Name: Brenda C.
Username: bmcox
Location: Charleston, WV, USA
Member Since: 6/28/2007
BMI: 23.1
Post Op
Surgery Type: RNY (12/11/07)
Surgeon: Daniel Stickler, M.D.

Photos

Mine (38)

I'm in (0)

Uploaded on 10/29/08 3:17 pm	Uploaded on 10/18/08 5:26 pm
Uploaded on 10/4/08 10:08 am	Uploaded on 10/4/08 10:08 am
Uploaded on 10/4/08 10:08 am	Uploaded on 9/20/08 9:33 am

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Friends

Brenda C. has 10 Friends

Amber S.	alveta	dsurbaugh
judyanne	Misty B.	Mary M.
noelpeach	Rhonda C.	loriorn

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Goals

lose 100 pounds

Category: Health

221 People

in progress,

76 People

achieved this

Wear a tank top in public

Category: Emotional Wellbeing

5 People

in progress,

1 Person

achieved this

TO BE A BETTER ME TO BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY...

Category: Health

22 People

in progress,

2 People

achieved this

View The Goals Page

Member Interests

Needlework, Knitting & Crocheting - Crossstitch
Cards - Phase 10, Cribbage, Gin, Uno, Skipbo
Computer Games - POGO fanatic, Cribbage & Gin are my favorites
Cooking & Baking - I love to bake
North American - Resident of WV, native of MD
Cruises - Less than a month we will be cruising to Bermuda...looking forward to snorkeling
Married - Happily married to the love of my life, John
Wine Tasting - New to Wine Festivals but love them
WLS in your 40's - Wish I had the opportunity to do it sooner!!!!!
Airplanes - Love to fly........ anywhere

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Hospital Reviews

(Charleston, WV) - Women's and Children's Hospital: CAMC

Latest Surgery Support Comments

Comment by dsurbaugh on 12/11/07 7:11 pm

I spoke with Brenda's hubby after her surgery and he said that everything went good. I can't wait to see her tomorrow so I can give her a great big hug. I am so proud of her!! From her Bestest Friend, Debbie

Comment by lzly on 12/11/07 5:09 am

Best of Luck to you. Have in in my prayers today.

Comment by judyanne on 12/8/07 1:21 pm

Tuesday 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!

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I HAVE SURPASSED MY GOAL!

bmcox's Blog

10 Months and Counting
on October 28, 2008 11:05 am

It is hard to believe that this time last year I was still researching and thinking about WLS. I was trying to figure out when would be the best time to have my surgery and anticipating the recovery ahead of me. I really had no idea that 10.5 months after my surgery I would be 120 lbs. lighter and wearing a size 8. The whole thing is still surreal.

I knew I would lose weight but I never expected to be where I am now so quickly, or maybe at all. It still blows my mind to pick up a pair of size 8 pants, walk in a dressing room and have them fit. I know that my brain is still processing things and probably will be for quite some time.

It feels good to have so much less of me to carry around everyday. Getting myself ready for work each morning is not the chore it once was. I don't have to worry about whether or not I am going to fit in my clothes or how I look in them. I feel okay about the way I look pretty much all the time.

I am still looking ahead to the possiblity of some plastic surgery. a possible tummy tuck, breast lift, brachioplasty, thigh lift..... yeah, I guess that about covers it...... but even without having the plastic surgery, I can be proud of my accomplishment.

You may have people say to you that you are successful because "you don't have a choice." That statement couldn't be less true. We all have choices and yes WLS helps me but it does not do the work for me.

For those of you considering WLS... I will say again that the only regret I have is not being able to have the surgery earlier in life. To those of you who are traveling this road with me.... we know the decisions and changes that have to be dealt with on a daily basis.... we know that at times it is difficult but always worth it!!! We need to always be there for those who are anticipating a trip on the road we are all ready traveling and be ready and willing to answer any questions or be there to lend an ear or a hand when needed.

John and I wish health and happiness to all !!!!

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THE CRUISE WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!
on September 4, 2008 6:17 pm

CRUISIN' was awesome! I can't wait to go again! I added a pic of John and me on formal night! (the dress I am wearing used to be a size 22, I wore it when John and I got married!)

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8 Months out ....But not finished by a long run!!!!!
on August 4, 2008 7:28 pm

    Hey everybody......getting geared up for that cruise later this month! I can't wait. I had two dresses altered from size 22 down to what I am guessing is about a size 12. They were 2 of my favorites; 1 was the dress I wore when John and I got married and the other was a dress I bought for the same trip to Vegas. I can't wait to get before and after pictures in my wedding dress to post after the cruise (this time my honey will be wearing his kilt!) .
     Just a couple of pounds to go until goal weight of 160. I don't want to stop there because as most of you know under these blasted BMI scales with my being 5'6" that still makes me overweight. I have not come this far to still be overweight!!! I would be comfortable in the low 150's for a maintenance weight and that is what I am striving for.
     Just found out that my Potassium is low again so I have to take that disgusting liquid Potassium. I had forgotten how horrible that stuff really is! I certainly don't want to end up back in the hospital with chest pains though, so I am taking my "big girl pill" and taking my medicine.
     Well all, be healthy and be happy. Each of deserves it, this is a long road and we travel it together!!!

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100 Pounds.....11 TO GO!!!!
on July 17, 2008 7:15 am

Well it is really surreal to me. 100 pounds of me gone and only 11 more to lose until I hit my goal weight of 160. It really doesn't look like me most of the time staring back in the mirror but I like what I see. I still expect that clothes won't fit each time I go into a dressing room even if they are the size I tried on the time before. Right now I am wearing in the size 10-12 range. I am happy with that but think that it might change with the little bit of extra weight loss and if I maintain that weight of 160. John and I have also talked about surgery to remove the extra skin (I am luckier though than a lot of folks) and I know that will change things too.
     There are things that I can't eat or chose not to eat and all that is worth it to me at this point to be able to fit into "little girls clothes." I know that I get a lot of conversation from others who say that "my appetite will come back" or "I will have to watch it" but that has been my mindset from the beginning. I did not enter this journey to fail. Failure is NOT an option. This was my last hope for a healthy life and I will not throw it away on food.
     John and I will be cruising to Bermuda in August and I can't wait. We will be going snorkeling, something I never would have done a year ago! It is just so nice to be able to walk around in a bathing suit without my legs clapping for me. This is the first year in I don't even remember how long that I have been able to wear a skirt in the summer with or without pantyhose and not have chaffing between my legs and be totally miserable. It's pretty cool!!!!!!
     One more cool thing.....We went to Busch Gardens a couple of weeks ago and I did not have to, for the first time in a very long time, worry about fitting in any of the rides. OMG......that was AWESOME. I know I sound like some kind of valley girl but I am not sure of any words that say it better!!!! We even went to Water Country and I walked around without a coverup on and sat and ate in my bathing suit......as they say "You've come a long way baby." I guess that's all for now......
     Health and happiness to ALL!!!!!!

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Size 12 Pants and some other stuff! New pics posted!
on June 30, 2008 7:02 pm

Went shopping today and bought size 12 dress pants and a size 12/14 skort. I also bought a size 8/10 tank top. I still go into the dressing room expecting things not to fit me. I went into Fashion Bug today and it was the first time I can ever remember shopping on the Misses side instead of the Plus side!

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Archive

My Story

I am 43 years old and have been overweight for as long as I can remember. My first trip to Weight Watchers was when I was in middle school and was at the insistence of my mom. I come from a long family line of mostly women with weight problems, most to the extent of being obese or morbidly obese. Unfortunately these family members are on both my maternal and paternal sides.
     I have been to Weight Watchers numerous times, I have always gained back the weight lost plus some extra. I have also had three children all of which have added to my weight gain. My doctors have denied me weight loss medications due to my precarious blood pressure and the difficulty regulating it. I have yo-yo dieted most of my life. Most of the diets I have been on would be considered fad diets or starvation diets. I have also used over the counter diet pills.
     I have come to a point in my life where I want to do more and be more. I want to be able to go to amusement parks with the kids and not have to worry about whether I fit on rides, I want to fit comfortably in an airplane seat, I want to go whitewater rafting with my family, I want to go on walks and travel and not have the pain that I feel now in my back and knees. I don't want to make a dent in my sofa, I want to live. My life as it is now consists of work and watching TV. I want a fuller life with my husband and our children, I do not want my weight to prevent me from doing things.
     After the surgery, I would expect to feel better physically. I would expect that some of my back pain would be alleviated as it appears to be caused by osteo arthritis. I would love it if the weight loss would take care of my high blood pressure or at least make it better. I believe that I have suffered from sleep apnea for quite some time. I have never felt like I have had a full nights sleep. It would be wonderful to have that taken care of and feel well rested in the morning.
     My son asked me awhile ago if my back and knees would feel better after the surgery. I told him that was the main reason that I was pursuing this surgery. I told him that looking good would be wonderful but the quality of life and increased quality of health that I will have would be gaining was the main reason I wanted to pursue the surgery. I have been researching gastric bypass for well over a year now and have discussed it openly with my children and my family.
     I have researched the procedure and I understand that that the Roux en Y procedure is done mainly by laparoscopy. I understand laparoscopy from previous operations. I understand that after the surgery my stomach will be about the size of a thumb. I also know that my behavior modification after surgery will determine the continued success of my weight loss. I understand the possible complications of the surgery, including death, and have weighed them closely. I still feel that gastric bypass is the step I need to take. I know that I will be in the hospital for one to two days. My diet will begin with clear liquids, will then phase to full liquids, soft/pureed foods and finally to full foods.
     I know that post-operatively I will need to follow-up regularly with the doctor. I know that I will need to change my way of thinking about food. One thing I always liked and am looking forward to is the exercise. I look forward to making the changes necessary for my new life. I look forward to my surgery date as my new birthday. I know that food is something necessary to sustain life. It will no longer be my friend, my confidant. I look forward to being able to go out and take a swift walk instead of eating. I look forward to being on the go instead of snacking on the sofa in front of the TV.
     My family and friends have seen the decline of my health and my physical activity. I have discussed the procedure with them and they are all very supportive of me. My husband has done a lot of the research with me and knows what to expect. He will be my main support during this time as my family lives out of state. He will help me in anyway possible. He knows that this will improve my life and our life together. We also know that this will make me a healthier, happier person. Without him, none of this would be possible. He is the love of my life!