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4-26-2005
Hello, I am 52 and tired of being FAT! In the picture at the bottom of the page, I was size 26. It was taken on my birthday cruise to Cozumel 2-9-2005. Seems no matter what I tried to lose weight it didn't work or if it did I would gain back more. I have been talking about getting this done for 3 years now and never scheduled a consult. Well now I have. I go for my first consult Friday, April 29th, with Dr Warnock in Wichita Falls Texas. I am so nervous. Not about the surgery just the first initial step. Don't know why. But I will get over it. As of today I have lost 20 pounds on my own, trying to get a head start on being a loser!!!

I have been married for 33 years this year, to a WONDERFUL man, Rudy. We have 4 boys, 3 daughter-in-laws, and 6 (will be 7 in a month) grandchildren. They are the light of our lives. My husband, I call him my oldgoat, is so supportive in everything. I don't know how I got so Lucky but sure glad I did. I have a wonderful network of people supporting me, including my only sibling, my sister, Mary. She worries about me and I her. We are close and the support is awesome!!! She is small and she has almost no gray and I am big, I look older with a ton of gray hair (bleached now) and with the weight everyone is always thinking she is the youngest ……go figure But not for long......watch out sis!!!


4-29-2005
My First appointment went well. Dr. Warnock is not only very informative he listens to you. My insurance forms are being sent in next week and the waiting game begins. I am so anxious. Please let the wait be short and sweet! Weighed 288 but, I weighed 280 at PCP's office, down 29 pounds already!!


5-6-2005
Went to my PCP today for my 3rd month of physician supervised diet and I weigh 276, down another 4 pounds for a total of 33lbs. I seem to be heavier at Dr. Warnock's office. Surely there's no difference between Oklahoma and Texas, maybe Texas has more gravitational pull? LOL

5-11-2005
Called the doctors office to check on the insurance and they have not sent it in yet. They are waiting on transcription. They said it would be sent in this week, but when I went the first time they said it would be sent in last week. I hope they get it sent this week, I know I am just impatient and wanting to get this done. I am really trying to be patient but....... I also ask how much he bypassed and they said it varies with each patient.

5-16-2005
Called the doctors office to check on the insurance and they still have not sent it in yet. We already know they will deny it and Medicare will pick up. They are going to fax it to HealthScope who will do nothing for obese patients and since I am on Medicare we are going ahead and set the surgery date. YEA!!!!!!!!!! I will have to pay 1600.00 to Dr. Warnock, 912.00 To the Hospital and 93.00 to the nutrition class and I am good to go. Seem like a cheap way to not have Diabetes, sleep apnea, reflux, High cholestrol, and help relieve the pain of Rheumetoid arthritis, Degenerative arthritis, fibromyalgia, and bad bad bad migraines. My medication is 1180.00 a month with insurance so this will be a blessing.......my medication will be almost nothing, I can't wait.


6-1-05
Well the date....June 9th is getting closer.... I can't wait..I am nervous but not about the surgery just about if they cancel it. I go for pre-op on the 8th and with the pre surgery cocktail that cleans you out I will go to the hospitality house on the evening of the 6th and stay until the surgery. I don't think I would make it driving that far after drinking that stuff, not enough bathrooms on the way. LOL



6-4-05
5 days left. I have a family reunion the weekend after the surgery, that I will miss. I have not told any of them. Sorry Norris'. Not that I mind them knowing just the timing of the surgery and soooo many calling. The more that call and talk to me about it the more anxious I get to go and get it over with. If I would have posponed it, the next date was in the end of July and I could not have taken that. I have so much built up anticipation for the surgery that if it does get posponed I will have to be put on medication. LOL

6-6-05
Well today I travel to Wichita Falls, Texas to begin an incredible journey. I am to excited to be nervous. I have dinner tonight with Angela, my Angel, and her family. Then the wonderful bowel cleanse and liquids on the 7th, test and classes on the 8th and DA DA surgery the 9th. YEA!!!!! I want to thank all of you whom have talk, emailed, left post, IM and called this is such a wonderful support center. Blessings to the one who created such a great place to learn. I will see you all on the losing side.

6-9-05
This was my surgery date and my 7th grandchild was born on the same day I had WLS. My little Lucky just couldn't wait. Now, we can celebrate together!

6-15-05
Well, I was OK'ed to come home yesterday. I have lost 8 pounds in 5 day's not bad. Had a rough time of it. I had a really hard time in recovery, just couldn't wake up and then when I did I couldn't take the pain medication, made me nauseated so I am doing this the hard way. No MEDS for pain, But it is OK not bad at all. I am coping and doing good so far, no incision pain, I do have back pain really bad but had to go off my pain medication for that so I guess that is to be expected. I go back on the 23rd for my follow-up.

6-20-05
4am Couldn't sleep, haven't been able to eat much. It is the taste. Everything taste nasty to me. They all say it goes away, but at this point in this journey it is all bad. I feel great but all food and drink are very awful tasting.

6-24-05
Well, I had my doctors appt yesterday and am down to 273 Yea, down 15 pounds from surgery date. Bad news though, I had a bone scan and I have severe osteoporosis and I have to begin the Forteo injections on the 7th of July. Hope they don't make me sick and I pray it works. My back has been hurting really bad for a couple of weeks, probably the small operating table?



8-23-2005
Well I have to tell you it has been a roller coaster ride. Not for the surgery but the fight with the insurance company to pay for the Forteo injections is a nightmare. I am having to pay for the medications up front which is in the neighborhood of 700.00 and then the insurance will reimburse me. Just wonder how much. Oh Joy. Well I have lost weight. I weighed at my orthopedic surgeon office and I am at 235 Yea, 100 to go. Hope his scales are the same at my gastric bypass doctors are. So that puts me 74lbs down from my highest weight and 53 lbs down from surgery weight. I am loving this.


This is from a size 26 to an 18 to an XL top and 14 pants WooHoo!



9-22-2005
Had my 15 week checkup today and I am at 230. Funny, I weight less in Oklahoma than in Texas. My Oklahoma Doctor weights me at 220 Oh well, anyway down 79 pounds total and 58 just since surgery day. Yea! Dr. Warnock is such a sweet person, he really motivates you to do well. He thinks I am doing great and I go back in December. I am walking 3.2 miles a day and doing a few strength training excersices for my arms and chest. I am getting really wrinkled. Look like a Sharpea dog. He said if I keep this pace I will have my tummy tuck by early next spring or summer. Yea!!!! Eating is fine. 500-700 calories a day and less than 50 carbs and less than 30% fat which is about 25g. Protein is 70-90g. Depends on how I feel at the time. I feel great physically and have more energy. Fibro still controls my life though. But I got rid of some of the problems and alot of the medications.



First picture is my sister and me the morning of surgery at 288lbs. The second is my sister and me 6 months post op at 188lbs. Total of 121 from Feb 05


12-19-05
Just came from the doctors office and I only have 35 more pounds to lose and I will be ready for my lower body lift. I am so excited. He doesn't want me to lose to under 150 because I will look to thin after the surgery. Me???? Too Thin???? OMGosh I never thought I would hear those words. My next appt. is March 20th and if I have lost the weight we will schedule my tummy tuck. OH I can't wait. I can't hardly believe how fast it has gone off. It is a miracle. I am at 185 pounds now WOW!!! I have lost 103 pounds since surgery day and 124 total since February It is so Awesome!!!
Merry Christmas to all and Have a Wonderful New Year!!!!


1-9-06 I am at 180 pounds now. I feel wonderful. I am now down 108 pounds from surgery day and 129 pounds from my heaviest in February 05. I wear a 12 now and some 14's still depends on how they are made. But was so happy to fit into any 12. My fibromyalgia is acting up at the moment. Hope it calms down soon, have not be able to excersice like I should. Still trying to make it to 150 by March 20th.

3-20-06 Didn't make my goal I am at 170, but the doctor does not want me to lose anymore weight. Says I will look to thin. I am in a 10 and have just come back from our cruise to the Caymans and Cozumel. Wonderful trip, went with some cousins and really had a wonderful time. I have a facelift scheduled for the 22nd and my TT for April 4th. Will post after the facelift and let you know how it goes. Here are our pics from the cruise in my size 10 dress. Yea!!!

            


3-29-06 Well, I was not suppose to lose anymore weight but it is dropping without me even trying. Funny how you don't lose for a month then all of a sudden you can't stop. I am down to 164, and my surgery for my hernia repair and TT is on the 4th. My facelift has gone well. I am still swollen and bruised but not much pain at all. Will be so happy when I see the final result, kinda hard to tell anything right now, I am black, blue and a funny yellow. I bruise easy anyway so ...........I go back to the face doctor tomorrow. Yea, no double chin and drooping eyes. So far that is all I can tell. More later after TT surgery. 


         

 Well it has been a year and what a year it was. I just returned from my family reunion and most of them didn't recognize me at all. They were amazed. We had so much fun!!!!! This is my one year updated picture. Total lost 156 pounds!!!! I now weigh 153 a wear a 8 in most things some 10's and some 6's depends on how it is made. This has been an awesome journey and now the maintenance begins. I will keep updated every few months to let you know how it all goes.




06-18-2006
Dr. Warnock ask me to write my story of my Life being obese and the journey thru till now so here it is. I hope it helps and motivates a few:

My Weight Loss Story
By Deloris Myranell Livingston Villarreal

When I was small, I was always a little overweight, not much but enough to be noticeable. By 12 I was in the average range on thru to age 16. At 17 I gained to a size 12-14 and thus began my troubles with weight. I went on a liquid diet called Sego. Nasty tasting stuff but I lost down to 103 pounds and looked good. Got engaged at 17, and he was not faithful, (and we were too young and 300 miles apart) and I gained. I lost on the same diet again and got engaged again and he died in a motorcycle accident. I gained, and gained to over 150 pounds which was not too obese but………After graduation I decided to go to Texas to stay with my father who I only had seen about 15 times in my entire life. After I had been there about 2 weeks he let me use his car to go swimming and when I returned there was a wet spot on the back of the seat where the knot in my bathing suit had not dried and it angered him, he was drunk, and he hit me breaking my nose, knocking out my front tooth and blacking both eyes with only one punch. I packed my clothes in a paper sack and was hitchhiking back to Oklahoma and my future hubby, Rudy, picked me up took me to his house called my mother and put me on a bus to Oklahoma. After about 2 weeks, Rudy called and ask if I was going to pick him up at the bus station or he would have to walk to my house. We were married 2 months after he picked me up hitchhiking. I was some overweight then but my wedding dress was a 14, back in 1973. 14’s are bigger now. My first pregnancy I gained about 35 pounds and the second 50 more. The third pregnancy was twins and I gained 20 pounds but lost one baby, the other born 2 months premature and I lost back down to 130 pounds because of depression. But the weight lose didn’t last. By the time my 3rd son was 1 year old I was back up to 180 pounds. I stayed there until I got pregnant with my 4th son. I gained up to 210 pounds which never left. Slowly over the next 20 years the weight just crept up. I would lose 5 pounds and gain 8, lose 20 pounds and gain 30 and so on. I began to hear about gastric bypass surgery, but I had met a lady a few years earlier that had the stomach stapling and she lost but regained the weight so I was very skeptical. I had gone to a craft show in 2001 and met a lady, Wanda, that had just had the surgery done and told me about it but she was just a month out so not much progress. I lost contact with her and that was a mistake. As the next couple years went by my health went down hill and I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Diabetes, 3 herniated discs in my neck, carpal tunnel, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Sleep Apnea and had severe migraines. I was on 22 prescription pills a day plus a host of vitamins and supplements. Some were very strong narcotics. I was just barely functioning. Bed was my friend and I ate and lay around and ate some more trying to cope, or I thought so, with my problems. I talked to God about my problems and felt as if I had no answer when the truth was I wanted a miracle, an overnight miracle and it didn’t come. I didn’t want to have to face the fact I did it to myself, and I would have to work at it to undo the problems I created. When I was about to the lowest I felt I could go……….Things began to happen or I noticed things happening that changed my life. It doesn‘t happen overnight and sometimes it takes God guiding you to the right place at the right time.
It so happened that at a funeral I came face to face with the first fiancé’ after 32 years, he hugged me and ask if I knew God. We talked for a few moments and then I had to find an excuse to get away from him, a panic attack was setting in. I was so embarrassed that he saw me with so many health problems, so obese, and I was mortified by the thought. I was on so many medications my son had to tell him my grandson’s name because I couldn’t remember. I came home upset and told my husband what happened and how I felt, and he said, “If him seeing you like this makes you feel this bad, why don’t you try to do something about it. If it bothers you that much we need to try to solve the problem. It is how you see yourself not how others see you that is important, so how are we going to change how you feel? You need to think about how to solve the issues you have with yourself.” and I did.
Now I had another problem, what do I do to solve all my medical problems and get off this roller coaster I had let myself get on? I began to read on the internet how others were conquering the sleep apnea problem by losing weight and controlling diabetes with Gastric bypass surgery. That is when I remembered Wanda. Who was the doctor that did Wanda’s surgery? I could not remember and I could not find her. I called a couple of doctors and went to a few seminars and I just didn’t feel right about it. I was still worried about the complications and of dying. One night when I couldn’t sleep I just typed in Wanda’s name and up she popped up on Obesityhelp.com . She had a web page and like a long lost friend there was her doctors name. I called Dr. Warnock’s office the next morning and made an appointment. The first time I met him I knew this was the right thing for me to do. We set a date and surgery was on June 9th, 2005. I only told my hubby, kids and sister. I had the surgery and the weight loss journey began. I lost slow the first couple of months and then it seem to come off steady. Finding the right protein drink is a trial. I tried them all and finally have found the one I will stick with. Patience is the key to eating the new way. I use to hurry and gobble the food down so I could get the table clean and house done and back to bed. Now I had to eat slow or get sick. Drink a lot of water in sips that didn’t agree with me at first. But slowly the weight came off and the medical problems began to disappear. First my blood sugars went to normal. WOW, first time in 5 years. Then no more sleep apnea, then my knee pain eased up and my neck began to ease, but still took pain pills just milder ones. By 6 months it was like a new me, I was in a 14 and feeling alive again, but new problems arose. I had a sore under the overhang on my tummy that was hard to heal and would come back from time to time. Yeast infection what a bummer but at least that was better than all the other problems I had just conquered. By 9 months I was taking my grandkids to the park and really enjoying being with them and out of the house. I was off almost all of the prescription drugs. My migraines had almost totally stopped!!! I have only had 2 migraines in a year, when I use to have 2 a week. By 12 months I had lost a total of 129 pounds since day of surgery and 152 pounds from my heaviest at 309 just the February before surgery. I have gone from a size 28 to a size 8. Proud? Yes! Happy? Yes! Life is good without all the extra weight of fat, guilt, depression, and medical problems. Medication is down to 1 pill a month for Osteoporosis. I don’t live in a fog anymore, and I remember my grandkids names!!! I went to our family reunion and almost none of them recognized me! I had to tell them who I was. It was exciting and wonderful. I could actually participate in games and activities that I could not have in years past. I would have the surgery again in a minute and I thank God for the wake up jolt of running into an old boyfriend that made me realize I needed to do something about my health. I am grateful to my hubby for putting up with me and my food obsession all these years. He is my rock! I would not have wanted to do it without him. We have both reaped the rewards of this surgery and we are both happier and healthier. The old boyfriend? No, haven’t seen him yet. Would I like to? Yea, just to tell him that God used him to help me. I think he would be pleased by that. I know I am! I did not have this surgery just to be thin and look better, that was the side effect. I did it to get healthier and the looking good was the reward!!!! I thank God for the motivation and guiding me to Dr. Warnock, for without them both I would not have the wonderful life I have now.


Well It has been awhile since I updated. I went to my PCP yesterday and got a clean bill of health. My diabetes is great I was a 5.3 which is excellent. I am officially a diet controlled diabetic. I guess onece a diabetic, always a diabetic just under control. But, I am doing great. I lost down to 138 pounds due to my son getting injured at work and having to have surgery and while he was in the operating room we got a call and my DH's mom fell and broke her hip so we spent 3 days with my son to make sure he was home and doing ok and then ran to Texas and she passes away 5 hours after we arrived, so all the kids came to Texas even the one injured one and when we all got back home my DH fell off a barrell at work and injured his leg and was out of work for 3 weeks so............... it has been a stressful month to say the least. I am gaining it back now, I looked really bad that thin. My bones stuck out and I looked awful. Happy to report I am almost back to what I should weight and that is where I want to stay. when I get back to the 150's I am fighting to stay there. Not a rail and not fat. LOL Just right???? In my opinion anyway. Everyone was fussing I was too thin so I learned a lesson really fast. I go to have my Dexa Scan for my Osteroporosis in December and praying that comes back ok. Will update then.

12/18/2006  Had my dexa scan and it did not turn out good.  I have to go on Forteo for 2 years.  My bones are really bad.  I am not going to let this get me down.  I will overcome this.  Determination and faith, and I will conquer this.  Other wise I am doing fine.  My doctor has used my series of pictures in is advertising.  I am pleased he is proud of me.  I hope it serves him well.  He is a gem.  Everything else is great no other complaints or problems.  Still maintaining my weight and feel good.  Go back to the doctor in 6 months will try to update then.  Blessings to all.


6/22/2007  Well, I am just a few days over my 2 year anniversary and doing great.  I still gain a few and lose a few pounds here and there but am still holding my 150's.  I am a slave to the scale.  I jump on an weight my self most mornings and judge what to eat from there.  But I would rather do that than be back to where I was 2 years ago.  I am still on Forteo.  Expensive and I pray it does the job.  I can't believe the difference the weight made in me.  Physically, emotionally and spritually.  I am so happy I did this.  Good luck to all you decide to change for the better.   Will write more after I see the doctor next month.

309 Weight 309 Size 28 6/9/2005

153 Weight 153 Size 8 6/9/2006

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