Before & After

 
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Goals

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Surgeon Testimonial

Neil E. Hutcher M.D.
I first met Dr. Hutcher at a local WLS seminar. I was struck by his dedication to his patients, his record of preforming many surgeries and his sense of humor. He is a real patient advocate for fair treament by insurance companies, but I of course was impressed with the 3500+ weight loss surgeries he has preformed and the fact that he is very up to date in his procedures.

Also, he requires smokers to quit and explained that smokers have a much higher risk of certain complications. What an incentive.

I am still very impressed after my initial consultation.

The have an extensive pre and post-op program which I will be involved in once I get my surgery date.
Member Interests
  • Birds - I have a pied cockatiel named Starlight.
  • Dogs - I have two miniature poodles; Curley and Tarzan.
  • Museums & Art Galleries - My husband and I enjoy art and art galleries.
  • E-Bay - My husband nicknamed me the E-bay Monster.
  • BMI over 50 - My starting BMI was about 62.

Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by Just_Jane on 1/23/08 11:50 am
    Loris, I'm glad to hear that the plastics are finally happening for you! You are in my thoughts, enjoy the pain meds and take care of yourself!
  • Comment by Dee Kay on 1/23/08 9:23 am
    Good luck on your PS today! Congratulations. :) Dee Kay
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Welcome To Loris's Journey
                                                                                             
Loris's Journey
Loris's Journey


Striving for health
on April 9, 2009 5:22 am
It sure is frustrating to travel this journey when we start out super morbidly obese.  Our smaller counterparts reach goal in a year or so and the lightweights get down right thin in less time than that.

Some SMO WLSers never reach a "normal" BMI for many different reasons including the weight of excess skin, the inability to be active enough and the body just refusing to let the last excess pounds go.

I think a more realistic goal is a healthy weight.  What weight would be considered heart and joint healthy?  Face it, none of entered into this be beauty queens.  We have always been beautiful.  We want to live long and comfortably and to feel attractive.  One does not have to be tiny to do that, but we do have to be in a healthy range.  What does our surgeon and PCP say?  How does our body feel?  Strive for health and except less than perfection in the dressing room.  We are all winners!
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AT GOAL
on April 6, 2009 11:38 am
My goal was always to reach a normal BMI.  That would have been 135 pounds.  Now at 4, yes 4 years out, and 202 pounds lost I am calling 142 goal with a BMI of 25.8.  I look good and feel good.  I wear an 8-10 petite on the bottom and a 12 petite jacket.  I started out in a tight size 34. 

I know if I had been more diligent I could have reached goal faster.  I am satisfied with how I did.

I was in intensive therapy before WLS.  It enabled me to be mentally healthy enough to even have the surgery.  I didn't need much more than tweaking as I went a long.

I tried not to take myself too seriously during my journey.  Read my earlier entries.

I went to local support groups in the beginning.  I had a WLS mentor.

Life is easier now, because I am more mobile.  Not including my plastic surgery I have been hospitalized several times for non WLS surgeries or illnesses.  It was so much more managable thinner.  My sleep apnea and diabetes are in remission.

I am so much more at ease in social situations and I have always been out going.  I feel more mature and lady like.

I tried to remember that we are all different and are walking a different journey.  That we walk at a different pace.  I try to remember that I have not walked a block in your shoes, let alone a mile.

I don't reach out to help others as much as I should.  I don't fortify myself from others as much as I should.  I come on too strong.  But everyday I try a little harder to grow.  I never give up.  Thanks to each and everyone of you.  This community is all that.  Loris
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7 and 4 month post plastic surgery
on May 26, 2008 7:11 pm
If I made the plastic surgery seem like a piece of cake I didn't mean to.  A few things I left out were my back pain after my lower body lift.  This was due to an existing back issue, but painful none the less.  The drains are a hassle, but they are doable.  One of mine was in 3 1/2 weeks.  Stool softeners are a must to avoid constipation.  I still needed a few suppositories.  It took a lot to ease myself back into my bed both times.  I longed to sleep on my side the second time.  I could go on, but why?  Read the PS board for a long time before you dive in.  You really need to know what to expect.

Where am I today?  I am going to have my left nipple lifted in an in office procedure when I am ready which will be in August and my six months mark.  I still feels a tingle here and there.  My numbness in my tummy area is going away a tiny bit.  I am still spitting a few stitches from the UBL.  I am still slightly sore to the touch from the thigh lipo.  I am making an effort and am losing more weight.  I weight 157.4. Gotta count the .4.  LOL  My butt is tighter and I can lift it my flexing the muscles.  It would really respond to exercise.  Who me, exercise?  My scars are fading nicely. 

I am super pleased with my results.  My arms and thighs are sagging, but I am content.  The operative word is content.  I am thrilled with my breasts, lower abdomen, my outer thighs and butt.  I am content with the rest of my body except my upper tummy and I am losing weight to address that.  My true contentment comes from within.  I am happy with Loris the woman.  The days I am not happy with me, I take stock of my personality and my heart, not my body.
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Plastic Surgery
on February 14, 2008 3:47 am
I had a lower body lift on 10/17/2007 and had 15 pounds removed, more from the butt and hips than my stomach.  I am very pleased with the results.  He postponed the liposuction on my thighs because of the increased risk of blood clots with lipo and lower body work.  With my history of blood clot it is safer to do it at my upper body lift.  I had the typical little issues in the hospital such as low blood pressure. 

At home my recovery was uneventful.  I started feeling OK after ten days.  I wore a binder only and sleep in a recliner for at least two weeks.  I took a lot of pain medication along with Ativan. 

I realized the 15 weight loss and I have now lost 178 pounds.  My butt looks so good.  My upper tummy is not flat.  After much diplomacy, Dr. K. said it would require more weight loss.

Riding 123 miles each way for post-op care was a hassle.

Round two upper body lift  on 1/23/2008.  The first week was a blur due to the pain meds and Ativan.  I went around telling people the upper body lift was a peace of cake.  I had lipo on my outer thighs which was easy,  removal of back fat and a breast lift.  I couldn't tell any difference in my thighs until the swelling went down, but now they look great. He went to great lengths to preserve my breast tissue and I lost about a cup size from 38DD to about a 38D.  I was bigger on the left before.  Right now I am much bigger on the right.  I had a large scab on the left nipple.  It healed nicely, but the true color is not restored yet.  The scar around the nipples and down the breasts is very thin.  It is still puckered underneath the breasts.  The back is pretty smooth.   It has been painful partly because my bra band rides up into the incision and partly pain in general in my breasts and in my axilla and back.  The second week was hard.  I retained up to 14 pounds of fluid.  Dr. K. said I was doing too much and to cut back on salt.   I wanted to tell him the only thing I was doing was riding to see him.  At about 12 days out, Dr. Kreiger gave me two tiny doses of Lasix at my request and I slowly peeded off the fluid.  I am now a few ounces below my lowest weight.
 LOL
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A little catching up.
on June 24, 2007 5:54 pm
I came back from Florida having realized a few things.  One is yes, I have felt thin for a long time after a 165 pound weight loss.  I am not thin.  I am fat.  No flames here.  To be at a normal BMI, I needed to lose 50 pounds.  That gives me an obese BMI.  I needed to except the reality that I looked sloppy. in my body, skin and most of all my nice clothes.

Two, my 22 year niece lost 40 pounds.  She went from being fat to being thin.  She looks fabulous!!

Today I realized that after losing 7.5 pounds of the ten I gained on my own and losing 4 on time out I am now  only 14 pounds from an overweight BMI.  Why will I settle for obese (unhealthy) when I can be over weight (more healthy)?  Then it is just a few pounds from my engagement weight...
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My Story

                    LOOK!!! A Siren !

It's great to be alive as a post-op. I was only existing before my weight loss surgery.

                    We Proudly Serve Starbucks

As you can tell, I love coffee, full leaded coffee. My surgeon allows two cups per day. I joked with him that he did not specify how big the cups could be. :)

                    Immerse yourself in a mug of Joe !

I started gaining weight around ten years old. I did weigh 109 in seventh grade when my husband met me. I weighed 218 in 10th grade! I lost weight in college and had a period of normal weight briefly in my mid twenties, but after I married at 29 weighing 180 I steadily gained. A few years back I gained over a 100 pounds in one year and had surgery weighing 344 pounds. I couldn't walk through Wal-mart I was so big at 5'2". I was isolating and slept all the time. My back was a mess. I had sleep apnea and diabetes. They were threatening partial knee replacements. My husband was very worried about my health, but never said anything about it. I felt I was cheating him out of a active wife and worried I would die young and leave him a widower. With all this, I had no idea just how big I was.

                    Collecting Starbucks Stamps is fun !

My parents who had always bugged me about my weight, never gave up trying to "help" and it was very painful to listen to.

                    Too bad the ocean isn't made of coffee...

I had WLS 3/30/2005 with minimal difficulties. I lose weight steadily when I use my tool properly. Scot and I just returned from a houseboat vacation. I slept without my CPAP machine, climbed over rails to take photos, went down in the Seneca Rock Caverns, and laughed and laughed. I am a new person. My strong marriage is so much more fun. I fit in my surroundings and I fit in the world. I even have a lap for my dogs to sit in. :) My knees don't hurt, my diabetes is in remission and my back mostly behaves.

                    Bean Counter

I have had a lot of support on my journey from this site, from my friends mostly Diane in Florida, my parents and in-laws and many other cheerleaders. I love the Over 50 BMI board. I could not of done this without the emotional support and actual help of my loving and smart husband Scot. My heart swells as I think of him. He is funny, fun and oh so sweet.

                    Coffee is Good!

Weight loss surgery is a big step to be taken advisedly. But it is nothing to be afraid of. Anything worthwhile is worth the risk and hard work. The results are mind boggling. The rewards are many. Good luck my friends. Many hugs, Loris





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