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Surgeon TestimonialThomas ClarkMy first impression of Dr. Clark is that he truly cares about his patients and wants us to become healthier and happier people. He outlines all the risks and benefits and will answer any question you have. He stresses that aftercare is extremely important to our success after WLS. So far I am extremely pleased with him and the WLS program is very well organized. His office staff are friendly and professional and always there for you when you have a question or a problem. rnrnDr. Clark, is one of the BEST Surgeons. Low Complication rates, Successful patients, fantastic support team. Awesome office staff. He doesn't to Laproscopic, but he makes the timiest 3 1/2 inch incison. He's awesome. Can't recommend a better surgeon. Come to VA to have your Surgery with Dr. Clark!!! Member Interests
- Crafts - Like to creative historical replica items from the Dark/Viking Ages.
- Travel - I'm headed to Europe and Turkey next Summer 2007!
- Cats - Have a siamese kitten. Her name is sugar.
- Needlework, Knitting & Crocheting - I do embroidery, crochet, spin my own wool and weave. Ask me about Sprang!
- Sewing - My machine probally has over 1 million miles on it!
- Amusement Parks - Is it just me or are Roller coaster seats getting smaller?
- Genealogy & Family History - Researched my family back to the dark ages.
- Historical Reenactment - SCA- Society for Creative Anachronism. Member since 1989.
- Baseball - Yes, It's a miracle. Boston Red Sox are WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!!
- Beadwork - I make my own lampworked beads (Glass)
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Gobble, Gobble! on November 23, 2006 10:20 am
Yeah, Happy Thanksgiving. Tough when your a GB patient isn't it? It gets easier though. I eat a little bit of this and that, the thing is, I'm really watching what I'm eating right now.I'm 2 pounds from goal weight and dammit, I'm gonna make it. I'm still swollen from surgery and I'm wearing a compression garment that could literally squeeze blood from a turnip! So it's actually helping me suppress my appetite. Should of starting wearing these things when I was loosing weight. It would have helped.
Well, this is my first major Holiday without Joe here. I'm very sad. There is such an empty void in my life that I'm not sure could ever be filled again. He was one of my best friends, so supportive of me. Somedays I can get along fine, I try not to think of him but it's days like this that really hurt. He should be here. I still blame the first hospital I took him to for his death. I have a pending lawsuit, but since the second hospital screwed up and didn't do the autopsy, like I requested, I may never see a penny. It's not even really about the money. It's about blame in a death that should have never happened. People his age don't just die from Legionella. Now because of the screw up, I'll never know if something else was wrong with him that we didn't know about.
I'm angry, I'm sad and mostly I'm lonely. Some things I just can't talk about with mom and I really don't have anyone else. I shield her from alotthe crappy stuff because she is already dealing with her cancer being back. I don't know how long she is going to be around. Loosing her, will be the nail in the coffin. It will be just me and Dylan from here on out. My brother has his own life, he hardly comes around. I'll probally move away from here, make a life for myself somewhere where the memories are not so strong. I don't know anymore. I hate the cold weather, so moving the Mass (which was my plan) doesn't sound like such a good idea. It's something I have to seriously reconsider.
Well, enough of the depression talk. I'm seriously looking into owning my own business. Looking at different franchises right now, maybe I'll open my own Health food store. One that caters to diets, WLS, Surgical healing supplies, plastic surgery compression garments, herbals and supplements. Healing stuff! Maybe have a little low/fat/low sugar cafe and serve protein smoothies and wraps. It's an idea I've been kicking around. There's a market for it down here. Most people have to order their stuff through the internet. I've got a built in clientele with all the support groups I know around here. I just need to take some business courses to help me out. I know I have a head for it. I'm a Taurus and two things we are good at is making money and nuturing other people. Now I can do both. Besides, I can be my own boss, which is what I want anyway. I have the capital if I need it. But starting a business is very tough, I can't piss away my savings. Right now a portion of it is slotted for reconstructive surgery. I've already sepnt about $17K on that with more to go. I think it is worth it though. But if you have read all my recent blogs, you already know that's how I feel.
Well, have a Happy Turkey Day!
P.S. Stay away from the pie and no one will get hurt!
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I am a Work In Progress on November 21, 2006 1:47 pm
Had my 2 week follow-up with Dr. Z. And he completely agrees with me, that the top of my tummy needs fixing. He doesn't like the way it looks either. He's a perfectionist too, now I know why I like him so much! He's an awesome surgeon. You see people, I'm not crazy nor am I asking too much from my TT. He will fix it when we do my thigh/Buttock lift .
Thighs bleed alot, so I'm going to fork over the extra for the hospital. I'll need at least a 23 hour stay and have to hire a home health aide to come in and help me. It's gonna cost me more than I expected, but I've decided to cash in some stocks and bonds that Joe left me that I didn't even know about. It's funny because it's almost the exact amount I need to get everything done. I'm looking at spending around 25-30K when all is said and done. Im nuts, out of my mind. That's like what I make in a whole year, but I'm doing it because I have to finish becoming the person I know I'm meant to be. I know I will never be happy with all this hanging skin. I can live with stretch marks and scars. I don't give a shit about those. I just want to feel comfortable in my own skin, shed the remaining part of me that is left from being obese. My scars will be my badge of honor. Though they may be numerous and ugly, I will wear them with pride.
I should mention that my doc told me it is rare for someone to come to him and tell him that they want to fix everything. I'm his "work in Progress". I also saw a pic of all the skin and tissue that they removed. Yuck! Talk about gross. But goodness the before pictures are even scarier!
P.S. For those who asked my implants are Saline 350 cc filled to 400 cc Mentor Moderate Profiles. I kinda wished I paid for silicone, but for me there is too many unknowns even though the FDA is allowing their use again. I may switch out the implants in the future when the cohesive gels or the soy filled ones are approved.The soy filled ones, are more up my alley. I ate too much granola when I was a kid, yep I'm kinda a hippie,
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Cancer is Back on November 20, 2006 11:18 am
My mom's cancer has come back on her. The lymph nodes near her spinal cord and in her lungs have increased in size. We have been suspecting that it was back for awhile now. Her back has been hurting her and even though she has stuck to her new weightloss diet she has not lost any weight. Both signs that it's back. She goes back on chemo next week. We are consulting with Duke University again as well as the National Institutes of Health on advice for chemo drugs. The last drugs were strong but these lymph nodes may be resistant to those particular drugs. It's such a hard cancer to treat. Very rare (Paraganglioma Adrenal Cancer). She will never get rid of it. She can go into remission, but we know it will kill her.
I feel like I must have been a bad person in a former life. I seem to have bad Karma follow me around. I just can't take another death. My mom is my best friend and has really been there for me. I mean it's only been four months since Joe died and December 1st is the first anniversary of my Dad's death. My family is shrinking before my eyes. When they say that life isn't fair, they were not kidding. this family has a black cloud hanging over it and I want it gone. I've decided that praying has not done me any good. I've prayed so hard, I think my head is going to explode, so I've decided to seek answers through other means. I'm seeing a well known medium next month while in NYC. She very well known and has agreed to see me despite a 3 year waiting list. I guess my tragic story struck a chord in her. I prefer not to say who I'm seeing because I know that there are people who may think she's a fake. Bu let's say that she's on TV alot. I haven't even told my mom yet that I'm seeing her. She doesn't believe it. I got to find answers. I've become obessesed with it. I'm trying to go to a John Edwards seminar in hopes that Joe or my dad will come through for me. Help me explain what the hell the universe is doing to my family. Poor Dylan has been crying alot about missing his dad. Me too. I miss him, I miss having someone to share my life with. Nights are lonely. The holidays are going to be tough for a third year in a row. I'm so ready for good news and happiness. I'm ready for some good karma to come into my life. If you have any, send it my way!
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Follow Up Appointment Was today on November 14, 2006 11:52 am
I'm sorry If I scared some folks yesterday. I think I was having a serious "Woe is Me" day. I'm still not happy with the size I am right now but I hope that it will improve in a couple of weeks.
I hadmy follow up appointment today. I explained to my surgeon how unhappy I was with the size. He told me that I was significantly swelled up and that when the swelling went down and my implants drop, I will be a "D" cup. He also said that I was not used to seeing myself with such a tiny waist and really huge chest and that it will take sometime getting used to.
The technique he used in my Breast Lift has made my breasts look like Topedos. He pulls the skin very tight and turns a flap of skin over and makes an anchor under your breasts. Since gastric bypass patients Have Poor Skin Integrity, meaning our skin is very damaged, stretched out and has poor elasticity, he pulls the skin tighter than normal with the anchor, so that when our skin stretches out again (He's says that in 99.9% of GB patients this happens), he will not have to do a revision. Everything will eventually fall into place. Please god I hope he's right.
It takes time, there is a magic 3 month time window. If I am not satisified by then, then I will have something done about it. In the mean time I have a closet full of Small and Medium tops that are no longer going to fit and it's quite depressing. I really did not ever want to see the word large again. It sucks.
I pretty happy with my tummy. He took one drain out and left one in until next week. There is some loose skin at the top. He couldn't get it all because the incisions would have pulled on my breast incicions, too much pulling going on and could cause difficulties in healing in both areas. He make tighten it when I have my buttock/thigh lift since it's just skin and not muscle. My belly button is more shallow than he likes to see. Looks like I'll be getting a naval ring to make it look like anything and to cover it up.
So, I'm still nervous about how I'm gonna look. I'm going to trust him. He has done a lot of GB patients and These are the techniques he uses on them. People I spoke to as references loved him and said he's top notch. So I'm gonna play the wait and see game.
Word of advice:
Please ladies when you go in and try on implants. Bring the bra that you want to fit into and use that as your reference. Don't use their bras (they are usually all stretched out.) Remember it's better to go too small than too big because you can always go bigger later. When you go really big, right off the bat, they have to make a deeper chest pocket. If you downsize later on, you'll need another lift because you have a huge pocket in your chest. .
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The good, The Bad, the very Ugly! on November 13, 2006 3:46 pm
I don't want to scare people off from getting plastics. As a matter of fact, I'm still gonna have the rest of me done. But I was NOT mentally prepared for this. I'm not happy with the size he made my breasts. They are just too big on my frame. I requested D cups. I got much more than that. I am gonna wait 6 months and if they don't settle or get a bit smaller, I'm having them taken out and have smaller implants (Silicone too) put in their place. I don't know of I can live with these things.
Now, the top of my stomach got no muscle work and you can tell. I have a significant pouchy section there. when I bend over or sit down it pouches out. NOT HAPPY! It's where my old RNY scar was. It was too close to my breast incisions and they were worried about the skin integrity. Ok, I can understand that. So I will have to have a revision somewhere down the line and I want it for free. Maybe when they do my buttock lift he can go back and fix that one section. He can easily take out another inch 1/2 or two of skin maybe 3 more if he tightened the muscles there.
I'm also developing keloids. Yep, my nightmare. It's a good thing I already bought keloid silicone scar treatment ahead of time. I had a feeling this would happen. It's depressing. I'm depressed, down in the dumps, weepy, very sad, doing online shopping and not even remembering what I bought the next day.
I should have just stayed flabby. If I got to have revisions, new implants, more surgery, just not worth it. Not worth the pain and aggrevation. This is just for me personally. Other people may handle better than me. I think I should have waited and stressed to the surgeon exactly what I wanted a little more clearly. I should have went with c cup implants. I look like Pamela Anderson. I feel very uncomfortable in my own skin. I know, I'm depressed, it gets better with time, your gonna look great when the girls settle et, etc, etc. Yada, Yada,Yada. Tired of hearing it!! It Dosn't Help me NOW! Right now I don't believe that they are gonna look normal. I don;t even want to buy clothes, cause I know that they won't fit me right anymore. There goes all my pretty blouses. Money down the drain. I feel Like I'm deformed and ugly. I'd rather be flat chested then look like this. Where am I gonna get bras? After measuring myself I wear a 34 DD. Those are not easy to find. My mom went to both Victoria's Secret and JC Penney today and they don't carry that size in their store. I'm gonna have to try Frederick's Catalog. Strippers shop there, so I should be able to find something.
At least a got a little ggod news. I've been struggling to finish getting my husband's estate in order and the company he worked for is giving me the runaround on his Savings plan (Retirement). While waiting for these jerk-offs to get their shit straight his savings plan made 6K! I guess they did me a favor. So I'm converting the plan into a ROTH. It's the best move for me. I'm just gonna forget about for awhile and see how it does ad just put money in it quarterly. I've discovered that I have a knack for picking stocks and bonds and other investments. I didn't even know I had it in me!
So don't be afraid of plastics, just prepare yourself better. It's a huge change in your body. I feel like an alien right now, I hope as time passes things will get better. I hope I look semi-normal for my trip to Europe in June. That would just devastate me. I'm not happy about the top of the tummy, it may keep me from wearing a bikini. Sigh...it was the one thing I wanted too.
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