Smilesy's Profile

Username: Smilesy
Location: Westminster, MD, USA
Member Since: 3/5/2007
BMI: 47.1
Surgery date scheduled
Surgeon: Christina Li, M.D.

Photos

Mine (13)

I'm in (0)

A Night Out... A year later...:) Uploaded on 4/26/08 3:29 pm	032608 Uploaded on 3/27/08 12:39 pm
032608 Uploaded on 3/27/08 12:39 pm	One Year Out Uploaded on 3/6/08 6:49 am
Almost 8 months out... Uploaded on 10/31/07 8:43 am	Another of the Before's... Uploaded on 10/28/07 8:54 pm

View Other Photos

Friends

Smilesy has 12 Friends

Callexi	im_eric	Rhino5167
David G.	Markwrench	Ted K.
Jennifer K.	dlambert	Aaron S.

View all friends

Surgeon Testimonial

Christina Li, M.D.
I had attended 2 pre surgery seminar's at Sinai prior to my initial consultation with Dr. Li. I had seen her speak to a group and was impressed with her level of compassion for an entire group gathering to make a huge decision. When I met her for my initial consultation her personality continued to be one of positive, supportive, sensitive, and friendly. Coupled with her obvious skill, knowledge, and record, I was feeling pretty good about her. At the end of the appointment she huggedme and said "welcome to the group" and I instantly knew I was home! One of my pre op tests had a questionable something on it, and she was very responsive to my concern, and even had a staff member make a CAT scan appointment for the next morning to rule out anything serious without postponing my surgery. (Thankfully it was nothing!) The entire office staff has been fantastic, responsive, flexible and friendly. My surgery went off without any complications, I am 1 week out and feel fantastic. The Sinai program emphasizes that this is not a 1 time operation -there is preparation to be done before hand, and a path to follow afterwards, forever. They provide the tools, support, and information needed to do so, and they present it in a fantastic manner!
**************************************
After returning to Sinai for an abdominal obstruction 11 days post op, I need to update here! Unfortunately I had this little bump in the road, and when I did, Dr. Li was out of town. But thankfully, Dr. Koppman and Dr. Gandas were available to take care of my problem on a Sunday night. I was amazed at how compassionate Dr. Koppman was throughout the day on the phone and while I was waiting to be seen in the ER. He had called ahead to arrange a CAT scan with the surgeon on ER duty, and as soon as it was done, he was there. I was in surgery within a couple of hours, and throughout a 6 day hospital stay, all 3 surgeons of the Sinai program were in my room checking on me daily. (including Dr. Gandas via the Robot! AMAZING!) The entire Sinai Bariatric program staff have been amazing throughout the orginal surgery and the set back.

Latest Surgery Support Comments

Comment by David G. on 3/5/07 1:03 pm

Caryn, Best of luck as you begin your journey tomorrow. You are in great hands with Dr. Li and everything will go great. My thoughts and wishes will be with you as you begin your journey. I will see you on the losers side in about two weeks. Dave

Click here for the surgery support page

Smilesy's Blog

The ONE YEAR Mark
on March 3, 2008 9:15 am

Well, it is March 3, 2008. One year ago today I was 3 days pre-op. I was so excited, making sure I had all of the right liquids and powders in the house. Making sure I had a bag packed to go to the hospital. Spent a great day playing with the kids. And here I am, 3 days before my 1 year surgiversary. Wow - what a ride it has been!

I have lost 125# since last January (19 pre op). I have gone from size 32 in the plus department to buying "LARGE" off the rack in REGULAR stores! While I have been stuck in a plateau since the beginning of November (I have lost and gained the same 2# about 18 times since the end of October), I can safely say I have lost 125 pounds! I know the plateau will break - everyone says they hit the 3-4 month brick wall at around the 1 year mark...I guess this is it. I just went outside and walked, and intend to do so again for my afternoon break since it is so pretty out. And I know as I up the exercise it will start coming off again. I have about 30# to go to my surgeons goal - which is a goal that surpasses my wildes dreams!

I've had a couple of rocky moments in this venture - the blockage and 2nd surgery 2 weeks out, the gall bladder attack in December, but I can honestly say, from the bottom of my heart it is the most wonderful move I have ever made! I love my support group. I love going back to Sinai and talking at the pre-op seminars. I love the friends I have made. And I love getting to know who I really am, not the me masked by insecurity and disgust in the form of 125# of fat.

Life is Good. Nothing is worth more than this day....

1 comment | Click here to leave a comment.

8 Months out and counting....
on November 16, 2007 8:58 am

Still feeling absolutely amazing! I just can't believe how this has gone! Since my last blog entry on October 5, I have lost 10 more pounds and am feeling great! (I am down a total of 121# since January) To be this far out and still losing 8 - 10 a month is just fantastic! I have become a bit relaxed in some areas, and I think if I kicked them up a bit I'd be doing even better. First and foremost, I am not exercising like I need to be! I have an elliptical at home, but average 1 x a week on it. And I have the tension bands and dumb bells at home too, and have NOT been doing my toning! However, I have been trying to make my weekend activities more active (i.e. walking/parks/hiking). I am also finding that I push the time limits between meals and find myself painfully hungry. If I get past the 4 hour mark with no food (and sometimes the 3 1/2 hour mark) my pouch gets very achy. I really need to watch the clock more. And I have learned how to listen to my body for signs that I am not drinking enough, but I need to be more pro-active in getting the oz. in to begin with. So no complaints on the progress, but still know ways I can make this tool work better for me!

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Be the first to leave a comment.

ONEDERDLAND
on October 9, 2007 2:39 am

I made it! In only 7 months post op, I have lost 111.8 pounds and have entered ONEDERLAND! I never thought I would see it again! I got back on the scale after my shower to confirm!

I got my elliptical assembled yesterday, and made it for 5 minutes (wow!), then my son got on and did 10 minutes - so that is the goal for tonight! I am ready to go on this last 40 or 50# - LOOK OUT!

Be the first to leave a comment.

7 Months Tomorrow
on October 5, 2007 9:59 am

Tomorrow is my 7 month surgiversary. I'd be writing this then, but I will be on the course taking the motorcycle safety class - yes, I have gotten a motorcycle and starting another new adventure in my life. That will be followed by my 20th high school reunion! And I am actually looking forward to it because I think I look better than when I graduated (yes, God help me, it was THAT bad then! ) I am down 109.2 pounds since January and feel incredible! The loss has slowed down a bit, as to be expected. But I also have not been exercising like I need to be. However, yet another new adventure for me will be assembling my new elliptical machine that was delivered Tuesday! Once that is together and I am on it daily I think the pace may pick back up again. Even so, I can't complain about 9 or 10 pounds a month - that is still a dream come true! Some WOW moments from this past month have been going to work in size 16 (NOT 16W, just 16) pants---and being able to sit and breathe; a size 14 blazer - that buttons; and a blouse that I got off the rack in a regular store that is an "L" - without any x's in front! I found my belly button this week too - wasn't sure there was one down inside all the rolls and mush, but there is - and in about 30 more pounds I may even find out that I am an "outy" - I'm not sure, but maybe! We had a fire drill yesterday at work, and when we came back in I walked up to the 5th floor - I was panting a good bit, but I didn't keel over or collapse! And today I CHOSE to walk up when I got into the office this morning - because it wasn't all that bad! And one of the most exciting things for me---I am less than 2 pounds away from ONEDERLAND! Never thought I'd see that again in this lifetime, and I am going to soon! Went to dinner 2 weeks ago with all of my siblings (there are 6 in my family) and their spouses. One of my sisters didn't recognize me across the parking lot, and a little later in the evening I overheard her telling her husband that I was almost as thin as her and now she is going to have to diet! (for the record, I am smaller than her now!) Boy was she embarrassed that I over heard that! What an amazing 7 months!

Be the first to leave a comment.

100 down...
on August 30, 2007 4:28 am

When I was in middle school I used to dream of a way to lose 100# quickly (and then, I thought quickly was in less than a year). I would literally dream of it, then spend all day in school day dreaming about this magical pill or operation or spell or any rational or irrational thing that could just make 100# go away. And now, I am an adult, and I found a tool that exceeded my dream! I will be 6 months out of surgery on Sept 6th, still a week away, and I have lost 100.8 pounds since January. 8 months - 100 pounds - wow!!! It is so hard to believe! I am buying size 16 clothes - and they fit! And even more importantly, I am buying them knowing that they WON'T fit in a couple months because I'll be into 14's or 12's by then! What a wonderful choice, and opportunity in having this surgery! I am so thankful that I took this path!

Be the first to leave a comment.