ObesityHelp.com: Making the Journey Together
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Goals

Shop in a "regular" store for clothes

Category: Other   
28 People
 in progress, 
10 People
 achieved this

Be an active, healthy mother to my 2 daughters

Category: Friends and Family   
0 People
 in progress, 
1 Person
 achieved this

Stand up after sitting on the floor without being embarassed

Category: Other   
0 People
 in progress, 
1 Person
 achieved this

Go through the day without being tired all the time

Category: Health   
1 Person
 in progress, 
1 Person
 achieved this

Have a safe and successful surgery

Category: Health   
21 People
 in progress, 
12 People
 achieved this
Surgeon Testimonial

Michael Melkonian, M.D.
I had my pre-op visit with Dr. Melkonian last week. The only negative thing I have to say about this office is that you have to go completely through the process to actually see Dr. Melkonian. You see the Nurse Pract. on the first visit. It was like waiting to see the Wizard of Oz. When I asked him about it, he said that it's because so many people just want to find out about it or change their minds early on and this deters some of that. I do have to say it was definitely worth the wait.

Dr. Melkonian was very warm and friendly. He took a lot of time to talk with me and answer any questions that I had. I feel so much more comfortable after talking with him. My surgery is scheduled for 12/20/07 and I don't think that I could be in better hands. I would rate him as an A+. You just have to be patient to actually get to him.
Member Interests
  • Parenting - I have two beautiful daughters and a great spouse that I love to spend time with
  • Music - I love pretty much all types of music
  • Scrapbooks - I love doing scrapbooks of my family
  • Football - HUGE Panther's fan - even though they let me down alot
  • WLS in your 30's - I am a 33 Year old married female and the mother of 2 girls

Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by judyanne on 12/17/07 11:29 pm
    Thursday is your day! Just remember you are on the journey of a lifetime. Try to enjoy every minute. It may sound weird now, but know that you are cared for and prayed for here, and all too soon this will be but a memory and you will be an inspiration to someone else. I am waiting for you on the losers' bench! ~ JudyAnne
Click here for the surgery support page

My name is April and I live in the great state of NC.  I have researched gastric bypass for quite some time now and feel that this is the next step for me to become healthy, increase my life quality as well as my life span.  I want to grow old with my 2 beautiful daughters and great spouse and be the fun, active, physically fit mom that I should be in my middle thirties.  I want to live long enough to know how the story goes with my daughers lives (now 7 years and 9 months old) and not just hear about their life because I'm too tired or can't keep up enough to get involved.  I want my family to be proud of me, even though I know they are, I want to be proud of me too. 
ahw1974's Blog



9 Months Out
on September 15, 2008 8:43 am
It's been a while so I posted anything.  I'm almost 9 months out now and down 90 lbs.  For the first time since high school (I'm 34) I am down to 130.  Unbelievable!!!  I feel fabulous and so much better about myself and just life in general.

I can now be the outgoing and spontaneous mom that I wanted to be for my girls and they are loving their new fun mom too.  My life has changed do much for the better.  I still struggle sometimes with not being able to eat as much as before, which was my favorite past time.  However, the results have definitely been worth that little issue.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to e-mail.  It was very helpful to have advice from people who had been through it before I actually made the committment.  I would love to repay the favor.
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4 1/2 months out and first kidney stone
on May 6, 2008 7:37 am
Last Thursday morning I awoke to back pain which is very unusual for me.  In contined on with my morning routine and drive into work.  On my drive in (almost an hour one way) I began to hurt more and more - to the point that I drove myself to the urgent care.  

After numerous tests and a cat scan, I was told that I have a kidney stone.  They gave me a shot in the urgent care which caused the pain to subside and it didn't come back until Saturday morning.  Around 12:30 PM on Saturday, my "little friend" entered the world.  It was quite painful.

I asked the doctor in the urgent care what could cause this type of thing.  I was told that it can be a result of the gastric bypass because your body doesn't absorb food the way it once did.  

Even with the pain, so far, I would stil have done the gastric bypass.  I feel like a new person and it is worth it at this point.
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4 Months Out
on April 24, 2008 8:11 am
Well, it's hard to believe that it's been 4 months since my surgery.  I am down 63 lbs and now in the 150's which is so unbelievable for me.  It has been about 15 years since I saw the 150's.  

I am having a very difficult time eating.  Meat does not go down well for me at all unless it has been cooked in the crockpot all day and is very very tender.  But then when I eat other things, the carbs and such just absolutely wipe me out.  There is no happy medium and I just feel sometimes like it's not worth eating.

I am however, extremely happy with the way I'm feeling and the way I can do things now.  It is unbelievable.  I have at least 10 people tell me every day how fabulous and healthly I look.  I run into people I have known for some time and they pass by me and don't know who I am.  It's a good feeling.  I guess you trade the good for the bad.

I think other than the eating difficulties, the hardest part for me is that I go to the bathroom probably 5 - 6 times a day and when I have to go, I have to go right now or there is going to be a problem.  I think that may have something to do with the tiredness I have been experiencing too.

Everyone keeps telling me it does get better, your body just needs time to adjust and pull itself back together.  I guess I'll just have to hang in there a little longer and deal with it for now.  There are definitely good things that go along with it too.
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3 Months Out
on March 24, 2008 5:33 am
Wow!! It's hard to believe that it's been 3 months already.  I'm feeling great. I still so far, have had no real problems other than my mind still trys to fool me into thinking that I can eat more that I actually can.

Shopping has even become a little fun lately.  I am wearing large and xlarge tops even in the Juniors section now.  In addition, I am wearing the smallest size of jeans that you can buy in Lane Bryant now and I can't wear the tops at all.  It feels amazing.  

My husband is absolutely gah-gah over me, of course he was before too.  He is like watching a little kid who is amazed at what is happening in front of them.  He didn't really care if I had the surgery or not before hand, but I'm pretty sure he is very pleased now.

I had to go on a business trip last week for a couple of days and I surprised by 8 year old daughter at school by picking her up early when I arrived home.  She was sitting at a table doing her homework.  She looked up and saw me and looked back down at her homework.  In about 5 seconds she looked back up and smiled really big.  She said that she didn't think it was me because I looked so different than before.  That was pretty nice.

Oh yea, on the traveling note, it was great.  I had to fly on an airplane which I really did not like to do before surgery.  I was always concerned about putting the arm down between myself and the passenger next to me or not getting the belt fastened, etc.  I sat down in the seat and had plenty of room and no problems whatsoever.  In fact, there was actually room on both sides of me.  It made me almost giddy.

This has been a truly exciting trip for me.  I am having the time of my life and enjoying life again.  Spring has sprung both with the season and within me.  

Happy Spring Everyone!!!
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2 Months Out
on February 20, 2008 7:39 am
I am two months out from my GBP today.  I'm now feeling so awesome and young again.  I feel like I am gaining my life back.  I am down 43 lbs but down so much more baggage.  I feel like a huge burden has been lifted off of me and I'm free to move about the cabin

I went shopping this week and fit into the smallest pair of jeans that Lane Bryant has to offer - that means that the next pair will be at the "normal store" which was one of my goals.  

I also went and had a new hair style this weekend which I have found seems to be the growing trend on these sites.  I now have about 4 different colors of blended highlights in my hair along with a new hip style.  I left there Saturday knowing that a transformation was underway and the April that I have missed so much is back.

I am still having a struggle with the mental part of this process.  I still order or prepare way more food than I will be able to eat.  My mind still wants it but my new body just can't handle it.  That's a very good thing, just something that I have to get used to.

Thanks to all the support that everyone has been providing me.  It means the world to me and helps me get through the tougher days.  I still wouldn't trade my surgery for anything.  It was absolutely the right decision for me personally.
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My Story

During the younger years of my life, I was on average a little larger than most, but by no means obese.  Then around the ripe old age of 20 I started to "blossom".  I have been "blooming" uncontrollably ever since.  I am now 33 years old and I have a wonderful family which includes my spouse of 13 years and 2 daughers (ages 7 years and 9 months).  I love my  familiy dearly and I want to be around for them for a long time.  I have to change my lifestyle forever.   I want to be there in the midst of all the action with my girls, outside with sports, etc.  Now, I'm not comfortable with being very active.  

I have tried every diet there is and do pretty go with most.  Then after a month or so, here we go again.  I gain it back plus more.  I need the tool (surgery) to help me do it and stay that way.

I have thought about gastric bypass for quite some time and now truly feel that its the right thing for me.  I just feel a little guilty because I know how the complications work with somepeople etc.  It's a huge leap of faith for me.  I just know my life as well as my family's is going to be much more active and involved when I'm healtier.  I want to be a good example for my girls and someone they can be proud to call mom.

 


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