Weight Loss Surgery Directory

By Location By Map
Delores S.
Country Road, KY, USA
Post Op - BMI: 24.4
Surgery Type: RNY
Member ID: S1029457368
Surgeon: Joshua Steiner

Click here for Delores's surgery support page
Click here for Before & After pictures page
Click here for the 02/2003 Reunion Page
Click here to print Delores's cards
(You can print your own cards, and if you're good at it,
you can help print cards for your friends as well!)
Click here to view Delores’s friends.









Hi It is Thanksgiving morning and i am just reflecting a little. Ihave recently completed an upper G I test for my surgeon and saw the internist he sends everyone to for clearence. According to that doctor, I shouoldnt have any problem with insurance coverage.(I hope). My insurance has paid for my surgical consult at 100% so maybe I will get lucky. Or I should say blessed. I met with the dietician the same day and she gave me this lovely preop diet to shrink my liver before surgery. It is not hard and is loosly based on the Atkins diet. My concern ,however, is that i will contine to gain weight because of the takedown of the intestinal bypass. She also had me get this nasty tasting protein drink and staert it and told me to geet the lovely Flintstones. so I am well on my way. Hope to have surgery in January but if they wait until the middle of January, I will ask them to wait until Feb. We are expecting our second grandchild (Emily) January 22 and you know how grannies are. I want to be able to help in her first few days of life. I will update as things happen to me. My Bmi is now 43. It was only 39 when i started this journey. I just cant stop gaining weight. Delores



Just wanted to let you know, my surgeon personally called me to day to talk awhile and he said he is going to do my wls January 30th, 2003. WOW! now that it is nearly here, I am soooooo nervous. Been reading a lot on here about several recent deaths due to complications so I guess I would'nt be normal if I wew'nt worried. But I know God will watch over me. I have two or three more tests in January and he said if these are okay, then it is a go. This means I will get to be with my daughter-in-law for the birth of Emily and get to help take care of her for a week before my surgery. Well, I may or may not write more before surgery.So everyone have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year or Happy Holidays.This was written on December 23.2002. I am still learning how to update and I didnt know I had to put the date first. OH WELL BYE



JANUARY 6th, Well, I am really getting anxious. I just wish my date would hurry up and get here. I did find out that my new granddaughter will not be born until the day before my surgery, That is a bummer. That means that I wont get to see her but for one day for awhile. Think of me evryone.



January 10, 2003
Well, I tried to update yesterday but for some reason the site didnt work. I just realized yesterday that my surgery date in only three weeks away. My emotions are running wild. I go from wishing it would hurry and get here so I can start losing to just knowing I will die on the table. I am very worried and nervous. From what I have read here, that is a normal reaction. I am 55 years old and I am an R.N. I have kept my liscense active and hope to go back to work at least a couple of days a week after surgery. I am married to a wonderful man and I have two special needs adult children and one grandson. I worry about what would happen to them if anything happened to me. I am the one in my family that has always been the caregiver. Both of my parents passed away in recent years and I am adopted. I have no siblings to help carry the load. All I have are hubby and children, so if anything does happen to me it will be all on my hubby to make all the decisions and etc. I am a christian and I have been trying to put this into Gods hand but it is easier said than done. I had major surgery in February, 2002 and nearly died. I am fully recovered from that but I guess that is why I am nervous alsso. This is an elective surgery. Just pray, think positive thoughts or whatever you do, for me. I really appreciate this site and the good people that have written on my surgery page.



January 22,2003
Well, I had what was supposed to be the last of my pre-op tests Monday. It was a dobatimine cardiolyte stree tests. that is where you dont get on the treadmill but the iv medicine makes your heart feel like you are on a treadmill. Well, my heart did fine but my blood pressure went sky high. Later they told me I had been about thirty seconds away from having a stroke! I have never had such a headache. All I wanted to do was go home. We had to stop on the way home to let me vomit. It was awful and today I am starting to get over it but that experience has made me really question my decision to have this surgery. I have had major surgery before but I have never been as sick in my life as I was for that test. So, I have to go back next Monday and do another teat actually on the treadmill. My surgery kis scheduled for Thursday. one week from tomorrow and truthfully, I am scared to death. I need your prayers. I am so ready to back oput of this!.

Well, this is not a very good picture of me but my hubby and I were goofing around and i said hey! I need a before picture. so here i am at 228lbs the first of january,2003 Hopefully i will get a better picture soon. this is one of the only two i have allowed to be taken of me lately.



January 29,2003
My surgery has been postponed until late feb. due to insurance approval not getting in on time but I am not too bad disappointed. my grandbaby girl was born Sunday and I have been enjoying (lol) babysitting her two year old brother. He and I have gotten close these past few days and it feels so good to rock him to sleep each night. I havent even had time to call the insurance company and put pressure on them but i will do that tomorrow. My surgeon was very reassuring and said that he is a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and so am I. Sop we shall see. I am not giving up. I will update later. God Bless,



February 1,2003
Well I received an e-mail from Dr. Steiner this morning and my insurance approval came in yesterday. One day after my surgery was to have been. I have a penciled in new date of Feb.27, but he might give me an earlier date when he calls me Monday. I hope so anyway. I've been enjoying my new granchild and the two year old but this old granny is getting a little tired.lol



February 3rd.2003
Dr. Steiner called me today to reschedule my surgery. It is now Feb.10th, next Monday. I go Friday to pre-register at the hospital. I am ready now. I wasnt mentally ready to have it january 30th. the original date. But after taking care of my grandkids last week, it kind of took my mind off all the complications and such. Now, I am just ready to get on with my life. Pray for me! Thanks



February 8th,2003
I saw Dr. Steiner yesterday for the last time before surgery to go over last minute details. I havew started the clear liquid diet this morning and i will do the bowel prep tomorrow. I am so ready. I really wasn't ready when it was postponed two weeks ago. Too much family stuff going on. Everything has fallen into place and my surgery will be Monday afternoon at 2:30. I will write again Monday. Keep me in your prayers please, Thanks



Feb l4, 2003
All I can say good today is I lived through it and Praise God for that. I have nothing else to say today but I came home yesterday and feel like s#%#%! I will wait until I feel better to reveiw or write more.



February 21st, 2003
I had my first post-op appointment today and my staples were removed. I have lost ten pounds and that is a little disappointing but at least it is going down. I also had my first vomiting spell today. After i got home from the doctor I had one small chicken wing from Kroger.s and had to vomit three times and was really sick then I felt fine. It only lasted a few minutes. I am getting stronger everyday. Of course I still worry over blood clots but I know I am in God's hands. My doctor, Josh Steiner is absolutely wonderful. Karen Hillenmyer, the P.A. is great also. Donna, in the office is a mother to us all. She will do anything to help you. They have taken good care of me. The only negative thing has been my hospital experience. The nurses were really slow to respiond to the call bell. They did the best they could but they were seriously understaffed. However, I will not willingly go to that hospital again. And hopefully I won't have any complications so I won't have to go there again.



MARCH 26th, 2003
I remain to be a little down because of my slow weight loss. As of this date, I have lost 30 lbs and i am glad at least that I have not gained thirty pounds. lol. I feel a little better each day but i miss being able to sit down and eat a big ole hamburger or something similar or to eat some of the good things I fix for my husband. I am venturing out a little on the eating and trying new and different things. Most meat I just cannot do. I nearly always end up vomiting.



MAY 20th. 2003
Well it has been awhile since I have been here. I am feeling really good these days except for getting sleepy all the time. I have now lost about 50 lbs and am very happy with that. my loss has picked up in the past month. I am eating more calories and getting all my water in. I still cannot get all my protein in with food but am supplmenting. My hair is coming out a little bit but doesn't look bad at this point. I am able to do things I could never do this time last year. In fact, this time last year I was gaining weight so fast that I wouldn't go out of my house and was in deep depression over it. I have gone from a size 22 to a very .lose 18. I am going to Graceland in the middle of June and am planning on taking most of my food and wearing a smaller size. I am really enjoying my grandbabies. Especially the three year old. I can do so many things with him now that I know if I hadn't lost the weight I couldn't. I hardley ever get hungry and have to make myself eat. I still have a hard time with all meats. I am eating eggs, cheese, cottage cheese, an occasional bite of fruit and veggies. Very little carbs although I have had one or two slices of toast with peanut butter. I will update later. Thank you God for my new life. i now weigh 185 pounds down from 228.7



May 27th. 2003
I want to thank Linda for helping me learn how to update my profile. She put all the pretty hula girls on for me and I messed it up. She has so graciously fixed it for me. Today has been a good day for me. I have been sick with a bad cough and unable to drink my water for two days but today all is well. I have been able to get all my protein in also. Some days are just harder than others. I am losing weight and I feel pretty good.



JUNE 11th, 2003
Just a quick update on me. I saw my surgeon on Monday and I am officially down 52 lbs. I am not going to say Gone forever. I think it is absurd when people post that because if we don't use our "tool" properly, we will gain weight. I am going to give it my best shot though. I would like to lose about thirty more pounds and that's all for my age and height. I should look pretty good then. better than if I weighed 120 lbs. I would look haggard. I am not going to have to go the way of PS thank God. Sure, I am a little saggy but not much. My labs were all just right so I must be doing everything right. My only concern and it's a small one is that for about a month my hair has been falling out. It always does when I have surgery so I know it is not related to wls. I am eating ,lots of protein and taking biotin. It just happens to me when I have major surgery for anything. The reason I am not too concerned is that it always comes back. Last year when it started coming back it was gray. Not too thrilled about that. I am down to a size 16 from a 22w. I am finally feeling great. I painted my toenaols this week. Something i couldn't do last year. i can run and play with my grandbabies and even kept them a couple of days this week.



July 8th, 2003
Well. I went to my local support meeting last night and so enjoyed it. My surgeons group is always there and they are so encouraging to us. I weighed and i am down 60 lbs now. I would be happy to lose another twenty pounds. Of course, like everyone, I would like to lose more but i would be happy with twenty more. I have been a slow loser all the way and now that I am almost sux months out, I expect it to be even slower. I am feeling pretty good almost all the time now. I had a scare a couple of nights ago. I was having severe pain in my gallbladder region and nearly went to the hospital. It finally subside. Must have been trapped gas. I had eaten some cucumbers from my garden. They are soooooooo good. Life is good. God is good. All the time!!!!!!!!!



July 25th, 2003
I am having a terrible past few days. Sorry to complain but I have been so sick. I have been unable to eat hardly anything but I getting my water in. I got very upset a couple of days ago over a family matter and I have been doubled up with stomach pain ever since. This is the worst pain I have had since surgery. I can hardly walk and have been lying on the couch for two days with a heating pad. I didn't call Dr. Steiner because the last time I had stomach pain, he ordered a CT Scan and nothing showed up. I knew I was sick but I don't want to be labeled a hypochondriac. Also my hubby is in New York for the next few days and I am alone so I knew If I had to go have any tests, there is no one to help me. Sorry to complain. On a positive note, I now weigh 158 on my scales. The docs scales are five pounds heavier but I like mine. hehe. That means I am only 18 pounds from my personal goal. But I will have to see how I feel about it when I reach 140. I might want to go lower as long as I feel good and am still losing steady. I haven't been under 136 since being an adult. I thought I was still fat when I weighed that. Thank you Lord and Dr. Steiner for giving my life back. I will be eternally grateful.



August 10th, 2003
Well, I got a note from Eric Klein this morning congratulating me on being six months post-op. Wow, what a six months it has been. First, let me say I am down 70 lbs. I feel great except for the stomach problem that flares every once in awhile.

My PCP put me on zantac for my stomach and most days it helps, other days I feel like I need to go to the E.R. He seems to think it is gallbladder related. I have had sympthoms (sp) for about 15 years and have had it checked many times. Sometimes it is badly inflammed or sludge shows up. He seems to think it needs to be taken out and when I asked him if anyone would take it out without stones, he said "well, I've treated you for it for 15 years." My gallbladder test right before surgery was fine. I asked my surgeon if this isn't a side-effect of wls and (at the time) didn't think it was or I misunderstood him. From what I am reading here on the board, it is very common to have gallbladder problems after wls. But unless I have to go in kicking and screaming, I will keep mine, thank you.

On a funny note, I went to my son's birthday party a couple of weeks ago and noticed that several people who had not seen me since January, were looking strangely at me. Come to find out, they didn't recognize me. Now that was a hoot!!.
I have been to yard sales for two days and have walked all day both days. We have the world's longest yard sale here in Ky this time every year and it is so much fun. Now, mind you, I couldn't do it last year. Life is so great if i could only be free from this stomach pain. Oh well, for everything in life there is a price to pay. More next time. HHHHHHUUUUUUUGGGGSSSSS



Sept. 10th, 2003
Just a quick update this month. my weight loss has slowed down a bit this month which I expected at 7 months out. I have only lost seven inches this month. But I might be on a plateau. I am the "plateau Queen". It doesn't even bother me. I would like to lose twenty more pounds but if I don't, I can live at the weight I am now. Now that my loss has slowed down a little I am going to have to go shopping. I am in a 14 now. The smallest things in my closet are 16's.

I am still having stomach problems. It hurts every day right in my waist section and right side but I believe it is lower on the right side than my gallbladder. It hurts every day. Some days are worse than others and my trusty heating pad and Tylenol help some. I have stopped even trying to eat meat. Just tired of vomiting every time. I can eat deli ham or turkey. Anything else in the meat line makes me vomit. I am drinking two shakes a day for protein and might have to up that to three. So long for this month.



October 5th, 2003
My monthly update is a little early but I wanted to post a few things. I said I was going to stop posting because my surgeon reads everything and sometimes I feel as if I can't pour my heart out here anymore. My stomach trouble has been resolved with the Zantac my pcp put me on. Haven't had THAT pain for awhile now. BUT, I started having major pain in my left rib cage going around to my back Wednesday during the night. I got up and took some tylenol and used a heating pad for a little relief. The pain didn't go away and only got worse so I called my pcp on Thursday and he first thought I might have pluersy but when he pushed on my left upper abd, I nearly went thru the roof. He told me to call my wls because it was really close to my scar and might be adhesions. I was still hurting Friday morning so I did call Dr. Steiner and was advised to meet him at the ER. I had to take a bag of IV fluids because I hadn't eaten or drank anything for nearly two days. After blood tests and a cat scan, he said I was constipated. Mind you, I had a good bm on Wednesday morning. Nothing on Thursday or Friday and I didn't expect to because there was nothing in me. I have been regular as clockwork since surgery and have only been constipated once. But I knew it then. I felt I needed to go but couldn't. This time I felt nothing. Anyhow that is all the scan showed and for that I am grateful. I nearly died last year from a bowel obstruction so I don't take these things lightly. I really hate to go to the doctor and just will not go unless I really have to. I am trying to change my thoughts on that because I had let things go for so long last year that I was in bad shape when I finally had surgery for the obstruction. Over a course of three years, I had complained to my pcp many times and he would just shake his head and nothing ever showed up on tests until last Feb. That is what really has me paranoid. I hate going to the doc and having tests and them coming back and telling me nothing is wrong when I know I am sick. Well, to make a long story a little shorter, Dr. Steiner ordered MOM for me and a shot of Toradol. Good stuff. Gave me relief almost immediately for that day. Had a regular bm today but my left ribs and upper abd is still painful but not as bad. Sorry for all the poop talk!

On another note, I am now wearing size 12 petite and loving it. My older son was in the hospital week before last with a chronic bowel problem and facing a colostomy (maybe). He is better now but I weighed on the hospital scales and weighed 138. On my pcp's scale Thursday, I weighed 148. SOOOOOO, who knows? and how to figure out what I really weigh. All I know is that I still feel very chubby but my DH is worried that I am going to be one of the ones that have trouble stabilizing. I am not going to worry until my weight reaches 130. I think I have slowed down a little this month. Everyone is telling me that I have aged twenty years. I don't like that but I will agree that I need a face lift and if I had the money I would have one in a heartbeat. And the boobs? What boobs? LOL. Nothing else is sagging that wasn't already sagging due to my age so I can live with that. My Plastic surgery wish list (If I were ever to decide that I want to go there). (1): face lift, (2) breast lift and implants (3) butt lift and implants. Never did have a butt anyway. Definately don't now. Flat all the way down. See ya next month. HHHUUUGGGS



Nov.8th, 2003
hi everyone. Well, I am feeling great since I found out I have an ulcer and have meds to take for it. It is so much better and i am able to eat a little more without being sick. I did vomit yesterday but I ate something that is a no-no. I went to White Castle (one of those greasy little burger places) and ate one . I knew it was full of grease and immediately it came back up. Won't do that again.

My scales here at home say I weigh 135 now. I am seriously wondering if I am going to stop. I don't want to lose anymore and I sure don't want to gain. Just maintain. I hadn't lost any for over a month then BAMMMMMM. 6 pounds overnight. I went shopping last week and bought several outfits in size 10 petite and my pants are already to loose. I wasn't going to buy that much, you know, just enough to wear for awhile but I thought I was thru losing. Guess not. My diet has improved a lot. I am eating fresh fruits and veggies with no trouble and more often but not everyday. Meat is still hard. I am drinking two shakes a day. Getting about 60-70g protein per day in and having no trouble with my water. So all is well in my little corner of the world. Except for freezing to death. Looking forward to my support meeting Monday night to weigh on my docs scales. His are the "real" ones you know. I also want to ask when will my hair stop falling out. I am nearly bald now and it is coming out by the handfuls. I hear a good, juicy pear calling my name so I will see you lighter next month.



Dec.10th, 2003
My last update this year. Not much has changed this month. I have only lost three and a half pounds and three and a half inches this month. I figure i am about finished and that is all right. I am lower than i ever thought I would be. I remember telling Dr. Steiner that I would like to make it to 140 and he said I might eventually be there. Well now I am 137.5 at ten months out. Everyone tells me not to lose more but ya know, once you start losing you kind of want to see how far you can go. My ulcer still bothers me some days but it is mostly alright. I can eat a little better but still have problems with most meat. I am wearing a very lose size 10. Could easily go into an eight. I am wearing size small tops and sweaters. When I look in the mirror, I still see this fat person looking back at me. When I am in a room, I still feel like people are looking at me because i am fat. Wonder how long it takes for your brain to catch up. my life has changed so much. Dr. Steiner jokingly said at the last support meeting that i am never satisfied. Oh!!!! If he only knew the impact he has made on my life. This time last year, I wouldn't even go out in public except to places where people didn't know me. I was so ashamed and had gained weight so fast that I was dealing with severe depression and emotional issues. I had a closet full of beautiful clothes and couldn't wear them. Only had one or two things to wear when i did go anywhere and wouldn't buy any more large sizes. So oh yes, Dr, Steiner, I am very satisfied and will be eternally grateful to you for the special interest you took in me knowing my case might be complicated and I am thankful to God for guiding your hands during my surgery. I knew I was high risk and was prepared to die if I had to. Not saying i wasn't scared. I was. But thank God WE made it thru. Well, I'm getting things ready for Christmas so I guess that's all for now. Merry Christmas everyone.



January 11th, 2004
Hi, it's time for my eleventh month update. Can you believe that? I am nearly one year out. Nothing really exciting is happening right now. I am still losing weight albeit slowly. I weigh 128 on my scales so that would ne 133 on my surgeons scales. I have lost four pounds since my december update ( I think). At least four pounds from my December doc appt. and three and one half inches. I am wearing a very lose size eight. I am so cold all the time. I have never worn sweats before but I got some the other day and have lived in them. Size small top and small bottom. Dr. Steiner you will get a kick out of this. I went to J.C.Penny's the other day after another member on here told me about them and got me a pair of "butt lifter" panties and a pair of the "padded butt" panties. It all looks natural. I got tired of having a "crack in the back". My butt is non-existent. Now if i could only find a good bra. I found some nice looking padded ones but the sides were cut to thin. You know when you lose a hundred pounds you have this flab that hangs under your arm on the side where your bra is. Most of the girly type bras don't have a wide enough band to camoflague(sp) this but I will keep looking. my hair is still coming out but has slowed down a bit. Haven't had to get the Frederick's of Hollywood book out and order the "hooker" hair yet. I am glad it's slowing down. I was really getting worried there since mine has come out longer than most anyone else's. My shoes are all wayyyyyyyy to big. But ya know, this wls thing is a trade-off and i am happy with what I've got. My ulcer still nearly kills me everytime I try to go off the medicine. It is very expensive even with an insurance card and my doc said I didn't need to take it all the time but I can get out of it and on about the third day, I am nearly in the hospital and doubled over from the pain. Soon as I get back on the medicine, I am alright the next day. So I don't know if it is getting worse or i am just gonna have to take the medicine my whole life. I sure hope not. I will probably do a one year update next month and by then my journey should be complete. I won't update again unless something major happens. I am enjoyuing my new life. At our last support meeting the issue of a phycologist was brought up and I kept my mouth shut. I guess i was so ready for this surgery that I haven't really had any emotional problems. Sure, there have been times I have grieved over food but i knew that was going to happen and I know i was well prepared for what to expect when I had surgery. I am amazed by just listening to people talk that shows they don't know enough about this surgery going into it, aren't well researched or prepared and get blind-sided by things. This surgery consumes your life for about a year pre-op and about a year post-op. Then in my opinion, it is time to move on. I guess i have been blessed but i wasn't about to lie down and let someone cut me open unless I had researched it inside and out. Some people don't have a clue and I am sorry to sound cold but i have no patience with people like that. This is a major step having this surgery and it changes your life forever, sometimes for the best, sometimes not so good, so you had better be prepared when you have it. Off my soapbox now. HUGGSSSSSSSS.



Feb. 10th, 2004
What an exciting year this has been for me!!!!! I have had many ups and downs and lots of stressful things happen in my family this year but it has also been the best year of my life. Dr. Steiner literally saved my life one year ago today. I am so thankful that I found him. Well, my hair is still coming out by the handfuls. I have bald spots everywhere. I sent my order out today for a wig. I am so embarrassed by my hair. I was prepared for it to come out but I have never known anyone that has lost hair this long. Wonder if it could be my thyroid? My ulcer is better. no medicine now for a couple of weeks. have had a little pain but not enough to take the medicine. I haven't lost any weight this month so I guess my fears over losing too much were unfounded. I am happy (I think) at this weight. I float between 128-133. I am shopping a lot now that my weight seems to have stabilized. I missed my last support meeting. I was so afraid the road would get slick before i got home. I live about an hour away. my friend edith brought me a beautiful pin that our surgeons group give patients on their one year anniversary. I will wear it proudly as a testiment to my new life. I will probably stick around the site for awhile and try to help pre-ops and new post-ops. I am going back to work on a prn basis. I am only going to work one day a week though. There is a huge demand for nurses right now. I think i am going to be working at Frankfort regional Medical center. That is where i worked before I got sick. I am a nurse at heart and i will be glad to get back into it. Well, I have rambled enough so I will sign off for now.



March 9th,2004
Well we had a great support meeting last night. Got to FINALLY meet David, Dana Jennifer and Sharon. We have all become friends thru the site here. Dana insisted I needed a new picture so I came straight home and got some new ones up. They are at the bottom of my profile. OOOOOPPS, I skipped a line. It is hard to see myself as others see me. When I look in the mirror, I still see the unhappy woman that was so fat. Dr. Steiner called me little or something like that. My hubby is calling me "tiny'. Who woulda think it? There were so many people at the meeting. So many new ones. I kind of feel left out but you know life goes on. I have said it before. This surgery comsumes us for the better part of a year or even two, then its time to move on to other things. They are starting a new support group for those of us that are longer term post op. I have been blessed. I have no issues that I need help with if only my hair would stop falling out. I love my life now and owe it all to Josh Steiner. My Hero!!!!!!!!!!!



April 20th.

Dr. Steiner has finally found the source of my right side pain. i have felt for months it was gallbladder. I have had symthoms for many years but nothing ever showed up except sludge or inflammation. My ultra sound last week found nothing wrong but he ordered a Hida Scan which showed it is not working properly. I will be having surgery to remove it this Friday and I have to say I will be glad. It is very frustrating when you know that you know something is wrong and tests keep saying there isn't anything wrong. Dr. Steiner is a great doc who does listen to our complaints and will eventuallky get to the root of the problem. Sometimes I feel caught in the middle of these doctors tho. I guess it will be this way the rest of my life. You feel ill or have pain and call your surgeon's office, who tells you to go to your pcp who tells you to go back to your surgeon and i t is never-ending. But i didn't even call my pcp, who BTW is a personal friend of mine since my early nursing days and is wonderful, with this last round of pain. I knew it was gallbladder and started to go to my local ER. There is a great surgeon here. Dr. Spoonamore and I knew he could fix me up but I was a little scared of accidently messing my RNY up. So, I wanted Dr. Steiner to do it. I am concerned that he is going to try to do it Laproscopically. I have so much scar tissue from previous surgeries. i have to admit also, that I am scared of the pain. When you have open anything, you have great pain meds. I have seen people who thought they were dying from the gas pain of lap surgeries and that is what scares the heck out of me. i am a wuss when it comes to major pain. My surgeon group is having a sort of party-support meeting Friday night for those of us over a year out. I so wanted to go. They are giving away a make-over from the top beauty salon in Lexington. I had high hopes of winning that. With my hair continuing to fall out, I probably need the makeover more than anyone else. That has probably been the worst thing with this surgery. No doubt, after I have the gallbladder surgery Friday, the rest of it will fall out. I guess I need to buy another wig. Just wanted to share this with you. I will update later. Oh, I also want to tell you that I have regained nearly ten pounds. I was looking sickly. But now I don't like this ten pounds so I am going to try to get it off after surgery.



October 11, 2004

Haven't updated for quite awhile. Actually, I don't quite know what to say and didn't want to write anything that would discourage others. For the past several months I have been sick. A lot of it is just a general feeling of being sick. i have had my gallbladder out in April. I still have the ulcer which is not getting any better and has, in fact, gotten worse. recently hospitalized with bleeding ulcers and had to have three pints of blood. maybe I expect too much. I am having more bad days than good. I am questioning now if it has been worth it to have the surgery. Sure, I guess I look better except now I look pale, eyes sunk in and washed out all the time. I felt great the first year even with being sick. But, this year has been a bitch. It's like, I know something is really wrong but can't figure it out. I have no energy. I still drink two shakes a day and take vits. Have been lax on my B-12 and iron but I have that together now. I told my hubby just the other day, " I feel so sick all the time anymore, I feel like I am going to die". I just don't know how i can cope much longer. I just want to go to bed and stay there but unfortunately, I can't do that. Lots of things happening in the family right now and I am so depressed over feeling sick all the time that I just want to cry all the time. It's like something has gone terribly wrong I am not going to write anymore until I can have something positive to say.



src="http://images.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/mempix/sester_delores/shelline.gif">




November 7th, 2004

I have had many people tell me they were discouraged by my last update. I am truly sorry for that. I was in a general funk that day. I am feeling so much better now and loving my surgery once again. @What my profile doesn't tell you is that I had the old jib for weight loss in 1981. That is the one where nearly every one is dead now that had it. I had many, many problems and still would not get a reversal until I got a bowel obstruction that nearly cost me my life and had to have a reversal. I gained a lot of weight really fast after that and the surgeon that did the recversal recommended me to have gastric bypass. It has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. You have to understand that a lot of my stress when i have problems is because of the old bypass surgery and wondering if this is going to turn out like that one with us finding out stuff years down the road from now. I know i am upbeat most of the time but please allow me a little funk sometimes. When I posted my last update, I was in a lot of pain and general disgust that my problem wasn't getting any better. my surgeon now says my ulcer is well or nearly well altho I do have some pain left from time to time. I guess it will eventually stop. Again, I am sorry that so many were discouraged by my post. Please remember that, considering all the previous problems i had going on, I am doing great and I have a wonderful surgeon who is doing his best to fix me up and I will be alright. Right now, I am having a terrible time keeping weight ON, weighing 115 yesterday. But that is a good sort of thin g to me. I am going to just have to try eating more and eating a better variety of foods. I have this wonderful tool and i know how to work it so I will be alright.



Feb. 14th, 2005

I am two years and four days post op and felt like I should do a little update. The first year after my surgery was great. I was losing so much weight and looking and feeling so good. I was enjoying things I hadn't been able to do for quite awhile before that. I have been sick for the past 14 months. It has been one thing after another. First, it was my gallbladder, which I had removed in April after several months of taking meds and them trying to diagnos the pain. Then it was the ulcer. Amother several months of pain and sickness beofre it was found. Not from lack of my surgeon's trying. He tries his best to take care of me and I know it. I feel like I am just a difficult patient. Then I had the GI Bled (from the ulcer and had to be in the hospital and I recieved three units of blood. Right while all that was going on and even after the ulcer was deemed to be well, I was still having the same kind of pain right in the exact same area. Turns out, that was my old tummy twisting over and holding fluid . I think the way he explained it to me was it would fill up with fluid and press against my spleen and that is what was causing the pain. I have never had such pain. So, two weeks ago tomorrow, I had surgery to remove that part of my old tummy. This has been the most painful and hardest recovery, I have ever had. This is the fouth surgery I have had in the past three years and even tho the first was the most serious surgery, this has by far been the most painful. I guess what makes a difference is that I was in the hospital seven days before hooked up to a pain pump. They get you in and get you out these days but I wanted to come home. I just couldn't stay in the hospital another day. I had an epidural this time which I didn't want to start with. Being a nurse, I am not a fan of epidurals. I woke up in recovery itching to death. Don't remember but don't think the medicine was even hooked up to me at that time. I think it was the fentnyl in the anesthesia. I had gotten sick from it the week before while having a procedure. I asked my nurse in the middle of the night for something to help the itching and she came in and gave me nubane iv push. I know iv meds of that type are supposed to be diluted or pushed slow. She zoomed it in and rushed out of the room. I got deathly ill, broke out in a cold soaking sweat, my bed linens were soaked. My newly operated on stomach felt like it was on fire. I am extremely sensitive to a lot of medicines and have had anaphylactic shock from a med I had been taking for two years and suddenly developed an allergy to. I called her in and asked her what shee gave me. She told me and I said, please, I am having an allergic reaction to it, please call my doctor. She folder her arms over her and looked at me and said, "What do you want me to do"? I said call my doctor. She said something else after that which I cannot remember and I told her to get out of my room. At that point I think I passed out or something for a few minutes. She never did come back in the room until morning and I apologized to her. When I was in the hospital the last time for the gi bled, I was treated wonderful and everyone had been so super nice all the times I have had to go to have procedures done. But when the same nurse came back in the next night, I knew I would be better off at home. My surgeon is the greatest but there are some things he has no control over. I believe I have one of the best surgeons in the world and wouldn't ever consider going to another doctor. I have confidence that when I complain about how I am feeling or having pain, that he listens to me and trys to find the problem. I am hoping that when I get over this last surgery that I will begin to enjoy life again like I did before I got sick. Hopefully my next two years will be better.





Image hosted by Photobucket.com








My best friend, Edith, Charlie C. and Me. July, 2004

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

march 8th, 2005

Thanks to a lovely lady on OH named Linda, I have been able to post a picture of my hubby and myself that was taken at my surgeon's Bari-Ball in December, 2004. I am still recovering from my latest surgery. it sure has been a bad time for now this time. Don't really know why. Just not bouncing back as I usually do. PLUS, I have ended up with the ugliest scar. I am too old to have a tummy tuck nor can I afford one, so I guess I am stuck. It is just so ugly. I have always had a decent scar. Didn't bother me at all and although I had a lot of loose skin on my tummy, it didn't hang down, so I know insurance won't pay. I guess i should be grateful that hopefully, this time, I will get well eventually. But it really does bother me.





Image hosted by Photobucket.com




March 9th, 2004

The above pictures were posted for me by Pinalope. I thank her for doing that for me. These are my grandbabies. the reason I live and breathe. matthew is five now (March 7th, and Emily was two at the end of January. They look just like their dad. Can you figure out I am a proud nana and mom.





Image hosted by Photobucket.com Another picture of ME


--Update after arrow, do not delete anything-->
This is Lucy. She is a miniture pug.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com







May 1st., 2005

Thought I would post a short update this month. It is so easy to get caught up in life after you have the surgery. there are so many things you can enjoy doing that you couldn't do before. Places to go and peope to see. Well, i am feeling pretty good after my last round of surgery to remove a little part of my old tummy. I am wondering though if it is going to work. I still have pain in the same spot and in the same way sometimes. The pain is not nearly as severe as it was before surgery but it still comes and goes. For several weeks that particular area didn't hurt at all. Either that or I was hurting so bad everywhere else that i didn't notice it. I came down with a bad case of bronchitis a couple of weeks after surgery and have only recently gotten over it. I coughed really hard for several weeks and my stomach was so sore that I had to hold myself to move. i was worried but thought it was probably from all the coughing. Plus I helped someone move furniture around the first of March and thought sure I had gotten a hernia it hurt so much but all the soreness is gone now and the little pain that I have is concentrated in the area of the last surgery. I have only had to take a few pain pills though. I am not a pill taker and I just won't take something like that unless I just have to.

I had dropped down to 109 on my scales which are about five pounds under my doc's scales. I looked bad and felt terrible. I have been eating more than I probably should trying to gain weight. I am now at 122 on my home scales and that is where I feel best at. I only hope I can get my eating under control now. I have been thru wayyyyyy too much to gain weight back like so many other people have. It is scary to see people posting on the message board about gaining a lot of weight. For, the longest time, no matter what I did, i couldn't gain but now I am hoping I can stop.

I am planning another trip to Daytona Beach this summer and will get to see Charlie C from the main board again. Also going to take in Universal Studio (again) while I am in the area but mainly going to enjoy the beach. I have been to Disny nearly every year for about 12 years or so, so not going to do that this time. My hubby and I are planning on taking the babies there next year. Our grandson will be six and grandaughter will be three. There is still a lot there she can enjoy but no doubt it will kill us old folks. We plan on flying down and staying in one of the Walt Disney resorts. We realize we are growing older and want to give them something special to remember us by. I hope the older one especially will remember it. We took our son when he was about six or seven and he remembers parts of it. I'm afraid if we wait a few years, we will not be able to take them. My hubby is already sixty-six. Can you tell we love our babies!!!!!!!!!!!!

Took our pug to the vet saturday and found out she has a genetic form of mange. We will not be able to bred her as planned but do not plan of getting rid of her. Too attached. So, we will treat her for the hair loss and have her spayed soon as possible. Some of you had contacted me wanting her pups. sorry, not gonna happen. That's all for now.





March 5th, 2006

I am a little over three years post op now and finally my health seems to have settled down a little. I have another ulcer that has been diagnosed and I think that just recently I may have gotten one in my pouch. I haven't talked to my surgeon yet about that one and probably won't unless I start bleeding. Ya know, there comes a time when you just don't want to go to the doc anymore. I have started raising Yorkies now. I have the prettiest little dogs in the world I think. Ha Ha. Two are blue and gold and have multiple AKC Champions of each sie. Some great breeding stock there. My youngest is black and gold and i don't know right now if she has any champions in her pedigree or not. I was looking on the internet the other day and some people are selling these little things for thousands of dollars. Sure can't get near that much here locally but mine will be sold on the internet as tinies. They are worth a little more. My biggest weighs just under four pounds and the smallest is a little over two pounds. I hope she grows to four anyway so I can breed her.

Back to the weight loss. I sometimes forget that I am on the obesity board and not the yorkie forum. HeHe. I have maintained at between 122-125 for a few months now. I can eat just about anything I want to. I find it very hard to eat right after I had to eat wrong things to try to gain a little weight. I surprise myself at times about how much I can eat now. That's scary but i do try to watch my amounts. Then on the other hand, some days I just don't want to eat. But my tool still works. I still get sick if I overeat or don't chew.

I am struggling with what was thought to be Reactive Hypoglycemia. The Endo guy is not sure. All my labs were normal after my first glucose tolerance test which I failed and nearly went into a coma. He said sometimes if the pituary gland has a tumor or is not working, you will have hypoglycemia but the tests not show it and two of my tests did indicate a problem there. he wanted to do a longer glucose test but didn't because of my new ulcer. Instead he ordered an MRI of my head which I cancelled. Ain't noboy messing with my head no matter what. So it is a day to day struggle. Sometimes the episodes last all day and I get so confused and blurry eyes. Well, I will try to update more often. I have just kind of lost interest in this site now after i got my yorkies.





















































































Page Created by Linda
One of the HTML volunteers from ObesityHelp.com
If you'd like your profile spruced up write us at
htmlhelp@obesityhelp.com

Photos

228
Jan. 2003
128
At goal - March 8th, 2004


Hospital Reviews
  • (Lexington, KY) - Saint Joseph - East

    • Product Reviews
  • B-Wise - B-Wise Protein Powder & Vitamin Supplement


    • Member Interests:
  • Dogs - My husband and I raise Field Champion Rabbit dogs. (beagles)

  • Singing - I have sang gospeil music and been on Praise and Worship teams for several years

  • Miniatures - The only thing I collect are shot glasses from everywhere I have been except in

  • Amusement Parks - Love going to amusement parks with the kids and grandkids. Love THE MOUSE and m

  • Beachcombing - My favorite place to be

  • Basketball - Love those U.K. Wildcats!!!!!!

  • Road Trips - Try to take a couple each year. Last year took two year old grand on a three we


    • Click here to see interests of other ObesityHelp members.

    Surgeon Info:
    Surgeon: Joshua Steiner

    I had my first consult with Dr. Josh Steiner in Lexington, Kentucky yesterday and I really liked him. He was kind and compassionate to me and I found him to be very knowledgable concerning this surgery. I had given up on Dr. Geller and had really gotten uncomfortable with him not moving on my case. I am a revision and I got the feeling that since Dr. Geller is new that he just did not know how to proceed with me. So, finally I changed docs. I feel that Dr. Steiner's office staff is very efficient and helpful. They have already called today and gotten started on all my pre op testing. WOW! this was quick. The after care program at The Center for Weight Loss Surgery is great. They do require a lot of you but it is necessary if you are going to suceed at this surgery,. Dr. Steiner did address the risks associated with this surgery. Being a nurse, I do pay a lot of attention to the bedside manner. I hate grumpy doctors but Dr. Steiner has a great personality, smiles a lot, is really caring and i believe his competence is great also. He has lots of training for doing this surgery. Overall, I would rate him about 10 on a 1-10 scale. He is great!! The rest of the staff at the Center for wls if great also. Karen Hillenmyer, the P.A., and Director of the program is one of the most knowledgeable people in this field. And then there's Donna. What can I say? She is just the best office person to work with. She is also a nurse and is very helpful. Amanda, the dieticain(sp) is a wee bit of a girl who has never had a weight problem in her live but she really cares for us and is also very knowing about all our foods and etc.
    Insurer Info:
    Medicare/uhc, United Heath Care

    I was approved after my first letter was sent. Mine is medical necessity and I am a revision from an old jib. They did not stall or ask further questions. yes, I would recommend this insurance to other people. United healthcare Select. with Medicare as the secondary