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4/28/07 - I finally figured it out how to switch over my old profile to the new one, I think.  Now I need to get a picture here so I finally have a face, it's only been close to 2 years.  

The beginning:
I hope to have surgery before the end of this year. I was looking into this for approximately 6 months and now have made my decision to go forward.

03/05 Attended Dr. A's seminar brought my best friend for support.  The Dr. was very informative and came across to me as confident.  After listening I am leaning toward the bypass vs. banding. I called BCBS with codes and was told that as long as there are pre existing conditions I would have coverage. hmmmmm 

04/26/05 Met with Dr. Aranow for the first 02/18 So bad with updates some day I am going to work my profile out so it looks current and pretty. I went to the Dr. appt and my labs look good. I was a little worried since I felt tired quite often but guess its just life, working hard, stress etc. I am still glad that I had the surgery and have been stuck at this wt. 158 for some time, the winter even though its been pretty good in ct. is getting to me. I miss being able to go to the river walk and so I have been going to the Y, but have started to miss some days Its not good, and I can tell the difference. My food intake is still ok getting in all protein and water, but after work I seem to have started to eat snacky stuff I dont or shouldnt need. I have been having sb cookies or popcorn or both. Im working on cutting that out. Thus, the reason for not losing.
I want spring to come. I am so glad to have this website, I lurk mostly, but I get so much info and inspiration from others, dont know what I would do without it.
During my appt. this time the Dr asked mytime.  Again I felt comfortable speaking with him. We discussed the different surgeries, and he said I would be a candidate for either.  I was pretty clear that I leaned more toward the bypass.  I did not like the look of the actual band or the thought that it would be inside, but because of the permanent nature of the bypass, I told him I would again look at both and really consider everything.

04/26/05 I again called BCBS, just to see if I got a different answer.  I again was told that as long as I had other pre existing conditions I have coverage.  However, I asked if I could have it in writing and was told that my health insurance policy coverage book, supplied by my employer should be enough.  I was told that it did not exclude this type of surgery as long as I met the conditions....we will see.
  
05/05 This month I have done so much and have been able to meet with Dr. Kim Daniels for my phyc evaluation.   found her to be very easy to talk to.After two meetings with her, I have passed and seem to be fairly sane and should be fine with the surgery. I also met the nutritionist for the firt time. She was down to earth, and helped me set up a diet game plan (I must lose at least 10 lbs prior to surgery).  I have another group meeting with her next month...I sure will be trying to lose, since I saw Dr. A I did not lose any weight!! Yikes!  Well I have about 1 month to next visit.  The monday support group sessions have been very good.  You can ask any question and there are many post ops who are willing to share what they know and have gone through.  I will continue to go to these. I am scheduled for my gallbladder check in June, not sure what's up after that, but I will update soon.
 
06/05 I will try to update more often, but I guess I spend most of my time reading everyone else's.  I am trying to get the most information as possible prior to my surgery. 

06/05 I had some blood work done by my PCP, which I had put off and forgot to go do for a few weeks, then remembered and had it done on Monday by Friday I had a letter from her that I needed to make an appt. since my glucose level was high, along with my chloestrol and we need to do something about it. I have an appt with her 06/17.  Guess I can add that to my co-morbids.  This past year has been a turning point in my health and not a good one, my weight is finally catching up with me and fast, It's scary.

06/03/05 - Had my gallbladder US today, I didn't know it would be that long, she spent quite a time pushing around, it didn't hurt but it wasn't comfortable either. She asked if I had any pain in that area after I ate?? I don't, I asked how long before I find out if I have gallstones and she said I would have another meeting with Dr. A and at that time I would get this info???  Just going along with what I am told. Before I left the office I asked if I could be weighed and was told sure any time, stepped on the scale,I have been so good with trying to get this weight off, I expected to see quite a loss.  Nope just a few pounds! Two more weeks before my 2nd nutritional meeting.  P.S. They lost my file at Dr. A's. I hope that they sent the paperwork to my PCP. I told them to check with the nutritionist, since she had it last.  Hope they find it!

06/07/05-Found It.  I got a call this am at work from Dr. Aranow's office. I was told that the only one thing I need to complete is my last nutritionist meeting, which is a week from this friday.  I was told that once done, I will get a date....a surgery date! Yipeee.  I know not to get too excited since then everything has to be submitted, and I need to make an appt with my PCP for a pre op exam.  Did I forget to say, I am excited and scared.  Guess that's normal.

06/18/05 - Getting closer!  I have completed all that is apparently needed to submit.  I had my last nutritional meeting on Friday and it went well, learned all about the food I will be eating after surgery.  I lost 7 out of my 10 lbs and feel pretty confident I should loose the rest by surgery.  I saw my PCP on Friday right after and she was very supportive that I am going to go thru this, she wants to be a part of this and is glad that Dr. Aranow puts us through such a strict regiment, support groups, nutritionist and physcological evaluations in order to make this surgery is the right choice for me.  She is writting up her letter of approval for surgery and will send it out.  Should be soon now, let's hope I get approved!.

7/8/05 - Not very good with updating, I have been waiting to hear from the Dr's office on a possible date, I had called a few weeks ago and Dr. Aranow was out of the office for a week, I called back the week after on a Friday and the girl in the office said that they were short staffed that maybe I would get a call the following Tue or Wed.  I know it's vacation time, and I don't want to be to pesty, so I waited and have not heard anything yet, I'll try to be patient.
I went off to Disney World and just got back last evening, boy we did have a great time, the food wasn't the best for me and I tried to eat good things, but I hope I did 't gain too much back of what I lost of my ten lbs. I must have walked a ton of miles. 
I called the office today to see if I could get any news and asked for Lois,but she was busy so I will have to try late r.  I am hoping that everything is in order and they have sent to my ins. co for approval. 

7/8/05 - same day, wow Lois called me right back, she's so easy to talk with she said that everything looked like it was there, but that Dr. Aranow had my file going over things, it will go off to the insurance co. and we will see.  She asked me if they will cover it I told her I called two different times and was told yes, as long as their are co morbids.

I got a date 08/01/05!! This will give me sone time to get everything ready at work.  I have a staff of 14 and hope I can have my director have someone cover for me, if not I'm going out anyway. I am lucky I have a responsible team of employees. Did I mention that (work is a very stressful enviornment) that won't change. One more thing I have gallstones, they need to be removed and this will be at the time of surgery, no one told me that, but I am glad that Dr. Aranow checks these things out so there won't be the need of two seperate surgeries.  Have a great weekend! 

07/14/05 - now to wait I guess.  I have told my director at work that the date of surgery is 8/01, however could change depends on if I get word from insurance co. She was good about it thank goodness.  I told her not exactly sure how long I will be out but that it would be as fast as I can feel back to normal.  So all is set I have most of what I will need.  I have been trying some protein drinks, isopure sure has after taste. I went to get beneprotein at CVS but they didn't have it so I will try other places.  My family is set I have support from my daughters, best friend and even my ex want to be there for me.  Praying that I get approved and all goes well.

07/18/05 - got a call from Dr A's office today it was Lois, I was bracing myself for a denial, but she said I was approved and surgery is on for 08/01/05.  Honestly, I never expected it to take only 1 week.  I think that everything was in order, I had a very good diet history and ther is no exclusion in the ins. at this time. Thank goodness.  I am excited, my family, friends and co-workers are excited for me on my venture to be better. Did I say I was nervous, I am guess that's normal and I liked to say that as the time gets closer I won't be more nervous, but that would be a lie.  Next steps are a call from the hospital and to attend a pre surgery class on the 27th.  Lois said that the Dr would like everyone to attend if at all possible as they go over everything, I will attend.  I have been preparing myself, walking everyday, taking my vitamins trying new things (isopure) to see how I like them, trying to eat good and to keep off the 10 lbs. I will go forward with this try to be positive.  I will try to do everything my doctor tells me to help make this surgery a success

07/25/05 .getting closer boy I am nervous, I went to block island for the weekend had some fun and good weather.  Back to reality.  I have so much to do at work to prepare for my time out, chipping away at it or trying to.  Hope my boss understands.  I wanted to have everything in order I am getting that feeling of you should have planned better taken more time, maybe not to have gone away for the weekend, but then I Think have fun no matter what. Anyway, this week on Wednesday I will attend the Preop class sounds like a good thing lots of good info on what to expect.  I will have my bloodwork done just before that meeting.  I called the office and asked if Wednesday would be too late to get my bloodwork done being that my surgery is monday,and it will be ok.  I also have a prescription for physohex to wash with a few days before. I need to get some more of the things I'll need for when I come home.  I am so glad for this website I have gained so much info from eveyone.  BCBS send me a letter about being approved it went on to say unless.....It just seems like they want to leave openings they were clear about no cosmetic or reconstructive surgery, or if there was a WL disclaimer, which there isn't yet, or anything medically unnecessary they would not cover. Well anyway I'll talk to you later..

07/29/05 - Well got the call today on the time of my surgery on Monday, I'm to be there at 6:00 am with the surgery being 7:30 guess I am the first one, I know there were 2 others scheduled for that day.  Here's the best thing I went to a preop class at the hospital on wednesday and it was great, not everyone gets to go since its offered only 2 times per month, but I was lucky to get in the nurses who did the class were from the floor I will be on and they went over everything that will happen to me on Monday and thru my stay. I will have an iv, catheter, g tube in my nose (this gets put in while I am out) I will have antibiotics given in the stomach but it does not hurt, they went over the whole dynamics of the surgery again and I was able to meet everyon who will be recovering with me it was very good. 

08/10/05 - Not good with my profile updates, but I have been looking daily at the messageboard, and I feel it has really helped me get through the surgery so far,.  Surgery went on as scheduled.  I went in on 08/01 without complications and I do thank God and everyone for their prayers.  If I had to rate my surgeon, he's top notch, and that really made me feel confident going to surgery, that I had made the right decision for open rny - I did my homework on what to expect and as far as it went that's exactly what happened.  I was in pain (expected) different than c sections. I felt it was slightly worse.  I was able to be medicated morphine pump and then orally in order to keep pain management under control. The only time was when I decided not to ask (I thought I was doing good) and the pain got away from me and took awhile for the meds to work once I finally asked.  I walked and walked, believe me I know how important this is to do so even though I wanted to just lay there I forced myself.

I had some issues with the hospital staffing. I know they are overworked short staffed etc and I respect all of that so here is what I have issues with:  On my second night I still have IV, cather tubes and those booties that pump to stimulate circulation I wanted to walk and rang for the nurse, I slipped off my booties, stood up next to my bed and waited, (my mistake was to stand)while standing somehow I turned around and got caught up in the tubing and it was wrapped so it would not let me sit back in the bed, however i WAS close to the button and rang again still standing it has now been 25 minutes since first ring.  Now I am in pain, rang again still no one 10 more minutes, I finally had to resort to yelling "nurse, nurse" no one finally after 45 minutes I swear someone comes and sees me.  I was so upset that I made sure that I had someone in the hospital all day.  I was fine but what if it was a true emergency....don't know what to say.  They said the button wasn't working. I went back to bed.

I more thing the hospital expects the patient to update everthing how much water walking etc.  I did that, except on the 3rd day (still on pain meds) I forgot after 2:30 to update and couldn't,  remember so when the night nurse came in she said "why is this not updated,? You could be dehydrating, didn't you go to any of the classes?? THAT'S WHY WE LEAVE THE INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR TRAY. She was rude, by then I had asked why no one monitored that sooner,  only got more rude excuses, she again had point out the instructions. I said I know what to do and we went back and forth trading not so kind words.  It wasn't pretty.  That was my last night there I went home the next day, and I felt that I had worked so hard to do everthing the best I could, it was very upsetting to have someone argue when you feel so bad.  They never did get the point that they are the nurses not me, I was the highly medicated one and the patient. This is not in my character to argue however, I thought it was important, or at least at the time.

Lessons: try to have someone with you most of the time, and don't count on the nursing staff count on yourself.(Don't stand on your own unless all your tubing is out)

I came home and I am gradually getting better, I am walking everday and still have muscle pain from surgery, but each day it's better.  I am on phase 3 liquids, sf jello, sf pudding, creamed soup and protein shakes and water, lots of water. So far it's staying down.  I went to stay with my brother in RI to recover until my office visit next week.  I hope I can go to the next phase of pureed food.  Shakes are ok but getting a little boring.         

08/12/05 - I hope I'm losing I am at my brothers in providence recovering and no scale.  I go see the doc on wednesday, I have been doing all that I should I think.  I am still sore but moving and walking much much better.  I did talk to my nutristionist and she said I could try cottage cheese, I did last night and it was heavenly.
I woke this am and had my flintstones, and I take atacand for HBP, I mixed up my shake and slowly drank it.  Within 10 minutes I started to feel yucky, cold sweat, weak, a little nausated, but did not throw up.  Sure felt bad for about 45 minutes, since then I am just fine.  I have had a 1/4 c of cottage cheese, cream of tomatoe soup and lots of water, all still ok.  hmmmmm.  I wonder if I had a true dumping or maybe my bp is low like in the hospital and I should not have taken my atacand.  I will ask the doc on wednesday.  I intend to go back to work after labor day.  I work in a very hectic office, but oversee a staff of 15, at that place there is no such thing as taking it easy, so I want to make sure I am on top of how I feel and eat before going back into the frying pan.  I am glad the weekend is here, one of my daughters is coming up this weekend to stay at my brothers with me.  I miss both of my daughters, even though I truly have been lucky to recover where I am, so I am looking forward to the weekend.

08/16/05 - tomorrow I go for my first post op Dr. visit believe it or not where I am recovering (my brothers) I do not have a scale so I have no clue if I lost or not, people say they can see it in my face and everywhere,can't imagine not losing something just drinking 2 shakes and having soup but you never know anyway it will be interesting to see how I am really doing.  I am going to go back home tomorrow after the appointment, back to connecticut, I have had the best care and have been lucky this past 2 weeks, I feel pretty darn good right now, I miss my home though and need to get myself back into a routine in my own place.  Still find it hard to get comfortable at night, and I do feel tired after doing simple things, but I am getting there.    
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08/17/05 - I went for my first post op office visit.  My brother drove me from providence to the 4:30 appt only to find that the doc had gotten tied up in surgery.  Well we were driving, grocery shopping etc,. I want to be prepared to go back to work on Sept 7th,  the doc said I may want to go back sooner, but my workplace it's all or nothing, no taking it easy and so I want to give myseft the benefit of resting up as much as possible. I have never taken off time except for when my 2 children were born (six weeks).  I just want to be prepared for my staff when I go back.  I feel pretty good right now.

08/30/05 - I am doing fine.  What a difference a few weeks makes. I am feeling soo much better things are pretty much back to normal.  I am back to being mobile and I get my 2 mile walk in almost everyday. My incision seems to look ok and is healing nicely.  I am able to eat pureed stuff and I get all my protein in along with most of my liquids.  I log everything I think it helps me.  I did try a few chicken wings chewed and chewed, but boy they made me feel sooo sick.  (Greasy) Didn't throw up though.  I will wait to try that again.  I still have not been on a scale since my last visit.  I go again this Friday I have been following the rules and feel like I have lost more. My clothes are bagging and I have gone to a few stores just to try on things, such a good feeling.I am tired alot still but that's normal I am trying to get myself back into a routine to prepare me for going back to work on the 7th.  I get up early and am concentrating on eating the way I will be once I go back to work.  Keeping my fingers crossed that when I pop on the scale on Friday it will show more weight gone forever! 

09/06/05 - I had my second pre op visit with Dr. Aranow on this past friday.  I have now lost a total of 34 lbs since surgery!  I feel great about that.  If I count my before surgery weight loss 10 lbs. I am looking at 45 lbs.  not too shabby.  I can really tell and people are noticing too.  It feels great.  I have not gotten a new scale, but have made adjustments to the old one so it is on track with the Drs. scale at the office.

Back to work tomorrow.  I am ready I think but still feel very tired alot.  I hope they don't find me sleeping at my desk. hahaha.  Got to go back sometime, but I sure could get used to this life.  Taking wonderful long walks with my little dog (boy will she miss me I'm afraid).  This last month really was right on target with my expectations.  Ups and downs lots of different feelings,but moving forward each day.  Now I feel good with the exception of being still tired alot.  Guess that will pass.  I was put on real food, but am taking it slowly.  Still having my protein shake 1 per day cause I want to make sure to get the protein in.

Next steps:  call my nutritionist at the end of next week to discuss foods.  Start taking calcium.  Make an appointment with my PCP (got to keep checking my blood pressure).  I guess the next post op visit wi l be at 3 months along with blood work, as long as I do not have any kind of complications.  Looking foward to losing more of me..... It's been great trying on clothes.

09/19/05 - Made my appt with my PCP on this coming friday.  Needto still get in touch with my nut. gotta get the lowdown on calcium and vit. d and anything else I should be doing.

I feel good.  Things are still going well, back at work all ok I am still walking everyday and have now started water aerobics I have goneto two classes and the instructor does a pretty good workout.  I have to say am impressed with me going through the class without a break is pretty great for me.  I saw smaller women looking like they couldn't go on.  It must be all the walking I do (still think it's key to success), plus eating and following all doctors orders.  gotta go ! 

09/28/05 - I went to my PCP visit but before I went I weighed myself and I was down some more.  My scale is set for the surgeons office scale and I didn't want to be feeling badly if my PCP scale was off not to my favor.  Happily it was about 2 lbs different, so I felt so good.  She was happy with the loss and took my bp unfortunately it's still high.  I was on atacand which did include a diretic prior to surgery, but Doc A. changed that to without that after surgery, concerns with dehydration I think, PCP agreed, she said we will wait to see if the bp goes down and if not she will need to increase can't leave it as is.

I feel good, have been trying to get all water and protein in now that I have been put on normal foods.  I have been eating alot of Chili, easy to take to work after making a large batch, it seems to sit well as long as I don't eat too fast. I have been following the rules eating protein first then vegetables and once in a while low carbs.  I have not eaten fruit yet, but will be starting that soon, my choice. I have been drinking a protein shake in the am and still find it is important to help me get the protein in.  I know that the nut. said it would be best to eat regular foods to get my protein. I am doing well with the water aerobics and walking, and have started to use some free hand weights .  That's all for now!

10/22/05 - Time seems to be flying by.  I am so bad with updating and I know it's something that is important for us to do, since many of us read each others profiles to see how things progress etc.  This month has been good for me.  I have weighed myself twice and each time I was down about 5lbs each time.  I am a total of almost 60lbs and I am happy with that.  Could I be loosing more quickly? maybe, but I am content still and try not to compare myself too much with others.  Here's the thing I feel good, am so much more mobil now, can wear clothes that I never thought and it will only get better.  I know that eventually I may start to have some stalls. I have been having some difficulty getting my water in during work time I actually have the water bottles at my desk so its me just not thinking, I can feel it when I don't so I am trying to be dedicated to get it all in.  Other than that things are going well, life is good. 

12/12/05 - Wow time goes by so quickly.  I am so bad at updating I have had a good Thanksgiving. Actually ate a little of turkey, mashed potatoe, a little stuffing even.  Unfortunately I had a little sweet potatoe casserole always to die for, and so I did after the fact, it had brown sugar and boy did I feel yucky for about an hour.  But I feel so good and it was nice to celebrate the holiday as a thinner girl, it just plain felt good, I feel better each day.

I am still exercising almost everyday and have lost over 70 lbs.  Here's the best thing, I do not weigh myself daily, heck I don't weigh myself maybe every two weeks. I am going to see my surgeon for my followup on Wednesday and I wanted to see if I lost more weight so this morning I got on and holy toledo, I was under the 200 lb mark .  I have not seen that weight since before my last child was born. It was what I have been waiting for and I sat on the edge of my bed and cried tears of joy.  It is unbelievable still to me.  I said a prayer to god for showing me the way.  I thanked him for letting me make the best choice of surgeon Dr. Aranow, who did a great job, and I thanked god for not letting me give up on myself, along with another prayer to keep my inner strength going.  I am blessed!

'Tis the season :  With all my new found energy I have been able to have such fun shopping for Christmas, heck one day I shopped the early bird opening at the mall and my daughter joined me at 1:00 we stayed at the mall for most of the whole day, until she was too tired. I could have continued. Life is good!   

02/27/2006- It's been a long time I am down to 170. I have a way to go and you know I don't know what my original goal was from Dr. Aranow. While it's important I feel my goal is more important to me. It's more in how I feel than how much I weigh. I am trying to keep in mind the reasons why I started my journey in the first place. I guess that's why I get on the scale only a few times per month.  Slow but steady loss and I try not to worry about what weight I should be at a given time. I stick to the path, make sure I exercise.  I hope that is ok to do and I know I will need to be more attentive about the weight I am at down the road. I know the loss has slowed down but that is normal too I think.  Some days I feel so light and other days I am my old heavy self looking back at me in the mirror, I hate when that happens because it does get me down for a time hopefully time will take care of that too.  I am excited to be wearing a size 12 pants and a normal size large shirt.  I love to try on things now and have tried not to splurge too much on things because I am still losing. All of my old clothes are now gone and my closet is half empty, but half full with a thinner girls clothes, except they belong to me.  I have just received my notice to set up my next appointment with Dr. Aranow and my nutritionist, which I will do tomorrow.  That reminds me I need to also make my PCP appt. too. I went to Florida in January and had some fun with friends and plan to go back down in May for another extra long weekend, can't wait, who knows maybe I'll find a nice guy or have some fun trying. I won't promise to update more often but I will update.             

08/06 - Wish I was better with my profile updates but oh well :(

Reflections looking back through this past year. 

Such big changes, exciting I went from having to work up a sweat just to walk and no mobility and feeling like I was getting worse everyday, high blood pressure (on med), newly diagnosed as a diabetic, sleep apnea in a size 20 + (refused to admit to any larger, but of course I was.  To being a size (8) pants ML shirts and I am still losing. I no longer have any sign of being diabetic, no more sleep apnea, BP is good.  Best of all I feel like a butterfly after all these years.  The small things still amaze me, like I have bones that I like, I am small boned as my mother used to say. I remember when I used to say that when I was heavy people used to look at me like I had 5 heads.  Or they would say "she's big boned". 

Was this a cake walk?  No way, it was tough.  Was it worth it for me, you betcha.  Over the year I have been lucky to not have had any major complications, and so far all my prayers have paid off around that matter.  I will say though I have had my share of dumping, been sick from eating too much too fast, not eating enough or drinking. I have made boo boos but my pouch seems to work. Thank you God for giving me my family and friends who were there for me always.  And thank you for this website it has been a source of great support for me.

 So I think I look pretty good, (I have to put my picture up hopefully soon) so I'll have a face.  I do have jiggly skin but I will look to have some ps maybe next year. I'm workin it everyday (I think that's key to my success).  The hard part is still to come...maintaining so we shall see.  I am ready to succeed, to keep following what I need to do. I have seen many posts about weight gain, many times it seems people have stopped exercising or eating the right things, but I hope we can go always go back to basics. 

So with this gift comes many good things (life for me I think).

My surgeon required an psyc evaluation pre op,which I passed, but I have had to still deal with what goes on in life...surgery doesn't stop you from feeling depressed or dealing with any other of life's moments good and bad. I still see myself many times in the mirror as the fat girl, I now know this is not true but I have to put things into perspective sometimes like looking at the size of my clothes now, so I can't still look the same. I will never forget that girl, and all the that I went through because of my weight.  Over the year I have had people comment and say just about everything to me (mostly it's good ) wow moments, but it does amazes me how some folks just speak before thinking what they say. I forgive them. 

Really though, it has been one of the best years of my new life...truly a  new beginning.  Thanks.         

08/27/06 - I have not received anything from my surgeon for a follow up and should have I think.  I just want to make sure my labs are good.  I will need to call.  I am still losing but very slowly.  It's ok I fit into 10 pants but alot of 8's too. and large button down shirts or medium of everything else.  I did buy a little black dress that I wore to a work cocktail party.  I felt so good in it.  So other than that I haven't really gotten anything else, low on funds as usual.  I'll hold out now until fall and I will need to get new things since many of the clothes I had before summer will be too big. 

I am feeling a bit depressed, not sure of the exacts but I am feeling alone.  It's more because I am single and have been since divorcing 6 years ago.  I really put my life on hold waiting for the kids to get though school etc.  maybe I guess it was easier to use that as an excuse for not trying to meet someone.  Lucky my best friend was single too and we were able to get out sometimes, she has two boys same ages as my girls.  She always was able to have relationships,not me, I used to think it was all about my weight but now I am thinner, who knows.  I think I am ok looking, I used to be pretty when I was younger, so I guess it's how I feel inside (still like the overweight girl) not opening up to people. So practice I will.  I was thinking of the internet dating thing, but I don't know. I'll keep you posted if I get my mojo back. :) 

11/06 - Wow it's been awhile, I lost my computer and will be getting a new one soon.  Using my daughters this weekend while she's home fro m college.  I am doing ok, but have not been to see my doctor like I should have  I am two months overdue.  Really important I know but money is such a problem lately that I don't want to make any new bills. 
even with insurance it's still alot so I am taking my vitamins and still working out trying to keep myself healthy. I have been eating a few things that I shouldn't like animal crackers or pretzels.  Not too bad I am going to nip this in the bud before it gets out of control.  One thing  I think about is having plastics, but again the money.  It is not pretty especially my tummy.  All in all is good though, and I still am so very glad that I had the surgery. No regrets.  It was so long since I was on line I was worried the site would be missing.  I miss my daily ritual of  hopping on line and reading up on everyone.  It was my wls bible.  Signing off now.

01/21/07 Well I have been doing pretty good, have a doctor appt on 02/07 hope that goes well.  I do feel tired alot, but it could be just stess and not sleeping too good.  I did have the blood work up so my doctor should have it when I go.  Still taking my vitamins faithfully, but not getting enough wtr in or protein the last few weeks.  I have also been snacking on not so good stuff, like animal crackers and pop corn. I am trying to get back to basics, of course no more weight loss, if I just start doin what I am supposed to I am sure it will resume I still need to lose 20 lbs or so. I know at this point it would be very slow losing and I am happy with the loss, haven't started to gain, but I better be careful or I will, my workout and exercise are saving me I think.  Some day I will make my profile pretty, with pictures and all, but too much going on in my life right now.  I have loved reading othr profiles, it has been an inspiration to me.  I normally lurk on this site, but every once in a while I ask or respond to someone, I feel shy in real person too. Thank goodness for this website.  It has really given me some great insight on wls and everything that it entails