June 24, 2004 I am 35 years old and I hope to have RNY this year.  I just went to Dr.  

Duncan's seminar on June 22, 2004 and turned in my patient worksheets  and my 

profile at that time.  I still have a psyc. eval. to pass and to  meet with the nutritionist/

exercise physiologist.  After that, I will  have everything ready to submit to insurance.  

My pre-op BMI is  51.6!!!!!! Oh my I am soooo fat!  July 2, 2004 Today my husband 

called Dr. Duncan's office, because he nor I had heard  anything from them about our 

packet we submitted the night of the  seminar.  We were both just getting anxious to 

know about our consultation  and when it would be and we wanted to know before the 

long weekend.  We  didn't get to talk to Jenifer B. because she was at lunch so we went 

to  run errands.  When we returned home, we had a message from her.  We  called 

back and we got appointments on July 29th at 8:30 am.  They said  the appointment 

would last about 2 hours. PCP called yesterday.  They  said "oh, you don't need a referral, 

just call Dr. Duncan and make an  appointment." Well I explained to the call back nurse, 

that YES I do need a  referral and I do need it in writing and I need it to say specific  

things.  I left the list of specifics with my PCP and I explained to him  that I needed a letter, 

so I don't know where my list went or what the  letter is going to say... I will call them 

Tuesday after the long holiday  weekend to see if they have a letter yet.... Hoping they will.  

July 8, 2004 Yesterday I called to get an appointment for the dietician and exercise  

physiologist.  I got a voice mail and left a message.  A few hours  later, Keva called me 

back and I and my husband are scheduled for that  visit on July 28th, 2004 at 10 am.  

So far, that week, I have three  appointments... Phyc. doc., dietician, and my consultation.  

I also called my  PCP back to ask about the letter of medical clearance... I left a  message 

and have not gotten a call back.  I guess I will have to go to their  office tomorrow.  That 

is my plan. At least I can't be put on hold, and  I won't leave until I speak to SOMEONE!!!  

All in all, I am just  getting anxious to get this ball rolling. So excited... will update soon.  

July 30, 2004 It has been a busy week for me.  I went to the Phycologist on Monday.   

It was a routine question & answer test that I personally thought was  silly and redundant.

The questions seemed like they were meant to  confuse people.  I did the best I could to 

answer everything truthfully.  I  don't drink but a few times a year and have never used 

drugs so those  parts of the test seemed unnecessary.  To put it politly , I think the  test 

was unnecessary and silly, but maybe thats just me... maybe I am  crazy... just kidding. 

The interview part was just about 15 or 20 minutes  of the doc asking the same questions 

I had just answered on the test  and he seemed like a pleasant person, I was just nervous.  

I don't know  what of... I guess because the biggest decision of my life seemed to  rest in his 

hands.  I think I did okay... I felt under a lot of pressure  though. Wednesday, I went to see the 

diet and nutritionist and the exercise  psysiologist.  I saw Karen and Keva at the wellness center 

beside Atlanta  Medical Center.  All the information we got from Karen was good.  We  learned 

a few new things, but most of it is just a repeat of what I had  already researched.  The information 

I got from Keva was good too.  I  learned a lot of reasons to begin my exercise routine now, before  

surgery.  I also found out that my body is 52% pure fat... which scared the  heck out of me.  I also

found out a lot about muscle and its role in my  body... I found out that once muscle is lost... 

it can never be  reproduced.  I just have to build up what muscle I have left and hope I haven't

  damageed my body too much by all the abuse I have done to it with my  bad eating and 

not-exercise habits. Thursday was my consultation at Dr. Duncan's office.  We filled out  more 

paperwork, were weighed and measured and put in a meeting room.  Once  we had about 10 

people in the room, Joyce came in and reviewed  insurance info with us... after that, Dr. Speights 

came in and talked to us  about the surgery and answered our questions.  She was so upbeat and

positive about what to expect and I was so happy to hear something positive.   She was short 

and to the point and I really liked that she didn't  over-do the talk, knowing most of us had already

researced this surgery for  months.  But she was informative enough to know you didn't have to

worry about her knowing what she was talking about. After the group talk,  we were taken into

rooms to talk in private about what we wanted to with  her.  I had a few questions, and they 

were answered and that was it.   While checking out, Yakima told us that once everything was i

n from all  the doctors, our info would be sent to dictation and then be sent to  insurance for 

approval.  Now... I start the waiting game... wait on the  psyc. doc to submit his 

reccomendation... wait on all info to be sent to  dictation... wait on dictation to get my

packet ready... and then wait  on the insurance company... I am going to give the psyc. 

doc 2 weeks,  then call, the dictation 1 week then call, and the insurance co. 1 week  and 

then call.  I will update as I know more.... I am just so ready to  get this surgery done!!!!!  

August 19, 2004 Well, I have been waiting and calling the Dr. office to check on my  file. 

Joyce told me on 8/10 that she expected my file back from dictation  any day.  I called 

back on 8/13 and was told it had been sent to  insurance on 8/11.  I called insurance on

Monday 8/16 to see if they had  it... no they did not. Called back to P'tree Bariatrics, was 

told again that it had been sent.   Waited a few days, called insurance again... they still 

didn't have  file.  Worried, I called P'tree Bariatrics again... Joyce said it was  gone.  

Yesterday, 8/18, Jenifer S. called from P'tree Bar. and said that  they had been trying 

and trying and couldn't get my file through to the  insurance cos. fax machine.... that 

explains a lot!!! I called UHC and  got another # and then called and gave it to Jennifer S.

I called today  and UHC still does not have my file.   I confirmed fax # with UHC and  

guess what? Wrong !@#%*ing number again!!! I got the right # (I think?)  again and 

called Jenifer S. again to give it to her...She said she will  re-fax today or tomorrow.... 

What is it with the fax and the file  stuff?  It seems everyone has a problem at this stage. 

It is making me  crazy... I could stand the wait if I at least knew UHC had the file.  I can  

not stand the wait thinking my freaking file is stuck somewhere in a  revolving door or in 

a holding bin.... guess I am stuck in the big black  hole.... will update when I get an honest

answer from SOMEONE! Tonight  I have support group, yeah! I need it!  

August 25, 2004 Well I finally got a straight answer!  My file is in review at UHC.  I  am 

just waiting for approval!  I talked to 6 different people in 4  different calls to UHC this 

morning and finally found out that they do have  my file and now it just a waiting game.  

I have been on the phone for 3  hours.  I am so impatient!  I know everyone I talked to 

was like... hey  give us a break, but when it comes to this point... every day counts! I  a

m praying now that I am approved and very soon!  I want this surgery  so bad.  I just hope

I get it before I chicken out... Seems like I have  been doing this process for years but it has

only been 2 months!  Time  goes so slow when you are waiting for something you really 

want! At  least I am happy to know my file is not lost!... I really do have a case  number!!! YEAH!  

August 26, 2004 I am APPROVED!!!!!! I just got a call from Jennifer S. at P'tree  Surgical 

and she informed me that she had gotten a call that me and my  husband both have been a

pproved!  All the problems with the insurance co.  were due to not having the file sent to the

right department.  Once I got  the right department fax no.... which was yesterday, and 

Jennifer sent  the file, we were both approved within 24 hours... Sooooo Awesome!  I  am

on cloud 9!  I weighed myself to see if I have lost anymore weight  and I lost 3 lbs.  

I told my husband it was because I was floating!   Still trying to drop more weight before 

surgery!  I can't wait! I am soooo  excited! September 3rd, 2004 Yakima called me this 

morning and made me smile... My surgery has been  scheduled for September 15th!  

I am also scheduled on September 10th  for Pre-op.  I am in shock!  I thought late October, 

or maybe even  November, but SEPTEMBER 15th... all I can say is WOW!  I have to 

get a few  tests run though early next week.  I need an upper endoscopy and an  H-Pylori 

test and an note from PCP saying I am still cleared for surgery!   Better get on the phone 

with those appointments.  I am so happy ... Oh  yeah!  I talked to my Juice Plus Rep above 

me (she is really smart about  this stuff) and she told me to start doubling up on my Juice 

Plus for  surgery.  I just took my second helping of capsuls for today.  I keep  telling everyone 

I meet about how great the product is for you and I  intend to be an example!  I plan 

to double up on it before surgery so I  will recover quickly!  I am thrilled and am looking

 forward to a great  long weekend on my Adkins shakes and Low carb dinners.  I still need

 to  lose 7 lbs. by pre-op/Surgery! I'm getting on my treadmill in just a few  minutes... 

till later, I'm out! 

Sept. 4, 2004 I started calling around yesterday to get an encoscopy done...no luck!   

I talked to everyone on my list from UHC and not a single one of them  would give 

me an appointment within a week for an upper endo.  They all  said it takes an 

office visit with the GI doc first, then they would  schedule the endo.  I am beside 

myself with grief!  I don't know what to  do...  Pre-op is next Friday, with Monday 

being a holiday, I have 3  days left. Well, make that one day.  Tuesday morning I 

have to go to my PCP to get  bloodwork done to check for H-Pylori.  And Wednesday 

I go for the  medical clearance from PCP.  That leaves Thursday to get an endoscopy.  

I  hope I don't have to re-schedule the surgery.  I think that is why I am  most upset.  

If I had known I would only have 3 days to get it done, I  would have had it done weeks 

ago!  I was told by Dr. Speights not to get  it done until I got a date... I don't guess anyone 

knew it would be so  close!  I sure didn't.  Just praying it all works out for me!!!! 

September 8th, 2004 Well, today I finally had a load lifted off me.  I went yesterday 

to  get my H-pylori blood test done and then today I had a final medical  clearance 

from PCP office.  This included an EKG and chest x-ray, urine  sample and blood 

test for lots of stuff... (they had a lot of stuff  circled on the codes list)  Anyway I 

finally got an appointment with a GI  doctor to get a consultation. And they told me 

that they could fit me in  tomorrow for the upper endoscopy.  I was so happy and 

really shocked.  I  had already prepared myself for having to re-schedule the surgery 

for a  few weeks from now to get the endoscopy done.   I have to say that all  this 

would not have been possible without the staff at Dr. Duncan's  office.  They faxed 

over an order to have the test expedited and it  worked!!!  Dr. Burse's office respected 

that they needed the test done soon  and they responded with a date of tomorrow!!!  

I keep saying it to  myself because I can't believe it is really going to happen and my 

surgery  is still on!!! I am so thrilled.  Thanks to Dr. Duncan's office for  going the extra 

mile for me!  Also thank you to all who have read my  profile and signed my surgery 

page.  I thank you all for your thoughts and  prayers and am so happy to be a part of 

this on-line family!  I feel like  this website had really helped me to prepare and be 

secure in my  decision to have surgery!  I am so excited and can't wait to be on the 

losing  side!  Oh yeah!  I have lost a total of 10 lbs. since deciding to have  surgery.. 

not much, but at least it is a start!  It has been so hard!  Hugs to you all... Rhonda 

September 10th, 2004 Okay... yesterday was the endoscopy and I was told it would 

not hurt  and that I wouldn't remember any of it.  Well, I never went "out" and I  do

remember every single moment of it and it did hurt just a little.  I  think what hurt the

most is the biopsy they took of the hiatal hernia  that I have.  That hernia was also news 

to me.  Doc said I had an ulcer  at the end of the esophogas.  I paniced and thought to 

myself.... oh  no, I won't get my surgery and the nurse asked if I was okay because she  

saw tears coming out of my eyes.... mind you I was supposed to be  sleeping through a

ll this.  What was really happening was that I was trying  so hard not to fall asleep, that 

I kept my eyes wide open and they  started watering.  After I spent a little while in the 

recovery getting  over the meds, I asked the doc about the surgery and the hernia and 

he  said that the surgery would be great for me because they usually repair  the hernia 

during surgery.  I felt relieved!  Today, I went to Dr.  Duncan's office at 11:00 am 

and checked in.   I was happy to see both  Jennifers and told them both thank you for 

all the help they have given me  during this process.  I took my written test and got 100% 

and got weighed  and lost 8 lbs.  (10 lbs. according to my scales at home)  Anyway, I  

was just sooooo glad I had lost enough that my surgery is still on!  I  had a personal visit 

from Michelle the Physician's assistant and she went  over all the details of the consent form

with me including all the  risks.  I was then given a folder and told to go downstairs to the 

pre-op  check in counter.  They pre-registered me for my surgery and then sent  me for pre-op 

testing.  I told the nurse at pre-op testing that I had  just had an EKG and a chest x-ray on Wednesday.

She called my PCP to get  them forwarded and then I didn't have to get those two tests 

done  again. They took some blood, took a urine sample, took my temp. and took my  blood pressure. 

The anesthesiologist came in to explain the details of  his part of the surgery, the nurse asked 

me about 50 questions and I  was out of there!  One hour and a half at Dr. Duncan's office and 

one  hour at pre-op and I was done!  I was so happy!  We got done in time to  pick up the kids 

from school together.  Now I just have 4 days and a wake  up and I am ready!  Bowel prep 

will be Monday and Tuesday and Wed. is  surgery.  Can't wait to gat to the losers side!!!!! 

September 14, 2004 The bowel prep yesterday and today has been awful!  I do reccomend  

anyone who does the Phoso-soda bowel cleanse to stay home!  I had to go get  my kids 

from school and I almost didn't make it back to the toilet in  time!  The "clear liquids 

only" thing is awful too.  I know in the end  it will all be worth it though so I have to keep 

reminding myself of  that!  My last meal was Sunday night at Outback steakhouse.  

It was so  delicious but... I just keep trying to remind myself how misrible I felt  when 

I was soooooo full that night.  It does feel a little better being  hungry than stuffed!   

Just trying to make this all a little better  with positive thinking.   I had my few days 

of "thinking too much" about the what-ifs.  I cried a  lot and hugged my kids so much 

they thought something was wrong with  me.  I have told them all that I love them so 

much that I would die to  protect them.  I know that God has put me here on this planet 

for a  purpose and I trust Him that he has given me this answer to the problem of  obesiety 

that I have had for sooooo long.  I have prayed for an answer  and for God's help and this 

is His answer.  I will not let the Devil  make me afraid of what God has in store for me!  

As you can tell, I have  prayed a lot in the past few days and I know that this is God's will for

my life.  I trust that he will take me to the losing side without a  problem!  I have chosen 

not to write letters to my family declaring last  wishes or in case of the "what-if" stuff.  

I have faith that I don't  need to do that.  I know that God has a plan for each life and

 if it is  his will, so be it.  I know my family knows my feelings for them.  I love  them 

all so much and I know they will all be happy for me when I am  finally at a healthy 

weight.  It will help my family not to have to worry  anymore about my health!    In 

only a few more hours, it will be time  to go to bed and when I wake up, I will be 

on my way to the hospital.  I  can't wait for my new life.  I can already picture myself in 

my new  body.  I am excited, I am ready, I am confident, and I know I am blessed!   I 

am so happy it is finally my day!  Thank you to all who have wished  me well and 

prayed for me!  I will see you on the losing side!!! I can't  wait!  I am a week and a 

half out and I am going back to fill in on my surgery  experience.... 

September 15th, 2004 I got up at 4:00 am and took my shower.  I was so excited 

I couldn't  sleep anyway.  I got ready and then told my husband it was time to get  

up.  He got ready and then we were off.  I wrote a quick note to my girls  while he 

was getting ready.  I just told them how much I love them and  I would be home 

tomorrow.  I got to the hospital at 6:30 exactly and I  was given an armband and 

put in a holding room.  A nurse came in and  gave me a gown and a plastic bag for 

my clothes.  She then came in and  took my blood pressure, my temp, and gave me 

a shot to thin my blood a  little before surgery and then put in my IV.  I was a little 

upset  because I wanted to see my mom before surgery and she was running late.  

I  also got word from mother-in-law that one of the girls was throwing up  sick.  

This all made me a little upset, but I guess the whole thing had  me upset to start 

with this all just made me start to cry.  at 8:30  I  was wheeled to the OR prep room.  

I was really upset when my husband had  to leave me, but I held it together as best 

I could.  In this room,  they asked me if I had any questions and asked me a few more.  

The  anesthesiologist could tell I was stressed and gave me a little shot of  something 

in my IV that made me feel a little drunk.  I felt more calm after  that.  Then I was taken 

in to the OR I switched to another table  somehow... hardly remember this part and then 

the staff wished me luck and I  was put to sleep.  I do not remember the moment when 

I started to go to  sleep and do not remember anything at all from surgery. I woke up 

in  the recovery room and felt for my belly.  I could feel pain in it.  I was  groggy and 

didn't remember I had had surgery.  I remembr a nurse asking  if I was hurting and 

I said yes and she gave me more pain medication.   I woke up a little and felt like I 

had just went to sleep.  I was  wheeled to my room and my family was already there. 

I was so happy to see  my mom and dad and my husband.  I wasted no time looking 

at my belly at  my incisions.  I couldn't see anything because of the bandages, but I 

was pleased it had gone well and was done laproscopically.  I remember  my mouth 

being extremely dry.  It was like I had no saliva at all.   Nurses were coming in and 

out checking all the things they check and told  me how to use the morphine pump.  

I asked for water and they said in a  few hours I could have some ice chips.  I 

spent time with my mom, my  aunt, my grandmother, my dad and husband and 

I was a little tired.  I  walked around the hospital floor sevral times before the night 

time and I  was thrilled I felt so good.  The pain in my belly was well managed with  

the morphine, and other meds they gave me in the iv.  That night, I hit  the morphine 

pump 3 times in order to get some sleep.   I also asked if  there was something other 

than morphine, as I didn't like the dizzy  feeling. I was given a shot of an anti-inflamitory 

described to me to be  much like ibuprofen only it was liquid and came through my iv.  

I felt  like a new person after a shot of this.  I didn't feel out of it, yet  the pain was minimal. 

 I also got my catheter out this afternoon and that  was a relief!  I prayed prayers of thanks 

as I went to sleep. September 16th, 2004 I was awoke at 6 am to a medicine cup of ice 

chips and I was in heaven.  I got my IV unhooked in order to take a shower and I felt so 

much  better after that.  I got my IV hooked back up and got ready to go down for  my 

leak test.  I was picked up and taken by wheelchair to radiology.  The liquid I had to 

swallow to have the x-ray was the worst part of the  whole ordeal.  I was about to 

gag and gagging hurt my belly.  I prayed I  could get through it and somehow I made 

it.  I really hated that  liquid. First it was a thick bright yellow clearish medicine type 

liquid and  after that it was a white barium thick liquid.  The white had no taste,  so it 

was tolerable, but the yellow about killed me.  I was wheeled  back to my room - 

leak free and happy that I would be going home later  that day.  While I was  having 

my leak test, my husband loaded up the  truck with our stuff.  I had a medicine cup 

of ice chips and an hour later,  I had 3 oz of grape juice and water mixed 50-50.  

That grape juice  tasted like the best champagne money could buy!  It was delicious!  

An hour  later, I was given discharge papers and I was out of the hospital at  12:20 pm!  

What a whirlwind 24 hours.  I felt a little sore, but I knew I  would feel better at home!  

At home, I did nothing and just rested.  I  had my grape juice mix every hour and just 

laid in the bed.  I knew I  had to get some rest before the kids came home.  Mom 

brought the kids  home around 7:30 pm and by then, I was up to visiting with them.  

They  are high spirited and very hyper-active so I had to remind them not to  jump on 

me. I loved seeing them though and hugged and kissed them a lot!   I was sooooo 

happy to see them! This night, I didn't sleep too well.  I  was awake every hour and 

took my loritab elixer 2 times.... about 4-5  hours apart.  I felt dizzy though when I 

took it and I hoped I wouldn't  have to take it for long. 

September 17th, 2004 I felt dizzy when I woke up from the pain medication.  I am a  

lightweight when it comes to medication.  The surgeon's office called to check  

on me and I felt great when they did.  Most of the dizziness had passed.   

I mentioned this to her and she said not to take it during the day if  possible and 

only when needed at night.  I didn't have much pain today.   Only half as much as 

yesterday.  I feel like I am handling this surgery  well and I can't believe I feel so 

good.  I gained a few pounds in the  hospital but I am starting to lose those lbs. 

of water.  I know it is  from the IV and all the medication.  I am not worried. 

September 18th, 2004 Today is Saturday and I am feeling so much better.  

Last night I slept  an hour on each side and one on my back then on each side 

again and on  my back.  I felt like a chicken being turned every hour, but it sure 

made my insides feel better not to be flat on my back all night.  Today I  got out 

and went shopping with my husband at Wal-mart.  I was good for  about 2 hours 

and then I felt like it was time to go back home.  I went  home and rested and I 

was so happy that I was getting back to normal! September 19th, 2004 Today I 

was rested enough from yesterday that we went to B.J.s shopping  for a while.  

We had fun looking at evrything and getting some  groceries and treats for the kids.  

I knew it was good for me to be walking and  I felt so good to be up and out of 

the house.  I rested for a while  when I got home.  It is getting so much easier to 

do everything.  I am  surprised that I have only had to use pain medication the 

first night  home.  I feel so good! September 27th, 2004 My husband went back 

to work today and we are missing him.  He helped  out so much around the house! 

He did all the laundry and did lots of  yard work.  Yesterday I felt terrible.  I started 

and that made for a  misrible day.  I knew not to take advil for cramps, so I cut a 

tylenol in  half and took both halves.  They gave me a tummy ache.  I think it  would

be better if the inside of the pill had not been exposed.  That gel  coating really helps.

I want to shop for some other pain reliever that  is a liquigel.  I hope tylenol makes 

one.  I just hate that "asprin"  feeling in my pouch, even though I know it doesn't have 

asprin in it.   Anyway, I had cramps and back pain and I was in bed by 9 PM.  I feel a  

little better today.  We are just missing "Daddy" though and Let me tell  you what, my 

kids really got used to him being around cause all I've  heard all day is 

"Where's Daddy?" and "but Daddy said I could....."  I  have had to be the 

mean mommy today and say no playing out in the rain  and no drinks in the living 

room.  It makes me feel bad.  Anyway, total  weight lost so far is 16 lbs. 

That makes me happy! 

September 29, 2004 I had my 2 week follow up appt. today and everything went 

well.  I have  lost 19 lbs. and I feel great.  My energy level is up and I am doing  

great on liquids.  My incisions are all but gone!  It is amazing what  neosporin 

will do!  It is like vanishing salve!  It has been a great day!  

October 5th, 2004 Well this time last week, I was so excited about my weight loss... 

this  week, well I haven't lost anything.  I know my body is adjusting to the  22 lbs. 

in 2 weeks ordeal and is probably thinking I am starving it,  but it is discouraging to 

not lose anything in a week.  All I can do is  keep up the orders of my doctor and 

I know it will come off sooner or  later.  All three kids have the croop and are sick 

so here we go... the  first big sickness of the season.  I am getting a flu shot for 

sure this  year!  

October 21, 2004 Well, I have not updated lately, because there is not much to 

update  on... I am stuck.  I lost 22 lbs. right out of the gate and then another  

4 lbs. in the last 3 wks.  I am so frustrated.  I thought the weight  would come 

off faster than this and I am worried that something is wrong  with my pouch or 

my intestines or something else.  I feel great.  I eat  only about a tenth of what 

I used to eat.... only  about 4 oz. about 3  times a day.  I never snack at all.  

I have no desire to.  I drink  about 60 oz. of water a day and I am no longer 

sedentary.  I have been  doing all kinds of stuff.  I just don't make time for exercise 

like I  should.  I am starting this today... At least 1/2 hour each day to walk, do  

yoga, strengh train or some other type of exercise.  I was walking more  than I 

am now, but the lack of calories consumed, seems to be so low  that I don't know 

how I am not losing!  Anyway, thats where I am... 26  lbs. lost in 5 weeks and 

when I say it like that, it doesn't seem so bad.   I have not lost an average of 

5 lbs. a week since I was on those darn  fen-fen pills. I will take it though... 

some weight is better than  gaining weight!  Here I go to walk my butt off....till later, toodles! 

October 25th, 2004 Well I lost some more weight.  I guess I was holding on to water

for  "that time of the month"  After it was over, I lost 4 lbs. for a grand  total since 

surgery of 30 lbs. and a total of 40 lbs. since Sept. 1st.  I  feel a lot better and started 

back walking last week.  I had stopped  for a week or two... just being lazy and 

way too busy with kids and  housework to take time for myself.  But I am back on 

track and losing and  walking again.  Thursday night was support group and I felt 

good after  talking to everyone there.  Oh, I found out I don't do well with beef or  

with egg salad.  I think the mayo makes me sick.  I had a tummy ache  and lots of 

gas from the eggs and the serloin burger at Roadhouse (only  ate a few small bites) 

made me feel weak and nauseated.  Yuck.  I guess  I will stick to Tuna (it is getting 

old too!) I hope to find some great  new recipies with chicken... it goes down well 

and is high in protien!   

November 2, 2004 Today has been a somber day for me.  It started out great... I lost  

another pound, and I went to vote... then I checked my e-mail and got a  message 

that a fellow OH member had passed away.  His name was Bryant  Jackson and we 

had surgery 5 days apart at the same hospital with the same  surgeon.  I had e-mailed 

him a couple of times about his progress and  we just exchanged how we were doing.  

I am so sad to hear of this news!  The last time we exchanged e-mail, he was doing

great.  He was  progressing to soft foods and feeling fine.  It is just so sad.  He was

only 29  years old and just starting to get healthy... I have been sad all  afternoon ab

out it.  Anyway.... on to other news.  I survived Halloween  without even an ounce of 

candy and I even worked out with weights.  I lost  2 lbs. over the weekend and another 

today.  My current weight is 275  for a total loss of 45 lbs. from my highest weight of 

320 lbs.  YEAH! I  feel good and think I am doing great with my protein and water 

as well  as excercise.  I feel good and am losing that is the most important  thing 

to me... to be healthy!  I need to count my blessings that I have  made it this far 

and pray for Bryant's family that they find peace in this  time of sadness! 

Till next time...Bless all who read this! 

November 27th, 2004 Well, I survived my first Thanksgiving as a post-op.  I ate a 

few bites  of food and was full.... It is kind of a let-down when you cook a bunch  

of great food and then can't eat but a few bites of it!  But... on a  happier note, 

I am now down a total of 57 lbs.!  I feel great and am so  thankful this holiday 

season that I am finally starting to enjoy my life  again!  

December 12, 2004 Holiday shopping is great with no backaches and no joint or 

foot pain!   I didn't realize how great shopping could be!  Not to mention, I am  

down 65 lbs. and now I am down from a size 26 to a size 20.  So guess who  I 

am shopping for?  I am supposed to be shopping for others.......but a  few things 

for myself makes me feel great!  Can't believe how good I am  feeling.  Eating 

whatever I want... no sweets and very little fat....  lots of protein and a few veggies... 

broccolie is my favorite!  Lots of  energy and soooo busy this holiday season! 

Merry Christmas everyone!  This was my old profile... They changed things up 

around here so  I continued the entries in my blog and back-dated them.