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Goals

Lose at least 100 pounds, and become a healthy and vibrant woman.

60 People
 in progress, 
14 People
 achieved this

My goal is to accept myself.

14 People
 in progress, 
2 People
 achieved this

Become the person I have always wanted to be... Healthy, happy, energetic. FUN!!

203 People
 in progress, 
32 People
 achieved this
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Member Interests

Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by mshelly87 on 4/17/08 6:13 pm
    Kathy best of luck to you today. You have a great surgeon in Dr. Hill so I am sure everything will be fine. I wish you a speedy recovery and smooth sailing to the new you Shelly
  • Comment by Eggface on 4/17/08 8:15 am
    Sending prayers for a successful surgery & speedy recovery. Soon you'll be posting all your WOW moments. I can't wait to hear about them ~Michelle
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Health problems are forcing me to look into having gastric bypass surgery.  I am excited and scared but I know I need to do something or my health will begin causing major problems in my life.

kporter18's Blog
kporter18's Blog


22 Pounds Lighter!!
on May 3, 2008 1:04 am

Hello everyone,
Just wanted to check in and let everyone know how things are going for me.  My surgery was 16 days ago and I am already down 22 lbs.  I can't believe it!!  I am in the 230's.... haven't been there in a while!!  I had not bothered to weigh myself before my doctor appt on the 30th so I was very pleasantly surprised.  Makes me wonder why I couldn't lose the weight without surgery but we all know the reasons for that.  Many, many reasons!!  I have now graduated to pureed foods which means I can have scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, pureed meats, fish... things like that.  I have had no trouble eating anything.  No nausea, no vomiting.  Dr. Hill was very pleased with my progress.  It's a new beginning and I can't wait!  My self-esteem has been so low for so long that it really needs this jump start.  I thank God everyday for this opportunity.  Also, Dr. Hill reduced my diabetes meds before I left the hospital and at my appt on the 30th after reviewing my past few weeks, tells me that I am well on my way to being completely off the diabetes medicines.  That is amazing to me.  Wow!!
As for moving out of my house, things are going very slowly.  I work for a couple hours and I am exhausted.  The surgery has taken a lot out of me but this weekend is looking to be a good weekend.... lots of people are planning to help me so I am hoping to get a lot done in the next few days.  I only have 2 weeks before the final date for the closing so I have to get it done.  Thank God I have lots of family and friends to help me!!

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8 days post-op and doing pretty good!!
on April 25, 2008 9:44 pm

Hi everyone,
     Here I am, 8 days post-op and feeling pretty good!!  My surgery on April 17th went perfectly and so has my progress so far.  The first couple days after surgery were really tough because I was in a lot of pain and couldn't get into a position that was comfortable but each day got better and better.  I did manage to get up and walk TWICE the day of my surgery and everyone was really happy with that!! Also the hospital is 2 hours from my home town so it was really difficult for family and friends to visit much.  I did manage to have someone visit each day however, so that helped a lot.  My surgery was on Thursday morning and I was released on Sunday before noon.  On Monday I needed to go to town to get prescriptions.  That trip ended up taking all afternoon.  Then I went to my house to pack some more (did I tell everyone that I sold my house and have to be out in a few weeks???).  Long story short, I was EXHAUSTED by the time I got back to my mom's and relaxed.  Basically my whole week has gone the same way until today.  Today I slept most of the day.  I suppose I was due for a day like that.  Tomorrow I have to go to my house and try to pack some more.  I'm taking my niece Kirstie to help and do the lifting of boxes for me.
    I'll write more as time permits.  Busy busy busy here!! LOL

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The liquid diet isn't so bad!!
on April 11, 2008 8:07 pm
I can't believe I am saying this but the liquid diet isn't so bad after all.  I am finding that the protein shakes are very satisfying and I don't seem to be hungry very often.  4 days are done, 5 more to go!  Hard to believe my surgery date is almost here!!  I feel very prepared, even more so since I am on this liquid diet.  I know it's the right thing to do.
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10 more days!!
on April 7, 2008 4:37 am
Here I am... only 10 more days to go until my surgery!!  I can hardly wait.  I'm not really nervous, more anxious than anything.  I also sold my house so I am working on moving which I think will keep my mind occupied for the next 10 days!!  I start my 9 day liquid diet tomorrow... not really looking forward to that at all, but in a way its a relief.  I am looking forward to the newer, healthier ME!!  It's almost here!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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EATING!! EATING!! and more EATING!!
on March 2, 2008 6:45 am
Here I am, waiting for my surgery and eating everything I can.  What's up with that???  I have been doing so well for the last several months and now I want to eat as much as I possibly can.  I know that knowing my surgery is coming, I could be reacting to the fact that I know I can't eat these things for a while (Chicken Parm is my downfall) but I am aware that it is not forever yet I continue to eat and eat and eat.  Anyone out there feel like this?  Let me know how you handled it.  Thanks.
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My Story

  My journey is just beginning but I feel as if I have been destined for this my entire life.  I have been overweight practically since I graduated from high school.  The only time since then that I have been under 200 lbs was the day I came home from the hospital after giving birth to my daughter, in 1987.  I weighed myself that day and I 'only' weighed 199 lbs. LOL  Since that time I keep going up and up and up.  There seems to be no end in sight.  I keep telling myself that I will lose the weight 'someday' but now I am realizing that it's never going to happen without help.
  Several people in my area have had WLS and look great!  All are glad they did it and would do it again in a heartbeat.  I was leery of doing it, because I was still telling myself that I could do it on my own if I really wanted to.  The final straw came a couple of months ago when my PCP told me that if I didn't get my sugar under control, I would need insulin shots.  Again, I was telling myself that this is the time when I actually had to take care of my weight problem (but in my mind I knew I probably wouldn't).  My sister, who works as a resident care nurse's aide, then asked me a question that totally changed my perspective on WLS.  She asked me why I was so dead set against weight loss surgery and then pointed out that my health, in 10 years or so, would be so much worse if I didn't do this.  And she's right.  She's seen me all these years try to lose weight, try to get healthier, and fail EVERY TIME.  And she's terribly worried about me.  So I decided right then and there that I would pursue WLS.  A few weeks after that, one of my younger brothers passed away unexpectedly and his death has thrown the whole family into shock.  I am even more determined now to help myself become healthier so I will be around for a long time.
  I also have several co-morbidities that I am praying will disappear once I have lost the weight.  I have been dealing with anxiety/depression since my early 20's.  I have sleep apnea.  I have diabetes.  I have high cholesterol.  Thankfully my blood pressure is ok so far!!  I also have experienced urinary incontinence in the last 18 months or so and I'm only 42!!  I have heel spurs, and bone spurs on the balls of my feet which make walking too much very difficult.  As of last winter, I am starting to have back pain... not sure whats up with that but it seems that I'm falling apart more and more everyday. My BMI is 43 and I feel I am about 120 lbs overweight.  According to the guidelines, I should weigh 143 lbs.  Instead, I weigh about 265 or so.  To me, this surgery is going to give me my life back.
  I attended an information session on September 25th and was completely impressed with the doctors who were there.  They seem sincere and I immediately felt that I could trust them.  After the session, I made an 'initial' appointment with them.  That appointment is on Nov 8th and I am sooo excited to get this process moving.  My PCP is scheduling another Sleep Study for me since mine was 6-7 years ago and doesn't apply anymore.  As a requirement and/or deciding factor for WLS, the sleep study needs to be less than 2 years old.
  Anyway, things are moving along, slowly, but they are moving.  I am reading everything I can on WLS and trying to prepare myself for all of the changes I will be experiencing.
  I purchased a book at the suggestion of the doctors at the information session and would like to recommend it to anyone out there who may be thinking about WLS but isn't sure.  It's called "Weight Loss Surgery: Finding the Thin Person Hiding Inside You!" by Barbara Thompson.  It is excellent as a learning tool and as support for WLS.  I found my copy on Amazon for $6.00 (used) but I'm sure the regular price of $22.95 is well worth the money!!!  Check it out!
  I'll write more as time goes on and things start happening.  Any support that anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated.
  Kathy