Loralynn W.

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Marcia M. 20 years, 10 months ago

Hi LoraLynn.......love that name! Congratulations on the great weight loss. As of this morning I weigh the same as you, 292 (Unless you dropped again!) I started out at 377.5 and this weight loss has helped so much in my getting around. I was miserable before. I am 47 (will be 48 in Oct.). I have bookmarked your profile page, I want to keep up on your progress. Can you walk since your back surgery? Congrats again!!

Loralynn W. 20 years, 10 months ago

Below is a copy of a really sweet letter I received and then a copy of my response. I decided to post them, just in case the 'story' I told her MIGHT help someone else. *************************************************************************************************** Emily Reyes's Message: I saw your profile and I wanted to say that you look GREAT! You are so brave to have had the surgery. Keep smiling! Emily Reyes **************************************************************************************************** My Reply ************************************************************************** Thank you for your kind compliments. However I'm not so certain I'd agree with the one about me being brave. :) I think desperate would probably be the word I'd use *grin* Let me tell you why Next Wednesday, I'll turn 46... without this surgery I seriously believe I wouldn't have had too many more birthdays after this one. Since I turned 36 I've had far too many surgeries to relate them all and wasn't thrilled about the idea of yet another surgery, however at 422.5 my greater concern was living to see 55. And my husband's greatest fear was that he at 64 would outlive me. I warn him it can still happen, that being thinner won't guarantee my longevity. You and I both know that is in God's hands. But he was correct, allowing any unforeseen accident, before the surgery the likelihood that I'd outlive him was slim and grower slimmer every passing year. Prior to surgery I'd been on blood pressure medication for 6 months. And I knew diabetes was just around the corner... my mother, maternal grandmother, and maternal grandfather are/were all diabetics. I'd been out of work since June of 2002, on long term disability due to lower back, hip and leg pain. My knees are a mess; there is no cartilage left in the right knee and extensive deterioration of the cartilage in my left knee. And that was just the tip of the iceberg. Initially, back in 2001 after discussing and researching the risks of bypass surgery and the drastic lifestyle change of surgery, I decided against it. I just had to try one more time to 'do it myself' - after all I assured myself , I'd done it before-- I told myself that I'd lost 160 pound on Optifast the first time and over a hundred the second time... I could do it again... and this time I'd keep it off. Yeah right! Let's ignore the fact that I was now MANY years older than the first time and several years older than the second time. And lets over look the fact that insurance won't pay for Optifast and it is VERY expensive. And let's ignore the fact that my metabolism had all but stopped. I just wasn't ready to admit how badly I needed this surgery... nor in all honesty was I ready to give up 'an occasional splurge - yeah right ... occasional... like any occasion I could find the chance. Food was my addiction.. lots of it... all the time. All of this was about a year prior to my back putting me out of work and beginning the journey of living in daily pain . The pain, along with my husband's fears about my deteroaiting health finally convinced me - I had to do something... I had started seeing a new doctor for my back and leg pain, a very kind and compassionate man who seemed to understand how hard weight loss was for me and after trying several alternative solutions for weight loss - and failing, he suggested that I go see Dr. Bo and talk to him about WLS. After seeing doctor Bo, I went to some support meetings at the local hospital, and began to researching the surgery again with a new attitude. The risks of having a Roux-n-Y had me concerned. . , but when I weighed the quality of my current life and the likely brevity of it against the chances of dying during surgery, surgery won. I'm glad I made the choice I did, but it wasn't easy and again I think desperation more than bravery was what lead to my decision. *smile* But thanks again for the compliment just the same. Prior to my bypass surgery in December and I had been on Prozac for 5 years. I also took Protonix daily for GERD, Vioxx for my knee pain and Talwin (a narcotic) for my back and leg pain. Then there was the sleep apnea and the BiPap machine I was suppose to be using every night. (I state suppose because, I stopped trying to use it when I kept waking up in the morning with my mask removed. The doctor changed me from a CPAP to the BiPAP and from a regular mask to something called nose pillows in an attempt to help me adjust to using the machine-nothing worked.) The day of my surgery, I stopped taking my blood pressure medication and haven't needed it since. Within 2 months I was off Prozac. And within 4 months I was able to stop the medication for acid reflux-GERD. I no longer suffer from sleep apnea (insomnia, yes, *grin* but not sleep apnea). In May 2003, I was finally able to have a closed MRI so they could get a better idea of what was wrong with my back. And with a myleogram they were able to positively identify the problem. Neither of these procedures were possible before my bypass because my body mass made them both impossible. On May 29th, a neurosurgeon was able to operate and relieve the pressure on the L5 nerve by making a small window in my spinal column, removing bone spurs and calcified ligaments which were putting pressure on the L5 nerve both inside my spinal column and where the nerve exited my spine. Today the only medication I take is Talwin and Soma, both for my back. I still have occasional surges of pain down my leg and pain in my lower back but it isn't as severe as it was. The neurosurgeon stated before surgery it was possible that due to the length of time - right at a full year- the nerves were under pressure that I MIGHT have some permanent nerve damage, we will have a better idea by November. I'm told most of the healing of the nerve will take place in the first six months. I have high hopes of being fully healed and able to return to work full time. None of this would have been possible without the gastric bypass. I'm not saying its the right thing for everyone, but I know it was the right choice for me. I just wish I'd been brave enough to have done it before I started having all the pain in my back and leg. I've fought with obesity since childhood. I've lost and regained so much weight in my lifetime it would be hard to say how much exactly- well over 500 lbs for certain. I tried Optifast, Adkins, the soup diet-heart patient diet, Herbalife, Xenical, the old fashion weight loss pills they use to prescribe-the ones the were the equivalent to speed, First Place, Weight Watchers, working out at a health club, the diabetic exchange diet... these are only a few of the things I've done to lose weight, you name it and I've probably done it. I even attempted bulimia (induced vomiting, laxatives, drastic fasting, following binge eating), but I couldn't deal with the consequences and quickly gave it up. Of course each time, that I lost any weight, I would soon regained all that I'd lost, and most of the time I gained more than I lost. Sometimes only a few pounds more, sometimes as much as 30 extra pounds. I use to say, "I lost a person... but she came back and brought a friend with her.' Then as I got older the weight came off slower and slower until my metabolism had slowed so much that I couldn't even lose weight on a 800 calorie a day diet. Again, I'm not saying WLS is the answer for everyone and anyone thinking about it would be wise to ask MANY questions and to research it thoroughly. This is a major life changing decision and a very serious one. Well gotta go... and see if maybe I can finally go to sleep.

Dawn W. 20 years, 10 months ago

I wanted to say thank you for your message. You made me feel much better. It is so nice to know that there are people out there are as nice as you. ~HUGS~ Dawn

Kathy M. 20 years, 10 months ago

You are looking great Loralynn!! Best of health to you!

angie B. 20 years, 10 months ago

i just wanted to say i think you look great.i can not wait for my turn.i wish the best of luck.please email so we can take about your new life.god bless you