Before & After

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Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by MCGray on 7/31/07 12:42 pm
    Congradulations Karen!! I also had Dr. Lane for my surgery. He is awsome and will definatly take care of you. If you need anything just send me an email. I know we haven't met however I do attend Dr. Lane and Amys Support Group put on by Deb. Its the forth monday of every month. This month we are having a picnic on the 26 of Aug. At the Bowling green city park. I hope to see you there. Chat with you later and I would love to get to know you. mel.
  • Comment by leopardgirl on 7/31/07 7:19 am
    Karen, glad to hear your surgery went well, and welcome to the bench! Congratulations! Lisa
  • Comment by Lori Black on 7/30/07 9:38 pm
    Karen, Welcome to the other side honey! Glad you made it! I know things are a bit on the tough side right now, but I promise it gets a little better everyday! Congrats you little "loser!" Hugs, Lori
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                         Karen E's WLS Journey
ckaren's Blog
ckaren's Blog


My gosh it's been 6 months already!!!
on February 20, 2008 8:44 am

I can't believe it's been 6 months since I had my surgery.  Wow, did it go by fast!!  Living and actually being able to do things comfortably has been keeping me very busy these days.  3 months out actually seemed to be my turning point as to actually feeling the changes, I had lost about 70 to 75 lbs by then. I went to Disney for a week with my hubby; youngest daughter; and 2 of my grandchildren and actually had a terrific time.  We take the grandkids roller skating, and I have even tried it out a couple of times (hehe)lots of playing with grandkids (I have 8 all under the age of 9yrs); Hubby and I joined a bowling league, soo much fun! I have joined a gym and am beginning to work out with the machines and building my strength back up. Let's see, what else have I been able to do??  I can cross my legs; I can sit in a booth when we go out to eat; I can walk forever and not tire out or be in pain; I can shop for regular sized clothes (no more plus sizes)  I could go on but you get the picture *lol*

Currently, I seem to have hit my 1st 'stall' haven't lost any weight for about 3 weeks, but I have gone down another size in clothing and am now wearing size 12's.  Thank God I have had no complications, I am still experimenting with foods and have found I have much trouble with dairy; breads; and pasta ( the gas is horrendous) especially pasta, I blow up like a friggin balloon!  I am due for my next labs here in a couple of days so I will find out how that is going on my next appointment with Dr. Lane on March 13th.  I am not having any problems with getting liquids in, I mostly dring just water (still can't stand coffee or pop) I get over 100 grms protien in a day and starting to get in more vegies too! 

Had a couple of personal WOWS this week too!  My hubby and I went to dinner/dance and we were standing next to each other and I was 'bumping' him with my hip and he turned looked at me and told me that if he 'bumped' back now that I would be on the floor, then proceded to laugh at me. and day before yesterday we went to visit his parents (I hadn't seen them since Thanksgiving d/t work schedule) and my MIL told me in a very concerned way that I should consider stopping the weight loss soon because I am beginning to get too skinny... Went out to dinner with hubby and sat in a booth (ususally ask for a table, this is by habit because I could not fit plain and simple) and I had to actually sit up closer to the table to eat, I felt like so tiny in that big booth!!

Did you notice I added an updated avatar?  What do you think?  I also got some  pictures loaded and they are on my profile now if you would like to see them.

Well that's it for now... 

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I'm home...
on August 8, 2007 4:58 am
Got home yesterday all good on the healing front I may say    The first 4 days were killers though!  My husband said I actually looked at him and asked why the hell I did this to myself!!!   hehehe don't recall, still abit under the anesthesia affect I suspect.  Dr. Lane said I had it a bit harder because I was under anesth longer d/t adhesions.  I am doing better each day!  Was put on insulin for 2 days ( bs bottomed out) so no longer on anything, awesome!!!  I was taking 70 units Lantus each night and 10 Units Novalog before each meal and just barely keeping my A1c under 7.  I've progressed to soft diet and tolerating it very well. Am going to explore fitday so hopefully it will help me track my protien.  I want to Thank Every one for their thoughts and prayers!!  
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The reality has hit! I'm on my way
on July 17, 2007 4:46 am
On July 12th I had my official pre-op with Dr. Lane, paid the upfront fees and the realization that this was going to really happen hit me!  Before I left the office my anxiety went into bloom ....wow!!!  I got a script for Ativan and requested that as soon as I arrived to the hospital the morning of surgery that they give me a dose of versed (this stuff is awesome).  My hubby and I had the opportunity to meet Kim (Slim Kim), my DS Angel, and boy did we talk!!  It was soo wonderful to meet and speak with her in person. She is soo forthcoming with her experience and so beautiful... inspirational!!  My hubby was amazed when she freely told us her pre-op weight and said 'I can't believe it!'  Since then I have been in full force anti-clutter mode,  feel like I need to get it all done incase something goes wrong my hubby won't have to deal with it.     Yesterday I started my 10 day full liquid diet and an mixing my caffinated/noncaffinated coffee in hopes to ween off ... hoping by next week to be able to tolerate decaf... and with the weening, have less of a headache.
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Finally a FINAL Surg Date
on July 3, 2007 8:35 am
Well I got my 'real' final date today... ooh my gosh this has felt like a huge chore!!!  Much better now though.   My surgery date is July 30th, 8am.... 
I will be going for my 'official' pre-op and anethesia appointment on July 12th...  and laying down the cash required ....
I am still seeing my psyc... now every 2 weeks, she feels this is the best thing I could do for myself and that this is my 1st step to a much fuller and suceesful life!!   I am continuing to study Feng Shui, and decluttering my house...boy does it feel good!!!     Going to be leaving tomorrow for vacation ....   Going camping for the week.
        
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Surgery Date Changed
on June 26, 2007 4:34 am
I've been procrastinating about posting this in my blog... hoping it wouldn't be soooo... you know how that goes.  The results from my Stress Test, though good TYG, didn't get to Dr. Lane's office soon enough now my 'tentative date' is July 24th.   Initially felt that the 2 week delay was an eternity, but after letting it sink in and taking a few sloooow deep breaths I chose to keep myself busy decluttering my house and reading up on Feng Shui.  This has been a good choice for too... feel much better!   Yesterday heard from my aunt, who is my inspiration at 84 yrs old, that she is going to come for a visit between the 15th and 22nd. Will spend 2 nights in Cleveland with my other aunt and go to 2 Ball Games, then stay in town for a few more days...so at least I will get some quality time with her...   
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My Story

  

*** My Weight History ***

A little intro here: I am a 50 year old wife; mother; and granddmother. I am a Registered Nurse, and have been in this profession for 20 years now, you'd think I would have some answers to preventing me becoming morbidly obese. Alas, I don't!  I figured I should make an attempt to look at my  'Weight History'... Very hard have been on and off diets now for the past 30 years! I will only be able to provide you with an estimated timeline though because I have never kept track...

I basically became above average in weight when I hit puberty. My weight during the years 1968 through 1974 fluctuated between 140 and 150... I did get despirate enough around 1973 to take 'Speed' (don't know what they were actually) and my weight did go down to 115 lbs I maintained this for several months but as a I stopped taking the pills (didn't like how they made me feel) my weight started climbing again back up to around 150lbs.

After my children were born and while they were young my weight averaged between 160 and 200lbs. When my youngest was about 2 years old I went through a divorce, I joined a 'T.O.P.S Club', strictly counted my calories (averaged about 800 per day to start) and lost 50 lbs quite rapidly. I stayed diligent with this routine for several years and then gradually let it fall to the wayside. By the mid 1980's my weight had ballooned to around 220lbs, (This is when I truely started the 'Dieting Rollercoster') First I went with trying any 'Fad Diet' that I would hear about like: The Grapefuit Diet; The Cabbage Soup Diet; Slimfast; The nothing white diet; Overeaters Annonymous; Atkins Diet; Richard Simmons; Susan Powder; Dexatrim and other over the counter diet aids; Diuretics; Doctor precribled diet pills, one which caused terribly oily bowel movements and lack of control. These all were effective for some weight loss which would last as long as I was able to maintain the diet then the weight would pile back on and them some. I also intermittently though continually tried exercising at a gym but as my weight climbed I became too embarraced I did Elle McPherson's Sports Illustrated and Richard Simmons' "Move to Loose", as well as several other exercise programs. These worked as long as I continued them though non of this was long lived I found too many excuses not to proceed. My weight the last couple of years has been going between 235 to around 275lbs.

 About a year and a half ago when I had a Gall Bladder Attack and required surgery to remove it I was informed I was Diabetic and needed guidence from a Dietitian to modify my diet and was required (and still do) to take Insulin and oral medication to aid in controlling my blood sugar.   This put a scare into me!  I began researching WLS options....  So my Journey Begins...