• Username: CANDO
  • Location: DeWitt, VA, USA
  • Member Since: 4/1/2008
  • BMI: 20.8
  • Hoping to have surgery
  • Surgery Type: RNY (07/23/08)
  • Surgeon: James W. Maher M.D.
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Goals

Find a hobby that involves physical activity.

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eat the healthiest foods in the optimum quantities!

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Surgeon Testimonial

James W. Maher M.D.
I thought Dr Maher looked a little young to have been in this field for 36 years. I felt totally at ease with him and now that we've been through the RNY I have even greater confidence in him. His practice is clearly teamed based and I felt affirmed many times that my input as a team member was valued. I was surprised more than once by a personal call from a staff member to move things along more smoothly. The CNPs were expert at resolving my questions and closing any loose ends. The least enjoyable aspect of this whole experience was the archaic facility I was in post-op. VCU had no private rooms. Sleep and rest were totally out of the question. Great nurses who tried theirbest to avoidwaking me! Dr Maher's program requires a pre-op training of EMMI films, with quizzes, psych eval with MMPI, one-on-one nutrition sessions. Furthermore, there was a sincere emphasis on staying in touch with the whole team for life to ensure we face all issues and problems with the lifeline in hand. I couldn't be more pleased.
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Two Years Post-Op
on July 24, 2010 2:31 pm
Weight, 136.  Even the 100+ temperatures don't totally deplete my energy supply.  My husband is so delighted and we're both actually starting to believe this is for real.  He is still my best support system.  We eat out quite a lot and I do not indulge my appetite with sugar and starch.  Still eat the protein first and with every snack some kind of protein is included.  I'll see Dr Maher this week for the annual follow up.  Attended one support group meeting this year--our first one ever.  The big shock was the number of people who had gained 50+ pounds and were there to help get themselves back on track after several years post-op.  Eye-opener for me!  On the down side, I had a kidney stone 3 weeks ago and it was a scare.  Had no idea what was happening for the first 2--4 hours.  Have discovered RNY's tend to develop kidney stones so will discuss in more detail with dietician at the post-op follow-up. 
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Back on Track
on January 9, 2010 4:40 pm

Big interruption in the blogging.  To my chagrin I developed an internal hernia in late April.  Symptoms were a big belly ache on Sunday night--all night.  Hospital emergency room at 6AM Monday, surgery that night, a week in the lovely new wing for Dr Maher's patients at MCV!  What a change from the July 08 Surgery Wing!  The staff, as always, was terrific but so much more relaxed--as were the patients!  After I got home we got into high gear!  New clothes, 2 weeks at a resort, Vacation Bible School at church--one of our largest ever!  That was the highlight of the summer.  Then autumn and our Pastor had a setback.  I led our worship service most Sundays from then until last week.  Meanwhile, we also had another week at the resort, then I went for a solo week to my Dad's, started a Community Choir that sings once a month at the local nursing home, did a cantata and assisted with a wonderful Christmas Eve Service.  Our Pastor resigned the first Sunday of the New Year and the new Pastor reports tomorrow.  He and his wife are delightful and will be a great help during his interim of service with us.

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New Clothes, New Hair
on April 17, 2009 8:23 pm
Today I am a perfect size 10 at 146 pounds.  All my bloodwork two weeks ago indicate my diet is doing the job--no shortages of anything.  I joined a bowling league last fall and my average is now 104 with a high game of 151.  We have only two games left before the banquet.  I also resumed working out and faithfully swam and did the routine prescribed by a trainer for about 5 weeks.  That was ended 6 weeks ago.  I enjoyed the workouts more than bowling but because of the relationships with my bowling buddies I stuck with the bowling.  The past 9 months have taken on the quality of a dimly remembered dream now.  I have no problems eating and do so frequently.  I am so glad to be where I am now and am determined to swim and workout through the summer, starting this Sunday!  ObesityHlep has been a great support for me and I am so grateful to the entire staff at Medical College of Virginia and especially Dr James Maher and his Fellows and those terrific nurse pracitioners who were always there for every one of us!
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Goal - 40
on April 13, 2009 9:30 pm
To my amazement I am 40 pounds below the predicted loss that we predicted about a year ago.  Since Thanksgiving 08 I have really felt amazingly better.  For the past two months I have been able to eat quite a portion of food several times a day.  So far I'm losing every so slowly.  I do wonder if I'm forgetting my newly acquired habits of small meals and protein first.  I love veggies and fruits and have increased them lately.  All my blood work shows success--no shortages of any chemicals thus far.  Shocking how quickly 4 weeks of no visits to the fitness center creep upon the muscles.  I joined a bowling league and my scores are improving weekly.  I'm starting to grow some hair now, too, and don't need the wig as often.
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Weight Goal--Touchdown!
on February 22, 2009 4:39 pm
This has been an amazing year.  Dr. James Maher and the whole staff were just awsome.  I had the RNY in July 08.  I had 2 great weeks then got nauseated and stayed that way until late Sep.  Had my 3 month check-up and landed right back in the hospital for 8 days of TPN.  Dr Maher took time out from his vacation to check on me!  My family doctor ordered loads of tests when I had to go in for an upper respiratory in early Nov.  He recommended I sip on a Glucerna all day long to get over the nausea and that worked like a charm.  On Thanksgiving Day I ate real food (in minute quantities, but to me it was a feast).  I've been a new woman since that time.  Now I'm 5 pounds below my goal weight, working out at a real health club, climbing steps and not heaving for breath.  I've given away 30 or 50 bags of clothing--I can actually believe the weight is gone forever.  I am so very thankful to my whole family--especially my husband--for the love and encouragement and patience while I got to this point.  God is so very, very good!
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My Story

The first time I set a goal weight I was 11.  The goal was to weigh 100 pounds before my cousin.  He was 18 mohths older than I--I liked being first, though!  My freshman year of high school I weighed 125--135, due primarily to being on a low sodium diet imposed by the PCP.  My stress level in college was enormous--trying to keep up with everything. In July between my junior and senior years I hit 160.  I remember it clearly because I was having the time of my life working and traveling in Germany with the most interesting people I'd ever met.  We were all Christians, all with similar backgrounds, all working with youth and children's programs.  All being fed every day by different families--being very well fed!  Fast forward to my late 20's.  I spent 2 years working in Taiwan and rode a bike or walked, swam, and had the best and happiest time of my life.  Weight was about 185--190.  That was down from 204, my highest to that point.  In order to get the overseas job I had to lose the weight, so I did--barely.  I kept it off while overseas, though, and it was somewhat effortless.  I was so very happy and so active.  Fast forward to retirement.  I hit my highest weight 3 years ago, about 18 months prior to retirement.  I had a great job but sat at a computer, worked 9--10 hours a day, and ate every meal OUT.  I was sure this weight would disappear after I retired and life became normal again.  It did not disappear.  No point in kidding myself any longer--got to have the surgery.  Opted for the banding but after the surgeon, his nurse and CNP discussed the options and I researched the process further I'm going with RNY.  To this point I have no qualms or fears about it at all.  I'd just like to get it over with.  I have no energy, every joint hurts, I run out of breath just singing a hymn, I have to use a CPAP to sleep and I have diabetes and high blood pressure.  Not a happy combination for a long and energetic life.  The before and after stories are so helpful to me.  I am not courageous enough to put my story on the public domain but I am so grateful to all those who have.