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Lala T.
Chicago, IL, USA
Post Op - BMI: 36.6
Surgery Type: RNY
Member ID: S1076561548
Surgeon: Constantine Frantzides, MD, PHD, FACS

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Click here for the 07/2005 Reunion Page
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2004

2/21/04
I was supposed to have surgery last Monday, February 16. At the last minute, the insurance gave me crap. Bummer. So, I am now set for March. I can't wait! I was so depressed last weekend when I found out that the surgery was postponed. I thought at first it was a "sign" that I was not meant to have the surgery, but I am over that now. I am excited, nervous, terrified, scared and once again EXCITED!!! So, I should have started writing stuff down sooner, but oh, well.

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2/22/04
Today I was looking in my closet thinking about doing laundry. Let's see, none of these make me feel comfortable...which of these are the least uncomfortable to wear for the week. As a teacher my students are very aware if I wear a pair of pants or a shirt more than once in a week.

So, the clothes dilemma...fell like buying clothes that are more comfortable but it is just not realistic when my surgery is next month...just a couple of weeks. Just feeling sorry for myself I guess. I am so happy that this will not last too much longer, I will even be able to open the boxes in my parents' basement with all of my smaller sizes. Until now, those boxes were just so depressing to see. Now, I llook forward to wearing some of my old, much cuter clothes. Then, I suppose I will have to eventually go to buy some even cuter, smaller clothes!

2/25/04
Found out yesterday that I was flat out denied. Guess it is over. I have too much on my plate right now to jump through all of these hoops. I guess I'll just have to wait until I have a health complication so that I will qualify. I must be the only person who is super morbidly obese who has no high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea.....nothing!!! So, I'll have to wait for that I guess. Oh, well.

4/14/2004
Geez, in all of my troubles with the insurance company I have been on the hunt for an apartment. I signed a lease today and move next weekend. I finally will be on my own, no roomies, wow! I am freaked out and excited.

Because I was supposed to be having the surgery in Feb I thought moving would be exciting. Now, I'm not looking forward to looking like a fool trying to huff and puff and move all of my crap. I used to love to help people move, but now it is such physical effort.

Bah, Humbug

08/16/2004
My appeal will be mailed out soon. Waiting for my letter from my lawyer, Joe Bartlett, and then I am good to go. Hope it works.

Making a list of things I would like see/do post-op:

1. Take a long walk voluntarily
2. Not predict whether or not I can fit into a booth
3. Not look at a chair and be concerned
4. If I forget my lunch in my classroom, I don't want to just skip lunch because I don't feel like walking back upstairs.
5. I don't want to base my parking space on how much room there is on the driver's side. Or have someone else back out the car for me.
6. Wear my old clothes - I kept the good stuff!
7. Enjoy working out!
8. Go swimming a lot and not give a crap if others are around.
9. Look in a mirror and not wonder who the heck is that fat lady.
10. I want to take my students on all kinds of walking field trips.
11. Play sports with my nephews and my niece.
12. Water ski again
13. Not be concerned if I will make it to my next birthday.
14. I would like to take a shower without thinking about what I will do if I were to fall and someone would have to come get me. - geez I am 27 not likely I will fall - but that stupid SEX AND THE CITY episode with Miranda made me freak out.
15. Date - get married
16. Have children
17. Socialize
18. Not cry when trying on clothes
19. Not avoid doctor appointments because I am embarassed.
20. Not have to say to my mother that I can't help with her yard because I am not physically able. (That was hard - I will often try, struggle, feel terrible, cry and then hurt for the next couple of days. I love yardwork - lawnmowing - all of that!

More later

2005

7/23/05
ahhhh - I can't believe I have been gone so long

Surgery is on Tuesday the 26th. I finally became sick enough to get the surgery. On May 12 I was diagnosed with Pseudotumor Cerebri which finally put the insurance company on "RED ALERT" for approval. As my Neurologist said, "Without this surgery, she could lose her vision completely." Maybe a tad dramatic, maybe true - but they finally realize or decided to pay for the surgery to prevent further complications.

My sister, the lawyer, says that essentially by denying the surgery in 2004, they indirectly cause this Pseudotumor stuff - oooooo fun stuff.

Anyway, the day is coming soon. Today is my last day to celebrate with some real food before the pre-op prep begins.....I think a nice steak and baked sweet potatoe sound yummy. We'll see. My famil and Jarm are out of town and friends are hard to reach during summer break!

Gonna go play wih the kitties, they are my sanity right now!

OK - I am going to attempt to put pre-op pics right here.

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08/05/05
Well, I made it through surgery with flying colors! I was back home on the 28 as planned.

Today was my first follow-up with dr. Frantzides. I am down 12 pounds and I can finally get off clear liquids and move on to - mushy stuff. Hurray!

My wounds look great - a couple of them hardly look like a scratch, it is amazing. I can't believe I had my insides re-arranged last week and I don't even need any pills for pain - I am shocked.

I had Cream of Broccoli soup tonight - hmmmmmmm. It never tasted so good, it agreed with me and after eons of liquids, it was grat to have something a little thicker.

Ok, I have been walking about a mile - maybe every other day. I am going to push for 5 miles total next week. I know I can do more, but that gets me going at least 1 mile 5 days a week, or I have to make up for it when I don't get it in. I figure if I see it in writitng here, maybe I will stick with it.

08/08/05
OK - I didn't walk today or yesterday. Oh no! I already broke my goal, well I guess I will have to double up the next few days to make my goal of 5 miles this week.

Tomorrow I am going with my mom to see my dad in the hospital. He is up in Madison, WI for clinical trials for his Melanoma. The Melanoma travelled to his liver, lungs and bone. Around May 24 he was given 2-9 months to live. The trials are not designed to cure, just to fight the immune system. He is doing well so far. So, he is there for the next 3 days getting an IV of stuff.

I found out that I have to move out of my apartment. The place is going condo, as I suspected. They will move me to another unit within my building. Then I will have a while to get a new place.

This just sucks, I was trying to avoid any more big changes in my life. Dad is dying, I just had the surgery and my job will be ending at my school this year. I was hoping moving would not be in there!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

At least I am not spending a ton of food in my face for "comfort." That, is the good news.

8/12/05
So, I saw the new place today. It is nice, bigger, but it still sucks to move with such little notice! At least I won't have to move completely yet.

So, last night I got an e-mail from my former roomie/friend Lauren sharing her excitement as the new Reading Specialist at work. I can't believe she has the nerve to share this exciting info with me. That job was promised to me.

Were I not a fat person, would I not have been passed over on this. Also, just because I am fat, does that mean that Lauren should assume I have no feelings? How can a friend do that? She knows that I have been going to school for that and that I have been working for it.

Could this have been different if I weren't fat? Is she still a friend? I feel like there is a huge knife in my back.

I am sad. :-(

08/16/05
Well, I did sometihing today that I wasn't sure I would ever do....I bought a scale. It might not seem like a huge deal to some, but to me, they were evil. They were so evil because they always caused pain...they didn't show anything for my hard work.

Now, after 3 weeks, I finally felt it was OK to get one, that it is no longer an evil tool. I gotta give myself a hand on that one!

My plate is too full right now - Dad is dying soon, just had surgery(good, but still a life change), moving with about 1 week notice and job searching. So my mental health is crapola!

08/18/05
Today I noticed my shirt was feeling pretty good on me. It is one of my everyday t-shirt types that I wear way too much. Prior to surgery, it was just getting a little snug in the bust - ya know showing the bra center as a 3rd boob! Anyway, the shirt feels flowy - it just flows on me, loose on me. It is the first article of clothing that I really notice a big difference. Other people have said they can see a change, now I am feeling it!

Tomorrow, my next weigh in!

8/25/2005
Ahhhh, I am finally moved to the new place. I went swimming today with Tasha(11 year old niece) and Zach (10 year old nephew) at my friend Jennifer's. It was great to be in the water again, it has been so long that I forgot how much I missed it.

My sister scheduled Lap-Band surgery for September 1st! It is so soon. She is going to Puerto Vallarta for the sugery! I am a little weirded out by this quick surgery thing, but I am going with her for support.

Well, I am glad my computer is back up from the move.

9/18/2005
Well, things with my sister went fine. So far anyway.

My dad is really getting bad now. He is getting fluid drained off of his lungs almost once a week and this time they hit something 'cause he is in a lot of pain. It is becoming a reality that he won't be around much longer. When I saw him yesterday in pain, which he has had none of until now, I really hoped for him this doesn't last long. If he is going to be in pain, take him now...don't make him suffer.

My mom is a wreck of course, who wouldn't be? It is hard to watch, not just him, but her as well.

The good news is that I am down 39 pounds! I am at 278! It is amazing to me that this is for real. I can get rid of the clothes that don't fit anymore. I used to always keep them, "just in case I ever gained," but now I feel confident that I will never need a 34 again! It is a very strange place to be, to actually shed the clothes as well as the weight. I was always so concerned about having to re-purchase in case of a gain back...but that concern is suddenly leaving me! It is great!

9/28/05
I am at my mom and dad's house tonight. Hospice was here today and my dad is really dying. It has never been so real. When I walked in and he was on Oxygen sleeping with his mouth partly open, it suddenly flooded me.

It is funny that I think about turning to food as a way to fix things, but that is not an option. The strange thing is that once I had a little meal, that feeling went away. I do worry about after he dies. I know that people bring meals over so the family does not have to cook, I know that it will be hard not to indulge in that.

It has gone so fast. Sunday he was able to walk into the kitchen and eat sausage and mac and cheese. Today, he has not eaten and he is barely awake. He is on oxyegn and just sleeping. This is going very fast.

10/08/05
Well, my dad died on Friday. It was quick and he was never in pain. Unfortunately, I have been grazing so much. It feels like the surgery has not worked in this situation. I shouldn't be able to eat this much. In so many ways I wish I could eat mountains of food right now. I wish I could eat through my sorrows, but I know that would do no good. This is my first grief situation since my new tummy. Sheesh, this is the way to test it out eh?

10/09/05
We finished the "Thank You" cards for the funeral today. It is hard to do nothing but continue to focus on my dad's death. I am back to eating better though. Not great, but better. Once I get back to my real life, I will be back to normal.

Today, my mom and Aunt Jean made plans to get the lap-band surgery in a couple of weeks. I have such mixed feelings, I know the struggle with weight is terrible and discouraging. I also know that they are just barely over a 30 BMI. I just wonder how safe it is for them. I feel like I have no room to talk since I had the RNY. I just am not so sure about them. It is up to them and I will certainly support any decision they make.

10/25/05

My mom had the lap-band surgery in Puerto Vallarta on the 18th. My aunt decided not to go. It was hard to watch my mom be in physical pain after such emotional pain with my dad's death.

It was nice to be in Mexico and not look at the trip as one big feast. I had some yummy stuff, for sure, but I could have a few bites of something and honestly be satisfied. My head was a tad disappointed in wanting to chow down, but my tummy dominated! Way to go Dr. Frantzides - my hero!

My job has been somewhat up in the air this school year but I am finally in the LD Resource position. I was concerned about walking the tons of steps, escorting kids to and from class. I can go up and down those three flights with much more ease than ever before. I still am a little winded at the 3rd flight, but just for a minute. I used to not be able to really talk for a few minutes when I got upstairs.

Today, I had 10 minutes before I had to be to a meeting and normally I would have just waited around. Today I decided to go back to the 3rd floor and get my water bottle where before, I would have just gone without rather than make the climb! I was glad I did not just for the water, but for the mental mindset as well.

Since Surgery:

From all time high:

Term Papers

11/21/05
Well, I am 255.5 today - yikes I can't believe I am 99 pounds down from all time high and 62 pounds since surgery - amazing.

I cut my hair Thursday. I am donating it to locks-of-love. It was 14 inches at the longest part. I have grown it out for two years and just had to get rid of it. I finally had it long enough to donate and brave enough to cut it. I love my new hair! I always used to wear it short, it was certainly time!

Ayumi was here this weekend. It was hard for her to be here after my dad died. She really has become part of the family. I felt bad that she did not get to see him again before he died.

I did find out that I won't have to move until the end of April, at least I have some time to figure out what I am doing. My family thinks maybe I should buy a condo, I think I am not ready. It is too scary to take on that kind of responsibility.

I have been kinda tired lately. I am not sure if I am depressed, it is the low iron, lack of daylight or all of the above. I just have no motivation.

Oh yeah - I am back in school, I just started my 4th week. I am working on a Masters. It is online, but sheesh, it is no picnic. Lots-o-work.

Thanksgiving will be here Thursday, I am making pumpkin cheesecake - mmmmmmmmm yummy.

Future Update

2006

Future Update

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Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Constantine Frantzides, MD, PHD, FACS
My first impression of Dr. Frantzides was that he is such a caring, dedicated person. From talking with him at our first consultation, I could teel that I was dealing with a "master" of the laproscopic procedure. From research I had done, I heard what many surgeons considered a "cut-off point" for laproscopic. Dr. Frantzides explained to me that there was no reason for me to have an open proceudre, as I was told by another surgeon. What impressed me even more was the number of patients that he had performed with the laproscopic proceudre that out-weighed me by literally hundreds of pounds. I knew right away, this was a true master of the laproscopic technique. Dr. Frantzides has an excellent support staff that is so willing to help out in any way possible. They are very attentive to my needs and often answer questions that I have before I even ask them. It is evident that Dr. Frantzides takes careful consideration in choosing and preparing his staff. The support group that goes along with the aftercare program is such a great opportunity to share with other patients. It was wonderful for me to go to as a pre-op and now as a post-op, it is a whole different type of support from the same support group. Patients should know that when you sign on with Dr. Frantzides, you are going to get a master, or even artist in the laproscopic field. I rate Dr. Frantzides as a 5 star surgeon in all aspects of his care; bedside, sugery, free seminars and especially an emotional confidence going into the operating room. If you are fortunate to have Dr. Frantzides, you are among the best in the world!