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Before & After There are currently no before and after photos for this member. See these instructions if you wish to submit your own Before & After photos. Surgeon Testimonial Roger De La Torre, M.D. My first impression of Dr. De La Torre was that he was thinner than his pictures on the website. He seems calm and very knowledgeable about what he does. He has no problems answering questions, and he does so in a way that you can understand what he's saying. He is personable. His office staff is great. I've had the most contact with Nancy and Kathy. I think I've talked to Patsy on the phone, and Scott talked with us about exercise. They are all just very kind and enouraging people. They are efficient, caring and have good senses of humor. They all emphasize that the WLS is a tool, and there is lots of hard work that must be done by you. They do have a structured aftercare program, and stress that it is up to you to follow the rules. If you follow the rules, you will lose weight and you will be healthy. The risks of WLS were discussed at length. I feel I am in very good hands and I feel lucky that I am geographically close enough to have my surgery done by this surgeon, at this hosptal. Groups of surgeons from the Mayo clinic have come to observe him. His group participated in the clinical studies that got the laproscopic RNY surgery approved in the US. I guess the thing that patients will want to know, and he told us this himself, is that he is very busy, and will be the one to do our surgery, but may not be the one we see the next day in the hopsital. He is spread out over several offices, and he can't be everyplace at one time. This would be the only negative I have at this time. I'm glad that he is upfront about it, though, and his patiens know what to expect. I feel that this groups success rate is due to their extensive experience of 3000 gastric bypass surgeries, combined with their structured program, and extensive preoperative screening process. At this point, I would rate them very highly. Member Interests
Latest Surgery Support Comments
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My Story     1/6/06: I went to a support group meeting at DePaul Hospital Wednesday night. It was fun and informative. I got to meet Terri A. from Fairview, and she was a lot of fun. I got on the scale. I was worried I would weigh too much for the surgery. I weighed 351, and Kathy from Dr. De La Torre's office said I'd be fine. The group seems like a great group of people. There's a guy who purchases vitamins in bulk online and passes along the savings to others. Another member had prepared a presentation regarding food labels. I am signed up for the all day class on January 19. I will find out my surgery date that day. I've finally told some of my friends and family what I'm planning. I'm excited and ready to move forward with this. 01/20/06: I made it through yesterday. There was a lot of good information and I got my surgery date! February 15. It was great meeting people in the same situation. Also, in the afternoon, post op patients came in for their followup appointments. Three gals came in to get staples and drains out. They seemed to be moving around pretty well. One gal was two years out and had gone from a size 24 to a size 9. Another lady was about 18 months out, had lost around 115 pounds, and was dealing with a hernia. She was also one of the 20% who needed to have her gall bladder removed after WLS. She is walking up to four miles a day and works out at the Y. She has avoided several health issues. It is a long day, and by the time you go down for your EKB, lab work, lung tests and chest xray, you are tired. The bad news I got was that Dr. De La Torre does want me to lose 15-20 pounds before surgery. I carry my weight in my abdomen, and for safety reasons he needs me to lose some. I asked him if I needed to come back in two weeks and be weighed. He said no, he would trust me to lose the weight and woul go ahead and give me a surgery date. When I met with Nancy, she gave me the liquid protein diet sheet. She also asked if I would consider coming back before the surgery to be weighed. I will go back on Feb. 8 and get on the scale. Today was my first day of the liquid protein diet and it has been hard. My head feels fuzzy and I've been hungry and a little cranky. I hope I can keep this up until Feb. 15. Hubby asked me if I wanted the surgery. I said yes. He said then I have to be good! I'm going to go to bed and just try and escape the urge to eat. February 4, 2006 Having a great day. My youngest son, Ethan, turns 9 tomorrow, and we're throwing him a birthday party at the YMCA this afternoon. I stamped the invitations and his goodie bags, so I fulfilled some creativity. It's good to have distractions right now! My son suggested I not come in the party room where the cake will be. I told him I'd be fine, I'm planning on taking one of my shakes with me. I went to a support group meeting last Wednesday night at DePaul. There was a group of plastic surgeons there and it was pretty interesting. I also got to say hi to Terri & Paula. Terri is doing and looking great after her surgery. Paula is scheduled for this coming Wednesday. If you read this Paula, best of luck!!! I got to weigh after the meeting and I was down about 8 pounds. I have to say I was a little dissapointed. I thought after two weeks of the liquid protien I would be down a lot more. But, Kathy said I was right on track and to stop making myself crazy about the scale. I'm going back over this Thursday to weigh once more before surgery. I talked with several other people and it was fun. My hubby also talked with another husband who's wife and son have had the surgery, so it was nice for him to talk with someone who has been where he will be. He gave hubby some hints about foods for me afterwards. The good thing about the liquid protein is that I'm off diet soda, I'm off sugar, I'm off carbs, I've already been through some food mourning, so I won't be facing all of that for the first time after surgery. We've been to the Y the last two Friday nights as a family for open swim. I can't really swim, but I've been dogpaddling in the deep end (with a few panics). I also twist and kick my legs and move my arms back and forth in the shallow end to try and get some exercise. We all sleep like rocks afterwards. I got a schedule last night of the water aerobics classes. We have a family membership so there is no extra fee for me to go to those. And, there's a tween area my kids could hang out while I'm exercising!!! We've really been happy with our membership there. My hubby and oldest son workout in the gym area, and after I'm able, I'm going to work up the nerve to go in and workout as well. I'm feeling pretty positive about things. Keeping up at work and doing as much as I can ahead so my absence won't be missed so much. I'm really hoping that I can go back on Feb. 27. I'm trying to save some vacation time for summer. Hubby and I have been asked to help chaperone the 5th and 6th graders from our church, which includes our middle son, to a camp in Boliver, Missouri in August. I got my order from Bariatriceating.com, and everything looks great. I tried one package of the chai tea and wow it was good! The rest I'm saving for after surgery. I got 12 bottles of Isopure in a variety of flavors, some vanilla very berry protein mix, some flavorless protein that you can mix with soups and stuff, some protein bars for further down the road, some sf jelly packets to mix with cottage cheese. I went to the store and stocked up on sf jello, chicken broth, baby spoons, some sf cheesecake mousse mix. I feel ready to go. I even got two new harlequins for the hospital stay. So, off I go, gotta get up to the Y and enjoy my baby's birthday party. Bye for now! P.S. Barb, thanks for your kinds words. I appreciate you keeping me in your prayers. February 6, 2006 I'm feeling so good today. We had a great time yesterday. The birthday party was a big hit. I didn't even have a taste of pizza or cake. Usually after one of the boys' birthdays I'd eat two or three pieces the evening of the party, and probably some for breakfast the next morning. After church service this morning they had a superbowl lunch. Lots of yummy snack foods. We attended and I mixed a package of matrix vanilla protein powder with a cup of coffee and made it through. I need to make a taco dip for my oldest son to take to a party tonight and a salad for my hubby to take to work tonight. Usually I would just send hubby to the grocery store, but I went with him, and by the fabric store. We have a women's group that meets at our church once a month, and this month they're making those photo memory boards the day after my surgery. The gal who's making them is so sweet, and she told me to give her my supplies and she would make mine as the demonstration since she already has one. So, I got those supplies today, and Dallas Cowboys fleece to make hubby one of those knotted blankets. I made ones for the boys for Christmas and he really likes them. I just feel so alive and excited about life today. Even though I haven't even had the surgery yet, I feel good, and in control and already taking back little bits of my life I have let slip away. Yes, my back still hurt while shopping, but I had the energy to do it. Mentally I just feel so much more plugged in. I remember feeling this way after Atkins. I think much of it is coming out of the carb haze. I think the other part is knowing that I am taking charge and making decisions about my health to help myself. That is empowering. A lady at church today asked me if I was nervous. Really, no, not right now at least, just excited and READY!!!! Happy Super Bowl Sunday to everyone. Dina February 9, 2006 Went over to DePaul Hospital today. I weighed in with Nancy, and I'm down another 5 lbs., for a total of 13 lbs. lost since 1/20/06. I felt good about that. She told me I was right on track for my surgery next Wednesday. I went over to see Paula, who had lapband surgery yesterday and she was doing well. I've only got three work days left, and I want to leave everything in good shape. Just FIVE days left!!! I have some fun things planned between now and then to keep me busy. Tomorrow night hubby and I are going to a Valentine's Day dinner at church. Saturday my neice is doing Mary Kay facials for me and my friends, and another friend is coming to see me that afternoon. My mother-in-law will be home tomorrow. She spent the winter in Texas. It will be nice to have her home again. I'm going to ask her to make me some of her vegetable soup for after surgery. My hubby and our boys are very excited she's coming home.
February 14, 2006 Ok, 24 hours from now and I'll be on the way to the hospital. Have to get through work and pick up just a few things. I'll go to Walgreen's on my lunch and get my liquid tylenol and pill crusher. I think I'm going to go buy a robe also. I wasn't going to, but I think I will. I have one but the sash is missing so it just hangs open. Ok, I'm rambling now. I'm excited and nervous and ready and AHHHH today. I showed my oldest son my profile last night and mentioned I might need some help jazzing it up. I've been searching around the internet for websets and have a bunch of stuff saved into a folder. He was immediately all over it! LOL Wanted me out of the chair so he could go to work. I told him I hadn't decided what all I wanted to use yet. I'm expecting to come home and find every downloaded pic of flowers, Bo Bice, Cinderella and Tinkerbell to be all over my profile! :) He's a goober, but he's my goober. The kids seem to be doing well. They're excited that my hubby's going to be off work for a week. I went to my rubber stamping club last night and saw all my friends. I told our Stampin' Up rep I was having the surgery and she asked nicely,"Well, why would you want to go and do that?" I just said so I feel better and have more energy to stamp more! Well, I better go, the sooner I get started the sooner I'll be through the day! Bye til after surgery! February 21, 2006 Well, I'm home! The surgery went well and I'm doing well. I just haven't felt like coming to the computer before today. So, we headed over to the hospital, checked in, I went to the bathroom, filled out a paper, then they came and took me back for some preop things, and guess what? They wanted a urine sample!!! I had just gone and with nothing since midnight the night before I had nothing left to give. They were wanting to do a pregnancy screening, but the gal just pulled some extra blood and felt like they'd have it back in time before surgery. Everyone was nice. A man from pastoral care came down and helped me complete the Advanced Directives paperwork. I got in a gown and got in bed. Meet Joe Black was on so that was good to watch while I waited. My husband and sister were allowed to come back and wait with me. Nurses started IV's, the anesthesiologist came and talked with me. Everyone was nice and helpful. I seemed to create a stir when I told them I had an allergy to bandaids. At the end of the day I guess what I have is an adhesive allergy, because I don't have any trouble blowing up balloons. Everyone was very conscienience though and I appreciate that. So, we're all ready Dr. Richardson I think had come in and said hello. Then later Dr. de la Torre came in and said I just wanted you to know I am here. Ok, let's go. I did fine, and the last I remember is being wheeled down the hall to the OR room. I don't remembr being in the OR room, anyone taking to me, giving me happy medicine, counting backwards, nadda. The next thing I know I'm in recovery. I wake up with a breathing tube in. This happens in 20 % of patients with sleep apnea. That part is pretty cloudy, but I'm pretty sure I struggled against that tube. I did apparently spit up some blood, but don't remember it. Once it was out one of the first things I asked was "Laproscopic?" The nurse was very nice and assured me that yes, the surgeon had been able to perform the procedure laproscopically. The whole recovery room is pretty groggy to me. They did come and change my gown and my sheets because of the blood I spit up with me in both. I was highly impressed! Then finally off to my room on the step-down ICU floor. They showed me my morphine button and how to use it. Cool. I highly recommend it. My husband, sister, and good friend were there to see me. We talked for awhile, then they needed to get home. With the morphine, I was mostly in and out of it. The dry mouth was the worst part. The good thing was that when I put my CPAP on to go to sleep, the air is moistened by a humidifier, and that really helped my lips and mouth. My first night nurse and tech were so nice. They were kind and gentle and unintrusive. I've had stays where it seems every time the nurse comes in to do vitals, it just stirs you awake for another hour aterwards. These gals were so good, I barely even knew they were there. Or maybe the morphine just made it not matter. But, I still think they were just good at their job. I was on oxygen for awhile, but it was stopped sometime during the night. An uneventful night led to an order to go down to the regular surgery floor the next day, but a bed never became available, so I stayed on the step down unit until I was discharged. That was ok. I walked once around the nurses station the night of my surgery. The next day I asked a couple of times, and I got the feeling the nurses would prefer you to stay in your bed. Or maybe they were just too busy to walk with me. They kept apologizing they didn't have a bed downstairs for me, that the unit I was on was so open and noisy. I assured them that I had three boys at home and this was not noisy to me at all. My husband Dave, and my oldest son Adam, came up Thursday afternoon to see me. They brought a stack of pizza's to the nurses and took one of to Dr. de la Torre's office also. He always likes to make sure my nurses are taken care of. He's really a nice guy. A terrible hailstorm hit with fast winds. I didn't even look out the window, but Dave got hit in the head by several hail balls! My friend Paula H. from support group stopped by to see me, but I was in the middle of mangling my sponge bath and couldn't say hello. She brought me a cute card and an angel candle though. Thanks Paula! I walked around the nurses station a couple of times with Dave and Adam. Walking wasn't so bad. It was the process of getting up or getting down. Once you're there it's all good. Down at xray, I met a wonderful gal from southern Illinois who was there with her mother. She said, "You must have been the 11:30". I said yes, she said her mom had been the 12:30 the same day I was. She was so nice and I need to look around here and find her profile. She and her husband are two years out from surgery and she was so pretty and healthly looking, I would never have guessed she was a post surgery patient. When she showed me the before and after pics of her husband, I thought she was showing me a picture of her husband and son. His transformation was amazing! She gave me lots of good tips to follow after surgery, and I just feel like she was a little angel put there for me to give me a boost. Xray went fine. Then they brought in the dark blue ice chips for the other test. Now Nancy had told us to really coat our teeth and tongue with the petroleum jelly because otherwise the dye would stain us. I must have just hit the morphine button, because I thought I used a lot, but apparently I didn't. When Nancy stopped by to check in and leave me my goody bag, I was awfully blue! It did fade though. :) So that night was uneventful, and the resident who made rounds that day told me I'd probably go home Friday, and that he would be by around 2 or 3 to discharge me. Dave made it over Friday about 1:00. We waited, but never saw the doctor. Then the nurse got a call that since I was supposed to be on the surgical floor, but wasn't, that he had forgot to come to the step-down unit to see me. They gave orders by phone, and asked that we call in our pharmacy number to Dr. de la Torre's office for some pain medicine to be called and we could go. The doctor did come and find me as I was about to get into our van. He went over what the nurse had told me. So I've done pretty well since I've come home. I've been journaling my protein and liquid intake religiously as well as my vitamins and use of my spirometer. The first day I hit 51 grams of protein, but have hit 60 every day since. I have some unflavored protein and have been putting that in chicken broth. We made some jello with Isopure, and I've been able to tolerate skim milk and protein powders. The sipping of the liquids all day long seems like a full time job, and I hope I can keep up the pace once I get back to work on the 27th. Day 4 home I felt so good, maybe I did too much, because Day 5 was the worst I had. I just woke up feeling bad, and hurting. I took it pretty easy and napped throughout the day and today I've done better. I did have one nap today. The only pain I really have at this point is at the site of the drain. It feels like I can't straighten up on that side. Again, lying down and getting up can also cause some discomfort. I find pressing my hand or a pillow against the site can help. Tomorrow we head over to the doctor's office for staple and drain removal and to get on the scale! I'm excited. I remember seeing the other people come out from their one week appointments saying they felt great once the drain was removed. My husband had been off work with me this week, and he has been a dream. He has taken care of dressing the drain site. He has steadied me getting in and out of bed. He has mixed protein powder into anything he can find! We've talked a lot about changes this will make to our lives. I hope it is all positive. I've loved him since I was 14, and I know that's not ever going to change. My kids have been sweet and great. I feel very blessed. My starting weight was 351 on Jan. 19. I lost 13 lbs prior to surgery bringing me to 338. We'll see what the scale says tomorrow. I need to do my measurements also. The gal I met while waiting on xray said that during her weight loss plateaus she would lose inches. So, I need to get a starting point so I don't lose my mind during my plateaus! Oh, I borrowed a treadmill from my parents until it warms up a little. I walked 15 minutes yesterday and 20 minutes today. It's not easy, but it does feel good once you're done. I really feel like I accomplished something. Best of luck to all of you waiting for surgery. Thanks for all of your support. It means the world to me. Goodnight. Dina March 13, 2006 I had a really good day. At my one week post op visit I only lost 6 lbs., which when I say it out loud just sounds silly, because before surgery I would have been thrilled to lose 6 lbs. in one week. But, as all the people came out after weighing, I was hearing numbers like 17 lbs, 20 lbs, etc. I felt like a failure. I was pretty sure I would be the one person who doesn't lose weight after surgery. I knew this was crazy, but was still worried. I did lose 13 lbs before surgery and just kept telling myself that it would come off. I had to take my son to my family doctor today for a recheck on an ear infection. She asked how I was doing and how much I had lost. I told her I didn't have a scale and she told me to feel free to use theirs. I did and I weighed 314.6. I was SO excited!!! So, I've lost about 36.5 lbs since Jan. 19, when I weighed 351. 13 lbs. lost before surgery, and 23.5 since my surgery on Feb. 15. Now I know this scale may be different from my surgeon's, but I go over on Wednesday for my 4 week followup. I also took my measurements about two weeks ago. This morning I checked my waist and bust. I was down one inch in the waist, and two inches in the bust. I couldn't measure anything else by myself, will have hubby help me. I finally feel like yes, maybe I will be successful. I just keep following the rules. I'm pretty sure after my visit on Wednesday, they'll progress me to the next diet step which includes deli chicken and turkey, seafood, etc. I'm hoping hubby and I can go over to Red Lobster across from the hospital after my appointment. I'm going to try a shrimp cocktail before the support group meeting. Oh, and I got the seatbelt in our car on today. I couldn't breathe very well, but I got it to click!!! I did throw up one time this past Friday night. I had been crushing my B1 into a spoonful of sugarfree pudding to get it down. Friday night I was having a scrambled egg for supper. I decided to try sprinkling my vitamin over that. Bad idea. The taste was so bitter, I didn't chew well enough. I only had two bites of egg, so it wasn't so bad when I got sick, but I was sore afterwards. I just had liquids the rest of the night and have been back to normal since. I had some social events for the first time this weekend. I attended a birthday party for my sister at a restaurant. The meal was served family style, fried chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans, dressing. I called ahead and spoke to a manager about ordering some soup off the menu. I didn't really want to pay $15.95 for a bowl of soup. This was my first foray into talking to restaurant personnel about my recent surgery, and I can't say it really went well. Maybe I didn't explain things well, maybe I felt defensive, or maybe he was just one of those concrete thinkers who are not open to new ideas??? He seemed to feel that by my just being there, no matter what I ate, was worth $15.95 because of the room setup and the servers needed. Needless to say I felt like a failure after that phone conversation. I decided just to go and enjoy myself and enjoy my family gathered together and enjoy the celebration of my sister's birthday. Surely that was worth the $15.95 price of admission. I talked with my neice about it and by the time I got there, she had already talked to the waitress assigned to us and assured me she was very nice and understanding. I did talk to her and explained my situation and she was very gracious and brought me a bowl of vegetable beef soup. We all had a lovely evening, and my sister enjoyed herself. Sunday was the dedication of the newest baby in our family, my great-neice Kennedi. I'm a great-aunt for the third time now! We had a luncheon after the church service to celebrate. I was in charge of salad fixings, and the whole get together was good. I saved a boiled egg for my lunch and had it with half a stick of string cheese. Tonight at our monthly Stampin Up meeting, my good friend brought me a bowl of sugar free cheesecake pudding. She insisted I take it home with me. Now I have something to crush my B1 in this week! She's a sweetie. I haven't walked since Saturday. I have a mild case of shin splints that feel like they'll be better by tomorrow. I enjoy walking outside so much more than the treadmill. Well, as much as I enjoy walking at this point. Everyone assures me that I will come to like it and look forward to it. My sister-in-law says she prays while she walks. My whole family has been so supportive. I read stories on here about jealousies and sabotage and negativity. I'm only four weeks out, but so far, my family and friends have all been a blessing. So, I'll report back after my official weigh in on Wednesday. I will also keep reminding myself that my success/failure does not solely rest with a number on the scale. But, I'm still thrilled with the number I saw today!!! Dina 03/21/2006 Well, I'm doing well. I can't stay up as late as usual, so I don't get in as much computer time. My diet is progressing week by week. I saw Nancy at Dr. de la Torre's office last Wednesday and my weight was 315, so right in line with my PCP's office. That's 36 lbs down since Jan. 20. 13 before surgery and 23 since. I've followed the rules I was given and have done great. The one time I threw up was because I didn't chew my food well. I had sprinkled my crushed up B1 on some scrambled egg to get it down, and it was so bitter I just swallowed too fast. Other than that, everything I've tried has stayed down. After my visit last week, I was able to move onto seafood, crackers, deli shaved chicken/turkey. We went straight from my appointment to Red Lobster. I had a shrimp cocktail. I ate two shrimp in the time my husband ate his whole dinner. Taking it slow and chewing very well has worked well for me. Tuna on crackers has been so good this week. The little bit of crunch from the crackers is so satisfying after all the soft foods. I get my protein in easier than my liquids. I've started this week really trying to get in at least 30 oz by 3 pm so I don't have to spend all evening trying to drink. At the support group meeting last week, someone had a FUZE drink. I got some at Schnuck's this week and really enjoy them. It may just be placebo affect, but I really do feel some energy after finishing one. The amazement I feel at being full on so little food is crazy. It's nice not to be a "slave" to food anymore. I know I had some wild blood sugar peaks and valleys going on before surgery. It just seemed like I was always hungry. Now, even when I do get hungry, I can push it aside for awhile. That is not something I could ever do before. Before, my hunger was always accompanied by almost a panicked feeling, which I feel was probably low blood sugar. I do get twinges now and then when I see a Dairy Queen sign, thinking I'll never be able to stop by for a double quarter pounder and a large Blizzard with chocolate ice cream and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. But I just chant to myself, nothing tastes as good as being thin feels. Really, is there any food that is so important that you'd give up being healthy for it? It's just food. It's not love, it's not comfort, it's not safety, it's not a friend. It's just food. Fuel for our bodies. Life is so much more precious. A life lived fully and freely is very precious, indeed. I don't own a scale. I don't go back to DePaul until May. I'm not sure I'll make it until then. I may stop by my PCP's office and weigh in between just to keep myself on track. Hubby says it's a good thing I don't own a scale because I would obsess over it. He's known me since I was 14, so he's probably right. I was at the library tonight and I noticed some cross stitching books. I haven't done much of that since I had kids, but I thought it may be a good thing to do again. Keep those hands busy while watching TV. You can't eat and cross stitch at the same time, right? Well, it's off to bed for me. Goodnight! Dina April 10, 2006 Well, I'm back. I was having some real trouble with my hip and shoulder. These are problems I was having prior to surgery and they didn't bother me for quite a few weeks after surgery, then my hip started. It feels like it's going to give out on me, and hurts, especially when I try to turn or pivot, or go up a step. It was keeping me from walking so I went to see my family doctor. She ordered an xray, which I'm still waiting on the results of. She said she xrays hips quicker than knees, because there is a problem where you might have a trauma maybe as a kid and not know it, maybe jumping off a swing or a car accident, and the nerves to the top of the femur are damaged, and your bone starts to die off. She said it is very obvious to see in an xray, and hopefully this is not what is wrong. Once it is ruled out she said she would send me for physical therapy. She gave me a cortizone shot in my hip. I was very glad that she is aware of my stomach now not being able to handle nsaids. She said she didn't want me swallowing a bunch of arthritis meds, that she'd just give to me by injection. I think the shot has helped some. She also said walking on the street is really bad for you. I had been walking around my neighborhood. She said to walk on a track, and even on the treadmill to get one with an orthopedic pad. Since I saw her, once my hip got better, I walked once on the track at the Y, and today I walked on the track at the park by my house. My hip felt a little weak, but I made it a mile in a half hour. My goal is to stop being the one that everyone else passes up on the walking track! The good news is I weighed at the doctor's office, and I was down 45 pounds. I think the scale there is pretty close to the surgeon's scale. I've also started working on the weight machines at the Y with my hubby. It's hard work! There is a machine that works your lower back, though and I think that's going to be a big help to me. My lower back has caused me pain for many years. The weeks I wasn't exercising I felt really down and that I was wasting my time of quick losing. I'm glad to be able to do more now. I'm hoping the physical therapy will help my hip, back and shoulder. I notice when people see me know, especially if I haven't seen them in a while, I feel their eyes moving over me, I guess to see if they can notice any weight loss. I've been able to get into 3X tops, down from 4X. That's exciting. I went to Fashion Bug today on my lunch to try on some skirts for Easter, and still just hate that mirror so much. Looking at myself, I just still see how far I have to go. But coming home and walking felt good, like I was back down the right path. Several people say they really the weight loss in my face. Dave notices it all over. He'll catch a glimpse of me and tell me I'm just shrinking. I'm not sure about that, but I just smile and say thank you! A friend at church last night called me skinny several times. I felt embarassed that people who looked at me would think she had lost her mind! Now on a more positive note. We are taking a short vacation the first of June. We are going to Gulf Shores, Alabama. I've never seen the ocean and I am so excited. Between my surgery and the week we're going with our son to a church camp, I really don't have a lot of time left to take off at work. I will probably be a day or two without pay, but we'll be ok. Before I would not have wanted to go because I'd be embarassed to be seen, or I wouldn't have the strength or energy to have any fun. Now, I'm very excited. I notice I'm going more places, doing more shopping, handling things that I would have shied away from in the past. I've been keeping my nails painted, wearing makeup most days, and generally feeling better about myself. I go back to the surgeon's office in mid May. I just want to walk as much as I can between now and then. I've been working on losing weight since Jan. 20. This is about the time I would have fallen off plan before. It amazes me that I can keep this going. I can't fall into old habits, at this point. I don't WANT to fall into old habits. I do feel hunger, but it's a hunger that I can handle. It's also a hunger that is satisfied on such a smaller portion of food. I look at the Easter candy and think well, maybe I'll get one bag of sugar free candy, but I haven't. I don't have a really strong craving for it, so I figure why bother right now? I may have strong urges and cravings for food further down the road, so I'll fight that battle when I get to it. Food has been agreeing with me with no real problems. I do think I had a very mild case of dumping Saturday. I had some weight control oatmeal, and I've had oatmeal lots of times since surgery. I had not had this brand, or this flavor, and before I was done, I started being able to feel my heart beating, and my pulses throbbing throughout my body. I got very tired and felt weighed down. I didn't have diarrhea, but then I've been constipated! It was enough that I felt like I wouldn't like to feel a full blown dumping anytime soon. Time for bed soon. Walking wears me out, and I sleep so good the nights I walk! Dina May 25, 2006 I had my three month followup at Dr. de la Torre's office last week. I was down 62 pounds total. I am so happy. I have my energy back, I can walk around, I'm mowing grass and planting flowers and just really enjoying living life again. I was progressed to citrus and advised to start taking a calcium supplement. I have really enjoyed the oranges this past week. That is probably the only thing I'm missing. My next appointment will be in August at 6 months and I'll be progressed to beef and pork. I'm still able to keep everything down well. Milk is sometimes a struggle but if I sip it slowly I do ok. I've got lots of news. My husband, Dave, has decided to have RNY gastric bypass surgery. He is in lots of pain with his knee, and they won't operate until he loses 100-150 pounds. He turned his paperwork into the surgeon's office last week, and Nancy was going to send it in this week. I was approved in two weeks. I hope Dave hears that quickly. I gave my notice at my job yesterday. I started working at my old office when I was 18, and I was there 18 years. We had to close the end of 2002 because one of the doctor's had a stroke. I went to work at a counseling office with no benefits in January, 2003. Small office, flexibility, good people. But, no benefits. My sister approached me about a couple of job openings a few months ago, but none of them interested me. Then, I got a call from a lady at church who told me about an opening at the hospital in the Patient Accounts Dept., as a secretary. I interviewed last Friday and got a call this Tuesday that I got the job! I'm so excited. I'm sad about leaving the office I'm at now, but I'm excited to work someplace with life, health, retirement, disability benefits. Before surgery I probably wouldn't have applied for the job, because I couldn't have made the walk from the parking lot into the hospital every day. Now, I know it won't be a problem. We leave for vacation next week. We're taking a quick trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama. I can't wait. I've never seen the ocean. We haven't been on a vacation since we had kids 15 years ago. We rented a condo right on the beach, and I know we're going to have a great time. So, life is good. I'm so happy I had this surgery and turned my life around. Dina |
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