I had my surgery on March 10th, and prior to surgery was a regular poster to this forum...  I'm not exactly sure why, but for some reason after surgery I quit posting....my apologies to everyone that I made contact with on here...particularly my friend Lithia and my super angel, Taminator!

I have tried to figure out why I was so reluctant to post and I just don't know - perhaps because my progress and adaptation to my new body and needs has been so problem-free that I felt guilty when reading the posts of others who were struggling with their post-op diets, weight loss bumps and stalls, mental roadblocks and so on....

I do feel guilty though, because my journey has, in fact, been so incredibly smooth and quick...when I had my first consultation on Nov 1, 2007, I was 248.8; the morning of surgery on March 10th, I was 225; as of this morning - the first day of 2009, I weighed in at 143.6 and am only about 7lbs away from being categorized as NORMAL WEIGHT.  I have only had one significant stall of about a month and a half (from 7 to 8 1/2 months post surg).

A few days ago, I went shopping and bought 3 pairs of size 12 jeans at Goodwill and was just thrilled that I could get into 12's....didn't think to try anything smaller I was so dang happy.  Then day before yesterday I received an invite to a semi-formal event for January 24th...oh YAY!  I can go shopping for a pretty cocktail/evening gown for my new smaller me!  So I went to a local consignment shop and was trying on dresses...found several that I liked...but while I was there, the though occurred to me to try on some size 10 jeans just for kicks - THEY FIT!!  So, I went one better and tried on a size 8 - THEY FIT TOO!!!!  The size 8's were the lowest I could go, but it just blew me away that I am actually 2 sizes smaller than what I thought just a couple days prior just because it never occurred to me to try anything even smaller...YAY ME!!

I'm sorry to ramble so much, but it is really hard to update on all the progress of several months in one post...one of my New Year's resolutions is to rededicate myself to keeping my OH profile updated and post to the board more regularly...again, my apologies to all my friends who must have thought I fell off the face of the Earth!

Love ya all - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

P.S....Have added some current pics to my profile - mainly after pics...I have to find where I hid the before pics that I hate so very much!!!

Wow #1:  I was at Wal-Mart today and tried on a pair of size 20WP jeans, and they zipped and buttoned without any problem.  Tried an 18/20 shirt and that was actually kind of loose!  YAY ME!!

Wow #2:  During my shower this morning and dry off afterwards, I realized that there isn't as much of a pannibelly to lift to wash & dry under!  How cool is that?  It's SHRIIIIINNNNKKKIIIIINNNNGGGG!

And as of yesterday, I am approved by my nutritionist to move onto soft foods.  I missed breakfast today because I had to have fasting labs drawn then was playing at Walmart with the 18/20 size clothes...got home in time for lunch.  I had the equivalent of a one-egg & cheese omelet, using Egg Beaters (1/4 cup = 1 egg), 1/4 cup shredded LF cheese, and 6 ounces of milk.  And it all sat just fine!  Kind of a 3rd WOW, but not really.

Btw...NUT okay'd drinking with meals between now and 8 weeks to help things go down easier & to make sure fluid goals are being met.  No drinking 1/2 hour before and after meal rule will go into effect for me at about 8 week mark after more of the pouch swelling has subsided.  Generally, I don't drink with my meals, but did this time with it being my first solids...just for some added moisture on the way down.

I have just had my EOB's (Explanation of Benefits) posted to the online portal of BCBS and after crunching the numbers for ALL services from initial consult, to psych eval, to surgery, etc., the total costs don't come close to what I have seen posted by others on the board - not sure why mine seem to be lower.  And my numbers also include the charge for piggy backing a tubal ligation procedure onto my RNY.

Here is the breakdown - 

Service Provided	Total Provider Charges	Less BCBSM Paid	Less Participating Provider Savings	Patient Balance
X-RAY - X-RAY EXAM UPPER GI TRACT	$             95.00	$            34.84	$                     51.45	$          8.71
SURGERY - LAPAROSCOPY SURGICAL (RNY)	$        7,025.00	$       2,009.33	$                5,015.67	$              -
SURGERY - LAPAROSCOPY, TUBAL CAUTERY	$           800.00	$          225.16	$                   574.84	$              -
SURGERY - UPPR GI ENDOSCOPY, DIAGNOSIS	$           425.00	$                  -	$                           -	$              -
LABORATORY TESTS - TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST	$             90.00	$            18.52	$                     71.48	$              -
SURGERY - HOSPITAL STAY	$      20,870.00	$     10,930.31	$                8,948.40	$      991.29
ANESTHESIA - ANESTH. SURGERY FOR OBESITY	$        1,470.00	$       1,000.00	$                   470.00	$              -
DIAGNOSTIC X-RAY - UPPER GI	$           891.35	$            25.44	$                   671.67	$      194.24
CONTRAST XRAY UPPER GI TRACE	$             84.00	$            34.84	$                     40.45	$          8.71
SURGEON OFFICE CONSULTATION	$           300.00	$                  -	$                           -	$              -
LABORATORY TESTS - H PYLORI ANALYSIS	$           210.49	$                  -	$                   148.38	$        62.11
PSYCH OFFICE CONSULTATION	$           300.00	$                  -	$                           -	$      300.00
PSYCH TESTING ADMIN BY COMP	$             49.75	$            49.75	$                           -	$              -
PSYCH TESTING BY PSYCH/PHYS	$           125.00	$          121.44	$                       3.56	$              -
TOTALS	$    32,735.59	$   14,449.63	$            15,995.90	$ 1,565.06