ObesityHelp.com: Making the Journey Together
 
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Goals

My first goal is to get approved!

Category: Other   
18 People
 in progress, 
19 People
 achieved this

go to an amusement part and be able to ride the rides.

Category: Hobbies & Interest   
32 People
 in progress, 
5 People
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Fly in Comfort.

Category: Hobbies & Interest   
11 People
 in progress, 
3 People
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Walk a mile

Category: Health   
12 People
 in progress, 
15 People
 achieved this

Purchase clothes off the rack at a "normal" store

Category: Other   
40 People
 in progress, 
8 People
 achieved this
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Surgeon Testimonial

Richard Tillquist, M.D.
Dr Tillquist was great from the moment I met him through surgery. He is quite soft spoken, but made me feel very comfortable. He answered my huge list of questions without batting an eye. He has one post op visit 7-10 days out and then does monthly appointments for a year. Dr Tillquist was very upfront with what both the surgeries that I was considering could do for me, gave me the pros and cons of both and realistically told me what my end of the bargain was. I could not have picked a better surgeon for me. Both my mom and aunt had surgery with him also.

Eilleen worked wonders for me with getting my insurance approval.

CJ, the NP is wonderful. She gives very straight and upfront answers. Everytime I call or see her, she is genuine and supportive. What a great asset to this office!
Member Interests

Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by Dar2040 on 4/13/07 11:56 am
    Hello Everyone. Thanks so much for your support for my beautiful niece, Shelly. She came through the surgery well and is looking forward to feeling better. Best of luck to everyone. Darlene
  • Comment by AprilMae on 4/12/07 7:02 pm
    Hope you are doing great! You're on your way now!!! And I'm right behind ya! :) HUGS!!!! I'm so happy for you!
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Shelly's Blog



9/6/07 How time flies!
on September 6, 2007 4:51 pm
Wow- I can't believe that it has been so long since I have posted.  Where to begin? Let's see- the big birthday party was great.  Mom and Grandma did so much work in planning it and the after party at Grandma's house.  

I am currently down about 88 pounds- I still find this truly amazing! I walk Mack several times a day, which is really good for both of us.  The walk that I found so hard to work up to, is now way too short.  That makes me feel really good.  Robert's son Max, who is 4 was out here for about six weeks (that must be why I did not have time to post, lol). We had a lot of fun, we played minature golf several times, something I would not have been able to do 4 months ago.  Max is great- he loves to help with anything- vacuuming, dishes, laundry.  Sometimes his help was not quite so helpful, but I loved having his help since it made him so happy.  Max loved to help "Grandpa Brunn and Grandma Theresa" too. He made meatloaf with my mom (even had his mom call here for her recipe since it was "the bomb"), mowed the lawn, used the leaf blower and picked peppers from the garden with my dad.  We also went up to Estes Park and I had my first piece of SF chocolate candy- I had a pecan turtle- it only took me 4 days to eat it.  Just a couple of nibbles a day was all I needed, a big change from the chocaholic that I used to be.

We also went to the Colorado State Fair (too bad that Max had already gone back to California). My aunt just moved to Pueblo and my mom, dad and grandma went to visit her there. Rob and I decided to go down there for the fair and stopped at Dar's house. It was amazing to see how much she had unpacked already. All the hotels were booked, so Dar let us stay at her house. It felt like we were on vacation at resort with all seven of us staying at her house.  We all went and walked around at the fair. Get this- Dar, Robert and I even went on a ride called pole position.  I fit- I finally fit! It was so embarassing last year when we took Max to the "North Pole" outside of Colorado Springs and I did not fit on one of the rides. Next summer, I will be on the roller coasters at Elitches.  

My dad retired at the end of August- I can not imagine being with one company for 35 years- what an accomplishment! He has had several different positions within the company, but to be there that long-wow!  We had a surprise get-together at a restaurant for him.  It was a lot of fun.  I don't think it has really sunk in to him yet- I think he still feels like he is on vacation.  I feel bad since mom and dad pushed back their vacation to Minn. because of my upcoming surgery.

I have surgery on Wednesday to get my Gallbladder out.  It has been hurting for about 3 months, but has gotten really bad the last 3-4 weeks.  I will be relieved when it is finally taken out. I will update after the next surgery.
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6/22/07- Day of Big Party
on June 23, 2007 6:20 am
Well, today is the big birthday party for Grandma's 80th, Dad's 60th and Ken's 50th birthdays.  It should be a great time! Then after the catered event, we are having a BBQ at grandma's.  That will probably be almost as big as the first party, lol.

Robert took Nutmeg to the shelter this week.  It was really sad, but it will be best for everyone especially Mackenzie.  I am glad that Lori came and took a lot of pictures of Nutmeg a couple of weeks ago.

I weighed today and am down 10# from the Dr's office. I am now at a total of 60#.  I also lost 4.25" this week for a total of 46.5" lost. Pretty amazing! I am so thrilled with the results this week!

Time to start getting ready for the party!
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6/14/07- 2 month follow up appointment
on June 14, 2007 6:32 pm
I am now "officially" at 50# loss since I went to the Dr today.  Even though the scale seems attached to that number, I have lost 42.25" since surgery.  That is utterly amazing to me!

I have about 2 bags full of clothes that are too big that I am getting ready to donate.  I guess the numbers on the scale don't mean so much when there are all of these other great things happening! In a couple of weeks, I have to get my labs drawn to check on my B-12 since I have been so tired and irritable the last week or so.
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6/4/07
on June 4, 2007 8:00 am

The weeks go by so fast!  I have been a little down for the last two weeks.  The scale was not moving (I know- it is normal), our computer crashed at home and I lost all my initial measurments and I have to get rid of at least one of my dogs.

It is better today! I broke my stall over the weekend and have now lost 50# in 7 weeks.  That seems pretty amazing to me.  I have an appt. with CJ next week and will ask for the measurements that she took and I will use those as my initial measurements now.  I had taken more measurements-like both arms and both legs since they are slightly different, but I am confident that I will figure out how to use hers.

My dogs- Nutmeg (the younger one) is starting to torment Mackenzie.  Mack is my lab that I brought back from MN six years ago.  I got Nutmeg from a shelter about four years ago to be a friend or "sister" to Mack.  Nutmeg is a Ches. Bay/chow mix.  She is definitely starting to show her chow side.  She is very protective of me and our house, but she is starting to become aggressive to Mack.  I have tried working with both of them, giving more individual attention, separating them for time periods and nothing is working.  There is also a neighbor that complains about the barking.  Nutmeg is the one who barks- she thinks she is the sheriff of the whole block. I am sad because it looks like I am going to have to place Nutmeg. We are now facing eviction and/or fines from the neighbors' complaints.  We can't find out which neighbor it is or the specifics of the complaints.  We are keeping the dogs locked in at night, but still getting the complaints of night barking.  I asked for more information, but could not get anymore.  This sucks!

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5/16/07 Monthly Appointment
on May 18, 2007 11:14 am
Wednesday was my first monthly appointment at Dr. Tillquist's office.  At this point I have lost 37 pounds, 22.5 inches and 6 bmi points.  Last week I went to my PCP and told her that I had taken myself off of all meds except for the birth control and anti-depressant.  I have to keep track of my blood pressure, but am so excited to be off of everything else.  The best part is that I only have to use Oxygen as needed!  Yaaaaahhhhh!

I have been on soft foodsfor the last week, which is much better than puree. I seem to have a texture issue with puree type foods. The interesting thing is that food tastes so different now.  My mom told me this, but I did not really understand it when she was talking about it.  

I am still feeling tired by the end of the day, but it seems to be getting better day by day.  I also started going up the stairs at work again this week, with no Oxygen!!! Not to say that I was not sucking air, lol.  Overall, I am sooooo happy that I had this surgery done and am taking one day at a time.
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My Story

Wow- I never thought that I would share my story with anyone.  Then I was reading some of the other profiles and was grateful that others had shared their experiences.

It seems many of us have the similar circumstances.  I have been overweight since I was a child and have tried numerous diets and "lifestyle changes".  I never had a problem losing the weight, I could not maintain the weight loss. 

I knew that everytime I "lost" weight, I got larger in the end.  I just did not realize how extreme it was.  I knew that my clothes were not fitting well again, that I had been on blood pressure medication for the last ten years and overall I was tired.  What I did not know is that I also have severe sleep apnea and hypoxia.  During my sleep study, my oxygen level dropped to below 50% (normal is above 90%) when my body tried to get into REM sleep.  My body was waking up once a minute just so I could keep breathing.  No wonder I was so tired!  I am still getting used to the CPAP machine, but overall, I feel much better when I wake up in the morning.

At the doctor's office in December 2006, I had to "do laps" around the office with a pulse-ox machine.  Unfortunately, my oxygen level dropped significantly after the third lap.  Part of my lack of oxygen is due to scar tissue from so many lung infections over the last six years, but let's face it, all of this extra weight is not helping.  The most devastating thing is that my doctor prescribed oxygen for anytime that I am active, including while I am at work, doing laundry or shopping.  I cannot bring myself to wear it while I am working yet.

My mom had wls in November 2006 and my aunt had it around three years ago and they are both doing great!  They are both such inspirations to me. 

I am so fortunate to have such a loving and supportive group of family and friends.  My fiance wants me to do what ever will make me happy.  My parents, grandma, brother, aunts, uncles and my best friend will stop at nothing to help me to get what I need.

 


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