- Name: Claudette D.
- Username: CDonley
- Location: Bath, ME, USA
- Member Since: 3/8/2007
- Post Op
- Surgery Type: RNY (05/14/07)
- Surgeon: Huy Trieu MD
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Before & AfterThere are currently no before and after photos for this member. See these instructions if you wish to submit your own Before & After photos. Member Interests
- Books & Literature - I love to read...I read everything I can get my hands on
- Cats - We have three beautiful kitties...we love cats!!!
- Teaching - I taech 3rd grade at a Catholic school and I love it!
- Adoption - We are in the process of adopting through the foster care system
- Computer Games - BIG gamers in this house. We are VERY involved with World of Warcraft
- Amusement Parks - I love amusement parks...can't wait to visit them again!!!
- Canoeing & Kayaking - Went for the first time right after I lost 50 pounds, can't wait to do it again
- Geeks & Nerds - I am married to a big geek and I couldn't love him more!!!
- Navy - My fhusband is in the Navy, we are a proud Navy family
- WLS in your 30's - Right in the middle...turned 35 this past July
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December 28, 2007 on December 28, 2007 7:08 am
As 2007 draws to a close, I find myself reminiscing about this wonderful year. In February I became engaged to the absolute love of my life, in May I had LIFE ALTERING surgery, in July I hit the big 3-5 AND married said love of my life. The second half of 2007 has seen me become less and less of my former self. It's been amazing and I am so glad ALL of it happened.
Today I am officially 125 pounds less than I was before surgery...in case you're wondering, YES...RNY does work. I am about 45 pounds from my goal, and bought size L and XL tops and size 14 bottoms from Old Navy on the day after Christmas. That's a HUGE difference! I was amazed that I don't ever have to go to Lane Bryant again! I can, for now at least, but I don't HAVE to! Also, yesterday at the gym I ran a mile for the first time in YEARS...and I could have gone more, but I didn't set the treadmill for enough time...lol. Tomorrow I will set it for 20 minutes instead of 15 and see where that gets me. A year ago I couldn't walk a mile, much less run a mile on the treadmill AFTER 3 miles on the elliptical and some core work. I am loving this new me and am really enjoying getting to know myself again. I really liked the before Claudette, but I am in love with the after one!
2008 proves to be an awesome year as well. Next Saturday (1/5) Joey and I begin our Foster Parenting classes. We are hoping to have a child in our home by March...we are so looking forward to becoming parents. Then that following Thursday (1/10) I will go as a repersentative for Dr. T's office to an informational seminar. I remember last November being the one sitting in that room, terrified, wondering if this was really for me, did it really work, what was I getting myself into??? I am so thrilled to go be that "after" that Dr. T has helped to form...I can't wait to share my story! In February we are going to Virginia for a little vacation to visit friends and then in April I will be going to Texas to see my mom. Hopefully we will have a child that I will be bringing with me to see his/her grandmother. That's just the first half of the year... I can't imagine what fun and amazement the rest of 2008 brings. I am looking forward to it with fully opened eyes and the knowledge that whatever it brings, the new me can, and will, handle it.
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December 14, 2007 on December 14, 2007 7:06 pm
Today is 7 months post surgery. This month has flown by. It has been pretty slow weight loss wise, but since I have been working out so much that the toning is there. I fit into a size 14 jeans that a friend sent me because I said that was my goal size...I can say with relative certainty that I will be below a 14 once all is said and done, and I am sooooo excited about that! I set a Christmas goal of 120 pounds lost, and this morning when I stepped on the scale I found that I had reached it. I was so unbelievably excited!!! It's been an awesome ride, and it keeps getting better every day.
Last night was Joey's Command Christmas party. It was my first formal function where I wasn't the largest person in the room. I was actually smaller than quite a few women there and I looked damn good if I say so myself. I bought my dress about three weeks ago and it's a size 18...it was a little bit big when I put it on last night. I should have bought a 16, but I couldn't convince myself that it would fit when I was trying them on around Thanksgiving.
I know I say this every time, but it's been, and continuse to be, an amazing ride and I am loving every minute of it!!!
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November 28, 2007 on November 28, 2007 3:25 am
So yesterday was my 6 month post-op appointment. I met with both Jackie (NUT) and Dr. T. When I first got there, Pat, the receptionist didn't even recognize me...I had to give her my name. I have NEVER had to give her my name!!! Her jaw just dropped, and she called Lynn and Lori over and was like, "Oh my...look at her!!!" I was beaming, and knew all eyes in the waiting room were on me...I was okay with that...lol. She said if she had passed me on the street, she wouldn't have known me and I told her that was the reaction I was going for.
I met with Jackie for an hour, and shared my two cookbooks with her. She was very happy with my progress, and loved that I was finding a way to eat normal foods. She said I can eat fruit, FINALLY!!!! In the plan, it says not until 12 months out, but she said that was really reserved until you have losy 50% of your weight, and I have lost a little more than that. Of course it's still protein, then veggies and then fruit if I want, but just knowing I CAN makes all the difference!!! We haven't had fruit in the house even for 6 months, so it will be nice to get some. Too bad it's not the season for any fruit right now...lol. She did say I should be wary of watermelon because lots of people dump on it because it's such a dense chunck of concentrated sugar. I think I will start small and go from there.
I was most happy to see Dr. Trieu. He walked into the room, took one look and me and said, "holy shit!!!" I was laughing... I just love him!!! He said I am doing great, and we talked about my goal and where and when I wanted to be. I told him I wanted to be at 180, and that was about 55 pounds away. I said I wanted to be there by my birthday in July, and he said he wouldn't be surprised if I were there by the time I see him next in May. I won't count on that, I am leaving my goal at July, but won't be disappointed if it happens early.
The whole office is very happy with my progress, officially 116 pounds lost in the past 6 months...amazing!!! Lori even asked me to start speaking at their Informational Seminars. I told her of course!!! I love talking about my RNY, I love talking about Dr. Trieu and the whole office, so put those together to talk to people who are contemplating changing their lives with this surgery, and I am surely in!!!
I also went and had my 6 month bloodwork done. Having b/w done when you are 116 pounds lighter is an interesting experience. I felt the needle stick me, and not becuase the nurse was bad...I just have less padding. My hand and arm were also cold afterward for about 30 minutes. I didn't feel lightheaded or anything, but I have never felt a blood draw before...this was definitely different. I can't wait to get the results to see if I am really as healthy as I feel like I am.
I am kind of bummed that I don't go back for 6 months, but I guess I will be seeing all of the staff at the informational seminars. I just owe so much to that office and those people...I feel like they are my family and have been so blessed to have them as part of my life!!!
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November 25, 2007 on November 25, 2007 6:23 am
First Thanksgiving post-RNY....what a difference!!! I have always looked forward to Thanksgiving. The ONE day of the year where everyone ate like me. I didn't stand out with the huge mounds on my plate, or the second helpings, or the slice of every kind of dessert. I could be myself and no one would look at me the way they did every other day of the year. We had Thanksgiving this year at my in-laws and my MIL asked if she should pare down the offerings for the meal. I told her if she did, I wouldn't come. I really, really dislike people making food changes just because I am going to be there. I can handle my own food choices, and if I make a bad one, then I pay the price. So all of the usual suspects were there...two turkeys (one baked, one fried), two kinds of stuffing, two kinds of potatoes, all of the appetizers....if it was ever served at a Thanksgiving meal anywhre in history, it was at the in-laws. I was so happy with myself. I took a small amount (prob 4 oz or so) of dark meat turkey (I just can't do white meat of any poultry, but dark meat is fine) and a spoonful of jalapeno stuffing. I didn't even make it to the stuffing, and didn't finish the turkey. I made the comment that Thanksgiving looks a whole lot different when you only take 5 bites, and it's all turkey. It was an amazing day, I did have dessert...a SF cheesecake that I made and brought over. I was so happy to spend time with my family and not have it be all about the food. What am I thankful for this year? I am thankful for RNY!!!!!
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November 14, 2007 on November 14, 2007 7:24 pm
What a blog-slacker I have been!!! Two whole months without a post...sheesh, talk about abandonment!!!
Today I find myself 6 months post-op, and 115 pounds down. I weighed in at 235 this morning...seriously????? 235????? What a glorious day! When I did Optifast and lost 100 pounds about 4 or 5 years ago, I got down to 242. So that was a big goal for me for a while, and I just blew past it. I think I was 242 for literally a day. I hit this HUGE stall in September/October, but have been losing pretty steadily for the past couple of weeks. I am anticipating another stall, but am okay with it. I would love to be at 120 pounds lost before it happens, but whatever. Looking forward to Thanksgiving, it should be an interesting time. My mom is here from Texas, and has commented on how well we eat and how she's probably going to lose weight while she's here. Life is wonderfully busy, and I don't think I could be happier!!! Happy Surgiversary to me!!!
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My Story Hi, everyone!!! My name is Claudette and I am 34 years old. I am scheduled for RNY on May 2nd at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta, Maine. I currently live in Bath, ME with my fiance, Joey. He and I were first loves in high school 20 years ago, and the wonderful Lord has brought us back together to spend our lives together. We are getting married on July 7th, 2007...two days after my 35th birthday, and 9 weeks after surgery. We have been in Maine for a year, Joey is in the Navy and we will be here for another 2-3 years. I am from Texas, lived there most of my life. Attended college there, and my family still lives there. I love to visit whenever I can. I imagine those visits will increase when I am more comfortable flying. I am so happy that I am taking this step in my life, and I can't wait to see results. Thank you for reading my story!!!
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