armywife6500's Profile

Name: Ashley S.
Username: armywife6500
Location: Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Member Since: 11/1/2007
BMI: 37.9
Post Op
Surgery Type: RNY (10/11/07)
Surgeon: Robert L Richard, M.D.

Photos

Mine (8)

I'm in (0)

4 Mos 2 Weeks Post Op Uploaded on 2/28/08 6:41 pm	4 Mos Post Op-194 lbs Uploaded on 2/17/08 7:49 pm
11 Week Post-Op Uploaded on 1/2/08 4:12 pm	11 Week Post-Op Uploaded on 1/2/08 4:12 pm
7 Wks Post Op 232 lbs Uploaded on 12/1/07 12:01 pm	7 Wks Post Op 232 lbs Uploaded on 12/1/07 12:01 pm

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Friends

Ashley S. has 16 Friends

avensong	MelissaF	infantrywife
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Surgeon Testimonial

Robert L Richard, M.D.
He seemed very quiet and reserved, and my first impression was correct, he is still the same way. The office staff is great, they are very kind and considerate. I don't think there is anything I don't like about him, he knows what he's doing, and thats all that really matters in the end. Just know that if you are the type of person with an outgoing attitude and personality, you will get along with him, but there is that certain spark missing. As for the aftercare portion, his office and program staff pretty much take care of all of it, he does not...but if you have any questions or concerns, he knows all of it, so feel free to ask him. He does cover all the risks of the surgery more than once, plus the bariatric program he is a part of really educates you before hand. He is an excellent surgeon, he really does care about you and the changes that you are going through. He gives each of his patients a teddy bear the morning after surgery as something to remember this lifechanging experience by...as if a major weight loss wasn't enough! If I had to choose between surgical competence or bedside manner, I would rather have someone who knows that their doing with a knife than someone who can carry on a meaningful conversation. However Dr Richard has both, but like I said before, he's just quiet and reserved, that doesn't make his bedside manner a negative experience.

My Journey

armywife6500's Blog

Other People's Attitudes
on November 4, 2007 12:16 pm

So it hasn't even been a month since my surgery and the people around me are already starting to change. ALL of my co-workers told me before surgery I had their full support and they couldn't be happier for me.

Now that I am back at work some of them are very distant and some of them are sarcastic. These are people that I talked to everyday and all day, not just about work stuff either. Now they are just kinda like hanging in the wings watching me as if to see what the amazing circus monkey will do next.

A few of them, god bless these few, are just as excited about the changes I have made as I am. I knew that some of my friends might get jealous because of my weight loss...I was forewarned about all that drama, however these are people that have no weight to lose, they are petite or average at most. They are all attractive and self-confident...or so it seems.

I don't wanna lose any friends over this, it's ridiculous. What makes it worse is that they're not just friends, they are co-workers, and I WILL NOT TOLERATE their antics while at work. My husband has a great job that he loves, but I am the breadwinner of the family.

If their attitudes start interfering with my work, I will have to let them know where they can get off...but how can you tell co-workers how you feel about the situation without jeopardizing a positive work environment?

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Archive

November 2007

My Story

When I look back on my life, I can't remember a time when I wasn't overweight or obese. I have seen myself in pictures where I was actually diagnosed as underweight, but those stopped around age 8. From then on I was always overweight for my age. My parents did everything they could think of to keep me from going down the road they have both traveled, as they are both heavy people. I saw a dietitian when I was 12 and ate hospital food made for me 3 times a day for a year...I gained 40 lbs. My doctor couldn't understand it, so he quit trying.

By the time I graduated high school I weighed 245 lbs. I have steadily gained in the 7 years since then and saw my all-time high March of 2007 at 293 lbs. I have always swore to myself that I would never break the 300 barrier because if I did, I felt there would be no going back for me. I bought a treadmill with my birthday money (and a little tax return cash) and lost 12 lbs in 2 months. However the weight loss didn't last long. I got a promotion at work, stress at home kept piling up, I didn't gain it back, but I never lost any more either.

At that point, I was all but ready to give up. But my body just had to keep telling me it couldn't live like this anymore. My diabetes was under control but I had to keep using more and more insulin along with oral medication. I had to add another blood pressure medicine to keep that under control, and my husband and I decided that it was time to seriously begin thinking about starting a family. At 281 lbs I would not be able to conceive without infertility meds and expensive testing and procedures, not to mention the consequences of a high risk pregnancy. It was time for my moment of truth.

I had already been to several informational meetings and consultations appointments, but had never found the right doctor for me. I finally heard about my surgeon through my father, who had also decided to have the procedure. I went to the info meeting on July 18th and was able to do all my pre-operative testing in the next month. I had my surgery on October 11th, 2 months and 3 weeks later. My husband Greg and I can't wait to start a family in the next 2-3 years, it's going to be a wild ride I'm sure, but it's gonna be worth the effort every step of the way!