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I had my LBL on 4/8/08 with Dr. Timothy Connall in Tualatin, OR.  I am very pleased with the results but have two small wounds that are open and having to be packed every two days due to non-healing of the tissues which is very common with this surgery. 

Well, still no weight loss or gain since 10/06.  I have scheduled a PS appt with Dr. Egrari in Bellevue for 2/15.  I am hoping for a LBL with lipo to my inner thighs.  If all goes well, I will have surgery in mid to late March.  My mommy is going with me for company since it is a 3 hour drive.  Hoping the weather will hold out as it has been pretty cold and icy in some parts of the state lately.  
My sis is scheduled to have Lap RNY Feb 26th and I am so happy for her. 

Nothing has happended weight loss wise in the past 3 months since my last update so that makes like 7 months with no weight loss.  I saw the dietician and she put me on a 750 calorie diet with 70 grams of protein but it is really hard.  I was doing great at 900 calories but now I am hungry all the time.  
I need to make my 1 year appointment with Cagle and have my labs done, I am wanting to talk to her regarding sclerotherapy which is something I read about on this web site.  Will update with new news when I have some.

Still no weight loss the scale had said I lost 2 pounds but then those same two pounds re-appeared, then down again.  I joined Curves again as I really enjoyed it before and am motivated to go.  Looking into a possible revision to duodenal switch, meet with Dr. Cagle at the end of the month - we will see what that appointment brings.

I have decided that I am going to update once a month unless something exciting happens, just not much happening lately.  I did try to eat hamburger tonight for the first time.  I bought Extra Lean hamburger and made a patty with some cheese on it - Not a good idea - came up within minutes.  Won't be doing that again.  I haven't lost a pound since the first of October.  I am increasing my exercise and trying to get in more protein and water but I have major cravings for veggies all the time. 

Thought I would tell you a bit about myself. I am 35, married to an awesome man and the mother of a 20 month old monster child (I call all toddlers monster children). He is so full of energy, I am so looking forward to having this surgery and being able to keep up with him, maybe even wear him out.
I have been overweight since my teens. I have spent three years researching wls and feel that it is the right choice for me. I have found a great surgeon (Dr. Cagle) and am completely confident of her skills. Her office has a comprehensive program and great pre/post-op support groups that meet monthly. I have tried several diets including Weight Watcher's 3 times, Jenny Craig, Atkin's, Mayo Clinic, Slim Fast and others.

2004 - Had Psych consult with Dr. Poole. My husband and I are going to try a last ditch effort to lose weight the conventional way by joining Jenny Craig.

8/2005 - Joined Curves to try and get off this plateau I am on, we will see how it goes.

10/2005 - Lost 40 pounds on Jenny Craig but have plateaued and started gaining again. Going to see my PCP to start the process of getting approval for bariatric surgery.

10/20/05 - Had consult with PCP (Dr. Susan Kranzpiller) - We had talked about the surgery option before and so she is very supportive.

11/8/05: Met with Dr. Cagle yesterday for my consult. She has a wonderful bedside manner and I feel very confident with her skills and expertise in doing this surgery. She is going to take out my gallbladder in January as I had an attack 2 months ago and she would like to do this prior to me having bypass surgery (hopefully in March).
Started Weight Watcher's 2 weeks ago (Dr. supervised this time for insurance purposes). I have to complete 6 months of this prior to being approved for surgery. Per Dr. Cagle, the NIH and ABS both recommend that people with a BMI over 40 should have this surgery but insurance companies have a different outlook $$$$$.
It is so frustrating, I was on Jenny Craig for 8 months this year already and lost 40 lbs. but because I didn't visit my Dr. monthly, I have to start over. Wish I had looked into insurance requirements earlier.

11/11/05 - Went to see my PCP again for my monthly visit/weigh in. I lost 11-3/4 pounds in 3 weeks on Weight Watcher's - the more I can get off prior to surgery the better. Received a call from Trish (dietician) and have an appointment scheduled with her for December 1st.

12/6/05 - Well, missed my dietician appointment last week, had a lot going on. I had an ERCP to remove gall stones on Friday 11/25 and then had my gall bladder removed on Saturday 11/26 - oh what fun!! I am planning on attending the preop support meeting tomorrow and rescheduling the dietician appointment today.
I have been doing Weight Watchers for 6 weeks now and have lost 13-1/2 pounds, doing this for my insurance and to try and get off some of the weight prior to surgery or at least refrain from gaining anymore.

1/7/06 - Met with the dietician and had another visit with my PCP. Also attended another pre-op support group meeting. I am in the process of documenting my 6 months of Dr. supervised diet with Weight Watchers. My weight went up over the holidays a little but I am getting back on track and I am off restrictions for exercise from my gallbladder surgery so will be back at Curves on Monday.
The hardest part of this whole thing is the waiting. I have been researching/cosidering this for 3 years now and have dieted all that time but unfortunately I was not aware of the insurance requirement to have it Dr. supervised so now I am jumping through that hoop. Hopefully that will be it and I can move on toward a surgery date.

1/14/06 - Well, I told my mom and dad that I was going to have this surgery. My dad was supportive but not mom, I am not sure if she is afraid of the surgery/complications or what. Love them both and I am sure she will be fine once the surgery is over.

2/8/06 - I have been on this site every day practically. I received a call from Dr. Cagle's office yesterday checking on how the 6 month Dr. supervised diet was going and if I had seen the nutrionist. I am getting so ansie, I want this surgery soooo bad. I have been doing Weight Watchers since October and all in all I have only droped 3 pounds due to gains and loses.
Saw my PCP again on 2/2 for another weight check. She gave me a diabetic diet handout to incorporate with Weight Watchers as it does not seem to be working. I have been walking 1-2 times a week and working out at Curves 3 times a week and still nothing. I have been eating my target points but not my exercise and flex points so I don't know what is going on.
My husband is so supportive. He tells me every day (probably only because I talk about it every day) how he will support me through this journey. He is such a great man. Will update after my next appointment, hopefully will get a surgery date in April if all goes well with insurance approval. I have done everything they required, just finishing up my 6th month of diet. Wish me luck!

2/17/06 - Spoke with Ann at Dr. Cagle's office this week and she has submitted my paperwork to insurance. They reviewed it and are sending her a letter as they are missing some information. I have an appointment with a psychologist on 2/22 so she can pick my brain and tell me that I am depressed because I am overweight - DUH! I am going with a positive attitude eventhough I don't sound like it - maybe it will be helpful! Weighed in at Weight Watchers on Thursday and down a whole .4 of a pound - WOW - NOT!! I bought a new SUV this week too, a Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT - beautiful - much better than my mommy missle (mini van). Will update when I have more.

2/21/06 - Called the insurance today and the nurse said that he is submitting the file to the doctor for review tomorrow - Please let me be approved!!

2/22/06 - Saw a shrink today for depression per Dr. Poole's recommendation. Called insurance and submission is still pending - I hate waiting!!

2/23/06 - Doug from Great West called today and he is wanting addtl. info that I will hopefully be able to get from my counselor by tomorrow. He said the rest of my chart looks great and that is the only thing the doctor who is reviewing my case requested. Could it be I might get approved??!! I am on an emotional roller coaster right now.

2/24/06 - Just received the call I was hoping for - I AM APPROVED!! Doug at Great West is awesome, he know I would want to know before the weekend so he called right away after it was approved. I am so excited - will be calling Dr. Cagle's office on Monday to schedule a date as Ann is out of the office today.

2/28/06 - I received a surgery date of April 14th yesterday - 1 day before I turn 36 - what a gift!! I am so excited. I start the milk diet on March 14th and have my pre-op consult on March 27th.
My husband is so supportive - I just love him so much. He said last night that he would do the milk diet with me - we will see - LOL. Told my mom and my younger sister and requested the time off and faxed my LOA paperwork yesterday also. When I told my mom, she asked "why am I doing it"? I told her so that I won't be fat my whole life, to get healthy and that I am a skinny person in a fat persons body. I have dieted ever since I can remember and none of the other members of my family do and we are all morbidly obese - I don't get it, well I do, chalk it up to really bad genes!! Anyway, when I told her that she said "you mean it is not so that Austin won't be embarrased of you the way you were of me"? and then she started crying. She said that when I was in the 7th grade I asked her not to come to my school anymore - I DON'T REMEMBER ever saying that - I was 13!! I am not saying that I didn't say it, I am just saying that I don't remember. Anyway, that is why I didn't post my surgery info until today, I had posted on the message board for some advice. I thought for sure I was going to get a ton of hate email but to my suprise, I was given wonderful support and advice - THANK YOU "OH" FAMILY!! That is all for now, have to take the cat to the vet - I think my son may have pulled her leg out of socket??!! Do cat's have sockets??!!

3/6/06 - Went to another pre-op group last Wednesday - same questions from people, probably won't be going anymore, will start attending post-op meetings to get some ideas on things. Saw Tracy F again at the meeting, her date is April 21st if all goes well with insurance. She is awesome and it will be great having her to talk to. I am starting my milk diet in another week and I will be ready, almost looking forward to it. Since I found out I have a surgery date, I have been eating everything.
My 21 month old son had his first vomiting episodes this morning - YUCK!! I don't do well with smells, etc...they make me want to vomit. Then on the way home from granny's he had diarrhea and it went all over the car seat - it was dripping out from the bottom of his pants - GROSS!! My husband was awesome with him this morning though, he just held him and everytime he would throw up he would throw up on Rob too. I would hold Austin, Rob would change his shirt, I would change Austin's jammies and we would start all over again. I guess that is it for today.

3/21/06 - Well, I have been on the skim milk diet for a week now and have lost 6 pounds. Hoping to lose 25 all together before surgery. Went to the post-op mtg last week and met some really great people and got some good information. Had another psycho appt. I actually like going, it is nice to have someone to bounce things off of. She gives great advice, and asks great questions, her name is Nancy Freeland. I have a pre-op appt. Monday 3/27 with the surgeon, hoping to have lost 12 pounds by then.

3/28/06 - I had my pre-op appointment yesterday as my surgeon will be out for a couple of weeks prior to my surgery 4/14/06. Went well except that she would have liked to have seen me lost more weight on the milk diet but after I explained that I had lost 45 pounds on Jenny Craig prior to the milk diet she understood. She would still like me to lose another 10-15 pounds before surgery so I will be working my butt off at Curves for the next couple of weeks. My hubby was out of town last week so I was unable to go, not that I couldn't have done the treadmill, just didn't do it. Anyway, I am really excited to start my new life and I spend hours on OH reading post, etc.

4/8/06 - Here I am 6 days from surgery. I am not nervous about the surgery itself, only what if it doesn't work or I screw it up - this is my last resort!! I have been strictly adhering to the skim milk diet since Wednesday, I cheated a bit and feel soooo guilty!! I would like to thank Monica for being an inspiration and offering support to me - you look great Monica!! Also Tracy F. - you are awesome, I am going to enjoy getting to know you better and can't wait until we are both on the losing side. I have bee completely addicted to this site the last few weeks and haven't been spending a lot of time with my hubby and I think he is feeling neglected so I am going to sign off now and go spend some time with him and my 22 month old son. Austin got his first forehead goose egg the other day by hitting his head on his bed - OUCH!! He is such a trooper though a bit of crying and then he was on his wrecking crew way.

4/12/06 - Had my pre-op labs and EKG today the lady who took my blood was awesome, I didn't feel a thing and usually I am a baby. I am so ready for this surgery, the only thing I worry about is it not working for me. This is a last resort for me, it has to work. Less than 2 days to go!!

4/21/06 - Well, I had hoped to post much sooner than this but I was in the hospital until Monday and Saturday evening, the day after my surgery and my birthday my daddy died. My mom and husband came to the hopsital to tell me. I was asleep when they came in and when I got up and looked at my mom she said "your daddy died tonight". I was in complete shock, it was completely sudden and unexpected. I remember asking them if I was dreaming or if it was the meds and they said no, they were both crying. When it finally sank in (not sure how many minutes lapsed), I just bald and said I wanted to go home. Of course I couldn't and they had both talked to the nurse before telling me so she had already contacted my surgeon and gotten an order for Ativan to chill me out. It must have worked because I slept some and don't remember much more.
Anyway, I am home and doing fine. Surgery went well, I remember being wheeled into the OR and the anesthesiologist coming in with a syringe stating he must have just missed me in pre-op and went the oposite way he did - anyway he shot me up with some good stuff and off to La La land I went. The next thing I remember is waking up in recovery and a little boy named Matthew crying in the bed next to me. I know I slept a lot that first day and remember telling my mom and husband that I was really tired and sorry if I wasn't very good company. The next day I was definitely more cohearant. They had taken the catheter out after surgery and I was unable to pee. I felt the urge and wanted to but after sitting on the toilet for what seemed like forever and falling asleep on it I gave up and went back to bed. Later they re-cathed me (took 3 tries) and left it in for another day - peeing like a big girl again now. Had the leak test and than a CT as she just wanted to make sure all was well as there was a small hematoma at my opening but all was well and I was off to my room again. I ended up having an ultrasound on my leg also before being discharged as I had some pain in my right calf and she wanted to make sure it was not a blood clot.
I must say that Dr. Cagle is awesome, not only as a surgeon but as a compassionate human being. When she came to visit me the day after my dad passed away she just held my hand and said how sorry she was and even gave me hug. I am on liquids for 3 weeks and then on to pureed foods. I am so glad too because my mom's house is full of food for after the funeral service and food was always a comfort for me. Now I am just shopping to help me cope and so I am probably going to put us in the poor house - ha!!
I made a decision pre-op that I would only weigh on Friday mornings this morning I was down 7 pounds. I didn't weigh when I got out of the hopsital because I had gained 11 pounds (due to fluid) after my lap chole and didn't want to see those numbers again eventhough I lost them in a couple of days. I am happy with 7 pounds and will try and post on Friday's from now on.

4/26/06 - Had my post-op doctor visit today and I am down 20 pounds from 3/27 per their scale. I have been having a hard time with nausea so she prescribed me some Phenergan suppositories that should help. I am having a hard time getting in all of my protein and water because of the nausea. She said my sutures all looked good and weight loss is good. I see Ann (Dr. Cagle's nurse) on Monday for a recheck of my nausea and hopefully return to work release.

4/30/06 - Forgot to post my weight loss on Friday, down 6 more pounds. That makes 13 pounds in 2 weeks. Have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Cagle's nurse Ann tomorrow to check on my nausea. Did a lot of buying and planting of flowers this weekend.

5/1/06 - Got released to go back to work today and down 2 more pounds on Dr. Cagle's scale.

5/5/06 - Down 17 pounds in 3 weeks. Went to Curves twice this week and back at work.

5/12 - Down 19 pounds in 4 weeks, I was expecting and wanting more like 30. I did have an endoscopy with balloon dilation on Wednesday as I had a narrowing of my anastomosis and that has helped, I am able to get stuff down again. Only went to Curves once this week as I was not feeling very well because I was unable to get my fluids and vitamins in. Hopefully next week will be better.

5/16 - Received a call from the nurse at my surgeon's office and she said that my blood work was abnormal from last week so I had to go give some more blood to the vampires today, something about my liver test - Yikes, I hope it was just because I wasn't doing so great because of the stricture. I am feeling so much better and have very little nausea now and have not vomited since my endoscope. I am eating much better and more now and have been to Curves and working in the yard. Have an appointment on Thursday for my 4-week check although it is almost 5 weeks by then and a post op support group meeting tomorrow that I am looking forward to.

6/5/06 - I have not had internet access at home for two over two weeks so I am updating here at work. As of last Friday, I am down 31 pounds since surgery (7 weeks). I had another stricture and have to have it dilated again. Also had an MRI which showed everything to be normal so no real reason why my billirubin was elevated. Re-check in 3 months for some abnormalities (cysts??).
Feeling better all the time and I have tons of energy.

6/9/06 - Down 3 pounds this week for an 8 week post-op weight loss of 34 pounds. I have another dilation scheduled for Thursday and hopefully that will be the last one I need.

6/27/06 - I am down 38 pounds since surgery, I am not real happy with my weight loss so far and I am not sure what I am doing wrong. I am so afraid I am going to fail at this. I am working out at Curves and staying active at home with my 2-year old. I guess it is time to start a food journal so I can keep track of my protein, etc.

7/8/06 - Down 2 pounds this week so a total of 40 since surgery - seems like I was stuck in the 30's forever.

7/23/06 - Down 48 pounds since surgery. I was on vacation last week and lost 4 pounds. My weight loss seems to have picked up a little but still slower than I would like. Back to Curves this week and try to get more protein in, I feel much better when I get my protein in.

8/6/06 - Well, I am very discouraged. I have been plateaued for 3 weeks now. I am hungry all the time and feel like I am failing at this. This is definitely not like I had thought and read it would be after surgery.

8/29/06 - I am down 53 pounds since surgery. Still coming off very slow and I am feeling like I am eating too much and some of the wrong stuff.

9/19/06 - Down 67 pounds. I started working out at the gym at work as my Curves membership had run out and was having issues with having someone to watch my son since they don't have daycare and my husband isn't always available. Feel like I have soooo far to go still and it the weight is coming off very slow. Support Group meeting tomorrow, hope to get inspired.