Karen B.
Starting Point: 233lbs
37 BMI
5/7/04 I have been researching this procedure for a couple of years and always held off on proceeding because I felt there was always another path I should take before I did something this drastic. In most areas of my life I'm in complete control, but as far as my weight goes...I'm exhausted. I hope this surgery will give me the strength to succeed in my quest for permanent weight loss. I'm 5'6 and weigh 230. I also have diabetes and take all kinds of medicines that seem to increase my weight everytime one of them is changed. I'm also on high blood pressure medicine and cholesterol medicine, not so much because I have these problems (my levels are in the high normal range), but because my doc feels that diabetics should take every precaution not to develop these problems. I think I'm too young to be feeling this old...can't wait for surgery.
5/17/04 I've jumped through all the hoops and now I'm ready for my big day. Everyone at Tufts-NEMC has been incredible. Their program is a well oiled machine. All of the professionals involved with this program (this includes the office staff!!) have made me feel comfortable, safe and informed. I'm very satisfied with the decision I made to pursue this operation and very thankful that I found this practice. I'm still getting the last minute jitters, but I don't think I'd be normal if I didn't. My husband and kids are worried that something will go wrong, and my parents are beside themselves. My father keeps telling me to go on another diet...been there, done that. Everyone's a little scared of the unknown at this point, but I know everyone will be very happy for me a couple months down the road when I don't have diabetes anymore. The next time I post I'll be post-op. I can't wait to get to the other side!!
5/30/04 I am so happy that I am home and recovering. Everything went perfectly. Dr. Tarnoff is an extremely talented surgeon. He is an attentive, down-to-earth, friendly, upbeat, brilliant young doctor...I am so lucky to have found him. The hospital nursing staff was superb. They were always checking on me and doing everything to make me more comfortable. The first couple of days were very uncomfortable, but the morphine drip certainly helped with that. It started to make me sick the second day, so I was able to switch to percoset and that made all the difference. Everyday I'm feeling better. Thank you to all the wonderful people that have supported me through this journey. My blood sugars are still running high, so I haven't been able to stop all of my medicine, but I did stop taking one of them. I've lost 8 pounds, so hopefully as I lose weight, I'll be able to stop the other meds too.
6/7/04 Today I am 13 days post-op. Time has gone by so fast. I've lost 17 pounds so far. I've been feeling pretty tired up til this point. Today I feel like I'll be able to go out and accomplish some things. My clothes don't really fit any differently yet. I think my abdomen is still swollen from the surgery, but I'm beginning to feel a slight difference. It hasn't been too hard to follow the liquid diet. I've had the cup-o-soups, soy slimfast shakes, yogurt, and egg beaters. As far as my diabetes goes my sugar levels are coming down, but it's been slower than I thought it would be. All in all everything has gone very smoothly...no vomiting or infections. Lucky me!!
6/17/04 I've lost 19 pounds as of today. It's slower than I thought, but at least it's something. I stopped my blood pressure medicine a week ago. I realized that two hours after taking them I was dizzy and spacey for the rest of the day. I finally took my blood pressure and it was 95/58...way too low for me. I've felt great since I stopped taking them and my blood pressure stays around 135/78. My blood glucose levels have come down dramatically. I've stopped taking 2 of my diabetes medicines and will continue with the last one for a little longer. I'm feeling great. No pain. I'm a little slower than I used to be, but I'm picking up speed all the time. My clothes are starting to feel a little big. I haven't had a great relationship with food yet. I had baked fish and it made me vomit. Hamburger doesn't settle right either. My slimfast drink, cup-o-soups and sugar free popscicles are my best friends. I did have 3 ritz crackers today and that seemed to be alright. It's pretty amazing how well I can function on so little food. I stay between 600 - 800 calories a day...mostly because I can't eat any more than that. I do get hungry, but it takes very little to satisfy me. Everything is going along great.
7/17/04 Well I'm down 32 pounds now. I lose about 2-3 pounds a week and I feel wonderful. I've had a hard time keeping meat, fish, or chicken down so I still rely on my slimfast shake for a good portion of my protein. I went to my endocrinologist this week and my diabetes is almost in control. I was still a little high with my fasting glucose, but it should only be a short time now and I will be able to stop taking all of my medicine. My cholestrol was low, but the doc still wants me to continue my lescol xl. I guess from what I've been reading these statin drugs are miracle drugs and the lower the cholestrol, the better. I really could use some new clothes, but I hate to buy anything in hopes that I will need a smaller size in a couple of months. I guess I'll have to get a couple of things, but I'm really looking forward to fitting into a size 14.
7/27/04 Just got back from visiting my parents. We had a good time, but I had a few issues with food not agreeing with me. I lost 3 pounds while there. I'm now at 192.
8/4/04 I had my 11 week post-op checkup yesterday. All went well. They were a little concerned about my vomiting, but said that some people can't tolerate anything but ground-up protein for 6 months...so I guess that's me. I'm still feeling great. I do feel like this weight loss is out of my control. I don't eat much, but then again I don't want much. I don't have cravings anymore, and I don't think about food unless I'm hungry. It's the easiest weight I've ever lost, but my nutritionist tells me that things will change as I'm able to tolerate more foods and I'll have to be careful and mindful about what and how I eat. I hope that doesn't happen for awhile. I also feel like I'm deflating...like a balloon. I felt like I was going to pop before the surgery, now I feel much lighter. I'm down 41 pounds since the surgery. Still loosing about 3 pounds a week.
8/19/04 Today is my birthday and I'm feeling wonderful. I haven't had any food issues for 2 weeks now and I've been increasing my walking. My clothes are really too big, so I broke down and ordered some things from Old Navy. I went there a couple of weeks ago and was amazed that regular clothes fit me. I haven't shopped in the regular sized clothing stores in 18 years. It's going to take me some time to get used to it again. I was actually able to use one of my daughters belts yesterday too...of course I used it around my waist and she uses it around her hips. My blood pressure is way down...123/67. I never remember being that low. I've been 140/90 forever. My diabetes is still with me. I run around 140, but I still hope that it will go down as I loose more weight. I'm down 46lbs and weigh 184.
9/6/04 I stopped all my diabetes medications last week, and my glucose readings are great. I am one happy camper now. We took my son to college for his freshman year this past weekend, and we stayed in the area for a couple of days. I was worried about eating, but everything went well. I got salads with meat or chicken, and/or soup. We were quite active the 3 days we were gone and I ended up losing 4 pounds. I really feel great. I'm able to wear sleeveless tops now and the heat and humidity don't bother me like they did in the past. My son is on the 21st floor of his dorm and the elevator was all jammed up on move in day, so I actually walked all 21 flights of stairs down...now if I could just walk them up, ha. I haven't had any difficulties with vomiting in over a month. I still don't eat much meat, unless it's ground beef. I did try a chicken rollup. I unwrapped the tortilla and just ate the chicken rolled up in the lettuce. The chicken was pretty dry, but it didn't bother me this time. I also was able to eat 3oz of fish and 1/2 a baked potato. That's the most I've had so far in one sitting. I seem to be able to tolerate more food at night than I can in the morning. Unfortunately, I was always a night eater and I don't want those habits to come back again, but I can see I'm going to have to work on that. I'm so glad I had this surgery. I feel like I'm in control of my life again and I feel healthy. I can bend over, cross my legs, sit in a theater seat without touching anyone, and walk for miles without pain...what a miracle. I'm down 52 lbs and weigh 178.
9/12 My hair is really starting to fall out now. I guess there isn't much I can do about it except wait it out. I don't think anyone else can notice it yet, but I do see it all over my clothes all day long and in the shower it comes out by the handful. From what I've read, it should come back full and wavy...so I'll keep my fingers crossed. I'm down 53 lbs. and weigh 177.
10/15 My weight loss has really slowed down. I've been watching my calories everyday, and I use my elliptical walker or go for a walk every day. I feel great, but I sure would like to lose weight quicker. I'm able to eat 1200 calories a day now without any problem. I also had some apple crisp the other day and didn't dump, so I guess sugar isn't going to be an issue for me. I just have to stay away from it. I've spent the weekend clearing out all my large size clothes. I don't like to look at them...bad karma. I'm down 58 lbs. and weigh 172.
11/7 I actually fit into my daughters size 12 pants...yippee. It's hard trying to figure out what size I am, it keeps changing so fast. It seems like I buy a new outfit and within 3 weeks it's baggy. I'm not complaining...I'm just amazed. I still have a hard time eating meat and bread is difficult too. I can only eat 1/2 a sandwich or a couple of ounces of meat. Unfortunately, crackers and salty snacks go down very easily so I have to be careful with the snacking. Last month my daughter and I walked in a 5k race. She left me in her dust, but the great thing is I finished the race and didn't come in last. Maybe next year I'll be running it instead of walking. I also decided to take the real estate salesperson course and I took the test yesterday and passed. I wouldn't have done any of this in years past because I didn't feel I looked good enough in my clothes to deal with the public. Now I feel much more presentable. This surgery has changed my life and I am so greatful to have this chance at living again. I still would like to lose 30-40 more pounds, but I am happy where I am. It takes a lot of work now for me to lose about 1.5 pounds a week, but at least I'm still able to lose. I think my hair is starting to grow back too and a lot less is falling out a day. I'm down 64 lbs. and weigh 166.
12/12/04 My weight loss seems to have slowed way down. I usually go 2 weeks without any loss, and then I'll lose 2 or 3 pounds all at once. I'm happy the losing isn't over yet, but I do get frustrated at how slowly I lose. I feel great though, and I'm making it through the holiday season without too many "cheats." I can eat sugar and fats without dumping, so I guess I'll have to be very careful of that. I've only had a couple of chocolate kisses, and that was enough. I don't sit and eat mindlessly anymore, so maybe it's ok if I enjoy a kiss now and then. I'm starting a new job next week. I got the courage up to look for a job in real estate since I passed my test, and now I'll be working at a company handling their vacation rentals. I'm very excited to be starting something new, and I'm looking forward to the contact with vactioners. Life is good. I'm down 70lbs and weigh 160.
1/15/05 Happy New Year. How great it was to greet the new year without having to make the "lose weight" resolution. I'm going to continue living my life the way I have been for the last 7 months...focused on my health. I have days that I have a piece of candy or a bite of cake, but I take my time and taste it and I don't feel like I'm out of control and have to binge. I don't feel guilty either, I just watch my calories for the rest of the day. I'm also busy working now. I sit behind a desk a little longer than I'd like, but I try to work in some extra exercises. I'm very happy with how things have turned around in my life. I'm not as achy or sore, and I definitely have more energy. I'm down 75lbs and weigh 155.
2/15/05. I still feel great. Life is just picking up speed and I'm going right along with it. I shoveled snow for hours and didn't feel sore or achey. People are asking me now how much weight I have lost, and how I have done it. If there isn't a crowd around listening, I'll usually tell them I had surgery. I guess it's kind of shocking to see someone my age losing weight instead of gaining. Some people ask me if I lost it because I'm sick, but again it must be because it isn't the norm to lose this much this fast without being sick. I feel great and I think I look pretty good too. I'm wearing a size 8-10. I'd like to lose another 15 pounds. I'm down 82 lbs and weigh 151.
3/27/05 I've started working full time and I've joined Curves. I feel like I'm 18 again. I've been stuck at the same weight all month, but today I was down because I've had the flu for a couple of days. I don't know if I'll be able to keep this weight off, but for today I'm 146, down 87 pounds.
5/6/05 I think I've reached a weight that I am comfortable with. Sometimes when I lose a pound, I get a little scared that I'm going to get too thin. I guess I'll start looking into plastic surgery. I'd like to have a few things tightened. It's been a great year. Weight: 143, down 90 lbs.
6/12/05 weight 141 down 92lbs
11/11/06 weight 146. My weight has stayed pretty steady for the last 1 1/2 years. I can eat anything, I still have a difficult time with meat. Unfortuantely, I have the easiest time with starch...crackers. I don't eat much bread, but I do eat a lot of protein bars. Sugar makes me feel spacey, so I try to stay clear of that. I'm not interested in food, but I do get hungry and I wait too long to eat so I eat the wrong things too often. Everyone thought I was too thin when I weighed 137, so I guess I look better at 146, but I'm afraid of gaining any weight at all. I felt weak at 137, but I felt like I could wear anything. I weigh myself everyday whether I like it or not. I'm still having difficulty keeping my glucose levels down. I guess it's not just about weight for me. I haven't been on any medication for 2 years, but I'm afraid I may have to go back on something when I visit my doctor next time. I am so happy I did this for myself. I feel like I fit into society again and I'm enjoying the ability to move without feeling like I'm going to POP. My confidence is soaring and life is fun. I look forward to each day.
06/13/10 weight 154. My weight has increased about 2.5 pounds a year since surgery. Doesn't seem like much, but it has added up. It is difficult to take weight off because my eating habits are not good. The foods that go down easy are sugars and carbs. I have a hard time with protein. I eat a protein bar a day, but the rest is mostly starch. I used to love salads, but now the thought of them makes me gag. I am going to begin today to change my habits and get back to basics. I worked too hard to get this far. I still feel wonderful. I'm able to do everything I want and enjoy life to the fullest. I felt more confident when I weighed 10 pounds less, so I'm going for it and hopefully by the end of the summer I will have reached my goal.
6/25/11 weight 155. My weight shot up to 166 this year...very bad eating habits. It's quite a wake up call when your BMI suddenly is in the "overweight" category again. I've finally got control of some of my eating issues. I stopped eating sugar loaded desserts and was taking off about a pound a month. I just recently started a cleanse and have taken off 3 pounds this week. The cleanse has brought me back to mindful eating. Now that I have stopped grabbing for food and have my drink instead I can feel some control coming back into my decision making. I still feel wonderful and am thankful everyday that I had this surgery. I haven't had any ill effects. I'm hoping to get that 10 pounds off this year that I was trying for last year.
Hospital Reviews
Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Michael Tarnoff, M.D.
Insurer Info:
Blue Cross/Blue Shield, PPO
I didn't have to do anything, the doctor's office did it all. I did call BC/BS just to make sure that they did cover the surgery, and they said that they now also cover the lap-band procedure. They were very friendly and helpful
