Saved from my old Obesity Help Profile: Past info

Jan 13, 2013

Hello All! I am Heather...I am 20 years old, 5'6, and started out at 340 pounds the day of my surgery (4/20/2001)...a BMI of 55. Currently, as of the typing of this entry,(8/4/2001) I am 273 pounds.
I was wearing probably a 34 in pants, when I first started...I was shocked almost to tears recently when I found I can wear a pair of Jeans again...size 26. I cant believe it...~*Smiles*~...I had been wearing nothing but streach pants and 3X shirts.

I struggled all through childhood and adolescence with my weight. From age 13 I weighed 199 pounds. I eagerly await the day I can step on the scale and look down..and see myself being under 200 pounds for first time since elementary school.

I was heavy all through highschool, but it wasnt until I moved out of the house at 18 and into a home with my fiancee that I balooned from probably somewhere around 250 to 340. I just ate..and ate...with no discretion. I was suddenly able to buy my own food, cook it however I wanted..eat out because I was making my own money...It was out of hand.

I started concidering surgery at age 18..(because of course I thought I was huge at the time...NOW I look back and look FORWARD to being 250) when I met a former police officer who had the surgery done. He had gone from 350 to 200 when I met him.

I never told my parents or friends that I was concidering surgery until a week before my first appointment with Dr. DiMarco. I had studied the surgery...the risks..the benefits...had planned everything on my own, and then talked to them all. Other than the concern at the beginning, and the time it took me to tell them more about the surgery, they have supported me.

I went through Lap. Gastric bypass on a Friday...and I dont remember much of that night, coming out of the anesthesia. They tell me I complained I felt sick when I was given the first shots of Demerol...and was barely awake.

Saturday was a nightmare..I was in so much pain that I could just lay still and keep asking for medication. I went through that period of "Ooh no, what did I do to my body?? this was a mistake" that day, but that is natural.
Once they got me out of bed I started to feel conciderably better..and my recovery went from there. By the time I was released Monday I felt 75% better, was in conciderably less pain, was up and walking around (though I couldnt wear a bra..it just hurt too much) and eager to get home.

My Dr. had me on liquids for a week and a half...that week was possibly harder than the actual surgery process, to be honest. It wasnt a matter of pain, but of willpower. The better I felt, the more I wanted food. I couldnt watch TV that week..the commercials for food drove me nutz.

After that period of time, the Dr put me on soft foods for another two weeks or so. My first food after surgery was tunafish with a bit of fat free mayo...it had to be the most delicious food I ever tasted!! *~Laughs~*

I soon realized just how small my stomach was..and the shock of eating something as small as One Egg and being Stuffed (Sometimes not even being able to finish it) was really tough to get used to.

My whole lifestyle has changed in the three months since then. I currently eat a portion about the size of a small Lean Cuisine meal..and for the most part, I just pick out the protein portions..(eat all the chicken, throw the rice away :-) )

I can eat most anything now...although I avoid TOO much sugar, because I Do feel dizzy if I drink something like a sugary fruit juice quickly, and avoid beef for the most part..it just makes me feel too full, and is hard to chew sometimes, but I CAN eat it if I wish. I have no problems with milk products...I eat mostly boneless, skinless chicken breasts, white fish fillets...eggs..low fat cheeses...Definately concentrating on my Protein.

I take 4 tums a day for calcium...a B12 supplement by pill form...2 childrens chewable Centrum Complete vitamins, and 2 Biotin tablets.

Well, that is about it! I hope that helps everyone get to know me more..
My email is [email protected], my AIM is LadyKatww..if you would like to reach me, please feel free, just let me know where you found my name from. I am interested in meeting people from the area who have either had surgery already, or who plan on having it...

Heather



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Ok Everyone! I wanted to post an update. It is now September 16, and currently I am at 255 pounds...now fitting into size 24 pants..(some 22s, but they are tight still). I have been slacking a bit on my diet, but trying to get back on track. I have been.

I have set a goal..and really would LOVE to achieve it. I want to be down to 220 by Christmas..but I dont know if I will make it there....We shall see...All I know is, I would be thrilled if I could. Last year at Christmas, I weighed 320 pounds or more...what a difference this year has made. I want to be able to go to my company christmas party in something lovely and flattering..not a big streachy tent of fabric like I had to wear last year. Oh well...Everyone take it easy, and if you wish to contact me, please feel free.

[email protected]
Heather


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Hey Hey Guys!

Wow has it been a LONG time since I updated this. It is now 03/07/2002 and I weigh 190. I passed my Christmas goal with ease..and wore a beautiful black velvet gown. I am now in a size 16..just too big for missies clothes, and almost too small for Womens. I have been in the paper..and it was great...they wrote a story on my surgery experience. I have started a support group of my own called Pennsylvania Weight Loss Surgery Friends...and you can find it here.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PAWLS/

I have been doing very well...life is great, and I have more energy than I can Ever remember. I still havent changed my opinions of my Dr...but that is my own opinion.

Other than that, I am keeping busy..dancing, living the life I wanted to lead for so long..and I am having fun. What more is there?


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Again....a long time has passed. It is my 2 year anniversary of my Gastric Bypass surgery...04/20/03. Easter Sunday. Two years ago today I was 340 lbs...now I am 165...have already gone through my breast lift and tummy tuck a month ago. I've healed up nicely and am feeling great. The combined breast lift-tummy tuck was performed by Dr Leo Farrell of Mechanicsburg PA, and I would RECOMMEND HIM IN A HEARTBEAT! He did a beautiful job. I went from a horrible flat, flabby, shapeless 38D to a nice perky 36C. I currently wear pants between a size 12 and a size 14, and that is perfect for me. I'm happier than I have ever been, with myself and with my body. Life has been good to me, and I'm thrilled to be finally fitting in my skin.

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Well, 3 years out now, (07/20/04)...and at the lowest weight I can remember since elementary school...160 lbs. During the past year my scars have faded nicely...my breasts have settled a little bit, not quite as high as I would like, but still looking SO much better. I wavered between 165 and 172 for most of the year, but within the past two months I have gotten down between 158 and 162. Right now I am at 160, and I am thrilled. I feel wonderful...I look good, and I'm happy. I would still like to do a lift in the back, which would extend my tummy tuck scar the whole way around the back, remove the excess skin from my hips, and smooth out the outside and backs of my thighs. Unfortunately, financially I am unable to make that last surgery a reality. Even if I never lose another pound, though...I am happy. It has been a tough journey...and I still struggle to make healthy choices, but I feel like a genuine success story. I have lost 180 lbs...and that is amazing to me. If I could only tell the Heather 4 or 5 years ago what it would feel like to be where I am now...I would have had the surgery sooner. No question.

Feel free to contact me, if you need some support. I'm always open to emails. :)

~Heather

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