ObesityHelp

May 8, 2003
Hi!! my name is Norma and I am 5' 0". I weight 230 pounds.
I have been over weigh from the moment i had my first child. It has been 18 years. i am tired of all the diets. I tried phen=phen, metabolife, atkin, you name it. I decided to call nuweigh after a I took a defensive driver course. I was sitting next to this girl and had her license next to mine. She looked big on the photo. I looked at her again and I asked her if that was her. She said it was and I ask her how she lost weight. She told me about nuweight. I remembered trying nuweight a couple of years, but I had BlueCross BlueShield at the time and they did not want to cover me. My husband got a new job this year and thank GOD he got One Health Plan. I heard they are pretty good and should have no problem getting approve. I had my first consultation with Dr. Alanis on May 5th. Everything went well. He mentioned that I do not need to have open surgery. I will have it LAP. That is exciting! He was very nice and said I should not have any problems getting approve.

May 20, 2003
I had my sleep study yesterday. It was un comfortable. Well, I guess I have to wait for the results. Will see what happens.

May 21, 2003

The hardest thing is the waiting!!!!! I can't wait until all this behind me.

June 6, 2003 I have sleep apnea and I went for my second sleep apnea test. It was aweful, but thank God I got through it!

June 10, 2003
I am on medication for a bacteria that causes an Ulcer for 14 days, I have to go back in two weeks to retake blood work.

June 12, 2003

I got a call and I must be on a cpap machine for two weeks prior to my surgery. I will call them once I am approve. I do not want to have the cpap machine and then it turns out I won't get approve. I will just wait.


June 16, 3002. My friend Rosi did not have her surgery because she had too much scar tissue prior to her 3 ceserians.
She is so sad because she went through the whole process of getting her open and all the pain she went through for nothing. Is like having a baby and coming home with no baby. She very sad and I hope she gets through all this.

June 26, 2003
Hello everyone! I just wanted to update you guys on my profile. My paper work was sent to the insurance on June 16 and I was approve in only one week!!! I can't believe it! All I need to do is go for my second blood work to see if the bacteria that causes an ulcer is gone. I will go tomorrow and take care of that. Michelle at nuweigh said If I get that done tomorrow, Dr. Alaniz can clear me out next week. I can't wait until I get a surgery date! It's a dream come true!


July 7, 2003

Well it has been a longgg weekend! I call for my cpap machine today and they gave me the run around. They claimed they did not get the doc order so I called nuweigh and they will be faxing the paper work again! I need to get the cpap machine so the doctor can clear me and give me a date! It's exciting and anxious at the same time. I am also waiting on the second blood work from my ulcer. I should know something by tomorrow. One thing is for sure, you need to stay on top of everything and to call people all day. An advice to everyone.... Call yourself and keep on calling.....

July 9, 2003
Well it has been another crazy day! Apria Health Care does not know what they are doing! First they called yesterday and they said they could not send someone to my home for the CPAT machine because Dr. Alanis will not sign off on the prescription becuase they were unsure of something with the sleep study results. Any ways I was trying to call Nuweigh today and they were out to lunch. So while I waited, they called from Apria for the CPAT machine. Well, I have an appointment on Friday July 11, 2003 to pick up my machine. I called my family doctor because she ran the second blood work for me to check on the bacteria that causes an ulcer. Well, it looks like she's taking her time and I really need her to fax the results to Dr. Alanis so he can clear me and get a surgery date... It's frustrating..... will let you know what's going on on Friday......... XXXX

7/11/03
Hello AMOS friends! I am on my to pick up my CPAT machine. I will call Jesse at Nuweigh after I have the CPAT machine in my hands. She will fax my blood work results to Dr. Alanis for review so he can clear me for surgery. I hope everything goes well and I can get a Date today!!! I will be out of town next Tuesday and I really want to get a date before i leave so it will not be long by the time I come back......


7/15/03
Well, I finally got my date! I am so excited! When they called me and gave me a date, I could not believe it! I was quiet for a moment because I could not believe i will be having the surgery in just two weeks! WOWWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW! I am sure with GODS help, everything will be o.k. I have faith and I will begin a new and healthier life................


7/16/03

Howdy! I went to the hospital for my pre-op. I had x-rays, blood work, and an echo. The nurse went over some things and i will be back on the 29 the day before the surgery.....


7/22/03
Hola! Today I went to see Dr. Alanis for my pro-op appointment. He said eveything went well and He will see me on Wed. July 30th! I hope everything goes well... Thanks to eveyone for their support...Only 8 MORE DAYS TO GOOOOOO....


7/24/03

Well, only 6 more days to go! I am excited because I don't think reality has hit me just yet. I have a couple of friends who wanted information about the hospital where I will be staying. I will be at
Vista Medical Center Hospital
4301 Vista Pasadena, TX 77504
Tel. 713-378-3000
My Angel is Rosa Mata any questions you can call her and my sister in law will keep her posted.
Home: 281-646-0826
Cell# 281-734-4372.

Thank you all for your support and I will write as soon as I get back. tHanKs!!!!...........

7/26/03
3 MORE DAYS!!!!! I just had my last MEAL at OLIVE GARDEN! Yummyyyy!!! I've been feeling alright, but for some reason people keep asking me if I am scare. I don't think I am, but with eveyone asking, I am starting to feel a little scare. I am hoping is not too bad. I had a hestiroctemy four years ago and I asked the docrot if it was as painful ad that and he said it is not that painful. I go back to the hospital for final reviews and all that on Tuesday. Doctor said my surgery will be mid morning. I hope is not to late in the day.
I just can't wait until all this is behind me. Obesity help.com is the best thing anyone could have invented!!!!!

7/30/03
I am on my way to the Hospital and yew, I do have some mix feelings. I am nervous about, "What if I have a leak? What if I throw up durign the time I have the tube in my nose? What if my blood pressure goes up? Well I can only hope eveything goes well and may God be with me. It is 3:20 am July 30th and I am on my way to Vista Hospital. Please say a prayer for me....


August 2, 2003
I am an offical looser!!! I thank God for eveything going so well!!! I arrived at the Hospital at 5:15 am. (A little late).
They started getting me ready with an I.V. and explainning everything. I was very nervous and cold. Next to my bed was a gril who looked prety young and beautiful. She seemed to be in some pain. Any ways, I actually thought I would be in surgery by 7 or 8 am. WRONg!!! They took all the patients who were diabetic first and then they rolled me over to a little room while they prep me at about 10:30. I did not go into the o.r. until about 11:00am. All I remember was the doc telling me ,
"There goes a margarita and you will not feel a thing". Sure enough I felt nothing and was sound asleep.
The next thing I remember was weaking up in the ICU and seeing my husband, mom and sister inlaw faces. I was realy not in much pain at all. I looked awful with the mask, the tube and everything all over my face.
I stayed in ICU 24 hours and let me tell you the staff there were GREAT! They took care of my 24/7. I have no complains with so ever. The next day I went in for my leak test and I thought it was going to be aweful but it was NOT at all. They gave two different drinks and they tasted like milanta that you take for a heartburn. I told myself I was going to make it through and that it was going to taste good and it was not bad. The next part was the tube. They do it so quick you don't even feel it. Just take a deep breath when they are about to remove it. You will be fine. Once I have the tube removed they took me back to ICU to get me ready for a regular room. They brought me water because I have been asking for water, but because of all the liquid I drank from the leak test I was full. I just got some ice and placed it on my lips. They also brought me some chicken broth and jello of course I was not able to eat it. What ever you do, make sure you drink your protein drinks at the hospital and at home. The next days were better. My pain level were like a 2 and 3. Not bad at all. On the second day I began to fill lots of GASSSSSSSSS! That was the worse pain than anything. The nurse gave me an enema for the gas. Yes, it helped. I also think the protein drink helped go to the bathroom and pass gassssss!!!!...I was suppose to leave on Fri. afternoon but the doc. had an emergency and was not able to see me at the hospital. I think it was the best thing it could happend. That night I got lots of sleep and rested well. They took out the pump pain medicatin and instead gave me something by mouth and let me tell you, they should had given me that from the begining. It does WONDERS!! I felt like a new person!!!!! The next morning I took a shower while I waited for Dr. Alanis to come and he did not come until 4:00pm and again it was o.k. The longer you stay at the hospital the better you will feel. That extra night really helped.... The doc gave me prescription for the same pain med and I was so mad because when I got home, I took some and I still felt pain. I thought maybe I did not take the same amount and when I looked at the bottle, the IDIOTS at the pharmacy gave me a substitute for LORTAB ELIXIR. That is the name of the pain med they gave me at the hospital that works wonders. Instead they gave me HYDROCODONE. I was not taking the correct amount and I finally
figure it out and in the middle of the night I took some more and I finally feel better. I thougt I was going to have a rough night because my pain was worse when I got home but I really had a goog night eventhough I got up to walk. I passed a lot of gas which was good because atleast I was letting it out. I do not know how much weigh I've lost yet. I think is to early to get on the scale, but my husband said my face looks like I am loosing weight. He has been so supportive and I thank GOD for having a great husband like him. He's treating me like an princess and gosh, you should have seen the flowers and ballons he has for me when I got home. Well, I am starting to feel tire and I am going to take my protein drink and my med before going back to bed.... Thank you all for your support and God bless........


8/6/03
I may it through the first week!!! I've lost 16 pounds already! I feel a little week and I am just wondering if maybe I am not drinking enough proterin. My pain level is low. Maybe a 1. I am craving real fooooodddd! I think is normal, but I just can't wait until I go on solid foods. I guess I have another couple of weeks. I will be going back to work on the 23rd of this month and I am hoping I will be all better by then. The good thing I am looking forward to is that some of my old clothe will fit me now. I can't wait to go back to schoo and have some of my friends asking me if I've lost weight. I just want to get through this two weekkkkkkksssss! ..............

8/10/03
Another few pounds! I am 212 as today!!! I can't believe how fast those pounds are melting away! Thank GOD! I am feeling much better today. I am not shaky this morning. I think as the days go by things get better by the day. People can see my weigh loss in my face and arms. The only thing that worries me is that I feel so good and have so much energy. I don't sleep late any more or take any naps like I used to. It worries me because eventhough I feel so great, I can feel feeling pain inside after I over do it and I still don't lay down. I want to be doing everything and just moving around. I do not know where the energy is coming from! I go back to work next week and I can't wait to go back and see my kiddos from last year. Being a teacher is a challenging and rewarding job. It is Sunday morning 6:30 in the morning and instead of sleeping late I am writting in my journal because I can't sleep! (I never thought that would happen) Usually I would sleep until 10 am! Well until next time.............................


8/20/03
Hello everyone! I am feeling much better today and I am down 26 pounds!!! I went to the doc on friday and gave the o.k. for soft solids and it was a BIG mistake! I ate an egg and I was so dizzy and sick to my tummy!! Went back to liquid diet for 24 hours and I am much better! I am back to work and I think it was too soon. I should have stayed another week. I feel a left pain when I am sitting down for too long or walking too much. I hope I start to feel much better. I go back to the doc in two weeks! Until then bye bye---...

8/25/03
Hello to all!
A much better week! I am back to work and feeling much better!!! HuraRrAy!!!!! I think I needed those extra days!
I am stuck on my weigh. I am at 202 and can't seemed to loose any more. I was told because I lost 29 pounds in three weeks, that I will get stuck for a week or two. I hope is normal because I am frustrated! I feel great and I love it when people ask me if I am loosing some pounds! I have to say that I would like to thank some of my friends for calling me during this time. They've been a lot of support! (Elena, Debbie, Rosi, Michelle and Kelli) Thank you all for your support!

8/30/03
Well it is officially a month and I am still at 202! AHHHHH!!! I've been at 202 for a while now. I am not loosing any more. I think I am probably eating more than what I am suppose to. I hope I loose more weigh soon! I feel great and I have not gotten sick thank GOD! Well until then, see ya later....

9/09/03
Well, this weekend was a sad weekend. My husbands' nephew lost his battle with cancer.He had a brain tumor and it had the worse cancer. He was diagnose with this a year and a half ago. It has been a great lost. He was a wonderful person. He was only 25 years old. ......On the other hand, I am excited because I am finally starting to see the scale going down. I am down to 200! Yeah!!! Well, See you later...,,,,,,

9/13/03
yEaH! I am down to 198!!!! I am finally pass 200!! I never thought that day would never come. I think the lost of my nephew had a lot to do with it. We were so busy with the funeral and I've had lots of work. I went to a family gathering to circle Lake where it is so beautiful. There are cabins where you can spend the night, pools and a lake where you can go fishing. It is nice because it is peaceful. I think the family needed that after the weekedm we had last week. We had Fajitas and a lot of yummy food. I did well. I had a little piece of meat and some sausage. I think I do well when I eat because i have not gotten sick. I also watch what I eat. I am very careful not to over do it. I don't ever want to eat like i used to, to the point where I get so full that I could not even get up and went to sleep right away. I was soooo happy because I wore a pair of jean shorts and I have not wore since before I had my son which it will be 11 years in Feb. I was so happy that I was able to fit in my shosrts. I love it when people tell me that I look good and youger. My sister in law told me that I look like the person my husbans married 19 years ago. It felt so gooooooodddd! Specially hearing that from her. My husbans has been so good about the whole thing. He's so happy that I am loosing the weight and he goes walking with me every evening. I feel bad that I have not updated as much as I would like to but this past two weeks have been crazy witht the funeral arraigments and I've had lost of work as school to the point that I 've ben coming home at 8 oclock at night and I still bring my work home. I have not had a chance to call me friends but hopefully this week will be better..........................................................

9/21/03
Well, today has been a better day! I am at my moms house and it is a rainny day and we are about to eat some delicous mexican soup... Yummmmmmmyyy...... I am now at 195 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is so nice... I am able to drink more water however, not much food. For some reason I am able to eat crunchy food more than regular food. I've been so lucky because I have not thrown up at all or gotten sick. ...I've drank everthing excepy sodas and have not gotten sick.... I've beenworking so much lately that I haven't had time for my friends. Maybe once work slows down I will have more time to see my friends.... This week I am going to try to make it to the support group. I have a lot of questions... Well until then...... Have a great day everyone!!!!!....

Sept. 29, 2003....

Finally !!!! The day has come when I finally saw the 80's on my scale. I am down to 189!!!! It thought i would never see that day. I am so happy. I have lost a total of 41 pounds and it will be two months on Sept. 30th. I guess that is pretty good. I will go in tomorrow to see my doctor. I guess part of loosing that much has a lot to do with having lots of work at work and working long hours. It has been crazy for me. I am teaching 3rd grade during the day and running an after-school program. By the time I get home is about 8 oclock and I am soooooo tired.
Well, I feel great and have not gotten sick thank GOD!......


Oct. 5, 2003

Well, It has been a slow week. I am only down to 187. Not much but is something. I am happier than I've ever been. I am sure I will start loosing more soon........

Oct. 13, 2003
Hello to all!! Well, it has been a little slow for me this month. I think I need to exercise a little more. The problem is that I really need more time. I've been so busy with work that I really get home so late and all I want to do is go home and go straight to bed. Other than that I feel great and I can't wait until I loose more weight. I love the feeling of people telling me that i look great! specially my sister in-law. I have lost a total of 43 pounds!!!


Well, I finally hit the 70's!!!!! I am down to 177! that is a total lost of 53 pounds. People have really notice my weight... I love the feeling of everyone telling me that I am getting smaller every day.... I am buyng new clothe and I enjoy out door activities. I wish I could exercise more than what I am. I try to exercise mostly on the weekend. I work everyday form 7-7 and is so hard to still come home and do everything I have to. I have been feeling well and basically I can eat everything. I've has one episode where I threw up because I ate some pork meat that I did not chew very well. I was hungry and waited for a while and when I finally eat it, I ate it too fast. Other than that, I feel great! I am down to a size 14 from a 20!!!!!




12/4/03

Hello to all! Well today is the day. I am going to the Nuweigh Christmas party. I am excited! I bought a nice 14 size dress to wear. I am looking forward to seeing other persons who have had the surgery. I am down to 170! I can't wait until I hit the 60's. People are really telling I keep getting smaller and smaller everyday. I feel great! I've only been sick twice. The last time was about two weeks ago. I had eat a flour tortilla with some beans and the next day I pay for it. I think it was all the gas build up from the beans and also the flour tortilla. It lasted about 45 minutes. Once I threw up I was fine. I feel that I can eat more now. For example, I can eat a fajita taco and still feel o.k. The only thing I can't really have is soda I take one little sip and that is all. I can't have more than that. I am afraid to get sick. There are times when I get fuller faster. I will let you guys know how everything goes....Merry Christmas to all and a hAppY nEW YeAr!!!!!!!!! Hopefully next time I write I will be 165.............


1/06/04
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!
I hope everyone is having a sUPer 2004! I am excited to say that I am down to 166 and down to a size 12! I am just now getting into size 12. I can't believe it! I had a great Christmas and a great New Year! It was so wonderful to be much thinner!!!!!! I was able to wear comfortable clothes. Everyone keeps telling me how wonderful and younger I look. I love that feeling! Let's don't even talk about my husband. He's been so supportive. I love him! I am going on a cruise in Feb. and I am hoping to loose another 10 pounds by then. Hopefully I will be in my 50's.
I just wanted to mentioned how much fun I had at the Christmas Party for Nuweigh. It was nice go fit in and meet some people.
Well, I have a lot of work and I will let you'll go for now, but I will keep in touch.......,,..........

4/19/04
Hello everyone!!! I have not updated in a while. I have been so busy at work that I do not have time for anything! I home and exercise that by the time I get home I just want to go straight to sleep. Well, I am down to 155 and can't seem to move down at ALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!! I am slowing down. I noticed that when I exercise I go down fast. I stop and I get stuck. I also feel that I am eating more now. I am down to a size 10 & 8's I can fit into the 8's but more comfortable in 10's. I guess it depends on the material. Anyways, I am happy and I do not regreat anything at all! I feel like a new person. I will send pictures so you can see my other me!!! People see me and they can't believe how different I look. One of the things that I need to do is to get a tummy tuck, but they will not do one until next year. I can't wait until I have a new tummy. Now I love out door activities and I love taking pictures. For anyone out there who wants to do this, It is the best thing you can do.
Until later, happy summer.............................


5/5/04
Hi everyone!

Not much change, but I wanted to share some information on the last up dated picture. The one to the right is a picture I took in March which I've lost 8 pounds since then and I was about entering a size 10. I am now a size 8 and I love it. I will try to send some more updated pictures.......


7/2/2006
Hello everyone!! I know it has been a very long time.... I just been so busy with my life. I am enjoying life to the fullest!! I am a totally different person. I have to say the surgery has change me for ever. I am so happy when I hear that other people are having surgery as well. Last year I saw a friend of mine form jr. high and she was like, WOW Norma you look great! I was so happy. However, she was not in good shape. She has gained some weight over the year with her pregnancy and was the same weight as me about 240 before the surgery. She asked me how I lost the weight and I told her about it and she asked me for the information. Well, after a year of getting approval, she finally got it. She had her surgery on June 20th and she already lost 12 pounds in less than a week. She's doing well and she is excited. Like everyone else, she's asking lots of questions about what to eat and what not to eat. I am there for her and for anyone who has any questions. I am happy to see people wanting to make that change.
As forme everthing is the same I have not lost or gain any weight. I am the same. I do worry when I feel that I have ate too much! I right away start watching what I am eating because I tend to gain weight just by smelling food. Tha's my nature. Well, I will try to update my pictures soon..... take care for now....