ObesityHelp

I am 54 years old and have been overweight most of my life. After much research, I decided to have the surgery so that I can enjoy the rest of my life being healthy.



August 8, 2002
Sorry for the long overdue posting. It has been a hectic 2 months what with clearances, appointments, meeting with the surgeon, etc. I am sure you all know what its like. I am having surgery tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. at Celebration Health in Orlando. My surgeon is Dr. Krahn. I am going into surgery having lost 13 pounds over the last two weeks. Happy about that. This web site has been like a friend to me. Every morning I click on to see the new post-ops. I'll be one
tomorrow. My husband is doing pix tonight. I have received so many nice messages from everyone and I really appreciate it. I even received an Angel today. Her name is Judy and she will be updating my profile for me while I am in the hospital. Well, I have things to do, so will close for now and see everyone on the other side. God Bless and Love to All. Mary Ellen

August 14, 2002
Well, I am back from the other side. Surgery went well, but had some problems and was on the ventillator for a couple days. My surgery date was Friday and I woke up on Sunday 11:30. Don't know what happened in between. Maybe I don't want to know. Am feeling tired and am swollen. Hoping to get rid of the fluids that put in me. I get my tube and some staples removed next Tuesday. That will make things a little easier. Wanted to let everyone know I am okay and on the road to a thinner being. Thanks for all the good wishes and many many thanks to my Angel Judy for keeping everyone informed. Will post more later. Mary Ellen

Wednesday, August 21, 2002

Hi everyone!! Went to the Dr. yesterday and am down 32 lbs. Can't believe big of a loss in only 2 weeks. Keep them coming. Dr. removed some of my staples and my G Tube was removed. Am able to move around a little more easier with that out. I am feeling great and have been doing a little housework here and there. My hubby is great with helping me in that department. Will be going back to work on Monday. Dr. said okay as long as I don't sit all day and move around. I am a legal secretary and I told him that I will be getting all the exercise that I need. Tomorrow morning I start my walking. Will be going into the pool as soon as I can after the scar is healed. Well, will sign off for now and report more later. Have a wonderful week everyone! It is GREAT!!! to be on the other side. Mary Ellen

September 5, 2002

Hi everyone! I am still around but wanted to wait until I saw the Dr. again to update my profile. Went to see the Dr. for my month post-op appointment and have lost a total of 50 lbs. It is wonderful. He removed the rest of my staples and told me that I could use the pool whenever I want. Believe I will be going in this weekend, unless we have a lot of rain with thunder and lightening. Everything has been going good; am getting my 3 meals of protein in every day and most of my fluids. I am not quite up to the 64 oz. He said that will come in time. Went back to work on 8/26 thinking I would work a full day -- guess what, I left work that whole week at 2 pm. I got too tired. This week is going good and I am able to stay the whole day. Received my first B12 shot this week, so hopefully the energy will increase. My friend Marsha is having her surgery tomorrow at Celebration Health. Please keep her in your prayers. Well, bye for now and I will update again soon. Love to all, Mary Ellen

October 14, 2002

Hi Everyone! Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I was having trouble getting into this screen. Got confused. It was one of those senior moments I sometimes have. Well, I have been doing great. Am 2 1/2 months post op and have lost 76 pounds. Having no problem with eating. Just getting tired of the same old thing. Bought a cookbook at our last support group meeting and will be trying some of those recipes. Will let you know how they taste. My friend Marsha came through her surgery, but had a wound abscess she had to deal with. She is doing fine now. Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts. I can't believe all of the energy I have now. I can walk without huffing and puffing and can do things I couldn't do before like housekeeping, gardening, etc. It feels wonderful. Oh, by the way, a friend is having a lot of trouble now. He had emergency gallbladder surgery and then ended up with pneumonia. Please keep him in your prayers. Well, now that I know how to get back into this page, I will be updating more regularly. Love to all. Mary Ellen

October 29, 2002

Hi Everyone:

I know it has been a while since I posted, but have been very busy at work and there wasn't much to say, other than as of today I have lost 83 pounds. I have been post-op almost three months (11/9). It just doesn't seem possible that I have lost that much weight and that I will never see those pounds again. I have been walking and my energy level is great. My stepson and his family were over this weekend and they had not seen me since right after the surgery. They could not believe the change. My co-workers are all very supportive and continue to keep telling me how great I look. I am home today with what I believe is the start of a cold, so am going to sign off for now. Love to all. Mary Ellen

January 30, 2003

Happy New Year everyone. Hope everyone had a lovely holiday season. I sure did. My husband and I had a busy holiday. It seemed like we were going everyone weekend. Last weekend was the first weekend we stayed home and I came down with a good cold and bronchitis. That is getting better, still have a cough and I have to sit up at night to sleep, as when I lay down I start coughing again. My husband and I went to Disney World and Epcot this holiday and it was amazing how easy a time I had to walk around the parks and enjoy everything. Before I would walk a little bit and then have to sit down. Oh, I just about forget to tell you that as of today, I am down 130#. I go for my 6 month checkup next Monday. Can't believe the changes. It is truly amazing. I will try and check in more frequently but it is hard to remember to do. LOL to everyone. Mary Ellen

February 9, 2003

Today is my 6-month of post-op. Just had my 6 month check in with Dr. Diaz (who will be taking over the Celebration Health office for U.S. Bariatrics in Orlando) and am down 133 pounds, have lost over 60 inches and am feeling great. Am trying new ways with meals and just found out that I can eat Alfredo sauce which really surprised me, so last night I sauted some chicken and added the sauce and it was yummy! Tomorrow I am starting a water aerobics class - 3 nights a week - and that will help both my knee and losing the additional pounds. Hope this finds everyone doing well. Will update soon. LOL Mary Ellen

April 8, 2003

Tomorrow it will be 8 months since my surgery. I have lost a total of 150# and several inches. I really need to take my measurements again. Everything has been going well for me. I have had no problems with food other than I still eat too fast. Have been doing water aerobics and that has helped both with the losing of weight and with my knee. I will be putting pix on the site as soon as I find out how to do them. Hope this finds everyone doing well. LOL Mary Ellen

May 2, 2003

As you can see, I finally got my before and after pictures up on the site. The after shot was taken February 3 of this year and if you look at me now, there is a remarkable difference from that picture. On May 9th I will be 9 months out and down 164#. My husband and I are going on a cruise June 22nd, the first one I have ever gone on and I keep telling him that I will be very busy on the cruise, because I am going to be doing everything I can, including swimming with the sting rays in the Grand Caymans. Can't wait. Well, will report back after the cruise.
Hope everyone is doing well. LOL Mary Ellen

July 23, 2003

Hi Everyone: My husband and I came back from the cruise on June 29th. Had a great time, lots of exercise. I did swim the stingrays and also went cave tubing in Belize. That was really fun. Had to walk 3/4 mile in the rainforest to the river and then floated down the river in a tube for about 1/2 mile. It was so relaxing and very interesting. I lost 8# on the cruise instead of gaining. I have gained a couple pounds back but totally have lost 167#. Feel great and my one year anniversary is August 9. Go in for my checkup on 8/11. Hope everyone is doing well. LOL Mary Ellen