Weight Loss Surgery Directory

Before & After

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Goals

Complete a Sprint Triathlon

18 People
 in progress, 
11 People
 achieved this

To start living life instead of existing.

40 People
 in progress, 
10 People
 achieved this

Ride a bike again

62 People
 in progress, 
23 People
 achieved this

Ride a horse again

85 People
 in progress, 
20 People
 achieved this

stop avoiding long lost friends due to my weight

80 People
 in progress, 
46 People
 achieved this
Surgeon Testimonial

Jeffrey Friedman M.D.
I originally started my journey towards weight loss surgery with a different local surgeon. I didn't get to meet the surgeon, but for my insurance I met monthly with the nutritionist / dietician. The first visit with him had me leaving embarassed and angry... with only a few paper handouts to show for the visit. His assumptions and comments were what I expected from the general public, not a weight loss professional. I decided it was a "standard 1st visit speech" so I went back again the 2nd month. I received another fistful of handouts and instructions to cut out "all those deep fried foods" - even though he never reviewed the carefully documented food log I had in hand (which did not list any fried foods). Again, the 5-10 minutes he spent with me left me feeling humiliated and unsure.
I decided I would rather go through life struggling with my weight on my own than to deal with the frustration and embarassment.

And then a friend suggested I visit Dr. Friedman. WOW. What a difference.

The instant I walked in the office door I was greeted with a pleasant waiting room and an even more pleasant lady at the desk, Betty. Dr. Friedman came to the waiting room to get me and I had a consultation with him before even meeting the nutritionist. He was very friendly and down to earth. I wasn't even sure I wanted to go through with surgery, so Dr. Friedman reviewed all of the potential complications, risks and benefits. He sketched out the surgery on a piece of paper and wrote down the various medications and vitamins he would be requiring of me. When I left HIS office, I felt confident in my new decision to have RNY Gastric Bypass, and confident in my decision to have Dr. Friedman as my surgeon.

Throughout the remaining months of my insurance required visits, every visit was pleasant and reassuring. There was no rushing through and no "handout only" consultations. Every time I met with the nutritionist she explained her expectations, why she had them and how I could meet them. The nurse was WONDERFUL about making sure my anxiety and claustrophobia was addressed and made known to the entire team who would be involved in my surgery.

The morning of my surgery I expected to be frantic... but I was very calm and confident that I was placing my life in the hands of a great surgeon who had genuine concern for me as an individual, a friendly and thorough OR team who would see to my needs (especially the anxiety and claustrophobia, if the need arose) and I had advocates in both my surgeon and his nurse.

I woke up from surgery with mild pain, but mostly wanted something to moisten my mouth. I had very little pain throughout my stay (Tuesday morning - Thursday afternoon) and it was always addressed with reasonable quickness by the nurses on the floor. The nurses and techs were caring and attentive. Even the housekeeping staff seemed like my own personal cheer squad as I took my walks in the middle of the night.
Dr. Friedman visited me each day and checked on how I was feeling. He never made me feel like my questions were dumb or insignifcant.


I am only a week post-op and I feel great! I had my first post op visit and everyone in the office was happy and proud for me. It was like celebrating with friends instead of the usual feeling you get in a doctor's office. There is a 5yr aftercare program, so I feel good knowing I have resources available to me for the "long haul."

I adore Dr. Friedman and his staff.... and I feel like they are sincerely interested in playing a part in my success so that I can really LIVE life
Member Interests
  • Animal Rescue - I foster horses that are seized by the county
  • Cats - 4 of them inside - Diva , Leroy, Boots and Lil
  • Dogs - I have a 110lb yellow Lab named Rio. He means more than this line lets me write.
  • Horses - 2 horses - 29yr old Skye and 2yr old Buddy
  • Gardening - LOVE my garden! Even at my highest weight I was out there in the Florida sun

Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by Vanessa A. on 8/18/11 6:27 am
    Good luck on your surgery, hope you do great and i pray Everything will be perfect
  • Comment by Shae-mae on 7/22/11 6:17 pm
    Just read your post. praying all goes well for you and you get some peace. Good things are coming.
Click here for the surgery support page

 In November of 2010 I worked up nerve to ask my primary doctor to refer me for bariatric surgery.  I started my insurance required 6 month medically supervised diet in February of 2011 and had my RNY on August 16, 2011.

A year later I have lost 180lbs, over 85" and 21% body fat. I can buy clothes off the rack and have worn a dress for the first time in 12 years. I have also participated in 3 Sprint distance Triathlons, have a 3rd  on Oct 6, 2012 and have been in over a dozen 5k races - improving my time every single race.  I have participated in 3 10k races and the Pensacola Double Bridge Run 15k.

LJ1972's Blog
LJ1972's Blog


Where I Am Today
on April 14, 2013 8:10 pm

It has been over a month since I have posted on this blog.  In that month I have run myself past the breaking point of fatigue and exhaustion - mental, physical, emotional.  And I don't know how to slow down.  I am terrified of slowing down.

Today I have had FOUR ice cream bars. About 900 calories of garbage. And for the most part that is how my days go.  I manage pretty well throughout the day and then in the evening or late night I binge.  I don't know how much longer my gym routine will hold off the inevitable weight gain, and I don't know how much more I can handle cramming into my schedule.

 

Some days I just want to quit.

 

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Well hey there
on March 3, 2013 8:28 pm

Ok... been a while.... :)

Staying insanely busy and tired. Working out with the trainer, my department at work changed locations and I have a longer drive. My team is performing horribly.  I have more "hawngry" days than I do "normal" (even by my standards!).  Tomorrow morning I have bloodwork at 8am, trainer at 11, gym at 1215, work until 2330.  Tuesday class 0800 - noon, then tilt table test at 1400 (dreading it).  I am exhausted and it just gets worse as the week wears on.

 

I did a 5k yesterday ... new PR 32:23 vs 33:33.  It was sooo cold and the last mile I was coughing like a lifetime smoker.   The last half mile my legs wore out as well,,, but according to Runkeeper I was doing about 5.8mph.... 10m mile!! WOot

 

depression is knocking on my door. I"m not answering.

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Habits
on February 25, 2013 8:27 pm

I am finding just how much of my life is made up of habit.  Coming here is (was?) a habit and I have gotten out of it. I am thinking that is not necessarily a good thing.  Another habit is my eating compulsively - not a good thing.

I weighed at the gym today and I lost my extra 10lbs.  Then had a "HAWNGRY" day and probably regained it all just today.  I really really need to get out of the HABIT of having protein shakes more than 1 or 2x a day.

My truck is broke down (still? again?) and I need to finish cleaning it out before I take it to the shop tomorrow morning, so I will have a late night (in the pouring rain most likely) and then an early morning to finish up.  Dealership at 1030, trainer at 1100, spin at 12 and then work.  I need to get the bloodwork done for the cardiologist, but it will probably be Wednesday morning or maybe even Friday before I do that.  I need to call and see when my appointment with Dr. Friedman is because I think it is next week... and I have a training class at work that is mandatory.

This Saturday is a 5k on the beach, 3/16 is a 10k downtown on the hills. I am supposed to run 2 miles tonight because I decided to do the half marathon plan my trainer developed for me. I figure I can go through the plan then just start over when I reach the end. Hopefully I will work up my nerve to register for a half marathon - maybe the one in San Antonio in November?

 

Just randomness... hoping I will get back into coming here and maybe it will help with accountability.

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What it all means to me
on February 18, 2013 8:37 pm

I spent all of my high school / adult life as an obese person using food as comfort, punishment and anger management.  There were no expectations placed upon me, so I didn't live up to anything.  I did try to be active and do stuff for my niece and nephews - nearly every summer I took them to the water park. We did Sea World, camping, fishing and trips to the river. I never really participated, just financed and chauffeured.

Then, I decided to have surgery. Immediately I changed my lifestyle and started trying to monitor my food. I started working out and a month before surgery I worked up nerve to start with a fitness trainer.  Over the past 18mths I have busted my ass to prove I was serious about surgery and my new life.  Training for an hour 2x a week with the trainer, doing group exercise classes, attending triathlon training sessions, swimming, biking, running on my own.  I monitored my food intake and obsessed over calories and carbs.  I have never ever experienced the freedom and confidence that came with losing 185lbs.  I went to the water park and rode the rides (much to my 17yr old nephew's delight! I thought it would embarrass him but he loved it). I bought a horse and rode him (some).  I bought clothes off the rack - some of them size SMALL but mostly MEDIUMs. Crazy.  I sat comfortably in chairs even the ones with arms on them.  I was told by people I was a "machine" in the gym.  I LOVED MY LIFE>

 

So what happened?  Why has hunger / compulsion / lack of control over taken me?  I didn't think I was getting careless? I still workout with the trainer.  My food has just gotten crazy.  And my life in general is so out of control I feel panicky and claustrophobic to even think of trying to get some sort of recognizable structure.  In my OCD mind, in order to do the right foods I ahve to buy them, and in order to buy them I need room in my fridge and cabinets to keep them - but my fridge and cabinets have food in them. Not necessarily "bad" foods, so I definitely don't want to just toss them and toss the money I spent on them.

Here's what I am hoping :   starting next Thursday I will be in a different work location so I won't be going to my parent's house for my meal break as much.  When I get there is when I tend to start really hogging on some food. Like tonight. There is no way I should be able to eat all I do.  I am going to ask Dr. Friedman about the validity of requesting a scope to see what my pouch is like.  Real proud moment to be looking at a revision before I am 2yrs out.  sigh

anyway - back to hope.   At the new location I am next to the break room so I can put my lunch in the fridge that way it isn't right at my desk, easy to grab.  I am also going to limit my protein shakes.  As much as I love them, they are just liquid calories. The days I try to do just shakes end horribly because I have no control over my hunger.  Maybe that is what I need... to go somewhere that shakes are all I have access to. Or maybe if Dr. Friedman put me on shakes only I would do it. Something has to give, before it is me that gives.

 I saw the cardiologist today.   It wasn't as bad as I expected.  They made efforts to make up for the last experience.  Instead of the tech coming in and doing my history and vitals, the nurse did (weighed 183 with my shoes / jacket on  :(   ). She took my blood pressure laying down, sitting up and standing - all responded normal but were "low"  (100/72 - 104/76). My pulse was 48.  She asked if I had scheduled my tilt table test yet and when it was - then wrote it in 2 or 3 different places on my chart.

  Then someone else came in and just asked about my sodium intake and hydration, and the doctor came in after her. He told me what we already knew - the Holter Monitor results were fine. He said it isn't heart rhythm causing the dizziness and he thinks it is blood pressure. I held back from saying "NO!?!? Really?!?"    He told me again to continue to increase my sodium and water intake until my blood pressure top number is 110 or 120. I don't know how compliant I can be with that, and I told him, because my legs swell with too much salt. He said that is most likely a result of the years I spent so overweight and my body doesn't move fluids from lower extremities as well.   As I was leaving he told me he will see me in 3 months (last time it was a year) and gave me some labs to have run (thyroid and cortisol). He said if I don't hear back results of my tests in what I feel is a reasonable time for me to call his nurse directly.  Then if I still feel things are not moving the way they need to, he gave me a contact number where he personally will return my call.   The nurse, doctor and receptionist were all talking and joking with me as I checked out - my mom goes there so we had a common topic.  Then, this afternoon, the other cardiologist office called to confirm my appointment - the one the original nurse said she would take care of canceling for me.   Good grief.   As I was leaving the medical building I stopped by my surgeon's office and the nurse gave me my B1 injection. I sure hope it helps. I haven't been compliant with my vitamins either - another one of those "structure" things.  
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Vitamin B1
on February 16, 2013 8:14 pm

I am so glad I have Dr. Friedman and his staff watching over me.  Even though my B1 numbers come back fine consistently, they had me start supplementing with B1 injections and oral B1 because of my drastic memory changes (as in I have no memory!!).  It helps so much! I can definitely tell when I miss - and I have missed for a couple of weeks now.  Hopefully Monday morning, after the cardiologist office, I can stop in and get the injection. I started back on the B1 tablet a couple of days ago.

Thursday night I got off work at 0100 instead of 0000.  After going home, changing clothes, helping my mom, feeding the horses, tending to chicks / rabbits, looking for my wandering rooster, feeding the dogs and a hot shower, it was 0300.  My alarm was set for 0500 and I went to my 0600 Spinnerval class.  It was a great class - I was so tired lol.  As the class ended and I was helping to carry some equipment back to storage, a young very buff guy said "You are a machine in there!".   yeah baby!  :)

When I got out to the very cold parking lot (ok, no smart comments from Northerners here!), my truck wouldn't start.  Security came over to try to jump start it - no joy.   My dad came and gave me a ride home while he went to a doctor appointment.  My friend sent her hubby to help me.  He picked me up from my folk's house and when we got to my job he had me try to start the truck -  first turn of the key it cranked!  He said he still thought from the sound of it that there is a fuel filter problem.   I had already called and canceled my counseling appointment, so I made a quick trip to the feed store, home to help my mom and then home for a short nap. I really REALLY wanted to just keep on sleeping, but I got up and went to my youngest nephew's baseball game. I had planned to go to my older nephew's game, but he rarely plays (high school politics :(  ) , it was cold and my mom was home alone because my dad had gone to the game. SO I went to their house.  After my dad got home and we helped my mom to bed, I tended my animals and went to bed. I think I slept pretty well.

This morning my phone battery went dead and therefore my alarm didn't go off  - Riley dog missed the first day of school!  It was just as well, since I would have had to leave early to make my rescheduled counseling appointment.  After counseling I took Lucy to Petsmart for an adoption event. She was her sweet self, waggy tail and saying hi - but everybody patted her and then went to the puppies. I'll have to teach her some tricks or something to up our game  :).

I had some lunch (Bubba burger w/ lettuce, tomato, pickle, cheese on 100 cal sandwich thin), helped my mom and went to work.  My friend the photographer called and said she had the most recent canvas I had ordered so I was going to meet her at my parent's house.  My truck wouldn't start.  She brought the canvas to me at work (it is beautiful!) along with a smaller canvas she had made with the quote "Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole".  She spoils me!    My dad came at my meal time to give me a ride to their house, then I would drive his truck back to work.  When he got here he had me try the truck - it started.    *sigh*  

The truck did stall out driving down the road, and after I shut off all the lights etc it finally started back and ran long enough to get home.  I helped my mom, ate a ton of food and used my dad's truck to get back to work.  I will have to get up early tomorrow in order to have time to clean out my truck (there is no back seat, it is "stuff" and garbage and cases of water, etc).  I for sure can't take it to a mechanic Monday, but maybe Tuesday I can drop it off somewhere and get it on Wednesday.   Nissan must know I got my work bonus Thursday night.

In other news -  In the coming week I have

Monday -  a cardiology appointment, getting my B1 injection, a vet appointment to have 2 cats microchipped, and a 12hr shift.

Tuesday - Trainer workout at 11, Spin class at 12,  11hr shift

Wednesday - Trainer workout at 1030, then take some gift boxes across town to our new work location. I want to have "goodies" on my Team desks when they come in for their first day there

Thursday - my team starts working at the new location but I will be in an all day class at the current location. I'll head over for a few hours to make sure everyone gets settled in ok. 

Friday - Spinnerval, Counseling,  check on Team at new location

Saturday - RIley to school, then Lucy and maybe Riley or Rio to "Bark to Remember"  - dog friendly Alzheimer's fundraiser at the baseball stadium.

I have a tilt table test on March 5, to check on my dizziness.   March is also the dread time of year for my yearly check up with theGYN.  I also have an appointment to follow up with Dr. Friedman and the dietitian for my 18mth check up and labs.  I hope and pray I have lost this 10lbs by then.

Actually... I need to do more than hope and stop treating prayer like Santa Claus. I need to stop feeding my dang face garbage all the time.  

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