Weight Loss Surgery Directory

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Goals

My goal is to purchase a house

1 Person
 in progress, 
0 People
 achieved this
Surgeon Testimonial

Hilario Juarez M.D.
He seemed very caring and professional. His office staff is excellent. I would prefer if he didn't have so many patients, but the gastric bypass is a very popular surgery.
Member Interests

Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by TenneSassy on 1/12/05 7:51 pm
    Randi, Good Luck to you as you make your journey to the losing side! I wish you an uncomplicated surgery and a quick and speedy recovery. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. ~Terri
  • Comment by Randi D. on 12/7/04 5:31 pm
    My surgery has been postponed. I am waiting to get cardiac clearance. The doctor's office stated that they are booked out until January/February. I am so upset.
  • Comment by Dakota Mom on 12/1/04 5:15 pm
    Best wishes on your surgery! May God be with you, your family, and your surgical team! I pray you have a quick recovery! :) Gail
Click here for the surgery support page

 Hello everyone! My surgery was 1/13/2005, and I have lost 185 lbs. A lot has changed since I've lost weight. I changed jobs, and am looking forward to possibly buying a condo or townhouse in March or April.
Randi D.'s Blog
Randi D.'s Blog


Lots of good things
on August 29, 2010 6:48 pm
I have been living in my home for a year now.  I can't believe how much I enjoy living in my own home.  My dogs love the freedom of their own yard, and I love my morning routine of petting them before I go off to work.

My job at Liberty Mutual is great.  The people I work with are the best and I really feel valued there.  It makes a huge difference when you are of "normal" weight.  It really shouldn't, but subconciously, it matters. 

My sister has come to live with me for awhile.  She came with her three cats and we have had some interesting chorus sessions in the wee hours of the morning.  Thankfully, no one has really been outright aggressive, but there have been some close calls.

Well, take care!
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New House on the Horizon
on April 21, 2009 10:17 pm
I am so excited and nervous.  I have talked about buying a house and was going to do it last year, but couldn't afford much.  I finally got tired of dealing with all of the nonsense going on at my apartment complex. 

I went house hunting in March and found the house I wanted after seeing 5 homes.  I am now waiting for the bank to accept my offer.  My real estate agent has cautioned me that buying a house in a short sale is a lengthy process.  Well, he wasn't kidding.  The bank has all of my information and they still haven't decided to accept my offer.  I was supposed to close on May 15th, but now it's going to be the end of June, so I will have to go month to month. 

Thursday, I get to tell the landlord that I will not be renewing and will go month to month.  I wish I could hear something by Thursday, but I'm sure I won't hear anything anytime soon.  Banks these days are slow to act and this one is no different.

I will update as soon as I hear something.
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Update on What's happening
on December 14, 2008 7:19 pm

I know it has been a long time since I have updated my profile.  I have been busy with making baby gifts for my friends.  I used to knit when I was a kid, but I never made anything more than a scarf. 

I learned how to make baby booties and a baby hat.  I went online and downloaded an easy pattern for a baby sweater.  I will be making my third baby sweater this week.  I have one more friend who is expecting, so I am going to be busy.  I am also working on my cross stitching.  I refuse to let my disease stop me from doing what I enjoy.  I still have pain and will probably will always have pain, so I am stuck taking pain killers.

Work is going well.  The new objectives are out and everyone is trying to play catch-up.  There's never a dull moment at work. 

Weight wise, I am 5 lbs below my goal, so all is going well.  My dogs often have trouble keeping me up with me when I go out for walks. 

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Psoriatic Arthritis bites meds cause headaches
on July 12, 2008 3:45 pm

I want to say that I hate my illness.  I now get headaches that cause me to vomit.  I don't know if the headache is from the medicine I'm taking or if it's from the disease.  I am using up all of my time off, so I cannot take anymore time if I want to take time off in Novemer.

The up side to this disease, if there is one, is that I am 5 lbs away from my goal.  I lost ten pounds last month.  I just don't have an appetite.  All I want is to drink ice cold water.  This is a good thing.  Everyone at work is doing a weightloss competition, but I am not able to do it because I don't have enough to lose.  Imagine that!  I have never had that experience of being not heavy enough to diet.

On the brighter side, I got a new kitten.  She is a real baby.  I never had a kitten this young, so we're learning as we go.  She is 4 months old and we love each other.  She loves sleeping on me in bed.  I have to be careful because she likes to lick my nose.  She is a welcome addition to the household.  The dogs love her.  She is fearless.  I will post a picture of her.

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I'm Still in Pain but getting better
on March 29, 2008 8:57 pm
My doctor put me on Humira two weeks ago because the medication I was on didn't do anything to my sed rate.  The psoriatic arthritis is now in my left knee and ankle.  I am trying to stay positive, but when I sit at work in severe pain, it's a challenge.  

I joined a list that deals with psoriatic arthritis and it has helped with my questions.  I have problems with mundane tasks such as turning door knobs, attaching leashes on my dogs.  I have been on the Humira for two weeks and am due for my next dose this Wednesday.  I am already seeing a difference in my energy and pain.  I am keeping my hopes up.
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My Story

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Sorry, but I had to remove the cursur because I am afraid of causing someone's computer to be infected by SmileyCentral.

My hobbies are cross-stitching, reading, writing fiction/non-fiction, and animals. I have two dogs, a miniature poodle and a toy poodle, and two cats. My surgeon was Dr. Jaruez, and he did an awesome job. I feel great. St. Lukes service is poor. I had to wait sometimes as long as a half hour for help, and the woman who answered the call button was very mean.

3/21/2005

So far I have lost 52 lbs. Am I glad I had this surgery? Yes, because without it, I would still be gaining weight. I am also down to one diabetic medication. I am able to wear 22/24 in pants. I am still waiting to get into a 22/24 shirt. I have a big bust, so that might take awhile. I am also going to the gym three times per week. I go right from work.

3/24/2005

I am still holding at 52 lbs. I know I am losing inches because my clothes are starting to hang on me. I am down two pant sizes, so I must be doing something right. I still cannot eat chicken except in very small amounts. I am starting to add unjury flavorless protein powder in my drinks. I don't think I am getting enough protein.

 Image hosted by Photobucket.com

3/26/2005

This is another picture. I am wearing the same shirt, but the pants are different. I lost another pound today, so I am 53 lbs down. I feel great and can eat tuna fish wrapped in a spinach wrap. Granted, I can only eat a couple of bites, but I am not having pain unless I overeat. Boy, the pouch really is an effective tool in teaching you how to stop eating before you're full.

4/18/2005

I am doing very well for being three months out. I am down 67 lbs. My cloths are falling off of me. I am waiting for new bras because the ones I have are useless. I am so glad I had this surgery.

4/23/2005

I finally am under 290. I have lost 71 lbs. So far I still have problems with meats, but am not giving up on them. Thankfully I am able to eat yogurt again without getting nausous.

5/02/2005

I have finally hit the 75 lb mark as far as loss goes. Yesterday was a rough day. Nothing sit right and then I was sick and uncomfortable the whole day. I am okay now, but I am being careful. Food is really not my friend, so I could take it or leave it. It's funny how that changes. I used to live for food. I enjoyed snacking and now I can't be bothered. This is a good thing though because I am having to go through clothes to see what I can wear. The pants I am wearing now are hanging on me.

5/20/2005

I have lost 81 lbs so far. I am now tolerating chicken much better.

5/24/05

Good news! I had an eye exam because I wanted to try contacts. I found out that my 6 point stygmatism went down to 1 point in my right eye. I am now wearing contact lenses. I feel so naked without my glasses. I have lost 82 lbs so far even with my period.

6/11/05

I have lost 90 lbs so far. I am doing very well with getting my protein and water. I had the Mesquite salad at Applebees and it was excellent. I really am enjoying chicken again. Image hosted by Photobucket.com

6/20/05

I am now 94 lbs lighter. I have a new picture below. Image hosted by Photobucket.com

07/01/05

When I first started my journey, I had a BMI of 64. My BMI after losing 99 lbs is 47.7. I am morbidly obese. I haven't been this weight for over 12 years. I have so much energy, and enjoy walking. The one thing that concerns me though is that I am still wearing 26/28 in some clothes and 22/24 in others. I am wondering when I will be in an 18/20?

07/18/05

I just came back from visiting my sister in California. She hasn't seen me since I lost 40lbs. It was nice to see her and hear her excitement over my 100lb loss. I have lost 103lbs so far. I also had a chance to see my Uncle and Aunt, and I haven't seen them in many years. They were very excited at my success.

09/11/05

Boy am I bad about updating. As of this morning I have lost 116 lbs. I really feel good. I am eating protein bars, so I know that I am getting my protein in. I bought some bars at Sams Club called EAS, and they are very good except the box I bought has bars that have melted a little. I put the box in the refrigerator, so that should help. I able to eat beef, but I eat it sparingly. I like chicken better if its not dry. I won't eat the chicken at work because it is dry, dry, dry.

09/19/2005

As of this morning I have lost 122 lbs. I am very excited about my weight loss thus far. I am half way to goal. I am also interested in making jewelry. So far, I have made several bracelets and some chandelier earings. I have to find a way to take pictures of my pieces, so I can develop a catologue.

10/14/2005

I am now down 130 lbs. I tried on a few pairs of jeans that were in my closet thinking that they wouldn't fit me yet, and lo and behold they did. One pair was so big that they were falling down, so they went into the donate pile. The other pair, a size 26, I am wearing to work today. I looked at myself in the mirror and my but is now the same size as my waist, so I don't stick out anymore. As soon as I take some updated pictures, I will post them.

10/31/2005

I have finally broken the three week stall. I have lost 131 lbs. I was beginning to get super frustrated, but I just kept on drinking my water and eating my protein, and finally the scale moved in the right direction.

11/4/2005

I spoke too soon. I seem to be retaining water. Maybe I am eating too much popcorn. I am going to up my water because I am expecting my period. I know I will get this weight off, but it will take time. It didn't go on overnight, so it will take time. I also think I am eating too much at home after dinner. I find myself snacking. I am supposed to writing a novel, and that is also stalled. I have to get my act together.

12/25/2005

I am horrible about updating my profile. Things have been so depressing for me. Currently I am nursing a cold. It sucks. My job is in jeapardy because I got lazy and stopped doing what I was supposed to be doing. I realize what I did wrong, so now I am taking steps to correct it. I have trying to upgrade my PDA and I got ripped off big time on Ebay. I finally did purchase a good PDA, but I am going to sell it on Ebay. Its not what I wanted, so I ordered one used on Amazon.com. I sent my sister my old PDA, but her boyfriend bought her one, so now I am hoping she can sell it on Ebay. I have finally started losing again. I am now 221, so that will make it almost 140 lbs that I have lost since January 13, 2005. I am hoping this year will be better than last year.

02/03/2006

A lot has happened since my last post. I am now down to 214. I have also lost my job. I have lots of seeds out there, so I just waiting for one to grow. I also adopted a mini poodle as a buddy for my toy poodle. My miniature poodle is 13, so I was afraid that my toy would get very depressed, so now I have Max. He is adorable.

02/25/2006

I am still looking for work. I've had a few interviews, but no offers yet. I am hoping that I get something soon. I have gotten into a 18/20 in pants, so I must be doing something right. My next goal is to get under 200.

04/06/2006

This week has been exceptionally fruitfull as far as job opportunities go. I was offered the position at AAA. It pays pretty well, but it's not too challenging. It would mean just servicing accounts. I had an interview tonight at a local insurance company, and it looks very promising. I have another interview at another office that is further away tomorrow. This would be my second interview, so it's possible that I will be offered a position in this office. When it rains, it pours. I also may get a job at Cox too. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I am also grooming dogs part-time just for extra money. It's fun and I am finding that I don't get tired after completing a grooming. I am now at 200 lbs, so now I just have 40 lbs to go before my surgeon's goal. I renamed Max. He is now Taz because he is a Tazmanian Devil. He gets into everything. I am really glad I got him because he is a good buddy to Dante. Dante is actually losing weight which is good. Image hosting by Photobucket

04/23/2006

I am now under 200 lbs, but not by much. I got a job at Allstate, and if all goes well, I will make some good money there. I get a salary as well as commission on anything I write. My previous manager did a number on my head and had me thinking that I was worthless, but I know that she was just playing mind games with me. I know I will do well at Allstate. I am still in training and that is going well. I have renamed Max to Taz. He is into everything, so I am calling him Tazmanian Devil. I have a new photo of him.

05/3/2006

I am now unemployed again! I am really very disheartened. I am beginning to think that I am not meant to work. I am trying to stay positive, but it's so hard. I was initially hired by AAA, and I turned them down to work for an exclusive Allstate agency. This was a huge mistake. I really should have known better than to work in Snottsdale with a group of skinny minis. I was the only one there with a weight problem. The office manager didn't have the desire nor the patience to train me and she made me feel like a dufus whenever I asked her a question. I am so disappointed because I really needed this job, and now I am in huge financial trouble. I am having to go back to dog grooming on the side. My dad is telling me I should just groom full-time, but I don't know. On a positive note, I am at 198. I don't know if that's due to not eating a proper dinner because of my depression. Whatever it is I will take it.

05/08/2006

I put my resume out on Careerbuilder.com, and I have some responses. I also got a response from Progressive, so I applied for a customer contact position. I am sure I will get something before the end of the month. At least I will unemployment. The mobile dog grooming thing didn't work out. I really don't have the experience with other breeds. I will still groom on the side, but it's not going to be fancy. I am now 196, so I am doing great diet wise. I am still so angry about Allstate. I sent an email to their corporate office complaining about what happened to me. I know nothing will come of it, but it makes me feel better to vent.

5/19/2006

I am starting a new job at Liberty Mutual. I am so excited about this new opportunity. I am set to start on 6/5, but will be going to orientation on 5/22. I can't wait. I am now 194. Unfortunately, I had to go to the doctor. I don't have health insurance, so it was an expensive day.

6/03/2006

This has been a hard couple of days for me. I had to take my 13 year old miniature poodle to be put to sleep on Thursday. It was the hardest decision I ever had to make. She was having trouble walking and I think she had had a stroke the night before because she was running around confused. She couldn't seem to calm down. When I took her out the next morning, she suddenly couldn't maintain her balance. She was holding up one of her front legs, and was very painful when I tried to straighten it out. I have two other dogs, and it helps, but I still miss her. On a positive note, I am starting a new job on Monday. I am looking forward to it. They have great benefits, so I will be able to get my prilosec instead of having to take over the counter stuff.

6/17/2006

The new job is going great. I am learning a lot in training. I am doing much better in regards to missing my dog. I seem to be retaining water so I am at a stall. I keep losing and gaining the same 5 lbs, and today I ate like there was no tomorrow. Well, tomorrow is a new day. I am going to take a walk around my apartment complex just for the exercise. I'm thinking of getting a Gazell. I will have to wait and see how much I will be getting paid to see if I can afford it. I just renewed my cell contract and updated my phone to a LG 5000. The phone is cool. It takes nice pictures. I have already taken a few of my pooches. They are so adorable.

6/24/2006

Liberty Mutual is an awesome company. The more I learn about them, the more I am convinced I made the right decision to take their offer. I am still a bit leary when I hear about them "promoting from within" because every company I have ever worked for has said the same thing. Maybe it's me because I seem to be the exception or I get stuck with supervisors who don't know how to manage. I am looking to be a supervisor because I know I would be a good one. I've had so many losers that I know I won't make the same mistakes. You can't criticize people and expect them to improve. Encouragement is the best means of getting the most from your people. I am losing again. I am down almost 170 lbs. I can't believe the difference. I am able to cross my legs when I sit. I have a lap. My dog, Taz, loves this because he enjoys sitting on it while I'm working. People treat me differently. I get waited on much faster and people look me in the eye. It sucks because it's human nature to disrespect someone who is morbidly obese. I can remember times when I've been overlooked because of my weight. I just think it's a shame to treat someone differently because of something so shallow. I am the same person. I may be thinner and the outer package may be more pleasing, but I am still the little fat girl who used to cry when people picked on her.

09/06/2006

I have been bad about updating because I have lost a lot of my info from a stupid virus that I caught from someone somewhere. You never know where you pick these things up, but Trend Micro really dropped the ball on this one. I just got my computer back this evening, and will spend a while reinstalling many programs because I had to completely format my hard drive to get rid of the adware and spyware. This whole fiasco cost me $180. I have to fax in the invoice to my insurance company so the computer tech can get paid. He did an awesome job because my computer is doing a lot better in addition to running a lot faster. I am now down to 187 and I hope to get to goal within the next few months. Take care and be careful out there. Make sure you don't click on things that shouldn't be clicked on.

10/08/2006

I got on the scale this morning and I lost another pound. So now I am 182. I don't remember the last time I weighed this amount. I am now wearing a size 16 in pants and a size 14/16 in shirts. It's great to see how the weight is still coming off even at 20 months out. I still have the same relationship with food though. I love it. I bought one of those prime rib subs at Quiznos, and before my surgery I would have eaten the whole thing without even thinking about it, but now, I found myself cutting off small pieces and putting the rest away. It is that good. The job is going well. I am hoping that next June I will be able to move to another department. I am undecided where, but the opportunities are there as long as I keep my head down and sewer mouth in check. I try very hard not to get frustrated at things, but sometimes I do. I am now using the word "pumpkin" in place of the F word. I hope this will help me advance. Well, I am off to get my hair cut. I can't stand it right now.

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