this very important time in MY life hehe) I was scheduled, it took 2 1/2 weeks to get a date, I was about to follow the instructions of another lady in the chat room, who said she threatened to come every day and take off her clothes until she got a date. I thought this might be effective, after all the idea of a nude 300lb woman in the office of a doctor who does Gastric Bypass surgery, might be bad for bussiness. Kind of ironic though, Huh? Well as you can see I'm elated to be getting ready for this life changing event. I've been praying about it and I plan to document every step of the way even if I'm the only one who ever sees it. It will be good to come back to it and see just how far I've come. My next doctors apt. is May 28th. They said this would be an all day event so I guess I'll write again then.
4/30/2001
Well I'm STILL playing the waiting game, a game I'm not very good at. Oh well, I guess it doesn't matter. I am presently eating everything that wont eat me first but I understand that that is normal for pre-op people. I'm also getting nervous, I'm afraid that I might fail again. I don't want to go through all this pain and money and everything only to re-gain the weight. I'm afraid that, and this is silly, I will miss food. That's crazy, but that's what has kept me from doing this for so long (and kept me at 300lb for the past 6 years). I don't want to give up my ice cream and pastry. I'm going to of course, but that scares me. Oh boy...I'm rambling. Well I'm getting myself through the waiting period and all the antsy moments with this website, it's been a real help to me. The Before and after pics are amazing and inspiring, I can't wait 'till I'm one of them. I posted on the message board this afternoon and I had three people email me, that's awsome. The kind of bond people have with this surgery is so neat. Everyone is excited for everyone else and sooooo encouraging, it's neat.
I answered a question on this site about what is the worst thing about being overweight, and here is what I put.
Is there a good thing about being overweight? I'll give you a day in the life of me.
The plan is to go to a concert at the Civic Center. You go and buy the tickets trying to make sure you get an aisle seat and preferably one on the floor so you get to sit in a regular folding chair and not one of those seats meant for 12 year olds. Of course they are all sold out. So you get the tickets and head for the show. When what is the first thing you see? A turn styles, ya know those thingys that count how many people enter the arena? You see that thing and you start
making deals with God. Okay God, if you let me make it through, I'll never pick up another cup cake as long as I live. So you get closer and think, okay I'm gonna suck it all up, turn sideways and run. Now you are face to face with this little piece of metal that has the ability to ruin you entire evening. You put out of your mind the image of the woman who you just heard about on Oprah who actually did get stuck in one and the rescue squad had to get her out, and you plunge ahead. After making it through successfully, you head for your seat. You look at them and think okay I can do this so you squeeze yourself into that little seat being as inconspicuous as you can
be. But you know what happens, it's kinda like a water balloon that is pushed inside a cup, the bottom part goes in and then all the rest comes flopping over the sides. It ain't pretty. But at least you are in the seat and soon the lights will be off and no one will see how the rest of you isn't fitting in that seat. Then you say to yourself, tomorrow, I'm going on a DIET. But as we all know Tomorrow never comes!
May 3 2002
I have an angel her name is Alicia Veil and she seems very sweet. I emailed her today after I read the very sad story of Wanda Smart. I was very sadened after hearing of her troubles. I still feel that this surgery is for me and I have a real peace about it. I've been praying and specifically asking God to take away this peace I have if He doesn't want this for me; or show me in someway if this isn't His will. Even after hearing about Wanda I still have that peace. I believe that this surgery means a better quality of life for me. I know that I am in the capable hands of my surgeon who I understand is wonderful and I am in the prayers of more people than I can count. I am still going thorough with this, and I'm very excited. Thanks for all the words of encouragement from my AMOS family.
May 7, 2002
Well, I feel great today. I went to the gym this morning, I'm trying to go everyday so that my body, and heart are strong for this surgery. I talked to the Fitness Director at the YMCA today and she said to try to get my stomach and back as strong as possible so that I am able to lift myself up easier. I ran out of time today to do abs, so I'll hit those tomorrow. The gym has all the mirrors on the side and the more I looked at myself while doing the stair stepper the more I thought, I can't wait to do this. Everything that wasn't strapped down was shaking, my butt, my legs, my arms, that lovely flab that pops over your bra. It really jiggles when you move fast. Very pretty! Oh well at least I was there. I'll post again soon!
June 15 2002,
Well, I'm 4 days post op and feeling pretty good except that I have very little energy and I'm a bit light headed I guess from all the drugs. I've lost about 10 pounds FOREVER! That's nice to know. I'm a little worried because I'm hungry, everyne says they aren't hungry but I guess everyone's body is different. Well, I can't sit up much longer my couch is calling me. I'll post agin later.
July 27, 2002
Boy haven't posted in a while, I'm now almost 8 weeks post op and down 39 POUNDS!!! WOOOOHOOOOOO! I'm wearing mostly size 20's and some 22's but they are loose. I've been swimming mostly for exercise instead of walking, that's sooo boring. I've just started this week lifting weights again I've enjoyed that but boy does it take a lot of energy away from me. I seem to be stuck at 263 pounds and I'm getting annoyed. I guess I can't expcet the scale to go down every day but I really want it to. I feel good except for my energy level isn't good I think that is coming from not eating as much as I use to and from forgetting to take my vitamines. I can eat just about anything just in very small amounts. The one thing I can't eat is bread, not even toasted bread. I've gotten sick quite a few times, I'm still bitting to much and eating to fast, and I keep on paying for it. I can eat chicken, rice, noodles etc. I don't do to well with hamburger but that's okay 'cause what's a hamburger without the bun? I love it now when I ask my hubby "does this look okay?" and he looks up and down and says. "UH HUH!" and I really know he means it, he says I look good not just pretty. There is a difference! I'm really excited and I know that I will be at my goal weight before to much longer. I wanted to talk a little about my surgery, in case anyone reading this is interested. I really had very little pain. I used my pain button to stay on top of it just in case I might be in pain. I filled my prescription for pain meds but I only took one or two of them. I had my surgery at 1:30 on June 10th and was home by Wed. evening. I slept a lot in the hospital and the worst part of the whole thing was drinking that NASTY barium for the leak test. YUCK!!! I finally drank it all, with a lot of help from a good friend who came to see me. When I got home I stayed very sleepy and run down but I felt okay other than that. Now, the pureed diet was the pits. I had a very hard time with that, I wanted to bite something. I had one break down and cried and cried on the way to a friends house for a, of all things, cook out. I told Tim, I just want to eat like a normal person, I want to loose weight the way "normal" people do. It was very hard to watch my family and friends eat and enjoy themselves when I was stuck eating groul. I was having a pity party with no cake or ice cream. The next morning I had gone down stairs to get something and I found a stack of clothes, I think God had put them there to help me. I brought them upstairs, they were all from a past and breif, weight loss. They were all size 22's and some 20's and almost all of them fit. I was so excited, they weren't real comfortable but they went on and zipped. Now they are fitting perfectly and some are even to big. My husband said, "that pureed diet isn't so bad after all huh." "No" I said, "I think I can handle it a little longer." It wasn't fun but it did pay off and it will continue to. Well, that's all for now. Happy Losing!
Aug. 21 2002
It seems to get longer and longer between postings. I just got back from vacation and we had a really great time. The neat thing was that I finally feel normal. My kids rode on the Bumper Boats and I could actually ride too. The weight limit is 275 and I was at 263, I'm now at 252....WOOOHOOO!! That was really cool that I could partisipate in activities with my kids. I am getting so many compliments that I can't even believe it. I've lost 50 pounds and went from a 24 to an 18/20. I tried on a pair of jeans at Lane Bryant and my husband was talking about them the rest of the night. He said they looked really good on you, really good. It was so flattering. Every now and then I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I think 'who is that person' and then remember, it's me. I cut my hair, about 8 inches, I don't know what it is about loosing weight that makes us cut our hair but I'm not alone. I think sometimes we hide behind all that hair and hope no one will notice that we weigh 300+ pounds. Who knows but mine is gone, and I don't miss it. I also don't miss the 50 pounds that are gone forever!! This surgery is the best thing I've ever done for myself or my family. I really belive my family is benifiting from this too. It's making more confident and more fun. The best story I have so far is the other day I was taking my son to football practice and was walking across the field to meet the coach. When we left I was walking up the 5,000 steps to the top of the stadium and a friend of mine who hasn't seen me since the surgey came up to me waving. She said, I didn't even recognize you. I saw the kids and then realized it was you. Is that COOL or what, she is not the kind to give compliments but she said you look great I can't believe it is you!!! WOOOHOOOO! GO ERICA GO ERICA!! HEHEHEHE!!
Oct. 12, 2002
Well, I'm at a stand still again, I can't seem to get under 230 pounds. I actually got on the scales this morning and had gained 3 pounds. What is up with that? It could be water weight or it could be muscle from working out. I'm at the gym 3-4 days a week. I feel WONDERFUL! I'm wearing a size 16/18 mostly 18's the 16's are still tight, but they button. As far as food goes, I can still eat just about anything, I don't do so good with rice anymore and still can't eat bread, although, I can do okay if it's toasted. I can also eat a little sugar, even though I know I shouldn't even have tried it. I'm getting a bit nervous because I feel like I've been nibbling for the past few days, that's a habit I was in before the surgery. I get sick much less often than I used to I think I finally learned how to eat more slowly and take smaller bites. I met a personal goal of mine last week. There is a class at the YMCA that is called, and aptly named I might add, Boot Camp. I've been watching this class every Wed. and hearing about it but I would never have come close to completing it. Well, last week, I sucked it up and went. I was nervous, I forget that I weigh 73 pounds less than I did 4 months ago. All I remeber is how awful I felt after working out hard before and how I couldn't even finish aerobics class. Well I got there and the first thing we did was run up and down 3 flights of stairs 4 times. Then we went to the baseball feild and ran across the feild and skipped back. I didn't realize how much muscle it took to skip. Then we had to do volleyball jumps 15 times, next she said, "meet me at the bleachers." She gets a gleam in her eye when people are in pain, I think she needs counseling. Anyway, we met her at the bleachers and she said run up and down them twice. Then the fun began, went up and down the bleachers in a variety of interesting ways, like lunging, and jumping with one foot and leaping with both feet. When we were not hoofing it up the bleachers we were doing dips and pushup's (and I voluntarily took this class). I finished the class and have since been back for a second week. It was a real since of accomplishment to be in there and feel great when I finished. If you are planning on having this surgery or are post-op, don't forget to exercise, you will feel so much better and in the long run, look so much better. Well, I'm climbing off my soap box now and going to make chocolate chip cookies, that I can't eat, with my kids. Will post again soon (I hope)!
Jan.26, 2003
Boy I gotta get better at posting on here. Well I just had my 7 month check up and the GREAT news is that I had lost 99 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have since lost that one nagging little pound and have entered into the century club! WOOHOO!! I was asked in a support group meeting how this has changed my life so I will share. Imangine looking down at yourself sitting in a chair and realizing that you can see the chair on both sides of your butt! Going to a mall and actually being overwhelmed because you know that you can buy clothes in every store there (Except Lane Bryant hehehe), and you don't know where to begin. Going to a movie and sitting down comfortably in a seat and putting the drink in the holder beside you Not worring that you are hanging over the side and bothering some poor soul sitting next to you with all the "extra" you. Telling someone about a dress you just bought (that didn't know you pre surgery) and her saying "I bet it looks wonderful on you you have a darling figure!!!! Never had that said about me in my entire life. There are so many wonderful thing about life post op I can't even list them all, the ones above have only been in the last few months.
I went to see Dr. Kellum and he congratulated me and said I had lost more weight that most patients loose in a year. But if you are reading this and you haven't lost as much it's okay nothing is wrong with you. Maybe I have a faster metabolism or something all I know is everyone is normal. Well gotta close for now and go to a Super Bowl Party. By the way I'm down to 202.2 and pre-op I was 302.2 I am wearing a size 14/16 from a size 24 and I am within 30 pounds of my personal goal and have met my Doc's goal for me. Round of applause please! HEHEHEHE! Congrats to all of you who have descided to have surgery and those who just had it! A special thanks to my best cheerleaders, Stephanie Rodgers and Heather Revelle you guys are such a support to me. Stephanie good luck with your surgery I hope I can be as helpful to you. Heather, I won't be a size 6 like you but we can still shop together. Love you guys!
Feb. 25, 2003
DOING THE HAPPY DANCE!!!! I'm finally under 200lbs. Never thought I'd see that day. I weight 195.0 pounds and I'm wearing a size 14 some 16's depending on fit. My buddy Stephanie is having her surgery today I just talked with her mom and she said she's in some pain but her surgery went well. She was doing her upper GI when I called and we all know how much fun that is. YUCK!!! Good luck Steph you are a loser now! Well my fun is just begining I've gone summer clothing shopping and wow there are soooo many cool things to buy know, and I actually look okay in them. I had a really great compliment the other day I have to share. I had stopped by my husbands office to take him to lunch on Valentines Day so I dressed up nice in a short (not to short) skirt and a fitted shirt both size XL I might add :-)!! I ended up not being able to go to lunch thought because it snowed and I had to get my kids from school early. When he got home that evening he said his boss came in his office and said (Excuse the language his words not mine) "Damn boy you wife looks GOOD. And I don't just mean she's lost weight she looks good! You'd better watch her" I told him I could go on that compliment for months. Well, I've gotta make this one short and sweet I have to get my kids off the bus. Good Luck to all of you hang in there pre ops it will happen and when it does your whole life will change. God Bless!!
March 13,2003
Well it finally has happened I have a problem due to surgery. Not a huge one or anything but I have an ulcer. YUCK! I have been in denial that I had one for about a month but when I started throwing up and lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks I figured I better get on the ball and find out what's up. I emailed the nurse coordinator and she called in Previcid so I'm now being a good girl and taking all my meds like I'm suppose to. I'm not to terribly worried but I think it should be feeling better by now and I'm still having trouble eating.
I went for a consult witht he platstic surgeon on Monday. I went in thinking, this will be fun, I can actually go into a Dr's appt without feeling like he's gonna fuss at me for my weight. I came out feeling like I weighted 307 pounds again.
:-( ..............oops well write again soon gonna go have Chinese Buffet that always makes me happy!
July 28,2003
Boy has a lot changed in my life. When I last wrote I was awaiting a tummy tuck. I went back for my post op lab work and that same Doctor whom I thought hadn't been very nice, passed me in the hall. He asked his nurse "What are we doing for her?" She told him a tummy tuck (in there language) and he said wow, does she even have any extra skin to tuck! I loved it I said I could go on that compliment for months. Well it looks like I'm going to have to because as I was signing the last document and she was giving me the stuff you wash with before surgery the lab called. The pre-op educator answered the phone and said, uh huh, okay I see. She then looked at me and I said "I'm pregnant aren't I?" She said YEP. So it looks as if my nice tight flat stomach will be replaced with a nice tight round stomach. But that's okay God has to let me know every now and then that I'm in fact NOT in control. I'm 12 weeks pregnant and have gained 1 pound. I've been kinda sick but not terrible. Eating is frustraing becuase I need to do it soooo often. The doctors all agree I shouldn't have any trouble due to the surgery so I'm excited. My twins will be 7 when this baby is born. My due date February 6th and I can't wait. If anyone is has been or would like to be pregnant after surgery and you would like to share please feel free to email me. My computer is broken at the moment so it may take a while to respond but I will. Good luck all the pre-ops hang in there. God Bless and have a great summer!!!!
Oct 8 2003,
Well for the first time in a year I'm gaining weight instead of loosing. It's hard to watch the scales creep back up to 200 pounds instead of down to 170 like I had planned. I'm 22 weeks pregnant and I have gained about 12-15 pounds which my doctor says is okay but he wants me to be careful. He said don't ruin all that you've worked so hard for. I agree the problem is I WANT TO EAT!! It's very stressing that I am nibbling all the time. I'm so afraid I'm gonna go back and gain all the weight back or at least some of it and not be able to get it off again. I see old habits rearing their ugly faces and I'm trying to be good but will power is not my strong suit. Everyone keeps telling me that I'm "All baby" and I guess I am but I see my thighs getting fat and I guess I'm just panicing. I can eat pretty much anything and that is not good for me. I still can't eat much sugar and I can only eat bread on certain days but I feel like I can hold soooo much more food than I should be able to. On the up side of this, it is nice to be a "normal" size pregnant woman. I can find maternity clothes this time and people can actually tell that I'm pregnant. I have a little basketball belly and I feel the baby move around a lot. It is nice to be a healthy size through this pregnancy. Oh by the way I'm having a boy. His name is Trevor Alden and he is due on Feb. 9th. Hopefully I'll post before he's born. Good luck to all pre-ops and new posties!!
March 30,2004
Well, I didn't make it to post before he ws born but heeeesss here. My beautiful baby boy, Trevor Scott, was 02/03/04, his weight was 7lbs 11 oz and he was 21 inches long. I gained 30 pounds during my pregnancy and I'm having kind of a hard time getting it off. I seem to be eating everything, I'm not suppose to eat. I am breastfeeding and I hope that the hormones are making me be bad. I started back at the YMCA on Monday and am returning tomorrow too. I am also going to call the plastic surgeron about my tummy tuck. I need to get the 20 pounds off before the surgery. Everyone keeps telling me how great I look but I know that I can't get my big belly and butt in my size 14's any more and it's killing me!! I love my little guy but boy oh boy I want my skinny body back. I'm in a size 16 and that's not bad but I really want to be back in 12/14's. Well, I've got to go it's late and the baby has finally gone to sleep so I need to too. Good luck to everyone and God Bless!!
08/11/04
Well, I did it! I had my tummy tuck on July 19th. It wasn't terribly painful although I think initially it's more painful than the gastric bypass. I came home with 4 drains. Can you say YUCK!! They removed them on the 8th day along with the stiches in my brand new belly button. I still have a lot of swelling and nobody told me and I never thought about being swollen. I couldn't wear anything unless it had elastic in the waist until yesterday and they hurt by the end of the day. I'm not sure what size I'll be in when all the swelling goes down but my belly looks a lot better. It's not going to be as flat as I had hoped becase my insurance wouldn't pay for the muscle repair. Oh well, I've said from the beginning I didn't go into this thing to look like Barbie, guess I'm not going to. The next thing I would love to have done is my arms but insurance denied that too. Darn it!! Apperantly they don't consider bat wings medically necessary, but when you can't wear sleavless shirts I think that should be a consideration. LOL! Anyway, I can't wait to see the end result. My baby is now 6 months old and he is soooo cute. He is the best baby I couldn't have asked for a better one.
I'm still kinda struggling with snacking and eating to much sugar. I can't eat a lot at one time but I can eat a little bit a lot of times. I really need to start back up at the YMCA but they wouldn't keep Trevor in the nursery until he was three month old and by then I was almost ready to have my surgery so I've just been vegging out. Well I'll try to post later on my progress. Good Luck and God Bless!!
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 307 size 24 |  |  199 size 14/16 |
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