Weight Loss Surgery Directory

By Location By Map
Before & After

There are currently no before and after photos for this member.

See these instructions if you wish to submit your own Before & After photos.
Goals

boogie board

0 People
 in progress, 
1 Person
 achieved this

travel to Europe in 2008

0 People
 in progress, 
1 Person
 achieved this

Attend my 25th high school reunion and not fear "the looks"

1 Person
 in progress, 
1 Person
 achieved this

Go to Six Flags and ride every single ride

27 People
 in progress, 
9 People
 achieved this

Complete my reconstruction phase by 2009

1 Person
 in progress, 
0 People
 achieved this
View Other Goals
Surgeon Testimonial

Raul J. Rosenthal, M.D.
I have just found out that the same Surgeon who performed the gastric bypasses on both my cousin and his wife is a contracted physician with my health insurance. Tomorrow, 8-2-2005, I will be contacting my PCP for a written referral. And so my journey truly begins.

9/2405 - I met with Dr Rosenthal and his staff at Cleveland Clinic Weston and I have to say they are all very compassionate people. Dr Rosenthal is a quiet man - however he is complete in his analysis and very responsive to your quesitons. He has a wonderful reputation and the Bariatric WL Center has it together.
Member Interests

Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by NurseTC on 12/5/05 8:20 am
    Glad you're home and wishing you a speedy recovery.
  • Comment by Qbandiva on 12/5/05 5:46 am
    Good morning and God Bless us all. I am back and I'm back with a vengance! My surgery was on 11/30 and I was up and in a chair within 10 hours of the procedure. I hardly had to use the morphine drip. I was up and walking within 13 hours of the surgery and I haven't stopped yet. Thank you each and everyone one of you for your thoughts and prayers. I have been blessed in that this procedure went smoothly and painlessly. Dr Rosenthal has been blessed with hands of gold. For all of you who posted to my site, thank you!
  • Comment by piperkc on 11/11/05 10:07 pm
    "It's never too late to be who you might have been." ~George Eliot “The Greatest healing therapy is friendship and Love.” ~ Hubert Humphrey "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, any one can start from now and make a brand new ending" " The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, but in what direction we are moving." ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes "There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow." ~ O. S. Marden "Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil." ~ James Allen "I asked God to give me happiness. God said, "No. I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you." ~ Author Unknown "Goals give you more than a reason to get up in the morning; they are an incentive to keep you going all day. Goals tend to tap the deeper resources and draw the best out of life. "Put yourself in a state of mind where you say to yourself, 'Here is an opportunity for me to celebrate like never before, my own power, my own ability to get myself to do whatever is necessary." ~ Anthony Robbins " ~ Harvey Mackay "Life is a challenge, but if you don't stand and risk you will never know if you were able to win or lose. Challenges are not a thing of winning or losing; they are a way of learning from them to become a better person every day! ~ Alexsander Rodriguez, P.R "Don't ask for it to be easy, ask for it to be worth it." Dan Kuschell "The most important question to ask is not 'What am I getting?' The most important question to ask on the job is 'What am I becoming?'"You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however." - Richard Bach "In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins; not through strength, but through persistence." ~ Jackson Brown "I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning." ~ J.B. Priestly "Each of us has an inner dream that we can unfold if we will just have the courage to admit what it is. And the faith to trust our own admission. The admitting is often very difficult." ~ Julia Cameron "The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong. That block of granite is often nothing more than a decision." ~ Thomas Carlyle "Being yourself is not remaining what you were, or being satisfied with what you are. It is the point of departure." ~ Sydney Harris "Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinion of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth." ~ Katherine Mansfield "Too often we are scared. Scared of what we might not be able to do. Scared of what people might think if we tried. We let fears stand in the way of our hopes. We say no when we want to say yes. We sit quietly when we want to scream. And we shout with the others, when we should keep our mouths shut. Why? After all, we do only go around once. There's really no time to be afraid. JUST DO IT." ~ Nike advertising campaign "I am convinced that attitude is the key to success or failure in almost any of life's endeavors. Your attitude - your perspective, your outlook, how you feel about yourself, how you feel about other people - determines your priorities, your actions, your values. Your attitude determines how you interact with other people and how you interact with yourself." ~ Carolyn Warner "Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives." ~ Author Unknown "It's never too late to be what you might have been." ~ George Eliot "For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it." ~ Author Unknown "Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end, requires some of the same courage which a soldier needs." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson A wish changes NOTHING; A decision, changes EVERYTHING "So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will,they soon become inevitable." Christopher Reeves "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:2-3 Everyone has beauty but not everyone sees it. "If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much." ~ Jim Rohn May you always have an Angel by your side. Watching out for you in all the things you do. Reminding you to keep believing in brighter days. Have a speedy recovery Angela in Corpus Christi 291lbs BMI 45.60 -234lbs Dr Michael Grace Open RNY Life began May 16, 2002 I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. Surely..I will heal you." 2 Kings 20:5
Click here for the surgery support page
My Rants
My blog


July-September 2006
on July 1, 2006 12:00 am

7/7/06 - Weighing in @ 181. Celebrated Independence Day with my Cousin, Jesus. He arrived from Cuba by way of Venezuela on 5/24 and I watched him this week as independence day took on a new meaning in our house. Had a great time @ the beach watching the fireworks.

7/20/2006 - Struggling with stomach issues since last thursday. I'm back on previsaid. On top it looks like I had a sinus infection. My bach continues to ache and I've mentioned it to my pcp who said if this continues he will be sending me for physical therapy to see if it helps. I'm still weighing in @ 177lbs. Looks like I may have hit a wall of sorts. I'm getting alot of compliments lately and I smile graciously, however, I don't feel right. I'm loading some pictures from this past Sat (7/15) I went to miami for the Gloria Estefan ZO summer concert series, a benefit for Alonzo Mourning foundation. The concert was great, I had an opportunity to meet up with Gloria after the concert, but ended up going back to the hotel because I didn't feel well. In all the years I've had a chance to meet up with Gloria, I've never passed it up. THAT's HOW BAD I WAS FEELING!!!!


7/21/06 - Today I stumbled on a buddhist saying and I truly feel it's part of my new belief system...and so I share....

"Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others."

7/26/06 - Well Back to the hospital - I saw one of Dr Rosenthal's associates Dr Laler and he sent me back for an upper GI. He feels I may had developed more strictures as well as a possible bowel obstruction. 10 mins after drinking that nasty stuff. I was in the can. Spent most of the drive back home stopping  @ every rest stop between Sunrise and Naples. I ended up sleeping in the bathroom because the pains in my belly were so bad. THIS is NOT for the FAINT of HEART! But damn it, janet, I will be ok.... this is just a bump of sorts.  This morning I had some oatmeal and it stayed. I'm dehydrated, so I'm trying to drink ask much as I can tolerate.  I just wished the dr's office would call me back already.  I'm looking forward to visiting Disney this weekend. I just hope I'm feeling ok to ride the rides.  It's my little gold ring @ the end of my rope. I've got to keep reaching for it. SP thinks I'm crazy.

07/30/2006 - 8 month - this is so incredible. To say I'm 8 months post op and weighing in @ 175 lbs. Thank you once again, God for your protection and your support. Yes, as you read above you'll note that I have endured my share of stuff, but then again life is about "stuff" isn't it? I had a great time in Orlando this weekend - rode on rides like a little kid. I went to the water park in my bathing suit and had fun without being self-concious. My friends, Debbie and Gary and their kids were really happy to see me and we had a nice time together. I got to visit with my friend Maribel who knows me better than I know myself sometimes. We had a nice dinner and she just gushed about the new me. I just want to be me and I hope that I am not changing in the process. Maribel says I looked like I did when we were kids. Hell I suddenly feel like a kid with all the things available to me. I was using the BMI calculator and I am 1 lbs away from being "NORMAL" weight. This caused me to cry because I have never been "NORMAL" - but then again those who know me, know this! Going to the PCP on Wed to have blood workup - but I haven't been on meds (diabetic, bl, cholestorol, etc) since May.

8/7/06 - I went shopping yesterday - look what I got - a size 10 2 piece bathing suit. I know concedited right. HELL YEAH! I worked hard @ this and I want to be able to do everything other women my ago do and wear!

August 15th, 2006 - I'm a TIA!!!!! My brother and his partner became parents today. Sophia Victoria was born this morning! I can't wait to meet her. I'm thrilled for my guys and wish them a lifetime of happiness and unconditional love. I'll be visiting Philly @ the end of the month and will get a chance to meet my little niece. I'm so excited!

August 21, 2006 - I had a blast this weekend @ the Obesity Help weight loss conference held at the Westin Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. I met many inspiring pre/post op folks and was very impressed with the panel of speakers, especially with Lauarlyn Bellamy and Dr Shuster. Monica is an incredible motivator - as well as funny.  I had the opportunity to participate in a Fashion show and wore one of my last BIG dresses and then I "stripped" and the dress fell to the ground and out stepped the new me in a sharp turquoise golf outfit. The crowd went wild!!!!

I weighed in this morning and I am happy to report that I am now weighing in @ 169lbs. Life's a little stressful but I am trying my best to keep eating healthy and drinking my water - all 8 glasses a day....For those of you reading my profile - this is said over and over everywhere - FOR A REASON. It is a must do and there's no negotiating this option.

8/29/2006 - OK so I'm stressed. Hurricane shutters are up and we're on the look out for hurricane Ernesto. Damn latin men - always causing trouble. I've got ,my Kashi crunch to help me through the boring times to come and I vow not to stress eat. I'm happy to say I'm weighing in @ 167 and if the storm isn't supper bad then I am flying home (PHILLY) on Thursday to see my new neice, SOPHIA VICTORIA..... and to see friends and family. Tomorrow marks my 9 month anniversary and as of today I have lost 181lbs.

9/11/2006 - Sad for 2 reasons - the 5th anniversary of the Twin towers terror day and I fell down a flight of stairs @ my brother's home last night. I am hurting so bad. I missed my flight home and I'm in bed @ his house. My back is out of wack and my right arm is hurting beyond words. It could have been worse, mins before I told my brother to be careful with the stairs and the baby. OUCH....

09/15/2006 - Ok so I'm back home in Florida and I went to see my Ortho who has determinded that I have a broken collar bone, torn rotator cuff and a dislocated arm. OUCH!!!! On the plus side I weighed in @ 165. I'm 9 and 1/2 month out and feeling so much more improved. I'm eating better and able to eat a larger variety of food. SP made Thai for dinner tonight and it sat well. Here I thought that spicy food wouldn't agree with me but I was fine.

9/18/2006 - ok so tonight I had a WOW moment - weird as it may be. I went to have an MRI done on my arm and I was dreading it because I'm claustophobic - turns out losing 186 lbs gives you a little more room to enter the tiny washing machine called the MRI unit. No that's not the WOW moment - the WOW moment and I know this is going to sound silly was when I was completing the personal documents and I had to write in my current weight. 162lbs... it took my breath away. It was so official. Ok - it's late I;m on darvocet and I'm in pain. SP wants to tuck me in....he-he-he-he-he....nighters.

09/24/2006 - MAJOR FRIGHTING MOMENT!!!!!
First let me say - if you have had or will be having any type of WLS LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!!!!!

I ended up hospitalized with Septesemia (blood poisoning) that came from Cellulitis (staph infection of the skin) around my navel. This past Wed night while dressing for bed, I had to call Roger because I was bleeding from my naval. It's late and I ended up at North Collier Hospital's ER where they did a CTsan and put me on major antibiotic intravenously. While they released me at 4 am they suggested I contact Dr Rosenthal for follow up, which I did Thursday and was instructed to get right over. (Mind you I have an office to run, and I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place) After opening up the office and taking care of a few administrative duties, I drove over to Weston (1.5 hours) and was immediately admitted - Rosenthal had sent orders to the ER and one of his fellows met me there. I was put on 2 different types of Antibotics and kept in the hospital until late Friday night.  I'm now home and on Levequin for the next 10 days. I feel like I'm fitghing a bad flu - I go into cold sweats and chills every hour or so. My Navel is still oozing pus and it stinks. I ache all over.

The reason I stated "listen to your body" is because by themselves the following were nothing in the eyes of my dr's however, when you put the systoms together it pointed right @ the Cellulitis.

Cold hands and feet, unexplained cold sweat and chills, feeling tired. (this had been going on since April) Finally the festering abcess and the smell that actually started 2 days before the oozing.

09/26/06 - It's 2:00 and I can't sleep, I'm in a cold sweat and I took my temp. It's 95.1. My body is drenched and I ache all over. I'm praying to God for help. I'm in a state of desperation right now at the way I am feeling. My heart is racing and I am scared. God, please help me. 

9/26/06 - I went for further consult and I am now being scheduled for removal of my lymph nodes on Thursday. Dr is trying to rule out Lymphoma -but he did find the lymph nodes in my groin to be hard and these drenching sweats.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen

A thought - In the course of my recovery - whenever I discuss the setbacks, I've referred to them as BUMPS in my road to recovery......remind me to call G-dOT - my highway is full of bumps and potholes right now and I need a major dose of his spirit to heal me and fill those potholes. Alas - whenever I'm fearful, I'm @ my most humorous.

9/28/2006 - I had my left lymph node removed yesterday and my surgeon is sending it out to be biopsied to rule out Lymphoma. I'm home recovering - the incision sight throbs and I have pain killers but I hate the constant state of sedation that it leaves me in. The hospital called this morning and I won't have an answer until monday. Just what I need a long weekend to ponder.....

9/30/2006 - Today is my 10 month anniversary. I am weighing 164 lbs. Looks like I've put on 2 lbs - it could be from all the IVs because certainly it's not from eating - I haven't had an appetite for days but force myself to drink my Isapure shakes to keep up my energy. I showered this morning and it felt good. I have to make an appt to see the Dr Lamon to remove the stitches from my groin for wed. I also have to set up my rehab schedule for the rotator cuff tear. September has been a rough month for me - I'm down but not out!!!!! I just wish I didn't feel so damn tired and these sweats would go away. Took my temp @ 8:30 and it's 101.3 yet I am freezing...



Archive

Tags
  • None