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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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Taking A Break. on January 30, 2007 10:47 am
I'm taking a much needed break form OH for awhile because I have stuff going on in my life that needs my full attention. I am also blocking some of my blogs as well, for personal reasons. A, many of you know , I lost my husband almost 7 months ago. I'm still dealing with a lot of stuff related to his death, including a pending lawsuit. I'm still writing a book on Post-op life. I hope to complete it this year. I will need to interview people that are at least 1 year post op or more. So write me and I'll put you on my list. I'm hunting for a publisher. I may self-publish it, sell it on ebay if I have to. Haven't decided what route to take.
If you need to contact me my email is gypsy_lavender7@yahoo.com or oneof47@cox.net. For those that have my other private email address already, that still works.
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Richmond Conference on January 22, 2007 4:29 am
Richmond Stapled-up Winter Conference, January 19-21, 2007
181 pounds Lost!
Am I cured? on January 15, 2007 8:12 am
Food Addiction. some of us claim that we didn't have it as a pre-op. I was one of those who often said "I really don't eat much.". The truth is I ate a lot more than I ever thought. Sometimes I'd go all day and not eat and then at night I was a ravenous beast. I'd eat everything in site. It wasn't until after surgery did I realize that I was indeed a food addict. I used to think that by not eating all day that I had some kind of "control" over food. In truth, I had no control at all. Food controlled me. Before I knew it I ate a whole box of Krispy Kremes or a half gallon of ice cream. The bag of Doritos would go from freshly opened to totally empty rather quickly. Binge Eating? Yes, but I never threw it up like a bullemic. Food consumed my ever waking thought. It's a shame that something like that can make us lose every bit of self-control we have.
So, now that I'm below goal and maintaining my weight, am I really in control now? In some ways I am, mainly because of capacity issues. I eat too much, I hurt pretty badly. Do I still want those things that made me fat in the first place? Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't. I et very healthy meals now. I skip the bread, sugar, potatoes and starches. I don't like processed foods either. I've totally lost my addiction to diet soda. I used to drink almost 4 liters of Diet MT. Dew a day. Now, I can't stand the stuff. So am I cured of my food addiction now? Probally not. Like drug and alcohol addiction, it's a lifelong thing that I will always have to deal with. The thing is, with surgery I am limited on how much I can eat and what I can eat. I still would love to eat those things. Some people are able to have just one bite and be satisfied. I can't be satisfied, so I stay completely away from the things that made me fat to begin with. I don't have them in my house at all.
I see older post-ops on the graduate board regain their weight. Sometimes they regain a lot of weight. So what are they doing wrong? They have fallen back into the food addiction cycle. Even though our tummies are small, it can't prevent us from eating junk and grazing all day. Grazing is what will get you into serious trouble. Snacks are ok, as long as your not eating potato chips, cake, cookies, ice cream etc. It's people who eat around the clock that I see struggling with their addiction. you can eat the same amount of calories as you did as a pre-op i you graze. Surgery is not a Cure for addiction. Yes, it can give you a tool to be successful. but like any tool, if used incorrectly, you can't get the job done.
The thing is we will always struggle with food issues, body issues, depression etc. going into this surgery thinking wow!, I'm going to thin and beautiful! That is not the way to look at it at all. Your'e here to get healthy, change your thinking about food and to finally start "living" your life. It comes at a huge expense but it is worth it if you make the commitment to live by new rules. Commitment is the key word here. the day that I had surgery was the day I signed a contract with myself never to be like that again.
If there is one thing I have learned is that food will always be in the back of mind. But instead of thinking about when my next meal will be, I Now have to remember to eat. I do sometimes forget. Food is no longer the priority in my life. I've gone from one extreme to another. Yes, it can happen! I'm not cured of my food addiction by any means, but I now have a self-control mechanism that I never had before. Changing how you think about food is the one thing surgery has given me. Not everyone has the ability to do it and in many cases these are where you see regains. I highly reccommend that people still struggling with food addiction after surgery to seek out a therapist with experience in treating eating disorders. Like anorexics and bulemics, we have a serious problem that sometimes only therapy can help us with.
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Stressed to the Max on January 8, 2007 7:26 pm
Well, I'm officially, totally, completely stressed out. Mom is sick, I have appointments for something almost everyday. Taking care of mom, Dylan, the animals is making my skin break out and I'm very sleep-deprived. I'm ready for a dip in he hot tub..oh, wait that's broken! Yeah, I got to get the electrical heat unit replaced. After getting a qoute, It would be cheaper to buy a new hot tub. Seriously, it would!
But anyway, I've stressed myself down to 148.5 pounds. I don't eat when I'm stressed, I know kinda the opposite of most people, but that's how I am. I'm forcing the protein down though, just solid food and me are not doing so well. I'm scared that my ulcers might come back on me t this point, so I've resumed my prilosec just in case. No more endoscopes, please!!! Versed and twilight sleep turn me into a buffoon. I say the stupidiest stuff when I'm drugged up. It's probally why I don't like narcotics at all. Heck, I have to force myself to take Tylenol as it is. Alright, I'm rambling.
So now I'm 6.5 pounds under goal weight. I oficialy wear a size 8 jean. That's what I'm talking about!!! My 10's are too big in the waist and butt. Makes me wonder what I'm gonna wear later, after the cabbose lift next month? A 6? a 4?. Scary territory. Unknown territory too. Geeze, when I weighed 328, I was in a 26! It's very freaky deaky to me. I see ladies that get really small on here, but I never imagined that I could actually join that club. i've now lost 100% of my excess weight. Blows my mind! I just hope I can stay here. I'd like to get myself a 5-10 pound weight-pillow. You know. A little below where I want to be, just some extra reassurance that this is not some kind of fluke, a mean trick being played on me, you know what I mean? I know I'll never be one of those 19 BMI's. I got the bones of a T-rex here, it's not physically possble without totally starving myself. I don't want that.
Despite the WLS, I still enjoy food. Just differently and in smaller portions. I'm a flavor-junkie now, as Tooter would call it.I live for the flavor. It's one reason why you will never see me eat jello or yogurt again. I had enough of that bland crap, no more. Give me spicy, give me sweet n sour, give me savory.
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Please pray for my Mom on January 7, 2007 1:21 pm
My mom started chemo again this week. It's been really tough on her. She's really sick and she can't even get out of bed. I spent 2 days this week taking her to the clinic, so I haven't really been around much except at night. So if your wondering where I have been, that's why.
I've never her seen her this down and depressed. even the first time go around with chemo, she always kept her spirits up. I scared that she might not make it this time around. I pray that the way I'm feeling is just a "bad day" and not a permanent attitude. I just can't lose her. I've already lost Joe and Dad. If she's gone, I'll have nobody. Dylan will not have any grandparents or a daddy. He's already scared about me having another round of plastics and some days I feel like calling the whole thing off. His mental well-being is more important that my saggy butt and thighs. I don't know what to do sometimes? people tell me I'm a strong person, but I sure don't feel like one. The stress is really starting to get to me. I lay awake at night with all these thoughts running through my head, mostly bad thoughts. I hate not knowing what the future is going to be like.
Mom is already making plans to put me on the deed to the house and to will most of her stuff to me. That way my brother can't fight me for it. He doesn't deserve it anyway. We never see him, he never calls. It's a shame and it makes mom even more depressed that her only son doesn't seem to care enough to call her. For me, it pisses me off. I'm close to cutting him out of my life over this. I don't take stuff like that very lightly. I'm not the kind of person to cut off family. But he's not much of one to begin with.
So, the only thing I'm planning, is finishing school and helping mom get through this. She wants to be well enough to go to Europe in June. I want her to finally see Italy. It's the one thing she's always wanted to do. I have to help her get there. So please keep my mom, Joan, in your prayers.
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