STARTING WEIGHT: 253
STARTING BMI: 41.5
SURGERY DATE: March 25, 2002


Oct 2001- I have started the process for the procedures for the surgery. I have gone to a support group at the Hospital I work at but I do not have an appointment until Jan 14th.Since I became interested I have started taking my glucose levels every morning. My BWI is at or about 40. My weight is approx 250-253lbs.I am showing signs of diabetes. I have hypertension(weight related). My concern is that my other medical conditions would not allow me to have the surgery. My spleen is 4 times it's size(herditary) and Dr said it might not have the room it needs after I loose 100lbs or so. I already have had a sleep apnea test done and that came out ok. I was diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue many years ago and I am truley tired of this weight on my body and on my feet! My feet are taking the worst part of this! I plan on bringing any information with me, if I can have a consultation.

Oct 2001- I have started the process for the procedures for the surgery. I have gone to a support group at the Hospital I work at but I do not have an appointment until Jan 14th.Since I became interested I have started taking my glucose levels every morning. My BWI is at or about 40. My weight is approx 250-253lbs.I am showing signs of diabetes. I have hypertension(weight related). My concern is that my other medical conditions would not allow me to have the surgery. My spleen is 4 times it's size(herditary) and Dr said it might not have the room it needs after I loose 100lbs or so. I already have had a sleep apnea test done and that came out ok. I was diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue many years ago and I am truley tired of this weight on my body and on my feet! My feet are taking the worst part of this! I plan on bringing any information with me, if I can have a consultation.

11/22/01-I went to my hemotologist yesterday and he said that he would be think that it would be best to remove my spleen at the same time as my surgery. I was happy to here that! I also have found a different surgeon that is within a half hour ride from my house. I made an appointment with him for Dec 20th. I am getting really excited even though I have some time to go. I am going on vacation with my 2 girls in 2 weeks and before I know it that day will be here. Next week I am going to break the news to my family doctor. I know he will be really supportive regarding my decision also. He has been wonderful for the past 15 years or so(that he has been my DR) He know how hard it has been for me to lose weight. I have written a diary of all my weight loss attempts and it was a page long (typed). I have also dicussed this with my Holistic Health Dr and she is good with it too! She wants to help me out with my vitimins and whey protein drinks to make sure that I am absorbing all the vitamins that I take in. She told me that different parts of the intestines obsorb different vitamins. She also said she could give me my vitamins in liquid if I need to. She has cancer patients that can not swallow pills and she gives them liquid.
Well, I will try to keep updating as time goes on. I am anticapating surgery in Feb 2002

Dec 1,2001- Just as I thought! My family doctor was so supportive. I thought that I would have to present it to him with the intentions of defending myself!! But as soon as he saw my blood sugar levels and my weight is going back up, he said it was ok/good with him. In the past years he considered me as hypoglycemic(excuse the spelling), but lately I has been going the other way. So now I showing signs of being a diabetic. I also talked to a surgeon(retired) that goes to my church and he is so surprised that my spleen has not been removed yet! He told me the condition of my spleen at this time is as thin as wax paper and it is very serious that I do not have it burst inside of me. So, It will be very interested if he agrees with the other surgeon. I understand that I will need a # of injections before they will remove it. So all in all, things are going well and I will let you know more after my consult on Dec 12/21/01.

UPDATE! I finally have my appointment today with the surgeon. It has been a long wait! I was suppose to see him yesterday and they asked me to come this morning instead. They had over booked him yesterday afternoon and I thought this morning might be better,anyway! Well, I will keep you updated later today.
All went well at the surgeons today. I was able to talk to him for about 1 1/2hrs and he answered all of my questions. Looks like the spleen will be coming out at the same time. Thank God, because I am so tired of all the problems it has given me in the past. I need to have my psych eval and my nutritionist still. I just might be able to have all of this done at the end of February early March. I was also told due to the spleen I would be in-house for 5 days. Well, all and all I am happy and I believe that God is blessing this as I wait on him

1/15/02- I received a call for my psych eval and I am so happy. HAPPY DANCE!!!!!! It is starting to feel like it is all coming together. My appointment is Jan 24, first appointment in the morning! That great too! I won't miss as much time from work. Now I just need for the Nutritionist to call and for my ultrasound of my spleen

1/18/02- I just received a call from the nutritionist (Amy Wordell) and I have an appointment on the same day as my psych eval. I am so excited! I went to my couselor last night. We talked about my feelings toward the surgery and I am starting to get a little nervous. I know that is normal. I guess I am feeling that.. It really bothers me that I can not control my weight myself and that I have to use this tool to help. I feel this tool is such a drastic measure that I thought I would never have to resort to. But,I am also thankful and blessed that this is an option in my life! God has really blessed my life in the past few years and I am really greatful.

2/07/02- I had my bloodwork done today for my release for the surgery. They took quite a few viles. My physical for my release for the surgery is on Feb 13th @ 2:20. I am on an antibotic for a sinus infection, but should be done by Monday. I hope that I get handed everything to give to the surgeon,that day. I will formally bring it there myself. They will then have everything that they need to send to my insurance for approval.
I am feeling alot of anxiety, because everyone has been sick, work is very stressful. I am trying to get caught up because so far there is no one to do my job while I am out. Oh, well.... That's their problem. I should not go into this worrying about things out of my control.

2/11/02- UPDATE!!! How silly of me.... I forgot to tell everyone that I have an angel! Yes, it is Michelle E and I am her angel too!My physical for my release is in 2 days!! Yeppeeeeeee!!!!

2/21/02 I am so frustrated today! I had to go to the dr for another sinus infection. I can not get sick! I never got over the last infection 2 weeks ago and it is creaping back slowly! I was put on another antibiotic with a nose spray. Yucky! But I hate my head feeling this way either. I am waiting for my PCP to send my physical results and all the documentation to the surgeon. My PCP is on vacation this week and did not do it before he left. This waiting game is the pitts! I still have to donate 3 units of blood before I can have the surgery. So hopefully maybe soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL That's a joke!

3/4/02- I am home from work again today(Monday). I was out from work on Friday also. I have had a terrible allergic reaction to the antibotic. I drove my self to the E.R. at 2:30am Friday morning. I could not stand the itching any longer. They could only give me a allergy pill and not a steroid because of my spleen. It has been the worst reaction to drugs I have ever had. I could not walk and I could only take one allergy pill a day! I want to jump out of my skin at times! Today, I can at least walk! My feet hurt so bad on Sat I stayed in bed and tried to sleep it off. Today, my ears, feet and hands are itchy but if it gets too bad, I can put them under cold water and lotion then up for releif.
On a postitive note- I was told that my approval is in process at Bluecross. It looks like it has been approved but it is just waiting for the final signature to be put on it. Then they will call my sergeon's office. I stress the importance of getting this done a.s.a.p. They wanted to blow me off when I called the ins company. They said they would let my Dr know in a week. I said "You don't understand my surgery is on March 25th and I need 3 units of blood drawn! So then she put me on hold and came back and said they will call the surgeron's office soon with the decision. It is wonderful on how these ins companies have you hanging! Oh, well... I am going to scratch my itchy feet. Bye for now!
I received my approval today!!

3/20/02- I am getting a little nervous now. I am trying to keep busy to keep my mind off of it. I only have 5 days left until I start my new life.

4/5/02- I had my surgery on March 25,2002. I am just getting up to updating my profile today. I have not been able to sit at the computer much lately. During the surgery, they also removed my spleen. So, I have 36 staples(that look like lopsided angel wings). The staples start under my right breast and go across my stomach and then down under my left breast toward my waist. They look like lopsided angel wings! LOL I am still in quite a bit of pain with the staples and the drain. They will be removing them both next week on April 9th. I have not weighed myself yet. I want it to be a surprise on Tuesday. That will be my 1st weigh-in since the surgery.
I am still having problems with alot of gas and not being able to release it. I know this will get better as time goes on.

4/12/02- I had my 1st vomiting today. I had put chicken broth and my protein powder in a thermos to go to the hospital. My angel was having her surgery today and I wanted to support her. Well, the powder protein is good if you eat it right away but not in a thermos. The powder got really dry and gritty like white chicken meat. I stuck going down and within a few minutes it had to come back up! I will never do that again!

4/23/02- I went to my PCP today and he was impressed with my weight loss and that I was doing so well. He said that I am the 3rd patient that he has, that has had this surgery and I am doing far better than the other two! I started back at the gym yesterday and boy am I sore! My legs hurt! I am burning off 330 calories on this one machine for 35 minutes. Plus, I also learned that they sell a protein drink that has 40 proteins per shake. So, I am going to have one there one morning so that can see if I like it before I buy a whole can. So, all in all I had a great day!

5/28/02- I got up at 4:30 and went to the gym before work. It was really hard to get my tired body out of bed. I woke up with a sore/scratchy throat. I weighed myself and I am down to 217.5 so that makes 36lbs. I need to keep up with the gym and all of the other important things I need to do so that I don't hit another plateau again soon.

6/17/02- I have been faithful the last week at going to the gym. I have been getting up at 4:30 and getting to the gym when they open. I weighed myself this morning and the scale finally moved. It has been almost 2 weeks at 216 and I was so excited when I saw 213!!! That really made my day because it is the BIG 40 NOW!

7/25/02- Today is my 4th month post-op. I weighed in at 205 this morning. That makes it 48 lbs loss. I am wearing a 1x dress. I tried stretch (Just my size) jeans this past week. I could fit into a 18w, but the now stretch ones I still take a size 20. I can fit in XL tops. The last month my weight has been slow losing! I have been sick for the last week with a cold and now I have bronchitis and a sinus infection. Dr Ciardella said my blood pressure is up also. He wants me to come back in 2 weeks to check it again. I am kinda discouraged that I have not made it 50lbs lose for my 4th month, but I need to eat healthy and not keep getting sick.

8/26/02- My weight loss really platued this month. I have been bouncing between 202 & 205. I has been discouraging but I know it is healthier to lose it slow. The weather has been warm and water still hurts. I went to the gym this morning, hopefully I will start losing again. In other areas of my life things have made progress which are a blessing. I have been more verbal on things that should have been said along time ago. I am going to the Dr today to talk about this one bad vein in my leg. I need it removed before it ruptures. I will be taking my oldest to college in FL on Friday.

9/25/02- Today is my 6 months anniversary of my surgery. I have lost 58lbs to date. My weight loss has really slowed down. I know I am eating correctly but I also do not get enough exercise. I have had problems with fatigue in the past and I believe it is still bothering me. I made an appt with a holistic health Dr in hopes to get some releif. I am going to see about massage or accupucture therapy. My back and shoulders are so tired and heavy feeling lately, but I sit at a desk and type on the computer most of the day. More about my benefits from the surgery, is my hair is finally growing back. It is about an inch long. I am thinking about having the rest trimmed shorter so I don't feel like it is so thin. I went for my 6 month blood work today at lunch time. They took 5 small viles. I am surprised they were able to get that much! I was freezing cold and thought my blood would not want to come out! LOL Well, I will post more later.

10/28/02- I believe I have been on a plateau for at least a month or so. I am too far off from my goal of 150lbs to stop losing weight now! I am trying to registar a food log and exercise log. I hope this helps. I watched a movie this past weekend and It made me think about the food addition. I believe that is still an issue(grazing) of eating when I am not really hungry. Most of the time it is because I am at work and I am just sitting working and thinking of food and the other part at work is .... it is noon time and my body is programed to .... It is time to EAT!! Well, I am going to try to change these old habits. Wish me Luck this month!

12/28/02- Just a quick update. I am not really in the mood today. I am feeling really down and discouraged today. I know my weightloss has slowed down tremendoulsy, But today I don't care. I am overwhelmed with the Holidays,family and realationship. I know I need to be happy in order for everything else to fall into place. Tomorrow is a new day!

01/25/03- Well another month has passed and I have not lost any weight this month. I have not exercised due to respiratory infections and the cold weather. I know I did gain this weight over night and I have to except it is not going come off over night. I know that when I feel better the weight will continue to come off. I would like to be in the 160's by this summer.

02/06/03- I went to my PCP yesterday. He said that I can go off my bloodpressure meds. I have been on them for almost 10 years. That is a blessing! He also told me that I was showing ketones in my urine and that means I am in weightloss mode. I told him that I was trying to be really cautious for the last 3-4 days with grazing on carbs. I have been slowing bringing too many carb(salty one's at that!). The honeymoon(diet stage)is definately over and I have to be careful. I have been trying to substitute with protein instead.

02/15/03- I just posted a note on the message board regarding my visit to Dr Secor on Thursday. I explained to the people on the board that I have been concerned about grazing during the day and on Monday I decided to try to stop doing that. By Thursday the scale moved down two pounds. On Thursday I went to see Dr Secor and we discussed how my plumbing is different than most. He asked me to take additional vitamins to help my BM's, so I can go daily instead of every 2-3days. By the 3rd day I am getting lathargic(sp?). He asked me to take the following...
Flax Oil 2 caps 2x's a day
Acidophilus 1 cap 1x a day
Multivitamin 3 cap 2x's a day
Vitamin A 1 cap 1x a day
Immune Support builders 3 cap 2x's a day(my immune system
is not healthy)
And I have to say so far. I hear more going on in the intestines and no diarreh! Plus I lost another lb this week, making the total of 3lbs for this week! Amen!

3/25/03- Well, It has been an interesting year. Today is my one year anniversary. I went and saw Dr Aranow. He seemed to be pleased with my progress so far. I weighted in this morning at 184(-69lbs & 36 inches). I know others have done better than I have but I have to say that, I believe the majority is about 25lbs away from goal at one year.So I am right where I am suppose to be. Dr Aranow and I discussed my tt and I told him I would be back in a year to discuss it more. He told me to make sure I document every rash, irritation or discomfort.He also suggested to take pictures of it. I will be seeing his associate next month to have my varicous veins done. Otherwise life is going well! I know in time with God's will it will come to pass! Keep me in your prayers.

4/14/03- Just a quick update on my progress. You can kinda say I have had a set back for a few days and no releif in sight. I have a bad vein in my leg. It has kept me out of work for 3 days now. I am going to see Dr Aranow(my gastric surgeon)tomorrow morning. He use to be a vascular surgeon before changing to gastric bypasses. They believe it is a bloodclot. I had a moment of panic today(at a painful time) and called my PCP. He informed me that our local hospitals could not do an ultrasound after 5pm. So either way I have to wait until tomorrow to get an ultrasound now. I called to cancel my gym membership due to the fact I will not be able to go for a few months. I say this because once the vein gets better, I am going to have it removed. I was told it would take about 3 months to clear this up. I don't want to be paying a gym membership when I know I won't be able to go. So, It looks like another months is going to pass without a weightloss! I was really hoping to lose another 10lbs before mid-June. That would make me only 15lbs away from looking into my TT.

4/20/03 Happy Easter Morning Everyone! Just a quick update. It has been a really hard week. I have had phlebitus in my leg. Thank the Lord that the Vioxx is working. My meds were denied by my insurance, because they wanted me to try 2 other drugs before they would cover the Vioxx. So my PCP's office gave me the samples for my 14 days that I need to be on it.Thank God! I can finally walk. The pain was so bad before I would not wish that on my enemy! I am holding my own(as far as weight goes)with only a 2lb gain. I am trying so had not to graze. I am not eating because I am hungry it is because I am bored and can't get around. I go back to the surgeon's office on Thursday. I sure hope he gives me my walking papers. I want to start walking again as soon as I get his approval. I also ordered these exercise tapes so my daughter and I can do them at home. It is called "Walk away the Pounds". They look like it would be a workout for both of us! She is only 11 years old and I only weigh about 10-15lbs more than her now. I went to Walmart yesterday with my daughter. I bought size 12-14 dresses. They are those knit dresses that are so easy to take care of. You just wash them and hang them to dry(this way they don't shrink also). The last time I bought those I bought a 2-3X. I have since given them away to the ladies in my church. I believe that I am going to be a true 14 by summer!! What a Blessing! Well, I better get ready for church. Everyone, Have a Blessed Day! He has Risen!!

5/3/03- A few days ago I went to the holistic health dr again. They work with herbs and chinese medicine. This was my first visit I had with her and she told me something I knew for years! They only thing she said differently from all the others drs I have seen in the past is she knew it was treatable with herbs. She looked at my tongue and said that I was enemic. The color of purple says you are enemic. It's that amazing! She said I was most likely born this way and through the years it has been getting worst. My mother must have been enemic when I was conceived. And thru the years with having babies,D&C's heavy periods, and a hysteretomy. My spleen being in the condition that it was, was a sign of enemia. She told me that the spleen is the organ that hold your stress and many other disorders in your system. She gave me(liquid) Jade Windscreen-30 eyedrops 2X's a day, Colostrum 2 tablets, 2x's a day and Women's Precious 2 tablets at 2X's a day. She said I would have to take these for only 3 months. That is a blessing. This means I will have energy and the feeling of the fatigue will go away! I might feel like what a normal person should feel like! I also went to the vascular surgeon regarding the vein in my leg. He said he would like to give it another month to see if the swelling the the vein goes down. He gave me another prescription for a support hose for that one leg. He said I should wait until the fall to have it removed. This is because he said that the skin should not be exposed to the sun after it is done. If it get any sun it would make the skin look like a Tattoo! I don't want my leg maked up that way! Otherwise, all is well. Spring is blooming and so are allergies! I had to take something because the sinus were making my day miserable. Clarinex and saline solution did the trip!

May 27, 2003- I went to the Holistic Health Dr today. She believe that the herbs are working. I am not as cold as I had been and I have not gotten sick and needed antibotics yet! That is great news. She put me on one me thing for absorbtion of minerals. I explained that I am extreamly tired and my memory is poor. She wants me to keep taking it for 2-3 more months. Then she will have my labs drawn to see if any changes occurred. The fatigue might be my monthly cycle. I am going to watch to see if there is a pattern. On the subject of weightloss. It has not changed. I am hold at the same weight still. But no exercise in the last week due to feeling tired.

June 13, 2003- Well, Today is my 42nd Birthday and the scale surprised me by reading 181!!! It has not moved in a long time. But life does go on.

July 17, 2003- I have been dealing with a summer virus that is going around my house. I am going to the bathroom often. At first I thought I must have eaten something wrong, but then I realized it is a virus. I ended up taking today off from work. This is the first day I have ever missed work for bathroom call!! LOL The weather is beautiful! Just wish I had energy. I want to have a tag sale. I am also thinking about looking into buying a condo/townhouse. I feel God is preparing me for big and better changes in my life. So if I am going to move I don't want to move anything extra! This next move should be easier being 70lbs less to carry around.

July 31, 2003- Just a quick update on my health. I have had diarreah for weeks now. Dr C had me do a lab drop. He thinks it might be a viral bacteria. I am starting to think it is lactose! All I know is I want it gone, so I am going to stop eating cheese for a few days and see if it goes away. The gas pains that go along with the diarreah are awful! Other than that, the scale has not dropped much. I am waiting to see the 170's but I keep seeing 180 and holding.LOL

Sept 5,2004 I had my appointment with Dr Schriber on Thursday. We discussed my March 2004 anticipated date. I told him that I wanted to lose another 20lbs by then. He said that would be good. He wants me as close to the weight that I [lan on being at. I told him I am aiming to be 160lbs. So with he surgery it should bring me in the 150's or a size 10-12. We discussed his concerns about my incision from my bypass. He said that he could not do a tight tummy tuck because it might make problems with the bloodflow to the center of my belly(above the belly button). That is because the bloodflow comes from the 2 sides into the center and with the previous incision the blood with hit a wall and not be allowed in(if the skin is too tight). He said he can get rid alot of the hanging skin, so it is not going under my elastic of my panties. I told him about the skin higher up. I did not want it rolling over my pants when I sat down. He said he could do lyposuction for that. I would not be in the O/R as long, so the cost would not be as much as a regular tummy tuck. He did quote me approx $5,000. for this procedure. I felt very comfortable with him. He suggested in Dec I contact his Bloomfield office( I saw him at Uconn-John Dempsey Hospital) to view his slide presentation. I wants me to really know what my hip to hip incision will look like.
Well, just for the record!
Today my BMI is 29 and I am MODERATELY OVERWEIGHT!! AT 180LBS

10/15/03 I called the plastic surgeon today. I have decided to have my tt done earlier than March 2004. I am aiming for January of 2004. This way Heather will be home from college for a few weeks to help me out and it will be after the holidays. I am looking into the discounts with the pre-pay surgical packages here at Uconn. I am hoping to get it done under $2,000. The dr already told me my surgery would not take long, therefore the surgery time should be under 2.5 hours. I have an appointment on November 6th at 10:45 am to view his pictures again and talk to his nurse Kara. I am waiting for the surgery coordinator to call me and tell me what date they are booking surgeries in Jan for. I am praying to get an early date! More later.

11/10/03 Life has been really hectic and stressful, lately. I had my appointment with the plastic surgeon for my 1/21/04 tummy tuck. They took the photos and we discussed meds,scaring and so many other things. My brain was so tired due to my ex-husband dying last week. I am in the process of cleaning out his apartment and trying to keep my life with Allison and Heather going on at this time. My weight is still between 177 & 179lbs. I am not concerned with the numbers on the scale right now. It is how my clothes fit and what size they are. I am wearing a 14-16 on the bottom and a 12-14 on top. So, after the tt I should be about a 12-14 for both. I have been thinking today. Can you imagine bending and not having fat or skin in the way!! I will be able to touch my toes!! LOL

12/17/03 Quick update! I had a blessing this week. I was able to change my TT to Feb 2nd. I know, you must all think I am crazy for a later date, but to me it is a blessing. I have a big church event the original week I was scheduled, so when I tried to reschedule, they told me it would be April. I submitted to God's will on changing the day so he blessed me with an earlier date then April. My weight is staying the same (between 179 and 181 lbs).

01/15/04 Well I had my pre-op to my tt yesterday. My family dr is a blessing. I have been going to him for almost 18yrs now. He is so impressed on how wonderful I have done. NO complications and now plastic surgery. He told me that he uses me as a roll model to his other patients that are seeking the surgery. I even told him to give them my name and to seek me out on obesityhelp.com. He jokes with me and tells me that he is going to interview the next guy I want to marry. He does not want me to ge involved with the wrong person. Anyway, I am trying to get prepared for my tummy tuck. I have cleaned out the garage, so I can fit my car in there because of the snow outside. I am also preparing for my friend to come to CT next weekend. I only have 2 weeks to get everything done before, because I will not be doing much after. I will be out from work for the month of Feb. I can't wait!!!! I am so looking forward to getting rid of that skin and having the time off of work. My weight is staying the same, and that is "ok" with me. I would like to be a size 10-12 and I think I will be there after the tt. I feel healthy and that is all that counts to me! So, I am not a size 6-8!! HELLO!! That is not realistic for my body! I will go to the gym after to tone up. I have not been to the gym since the winter started. Shame on me, but I just can't get my but out of bed in the morning. Bye for now

01/29/04 Tomorrow is my last day of work before surgery. I am a little nervous and excited at the same time. I bought a new abdominal binder yesterday. They said I need to bring one with me. I guess when it is a pre-pay deal there are no free bee's!!
I have a busy weekend ahead of me still preparing. Expecially, I all the haircuts I need to do. Clean my house and get things prepared for slow moving for the next couple of weeks. I am waiting to hear from my friend. He had to go to India. His mom had a heart attach. So, he could not come to see me last weekend. Oh, it is in God's hands. He said he will come while I am home recouperating. I was told my surgery will be at noon on Monday and to get there at about 10:30 to prepare. If all goes well I should come home at about 5pm otherwise I might stay the night. It all depends on how I come out of the anest. and my pain level. That's all for now!

February 16, 2004 Today is 2 weeks post-op. I am doing much better. No! am not going to clean my house top to bottom but I am slowly getting around. The drain came out last Monday and it was very painful. But I was so happy not to have that thing hanging on me anymore. I have an appointment the the plastic surgeon next week on the 23rd and he will release me to go back to work for March 1st. I can't really sit straight just yet, but by then I should be able to. Life will be so much better once the girdle and binders are gone! The surgeon said some people like wearing them because they like that tight feeling. I think I do like that feeling too! But I would prefer sleeping without something so tight on.

June 28, 2004 Since my last update I have had my gall bladder removed by Dr Aranow. I am still having pains. I believe my pancreas is still having problems. I had blood work done today and I am suppose to meet with him tomorrow. I am also waiting to get more energy to come back. It makes you really tired when your shoulders seem to weigh an extra 50lbs and a pain in your gut(from the pancreas problems). Otherwise I am in a size 12(mostly). And my wight is stablizing out at 177lbs. I am booked for lypo in October. My plastic surgeon was afraid to go too tight on my tummy tuck, due to my other incisions and blood flood, so he is going to remove fat under my new belly button and also around my ribs. He wants to make it look more hourglass shaping. He is wonderful! Than if all goes well.... I am done with surgeries!!

July 22, 2004 I have been off of work for 2 days now. I have been taking Prevacid for an ulcer in my stomach and now I am having medication reaction. I have hives/welts all over my body. I got a steroid shot yesterday but it has not helped. They also gave me Zertex to take and that is not helping. I made a call into the Dr's office and I am waiting for them to call me back. I am frustrated with not being able to do what I want to do for so long.

Aug 6, 2004 I had an allergic reaction to the prevacid, but I am doing much better. Hope the ulcer does not start acting up again. Otherwise life is going good. I nice food issues lately. I feel I still need to feed others and I usally want foods that I can only eat a few bits. I make them anyway. I also find that I shop alot for food. I think it is because in the past we lived one meal to the next and now I have money to stock up so I am always looking at the sale flyers and go and get what I want in the house. I feel like I am hording food. I hope to get over this. Bye for now!

December 24, 2004 Merry Christmas to all! I thought today was would be a good time to update my profile while I am still preparing for Christmas Eve. I have gone through so much in the past few months. If I was told this would happen, I would have said you are all crazy. For the past few months I have gotten to know Stewart and he has changed my life. He is a wonderful man. He has asked me to marry him and I accepted. We are planning a June 11th wedding. I am going to wear the wedding dress I could only dream about in the past. It might not be as small as I would have liked it to be but it is the new me! I am more accepting of myself these days. I still have alot to learn in dealing with obesity issues. But I am taking it one day at a time. God Bless all and Merry Christmas.

February 18, 2005 Hello everyone! Hope you are all staying warm. I still have cold feet (even at almost 3 yrs post-op). I have been trying to stay healthy and prepare for my wedding day in June. I have had issues with my tonge and lips burning. I was told my the ENT that this might be acid reflux that is hitting the receptors in the back of the tonge to make if feel that way, so he changed my medication. I don't feel any acid in my throat at all so it is really strange to me. Well, It has not helped. I have had an endoscopy and they did not find anything. Only that they want me to have a ultrasound because there might be a hernia in my stomach. Life moves on! I am now wearing a size 12-14 but my wedding dress is an 18! Boy do they run small. I decided to pay for a personal trainer at the gym and see if I can get toned up even more. I would like to breath in my wedding dress and not feel packed into it. I have not felt that way in 3 years and I don't plan on feeling that way, anytime soon. I would appreciate any feed back. Spring will be here soon, but in the mean time stay warm!

April 16, 2005 Well, I had my 3 year post-op with Dr Aranow this past week. He said I am were I was last year(weight wise)but I think I am higher. I gained my 10lbs after my 2 years have past. I know I still have obesity issues and I am going to start dealing with them. I was referred to someone by Dr Aranow and I plan on going to see her. It would be wonderful if I could lose more weight by dealing with the grazing issues I have. I have alot going on this month. I took an exam with the state to get a better job. I am preparing to move within a month or so.... And then the wedding in June! It is alot for the brain at this time. I will try to post a photo of me in my wedding dress after the wedding. I have a really bad cold right now and have very little energy. I have to call the dr in the morning in case I have bronchits (my chest is conjested and I cough alot). As always, Life goes on!!!

July 26, 2005 Well, I have decided to get back on track. I know that I have been grazing too much lately and slowly putting weight on. So, I decided to join Weight Watcher to help me see what I am doing (right and wrong). I am seeing what are my low calorie foods and trying to staying on program. I have gone up to 188lbs and feeling like a failure with everything that I have going through. I guess it is because I never go as low as I would have liked. Even though my dr said that I would stop around 170-180lb and I did. I wanted to prove him wrong and I couldn't!! So, I am making all efforts now to get focused on taking care of myself now that the wedding and moving are complete. I am still learning to live with a man again, which could be stressful!! LOL I have put my drive on getting myself better right now. I have joined a new gym(now that I moved). I'm going to weight watchers and I have also found a wonderful couselor to help with the obesity issues, thanks to Dr Aranow. So, there is still hope to get to my goal of a 153lbs. I might think that is too low at some point but that will be the one to make that decision. By then I hopefully will feel better about myself and accept whatever weight I stop at is good for me. I feel this time with weight watchers and a smaller pouch.... I will be able to make to my goal. There is hope!! Have a great day!
March 27,2007 ObesityHelp thank you so much for the reminder to update my profile. I am now 5 yrs post-op and life still has not slowed down for me. I am loving it more than ever. So, to bring everyone up to date since my last update so long ago. I am holding my own at 185lbs and I still have in the back of my mind to get down lower someday. I say someday because I am starting to accept that in time (not my own timing) that maybe I will get there. Since getting married 22months ago I have been through alot. Marriage has been a big change for me with alot of personal growth. I am presently attending school in NY City on a couple of weekends a month. Yes, me the girl that's afraid of driving into Hartford, CT is taking a train into the big city!! I am studying at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition and come June of 2007(yes!! 2 months) I will be a certified Nutritionist. I am doing my internship at this time and I am building my own Holistic Health and Nutritional Counseling office. I am taking on clients and doing a free Health History and show them just how beneficial my services can be for them. I presently have a few clients and I am so happy that I have found this direction in my life. As I am learning to be a Nutritional Health Counselor I am also doing the program with a personal counselor myself. It has really taught me to listen to my body even more and to take beeter care of it. I am so thankful for Dr Aranow (my gastric bypass surgeon) who started paving the path for my life to go in this direction. He has no idea that he has had a great part in me finding the school and being able to attend it. This is such a blessing! This is such a rewarding profession that I do believe that someday I will be the strongest person I can be! My Holistic Health and Nutritional Counslling office is called... Nourish the Body, LLC. I am seeking to build my private practice on pre and post gastric by-pass client but I am not going to limit myself at the same time because of the obesity in the this country. As an obese person for so many years, I have always wanted to go into the nutrition field but could not make the time to go to school for all those years (now that I am 45 yrs old). Now, my dreams are coming true. So my advice to all of you that feel that they have fallen short on your dreams....You really haven't!! Just Think about your dreams again and start taking action! If it wasn't for Dr Aranow to direct me into the direction he did, I would not be doing what I feel I was sent here on this earth to be actually be doing it. I also believe that I was sent, to pass my story on to the obese people in this wonderful world and be an inspiration to them. Please feel free to contact me at Debbiekleinman@aol.com. I would love to encourage all of you to follow your dreams!! God Bless you all.
March 27,2008 I am now 6 years post-op and loving it! I have made tremendous changes in my life and I don't plan on stopping now. I graduated from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in June of 2007. I have my own healthcare practice called Nourish the Body, LLC. In July, I am planning on going to California for a month to learn acupressure get certified to bring this into my business also. I am looking into moving my practice into a Wellness Center or maybe someday own my own center. That would be wonderful. My weight is stable at 180lbs. My concerns are not what the scale reads but it is just how I feel in my clothes. I am wearing a size 12/14 depending on the brand. I am happy with that size right now, but I would not like to gain any as I know how less bloated I feel at this size. My focus in life right now is in the holistic health field and I know once my body and life become less stressful I just might lose more weight. I have learned that I will not lose weight until the stress in my life subsides. I have been blessed with my life and the changes that I have made in the past 6 years. I am looking forward to the next 6, 10 oh what the heck .... the additonal years I have gained by having the surgery.
Blessing to all!!


Surgery date...... Weight...........Total Loss
3/25/02........ 253............-0-
4/09/02......... 236.............17
4/16/02..........233.............20
4/23/02....1month....232.........21
5/25/02....2months....219........34
6/25/02....3months....212........41
7/25/02....4months....205........48
8/25/02....5months....203........50
9/25/02....6months....195........58
10/25/02....7months....195........58 TOTAL INCHES LOST 32.5
11/25/02....8months....191........62
12/25/02....9months....188........65
01/25/03...10months....188........65 stayed the same,again!
03/25/03...12months....184........69 Total inches lost 36.5
07/25/03...16months....179........73 Total inches lost 49!!
09/25/03...18months....178........75 Finally!!!!
02/02/04...23months....182........71 Tummy Tuck today
02/16/04...23months....176........77 2weeks post-op(tt)
03/25/04...2YEARS!!....176........77 THANK, GOD!
06/28/04...2YEARS 3Mon.177........76
07/25/04...2YEARS 4Mon 173........80 WOW FINALLY 80! size 12
07/26/05...3YEARS 4MON 188.......65 JOINED W.W
03/25/07...5YEARS!!.....185.........68 and holding LOL
03/27/08...6YEARS!!.....178......75