Ramona C.
Upon meeting my goal weight, I would like to have increased energy, less weight to carry around, look better, and above all, FEEL BETTER!!
05/06 I have my sleep study, blood work, and psych testing scheduled for this month!
I have my appts with nutritionist, physical therapist, psychologist, and nurse practioner scheduled for June, 2006!
06-21-06 My appointments with all the various providers went really good! I have an appointment with Dr. Patterson in July, 2006!!!!!!!! I'm 1/2 way to losing my 5% so I will be working very hard on getting rid of the last half. PROTEIN, PROTEIN,PROTEIN!
07-27-06 Met with Dr. Patterson - I only have 2 more pounds to lose then I get my surgery date!! Wow - what an accomplishment so far! I'm incredibly excited!!
08-26-06 Started weighing in at my doctor's office and right away there was a 5 pound difference which meant that I had to lose 7 pounds.. ugh! But TODAY I met my weight loss goal and results will be faxed today to Dr. Patterson's office. I can't believe that I can now say that I will get my LIFE CHANGING surgery date this week!!! (Insurance preauth shouldn't take more than 2 days) This is one of the happiest days and I jumped up and down for joy!!! (I probably lost a couple more pounds just showing my excitement!!)
08-31-06 I received a call from the surgeon's office with the final approval/preauthorization from the insurance! But I was bummed that she couldn't schedule at the same time, that someone else does the scheduling, but that hopefully the scheduler would call tomorrow. What a tease........
09-01-06 I got tired of waiting so I called about 3:00 p.m. I've got a DATE!!! Monday, September 18th. I just COULD NOT believe that I have a surgery date soooo soon! I was told about a month ago that she was scheduled out into the end of October. When I called the office today to schedule, I just about dropped from shock that I could have had a surgery as early as a week away. I still wonder why!!??!!!!! I've arranged for my pre-admin appt with the hospital on Wednesday, September 13th and my pre-op class the same day but in the afternoon (3:00 to 4:30 p.m.). I've got to work around a couple things but no matter what, I am going to make this happen!!!!!!!
09-21-06 I had my surgery on September 18th and came home on the 20th! I am AMAZED how good I feel - I feel as though I am ready to go back to work (I have a desk job for the most part) but am going to take this 2 weeks to recoup and not mess up what is going well for me. My husband is home with me and mainly helping out with the kiddos. He is such an awesome support for me and will do anything to help me out! I've been sipping my meals but always need more water so I guess I better get back to that. The funny thing is with BM's... what goes in must come out - therefore if it goes in liquid, guess how it comes out???!!!! hehe I did have to leave the room this morning when my husband made pancakes for the family - it made me want to vomit! I think I'll stay in another room when he's cooking! (for now at least)
10-04-06 Yesterday I experienced my first overeatting episode. I had only about a cup of frozen yogurt and I felt like crap the rest of the day! I would NOT recommend this ever and I hope I am not so foolish next time. Today is a new day and I can say I've learned my lesson. Overall, I am feeling fantastic and can really feel a change in my energy level and all my clothes are loosening up. I even need to make my watch smaller as it is flipping around badly and driving me nuts! :-) yeah! I don't want to weigh myself until my next appointment with the surgeon/nutritionist on October 18th. I want to be totally surprised!
11-19-06 I have now lost 62 pounds and 25 inches!!! This has been so neat to see the changes. I've dropped 3 pant sizes, 3 underwear sizes, and who knows on shirts because I wear loose fitting shirts anyways. My husband LOVES my new smaller body yet my kids "can't tell the difference." I show a picture of me before and explain that they see me everyday and don't notice the change. I'm LOVING the energy, my disappearing extra chins, etc. I would highly recommend this surgery to anyone who has a weight problem. I haven't gotten too experimental with my food because I HATE getting sick. Next appt in Portland is December 21st.
03-17-07 I have now lost 102 pounds and 47 inches!!! Wow.. the century mark.. is this for real??!! I feel fantastic! Heck, I can even run without stopping after 2 steps. I absolutely HATE my driver's license picture and it is totally inaccurate in picture and weight. My goal now is to get to work on toning up my hanging skin. I wish there was a support group around but I am just thankful for this website. I don't check it out that much anymore (I've got too much energy to just sit and surf now!). I went to Las Vegas this past weekend for the NASCAR race and actually had more energy to walk to all the casinos than my husband. I am needing to have another link removed from my watch, rings are starting to spin around more, and I am beginning to hate baggy clothes. I am receiving more POSITIVE attention from people. For once, my husband can pick me up (I now weigh less than him!! hehe) I just can't tell you how much this has improved my life! I go for my 6 mos. checkup in 2 weeks. Hopefully I will get some pics on here soon. 09-25-07 I have now lost 134 pounds and just reached my 1 year anniversary! I am still so excited as to what has happened to me and just how WONDERFUL I feel! I did have an umbilical hernia repair surgery 3 months ago (also done by Dr. Patterson) but I had this problem way before I ever had the surgery. No problems whatsoever. I would recommend this surgery/experience for anyone who is wanting to change their life. It has been a wonderful and amazing journey and I look forward to my 2 year anniversary! I started a size 26-28 pants and am now to a size 14. Before I was a size 4X shirt, now I'm a large. Last time I measured (over 2 months ago), I have lost 55.75 inches!!! I would recommend measuring you guys.. it's pretty exciting to see the drop.
03-22-08 I just reached my 18 month post-op anniversary and have lost 50% of my weight (actually met this milestone about 2 months ago and have maintained). I need to measure inches lost but can't seem to sit down long enough to find time! hehe My energy level is real good. I feel soooooo good and I can say I actually think I look good (definately look better than before)! I had to change my driver's license because nobody was believing that it was me! Unfortunately I didn't keep my last one. My husband has been able to pick me up and carry me.. that surely never happened before. It's kinda cool.. and very sexy! I am in a size 10 pants, Medium shirt. I bought my first swimsuit and almost bought a 2-piece. I don't have that kind of confidence in my appearance yet... I still am wanting to get the plastic surgery to cut off the excess hanging skin so until then, it will be a cover-me-up kinda swim suit! Again, I highly recommend this journey for anyone ...
