ObesityHelp

WELCOME TO MELISSA'S JOURNEY

**********The Sounds of the Oceans are like friends to me,********
They make life easier and help me to see.
That Life can be Peaceful and yet full of strife,
The Waves can be soft or Cut like a knife.

You need friends to help you swim,
To struggle alone or rely on them.
Family also can help you move through the sea,
And you can't help but be.
Grateful to all who love you for you,
They are always there to see you through.

God rules the ocean and all the sounds,
So in Him we must be found.
Trusting in Him to carry us through,
*******The waves of the ocean and all that is blue.*******

Starting weight 318
Goal Weight 150
5/26/03 290 lbs (-28)

I have completed most of the pretesting, except for the endoscopy which I am having done at the end of March. I go back to see the Dr in April at which time I am hoping to get a date for sometime in May. I am really excited about this surgery but yet really nervous.

3/21/03 Had the endoscopy today, went well. The dr's and nurses at Roger Williams Hospital are great. The test went well. I go back to see Dr Pohl in 2 weeks. I hope to get a sugery date by then and to make sure that everything is allset with my insurance.

4/10/03 Well I have a surgery date of 4/30/03 and I can not wait. I am really excited but yet really nervous. We just came back from the seminar at the hospital and it was really informing he actually should a video on how the surgery is done and that was pretty interesting.

4/24/03 Well only 6 days left before the surgery. I am getting nervous. Everyone has said not to worry about it, that I will do fine! I have gotten alot of support from many of you out here on the site. Thanks for the support. I will keep you all posted on my status. I will probably post one more email out here the night before and then I will email again when I come home from the hospital!

5/5/03
Well, the worst is over, I am now 5 days post op. I am really tired and I have alot of back pain from sleeping on my back and not on my side or my belly. Can anyone tell me how long it takes before I can sleep on my side and/or belly????? I still have not quite figured out when I am hungry or when I am not. I think that it is mind over matter. I am already bored with the whole liquids thing and I still have one more week to go on only liquids. they have puree foods here I come. Any ideas on what I can eat besides baby food (YUCK)? Getting really tired so I will write again soon

5/26/03

Well, I am almost 4 weeks post op. I feel great. 28lbs gone forever. I have gone back to work and school. Have basically resumed a normal life with the exception of eating. I am in midst of the pureed stage and I can not handle this stage, so I have been doing alot of ground turkey, mashed potatoes, yogurt and still the shakes for breakfast. I have vomited twice in the last 4 days, I think because I ate to fast. I have to learn to slow down my eating. Work was tough the first week, I had the urge to snack while I was at my desk, so I would get up and go for a walk to overcome that urge. I did try a couple of peanut butter crackers, that held me over until lunch. I can not wait to eat normal food again. (2 more weeks). I will start to introduce some new foods over the next 2 weeks or so. After I go to see the nutritionist May 30. Can not wait for that. I do not feel that I am getting enough protein in daily. I know for a fact that I am not getting in enough liguids not 64 oz. I think that by the end of the week I can begin going to Curves again and getting my daily exercise, other than walking with this crazy weather we have been having here in RI. I will also be posting my pics out here shortly. Well have to get going, I will update again soon.

June 22, 2003 Sorry I have not posted and update in while! I have lost 40 lbs in 7 weeks and I feel great. Returning to Curves on Monday, finally... I now have some more time on my hands to work out! I have started to eat some different things like chicken, pasta and even a half of a turkey sandwich. The only thing that I do not like is that I have vomited a few times... not good! I have gone down almost 2 sizes in my clothing and down 1 bra size... yippee!!! I will finally be able to attend my first support group meeting since the surgery, and I can not wait... well gotta go taking my dad out to dinner for fathers day, did not get to see him last week so we are taking him today. Will update again soon!

July 23, Well another month has passed and 60 lbs are gone forever. I have been having a tough week, I feel like all I want to do is eat and that I letting food control my life again and I can not figure out how to stop it. I feel like all I do it eat even if I am not hungry. I am going to the nutritionist next week and I plan to mention this to her and see if she has any suggestions to control this feeling. I guess I am lacking will power these days or could it be the stress of looking for a house and worrying about whether or not we are doing the right thing. I feel great aside from the eating thing. I have dropped 2 sizes in 13 weeks. Any suggestions on how to control the eating habits? I am increasing my protein intake again. If I could find something that tasted ok, I would be alot happier. I feel like when I am eating that I need to finish what is on my plate and not leave it there when I am full, I know this is not good, but I am not sure how to control this feeling! I think I need professional help! LOL! Well gotta go... any suggestions please email me!

FUTURE UPDATESeptember 1st- Sorry it has been awhile since my last update! I am down 73 lbs, just about half way to my goal weight of 150 lbs. Well I guess the summer is about to come to a close, I feel it has only just begun! How is wveryone doing? I still can not tolerate any red meat what so ever. Its been 4 months and I feel great. I need to continue working out. I have started to keep a food journal so that I can track what I am eating and the frequency. Tonight we are taking my mom out to eat at the Olive garden for her birthday which is tommorrow! We have moved in with my dad for a while so that we can save to buy a house and I have been cooking just about every night. By my anniversary in October I would like to be down another 20 lbs. My husband wants to take more pictures of me all dressed up. My 10 year class reunion is in October as well, it will be great to see all these people that I have not seen in 10 years. Well I think that I have babbled on enough. Promise to write again soon!

November 1, 2003 Sorry it has been a long while since my last update... well I am now down 87lbs but I seem to be hitting plateaus more frequently now. I guess this will happen at 6 months out.. I would like to lose 100lbs by Christmas, I think it is possible but I need to jump start my weight loss again..I am considering joining weight watchers to see if that will help. Its been a good couple of months, my sister had her baby in september, he is being christened on sunday. I really want to have a baby but I knw that I need to wait at least 12-18 months after surgery... I hope everyonee had a grat halloween... we had a party at work and I ate very little... I limited myself even though it was hard.... I am still finding it hard tog et in allmy fluids for the day but I am trying real hard to make sure I do... and when I eat i think protein first... I am trying to stay away fromt the carbs but that is hard.. Well i will post again soon... help.com/morbidobesity/mempix/carney_melissa/bird_line.gif" width="400" height="24">

Feberuary 29, 2004,, well its been a really long time since my last update. I am down 97lbs, it has REALLY slowed down. I am stuck at 221. I would like to lose at least 25 more pounds before I go to Florida in May. But I am not sure how to jumpstart my weightloss again. With the nice weather coming I will be able to kick start my exercise again, with walking and we have a fitness center at work that is now staffed that will hopefully help. I have had a wonderful couple of months the holidays went well. I have not vomited in months which is good. I still get the nauseus feeling when I eat certain things but that is about it. I can not believe that it has been 10 months already, boy where the time go! Any suggestions on how to jump start my weight loss would be appreciated. I am taking my mom to the seminar in 2 weeks she is considering having the surgery. I am going to the plastic surgeon for the breast reduction next week, the pain in my back is unbelievable that is why I am going, hopefully medical will pay for it. Have not been able to attend the last support meetings due to my class schedule but will be back in May hopefully. Well I will update again soon.
August 30, 2004- Well it's been a few months since my last update and alot has happened since then. First, its been 16 months today and I am down 105+lbs... I feel great. We went to Florida in May with my family, we had a blast and the best part for me was that I could go on all the rides and not have to worry about the belts fitting me, they did with room to spare. Even on the plane I was able to fit in the seat without any issues and comfortably I might add. I went for a breast reduction on August 16 for my back. I feel great after that. I am a bit bored though. Can not go swimming for the rest of the summer and that stinks because atleast while I am home I could be at the beach. My mom is having her surgery on Wednesday Sept. 1, the day before her birthday... what a birthday present. I am still taking my vitamins and exercising, I try to walk almost everyday. My husband and I have finally bought a house, we are supposed to close on Friday Sept. 3 and then if he has his way we will move in this weekend. I am still trying to jumpstart my weight loss again, but its been hard. I went from cooking for 2 people to cooking for 4 (my dad and his girlfriend) but soon I will be back to cooking for just the 2 of us. Its been a long, but fun year living with my dad, we have gotten alot closer and have had alot of fun. He is actually taking the weekend off to help us move because my mom will be in the hospital of just coming home and really will not be able to help us at all, thats ok she can help me afterwards put things away. Well that's about all for now.

December 12, 2005- Wow, it's been quite a long time since I last posted and yes, it has been brought to my attention, so I though I would take the time to post. Well, its been a bumoy ride. I feel like I have failed the surgery and it was not until this weekend that I realized that I have a problem with emotional/stress eating and I am not sure how to fix it. Any thoughts? Went to see Jeremy at Dr. Pohl's at the end of October and he told me to do 2 protien shakes and 1 meal with protien and vegetables everyday for a while and see if that helps at all, but it really has not. I have had a lot of stress financailly and personally, we have found that we my not be able to have a baby, my husband has Klinefelter's syndrome. Not to mention that my mom has been extremely sick since having this surgery in 9/2003. She does not eat becuase everything makes her vomit. My sister on the other hand has lost 69.5 lbs since her surgery in 8/2005, which is awesome. I am seeking a revision if that is possbile in RI. I know that DR Pohl does not do them, but I am hoping that possible one of the other doctors will do revisions and that I am a candidate for it. Well I must get back to work. Will update again soon.hus FUTURE UPDATE