- Name: ~*Country Girl*~
- Username: LISA_C
- Location: somewhere in de Mtns!, VA, USA
- Member Since: 1/6/2004
- BMI: 28.3
- Post Op
- Surgery Type: RNY (05/05/04)
- Surgeon: John M. Kellum M.D.
Before & After
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Surgeon TestimonialJohn M. Kellum M.D.Dr. Kellum is a real nice man. I would recommend him 100%. He is taking great care of me. I feel John Kellum is for the patients! I am very pleased with him so far. |
MY LIFE! January 06,2004 through December28 2004 on January 6, 2004 4:38 pm
Note: If you are reading this profile from any site other than obesityhelp.com it is being used without my permission.
My surgeon is Dr. Kellum in Richmond, Virginia.
Welcome to my Weight Loss Surgery journal. I created this journal for my family, friends and anyone interested in Gastric Bypass Surgery. Weight loss surgery is a complex and individual decision. Surgery is not for everyone, it is an option. Maybe through my journey you can decide if it's the path you want to take!
Click Here To Visit My Sisters' Profile!
JANUARY
01/06/04
Let me tell you a little about myself. I am 29, 423lbs and a bmi of 72. I am killing myself!
This is me at my highest!
I have always been overweight, from a 10lb baby to a small little girl to a chubby young lady . Then to a chunky teenager and now a extremely large woman. Here's my story. In my family I have on my mom's side diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. On my fathers side I have high cholesterol,cancer, strokes, thyroid, and obesity. So I have allot against me unless I change it. So far I have of course the obesity, high cholesterol and hypothyroidism. When I first started working in 1993 I was 278lbs and 19 years old. By having my mind still set in party mode, I wasn't sleeping nor eating healthy.I would run each day on about 3 to 4 hours
of sleep and being extremely active beyond those hours. I was too busy wanting to run around and make sure I was having fun and not missing anything. Well about 6 months later I was near a scale "that I dared not to get on previously" and got up enough nerve to get on. In my eyes I was still 278 and thats what I saw. Well I weighed and I cried. I weighed in at 217. Never even felt it. After that I got a little more confidence and was very proud of myself. A few months went by and I ran into allot of hardships with men and I turned to food. I ended up gaining all my weight back and was miserable again at 276lbs. So I set a goal for my self and that was to find Mister Right. However I didn't set one for my weight. For 5 years I prayed for my husband. He had to be sweet, loving, sensitive, caring, and respect me. Well for 5 years I pretty much stayed at that weight somewhat bouncing around it. Then the good Lord answered my prayers. He actually gave me more than what I prayed for. Tom was wonderful! He was all I could ever want in a partner. He wooed me right off my feet. Little over a year later we married. The wedding was great, his parents took care of everything. With that I also gained a loving, caring and wonderful set of in-laws, Steven and Catherine. So married life adapted to Tom and I quickly. I began to spread and spread. So my sister talked us into going to weight watchers. I weighed in at 324 and lost down to 278. Then money became an issue and we stopped going. I ballooned way up this time,and the weight
is so much that I can't loose it on my own. When I broke my leg, I gained even more weight because I couldn't get around. So here I sit at 424lbs and something has to give.So many yo yo diets with extra pounds added on every time. Gastric Bypass I feel is the only option I have. So here I am with so much support. I feel I can take on this surgery and come out of it with flying colors. I have so much support from my family, Tom's family and my friends. On that note: Let the journey begin..............
Carnie Wilson not only saved her life but unknowingly saved mine also.It is because of her I started to look into weight loss surgery. Thank you Carnie for being my inspiration!
JANUARY
01/06/04
First letter sent to United Health Care today! It had a letter of recommendation from my PCP,a 3 page letter from me and 7 awful pictures.Pray for an approval!
01/26/04
Got a letter back from UHC saying they didn't need my pictures to make a decision, but were retaining my pcp's letter and my letter wrote. I thought the pics would increase my chance but I guess that's not going to happen.We will see!
FEBRUARY
02/04/04
Had my consultation today.Every things going well. Not happening as quickly as I wanted but..... We started in a classroom and our teacher Anna was awesome!!! She is a wonderful teacher. I have never been good in health but her way of teaching the class was great! I came out of there with total knowledge of what will go on during the surgery! Then we talked with the insurance man who happens to be Anna's husband. He said UHC likes to drag their feet. They first need to get an official denial from Southern Health saying they won't cover it.Then they will send in the papers to UHC. With my PCP already sending one in to UHC, they want to see how that comes out. If that is denied then they will try. The nutritionist I talked with is very friendly and high strung! She explained all the questions I had. Also letting me know EVERYTHING I was doing wrong. lol... very sweet about it though! I had a med student come in and do the physical, which was a little uncomfortable but he did just fine. Then we had Dr Northup. He came in and told me I was a good candidate, but my bmi is almost to high to do the lap. So I have to go on a 6 month diet(not required by insurance but by him). I have to quit smoking which I am about there, anyway! I actually stopped for 3 years. Then ran into some issues and started back. Not nearly what I used to smoke though. My husband does not approve and fusses every time I do smoke. Which I know it is because he loves me. My PCP had put me on a thyroid medicine that made me gain weight, so I stopped taking it. My level was 5.86 and considered borderline hypothyroidism. So I have to get back on that so he can see for himself what is going on. He appears to be real young. A little uneasy with that. I would rather have an older more experienced
doctor. Someone who has been at the hosp for a couple of years. Right now I guess I need to do what he says. I am waiting now on a phone call from the psychologist, so we can set up that appointment.
I was very emotional yesterday. I guess I had it in my head that it was the insurance I needed to worry about. HA! I found out I was wrong. I should have prepared for both! Now I follow what he has planned and pray for the best. My expectations were higher and I thought surgery would be done within 3 to 4 months. Like he said, "It is only a few months longer!". Starting today, I have to do those 3 things andthen he will do the surgery. He said I was high risk for the surgery but by following his guideline I will be fine. I am heart broken and mad but these are the things that drive
me harder! I will have this surgery! STILL PRAYING!!!
02/09/04
Got my psych eval set today its March 15, 2004.She said it will take around 3 to 4 hours. aghh!!
02/10/04
Went today to my PCP and got back on my thyroid Rx. Also had a pap done which was awful. Due to the weight my cervix kept moving, so he had to be more aggressive. Painful tears started rolling, so my husband came over and held my hand till it was over. I told my husband when it was done, I felt
like it was minced meat down there. lol (Funny now but it hurt then.) So I have to go back in 2 months to see how the medicine is working. After that I had an orthopedic visit for my
healing broking leg. Dr. CHHabra said it was healing right on schedule. (yeah) I'm looking at 2 more months of being at home since my job doesn't allow light duty unless the
accident happened on the job. My light duty says desk job until reevaluated. I am a Certified Nursing Assistant, so I do allot of lifting, pulling, pushing, tugging, bending, etc...... I have devoted 10 years to my job. I Started working 2 weeks after I graduated high school. So I will do as many doctor appointments concerning my surgery as I can during this time. I'm going to enjoy this time. It's well needed and earned.
MARCH
03/06/04
Filling out papers today for disability. Hopefully I'll qualify! Have a meeting with them on the 25th to plead my case.
03/09/04
Went for my weigh in today I have lost 10.9lbs. YEAH!! Bad news is I will will be weighing in for another 5 months before anything is done concerning insurance and testing.
Other than my Psyche test. I think I am going to go for a second opinion. I still have not canceled my date with MCV. I thank the Lord for that! Let me update you on that. MCV was
my first choice but then after realizing the distance and complications that go along with it I decided to stay with UVA. With MCV I have had a date since earlier this year and its for
March 12! The reason your not reading about the trials of getting that date is because of 8 months of trying to get paper work going. Then getting them to MCV and having the surgeon
agree to see me. Also not getting on this site. My actual starting date for this journey is around May of last year. Like I said with UVA I could have my family there, so thats a lot of the reason why I wanted it there. I still don't know what I want to do. I do know that I can't wait a year to go back to work!
03/12/04
Let me tell you about my day! First, got lost inside MCV due to it being so HUGE! Finally after 45 min of walking and looking and getting help from a lot of people who had different ideas on what direction we needed to go,we found it! Mind you I am healing from a broken leg, this walking is good for me but not to this extent! Wow was I frustrated when we finally got there. My husband registered me while I sat in a chair trying to catch my breath and hold back tears of pain. By the time he was done I had calmed myself and was ready for this day. First, we went to watch a video on what the surgery is about and the dangers. Then we went to see a nutritionist, who was quite a hard one to figure out. She was very sweet and knew her work, I just couldn't tell if I was doing things right or wrong until the end of our meeting. She said I will make a great candidate and that my PCP had me on the
right path. Then from there we sat in an examining room to wait for Dr. Kellum. He came in and explained everything and made sure I was aware of the risks and how they go up with your bmi. He made sure all my questions were answered and he is going to do my surgery! He does want me to try to lose as much as possible before the surgery and that is understandable seeing the risk factors. Being this high of a bmi, the %'s start to rise. So I must work HARD! Now we wait for the insurance to go
through and take it from there. Pray for me that UHC will pay! I am so glad I went today. Dr. Kellum is very knowledgeable with no games and no hoops to jump through! Unlike everything I was going to have to go through with Dr. Northup at UVA.
03/25/04
Had my appointment with Social Security today @ 9:15. We did an over the phone interview. Now I wait for them to send me any papers that need to be signed and get my doctor to send his report to them. Then we start the process of getting on disability.
03/29/04
Called UHC this morning to see if they had gotten the paper work from Dr. Kellum. The lady on the phone said "funny you called! This case has already been approved!" Apparently they approved my surgery on the 5th of March.They were just waiting for my surgery date! They approved my letter from my PCP and hadn't even received my surgeons paperwork. I jumped off the phone and called Yalonda and told her and she said my surgery will probably be in May and that she will call them,then call me to give me an exact date! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!
APRIL
04/03/04
Just an update. Still haven't received my date.The waiting is AWFUL! I already got 2 calls into Yalonda,so I'm waiting. BUT NOT VERY PATIENTLY!!! I have let my family know and everyone is so thrilled.Not even the first negative response.
04/05/04
Yalonda returned my call today. She let me know that Dr. Kellum and his nurse are on vacation and would be back in a week.She said everything is a go. Were just waiting for him to OK the date and she will call me back and give me my preop and wls date. Least he will be well rested before he operates on me. She is such a sweet and bubbly woman.HEHEHE JUST LIKE ME!! We get along great!
04/06/04
Had my Visit with my PCP today. Everything went well. We talked about my surgery and how happy he was to hear I was approved.The nurse drew blood to see if my thyroid medicine
is working. We will find out in 2 or 3 days. He gave me a handicap form so I can get to and from the stores a lot easier. Instead of huffing and puffing before I even reach the door. He put me on vioxx to help with my exercising. So maybe I can do more. I have been working on my upper strength for the past 2 weeks and am really feeling the difference. Been walking around outside and it feels so nice to be out of the house. I do keep my brace on but it still hurts after wards. He is sending me for some type of breathing treatment test. Thinks my out of breath breathing is weight induced. I have no doubt in my mind he is right. So why even go for the test. So that is set up for April 13. I also received the official letter stating my wls has been approved. I just smiled. I have been more active since I got approved. Funny thing knowing that!
It just motivated my took us right off the couch!! My husband Tom is elated! He has been so supportive of me during this time. He is everything to me and I can't wait to show
him the true Lisa. The woman who is so full of life.
04/08/04
Received my lab work back today and I official have a thyroid problem. About two months ago he checked my thyroid level and it was borderline hypo. They checked it again since it has had time to get in my system and now it is normal again. The scale is 0.04--4.5. Last check is was 5.86 which would mean I am hypo. By taking synthroid my level is back to normal at 1.79. He also checked my cholesterol and that was still high at 251. Ideal is less than 200. My cholesterol has slowly started to come down which is awesome. I remember last year '03 it was 260 and the year before that '02 it was 278.
OH HAPPY DAY! OH HAPPY DAY! OH HAPPY DAY! OH HAPPY DAY!
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04/13/04
I have got the call that I have so yearned for. Yalonda called and my pre-op is on April, 27 and surgery is on May 5, 2004. I can't believe it it is only 21 days away. WOW! It is finally not a nymore. I feel scared, sick to the stomach,
and extremely HAPPY. Never knew you could feel all that at once. Thank you Lord!
OH HAPPY DAY! OH HAPPY DAY!
OH HAPPY DAY! OH HAPPY DAY!
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04/15/04
Feeling a little depressed today. I think the reality of this has hit home. I know every time a person goes under the knife that there is a risk. I guess I'm just scared. 19 days to go before I have a life altering surgery. The pros of this surgery are just to great to pass it up. My risks are a bit higher than the average candidate.
I am working on that trying to bring it down. We will see how I do! I only have 12lbs to lose before my risk factor goes back down to average. I sit here and daydream of how I will look and how active I will be. That is what is pushing me to do this. No matter how emotional I get I am not backing out. I just can't handle the thought of what if...... just too many what ifs. I can't stand it. Tom and I talked yesterday and I am glad we did. He is afraid too so I know I'm not alone on this. He told me not to think that way that the Lord already picked our path and there is no need to worry. He will take care of us. I believe him. The Lord has shown his ways to us many times and there is always a reason why things happen. So what is meant to be will be!
04/19/04
Doing great today! Talk with a few members on the board and the talk with my husband really helped to lift my spirits. I have put all my worries in the Lords hands and there they will stay! Called United Health Care this morning to see if Yalonda had given them the date of my surgery. The last time I called they still didn't have a date down for me. so I called Yalonda and the secretary e-mailed her for me asking her to please call them. I was a little shocked that she called and didn't call me to let me know. I am one of those people I'm going to bug the hummhumm out of ya till it gets done. I got ready to call her then I figured I better call UHC first. I'm glad I did they had everything they needed. I confirmed it so it's set in stone. 15 days to go.......not counting the actual
day of surgery. With my leg healing I have been outside walking around more. Plus being downstairs I don't have those steps. I have been doing arm exercises with 1lb weights.
Now doing 2lb weights. Remember it's not the weight it's the repetition and going slow. Oh how my muscles burn after wards. I have noticed a hug difference in upper strength in just 3 weeks. We also turned in the Di ability papers that they sent back that I needed to sign. So 180 days from now we should hear back from them.I called and canceled my psych eval also since I don't need that for MCV. It will save us $1,000.00. Which is great!
04/21/04
Today is a awesome day! Woke up in great spirits and full of life! I got my MCV packet in the mail yesterday. It had a quiz and a thick book that they want you to read twice before you have your pre-op. I was so excited I read it yesterday in about 2 and half hours.Highlighting all the good stuff that I need to make sure I remember. It was very informative. We have 2 places we need to register at. Whats up with that, the place is confusing enough as is with them making it harder. The best thing in this packet is, I actually have a TIME set for the wls. Tom and I need to be there at MCV at 6am. I am pretty sure we will be staying in Richmond over night the day before surgery! Like I will sleep anyway! HA! They take first case in at 6:30 and second case in at 10:30 I pray I'm the early one! They will give me a mild sedative to calm me down before the surgery and hook up an I.V. then it's off to surgery!
Just a few little tid-bits about MCV + WLS:
~MCV is world renowned for its bariatric program.
~There is only a 2% chance once a doctor agrees
to do laparoscopic surgery that he would have to
"convert" to open surgery.
~Pre-op at MCV consist of the following, EKG,
blood work, urinalysis, chest x-ray, anesthesia eval,
weight, vital signs, physical exam, and
a gallbladder ultrasound.
~They want ladies with long hair to have it
braided prior to surgery.
~They will give your family a beeper so they
can leave the premises.
~MCV wants you out of bed and in a chair the
evening of the surgery. The next day the want
you up and walking 3 times a day on the unit!
With the 3rd making a full lap around the floor.
~They have a 85 to 95% success rate w/ their Pt's.
~With in 2 months after surgery they want you
walking 2 miles or one hour every day.
~No lifting anything more than 25lbs for the first month.
~No heavy housework (Vacuuming, mopping,
lifting laundry baskets etc.) for two weeks.
~No driving till after first post-op visit.
~No sexual contact for two weeks.
~Stairs as tolerated.
~Shower everyday to keep down infection.
Apply neosporin after each shower.
~Must avoid getting pregnant for first year.
~Vitamins must be taken everyday the rest of your life.
If you do not the following these issues could happen:
bone deterioration and paralysis.
~Can not donate blood ever! It may cause you to
develop lower iron stores.
These are my upcoming dates:
April 27 th 8am Pre-op visit- DONE
May 5th 6am Weight Loss Surgery- DONE
May 17th 1:45 Post-op visit- DONE
3 months after wls- DONE
6 months after wls-DONE
12 months after wls-DONE
2 years after wls
every year there after!
04/25/04
*****Today is Sunday. I have pre-op on Tuesday. Pre-op consist of the following: EKG, blood work, urinalysis, chest x-ray, anesthesia evaluation, weight, vital signs, physical examination, and a gallbladder ultrasound to look at my bladder to make sure I don't have gallstones. Getting a little skittish now. I guess I just want all the tests to come back and all be OK for the surgery! Gonna be a long day on Tuesday. Pray for no disruptions! Went and got most of all my post-op stuff yesterday, didn't realize vitamins were so expensive. Had to buy children's chew-able vitamins, iron and b12 and bought neosporin for my wounds. Found some sugar free jellos and puddings on sale. Mom is bringing me my walker and shower chair from when I broke my leg up to me and some heating pads. So now all I need to get is some sugar free icy pops, protein powders, soups and a food processor. I'll get those on Friday along with what ever else they tell me I need.
04/28/04
Pre-op yesterday went wonderful! Tom and I was so pleased at how MCV has everything set up! We started at radiology at 7:00am. Got there early so we could park at ACC which would be the last place we end up at for the day. So we walked to the main hospital and waited for registration to take place which also gave me time to recoup. I did really well yesterday breathing wise. I was so proud of my self. Last time I was there I cried because I hurt so bad. Not this time. My mom and I have been going for walks everyday and I have been lifting 1 and 2 lb weights everyday trying to strengthening my arms and legs for surgery plus my healing leg. So I was happy. At 8 on the nose we were called back for radiology. Got my ultrasound done and needless to say it's coming out!Quite a few stones in there. Never showed signs of it. Guess what I thought was heartburn was actually my gallbladder acting up. She pressed on it and it hurt so bad. Felt as if I was there for an hour. Tears of pain started rolling. Finally she was done. Tom told me she was pressing really hard to see inside of me. No bruising this morning though and I thought for sure it would be.
This is a picture of me getting ready for the ultra sound.
We left from there and went to gastric bypass class. We got there early which was good. It gave us time for all of us to get to know each other. The nutritionist came in and talked for an hour about the does and don't of eating and touched base on vitamins. Then Jill the Bariatric Nurse came in and talked for an hour and thirty min. We left from there and stopped by the food court and grabbed a small bite to eat. Tom and I walked around the building to the ACC (ambulatory care center) building. It was so pretty out. Had a hot dog stand out there and all. Here in our area you don't see stuff like that so it tickled me seeing it. So I went in and saw one of the Rn's named Joanne, she is a sweetie! Gave me some good advice! I'll talk about that at the end. She did my vitals and my weight I was up 6lbs. I had on sketchers and two shirts so I'm blaming it on that. LOL! Anyway she did a EKG on me and that went fine and then had the anesthesiologist come in. I didn't catch her name but she was quite the catbird! She had Tom and I laughing so hard and she noticed something that meant so much to me. She commented on how much she could tell Tom loves me and from then on she called us the lovebirds and the honeymooners. I was so tickled pink! On a more serious note I did question her about the c-pap and apparently I will more than likely have to stay in there a day longer. Plus have a tube down my throat an extra day. When I was put on O2 at home I would wake up and throw it off for like a week. When I was put on the c-pap same thing! So I asked her if they would restrain my arms so I would not do that to this tube in a panic. She said ("Oh honey you bet they are!).We then (still in the same area) went and got my
5 tubes of blood drawn. Then to the physical where they just asked some questions and signed consent forms. Then on to x-ray for a chest x-rays. Then we went and had dinner with Toms parents Steven and Catherine. Before we left to come back home Tom's mom and dad bought me a food processor. I was so tickled pink! An hour and half later we were home.
Sharing Joanne's wonderful advice!
Her advice she gave me was to get audio books and listen to them while on the tread mill. She said that instead of music which has so many different paces that a book you could indulge
yourself and once you were really into it you would actually forget to concentrate on the walking and just the audio book. So it would kinda make the time go by quicker. I thought
that was just a great idea!
Here are somethings that You could get before hand.
Possible Shopping List:
Blender for mixing up protein supplement or food Coffee grinder or pill crusher for grinding of medication
Chap stick
Flushable wet wipes and a plastic cooking spoon,
tongs or other hygiene products that can be found at amplestuff.com
High protein supplement
Centrum Liquid or Chewable Multi-Vitamin
Sublingual B12
Iron pills (only for women who are still having monthlies)
Crystal Light or sugar free Kool-Aid
Decaffeinated coffee and/or caffeine free tea
Sugar free pudding
Sugar free Jello-O
Sugar free Popsicles
Low-fat, no sugar added yogurt (without fruit)
Hospital Bag Check List
Insurance card
Toiletry Item
Shampoo/Conditioner
Blow dryer
Hair brush
Glasses
Deodorant
Lotion
Chapstick
Medications approved by your surgeon to continue
Flushable wet wipes
Plastic cooking spoon for cleaning out of reach areas
Personal battery powered fan
Slippers
Robes or pajamas
Underwear
Going home outfit
Pillow for underneath the seatbelt for the ride home
MAY
*****
05/03/04
Today is Monday and Wednesday is the BIG DAY! Seems almost like a dream. The Lord has blessed me! I am very calm and know in my heart that this is the right thing to do. My landlords Bryant and Brenda have like this game, exercise, lounge type room downstairs in their house. They told me I could come over and use the treadmill when ever I wanted. Yesterday Bryant called to tell me they are going to let me bring the treadmill over here to use it since they don't need it. YEAH! It is a nordictrack. It is very high tech. I can't wait. It's going to make this weight come off allot quicker than I could have by walking outside. Being in my home I don't have to worry about people watching and staring as they drive down the road. Thank you Lord! Keep me in your prayers.
My measurements
5/3
neck-----------17 1/2
upper arm------18 1/2
lower arm------12 1/2
wrist arm------7
chest----------48
breast---------60
waist----------68
hips-----------76
upper thigh----30 1/2
calf-----------22 1/2
ankle----------12
foot-----------10
475.75 total inches.
Doubling extremities numbers.
5/5/04
This is Tom and I right before they took me to
have surgery. The next one is me feeling very
drugged. Had just got my nasal tube out and
taken off the respirator.
The first day and the 6th day after wls, 64 staples and 11 incisions. (10 small 1 large) started lap ended up doing open.
05/14/04
I made it! I am finally on the loosing side. It has been awhile since I last wrote. I'm not going to go in to detail now due to too much uncomfortableness sitting here at the desk. I will later through after I am better.
Went in for surgery at 11:30 on wed 5/5 going to do lap.
at 4:30 the opened me up.
at 7:30 the finished surgery.
At 8 or 8:30 they finished stapling and cleaning me up.
64 staples 11 openings (10 small 1 large)
At 9 I was put into recovery.
At 12 In the ICU. There for 3 days. 2 on a respirator.
Put on floor on Friday night
went home on sat.
Been using a walker to walk and cannot stand up straight. I am having constant nausea and pulling at my lower stomach that hurts when I walk. Hoping this will get better. I have seen a major increase in the size of my stomach. Hope it is all liquids, gases and swelling from the surgery. I have post op on Monday 5/17 and I am not looking for them to tell me I have lost weight. I'm just to bloated and huge right now.
05/20/04
Alittle about my hospital stay. When I woke up at 12am and I remember the first thing I wanted was my husband. I wrote on a piece of paper where was he. He had left 3 hours prior so he could be there early in the am. I remember wanting to be pulled up in the bed and not being able to tell anybody.
I remember trying to tell someone through hand signals but no one understood. My feet hurt so bad. I was awakened again for them to get vitals and
signaled for the nurse to give me paper and he did. I asked to be pulled up and he pushed a button that pulled the foot board out and wow did that feel better.I wasn't able to speak because of the ventilator. Didn't feel like writing I just smiled at him and knew I was happier. Well that morning I remember family coming in but it was like a dream. I ended up being on the ventilator for 2 days due to the Doctor wanting to bring me out of Anastasia very slow. I now my first night immediately after surgery was not pleasant. The next day I tried to tell my family and they got the picture. Mom Cooper stayed with me the next night. My family knew that having one of them present I would mentally do better and I did. I slept like a baby. I remember people telling me "Lisa wake up and breathe." Finally when they took out the ventilator it was very gunky and I thought to myself I can't believe that was in me. So when they took that out they tried to put my c-pap on but it wouldn't seal because of my nasal tube. They ended up putting a wide oxygen mask on me and turning it up extremely high and kept my head up a little. The next day they got me up and put me in a huge chair and a couple hours later they sent me home. There are a few other details that I can't figure out but I hope in time they will come back to me. Some of the things I remember isn't adding up.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or
terrified because of them, for the LORD your
God goes with you; he will never leave you nor
forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6
05/22/04
Had my post-op and things didn't go as well as I wanted them to. I actually put on a pound. I kind of figured it would happen due to all the fluid I'm still carrying. I am not using the walker anymore. Still not standing up straight. Feels like the staples are just ripping me in two when I stand and walk. I have pulled about 10 of them out so far. They are now real tender to the touch and dark red where they are inserted. They said they looked good. They set me up another appointment on 5/25. Which is bad timing due to my angelette is having her surgery and I am not going to be able to keep everyone posted. My doctor's office is 2 hours away. They want to see what they can do about the fluid on my stomach and to get these staples out. They want to put me on fluid pills but with me being dehydrated already that is something they don't want to do. The nutritionist said I was doing fine with everything. They took my blood and I got that back yesterday saying my levels are low that I need to increase my iron. YUK! On a brighter note my sister measured my neck and compared it to before and I lost a half an inch around my neck! That put a smile on my face.
To my SISSY! She's having a BABY!!!
WLS Poem
Do you have cookies in your car?
Are those chips not very far?
Is that soda in your glass?
Did it come from a drive-thru fast?
Was WLS your choice to do?
Or did someone force you to?
If surgery was what you chose,
Why are you still doing all of those?
Success begins with wise choices you make,
Don't let noncompliance be your mistake,
The surgery you had was to assist your change,
Your compliance is for success long range.
So think before you decide to cheat,
Remember the goals you want to meet.
For surgery is not something you were forced to do,
It was what you wanted for a healthier you.
05/30/04
Had my checkup on the 25th. I lost 5 lbs. Weighing in today at 419lbs. Can we say OUCH!! Dr. Kellum has put me on fluid pills to get rid of all the excess water. I have to go back on
June 8th to see how they are working. I got my staples out and wow do I feel better! I can stand up straight and get up and down easier. I took my first shower today BY MYSELF!!
Boy was it nice. My sister came over and we took some measurements and I am pleased to announce I have lost 9 inches! I looked in the mirror before the shower and I could see wrinkles at the bottom of my stomach. You would have thought I just won the jackpot! I was so happy to see that.
I don't have scales so I only get weighed when I go to the doctors office. So any visual difference is just wonderful. I walked outside yesterday for the first time to exercise not once but twice! I felt good walking but my tummy still has its limits. When the muscles started making me double over I knew it was time to come back in.
My Measurements
Date-------5/30
NECK---------------16 3/4
UPPER ARM----------18
LOWER ARM----------12 1/2
WRIST---------------7
CHEST--------------46 3/4
BREAST-------------59 1/4
WAIST--------------66 1/2
HIPS---------------72
UPPER THIGH--------30 1/2
To my husband Tom! He has went from 264 lbs to 230 lbs!
I am so proud of him! I know with his support this
road will be a wonderful journey.
Andrea Lynn she has made it home from her wls.
We pray for good health for her!
JUNE
******
06/02/04
Today is going well. I am out of the house more and walking around enjoying all the beautiful flowers and pesky bugs outside. My next door neighbor has a pond full of fish so I try to go over there everyday. The walking is so much better that I think I will be able to get on the treadmill next week. That is my goal anyway! All of my places where there were staples has completely healed and look pretty good. I do have like a stinging sensation every now and again on my long scar. There still are spots on my tummy which are still numb to the touch but that is normal. I think that is why I haven't felt allot of the pain. My feet are still numb on the sides. When they get cold, they just ache. I can't wait to get the feeling back in them. The swelling in my feet has gone down and my tummy is getting softer. Those fluid pills work wanders. I am still having a hard time getting in my liquids and protein. It is so hard. I can't find anything I want to drink. Everything has such a bad taste to it. So I force it down and that makes my tummy upset. It is like my life revolves around pill time, drink time and eating. It is going to be so worth it but it's really hard figuring out a
schedule for everything. Also certain pills can't be taking with other pills. So I am taking pills like 6 times a day. AGHHHHHHH!!!! Enough of that! Three more days and I move to a soft diet and that will last for two weeks. MCV calls it Phase 1. No more pureed! That stuff just didn't work with me. I gagged on it allot so I didn't eat allot of it. I ate lots of soups (no noodles, mashed potatoes, gravy and watermelon. Everything else seemed not to agree with me. Next time I write I will be on my soft diet. I am hoping the progression diet is good to me.
06/06/04
Today is going well! I have now moved onto the 1st phase of my diet. I am able to eat soft foods. I have done well with it. So far haven't been sick, alittle light headed but OK. I have tried a baked potato, chili beans, hard cheese, and rice krispies. It is unbelievable the sense of smell I have. It makes me think twice before I try some foods. I am having a tugging in my stomach again today. I haven't been propping it up like I was. So hopefully that will stop hurting soon. I still haven't been getting in all my protein and water. It is so hard! I will try harder. That is my goal for today!
I have somehow managed to lose from June 7, 2004 to August 28, 2004 documentation. I don't know how it got deleted but from here to that date I am going to try to remember what I had down. I was so upset I could have cried! They are telling me there is no finding the lost documents.
June 7,2004
NECK----------16 1/2
UPPER ARM-----17 3/4
LOWER ARM-----12 1/2
WRIST---------6 3/4
CHEST---------46 1/4
BREAST--------58 1/4
WAIST---------66 1/2
HIPS----------71
UPPER THIGH---29 3/4
LOWER THIGH---21 1/4
ANKLE---------11
GOES OUT TO NIKKI MY NIECE. SHE GRADUATED
ON JUNE 12TH. SHE ALSO RECEIVED HER LICENSE
FOR COSMETOLOGY.
GOES OUT TO MY SISSY! SHE IS HAVING A BOY!
JULY 1,2004
NECK----------16 1/4
UPPER ARM-----17 1/4
LOWER ARM-----12
WRIST---------6 3/4
CHEST---------45 1/2
BREAST--------56 1/2
WAIST---------63
HIPS----------70
UPPER THIGH---28 1/2
LOWER THIGH---21
ANKLE---------11 1/4
FOOT----------9 1/4
JULY 24,2004
NECK--------------15 3/4
UPPER ARM---------16 3/4
LOWER ARM---------11 1/2
WRIST-------------6 1/2
CHEST-------------44 1/2
BREAST------------56
WAIST-------------62 1/2
HIPS--------------69
UPPER THIGH-------28 1/2
CALF--------------20 1/2
ANKLE-------------11 1/2
AUGUST 3, 2004
Went to Richmond for my 3 month checkup. Dr. Kellum was very pleased with my 92lb loss. I weighed in at 332lbs. He also said I am above average on losing weight, that most are at 60 lbs now. He said my incision looked good. I asked if I was proximal and he said yes that he bypassed 50 cm. I wasn't to happy with that I wished it had of been allot more! I am hoping it doesn't cause me to have to get a revision. So as of now all is good. He also said he expects me to be under 300 lbs when I go back in November for my 6 month checkup.
AUGUST 27,2004
I went to the Social Security doctor yesterday to try and get on disability. He was a very straight and narrow man. I don't feel he did a very thorough exam. I also feel that he was more interested in getting me out of there. I told him about my leg going numb after standing for less than an hour and how my line of work doesn't allow you to sit down. I had to ask if I could get on the scale! I weighed in at my doctors at 332. I weighed in at his office at 330. I like mine better mine said 325. Anyway I think I will be denied and if I am I will appeal it and request another doctor. Anyway I have been doing allot of driving and walking on my treadmill and lifting weights. Trying to stay active. I find myself enjoying my little meals and take pride in myself that I can eat a few ounces and have the will power to stop BEFORE my tummy starts to hurt.
AUGUST 28, 2004
NECK---------------15 1/4 total lost 2 inches
CHEST--------------44 1/2 total lost 3 1/2 inches
BREAST-------------52 1/2 total lost 7 1/2 inches
WAIST--------------60 1/4 total lost 7 3/4 inches
HIPS---------------67 1/2 total lost 8 1/2 inches
UPPER ARM----------16 1/4 total lost 2 1/4 inches
LOWER ARM----------11 1/2 total lost 1 inch
WRIST--------------6 1/2 total lost 1/2 inch
UPPER THIGHS-------28 1/2 total lost 4 inches
CALFS--------------22 1/4 total lost 3 inches
ANKLES-------------11 total lost 1 inch
Total inches lost so far is 46 1/4
I have only been doing measurements on one side. So I am doubling the totals for the arms and legs.
08/31/04
Today I finally did another MILESTONE! I did 1 mile on the treadmill. Never in a million years did I think I could do it. I put my Carnie Wilson book (Gut Feelings) in front of me and started reading and before I knew it I had completed 3 laps. I felt good and felt like I could push one mare lap to hit
that mile and I did. I'm so happy. Tell you what I got so happy after I took my shower I went and styled my hair for the first time in a year! Got quite a few compliments too! I really liked that. Everybody is use to seeing it up or in those gator clips. Today ends another month. Tomorrow I will be 17 weeks post-op. I have lost two pounds this month. What a bummer. I know, I know my body has to catch up with its self. yadayada! Anyway, I'm noticing the inches though. My thighs are getting very soft. I did however lose 9 and 1/2 inches this month! I can't wait till the weight loss starts back up!
September
09/05/04
Weighing in today at 329 pounds. Making 94 lbs. I am praying this is the start of me losing again!
09/07/04
OK not sure if my body is playing jokes on me or not but it said I was down to 326 pounds this morning. Maybe I am off my stall! Oh I hope so! I found today that my arms are starting to thin out. I could feel the difference in thickness. Yeah! My hubby said "Yeah, your bat wings are starting to hang!" He is such a nut! It was so funny because every time I find something new I run to him to show him. So I guess I need to start exercising my arms more! I finally found a b12 I like and boy does it work!! So I will be taking that before I start exercising to give me that extra boost!
09/08/04
OK now I'm happy the scales were not playing a cruel joke on me! I woke up this morning and sure enough they said 326 pounds. Finally!
09/10/04
Made it down to 325! 98 pounds total. Wow. I am so happy I am losing again.
09/12/04
18 weeks out and I can't believe it! I am down 100LBS today!! What a wonderful feeling!
On another note my landlords must have been talking and Bryant told Brenda that I had lost 100lbs. Well Guess what she did!?!? hmmm ready for this!!!!! She came over here and
gave me a 14k gold diamond tennis bracelet. OH MY GOSH!!!! She said it was because I decided to live for my family ,friends, them and most importantly Tom! Wasn't that the sweetest thing! I cried and cried. Oh I just adore them so much!
09/28/04
Weighing in today at 317. 12 pounds lost so far this month. Not to shabby I think! Had my first yard sale this past weekend and wow was it a job and a half! I did well on money and we are suppose to use the money for vacation but my hubby is
being giving a hard time about taken the time off. So far he has been denied vacation.
We are praying that he can get it overturned. Our 5 year anniversary is Oct 2, 2004 and we really wanted to celebrate. Not so sure it will happen now.
OCTOBER
10/01/04
New measurements
NECK---------------15-- total lost inches--2 1/2
CHEST--------------43 1/4-- total lost inches--4 3/4
BREAST-------------51 --total lost inches--9
WAIST--------------57-- total lost inches--11
HIPS---------------68-- total lost inches--8
UPPER ARM----------16 --total lost inches--5
LOWER ARM----------11 1/4 --total lost inch--2 1/2
WRIST--------------6 1/4 -- total lost inch--1 1/2
UPPER THIGHS-------27 --total lost inches--7
CALF'S--------------20 --total lost inches--5
ANKLES-------------10 3/4-- total lost inch--2 1/2
10/08/04
Weighing in today at 312. We just got home from vacation in Nags Head North Carolina. We celebrated our 5 year Wedding Anniversary. We stayed in a beautiful condo named Sand Castle. We had such a wonderful time! I Wouldn't do anything any different. It was that special to us! We seen 3 of the
infamous light houses that are located there. We ate in 5 restaurants only. We tried to save money by eating at the condo. Last time we went on vacation I can't remember how many we ate at so I think we did pretty well. Did allot of shopping for Christmas. Road around to see all the wonderful small towns like Duck ,Manteo and Nags Head. Walked out on the beach a couple of times. I took allot of photos so we will have plenty of memories!
I was persuaded by a loving family member to not use my c-pap while I was there. Just to see if I could handle it. My surgeon thought it was time to be taken off on my last visit with him but I have been to scared to try it. Well I took her advice and I did just fine without it! I was so happy! I don't feel like a monster anymore and plus No More reddened marks on my face in the morning. Goes to show momma always knows best!
Here is the fun part!
these are things that happened to me this week!
1. I fit in a size 4x shirt and skirt outfit! Had for years and has never worn it! Wore it on our
anniversary dinner date.
2. I fit in a movie theater seat! I haven't been to the movies in at least a year and a half to two years.
3. I was able to climb 3 out of the 4 sets of steps before having to stop and breath! Each set was
about 8 steps. I was so happy!
4. Fit into a booth! So I got brave and tried another at another restaurant and I didn't fit.
At least I know some booths out there will accommodate me now. Better than none at all!
5. NO MORE C-PAP
10/18/04
On Saturday I started having a pain in my navel and thought it might be raw or chapped. I checked it and it appeared to be fine. Then I took a q-tip and stuck in it and when I pulled it back out it had blood and mucus on it. Can we say EWWWWWW! Well I have been having a twinging pain in my belly button so this morning I called my surgeons office. Jill told me that it sounds like an infection in the belly button and they just have them clean it with peroxide 4 times a day. So I am going to try that before I go to my family doctor like she suggested.
I have been feeling great and enjoying the new things that I am able to do. Painting my toes nails is so fun for me! For the longest time my hubby would paint them. I have now resumed doing the house hold stuff that needs to be done. That ables Tom to work and focus on work and nothing at the apartment. He is really enjoying that! For the longest time Tom cooked, cleaned, tended to me and worked 40+ hours a week. It was hard on him but he was a trooper. Now that I am able to cook, clean, fix things, take the trash to the land field and tend to my own needs I feel more complete. My husband has been wonderful through all this! He is my world!
10/27/04
DOWN 125 pounds. Weighing in today at 299 pounds. Under 300 WOW!! Weighed at mommas on Sunday and it said 295. Boy was I excited cause I knew mine couldn't be far from it. As you know from above I tack on 5 pounds so it is accurate with my doctors. I wish moms was right though! Anyway I had my first dumping episode yesterday! I ate too much ketchup. Within 5 min I was running to the bathroom with a upset tummy and out it came! It happened so quickly it was amazing. See digestion takes 6 to 8 hours in a normal body.
My arms are pretty sore from doing my arm stretches with my rubber strands. Trying to fight the batwings on my arms. Walking is so much better now. Still doing my tread mill. When I don't do the tread mill I am doing major walking in shopping places. What a better way to exercise!
Insurance came back denied due to insufficient information. I will get all that info to them asap!
November
11/3/04
NECK---------------15-- total lost inches--2 1/2
CHEST--------------42 3/4-- total lost inches--5 3/4
BREAST-------------49 1/2 --total lost inches--12
WAIST--------------51 3/4-- total lost inches--16.25
HIPS---------------67-- total lost inches--8
UPPER ARM----------14 3/4 --total lost inches--7.50
LOWER ARM----------11 --total lost inch--3
WRIST--------------6 1/4 -- total lost inch--1 1/2
UPPER THIGHS-------26 1/2 --total lost inches--8
CALFS--------------20 --total lost inches--5
ANKLES-------------10 3/4-- total lost inch--2 1/211/1
127 pounds gone. This is week 29 for me being out of surgery.
11/04/04
Well today has been an awesome day for me. I for the first time in 4 years was able to take a bath! I actually fit with room on the sides! I have been wanting to try it but hadn't had enough nerve. Boy I am glad that I finally tried it! It was so nice and so relaxing! I put in salts and confetti and just felt like I was in heaven.
Tomorrow I go in to the hospital to watch my sister have her baby. She is having a c-section. A little boy named Jordan. This will start at 9:05am.
From the hospital I head towards Richmond so hubby can drop me off. Tomorrow starts the convention for Obesity Help in D.C. Catherine is treating me to this needed conference. I am so elated! I will let you know what all goes on when we return!
Also tomorrow I will be 6 months out of surgery!! I am loving life!!
11/10/04
Boy what a weekend! On Friday I became a proud aunt for the 3rd time to a beautiful baby boy named Jordon. I went in with my sister to have her c-section. What an experience! It was truly amazing. He weighs 9.14 pounds and 21 inches long. My sissy is doing great. I am so proud of her!
Left the hospital and headed to D.C. for the O.H. convention. My dear sweet Catherine & I had such a wonderful time. We stayed at a lovely hotel. Met some wonderful and fascinating people. Monica Ganz is one of the many special people we met. The time I shared with her was priceless. She educated me about some issues I am experiencing. She made me feel more comfortable about who I am as a person. I must say it was a privilege to have had that time with her to talk one on one. She truly is a remarkable woman.
As you know if you have kept up with my profile I am not much on protein drinks. I think there to thick and too sweet. I can't stand them. Until now I have been doing all my protein through foods. While at the convention I tried unflavored Unjury. It is thin and with no taste.. I LOVE it. I have been drinking it in my Crystal Light Orange since I got it home. I am so impressed with this. I will never buy any other.
6 Month Checkup
Yes already! Hard to fathom it has been 6 months. My Doctor is very pleased with my results. He made comments like ("Your just a regular little miracle aren't you! and You are an inspiration to me!)Can you say WOW! He made me feel awesome inside. I am
doing great in every aspect he said. Not to change anything. Before I walked out the door he told me how proud he was of me. I could have cried if I wasn't already so overwhelmed by his responses to me.
11/16/04
Weighing in today at 288 pounds! YEAH!!!!!Finally made it to he 40's in the B.M.I. I am officially 49.4. I am so happy! That is down from a whopping 72 B.M.I.
DECEMBER
12/02/04
Weighing in today at 280! Loss of 143 pounds! I have had a few firsts this past week. I'm very excited about these. I tried on some jeans that were the largest size Layne Bryant has.
They fell off!! I was so happy! I haven't had on jeans in over 3 years, they would cut my stomach and burn and hurt me. I had 2 more pair that was 3 sizes smaller than them and tried those on and they fit. A little baggy but they stay up! I would fit perfect in the next size down. I went to my sister's and raided her closet (Thanks sissy!)and got out allot of 3 and 4 x shirts. I have been wearing them and apparently people are noticing my weight loss more due to me actually wearing clothes that fit better. Not my baggy 6 and 7 x's. Been getting alto of compliments this week. It really does make it all worth while to feel healthy again and to have others notice it. Another first is I am sitting here in a pair of shorts that is also too big for me now. I have never been able to wear these. Here I sit and they are way baggy. I LOVE IT! I am going out alto more in public and noticing that people are looking at my face now not my body. It makes me feel human again. Thank you Jesus for this surgery!
12/05/04
SEVEN MONTHS OUT TODAY
What a wonderful operation this is! I am feeling the greatest I ever remember! I am 84 inches smaller and 143 pounds lighter as of today. This my friends is such a blessing. I feel alive again. I started at 423 and am now 280. I haven't seen 280 in years. While to some this is still a large number but to me it feels so good! I can't imagine what the up coming months will bring but I am for sure of this, I will live it to its fullest as the pounds go down the drain!
12/07/04
Got my UHC insurance explanation today. If you remember they denied me first go around due to insufficient information. Well I have good news. It came back saying that out of the $61,959.11 I owe $1,819.43. That put a smile on my face! Thank you Lord!
12/20/04
Well it has been awhile since I updated about my weight. I have been on a stall for the past few weeks. Finally on Saturday I dropped 5 pounds. Sure Aunt flo had alot to do with that. I have been having breakthrough bleeding from my birth control pills now for 2 weeks. Doctor says wait it out that the hormones are changing and let my body clean itself out. If it hasn't stopped in a few days I need to go back in and see if something else is causing it. Anyway Christmas is in 5 days can we say wow what a year it has been! I am weighing in today at 275 and feel great. I am hoping now I can find some decent girdles that will hold me up. Good ones don't come in large sizes unfortunately. I paid 43 dollars for one that half way works. GESH!
12/28/04
It has been a wonderful Christmas in the Cooper household this year! Lots of wonderful things has went on. On Friday we had our entire immediate family together for the first time in 7 years! It was such a joy. We had a huge spread of food that my mom, sister and I cooked. I now enjoy cooking and serving others instead of how fast can I gobble down the first plate and get back for seconds and possibly even thirds. I find I am more worried about making sure everyone else is content. I love this new me! We opened presents and watched as the kids awed over them. My nephew Mark (3 years old) would scream every time he would open something. I absolutely loved it!
We went to Richmond on Saturday for Christmas and it was very sweet. Toms mom has this routine of cutting fresh leaves, holly and magnolia branches to make these beautiful center pieces for the dinning room and sitting area. So us s go outside in the frigid cold to get these. All though the fingers were chilled, the centerpieces turned out wonderful! We mingled between the 6 of us and enjoyed this precious time together.
Mom C had done allot of the cooking the day before so there wasn't allot to do. Before dinner they decided to open gifts and they were so thoughtful. Each of us spent allot
of time to pick out the perfect gift for each other. His family is really hard to buy for. So this year we focused on the house their renovating. It was a very nice day. We also had all the immediate family there as well. We went yesterday to see Toms Father and he was happy with his gift. He had them on when we left. We bought him a pair of expensive bedroom slippers. He loved them. All in all it was a wonderful holiday. We give all our praises to the Lord! We know with out him none of this would be possible.
Happy birthday Lord!
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