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  • Username: Rick_SoCal
  • Location: Fontana, CA, USA
  • Member Since: 12/12/2008
  • BMI: 38.0
  • Post Op
  • Surgery Type: VSG (12/03/10)
  • Surgeon: David Suh, M.D.
Photos

Before & After

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Goals

Weigh Under 300 pounds

205 People
 in progress, 
389 People
 achieved this

Be sucesssful in weight loss and lead a healthier, happier life!

28 People
 in progress, 
2 People
 achieved this

Reach my goal weight

65 People
 in progress, 
9 People
 achieved this
View The Goals Page
Surgeon Testimonial

David Suh, M.D.
I was introduced to Dr. Suh several years ago when I started my journey in weight loss surgery. Unfortunately. I had lost my medical coverage and had to start over again with my new insurance. I was very pleased when I was told that Crown Bariatric was the where I was going and Dr. Suh was going to be my doctor again.rnrnDr. Suh is a very patient caring medical professional that I believe has his patients best interest in heart. As a nurse myself, I can see the caring that he devotes to his patients.
Member Interests
  • Fishing - I am really into outdoor activities fishing, camping etc
  • LPN - I am currently an LVN and striving to my goal as a RN/BSN

Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by Nathalie R. on 3/2/09 1:37 pm
    Just stoppin by to say hi and see how you have been. I hope your weight loss has been great and I hope that your feeling wonderful. Take care!
  • Comment by Cathy_C. on 2/8/09 12:21 am
    Rick - I am so happy for you! You are finally here and I know you are going to rock your WLS :o) Cathy C.
  • Comment by velvetdesertskye on 2/7/09 8:00 pm
    Rick! I hope you're recovering nicely from the surgery. I'm sending positive vibes your way! I read your profile and you're so right about the Nectar Protein...thank goodness we can buy it at Vitamin Shoppe! I'd die without it. :) Get well soon!!
Click here for the surgery support page

   
Rick_SoCal's Blog
Rick_SoCal's Blog


01/04/2010 I Month Follow-Up
on January 4, 2011 7:52 pm
Greetings all,

Well I had my 1 month follow-up (again LOL) with Dr. Suh today and everything is going great. Dr. Suh was very pleased with my progress thus far and the best of all is HE REMOVED THAT STUPID G-TUBE. I understand why the tube was left there and am so greatful that Dr. Suh cares so much about his patients. Thankful, the precaution was never needed and he removed it today.

He allowed me to progress to solid proteins today which I am thankful for as well. Cottage Cheese and eggs were getting a little old LOL. Still will continue with the protocol and love my protien drinks. I lost another 7 pounds since my last visit which I think is awesome. I am 56 pounds below the weight when I graduated from High School. I am 44 pounds away from my personal goal now but not the doctors LOL. He cleared me to start riding my bike again as long as I am careful and should be able to go back to work in a few weeks........Thank God

Have a great day all..............Rick
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Reversal and Revision is complete
on December 13, 2010 9:31 am
12/13/2010

Greetings all,

Well I had my surgery on 12/03/2010 and had my RnY reversed and had a revision to the VSG. Surgery went well and I spent 6 days in the hospital recovering. Doctor didnt want to take any chances on me leaving to soon. He has always had his patients best intrest at heart and the reason we all love this guy.

Left the hospital with a G-Tube as a precaution in case something went wrong (god forbid) LOL. Have experienced very little pain except for the G-Tube site. Other than that, I am tolerating all the liquids very well and hope to be placed on soft foods at my follow up on Tuesday 12/14/2010.

You know, its been 22 nonths since my first surgery and it is amazing how so much sticks with ya from the first one. I will admit, I have craved some foods in the past vple days but not real bad. So it has been so easy to follow the protocol of the surgeon and really know what to look for.

Anyway, just wanted to do a quick update and will post as much as I can and let everyone know the progress of the revison. This type of surgery is not done all that often so it might "Wilder than an 8 second ride"

Have a great day all...................rick
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Well let the fun begin
on October 25, 2010 8:29 pm

10/25/2010

Greetings all....

Well its been a while since I posted so I thought I would just do a little update. I am still have severe issues with my glucose levels dropping to very dangerous levels (low 40's) and is happening very often now (2 -3 times per day) and there is no real nor reason.

Finally a decision has been made last week..... They think it would be in my best interest to have my R-n-Y Bypass reversed and be done immediately. I guess my body just cannot handle the mal-absorption issue any longer. So, I am just waiting on the medical group decision (this outta be good). They say it is going to be reviewed tomorrow 10/26/2010 and should have the decision. Hopefully the will not deny it again as I have my PCP and the director of the medical group on my side. They denied it once but did'nt have all the details and was over turned to get me back to Dr Suh. Now it's just the approval for surgery.

Only good thing of this entire mess is that Dr Suh will revise the surgery as well to a VSG so I still have a WLS procedure and still have a chance to get to my goal weight. I am very thankful for the new chance.

Anyway, will keep everyone posted on whats going on and when I have the surgery.

Have a great day all...........Rick

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Wow it's been a long time
on September 5, 2010 4:04 pm
09/05/10

Greetings everyone,

Wow I cannot believe it has been almost 10 months since I have updated on my blog. Been very busy with a new job and trying to move down into the Riverside area.

Well, it has been a real adventure with my WLS. I have lost almost 180 pounds since my journey began. I love all my accomplishments that I have made since my journey began. Back in April, I went on my first amusement park ride in over 20 years......That feeling was AWESOME !! Being able to buy clothes off the rack is still the best for me, not needing seat belt extenders is an awesome feeling as well. Plus being able to exercise without being out of breath is great. I can still walk 2 miles plus without an issue.

I cant say there hasnt been any bumps along the way though. Having to have 2 foot surgeries has not been any fun but its the price we have to pay. My glucose levels are still dumping into the danger zones and that has all the doctors concerned. Unfortunately, now they are talking about reversing my RnY surgery and doing a revision to stop this issue. The ball is set in motion now and hopefully will hear something in the next week or so....... Does this mean I get a second new birthday LOL

With all the complications I have had I keep getting asked the same question..... Would you do it again? The answer is YES !!

Trying to function weighing nearly 500 pounds was insane. We all knew that if I didnt do something about my obesity, I would die real soon. I am thankfull everyday for the support I get from my surgeon (Dr. Suh), my PCP and my family. If it were not for them, I would have never made it this far.

Have a great day all............Rick
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Just a quick update
on November 10, 2009 4:12 pm

11/10/2009

Well again its been over a month since I have posted anything here so I figured I would try and catch up.

The roller coaster ride continues and I seem to be plugging right along. I had to have some minor surgery on my foot / toe to correct an issue that I didnt even know I had until I lost all this weight. I am down 170 pounds as of right now and hopefully have broken the plateau that I was on for 7 weeks. I was a little concerned to tell the truth about the stall but I just kept at it as everyone has said and it finally broke.

I think one of the most amazing things so far was me realizing how much this 170 pounds lost means to me. I started with a BMI of 61 and now my BMI is 39. I have lost 1/3 of my body mass in just under 9 months. I was carrying in a 40 pound bag of dog food the other day and I thought to myself, you have lost 4 of these. I tried to pickj of three in the store the other day and I just couldnt do it and thought to myself "wow how did I carry all this weight".

I started a support group

http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/prep4success/

I completed my OH Support Group Leader training on 11/09/2010 and went live with the group today. If you want to join, just let me know. A good friend Katt from the California Forum has also got hers started as well. Looking forward to the success of her group.

Thats it for now ...........Have a great day

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My Story

Just a little background on myself and my history of weight loss in the past. I am currently a Licensed Vocational Nurse in Southern California and currently striving to complete my RN / BSN program by the end of next year (2010). I am very active in my community and have been a Reserve Police Officer for over 22 years now. I have never been an arm chair quarter back and wanted to do my best to help my community.

I have been overweight all my life. I have done several of the fad diets and had some short time results from them. Yes I would lose the weight only to gain the weight back along with a few extra pounds. I lost my Gallbladder while I was on the Nutri-System diet several years ago and have been in a major battle with my weight ever since.

I began my journey for WLS about 3 years ago. I had Kaiser insurance at the time and had a ton of support from my doctor and by my family as well. I attended all the classes for 6 months and even lost 50 pounds in the process. I was introduced to Dr, Suh and went through all the pre-op testing and as I was ready to scheduled for surgery, I lost my Kaiser coverage and the WLS surgery.

I had to abandon the thought of having the WLS done until I graduated from nursing school and had decent medical coverage. I finally graduated and was able to get medical coverage again and started the process all over. I am now finally approved for the surgery and am in the process of losing the 10 pounds the doctor wants me to lose prior to the surgery. I go in on Monday Jan 5th, 2009 to get weighed and hopefully will have a surgery date then.