judy D.
04/06/01 After a year of searching the internet and prayer I am now ready to find a surgeon. I have narrowed it down to Dr Robert Quinlan. I want to have either the Lap Band or the Lap RNY surgeries. I still haven't made up my mind which. I have been overweight most of my life and now it is starting to effect my life style. I know I have to do something soon!
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6/8/01 Today is my 57th Birthday and I can't wait to get a date for this surgery. I have an appointment at the end of August with Dr. Quinlan.
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7/31/01 I have a whole month before I get to see a doctor. I have been waiting so long. I'm really getting excited about living a "normal" life (whatever that is).
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8/01/01 We have a gym where I work where any employee can work out. I went down there with a friend and she showed me how to use the equipment. I hope to use it as I lose the weight.
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8/03/01 Dr Quinlin's office called and cancelled my appointment for August 28th. I was devastated. I called and they set me up an appointment for September 4th. Now I have to make arrangement
all over again at work. I just want to have a date for the surgery and get on with my life.
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09/05/01 I had my first appointment with Dr Quinlin. He seemed like a very nice man. He had his nurse make an appointment with the hospital for two tests, an upper GI and a sonogram for my gall bladder on Sept 14th. My next appointment is September 24th when he should give me a surgery date. His nurse said that it usually take aroung 3 months to get a date, so that leave me around Christmas.
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09/11/01 Like most of you I was devasted to hear and see the terrible things that happen in this country this morning. It makes all of our problems small and makes us grateful we are alive and well. The plane that crashed in PA flew over whereI live just minutes before it crashed. I give thanks to my Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ for his goodness and protection. I will
join with all of you and keep the families who have lost loved ones in our prayer and most of all we will keep our president and leader in prayer for guidance in these weeks to come.
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09/17/2001 I had the sonogram for my gall bladder and the upper GI last Friday. They were not bad at all.
The stuff didn't taste great but it didn't make me gag either. I
can't wait until 9/24 my next doctor appointment, I should get my surgery date.
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09/25/01 I had my appointment with Dr Quinlin and all went well.
They didn't have my test back yet but they gave me a date for my
surgery anyway. The big day is 11/29/01. I was pleasantly supprised, I thought I would have to wait until December around Christmas time.
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10/1/01 Wow am I tired this morning and very grateful to have a surgery date!
We went to Buffalo NY to see the Pgh Steeler vs Bills game. We went by bus for the weekend. My poor husband had to
be cramped the whole trip because I took
up 2/3 of the seat. Thank God it's not a long
trip it is only about a 4 hr drive from where I live.
The first day we spent in Niagara Falls, the hotel
was about four blocks from the falls.
I have seen the falls many times and didn't really care
if I saw it again. My husband ask if I wanted to take a short
walk and see if we could find a good restaurant.
At the last minute I grabbed my wallet and put it in my pocket.
We walked for about 15 min and found ourselves
by the American side of the falls. By this time I was really feeling pain in my feet and ankles.
There was a gate that said "to Canada " via the Rainbow Bridge.
Ed asked if I wanted to walk over bridge.
Not wanting to ruin his good time I said yes. We walked
across the bridge into Canada to see the falls better.
Everyone knows you can get a better view on the Canadian side.
By now I can hardly walking and in back pain we got to the Canadian side and I know I had to turn back. He helped me back to the US side only to find a long line were customs were checking people's credentials.
This has never happened to us before we always could go right through. They had many foreigner visitors pull over to the side questioning them.Like I said I was really grateful that I had taken my wallet with me on our short walk at least I had my drivers license with me or I would be still in Canada.
I don't know what we were thinking. We are so use to our freedom, goingwere we want to when we want to.
It was good to see that security had tighten though, before whenever we came back from Canada they would ask us questions like "where are you from" you would tell them PA and they would let you right through no ID no Nothing.
By the time I got back to the hotel my poor husband was almost carrying me.I had dinner at the hotel the spent the rest of the evening in the hot tub trying to alleviate the leg and back pain.
Sunday we went to the game in Buffalo were the security was really tight.
We were not allowed to take anything into the park except a jacket, which they searched.
I was totally humiliated when I could not fit through the turn style because I was to heavy.
I asked if they had a gate and they said they did but didn't have a key. They ask me to try again by this time there was a crowd behind me waiting to get into the game.
I tried again(big mistake) this time I got stuck. I was in tears.
Finally I got loose, but still could not get into the stadium. The ticket taker gave me my ticket
back and told me I had to go to a special gate clear around the other side of the stadium. I finally made it only to be searched again. I finally got into the game. There were at least four security guard for each section.
What makes me sad is what really should have been a good time was ruined because of my weight. Most people do not know the fear of going some place not being able to fit in a seat or going up to a gate and not being able to fit through a turn style. Most people take these things for granted, but not us.
I can't wait until I can sit in a normal seat and walk and go through turn styles like a normal person.
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10/23/01 Here I go again! Friday is my 38th wedding anniversary and my huband has planned a trip to Punta Cana in the Domician Republic an all inclusive resort deal. I am going to be flying on Friday(seat belt worry). The three story hotel in Punta Cana doesn't have elevators so I'll have to make sure I'm on the first floor. My knees would never make it up and down one flight of stair let alone two or three. Since it is an all inclusive deal now I worry about how much food I put on my plate and is ervyone looking as I go back for seconds. You know the "everyone is looking at the fat lady's plate" syndrome. When I go to the pool or beach there is the "everyone is staring at the fat lady in the bathing suit" syndrome. By the way I was told the beach is topless (that's just great), with me the more I cover up the better I feel. I'll probably stay at the pool, tops are required there. I'm use to the stares now and it really doesn't bother me that much. No one or nothing is going to spoil my fun. I think of how strange it will be when I lose the weight and not have to worry about such trivial things. Anyway my husband and I are going to celebrate are 38th wedding anniversary and have fun no matter what anyone thinks. Let you know how it turns out.
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10/25/01 Yea! I finally got word from my dr's office that my
insurance co approved my surgery. I have been pestering them for a month now and finally last night they called me and told me I was approved.
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11/14/01 I want to thank everyone who has written to me and having given me support over the long months before surgery. I want to especially thank my angel Jacki Lamphire who is a dear sweet friend I could not do this without her.
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11/22/01 I have finished all my pre-op test and now I just have to wait until the 29th. To say I nervous is putting it mildly. The Lord is good he provided a nurse to encourage me yesterday as I got my EKG.She told me she had the same surgery one year ago and had my dr do the operation. She told me he was tops in his field. I glad she didn't tell me the opposite. Please keep me in your prayers.
This is my last day at work until Jan 2nd.
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11/25/01 five more days and I will be on the "other side". I am very nervious, but can't
wait until it is over.
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11/26/01 I am going though a series of emotions right now. I really have to keep my eyes on Jesus and get my peace back. I know he will never leave me or forsake me. I thank everyone for there prayers believe me I need them.
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11/27/01 The countdown two more days. Tomorrow I have to do the
bowel prep and spend the day in the bathroom. I'm really looking forward to that.
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11/28/0 See you on the other side.
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12/02/01 Well i'm now on the other side and the journey begins.
I'm in a little pain but not as much as I thought.
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12/03/01 My meeting with Dr Quinlin has been canceled because
he had a personal emergency and left for England. They rescheduled me for Tuesday.
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12/07/01 I found out Dr Quinlin won't be back until Friday so
I made an appointment for 10:45. I can't wait I have lost my voice. I keep vomiting and my throat feels like something is stuck in it. Thank God Jacki is doing well.
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12/11/01 I still feel sick in my stomach sometimes when I drink water or anything else. I can't wait until Fridays appointment.
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12/14/01 Finally got to go to dr Quinlins office. He said all my symptoms are normal and put me on purees. Thank God no more broths. I also have lost 20 lbs in two weeks. I am grateful.
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1/09/02 I am feeling a lot better but still have constipation, I always knew I was full of it. I am back to work and trying to work out in the gym everyday for 30 min. Eating to fast and not drinking all my liquids are two of my major problems, also forgeting to take my vitamins. I never have been know for my great memory. Another problem I have is when I do eat slow my food gets cold. I get to go Friday for another appointment with Dr Quinlin and probably will start Phase 3.
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1/14/02 I can't belive that I have lost 35 lbs and I don't have to go back to the drs office for three months. I really feel good except for the constipation.
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1/23/02 I can't believe that January is almost over and in 5 day it will be two whole months since my surgery. I haven't lost any weight in over a week and I am getting concerned. I still eat to fast. I try to eat slow and chew but old habits are hard to break. I also try to eat protein at every meal but that doesn't alway happen either. I don't know what if anything I am doing wrong. I guess I just have to wait it out.
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1/29/02 Well it is two months since I had the surgery and I'm down 40 lb. I still am constipated so I have to take a pill everyday when I do that I have no trouble. I don't know if I should contact my dr or not. I don't have to go back until April. I have heard that my friend Nancy Simons is not doing as good as I would like. Please keep her in your prayers.
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2/19/02 I know it has been a long time since posted I just feel that I don't have very much to share. I am now down to 230 lbs thati 50 lbs I have lost. Like most of you I want the weight to
be off yesterday. I grow impatient with myself for not losing faster, but I know I didn't put it on in a day and I won't take it off in a day. I really feel like I am eating to much. I don't want to stretch my stomach. I have to learn how to know when I start to feel full and quit.
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2/28/02 Here it is the last day of February and I still haven't reached the 60 lbs mark. I don't know why but I get stuck at a certain weight for a week, the scale just won't move.
Then I'll lose a lb. I have been eating over the 1/4 cup I hope
I haven't stretched my stomach. I wanted to ger down to 219 by Easter I hope I make it.
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3/21/02 I have finally reached the 60lb mark I have waited
a long time to get there. I wanted to be down past 219 by
Easter and I made it. Now I am looking forward t getting
down under the 200 lb mark. I can't remember when I have
been under 200. I feel so much better and have a lot more
energy. A friend of mine at work has decided to have the
surgery done by the same doctor. I pray all goes well. I
am still eating more than 1/4 cup at most meals and hope
I am not stretching my stomach. My boss wants me to go
back to college so I guess I spend the next 4 years getting
a degree. At least I'll fit in the desks this time.
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4/16/02 Hurray! I finall lost 70 lbs. I am down to 209. Only 10 more until I hit under 200. I had an appointment with Dr Quinlin today but it was cancelled. I haven't seen him since last Jan. I kind of feel like I was abandoned. A friend of mine from work has his date. I wish him God Speed. Another friend Nancy Simons has written me that she is doing better. Praise God for that. I am excited because I'm going to get to see my
good friend Jacki next month. She has helped me through a lot of stuff and I can't wait to finally meet her and have some fun together.
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5/17/02 Last weekend I finally got to meet my good friend Jacki (my angel) in person. I had a marvelous time, it was like we were old friends. Jacki and her husband Mike were fabulous, they took so many places, we had a ball. My husband had such a great time he kept thanking me for taking him :).
I met two of my goals this month. First I lost 80 lbs. Second I finally got down under 200 lbs. I don't know when the last time I saw a one in front of my weight instead of a two.
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6/4/02 Hi everyone I'm back, I didn't realize that it was so long since I last update. I am now down 90 lbs to 190. My next goal is to hit the 100 lb loss mark. My 58th birthday is in four days and I have never felt healthier. This is one of the best things I have done for myself.
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7/11/02 Hi all my fellow losers. I finally reached my 100 lb mark today I am now down to 179lbs. Boy I thought I would never get there. It was really weird I would get down to one pound away and then gain a pound then lose that pound then gain it back. I don't know what is going on with my body. I have had teriffic pains in my stomach the last two days, I am praying it is gas. My husband and I are going on a cruise in August. I am really looking forward to it. I can actually fly and not worry about the seats. I know I won't be able to eat all that yummy food but that is not important to me anymore. I just want to go and enjoy my husband and have a good time. I even going to buy a bathing suit. I have a new goal to be down 10 more pound before I go on August 11th. That is just one month away. Let you know how it turns out.
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08/20/02 Hi all, Well I went on my cruise and had a great time
I climbed up Dunn's River Falls in Jamica. It is a water falls that goes up 600 ft. You have to climb with a guide. I had no trouble and could keep up with all the young folks in our tour group. A year ago I could not have done that. People ask me if I felt bad not being able to eat all that food on the ship.
I did eat a few bites of the things I really wanted. Like Lobster, Baked Alaska, etc. I did not feel deprived at all.
I have now lost 110 lbs and now down to 169 lbs. I didn't gain any on the cruise but I didn't lose any either. Oh well back to real life again. For the first time in along time I did not have any trouble fitting into a airplane seat or using the seat belt. This is the best thing I have ever did for myself. I even got to buy a few size 14 clothes for our trip.
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09/26/02 Boy it is getting harder and harder to lose weight.
I am still doing everything I have always done. I am finally down to 159lbs and have lost 120lbs. Although I still have a little over 35lbs to go I have never felt better. In two months I will be coming up on my 1 year anniversary and I have never regetted having this surgery done. My skin is still saggy and baggy but I am exercising plus I'm old so it probabley won't ever get completly firm. Thanks to all the people on this web site that have helped me along the way. I don't think I could have done it without you. Especially my good fried Jacki Lampshire.
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11/22/02 Wow it has taken me over two months to loose another 10 lbs. It is really getting tough. I am now officially down 130 lbs. I now weigh 149lb. Last month I got to go to Willamsburg and have a marvelous time. Jackie and her husband met us twice for dinner. We had a wonderful time and it was great to see Jacki again. I went to see Dr Quinlin today I haven't been there since April. It was nice sitting there and listening to the other patients talk about their surgeries. One man there lost 213 lbs. in 13 months. I am hoping to loose 25 more pounds before I go on to maintenance. I am kind of scared of maintenance that is where I always mess up and gain the weight back. I have been through too much this time it has to be different. Nov 29th is my first anniversary, it has been a hard year and hopefully it will get easier.
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2/12/03 Wow I can't believe that it has been months since I made my last entry. I have just now gotten down to 139 lbs I have lost 140 lbs. I am hoping to get down 19 more. It seems to have taken forever to lose that last l0 lbs. I am scheduled to have my tummy tuck done in August, I hope I am down the rest of my weight by then. I am still losing hair which is a great concern of mine. I wonder if it ever stops falling out, I take my vitamins and try to eat my protein. I don't know what else to do. I have had two more people contact me about the surgery, I will be praying for you, Holly and Sheryl. Take care
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7/29/03 I have been waiting to get those last 10 pound off to write again. I have been stuck at 133 for the last four months. I guess that is not a bad place to be stuck. I really wanted to get down into the 120's before my two years were up. I feel healthy and work out almost every day. I hope to post a after picture soon. I have stoped losing hair which is great. I have even scheduled an appointment to get a tummy tuck (if insurance will pay) in December. I am grateful for this surgery I don't know how I stood the pain of being overweight so long. Now that I have lost 150 lb I am pain free.
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12/04/03 It has been over two years since my surgery and it was the best thing I ever did for myself. We went on a cruise for our 40th wedding aniversary in October and it felt great to be able to go swimming and snorkeling. The insurance company rejected my tummy tuck surgery so I guess I'll have to just work out to tone up. I have gain and lost around 5 lbs. I go up and down I don't know if this is normal and sometimes it worries me. I remember all the times I lost weight only to gain it back. By the grace of God that will never happen again.
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02/27/04 I am trying to lose those last 10 lbs. I am down to 131 lbs and almost to my goal to get into the 120's. I have never felt better in my life. I do panic however if I gain more than 5 lbs and immediately try to take it off. I am so afraid that I will gain it all back like I did before. I guess only the Lord and time will calm this fear. I hope to post an after picture soon.
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05/18/2004 I still am trying to lose that last 10 lbs, I am starting to think that God wants me where I am at. I can live with 131 lbs. I feel great and I am able to do more now than when I was in my twenties and thirties. I have my 60th birthday coming up next month and I am have never been healthier. I wanted to wait until I felt that I had lost everything I wanted to before posting a picture but I think I better get to it.
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08/23/2004 It is really getting hard for me to lose weight again. My metabolism seems to have slowed down to a crawl.
I have gained 5 lbs and get depressed when I get on the scale.
I work out most weekdays sometimes twice and still can't loose those extra pounds. I wonder if everyone has this problem and how many people that had this surgery have gained their pounds back.
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9/30/04 My weight is now 134 lbs I wish I could lose 20 more but I am happy not to be 284 lbs anymore. I have been working out every day well almost everyday and feel great physcially. I am almost finished with school only one semester to go. When I think of how my life has changed since this surgery I just want to say "Thank You Jesus"
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05/07/07 I graduated college. My weight is now up to 151 I am going to start working out again and watch what I eat. I refuse to let my weight become a life issue again.
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