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Surgeon TestimonialJoseph Cribbins, M.D.My first impression of Dr. Cribbins at the seminar was "Wow, he's young!" He was very nice and very informative. It seemed that he was gearing most of the seminar around the lap band and only breifly hilighted the Open RNY (he doesn't do lap) and VGB. But when I asked him to elaborate during the Q&A session, he did so without hesitation. During my consultation, I still believe him to be very nice and courteous. Eventhough I felt that he and the nurses were rushed, I believe I made a good choice at having him be my surgeon. However, if I had not received so many recommendations to choose him, I probably would have continued to look elsewhere. Only because I kind of felt like a number. Dr. Cribbins was very personable, but neither nurse I met smiled at me...at all (one I don't think even looked up from her clipboard at all the whole time she was in the room). And he has no after care program. But when I voiced my concerns to someone else who was his patient, she told me that the nurses don't perform the procedure, the doctor does and "a good bedside manner won't save your life in the OR." Also, I have a great PCP who can give me regular after care in the months/years following surgery.
Regarding the surgery, I believe Dr. Cribbins and his Assistant did a terrific job. I'm 2 months out and so far (knock on wood) I've had no complications. I believe I made the right choice in choosing him. He also came to visit me in the hospital every single day I was there. Member Interests
- Family & Friends - I come from a big, Italian family! We're always in each others business!
- Parenting - My son is 7 and my biggest fan!
- Dancing - I used to love to dance! I was in drill team in high school.
- Movies - I love foreign films. Especially the British and Scottish variety.
- Radio & Television - I love soaps!!! Also I am a HUGE British Comedy fan!!!!
- Tattoo - I have 6 now, but I plan on getting many, many more!
- Pagan - I'm a solitary, Eclectic Pagan )O(
- Antique Shopping - More of an obsession than a hobby!
- Renaissance Festivals - Love, Love, Love going to Ren-Fests!! I'm just too white and nerdy!
- Talk Radio Listening - 105.3 - I'm probably the only fat chick who loves Russ Martin!!
Latest Surgery Support Comments
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Hey Nonny!!! I just
wanted to check on
you to see how
everything is going!
Please let us know!!
Peace be with you!
 Comment by hsmcc1 on 10/19/06 10:21 am
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Congrats girly!!!
I'm still waiting on
my
approval...hopefully
it will be soon!!
Peace be with you!
:)
Click here for the surgery support page
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6-11-07 on June 11, 2007 8:47 am
Well, I haven't been on here in awhile. There is a lot of catching up to do. My mom has been sick and in the hospital again and I have been staying with her since my sister has been on her senior class trip to Cancun. Her intestinal problem got real bad and we thought we were going to lose her there for a few days. Her colonoscapy (can't spell) developed a leak and she became septic (again, can't spell). Her infection was so bad, that they had to remove her lap-band. Unfortunately, her doctor doesn't think that she should have it put back with all the problems she will have with her diverticulitis in the future. Surprisingly, she's not as upset about that as I would have been. Hopefully she will not be one of the ones who gains everything back. It makes me even more thankful that I opted for the RNY. I'm betting that I will have digestinal problems since both my parents have had colosomies before they reached the age of 60. If I do inherit this lovely condition, I'm glad at least I won't have to worry about the doctors removing my tool.
With all this going on, she took in her ex-husband's soon to be ex-wife and step-son. Mom wanted to help the latest victim of my ex-step-dad and she has been staying there for the last 2 weeks. She was supposed to find a job and place to stay and has done neither. She sleeps all the time and only wakes up to take her son to daycare and pick him up. We began to smell alcohol on her and decided it was time for her to leave. Mom gave her a week to find someplace else to stay. Then my lovely ex-step-dad calls to tell mom that if she continued to help his wife, he would hand over all the "information" he has on one of my sisters and her boyfriend (now fiancee after this weekend...yay!!) to the cops and they will both go to jail since they both have open warrants. Mom decided not to wait and told this woman she had to leave and our family no longer wanted to be in the middle of their problems. Mom told her five times through out the day "You need to pack your things and leave" and she would just go back to bed. It then came to a big screaming match with Mom (who is on bed rest) saying "Get out" and this woman saying she wasn't leaving. Then we started to call the cops, and finally she left. When we cleaned her room and found all the empty bottles, all our guilt went away. You just can't help some people. Her situation sucks and I get that, but if someone told me that I could not stay with them anymore, I wouldn't refuse to leave. Crazy psycho people... The one really hurt by this is my littlest sister. Her dad is acting psycho threatening to send her big sister to jail and won't let her see her baby sister unless it's just the three of them. (Mom doesn't want to find out why he has that stipluation, so she refused.) And he is making darn sure that her step-mom and step-brother are out on the streets. I hope he feels the fire of a thousand suns...
Have I mentioned how happy I am to be single? Crazy cat woman I will be. (I really don't know why I said that like Yoda, but it works I guess)
5-14-07 on May 14, 2007 4:30 pm
Bad week for food, but good week for weight loss. I hate those!! They mess with my mind in thinking that I still can eat anything. I'm in a GREAT mood though!! lol
05-07 to 05-13
Daily Average:
Calories = 465 (should be between 700 and 900)
Fat = 14
Carbs = 40
Protein = 44
Calcium = 159 (should be between 1000 and 1500)
Iron = 16 (should be at least 18)
Water = 914 grams (should be at least 1361)
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5-10-07 *7 mos Post Op* on May 10, 2007 7:21 am
Wow this month just flew by. I feel good today. Probably because I went through my closet last night and bagged up a ton of clothes for Good Will and found that I can fit into a ton of clothes that I haven't been able to fit into for years. Some of those, I found, are now too big!! That sure does wonders for your mood!!
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5-07-07 on May 7, 2007 8:34 am
I'm feeling better emotionally. I'm not obsessing over my weight anymore (which is good). I'm also not obsessing over what I eat anymore (which is sometimes bad). I had another visit from my dad this weekend. I was freaking out over the anticipation Friday night that I bought and ate a bag of plain M&Ms. A small bag, but still, the whole thing. Boy did I pay the price too. I don't remember anything after about 10-15 mins from when I finished the bag which was about 10:00 or so. I woke up at 6am with my stomach cramping, sweat everywhere and my head pounding. I finally went back to sleep at about 6:30 and woke up at 9:30 with only a migrane but was exahusted all weekend. I still feel very tired. I'm glad in a way. I don't want to be able to sit down and eat a whole bag of anything. I hate that I let my father get to me so bad that I did this to myself. My sister had my back and tried to have him stay with her this weekend, but he turned her down. Uggghhh!! He's coming back in a couple of weeks for my other sister's graduation. I have until then to come up with plans that I am going to be doing so that he doesn't stay with me. Any suggestions?
04-30 to 05-06
Daily Average:
Calories = 599 (should be between 700 and 900)
Fat = 15
Carbs = 58
Protein = 54
Calcium = 380 (should be between 1000 and 1500)
Iron = 29
Water = 1087 grams (should be at least 1361)
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4-30-07 on April 30, 2007 6:26 am
This week, my protein was low and carbs were high because I basically ate soups and chili all week because my teeth were so sore from my braces. Oh well, I'm back on track now and should do better this week. My mom gave me a bunch of clothes that no longer fit her and was surprised to see that I can fit into a size large shirt, but won't wear any yet, because I'm not that confident to show off my lower stomach. But to know that I could wear that size made me feel good. I haven't tried any of the jeans on yet. It will be interesting to see if I'm out of a size 20 yet. They are baggy, but I don't think they're that baggy to need to go down to an 18, but we'll see.
04-23 to 04-29
Daily Average:
Calories = 635 (should be between 700 and 900)
Fat = 20
Carbs = 70
Protein = 48
Calcium = 417 (should be between 1000 and 1500)
Iron = 32
Water = 1106 grams (should be at least 1361)
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Archive
My Story My Current Before and After Pics
Before at 7 mos
 
 
For more pictures, please visit my photosite at http://shrinkingnonny.photosite.com/
Hello all!! I just found this website and reading all of your journeys have made me so excited about mine I am about to take! I am 29 years old and have been overweight my whole life. I come from a long line (on my mom's side) of obese people. I have 2 great uncles and 1 great-grandmother who are all bed ridden or considered physically disabled due to their size and many more who are at least 350 - 400 lbs. I always was able (in the past) to keep my weight at no more than 50 lbs over. At my smallest I was 30 lbs over at 150. That was my junior and senior years in high school. Of course I was in drill team so all the exercise helped!!!! In college, my "College 10" was a "College 20" and staid at 170 for another 2 1/2 years. I broke up with my long-time live in boyfriend and I jumped from 170 to 210 in 3 months! I was able to maintain that until about a year later when I got pregnant with my son. Surprizingly enough, I didn't gain that much weight during my pregnancy and lost some quick after he was born. I got up to 248 and then about 2 months after I had him I went down to 220. I staid there awhile. Now 6 yrs later (since my son was born) I honestly don't know what happened. I have lost a bunch and always gained more, but never went below 220 again. My mom always had the same problem I did. I watched her get ridiculed time and time again by my dad (who has no one in his family beyond "chunky") who did not understand that it was a struggle. I saw how hard it was for her, even after her and Dad's divorce, to get to a mind set that she could change her life. But she did and had the lap-band procedure about 1 1/2 years ago. I've been trying to get the same procedure ever since but I have had so many obstacles in my way. In the spring of 2004 my husband at the time refused to budge on being adamantly against me having surgery of any type. After 6 months of literally begging and crying and fighting, he said I could go ahead and contact a doctor, but the insurance told me no because the lap-band was still new and to try back the following year. He saw this as a "sign from God" that I was not to have surgery and I "needed to drop it". We decided to get a divorce. Not solely due to me wanting surgery, eventhough it did bring up alot of issues that we just could not get passed (he felt that if I had surgery, I would be attractive and he would have competition and that is exactly why he married me...so that he wouldn't.) It was the beginning of the end to where neither one of us would change our minds on the subject, so we both just stopped trying on all the other stuff that is needed to make a marriage work. In May of 2005 with the divorce on the way, the insurance said that they would cover it, but I needed to be on a weight loss program with my primary doctor for at least 6 months prior to the surgery. In December of 2005 they said that they were adding this new "Weight Support System" that I now had to be on for a year before the surgery. She then informed me that they would have approved the RNY from the get go, but not the lap-band because it can't guarantee me that I will loose the weight. I finally broke down and just bawled to lady on the phone. I am so tired of the roller coaster ride my insurance and ex has had me on. It's been especially hard watching the success my mom has had with her surgery. Don't get me wrong, I am extremely happy for her and supportive that she's lost, so far, about 170 lbs. But it's also a daily reminder that she had surgery 6 weeks after she first applied with her insurance and so far it's taken me 2 1/2 yrs. This past year, being hit with a divorce and being a single mom again, I am not going to just roll over and give up. I have spent the first 30 years of my life taking care of others and putting everyone's needs before mine. So much so that I let myself get to almost 300 lbs and didn't blink an eye. The next 30 years are going to be for me. The only person who I will let factor my judgement in anything from now on will be my son. So I am now applying for the RNY and will never stop fighting until I get it. My son will have everything I did not have growing up, including a healthy mom who can ride rides at amusement parks with him, swim in the ocean with him, and will stay single for the rest of her life (if need be) to make all of it happen.
*Update*
I wrote the entry above in January of 2006. Now it's March of 2007 and I'm about 5 1/2 months post op. I have received alot of emails and phones calls from others wanting to know why I chose RNY instead of Lap Band, so I figure I can put it here too!! The answer is simple...I did my research and found that RNY would be the better choice for ME. At first I just went with what others told me of the RNY (mostly negative things) and decided on the Lap Band. I only did research on the Lap Band, which (like all the different surgeries) only give you negative aspects of all the others and the positive aspects of their own. My insurance giving me the run around forced me to look into something else. I found that the RNY has come a long way since 20 yrs ago when everyone was having a hard time with it. I also found that doctors can now do the RNY laproscopically which was my selling point eventhough I ended up with an open surgery...how ironic huh? (I only had an open surgery because I really wanted Dr. Cribbins as my surgeon and he does not do RNY laproscopically.) I appealled more to the fact that the RNY was permanent and knew that I would go into the Lap Band thinking "oh, it's ok if I fail, I'll just take it out and get something else." Not that this what everyone getting the band thinks, it's just that I know this is what I would think. I also see how my mom can drink milkshakes and eat cakes, donuts, what have you and yet most of the time she can pass all that up and eat healthy. I know in my gut I wouldn't be able to. If I had a choice now to drink water or sweet tea, you know it would be the sweet tea everytime. If I had an option to go to Sonic and get one of their awesome shakes, I definately would be there every evening. If I knew I could eat a whole cookie...or two...I would instead of only a bite or two to curb my craving. The RNY keeps me from all this. It forces me to do the right thing. I know one day I'll be able to eat more and could sabotage my losing, but hopefully this "honeymoon period" will get me into the right lifestyle. I definately have admiration for all the "Bandsters" out there. They have awesome will power!! I'm just not that strong. So I'll just finish by saying do alot of research and be open minded on researching ALL of the surgeries. You're more likely to get pros and cons of the surgery you have your heart set on.
I have an angelette!!! Please visit her site and give support on her surgery page!!!
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/hbrey/
The Road (Par Moi) by Waiting2Fly http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/waiting2fly/
The street was long and winding, she began at the bottom of the hill. She looked at the steep road and wished it was shorter. She had thoughts of giving up and turning back, but she began to walk. At first it seemed as though no progress was being made, as she had her eyes fixated on the top of the hill. Then, she started to notice all of the beauty around her and got caught up, and she would see a flower just a little further ahead - fixated on it, she'd walk a little faster until she got to it. She'd smell it. Then something else would catch her eye. Before she knew it she was in the middle of the hill! She stared at the top of the hill, and once again she thought "I will never make it to the top! I should just give up!" But then - she turned around, and she saw the bottom of the hill and the point she began from, and saw all the progress she made. Amazed at all of her progress, she continued on - setting her eyes on one thing at a time, each time she'd pass it, she'd watch for something else. Before she knew it, she was at the top of the Hill. She made it to the end of the road. She looked down the road and laughed, satisfied. Now, if she passes anyone that is interested in taking that road - she wont mind giving them directions.
My Goals for a Healthy Weight
*Buy something other than perfume and lotion at Victoria Secret.
*Buy some low rise jeans and a white tee at The Limited (my favorite store in high school)
*Get some big tatoos I have planned.
*Buy some calf high boots.
*Ride roller coasters with my son. *Done on 6-22-07
*To be able to fit through the turnstyles without turning to the side or having to use the handicapped ones. *Done on 6-22-07
*To take my son to the Dallas water park and not feel embarrased or spend the whole time in the lazy river.
*Lay next to my son on the couch. *Done on 3-11-06 on Mom's couch (it's a little bigger than mine)
*Wash a load of dishes without my back hurting. *Done on 12-09-06
*Drive with the steering wheel down instead of all the way up. *Down one click on 1-05-07 *two clicks on 3-08-07 *three clicks 5-14-07
*To be able to get something off of the passenger side floor board while I'm on the driver's side. *Done on 3-02-07
*Buy a little black dress.
*Take "Pole Dancing" classes.
*Take "Belly Dancing" classes.
*Take "Kick Boxing" classes.
*Go to Scarborough Faire dressed as a Gypsy.
*Sit comfortably in seats at a concert. *Done on 6-01-07
*Go to the bathroom comfortably in a regular sized stall *Done on 2-23-07
*Walk up the stairs to give my landloard the rent without running out of breath. *Done on 6-04-07
*Bend down to tie my shoes.
*Cross my legs at the knee. *Done with help from my hands 5-12-07
*Have my doctor's nurse be able to use the regular sized wrap to take my blood pressure.
*No more theatrical moves/squats to wipe my @$$. *Done on 1-04-07
*Can sit down in a normal sized chair without squeezing into it or have the arms touch my hips.
*To be out and about and hear the song "Baby Got Back" and not have someone make a comment, giggle my way, etc.
*To be out in public and not ask someone to pick something up off the ground because I can't bend over to get it. *Done on 1-05-07
*When I approach a walk way, to not have others standing around move obviously too far out of my way so that I have enough room to get by.
*To have my son wrap his arms all the way around me. *Done on 3-08-07
*To go to Canton (huge flea market) and not worry if I can do all the walking or not.
My Weight Loss at a Glance
| Date | Weight | Goal | Pounds Lost | Total Lost | BMI |
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| 10-10-06 | 313 | 313 | 0 | 0 | 54 | Super
Morbidly
Obese |
| 11-10-06 | 282 | 280-290 | 31 | 31 | 48.4 | Extremely Obese |
| 12-11-06 | 268 | 246-266 | 14 | 45 | 46 | " |
| 01-10-07 | 255 | 230-255 | 13 | 58 | 43.8 | " |
| 02-10-07 | 247 | 221-249 | 8 | 66 | 42.4 | " |
| 03-10-07 | 235 | 213-243 | 12 | 78 | 40.3 | " |
| 04-10-07 | 227 | 205-237 | 8 | 86 | 39 | Obese |
| 05-10-07 | 220 | 196-231 | 7 | 93 | 37.8 | " |
| 06-10-07 | 211 | 188-226 | 9 | 102 | 36.2 | " |
| - | - | 180-220 | - | - | - | - |
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| Date | Chest | Waist | Hips | L Thigh | R Thigh | L Calf | R
Calf | L Arm | R
Arm |
| 10-10-06 |
55.5" |
53" |
65" |
35" |
36" |
20" |
20.5" |
17" |
18" |
| 11-10-06 |
52" |
50.5" |
61" |
35" |
36" |
19" |
19" |
17" |
17" |
| 12-10-06 |
50" |
49.5" |
60" |
34" |
35" |
19" |
19" |
16.5" |
16.5" |
| 01-10-07 |
49" |
47" |
57" |
32" |
33" |
18" |
18" |
16.5" |
16.5" |
| 02-10-07 |
47.5" |
46" |
57" |
30.5" |
31" |
17.5" |
17.5" |
15" |
16" |
| 03-10-07 |
45.5" |
45" |
54.5" |
30" |
31" |
17.5" |
17.5" |
15" |
15.5" |
| 04-10-07 |
45.5" |
44" |
54" |
29.5" |
29.5" |
17" |
17" |
14.5" |
15" |
| 05-10-07 |
44" |
43" |
52.5" |
28" |
28.5" |
16.5" |
16.5" |
14.5" |
15" |
| 06-10-07 |
43.5" |
42" |
52" |
28" |
28.5" |
16.5" |
16.5" |
14" |
14" |
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| Date | Weight | Pant
Size | Shirt Size | Shoe Size | Bra Size | Underwear
Size |
| 10-10-06 | 313 | 30 | 4x | 8 | 48DDD | 14 |
| 11-10-06 | 282 | 28 | 3x | 7 | - | - |
| 12-10-06 | 268 | 26 | 2x-3x | 6 1/2 | 46DD | 11 |
| 01-10-07 | 255 | - | 2x | " | - | " |
| 02-10-07 | 247 | 22 | " | " | - | " |
| 03-10-07 | 235 | 20 | " | " | 42DD | - |
| 04-10-07 | 227 | " | 1x-2x | " | " | - |
| 05-10-07 | 220 | 18 | " | " | 40DDD | - |
| 06-10-07 | 211 | " | L-1x | " | - | - |
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My Weight Goals...
Mine vs. My Doctor's
| Months Out | Goal Weight | Goal to Loose | Goal BMI |
| 0 |
313 |
0 lbs |
54 |
| 1 |
280-290 |
33-23 lbs |
48-50 |
| 2 |
246-266 |
67-47 lbs |
42-46 |
| 3 |
230-255 |
83-58 lbs |
40-44 |
| 4 |
221-249 |
92-64 lbs |
38-43 |
| 5 |
213-243 |
100-70 lbs |
37-42 |
| 6 |
205-237 |
108-76 lbs |
35-41 |
| 7 |
196-231 |
117-82 lbs |
34-40 |
| 8 |
188-226 |
125-87 lbs |
32-39 |
| 9 |
180-220 |
133-93 lbs |
31-38 |
| 10 |
170-213 |
143-100 lbs |
29-37 |
| 11 |
163-208 |
150-105 lbs |
28-36 |
| 12 |
155-202 |
158-111 lbs |
27-35 |
| 13 |
150-199 |
163-114 lbs |
26-34 |
| 14 |
146-197 |
167-116 lbs |
25-34 |
| 15 |
150-199 |
163-114 lbs |
26-34 |
| 16 |
146-197 |
167-116 lbs |
25-34 |
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