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Surgeon Testimonial Fernando Bonanni, M.D. Dr. Bonanni is very nice and sincere. I got to like him more after I got know him. He explained both the RNY and DS with great detail and helped me decide which to chose. The staff are very helpful, but overworked. The initial notebook about the surgery was tailored for RNY and not DS. They kind of fudged it and some of the data was not correct but the bulk of it was extremely important. I've been using it for six months now and intend to continue after the surgery. The monthly support meetings are a wealth of information and very helpful. The before and after care programs are in my opinion excellent. I have personally found Dr. Bonanni, his staff and Abington Hospital very competent and extremely helpful. Latest Surgery Support Comments
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Well, it's official - DS on July 18 @ Abington Hospital w/Dr. Bonnani. I am very excited and anticipate the long road to go. Have been attending Support Group meetings since November and am really looking forward to being on the "losing" bench!
nanaoconnor's Blog
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My Story  I was not overweight growing up. I gained weight when I was pregnant and lost all but 5 pounds after each pregnancy. I have three sons. The heaviest post pregnancy was 140. Then I turned 40 and all hell broke loose! After several serious emotional traumas (father's passing, divorce and subsequent breakup of an engagement), I put on 30 pounds. I was diagnosed with clinical depression and put on meds - gained another 30 pounds. My arthritis started acting up so they put me on prednisone and I gained another 30 pounds. I can count for the first 100 pounds I gained in five years, but where did the next 60 come from??? I'm 5'4" and weighed 305 on June 1, 2007. I am now 290 (7/16/07) and going into DS surgery on 7/18/07. I hope and pray for a successful surgery with no complications, but if that doesn't happen, I'm okay with that, too. It's all in the Lord's hands and he will guide Dr. Bonanni this Wednesday. Whatever happens is meant to happen and there are so many people who have me in their thoughts and prayers, I feel pretty confident everything will be just fine. I'll check back and fill in the rest of the story in a few weeks to let you know how I made out. 8/18/07 Well, I never got back here after the surgery. I actually didn't get to a computer until a couple of weeks ago. The surgery was uneventful, and I am truly greatful. I had some respiratory issues, so I had to stay in the hospital 5 days. Went to my son's for a week and then home. Other than being very, very tired, all went well. I did complain of a soreness on my left side and they took an xray, but it didn't show anything. Yesterday I saw Dr. Bonanni because he thought I might have a hernia. I had a small one pre-surgery, but I have no idea where it is in my belly now!! He checked me out and couldn't feel anything. We're going to wait another month before he orders a CAT scan. He really thinks it just a "port site" trauma. If that is the case, the soreness should slowly improve and after three months or so be gone all together. I'm a month out today and I feel very good. I still get tired every afternoon and usually leave work around 3:00pm (I went back to my desk job on Aug.6). I haven't been able to aggressively exercise because of this pain my side. If I take it slow and easy it doesn't hurt, so guess what I've been doing??! I weigh 266 today, down 39 pounds from July 1 and 24 pounds from the day of surgery. I started soft foods a week earlier than recommended because I was starving and I can't stand the protein drinks! I've since graduated to poached chicken and fish. Very yummy! I still can't eat more than 1/4 cup at a time, but I do go back after an hour or so and another helping. I'll try to check back monthly and keep this space up to date. September 18, 2007 I am doing so much better than a month ago. I can eat small quantities of most foods, about twice as much (quantity)as I could eat last month. I very rarely feel "sick" as long as I eat slowly. The only thing that "came back up" was three bites of a cheesesteak that I had no business eating!! I am 50 pounds down from July 1. My knees feel much better and I am finally able to do most of my stretching exercises which in turn will make my neck and back feel better. Last night was my first visit to the the warm pool, sauna and whirlpool. I slept like a baby afterwards! I'm still having an issue getting in all the fluids, but the protein is up to 80 grms/day. I can still either eat or drink, not both. I can drink a mouthful of liquid (instead of a sip) at a time, but I get filled up quickly. Warm drinks tend to go down faster and easier than cold. Through posts on this site, I have found Champion Whey Banana Scream protein drinks and absolutely love them. (That's how I got my protein quota up.) I put 4-5 oz of water in a blender with the Banana Scream and 1/3 of a frozen banana - whip it up and have no problem drinking the whole thing with a straw. Suffered through my first "stall" 2 weeks ago (which lasted 12 days) and currently have been having a problem losing on a daily basis. I guess I just want to lose too much. Feeling fine and loving my DS!! October 19, 2007
I’m one day past my 3 month surgiversary. I am down 60 pounds and feel great. I am finally eating and drinking a little more. I still can’t get the 64 oz of fluid in, but I’m trying! I can and do get all the supplements and at least 90 grams of protein in daily. My hair started falling out enmass about 2 weeks ago, but no bald spots yet.
The pain in my arthritic knees is all but gone. I have not taken motrin in 4 months and other than being a little stiff in the mornings, I am not in constant pain. I am very excited that I could eat a whole Taco Bell Taco!! I'm also trying to eat a few vegetables a day. So far so good! All is good with my DS and me. November 24, 2007
Okay, I’m four months out (as of the 18th), and I am feeling great. I’m down 70 pounds and can eat almost everything. I’m still afraid to try Tomato Sauce yet, though. I got through Thanksgiving (I didn’t know if the turkey would sit well). A piece of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and a little bit of mashed potatoes. 1-1/2 hours later I had a very small piece of apple pie! I still don’t eat a huge quantity, but I can eat every few hours, and I’m full after a small portion. For me, that’s a very good thing!
The hair is still falling out more than I would like, but I have so much, it’s hardly noticeable (except to me, of course). I injured my neck/shoulder & elbow about six months ago and it has been giving me a lot of grief recently. Doing the PT, but the pain won’t go away. Was lifting my youngest grandchild (1 yr & 30 pounds) over the Holiday and boy am I paying for that today. Hopefully the orthopedic guy will give me a shot and I’ll be better.
Take care all you DSer’s and know that there’s another happy, losing weight and gaining confidence DSer right here!
December 19, 2007
Five months out and I’m feeling wonderful. I can honestly say that I very rarely have that “sick” feeling any more. I can eat everything now except plain chicken, and I may never try that again! Chicken nuggets or fried chicken is fine. I just can’t eat the plain white meat. If that’s all I have to complain about, I’m not doing so badly.
I’m down 76 pounds as of today. Not too shabby, huh? I’m eating close to 90-100 grams of protein a day and 50 oz of fluid. Still can’t eat and drink together. If I drink, I can’t eat. The fluid fills me up quickly. I still eat slowly and assume that’s a process I’ll continue forever.
Loving my DS!! January 18, 2008
New Year and lovin’ the new me thanks to the DS. I lost 5 pounds since last month (now 81 down), but I’m feeling great and have no major complaints. My hair has finally stopped falling out by the handfuls. Thank God I started with a thick head of hair! No bald spots, but the top is kind of thin. Hopefully, it will be growing back quickly!
February 18, 2008
Life is good. I’m down 90 pounds and other than the occasional pain in my left side (which all tests confirm is not a hernia or anything that would need to be dealt with surgically), I cannot complain. I’m in a size 20, a size I haven’t seen since 1996! It’s been seven months and I have absolutely no regrets. Off all pain meds (took mega doses of Motrin for 20 years for arthritis), no more sleep apnea (had that for at least 10 years, still need a sleep study, but haven’t used my CPAP in months), no more excrutiating pain in my knees when I bend (AND I CAN ACTUALLY BEND DOWN TO THE FLOOR) or get up from a seated position, no more Protonix (was on that for 8 years), and ALL my labs were excellent. Woohoo! March 18, 2008
Losing slowly, but feel great. Down just 5 pounds, but I’m still losing! Going to Physical Therapy for the pain in my side. They say it’s from not having strong enough abs to pull myself up; therefore, I put too much weight and strain on my “hip flexor” muscle. Working on building that up. April 18, 2008
9 mos out and down 97 pounds. Still losing very slowly, only 2 pounds since last month. But hey, when’s the last time I lost 97 pounds in 9 mos?? Try NEVER.
The physical therapy has been unbelievable. No longer have any pain in my left side from the hip flexor issue, but still need to work on strengthening the abs and back muscles.
I can eat anything I want without any ill effects. I try to keep the carbs below 50 a day and intend to go down to as little as possible to kick start the losing process again. I know in my brain that stalls happen to everyone, and technically since I am still losing something; it’s not a stall, but when the weight came off so quickly the first six months, I just want it to continue that way!
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