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Surgeon Testimonial

Louis G Fares, II
I'm very comfortable at Dr. Fares' office. His staff is wonderful and his support group is the best.
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Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by piperkc on 1/6/06 8:03 am
    "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
  • Comment by Black Beauti on 1/5/06 9:58 am
    I wish you a journey that is safe, and uneventful. I commend you on having the courage to take your own health and happiness into your own hands. Be Blessed!! Stay Strong in teh struggle, and remember you never walk alone *smile* You'll be in my prayers!! *smoochies* ~T~ NEVER SURRENDER
  • Comment by Debbie In Lucerne on 1/1/06 11:33 am
    Robin, Well the big day is just a couple of days away. I know you must be excited and nervous at the same time. I wish you the best on your surgery and your recovery. Please keep us updated. We really care how you are doing. Best wishes Debbie
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RobinNJ's Blog
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My 2nd Surgiversary
on January 6, 2008 5:06 pm
I had a fabulous day in NYC yesterday. We had lunch at Bubba Gump's Shrimp restaurant and then saw Spamalot. The "we" is my mom, dh, kids and myself. The show is super funny, especially if you're into British sketch comedy.

My 2yr appt. with the surgeon is tomorrow at noon. I expect him to yell at me for gaining a few pounds (7 to be exact), but I'm still looking for my new coping mechanisms, you know, to replace junk food. I'm still way smaller than I've ever been in my adult life.  I have lost 75% of my excess body weight. 

My stats as of this morning are:
highest weight: 318 size 30
Surgery weight: 280 size 28
2 Yr. Post-Op: 164 size 12/14
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22 Month update
on October 21, 2007 4:43 am
I saw the Hepatologist on Tuesday.
The good news is: this doctor is smart, well spoken and takes the time to really go over stuff.
The bad news is: I really do have Primary Biliary Cirrhosis.

While I'm disappointed at the answer, I was so hoping for a different one, I relieved to finally have an answer. We are treating me conservatively by just watching my liver enzymes, via blood tests, for now. When they stop trending down on their own (the enzymes) I'll have to begin medication.
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18 Month Update
on July 14, 2007 5:39 pm
Hello all,
I wanted to update you all on my life such as it is.  I'm now 18 Months Post -op, and holding at around 165 #s.
I went back to the liver specialist last Monday. WHAT A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY HE WAS!! I saw him back in late April, gave him my lab work to date then and chatted with him about PBC and why (or not) I might have it. He drew his own blood work and asked me to get my liver biopsy slided and MRI films for him. I had them to him before May first. I REPEAT, I GOT HIM THE SLIDES AND FILMS BY MAY FIRST. I made a follow-up appointment with him to get his impressions of the biopsy, his lab results and a definitive diagnosis. That was the appt. I had on Monday. WELL, HE NEVER LOOKED AT THE SLIDES OR FILMS!! THEY SAT ON HIS DESK FOR 2 MONTHS. I asked him to look at them then and there (since I had made the hour trip to his office) and he refused. He said he had to do that with the hospital pathologist. I asked why he didn't do it in the last 8 weeks, he said he hadn't had the time. I asked what was the point of my going to see him for this visit. He said, "There is always a point in coming to see me." He is so lucky I didn't eviscerate him then and there. Instead I had him give me back my slides and films, copy my blood work results for me, and left.
I'm still very upset over that.
Well, My birthday is next week and I'm enjoying wearing size M or L depending on the cut.  I'm thinner now than I was in High School, 30 years ago.
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10 Monthaversary
on November 6, 2006 8:56 am
Hi all,

Yesterday was my 10 Month-aversary.  I've lost 105 #s since surgery and a total of 145 #s since the journey began.  I'm doing well physically, my BP and cholesterol are down and my excersize is up.

It's been a wild roller-coaster ride from which I'm still dizzy.

I don't know where to go from here.  I'm not totally comfortable in this body yet, and  am unsure if I want to change it any further.
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My Story

July 20, 2005 Happy Birthday to Me!!

I am 44 years old today. This is my last birthday as a Fatgirl. I weigh 303#s, down from my high of 318 last summer.


August 30, 2005
Met Dr. Jean-Baptiste today for the first time. He seems very confident and competant. I'm sorry I am having my knee surgery in two weeks as it delays my RNY by that much and more. I'm hoping that I get a date in late October or early November.

I am now 296.5 #s, down 22 from my personal high.

December 16, 0225

Sorry I've been silent for so long. Been very busy.

Breezed thru the Psych Eval with no problems.
Had an Upper Endoscopy for the GI Eval. Cleared that one too.
The pulmonologist wanted a sleep study. During that they discovered that I have sleep apnea. Had a second sleep study with CPAP, did well. Now I have a CPAP machine next to my bed and I'm cleared for surgery.
Cardioligy wanted both an Echocardiogram and a Stress Test. The Echo showed no problems. I was concerned about the Stress test since I just finished with PT for my knee. Had a treadmill Stress Test anyway. Cardiology cleared me for RNY.

The request for surgery went to Aetna on 12/12/05. I'm waiting to hear.

I am now at 277#s.

December 25, 2005

I'm still waiting for approval. I've informed my family (mom, in-laws, etc.) of what's happening soon. The reaction has been mixed. No-one has reacted overtly negative, but most of them have no concept about WLS. They are cautiously supportive of my decision.

With no decent scale to weigh myself I have no idea what I am now. My last offical weight of 277#s is about where I usually stop losing on regular diets. I'm getting frustrated with the food limitations when my stomach still wants more. I can't wait till my stomach wants much less.

Happy Holidays, All.

December 28, 2005

I HAVE A DATE!!!!!

My new life begins on January 5th. One week away. Hurrah!!

January 4, 2006 HAPPY NEW YEAR

I'm counting the hours now. Just 24 to go. I'm drinking all the fluids I can now 'cause I know once I start taking the pre-op meds at 1pm I won't want to put anything near my mouth. My latest official weight is 274 but I checked out a health club yesterday and on their scale I'm 267.8. Wonder what I'll be tomorrow before surgery?

January 8, 2006

Here I am on the losing side. I kid you not, it hurts!!

I got to the hospital on Thursday 1/5/06 around 11am and checked in at the surgery office. I was brought in, weighed, IV'ed and put in hospital gowns. The scale in the pre-op area was totally off and said I weighed 260#s. LOL

Around 1pm I was given a "sleepy" med and really don't remember much else until I was in my room around 8pm. My 1.5-2hr Lap RNY took almost 4 hours. I felt better after my open C-Section.

I dozed until almost 11pm when I insisted on getting out of bed to pee. I still had a catheter in but the pressure of it was terrible. I got the night nurse to call my doc to get the order to remove it. I felt much better after that. I didn't sleep much but being able to walk around the room and go to the potty was good.

Friday I was very uncomfortable almost all the day and night. I was taken to Physical Therapy midday. I thrilled the therapist by being able to walk unaided and walk up 3 stairs. Yahoo.

I felt very behind the 8-ball on fluids all day and didn't want the IV to be taken off. We (the medical staff and I) played with different pain meds to see what worked best and what I could take by mouth in preparation for discharge.

Saturday morning I was beginning to feel slightly human. I took a shower, got dressed and was discharged to home around lunchtime. I feel better about the fluids and have a better handle on the pain. I weighed myself on the scale on the floor before I left. What a joke, this scale said 280#s. Like I gained 20#s in 2 days! LOL

Today I've been doing better still. My home scale said 280#s on Sunday morning. I haven't taken any pain med today. I think most of my pain is gas related and the pain med I'm on won't help with that. I did take it to go to sleep last night and I slept most of the night. Heading out for a walk this afternoon while the sun is out.

January 11, 2006

To quote the Beatles "I have to admit it's getting better, a little better all the time." I've been walking at least once each day, not long or far but more than I did presurgery. My home scale says 270#s. That's 10#s in 6 days. WOW!!

Most of the pain is gone, just some achyness remains. I'm totally bored with the clear liquid diet. My nutritionist said I could advance to full liquids this evening. A protein shake never looked so good.

My f/u appt with my PC is on Friday. I will let you all know what her scale says.

January 13, 2006 (Friday the thirteenth)

My PC thinks I'm the incredible shrinking woman. I weighed 261.5#s in her office this morning.

I'm really enjoying the full liquids. Yogurt, pudding, yummy!! I tried the Sylvester Stallone Protein Pudding, not bad at all. 20gm of protein in 100 sugarfree calories. Mmm, mmm.

My f/u with my surgeon is on Tuesday. I hope he thinks I'm doing as well as my PC does.

January 16, 2006

I learned a hard lesson this weekend. Don't overdo, it will come up and bite you in the end.

I went shopping on Friday after seeing my MD. I obviously did too much too soon 'cause on Saturday morning I wanted to die. The pain was horrendious, I couldn't warm up and I just wanted to sleep forever. Unfortunately my in-laws were on their way to visit. I forced myself to stay concious till they left around 4pm, then took a percocet and went to sleep. Sunday was much better.

On my shopping trip on Friday I bought a new scale. Tomorrow I will corrolate it with my surgeon's scale.

January 18, 2006

My surgeon and nurtitionist were pleased with my progress at the office visit yesterday. I'm disappointed that the scale in his office and my new one don't match up well. My home scale is almost 4#s lighter than his office scale. Oh well!

January 22, 2006

Down to around 251#s now. I've advanced in my eating to mushy foods. I can't wait for my first scrambled egg. My husband (DH) is making Black Bean Soup for dinner, his recipe is fabulous. I'll actually get to eat what the rest of the family is eating. I'll have to blend up mine of course but still the same meal. Hurray!

I never thought I'd have so much trouble keeping up with the fluids. I'm still not getting anywhere near the 64 oz. mark. Hell, I'm not getting near half of that.

I'm walking up to 1/2 mile a day now. That may not sound like much but considering I started at NOT WALKING at all, it's great.

January 31, 2006

Signed myself up for a "Fitness test" a local "curves-type" gym is doing. It's basically a free 3 week trial membership. I've been going for one week. I hate it. I'll keep it up for the three weeks then I'm going to join somewhere else.

Saw the surgeon and nutritionist today. I'm 248#s at 26 days post-op. They are thrilled at my progress. I'm in "hibernation-depression". Nothing is thrilling me this week. My best friend says I'm pushing myself too hard. Good thing I have a shrink appt. on Friday. LOL

February 11, 2006 Snow Day!!

My shrink agrees with my best friend, I'm expecting too much from myself too soon. I'm trying to lighten up (PUN totally intended). I've experimented with a protein/PB/candy "thingie" that is based on an old WW recipe. It's not bad. Allows me to feel like I'm cheating when I'm not.

I finished my "fitness test" and am off to another gym for a free one week trial. I have a third gym free week trial set up for the week after that. Then DH and I will make a decision on which gym to spend the money on.

I'm now around 245#s. At services last night a lot of people who haven't seen me since Thanksgiving noticed the weight loss and commented. The two women who run the shul kitchen were very impressed. I still have a hard time seeing how far I've come. I see how far I still have to go. Maybe hindsight isn't 20/20 in a mirror.

February 25, 2006

Joined a gym. It's local, full service and very comfortable. I'm now 238#s and right on track according to my surgeon.

I re-upped at summer camp for the end of July and the first few weeks of August. I'm camp nurse at a sleep-away camp. I enjoy it and my kids get a great summer for very little money (out of my pocket).

I'm settling in to the new lifestyle, I think. Not so overwhelmed as before.

March 20, 2006

Today is my 18th wedding anniversary. Most women can't fit into their wedding dress after 18 years of marriage, but I can't because it's TOO BIG on me.

I'm back to work part-time and becoming a real 'gym-rat'. I'm at the gym 5 or 6 days a week. Psychologically, I need to think of reshaping my body as work.

I don't recognize the woman in the mirror as me. The woman in the mirror has a jawline and clavicles. I've never had a jawline or visible collarbones in my life. This is weird for me but I'm getting some great reactions. My daughter's friends are just astounded at how I look and have told me so twice in the last week. That's Kewl.

April 9, 2006

I've been getting the family and the house ready for Passover. I'm a bit unnerved by the Holiday coming up, lots of food changes on the new pouch.

My weight loss has slowed to a crawl over the last few weeks. I'm supposed to be under 218#s at this point but am at 223#s. I think my body is giving my brain a chance to catch up with the changes.

Sorry to be so boring but my life is really all about the gym and eating. I have nothing else to talk about at all.

April 18, 2006 WAHOOOOOOOO!!

My scale this morning said 217.6#s. I have made it into the Century Club! At least naked and first thing in the morning, LOL.

Full steam ahead to Onderland.

May 16, 2006

It's been almost a month so I figured I should update this blog. I had a wonderful Mother's Day. I went clothes trying in a mall. I bought nothing but tried on a ton of stuff to see what sizes I fit into now. I'm down to a 20 on the bottom and a 16/18 on the top.

Life is still all about excersize but I am actually working more. It's great to be earning something. As for the weight, I'm at 210#s. I'm hoping to hit Onderland by my birthday.

June 19, 2006 CALL ME ALICE

Yes I said call me Alice 'cause I now live in Onderland. My weight as of this morning is 198.6#s.

I went shopping a couple of weeks ago in preparation for my summer job as camp nurse at a sleep-away camp. I bought 2 bathingsuits in size 18. One of them is a Tankini. WooHoo.

As the old song says: "I feel good, I knew that I would!"

July 20, 2006 Happy Birthday to Me!

One year ago today I wrote: "July 20, 2005 Happy Birthday to Me!!
I am 44 years old today. This is my last birthday as a Fatgirl. I weigh 303#s, down from my high of 318 last summer."

Well, I am now 45 years old, weigh 195#s and am 6 months post-op RNY. I've lost 108#s, 10 clothing sizes and uncounted inches off my body.

This last month has been difficult. My weight loss has kinda stalled and I'm somewhat stressed out. I haven't found a new coping mechanism to deal with my stress as I used to do with food.

I leave on Sunday for camp. I'm hoping the reactions I get when I see everyone there again are a positive reinforcer for me. They haven't seen me in 108#s.

Wish me luck at camp. It's my first solo eating adventure and it will last 4 weeks.

August 18, 2006 Home from Camp

Camp was an adventure. I had a blast, proved to myself that I can eat healthy in long-term public situations, can excersize without the gym membership and lost 11 more pounds.

I took myself shopping at an outlet mall near camp. I am now the size of the average American woman over the age of 30, a size 14. Yes I said a size 14, not 14W. I bought a designer skirt and two dresses. I finally enjoy shopping for clothing.

I'm finally beginning to feel "normal". It's kinda nice to be average.

 11/8/06

I had a WOW moment today that's kinda weird. 

I had put on knee-hi stockings with my outfit for work, after the gym.  They just kept falling down every time I took a step.  I ran into the local supermarket to pick up dinner and purchased a pair of pantyhose there.  I changed into them in the Ladies Room in the supermarket, standing up.

That's when it hit me.  I actually fit into cheep supermarket pantyhose.  No running around like a crazy woman trying to find something  that will go over my thighs and butt.  I had to sit in my car for a bit and cry, I was so overwhelmed.

I just knew you would understand.