Tammy O.
My story
Nov 10, 2006
June 21,2003
I am 32 years old,a single mother of a beatiful and very smart 11 year old daughter, and morbidly obese. I started looking into having this surgery about 5 years ago but didn't want to do it because of a friend that had the old stomach stapling technique. She told me horror stories on how they had to break her rigcage to get to the stomach to do the procedure. I wasn't ready to do anything so invasive to my body at that point.
I had done some research and found it wasn't as traumatic as it once had been, but they were working on getting the laproscopic procedure approved in the United States. At that time they were only preforming it laproscopicly(sp) in Europe. So I decided to wait and give it another go and dieting and working out in the gym.
Well, 30 pounds heavier, a couple more co-morbidities, and a few years later..... here I am! I found out last year that Carnie Wilson had the bypass done, and guess what,it was done laproscopicly!
Hurray! Just in time as my health just seems to be going down hill on this loosing battle against the buldge. I decided I would have the surgery, but I would have to wait two jobs later to get insurance that would actually cover the procedure. It has been a long ride but here I am. I have finaly got a surgery date!
On July 23rd, 2003 I will start my new life to a healthier me! This is the begining.....................
June 25, 2003
Well, to make a long story short, I postponed my surgery for 3 weeks. It will be on Aug 20th instead of July 23rd. It was more of a compromise. I guess it was going to leave work on a limb me leaving so quick. They were going to let me do it, but I didn't want to screw myself. My boss was very cool with it and I know for sure now that I will be able to telecommute during my recovery time. This gives me a little extra time to get some more hours saved for comp time too.I won't have to keep killing myself working every Saturday now to save up hours. So this is good for us all around. One more positive thing is that I am now the first surgery of the day now (5:30 check in/ 7:30 surg) so I don't have to worry about the patient ahead of me pushing my surgery time back if they were to take longer!!!!
Hey, This was not so short was it. Sorry. :)
August 11, 2003
Well, it is getting closer to my surgery date. I had my pre-op testing done at St. Lukes on Friday, August 8th. Except for the fact that I now look like a junky from all the hit and misses on trying to get my blood drawn, it was pretty much what I expected. I started off by going to the lab in the hospital and giving a urine sample. Then the fun began... six needle sticks, and three lab techs later they finally had my blood. Then off to the second floor for chest xray and upper gi series. Drank what seemed to be a gallon of chalk water (barium), and was done there. Went to the third floor, got the pulse oximeter done (ET finger light), and the spirometry screen (little breathing exercise to prevent pnuemonia. Was there by 8:30am and all done by 11:00am! Now all I have to do is wait till next Week on August 19th, I do my nutrition class. Then surgery the next day on Wednesday, August 20, 2003! Time is now flying by!
Well, today is August 24, 2003, I have made it to the other side!!!! Everything went great! I was able to have my surgery laproscopically,and I have 6 small incision sites. I had it on Wednesday the 20th and got to leave the hospital on Friday the 22nd. Dr.Fang did a very nice job. I have no complaints at this time. The worst part of it all was having to keep the nasalgastric tube in that first day. After it comes out, it feels much better. My tummy is sore when I move around, but it was all better than I thought it would be. I have lost 10lbs so far, so I am happy about that. I am doing pretty good on getting in all of my fluids, so I am sure that helps. I have to go for now, I have to eat my 4oz of soup. ;)
August 29, 2003
Well, I am now 10 days post-op and down 18lbs. I am having some problems with head hunger. I am not really hungry, but just trying to get used to only eating 3 tiny meals a day is messing with my mind. I calculated my total caloric intake and it is only around 300! I don't know how I am losing anything with only taking in so few calories. I would think that my body would be in starvation mode, but so far so good. If the weightloss stops, I will know why. It is sad, but I just can't wait to get to the pureed stage. I think that I will be able to handle it a little better. 20 more days to pureed! ;)
September 28, 2003
Things are going really well since surgery. I have thrown up a total of 4 times so far. I have no taste for the things that I got sick on, but I know that it happened because I didn't chew well enough. I have been sick on shrimp,potato soup,scrambled egg, and macn'cheese. I find that I am able to eat chicken really well(just as long as I pay attention to how well I am chewing it). I am feeling so much better about the weight loss now that it has started back up. I went through about a week of a not really loosing anything (right before my peroid too by the way), but all of the sudden it is back to loosing about a pound a day. The head hunger thing has gone away. I find that I am loosing my love of food. It is more like I am eating now because I have to, not because I want to. A completly new concept for me. It is getting easier every day. 262lbs- down 38lbs!
November 30, 2003
Just a quick update. I got through Thanksgiving with out any troubles! I had a couple bites of everything that I really liked and was completely satified. I am finding that as long and I chew well, I don't really every get sick. I am feeling really good. I am really starting to loose the hair now. I knew it would happen, and it is just a small price to pay to get healthier! Everyday I am so thankful for this surgery! I would do it again in a heartbeat! 231 lbs-down 69lbs!
January 3, 2004
Just a quick update. Everything is going well. I am still loosing hair by the handfulls everyday. I am taking 10mg of Biotin everyday to no avail. But alas, I still would rather loose the weight than keep the hair! Have a safe and happy new year! 219lbs -down 81lbs!
February 1, 2004
Just a quick update. I am feeling really good. Still losing the hair, but it doesn't seem to be as bad as it has been. Maybe I am just getting used to it??? Otherwise, everything is going great. Me and my daughter are both getting over a cold,but as soon as she is well, we are going to a gym I just joined us up with! She is so excited about it, I think she will be the one dragging me in (which is a good thing)! The change in my life has effected her in a such a good way too. She is much more aware of what she is eating and excersising, that she has lost 11pounds since August! So we are both on our way to being healthier! 206lbs -down 94lbs!
February 28, 2004
I was starting to think the scale was never going to move, then all of the sudden it jumped! I am finally under the 200lb mark for the first time in over 13 years! I feel so much better about my self. I am finally able to walk around without sweating in the middle of winter! I can now comfortably cross my legs. And I don't fear dropping dead of a heart attack because I forgot to take a bloodpressure pill! Life is great! 194lbs- down 106lbs!
July 18, 2004
It has been awhile since I updated anything, so I would have to say I have been busy! I am much more social these days than I ever was in the past, so I don't sit and dwell on how unhappy I am anymore! This surgery has made such a difference in how I feel about myself. I don't feel like I have to sit on the side line of life anymore. I can go and play in it too! Knowing everything that I know now, I can honestly say that I would have this surgery again every single day if I had to! I am feeling so much better.Here are some things that I am very happy about off the top of my head: My hair is not falling out anymore! My lab work all came back great! I finally weigh less than what my driver's license has said for years (which was not my true weight for the longest time anyway)! I've had people that have known me for a while not recongnize me on several different occasions. My arms and legs have the same measurements as my 12 year old daughters! I can wear a very loose size 12. Life is good! ;) 168lbs- down 132lbs!
October 10, 2006
Boy has life changed since my last entry. I met somebody, fell in love, got married, had a baby (1/4/06- she is beatiful and perfec), and couldn't be happier with my decision to have this surgery. It totally changed my life (for the better). I currently weigh 161lbs(still losing my baby weight). My pregnancy was great. My daughter weighed 6lbs 3oz and was born without any complications. I am back into a size 12 and plan on losing a bit more, but not tooo much (otherwise people tell me I look too thin- CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!). It is strange for me to think that my new daugter will never know the same mom that my older daughter knew. She will only know the smaller healthier mom that I am now. My older daughter tells me she has a hard time thinking of me morbidly obese now (kids-gotta love 'em). I still work for the same employer I did when I had the surgery and people tell me how much I have changed since my surgery (for the better). I am much more outgoing and healthy. There is nothing I can not do because of my weight anymore. Now people have a hard time keeping up with me! This surgery is not for everyone, but it was definetly the right decision for me.
Starting weight: 300lbs (surg Aug 20,2003)
Aug 20,2003=300lbs
Sep 20,2003=270lbs -30lbs
Oct 20,2003=253lbs -47lbs
Nov 20,2003=236lbs -64lbs
Dec 20,2003=229lbs -71lbs
Jan 20,2004=209lbs -91lbs
Feb 20,2004=201lbs -99lbs
Mar 20,2004=193lbs -107lbs
Apr 20,2004=187lbs -113lbs
May 20,2004=182lbs -118lbs
Jun 20,2004=172lbs -128lbs
Jul 20,2004=168lbs -132lbs
Aug 20,2004=157lbs -143lbs
DATE/WEIGHT IN PICTURE BELOW:
6/1/04 APPROX 180LBS
June 21,2003
I am 32 years old,a single mother of a beatiful and very smart 11 year old daughter, and morbidly obese. I started looking into having this surgery about 5 years ago but didn't want to do it because of a friend that had the old stomach stapling technique. She told me horror stories on how they had to break her rigcage to get to the stomach to do the procedure. I wasn't ready to do anything so invasive to my body at that point.
I had done some research and found it wasn't as traumatic as it once had been, but they were working on getting the laproscopic procedure approved in the United States. At that time they were only preforming it laproscopicly(sp) in Europe. So I decided to wait and give it another go and dieting and working out in the gym.
Well, 30 pounds heavier, a couple more co-morbidities, and a few years later..... here I am! I found out last year that Carnie Wilson had the bypass done, and guess what,it was done laproscopicly!
Hurray! Just in time as my health just seems to be going down hill on this loosing battle against the buldge. I decided I would have the surgery, but I would have to wait two jobs later to get insurance that would actually cover the procedure. It has been a long ride but here I am. I have finaly got a surgery date!
On July 23rd, 2003 I will start my new life to a healthier me! This is the begining.....................
June 25, 2003
Well, to make a long story short, I postponed my surgery for 3 weeks. It will be on Aug 20th instead of July 23rd. It was more of a compromise. I guess it was going to leave work on a limb me leaving so quick. They were going to let me do it, but I didn't want to screw myself. My boss was very cool with it and I know for sure now that I will be able to telecommute during my recovery time. This gives me a little extra time to get some more hours saved for comp time too.I won't have to keep killing myself working every Saturday now to save up hours. So this is good for us all around. One more positive thing is that I am now the first surgery of the day now (5:30 check in/ 7:30 surg) so I don't have to worry about the patient ahead of me pushing my surgery time back if they were to take longer!!!!
Hey, This was not so short was it. Sorry. :)
August 11, 2003
Well, it is getting closer to my surgery date. I had my pre-op testing done at St. Lukes on Friday, August 8th. Except for the fact that I now look like a junky from all the hit and misses on trying to get my blood drawn, it was pretty much what I expected. I started off by going to the lab in the hospital and giving a urine sample. Then the fun began... six needle sticks, and three lab techs later they finally had my blood. Then off to the second floor for chest xray and upper gi series. Drank what seemed to be a gallon of chalk water (barium), and was done there. Went to the third floor, got the pulse oximeter done (ET finger light), and the spirometry screen (little breathing exercise to prevent pnuemonia. Was there by 8:30am and all done by 11:00am! Now all I have to do is wait till next Week on August 19th, I do my nutrition class. Then surgery the next day on Wednesday, August 20, 2003! Time is now flying by!
Well, today is August 24, 2003, I have made it to the other side!!!! Everything went great! I was able to have my surgery laproscopically,and I have 6 small incision sites. I had it on Wednesday the 20th and got to leave the hospital on Friday the 22nd. Dr.Fang did a very nice job. I have no complaints at this time. The worst part of it all was having to keep the nasalgastric tube in that first day. After it comes out, it feels much better. My tummy is sore when I move around, but it was all better than I thought it would be. I have lost 10lbs so far, so I am happy about that. I am doing pretty good on getting in all of my fluids, so I am sure that helps. I have to go for now, I have to eat my 4oz of soup. ;)
August 29, 2003
Well, I am now 10 days post-op and down 18lbs. I am having some problems with head hunger. I am not really hungry, but just trying to get used to only eating 3 tiny meals a day is messing with my mind. I calculated my total caloric intake and it is only around 300! I don't know how I am losing anything with only taking in so few calories. I would think that my body would be in starvation mode, but so far so good. If the weightloss stops, I will know why. It is sad, but I just can't wait to get to the pureed stage. I think that I will be able to handle it a little better. 20 more days to pureed! ;)
September 28, 2003
Things are going really well since surgery. I have thrown up a total of 4 times so far. I have no taste for the things that I got sick on, but I know that it happened because I didn't chew well enough. I have been sick on shrimp,potato soup,scrambled egg, and macn'cheese. I find that I am able to eat chicken really well(just as long as I pay attention to how well I am chewing it). I am feeling so much better about the weight loss now that it has started back up. I went through about a week of a not really loosing anything (right before my peroid too by the way), but all of the sudden it is back to loosing about a pound a day. The head hunger thing has gone away. I find that I am loosing my love of food. It is more like I am eating now because I have to, not because I want to. A completly new concept for me. It is getting easier every day. 262lbs- down 38lbs!
November 30, 2003
Just a quick update. I got through Thanksgiving with out any troubles! I had a couple bites of everything that I really liked and was completely satified. I am finding that as long and I chew well, I don't really every get sick. I am feeling really good. I am really starting to loose the hair now. I knew it would happen, and it is just a small price to pay to get healthier! Everyday I am so thankful for this surgery! I would do it again in a heartbeat! 231 lbs-down 69lbs!
January 3, 2004
Just a quick update. Everything is going well. I am still loosing hair by the handfulls everyday. I am taking 10mg of Biotin everyday to no avail. But alas, I still would rather loose the weight than keep the hair! Have a safe and happy new year! 219lbs -down 81lbs!
February 1, 2004
Just a quick update. I am feeling really good. Still losing the hair, but it doesn't seem to be as bad as it has been. Maybe I am just getting used to it??? Otherwise, everything is going great. Me and my daughter are both getting over a cold,but as soon as she is well, we are going to a gym I just joined us up with! She is so excited about it, I think she will be the one dragging me in (which is a good thing)! The change in my life has effected her in a such a good way too. She is much more aware of what she is eating and excersising, that she has lost 11pounds since August! So we are both on our way to being healthier! 206lbs -down 94lbs!
February 28, 2004
I was starting to think the scale was never going to move, then all of the sudden it jumped! I am finally under the 200lb mark for the first time in over 13 years! I feel so much better about my self. I am finally able to walk around without sweating in the middle of winter! I can now comfortably cross my legs. And I don't fear dropping dead of a heart attack because I forgot to take a bloodpressure pill! Life is great! 194lbs- down 106lbs!
July 18, 2004
It has been awhile since I updated anything, so I would have to say I have been busy! I am much more social these days than I ever was in the past, so I don't sit and dwell on how unhappy I am anymore! This surgery has made such a difference in how I feel about myself. I don't feel like I have to sit on the side line of life anymore. I can go and play in it too! Knowing everything that I know now, I can honestly say that I would have this surgery again every single day if I had to! I am feeling so much better.Here are some things that I am very happy about off the top of my head: My hair is not falling out anymore! My lab work all came back great! I finally weigh less than what my driver's license has said for years (which was not my true weight for the longest time anyway)! I've had people that have known me for a while not recongnize me on several different occasions. My arms and legs have the same measurements as my 12 year old daughters! I can wear a very loose size 12. Life is good! ;) 168lbs- down 132lbs!
October 10, 2006
Boy has life changed since my last entry. I met somebody, fell in love, got married, had a baby (1/4/06- she is beatiful and perfec), and couldn't be happier with my decision to have this surgery. It totally changed my life (for the better). I currently weigh 161lbs(still losing my baby weight). My pregnancy was great. My daughter weighed 6lbs 3oz and was born without any complications. I am back into a size 12 and plan on losing a bit more, but not tooo much (otherwise people tell me I look too thin- CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!). It is strange for me to think that my new daugter will never know the same mom that my older daughter knew. She will only know the smaller healthier mom that I am now. My older daughter tells me she has a hard time thinking of me morbidly obese now (kids-gotta love 'em). I still work for the same employer I did when I had the surgery and people tell me how much I have changed since my surgery (for the better). I am much more outgoing and healthy. There is nothing I can not do because of my weight anymore. Now people have a hard time keeping up with me! This surgery is not for everyone, but it was definetly the right decision for me.
Starting weight: 300lbs (surg Aug 20,2003)
Aug 20,2003=300lbs
Sep 20,2003=270lbs -30lbs
Oct 20,2003=253lbs -47lbs
Nov 20,2003=236lbs -64lbs
Dec 20,2003=229lbs -71lbs
Jan 20,2004=209lbs -91lbs
Feb 20,2004=201lbs -99lbs
Mar 20,2004=193lbs -107lbs
Apr 20,2004=187lbs -113lbs
May 20,2004=182lbs -118lbs
Jun 20,2004=172lbs -128lbs
Jul 20,2004=168lbs -132lbs
Aug 20,2004=157lbs -143lbs
DATE/WEIGHT IN PICTURE BELOW:
6/1/04 APPROX 180LBS
I am 32 years old,a single mother of a beatiful and very smart 11 year old daughter, and morbidly obese. I started looking into having this surgery about 5 years ago but didn't want to do it because of a friend that had the old stomach stapling technique. She told me horror stories on how they had to break her rigcage to get to the stomach to do the procedure. I wasn't ready to do anything so invasive to my body at that point.
I had done some research and found it wasn't as traumatic as it once had been, but they were working on getting the laproscopic procedure approved in the United States. At that time they were only preforming it laproscopicly(sp) in Europe. So I decided to wait and give it another go and dieting and working out in the gym.
Well, 30 pounds heavier, a couple more co-morbidities, and a few years later..... here I am! I found out last year that Carnie Wilson had the bypass done, and guess what,it was done laproscopicly!
Hurray! Just in time as my health just seems to be going down hill on this loosing battle against the buldge. I decided I would have the surgery, but I would have to wait two jobs later to get insurance that would actually cover the procedure. It has been a long ride but here I am. I have finaly got a surgery date!
On July 23rd, 2003 I will start my new life to a healthier me! This is the begining.....................
June 25, 2003
Well, to make a long story short, I postponed my surgery for 3 weeks. It will be on Aug 20th instead of July 23rd. It was more of a compromise. I guess it was going to leave work on a limb me leaving so quick. They were going to let me do it, but I didn't want to screw myself. My boss was very cool with it and I know for sure now that I will be able to telecommute during my recovery time. This gives me a little extra time to get some more hours saved for comp time too.I won't have to keep killing myself working every Saturday now to save up hours. So this is good for us all around. One more positive thing is that I am now the first surgery of the day now (5:30 check in/ 7:30 surg) so I don't have to worry about the patient ahead of me pushing my surgery time back if they were to take longer!!!!
Hey, This was not so short was it. Sorry. :)
August 11, 2003
Well, it is getting closer to my surgery date. I had my pre-op testing done at St. Lukes on Friday, August 8th. Except for the fact that I now look like a junky from all the hit and misses on trying to get my blood drawn, it was pretty much what I expected. I started off by going to the lab in the hospital and giving a urine sample. Then the fun began... six needle sticks, and three lab techs later they finally had my blood. Then off to the second floor for chest xray and upper gi series. Drank what seemed to be a gallon of chalk water (barium), and was done there. Went to the third floor, got the pulse oximeter done (ET finger light), and the spirometry screen (little breathing exercise to prevent pnuemonia. Was there by 8:30am and all done by 11:00am! Now all I have to do is wait till next Week on August 19th, I do my nutrition class. Then surgery the next day on Wednesday, August 20, 2003! Time is now flying by!
Well, today is August 24, 2003, I have made it to the other side!!!! Everything went great! I was able to have my surgery laproscopically,and I have 6 small incision sites. I had it on Wednesday the 20th and got to leave the hospital on Friday the 22nd. Dr.Fang did a very nice job. I have no complaints at this time. The worst part of it all was having to keep the nasalgastric tube in that first day. After it comes out, it feels much better. My tummy is sore when I move around, but it was all better than I thought it would be. I have lost 10lbs so far, so I am happy about that. I am doing pretty good on getting in all of my fluids, so I am sure that helps. I have to go for now, I have to eat my 4oz of soup. ;)
August 29, 2003
Well, I am now 10 days post-op and down 18lbs. I am having some problems with head hunger. I am not really hungry, but just trying to get used to only eating 3 tiny meals a day is messing with my mind. I calculated my total caloric intake and it is only around 300! I don't know how I am losing anything with only taking in so few calories. I would think that my body would be in starvation mode, but so far so good. If the weightloss stops, I will know why. It is sad, but I just can't wait to get to the pureed stage. I think that I will be able to handle it a little better. 20 more days to pureed! ;)
September 28, 2003
Things are going really well since surgery. I have thrown up a total of 4 times so far. I have no taste for the things that I got sick on, but I know that it happened because I didn't chew well enough. I have been sick on shrimp,potato soup,scrambled egg, and macn'cheese. I find that I am able to eat chicken really well(just as long as I pay attention to how well I am chewing it). I am feeling so much better about the weight loss now that it has started back up. I went through about a week of a not really loosing anything (right before my peroid too by the way), but all of the sudden it is back to loosing about a pound a day. The head hunger thing has gone away. I find that I am loosing my love of food. It is more like I am eating now because I have to, not because I want to. A completly new concept for me. It is getting easier every day. 262lbs- down 38lbs!
November 30, 2003
Just a quick update. I got through Thanksgiving with out any troubles! I had a couple bites of everything that I really liked and was completely satified. I am finding that as long and I chew well, I don't really every get sick. I am feeling really good. I am really starting to loose the hair now. I knew it would happen, and it is just a small price to pay to get healthier! Everyday I am so thankful for this surgery! I would do it again in a heartbeat! 231 lbs-down 69lbs!
January 3, 2004
Just a quick update. Everything is going well. I am still loosing hair by the handfulls everyday. I am taking 10mg of Biotin everyday to no avail. But alas, I still would rather loose the weight than keep the hair! Have a safe and happy new year! 219lbs -down 81lbs!
February 1, 2004
Just a quick update. I am feeling really good. Still losing the hair, but it doesn't seem to be as bad as it has been. Maybe I am just getting used to it??? Otherwise, everything is going great. Me and my daughter are both getting over a cold,but as soon as she is well, we are going to a gym I just joined us up with! She is so excited about it, I think she will be the one dragging me in (which is a good thing)! The change in my life has effected her in a such a good way too. She is much more aware of what she is eating and excersising, that she has lost 11pounds since August! So we are both on our way to being healthier! 206lbs -down 94lbs!
February 28, 2004
I was starting to think the scale was never going to move, then all of the sudden it jumped! I am finally under the 200lb mark for the first time in over 13 years! I feel so much better about my self. I am finally able to walk around without sweating in the middle of winter! I can now comfortably cross my legs. And I don't fear dropping dead of a heart attack because I forgot to take a bloodpressure pill! Life is great! 194lbs- down 106lbs!
July 18, 2004
It has been awhile since I updated anything, so I would have to say I have been busy! I am much more social these days than I ever was in the past, so I don't sit and dwell on how unhappy I am anymore! This surgery has made such a difference in how I feel about myself. I don't feel like I have to sit on the side line of life anymore. I can go and play in it too! Knowing everything that I know now, I can honestly say that I would have this surgery again every single day if I had to! I am feeling so much better.Here are some things that I am very happy about off the top of my head: My hair is not falling out anymore! My lab work all came back great! I finally weigh less than what my driver's license has said for years (which was not my true weight for the longest time anyway)! I've had people that have known me for a while not recongnize me on several different occasions. My arms and legs have the same measurements as my 12 year old daughters! I can wear a very loose size 12. Life is good! ;) 168lbs- down 132lbs!
October 10, 2006
Boy has life changed since my last entry. I met somebody, fell in love, got married, had a baby (1/4/06- she is beatiful and perfec), and couldn't be happier with my decision to have this surgery. It totally changed my life (for the better). I currently weigh 161lbs(still losing my baby weight). My pregnancy was great. My daughter weighed 6lbs 3oz and was born without any complications. I am back into a size 12 and plan on losing a bit more, but not tooo much (otherwise people tell me I look too thin- CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!). It is strange for me to think that my new daugter will never know the same mom that my older daughter knew. She will only know the smaller healthier mom that I am now. My older daughter tells me she has a hard time thinking of me morbidly obese now (kids-gotta love 'em). I still work for the same employer I did when I had the surgery and people tell me how much I have changed since my surgery (for the better). I am much more outgoing and healthy. There is nothing I can not do because of my weight anymore. Now people have a hard time keeping up with me! This surgery is not for everyone, but it was definetly the right decision for me.
Starting weight: 300lbs (surg Aug 20,2003)
Aug 20,2003=300lbs
Sep 20,2003=270lbs -30lbs
Oct 20,2003=253lbs -47lbs
Nov 20,2003=236lbs -64lbs
Dec 20,2003=229lbs -71lbs
Jan 20,2004=209lbs -91lbs
Feb 20,2004=201lbs -99lbs
Mar 20,2004=193lbs -107lbs
Apr 20,2004=187lbs -113lbs
May 20,2004=182lbs -118lbs
Jun 20,2004=172lbs -128lbs
Jul 20,2004=168lbs -132lbs
Aug 20,2004=157lbs -143lbs
DATE/WEIGHT IN PICTURE BELOW:
6/1/04 APPROX 180LBS
June 21,2003
I am 32 years old,a single mother of a beatiful and very smart 11 year old daughter, and morbidly obese. I started looking into having this surgery about 5 years ago but didn't want to do it because of a friend that had the old stomach stapling technique. She told me horror stories on how they had to break her rigcage to get to the stomach to do the procedure. I wasn't ready to do anything so invasive to my body at that point.
I had done some research and found it wasn't as traumatic as it once had been, but they were working on getting the laproscopic procedure approved in the United States. At that time they were only preforming it laproscopicly(sp) in Europe. So I decided to wait and give it another go and dieting and working out in the gym.
Well, 30 pounds heavier, a couple more co-morbidities, and a few years later..... here I am! I found out last year that Carnie Wilson had the bypass done, and guess what,it was done laproscopicly!
Hurray! Just in time as my health just seems to be going down hill on this loosing battle against the buldge. I decided I would have the surgery, but I would have to wait two jobs later to get insurance that would actually cover the procedure. It has been a long ride but here I am. I have finaly got a surgery date!
On July 23rd, 2003 I will start my new life to a healthier me! This is the begining.....................
June 25, 2003
Well, to make a long story short, I postponed my surgery for 3 weeks. It will be on Aug 20th instead of July 23rd. It was more of a compromise. I guess it was going to leave work on a limb me leaving so quick. They were going to let me do it, but I didn't want to screw myself. My boss was very cool with it and I know for sure now that I will be able to telecommute during my recovery time. This gives me a little extra time to get some more hours saved for comp time too.I won't have to keep killing myself working every Saturday now to save up hours. So this is good for us all around. One more positive thing is that I am now the first surgery of the day now (5:30 check in/ 7:30 surg) so I don't have to worry about the patient ahead of me pushing my surgery time back if they were to take longer!!!!
Hey, This was not so short was it. Sorry. :)
August 11, 2003
Well, it is getting closer to my surgery date. I had my pre-op testing done at St. Lukes on Friday, August 8th. Except for the fact that I now look like a junky from all the hit and misses on trying to get my blood drawn, it was pretty much what I expected. I started off by going to the lab in the hospital and giving a urine sample. Then the fun began... six needle sticks, and three lab techs later they finally had my blood. Then off to the second floor for chest xray and upper gi series. Drank what seemed to be a gallon of chalk water (barium), and was done there. Went to the third floor, got the pulse oximeter done (ET finger light), and the spirometry screen (little breathing exercise to prevent pnuemonia. Was there by 8:30am and all done by 11:00am! Now all I have to do is wait till next Week on August 19th, I do my nutrition class. Then surgery the next day on Wednesday, August 20, 2003! Time is now flying by!
Well, today is August 24, 2003, I have made it to the other side!!!! Everything went great! I was able to have my surgery laproscopically,and I have 6 small incision sites. I had it on Wednesday the 20th and got to leave the hospital on Friday the 22nd. Dr.Fang did a very nice job. I have no complaints at this time. The worst part of it all was having to keep the nasalgastric tube in that first day. After it comes out, it feels much better. My tummy is sore when I move around, but it was all better than I thought it would be. I have lost 10lbs so far, so I am happy about that. I am doing pretty good on getting in all of my fluids, so I am sure that helps. I have to go for now, I have to eat my 4oz of soup. ;)
August 29, 2003
Well, I am now 10 days post-op and down 18lbs. I am having some problems with head hunger. I am not really hungry, but just trying to get used to only eating 3 tiny meals a day is messing with my mind. I calculated my total caloric intake and it is only around 300! I don't know how I am losing anything with only taking in so few calories. I would think that my body would be in starvation mode, but so far so good. If the weightloss stops, I will know why. It is sad, but I just can't wait to get to the pureed stage. I think that I will be able to handle it a little better. 20 more days to pureed! ;)
September 28, 2003
Things are going really well since surgery. I have thrown up a total of 4 times so far. I have no taste for the things that I got sick on, but I know that it happened because I didn't chew well enough. I have been sick on shrimp,potato soup,scrambled egg, and macn'cheese. I find that I am able to eat chicken really well(just as long as I pay attention to how well I am chewing it). I am feeling so much better about the weight loss now that it has started back up. I went through about a week of a not really loosing anything (right before my peroid too by the way), but all of the sudden it is back to loosing about a pound a day. The head hunger thing has gone away. I find that I am loosing my love of food. It is more like I am eating now because I have to, not because I want to. A completly new concept for me. It is getting easier every day. 262lbs- down 38lbs!
November 30, 2003
Just a quick update. I got through Thanksgiving with out any troubles! I had a couple bites of everything that I really liked and was completely satified. I am finding that as long and I chew well, I don't really every get sick. I am feeling really good. I am really starting to loose the hair now. I knew it would happen, and it is just a small price to pay to get healthier! Everyday I am so thankful for this surgery! I would do it again in a heartbeat! 231 lbs-down 69lbs!
January 3, 2004
Just a quick update. Everything is going well. I am still loosing hair by the handfulls everyday. I am taking 10mg of Biotin everyday to no avail. But alas, I still would rather loose the weight than keep the hair! Have a safe and happy new year! 219lbs -down 81lbs!
February 1, 2004
Just a quick update. I am feeling really good. Still losing the hair, but it doesn't seem to be as bad as it has been. Maybe I am just getting used to it??? Otherwise, everything is going great. Me and my daughter are both getting over a cold,but as soon as she is well, we are going to a gym I just joined us up with! She is so excited about it, I think she will be the one dragging me in (which is a good thing)! The change in my life has effected her in a such a good way too. She is much more aware of what she is eating and excersising, that she has lost 11pounds since August! So we are both on our way to being healthier! 206lbs -down 94lbs!
February 28, 2004
I was starting to think the scale was never going to move, then all of the sudden it jumped! I am finally under the 200lb mark for the first time in over 13 years! I feel so much better about my self. I am finally able to walk around without sweating in the middle of winter! I can now comfortably cross my legs. And I don't fear dropping dead of a heart attack because I forgot to take a bloodpressure pill! Life is great! 194lbs- down 106lbs!
July 18, 2004
It has been awhile since I updated anything, so I would have to say I have been busy! I am much more social these days than I ever was in the past, so I don't sit and dwell on how unhappy I am anymore! This surgery has made such a difference in how I feel about myself. I don't feel like I have to sit on the side line of life anymore. I can go and play in it too! Knowing everything that I know now, I can honestly say that I would have this surgery again every single day if I had to! I am feeling so much better.Here are some things that I am very happy about off the top of my head: My hair is not falling out anymore! My lab work all came back great! I finally weigh less than what my driver's license has said for years (which was not my true weight for the longest time anyway)! I've had people that have known me for a while not recongnize me on several different occasions. My arms and legs have the same measurements as my 12 year old daughters! I can wear a very loose size 12. Life is good! ;) 168lbs- down 132lbs!
October 10, 2006
Boy has life changed since my last entry. I met somebody, fell in love, got married, had a baby (1/4/06- she is beatiful and perfec), and couldn't be happier with my decision to have this surgery. It totally changed my life (for the better). I currently weigh 161lbs(still losing my baby weight). My pregnancy was great. My daughter weighed 6lbs 3oz and was born without any complications. I am back into a size 12 and plan on losing a bit more, but not tooo much (otherwise people tell me I look too thin- CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!). It is strange for me to think that my new daugter will never know the same mom that my older daughter knew. She will only know the smaller healthier mom that I am now. My older daughter tells me she has a hard time thinking of me morbidly obese now (kids-gotta love 'em). I still work for the same employer I did when I had the surgery and people tell me how much I have changed since my surgery (for the better). I am much more outgoing and healthy. There is nothing I can not do because of my weight anymore. Now people have a hard time keeping up with me! This surgery is not for everyone, but it was definetly the right decision for me.
Starting weight: 300lbs (surg Aug 20,2003)
Aug 20,2003=300lbs
Sep 20,2003=270lbs -30lbs
Oct 20,2003=253lbs -47lbs
Nov 20,2003=236lbs -64lbs
Dec 20,2003=229lbs -71lbs
Jan 20,2004=209lbs -91lbs
Feb 20,2004=201lbs -99lbs
Mar 20,2004=193lbs -107lbs
Apr 20,2004=187lbs -113lbs
May 20,2004=182lbs -118lbs
Jun 20,2004=172lbs -128lbs
Jul 20,2004=168lbs -132lbs
Aug 20,2004=157lbs -143lbs
DATE/WEIGHT IN PICTURE BELOW:
6/1/04 APPROX 180LBS