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Emily J.
Montgomery, AL, USA
Post Op - BMI: 34.8
Surgery Type: RNY
Member ID: J1129146420
Web Site: http://emmyjmommy.blogspot.com
Surgeon: Andrew DeWitt, M.D.

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Emily's Weight Loss Story

August 18, 2007

August 18, 2007

June 17, 2007 - Alabama Shakespeare Festival

two pictures my husband took of me - October 3, 2006

I've Just Seen a Face

Wearing a Mask	Blue Eyes in the Bevels

Here Comes the Sun!!!	Anyone up for spelunking??

Out of the darkness..	September 15, 2006 - One Year since Surgery

Going to the Theatre

My two beautiful children - Grace and Harry

My First W*O*W Moment

(12/4/2005)This past week I began noticing how baggy my pants had become. I became very self aware that they were not fitting, even though they were not falling off of me because they had elastic in the waistband. My friend, Elaine; her daughter, Mallory; and I went to Lane Bryant for me to try on some jeans. It has been years since I was able to wear anything out of a store--so this was a big move. I tried on a size 28 flare leg jeans, and THEY FIT!!!! I was so excited that I really couldn't contain myself!!! I tried on some size 26/28 shirts, but am very aware of the skin that I already have hanging, and the shirts were not long enough for me to feel comfortable...I did buy one, but really just to have to see how I was shrinking!

When I got home, I modeled my new clothes for dh, Maurice...and he took some pictures!! He said that he could really see how much I have lost in clothes that actually fit!

OH MY!!!

(12/26/2005)Today I hit one of my goals as far as weight loss goes. I weighed at my mother and father's house and I have lost 60 pounds!!! I am so excited! I now weigh 265, which is what I weighed when Maurice and I were married on December 20, 1997.

I hope to see 100 pounds gone by Easter (which is late in 2006 -- April 16) and then I'll have to set another goal!

EIGHT MONTHS

(5/16/2006)
Well, at this point after my surgery I was hoping to be down 100 lbs, but I am at 92! Even though I am not where I wanted to be, I am so happy to be where I am! I am steadily in a size 24 and sometimes in a 22 or 20...and I am getting compliments left and right about how good I am looking! I feel CUTE in my clothes and constantly have a grin on my face. I feel like if I don't lose another pound that this was a complete success, but honestly, I hope I lose another 92!!!

ALMOST 11 MONTHS!!!

(7/31/2006)
It is amazing how different my life is 108 lbs lighter than I was this time last year! Last summer I would have never voluntarily gone outside to do anything, even walk to get the garbage can. It was just a miserable experience for me. Now, after coming home from a vacation in North Carolina visiting family, not only did we drive up through the mountains...we went spelunking (we adventured through a cave -- Linville Caverns, see the picture above) and hiked up to some waterfalls that my dh and I love...and let the kids play in the mountain stream! I would have never been able to do this stuff a year ago!!! WOW!!! God is amazingly good!!!

You can also see in a picture above, that my dh took me to the Shakespeare Festival here in Montgomery. We went to see To Kill A Mockingbird. It was a wonderful production, but the best thing about it was wearing my new "little black dress!" I have always heard that women should have one "little black dress" that they can wear anywhere, well, I now have one!!! I am so excited about it, too!! I hope that when I lose a little more, that it will look even better on me!

Space....the final frontier

Scroll Down to see my weight loss photos and stats

Face Shots

The night before surgery One week post-op One month post-op Two months post-op

Three months post-op Four months post-op Five Months post-op Six month post-op

Eight month post-op Ten month post-op One Year post-op Fourteen month post-op
Full Body Shots

One week post-op One month post-op Two months post-op Three months post-op

Four Months Post Op Five Months Post Op Six Months Post Op Eight Months Post Op

Ten Months Post Op One Year Post Op Fourteen Months Post Op Sixteen Months Post Op
Stats
Date Weight BMI Pounds Lost
September 15, 2005 325 55.7 0
October 6, 2005 304.5 52.1 20.5
October 17, 2005 299 51.3 26
October 26, 2005 295 50.6 30
November 10, 2005 288 49.4 37
November 15, 2005 283 48.6 42
November 28, 2005 279 47.9 46
December 2, 2005 276 47.4 49
December 15, 2005 270 46.3 55
December 26, 2005 265 45.5 60
January 8, 2006 260 44.6 65
January 23, 2006 257 44.1 68
February 2, 2006 255 43.8 70
February 26, 2006 250 42.9 75
March 5, 2006 243 41.7 82
March 15, 2006 239 41.0 86
April 15, 2006 236 40.5 89
May 11, 2006 233 40 92
May 17, 2006 230 39.5 95
May 21, 2006 229 39.3 96
June 2, 2006 226 38.8 99
June 8, 2006 225 38.6 100 ** CENTURY CLUB AT LAST!!!! **
July 4, 2006 224 38.4 101
July 12, 2006 222 38.1 103
July 21, 2006 220 37.8 105
July 29, 2006 217 37.2 108
August 12, 2006 216 37.1 109
August 15, 2006 215 36.9 110
August 19, 2006 213 36.6 112
September 3, 2006 211 36.2 114
October 1, 2006 210 36.0 115

My Story

I began thinking about weight loss surgery after an experience at a Japanese restaurant. A lady seated at the table with my husband and I had undergone the surgery and was kind enough to share her experience with me. Her surgeon was Dr. Andrew Dewitt in Birmingham.

I called his office and discovered that you had to attend a seminar conducted by him and his bariatric coordinator before you could have your first consult appointment. My husband and I attended the seminar on September 11, 2004.

After the seminar I knew the surgery was for me, so I scheduled my consult. The earliest appointment I could get was in November. But as luck would have it my insurance provider Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama put a hold on gastric bypass surgery coverage during the interim.

At my consult I talked with Dr. Dewitt about doing a hernia repair (long story involving an 11 pound baby) and he performed that surgery in December of 2004.

Finally Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama issued new guidelines which required a six month physician supervised diet. Since Weight Watchers counted I rejoined. I had been in Weight Watchers a few times before and never really had any success, and it was the same this time. Only lost a total of 8 pounds in six months.

When my six months was up, I had all my information sent to Dr. Dewitt's office. I got approved within 24 hours of the insurance company receiving it. Can you believe that?!? And to top it off, I got my surgery scheduled for only 10 tens hence. Talk about a whirlwind.

My surgery was on September 15, 2005, a year and 4 days after attending the seminar. Everything went well and I am shedding the pounds at a rate of about a pound a day. So far it hasn't been that difficult and I've never once had purchaser's remorse, even when I eat something that just doesn't settle too well.

I'm looking forward to seeing the weight fall off and becoming a thinner me.

This is me on September 14, 2005, the night before surgery

Me and my surgeon, Dr. Andrew Dewitt, the day before surgery Already awake and doing great just a few hour post op.

Photos

325
This is a photo of me that is a few years old. As you can see my weight issue didn't just develop overnight
211
One Year Post-Op

Member Interests:

Theater - Musicals, mostly

Walking - Every morning

Scrapbooks

Christianity - We are very active in our church!

Click here to see interests of other ObesityHelp members.

Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Andrew DeWitt, M.D.
Dr. Andrew DeWitt, I can tell you that I would not use another surgeon in the state to do any type of surgery on me or my family. Dr. DeWitt does not see your body type, he sees you as a person who wants to overcome the issue of weight. He spends time getting to know what you and your family's concerns are and works very closely with you to make sure you are comfortable and ready for the procedure. I am now 42 days post-op and am able to contact his office at anytime to get any information I may need. His staff cares as much as he does. They know me by name and face and are willing to help me as much as possible. I have not found anything to complain about with Dr. DeWitt as a doctor or an upstanding person. One of the best things about Dr. DeWitt's WLS program is the bariatric coordinator that works with Carraway Medical Center. She is there the day of the surgery to see you before the surgery (she met my dh and I at 5:30am day of surgery) and she follows you through your stay at CMMC and post-op. I can contact her at anytime w/ any questions I may have and she calls back promptly. I would recommend Dr. DeWitt for any surgery. He has performed both an umbilical hyrnia repair and Lap RNY...and if I have to have any other surgeries, he will do them!
Insurer Info:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
After waiting a year for the process to even be considered by BCBSofAL, I can say that the process is a pain, but well worth it. You now have to have a 6 month doctor followed diet (which Weight Watchers does count) and see you general doctor every month during that time. After that you can turn in your information for consideration.

Face Shots

The night before surgery	One week post-op	One month post-op	Two months post-op

Three months post-op	Four months post-op	Five Months post-op	Six month post-op

Eight month post-op	Ten month post-op	One Year post-op	Fourteen month post-op
Full Body Shots

One week post-op	One month post-op	Two months post-op	Three months post-op

Four Months Post Op	Five Months Post Op	Six Months Post Op	Eight Months Post Op

Ten Months Post Op	One Year Post Op	Fourteen Months Post Op	Sixteen Months Post Op
Stats
Date	Weight	BMI	Pounds Lost
September 15, 2005	325	55.7	0
October 6, 2005	304.5	52.1	20.5
October 17, 2005	299	51.3	26
October 26, 2005	295	50.6	30
November 10, 2005	288	49.4	37
November 15, 2005	283	48.6	42
November 28, 2005	279	47.9	46
December 2, 2005	276	47.4	49
December 15, 2005	270	46.3	55
December 26, 2005	265	45.5	60
January 8, 2006	260	44.6	65
January 23, 2006	257	44.1	68
February 2, 2006	255	43.8	70
February 26, 2006	250	42.9	75
March 5, 2006	243	41.7	82
March 15, 2006	239	41.0	86
April 15, 2006	236	40.5	89
May 11, 2006	233	40	92
May 17, 2006	230	39.5	95
May 21, 2006	229	39.3	96
June 2, 2006	226	38.8	99
June 8, 2006	225	38.6	100 CENTURY CLUB AT LAST!!!!
July 4, 2006	224	38.4	101
July 12, 2006	222	38.1	103
July 21, 2006	220	37.8	105
July 29, 2006	217	37.2	108
August 12, 2006	216	37.1	109
August 15, 2006	215	36.9	110
August 19, 2006	213	36.6	112
September 3, 2006	211	36.2	114
October 1, 2006	210	36.0	115


This is me on September 14, 2005, the night before surgery

Me and my surgeon, Dr. Andrew Dewitt, the day before surgery	Already awake and doing great just a few hour post op.