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Surgeon Testimonial

Noel Williams, M.D.
I met with Dr. Noel Williams of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. He was very nice and a little funny. I believe he's British. He answered all my questions and was very patient with me. I asked him if this would be the last time I saw him until surgery. He said that I would probably see him around, but unless I requested for him to come in, I wouldn't meet with him again until my pre-op apppointments (2-3 weeks before surgery). During our conversation, he stressed the risks of surgery, the category that I was in (low-medium risk), and the other categories that patients fall into. He drew me pictures and explained most of what would happen immediately afterwards. I haven't had many interactions with him yet, but I would rate him as a 8 on a 1 to 10 scale. I also talked with the Clinical nurse Samatha Warner-Grimsley. She was very nice and gave a lot of information.

1-11-06: After my initial consultation (February), I didn't see Dr. Williams again until 1-2 days after my surgery. He came into check to see how I was. I was very groggy, so he didn't stay that long. I really didn't expected to see the doctor to much because during my initial visit I asked him if I would see him again, he said most likely not until surgery, unless somethings wrong. Nothing went wrong, but I would have like to see him before they put me to sleep before the surgery, but I didn't.
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Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by Crowned Diva on 4/26/07 7:41 pm
    Ahhhhhhhh!!!! Congratulations on the coming of a litle one. Hope you have a healthy, happy new addition to your family. Congratulations, again!!!!!!
  • Comment by DivaStaTing6 on 12/8/05 9:33 am
    Hey Ms. Lady! I've been away for a minute and I saw a post that you responded to and I was like "Who is this Diva?" Girl you look GREAT! AND.....CONGRATULATI ONS TO YOU on your recent ceremony! I saw the wedding photo and y'all look fabulous! God bless Ms. Lady or should I say "Mrs. Lady" :o) Take care and keep working the tool! ~Summer~
  • Comment by michelek73 on 5/27/05 6:05 pm
    Hi Janine...I was reading your profile. My husband had his surgery with Dr Williams on May 6. I must say, he had some similar problems at the hospital but all in all he was ok with the experience. I go into HUP on June 24 for mine..I'm jealous, it feels like everyone else is done sometimes. Anyway..regarding your weakness. My husband is just now regaining some of his strength. It must be the reduction in food/energy. He went into work last Wednesday for half a day, mostly to say hi to everyone and get his mail. He was there four hours and came home and took a 3 hour nap. He thinks he is going back full time on Tuesday (May 31). I don't think he will be able to handle 8 hours of work for 4 days straight but he's gonna try. I've been driving and the bumps still make him flinch. Seems like everyday he is a little stronger through. Good luck and congrats for getting to the losing side :)
Click here for the surgery support page
I start my journey in February of 2005 when I was 24 years old. My starting weight was 296 pounds and I'm 5'6. I began this journey with high blood pressure, borderline diabetes, borderline high cholesterol, pain in my legs and knees, lower and upper back pain, dizzy spells, swelling of the joints, and a whole list of other problems. I was at a point where I didn't feel healthy anymore. I had surgery on May 9, 2005. Now I'm in the mist of my new life long journey. Please read through my journey to see details of my path, including the bumps in the road. Good things: I got married on September 22, 2005 and my husband is the best man I've every known, other than my Daddy. I now have a new ready-made family with a husband and a wonderful son. Here's the link to Photos from our Wedding if you're interested. I also had my first child on August 26, 2007. She is absolutely beautiful!!
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KiwiDrop's Blog



3 YR ANNIVERSARY - May 9, 2008 (172lbs - Post-Op)
on May 9, 2008 12:00 am


I can't believe that it's my 3 year anniversary.  Who would have thunk that I would have made it this far and still be at a weight that makes me happy. I never would have imaged this.  Sure I would like to be a couple pounds lighter, but I'm not stressing over it.  I was thinking the other day about what keeps me in-line with my weight. Now the normal thing to say would be my health, which is absolutely true, but not a complete answer.  Updating this site regularly keeps me in line. Just knowing that I have to come here every month and update my weight makes me not want to gain. It's like an accountability thing for myself.  I don't want to see that number at the top of my entries continually climbing.  Sure I slip and flat out fall into the weight gain sometimes, but I don't think I've gone out of my comfort zone.  Overall, I'm trully proud of myself and happy I haven't gone back to were I was.  My goal will always be to maintain and lose.
2 comments | Click here to leave a comment.

April 14, 2008 (174lbs - Post-Op)
on April 14, 2008 9:56 am
Not much to update this month. Things are going good. Here's an updated  picture of us:


1 comment | Click here to leave a comment.

March 5, 2008 (Post Op After Pregnancy - 177lbs)
on March 5, 2008 8:09 am
Gained a couple pounds these past couple of weeks.  I've been making bad food choices, like desserts and stuff.  I have to keep more healthy snacks around me. When I don't have them I reach for whatever I can get quick and it's usually something bad.

I finally got my bloodwork done and all my levels were normal.  The doc sent me back to the lab again to get a CBC to test for anemia, but it came back normal too.  In the end, he believes I have a sinus infection which causes dizzyness and my blood sugar is dropping when I skip meals.  Other than the sinus stuff, that's actually what I thought was wrong. I was just having multiple cases of it.  I also went to the eye doctor because of the dizzyness.  My perscription changed. When they showed the new script compared to the old, I realized that I've been walking around blind for a while now. It was a total difference. So I hope that everything is pretty much normal now. 

I realized I haven't taken any pictures of myself in a couple of months.  I have to post an updated pic soon.
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Archive

My Story

 

 

Here is my journey chronicled through pictures (only prior to Oct 2006): http://www.picturetrail.com/jcsteven

Here goes my Before & After pics on ObesityHelp: http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/before+and+after.php?Member_ID=S1107963823

COME VISIT THE BLACK AMERICAN FORUM: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/black_american/a,messageboard/board_id,4990/

 

 

Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com

 

PRE-OP: 296lbs (May 2006)

PRE-OP

 

 POST-OP: 174lbs (August 2006 - 15 MONTHS Post Op)

POST OP 

 

Date Weight Pounds Lost Total Pounds Lost BMI
2-2-05Pre-Op 296 0 0 47.8
3-16-05Pre-Op 290 6 6 46.8
4-05-05Pre-Op 283 7 13 45.7
5-25-05 271 12 25 43.7
6-13-05 260 12 36 42.0
7-20-05 248 12 48 40.0
8-12-05 238 10 58 38.4
10-11-05 218 20 78 35.1
12-01-05 206 12 90 33.2
01-04-06 198 8 98 31.9
02-02-2006 195 3 101 31.5
03-17-2006 184 11 112 29.7
05-09-2006 178 6 118 28.7
09-08-2006 172 6 124 27.7
10-08-2006 165 7 132 26.6

 

 

I saw a list called "What I Won't Miss on someone else’s page and knew I had to do one. Sorry for stealing it.  

What I Won't Miss:

1. Having people call me “big mama.” 
2. Seeing the looks on the people’s faces that I knew from high school. 
3. Having family tell me I’ve gained a lot of weight. 
4. Taking pictures from the head up, only. 
5. Having bras cut into my sides. 
6. My feet and ankles hurting when I stand up. 
7. Legs hurting when I walk or try to climb stairs 
8. Being out of breath from walking. 
9. My back killing me during the day. 
10.Waking up in the middle of the night from back pain. 
11.Feeling exhausted all the time. 
12.Always being sleepy. 
13.Not finding any cheap stylish clothes my size. 
14.Having clothes from when I was smaller that I just don’t want to throw out. 
15.Not fitting my favorite top. 
16.Getting evil looks from the person next to me on the plane or bus. 
17.Feeling self conscious about how I look. 
18.Not being able to cross my legs. (I don't remember ever being able to do this) 
19.My fingers and toes being swollen. 
20.Having to spend more money than thinner people on my clothes 
21.Having men avoid eye contact with me. 
22.Not being able to give myself a pedicure comfortably. 
23.Having to do the fat people shoe tie. (u know, tie your shoes from the side.)  
24.My shoes being too tight on my feet. 
25.Having to wear flats instead of high heals. 
26.Feeling like I need a fork lift to get out of the bathtub 
27.Having people at a pool stare at me. 
28.Being treated like I can't do anything athletic by small people. 
29.People saying “you’re so soft, I just want to hug you.” 
30.Not being able to see my feet. 
31.Looking at pictures and not recognizing myself. 
32.Having people say "you’re pretty for a big girl." 
33.Using the big girls stall in the bathroom (aka handicap stall) 
34.Having my breasts be a net for my food. 
35.Having the bath water only cover half of my body. 
36.Avoiding all cameras 
37.Dreading my jeans in the drier, because you know it's going to be smaller when it comes out.
38.Taking blood pressure medicine. 
39.Distant family members thinking its ok to comment on my weight gain. 
40. Buying Big Beach Towels and using them as a regular towel. 
41. Always wearing my business shirts untucked. I look like a fool with them tucked in.

 


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