July 27th 2004

Hi, My name is Angela and I am very excited today after nearly a year of waiting and going through the program I finally got approved by my insurance for the gastric bypass surgery, it's been a long stuggle for me lots of crying and frustration but I am finally on my way!!! in two weeks I should have a date I feel like I am on cloud nine today. Currently I am 364lbs and have major joint problems and backaches. I sure hope this surgery helps with those issues. I have four beautiful kids and a boyfriend who is really supportive and I love him tons even though he is worried about me having his surgery. He is afraid of losing me. But this is something I really need to do I am so tired of being overweight and unhappy with myself.

August 17th

I have my date to see the surgeon its going to be Aug 30th. so many thoughts are going through my head like what if he denies me or says I am not ready I can't stop thinking about it and wish so much the 30th would hurry up and get here. I will come back on here on the 30th and let everyone know how I am doing

Aug 30th

I got my date!!!! Sept 8th I will be on the losing side of life I was so nervous going to meet the surgeon today but she was really nice and told me I was a good canidate and told me of possible things that could happen to me. I pretty much knew alerady because I have researched I will be having the long limb procedure wich means I will have more bypassed than the normal short limb. I had to do a bunch of pre surgical things done today it took nearly four hours and they had a very hard time taking my blood boy did that hurt I got poked so many times. I sure can't wait to get this surgery over with so I can stop thinking about it. 

Sept 15th

well I am not going to post much tonight but I am home now and wow what pain I am in they ended up taking out my gall bladder ontop of hernia repair and open RNY. I spent 4 days in the hospital and eating babyfood right now that tastes kind of disgusting because I am not hungry at all.

Sept 22nd

I went for my two week check up today and got my staples removed OUCH! had over 60 of them but the good news is I lost 26 pounds not bad for my first weigh in. I thought the staples would really hurt coming out but it wasn't too bad just little pinches it sure felt better after they were taken out.

Oct 13th 

Wow what a first month its been real challenging to say the least the head hunger had been a big issue for me as well as the pureed foods they just get so blah tasting after awhile. Now that I was cleared to have some regular foods its been a little easier. I went to the surgeon office today and she said my incision was looking nice and as of today I have lost 37 pounds in 5 weeks so not bad. I must stress find your protein drinks before surgery because you have to drink them everyday and if you don't like them it will make the process much harder as I found out. Well I got my free membership to the fitness place today from my surgeons office 6 months free! which is pretty cool but I am still pretty sore because of the extent my surgery was so she told me to take it extremly slow right now.

Oct 22nd 

Well I go back to work next week not sure I am completly ready to back yet but I need the money :) Its finally getting a little easier to deal with the eating small amounts and the head hunger is easing up a little bit I went to a resturant for the first time yesterday at applebees and it didnt seem worth it when all i could eat was a few bites of a weight watchers chicken wrap I ate some of the chicken from inside of it but it was nice to get out of the house. I went to the nutritionist yesterday and it was kind of interesting she said I wasnt eating enough never in a million years did I think I would ever hear that I weighed in and I have lost 42 pounds in 6 weeks not bad huh. 

Oct 27th

Went back to work yesterday man it was a long night felt like I was there forever I really need a more exciting job lol. I work at a answering service. Today I went to my first exercise class at the hospital I learned how to use 4 different machines it was a little overwelming but I am glad I went. I weighed in this morning and I am -46 pounds at 7 weeks :) 


Nov 9th 

Hi just a little update on me on Wed I see the personal trainer at the fitness place I'm a little nervous about that but hopfuly everything will be ok. I have noticed that the more I feel better the more tempted I am with food. it doesn't help that I am one of those people who don't get sick off of anything I eat. well I am down 53 pounds as of today at almost 9 weeks out. 

Dec 9th

Wow I am terrible about remembering to write in this thing sometiems I am 3 months out now and have lost 70 pounds I am very glad I got this surgery it's still a struggle sometimes to get my water in and all my protien and head hunger still lingers at times. I started getting bad pains in my stomach found out it was due to the weight training so I am just doing the cardio for now and it seems to be helping I did my first mile on the tredmill in 23 min it was a awesome accomplishment for me People are really starting to notice the weight loss with me now which is kind of nice I still drink the protein drinks otherwise I get no where near my protein amount in I still like the Nector ones the best. well I will update again soon.

Dec 16th,

Just a short update I got weighed in today and I am down 76 pounds!! just wish this head hunger would go away sometimes but I am getting better day by day I do wish I had more WLS friends to talk to about this stuff. 

Jan 10th,

Hi it's been a while I havn't been doing a whole lot just going to the gym 3 x a week and started my weight training again had my first weight stall I have to say I didn't like that to much I didnt lose anything for nearly 2 weeks I started getting those old fears of failure but all a sudden I started losing again and now I am down 90 pounds just 10 more pounds until centry land!!!

Feb 2nd,

Well I did it I reached 100 pounds lost! I am now in the centry club :) I was so thrilled today when I saw I had reached this goal I am still excercising though some weeks are not so great my life has been super busy with my son having knee surgery and having a ton of appts to go every day ontop of working. Today I started with a new personal trainer I just wasn't getting what I wanted out of the old one. I will update again soon.

Feb 16th,

Just a small update this time I am down 106 pounds. I saw my new trainer and he has me doing some circuits in the gym as well as cardio. I like it a lot better than the other trainer I had she had me in the gym for over a hour and so I was starting to hate going, my new trainer has me going for about 40 min and I feel just as good as the hour work out. The weight is deffently coming off slower than before but I am not complaining I feel better than I have in a very long time the cravings are still there but I am able to be a lot stronger than I used to be some days I end up having a bite or two of what I was craving but I stop after just those few bites it's amazing how this surgery has changed my life. I went to the surgeon for my 5 month check up and she said I was doing so well that she didn't want to see me until 6 months. my cholesteral was 144 and my blood pressure was 112/70 she said I was doing excellent.

March 24,

Well I have been horrible once again about updating this thing I don't have a excuse since I am on the computer pretty much everyday. A lot has happened since I last updated on here First is I got engaged on valentines day he got me a beautiful quarter carot diamond ring with a gold band. The next thing that has happened is I went and saw my sisters for the weekend and they didn't even know who I was :) It was a great weekend we went shopping and then went on a day cruise to the bahamas It was fun except it seems all people do on cruises is drink and eat and gamble but I had a blast just being with my sisters I had not seen them for over two years. Then the next week I went on a road trip to see family and friends. we went to Maryland, Virginia and DC It was great seeing everyone again I saw my other sister in Maryland I had not seen her in over 10 years she looked great and we spent the day together she is a year younger than me. Then I went to Virginia to see my foster mom and she was shocked at seeing me :) but I only had dinner with her then we went to DC I wanted to do some sight seeing there. We ended up going to Arlington cemetary, Jefferson and Lincoln memorial and the Holocaust museum. Boy did I do a lot of walking when we went to DC I thought my legs were going to fall off!! Then on the drive home I went to the caverens in VA they were so beatiful. I went back to the gym yesterday boy was it hard to after not going for a week and a half but I knew I better get right back on the ball or else I probaly wouldn't I am now down 120lbs I weigh 244 I have not weighed that since I was in my teens feels kind of great :) Well until next time.. 

May 12th,

Hi everyone just a little update not that anyone probaly reads this :) I am down 137 pounds now I weigh 227 which I never thought I would weigh that ever. Next weekend I am going to walk in the cellcom walk it's going to be 3.5 miles! I sure hope I can make it I don't think I have ever walked that long before. I have been walking outside more trying to prepare for it so I am not too sore. Eating hasn't been to bad I have had a few days where I hate things I shouldnt but got right back on tract also went to my first support meeting and I found it very nice I learned that I am not the only one out there! I've been at a stall for over a week now those are always kind of hard for me but I am learning not to be so hard on myself I still go to therapy with Dr Cagle and he is great at helping me with my issues. I am also finding I don't have any clothes that fit me anymore not good at all especally since we are having finance problems right now. Oh well I guess I will just wear loose clothes until I can get something else :) shopping is always real fun went from a tight 34 to a loose 22 :) feels kind of cool. People at work are starting to say I look tiny which I think is crazy I am no where near tiny but it does feel good to hear it anyway lol. well until next time I post

June 13th 

Well I am 9 months out now and at 219lbs what a crazy month it has been I am trying to deal with the fact that the weight loss is slowing down a lot I really have to work hard to get any weight off now. I can't remember the last time I was this weight but I do know it was my early teens I have always been pretty heavy even back then I loved food and still do boy I do wish this surgery took away the cravings but it doesn't. I have been working hard with my therapist to over come these feelings and most days are good for me but there are a few days that I just want to beat myself up over how bad I did. My skin is getting so loose I am going to ask my surgeon in Sept at my 1 year check up about when I can get plastic surgery I won't be able to run until I do. Tomorrow my oldest son turns 18 it makes me feel kind of old to know I have a son that old. Next month is my birthday I have to work that day but I am going to try and enjoy it anyway. I have a secret friend from the forum WLSFriends.com it has been nice to have someone email me nice things it sure makes a person feel good. Well I will update soon until next time....

July 12th, 2005

Well hello anyone who actualy reads these updates :) I had a birthday this month on July 4th and well it was pretty nice except I had to work 3-11 so I didn't get to go see the fireworks. I got to meet some people that had the surgery that I met through Obesityhelp.com on my surgeon's web page Ken was from WIsconsin and michelle was from Iron Mountain Michigan. They were both awesome and it was nice to have something in common with someone. We went out to lunch to victoria's a italian resturant in Green Bay then went to Bay Beach with our kids they brought theirs too. I did reach the 150 pound loss this month I was great I never thought I would lose as much as a person weighs so I am about 33 pounds from my 180 goal. I lost a lot of inches this month not so many pounds but I am ok with thta I am still exercising and getting out more it's nice not to be tired all the time well it's after midnight so I am going to go to bed until next time!

Aug 16, 2005,

I'ts been a slow moving month as far as weight loss goes but I knew it would come to this atleast I am not gaining weight and I have had a ton of stress lately so I am thankful that I have not turned to my old ways of dealing with stress it is hard to believe that I am almost to the 100's I now weigh 206 pounds I can't remember the last time I was this weight it has to be grade school. I actualy don't stand out in a crowd anymore that in itself is very odd for me. I am still concidered severly obese since I am so short but I don't care I feel so much happier with myself now I wish I could encourage my daughter to lose some weight she is 12 and overweight but she does not want to do anything to lose the weight. I sure hope my life goes back in order soon I have had some major family issues lately. I see my surgeon next month I want to ask her how much more weight I need to lose in order to get the Plastic Surgery. I have a lot of loose skin now especally in my arms and stomach area though I am a bit scared to have more pain but I don't like the hanging skin either thank goodness my face didn't get droopy though. well its after midnight I'm off until next time.

Febuary 20th, 2006

Well it sure has been a hell of a long time since I last posted and its been quite the ride as well I had my consult for plastic surgery for full tummy tuck and they denied it at first but I appealed it and in two weeks I will be having the surgery it took about 3 months of appealing them to finally make the decision the surgeon really faught for me which I am grateful for. I havent lost any weight for a few months now I am at 189lbs and so I think this is where my body wants to be and I am not unhappy at this weight and soon this loose skin will be gone I am very happy about that. I sometimes look at my photos from before and can't believe that I was that overweight it all seems like a dream this past year and 4 months. I am so glad I had this surgery it really did change my life for the better. 

March 14th 2006

I just had my full tummy tuck and hernia repair and I have to say its the most painful thing I have ever felt I have a incision from my breast bone to my panty line and then across from my hip to other hip. The surgery was done on March 6th I stayed in the hospital for 2 days the surgeon took off 13 pounds of excess skin so that means now I weigh 174 pounds which I never thought I would get that low its weird to see myself in the mirror now it doesn't feel like me anymore I blend in with other people this whole process has really changed my life. Its been a week now and I am still sore and can't get around much but I am sure after all this is done I will feel its worth it right now there is way to much discomfort to feel positive about it. I will take updated pictures as soon as I heal 


Photos


364 lbs
This was taken 2 days before my surgery

174 pounds
Two weeks after my tummy tuck surgery what a difference!



Hospital Reviews



Member Interests:

  • Humor - I love to hear jokes or a person with a funny personality

 

 

 

  • Camping - I go camping every year

 

  • Road Trips - I went to yellowstone this year it was awesome!



Click here to see interests of other ObesityHelp members.

Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Cynthia Geocaris, M.D.
My first impression of Dr Cynthia Geocaris was she was very serious about her work and explained everything in detail and made sure I understood what kind of procedure I was having. The staff there is very nice and answers any questions you may have. The after plan at her office is real structured and its one of the best in the state. she made sure she told me all the risks involved even the real scarey ones. I rate her a 10. 
Insurer Info:
Badger Care, Medicade
my insurance experiance was nice my doctor faxed over the information and the same day they called me to tell me I was approved! 

 

About Me
green bay, WI
Location
30.9
BMI
RNY
Surgery
09/08/2004
Surgery Date
Oct 23, 2003
Member Since

Before & After
rollover to see after photo
This was taken 2 days before my surgery
364 lbslbs
Two weeks after my tummy tuck surgery what a difference!
174 poundslbs

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