ObesityHelp

May 20, 2008
Well all, it's been a long time since I posted anything here.
I just celebrated my 5th year post op.
There have been many changes in my life since that day.
I'm healthy and still extremely happy that I chose gastric bypass. It has saved my life.
I have tons of energy, have persued new ventures in my life and have more confidence than I have ever had before.
I have built a website for my place of employment which I maintain on a daily basis.
I studied real estate and will be celebrating my 3rd year in the business this Sept.
I have maintained my weight loss and have remained at 124 - 125 pounds.
I'm 53 years old and wear a size 4. Or a juniors size 5.
Big difference from my size 20's back in the day.

I had two awesome surgeons through my journey. Thank God I had the chance to meet Dr. Kumar who performed my gastric bypass and Dr. Kinney who performed my plastic surgery.
I have the option of going back for more plastics, (my legs) but have not done so yet. I'm still not sure I want to do that at my age.
I have some sagging skin on them, but I can live with it.
I spent some time going over my last postings and they seem strange to me now. All of the worries I had turned out to be just that.
My blood loss that I had was "aspirin therapy" induced. My stomach bled from taking an aspirin a day for the TIA's they thought I was having.
I had one other blood loss last year in Sept. due to meds as well. I got bit by a stray cat and had to be on massive doses of antibiotics for 10 days and it caused a bleed in my stomach.
Meds cleared that up.
So, after reading all of my previous postings, I hope I didn't scare anyone else.
This road is full of trials, tests and of course errors. But then one day it all just clicks. Many people live with post op issues their entire life. I'm lucky in that respect. I am very healthy.
I'll try to get a more recent picture to post soon.

I hope all is well with everyone else! Best wishes to everyone!
Missy

Sun. Oct. 30th, 2005
Well, I lived through all the blood loss issues. My second scope was fine. Doctor couldn't access my old stomach however, everything is fine today. No scar tissue, no ulcers, no blockages. The bloating and constipation are gone.
I decided to wait on any further plastic surgery. I ended up having a biopsy on my left side for lymphnode issues. Those came out negative so my plans for a breast implant and to get the excess skin removed under my arm pits are still at bay.
The face lift...Dr. Kinney doesn't think I need it and won't do it now. He said if I really think I need it, to see someone else. He really doesn't want to touch my face. He said some botox or a chemical peel would take care of the issues that are bothering me.

I'll go back to see him after the 1st of the year to see what my next steps are. I'm doing well and holding around 125 pounds. I can eat anything now but still follow my protein and vitamin regimine.

Sat. July 29th, 2005
I have had many things happen over the last 9 mos. I had my plastic surgery in October, 2004. That turned out great. I am more than pleased with Dr. Kinney's talents. He is truly an artist. The contour of my lower body lift is absolutely amazing. Nine months after the plastics, my scars are healing very nicely. I am lucky that way though, my scars usually fade very well on their own. I did use scar creams for a while, but everything is coming along fine.
After my blood loss issue, I started getting my health back and was full of energy and can go for hours without getting exhausted. As of lately, I have been getting tired more often and have not had much energy. Possbily more blood loss from another ulcer or something.
I have been having severe bloating after every meal. When I had my follow-up for my ulcer with the gastro doctor last week, he decided it's time to scope me again to see if my ulcer is back or if I have a new one.
Blood work was done although I don't have those results back yet.
On the 5th of August, he will scope me again and has told me he feels I may have an obstruction either in my bowel or intestines.
He said if he finds scar tissue from the gastric bypass, he may have to resect my bowel, which means he will have to remove some of it.
I go through different stages where I don't feel hungry at all, and then every so often, I get where I can't get enough to eat throughout the day. This last week I have put back 2.5 pounds and am eating everything that isn't nailed down.
My old stomach seemed to be burning constantly and this is why the doctor will be looking for blockage. Also because I get constipated so bad that he had to put me on medication to help me go to the bathroom daily. He feels if there is a stricture, I may not be cleaning out completely, even with the meds. He put me on nexium and since he gave me that, my stomach stopped burning but I am getting severe bloating now. I think the bloating may have to do with the new medication. I had some bloating before this however, it is much worse this last week since I started taking the Nexium.
When I eat, my entire trunk bloats, even my old stomach. My pouch gets huge and it looks like I came right out of the movie, Alien!
If I lay down for a while after I eat, that passes and my stomach goes back to normal but I am concerned that I will, or may have already blown my stitch line and possibly passing foods into my old stomach. We will see when he scopes me on Friday. He will be using a different tool this time to see my old stomach too. Last time he did this, his nurse told me he was able to access my old stomach and that was not true. I guess she doesn't know how to read reports.

I'm not sure how I feel about all of this now. It's not that I didn't know that this could be an issue with the bypass. I did my homework, I guess I just didn't think it would happen to me. I have had many surgeries in my life and have never had issues with scar tissue, but my entire body has changed now, so anything can happen. I worry that the repairs will end up a scar tissue problem later in my life and I may end up having surgery after surgery to live a normal life, but....this is what I chose to do to my body and I will just have to wait to see what my future holds.
I still do not regret having the bypass even with all of these health issue though. My quality of life over these last 26 months has improved greatly, and if nothing else goes right for me, it has been far better than the quality of life I had without it. If I end up becoming one of the "bypass statistics", I still feel it was worth it. I have been happier with my size and my health this last 26 months than I have been my entire adult life.
I am scheduled for more plastic surgery on Sept. 7th, however, with this new issue, I may end up having to postpone that till late fall.
I guess all the stories I have heard about having plastic surgery are true. You can never get enough. Once they start repairing things and you appear normal again, there is always something else that you want to improve on. Dr. Kinney will be giving me breast implants and a face lift. Later, we will be discussing my arm and leg skin. I always said that after the last surgery, I was satisfied with my appearance and wouldn't do anything else. Now I'm still unhappy with the excess skin on my legs and under my arm pits. I have bat wings but they can be helped with weight lifting, but it will never be enough to repair that skin hanging under my arm pits. This depresses me when I try to wear sleeveless tops.
Shorts? Well, that's fine as long as I stand up straight and don't wear anything too short. When I bend over all of my skin falls to my knees and it's disgusting and disturbing to look at.
So yes, I'm one of those people that will probably never be completely satisfied.
I am a little concerned about altering my face. But I have great faith and confidence in Dr. Kinney and am putting this in his hands.
He is a great plastic surgeon.
I will write more next week after my scope is done. Pray for me. I'm scared that the benefits from my surgery may have come to a screaching halt.

Thursday, May 19, 2005
"HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY" lalalala....Yep, I'm singin'. Today is my two year anniversary and I'm healthy as an ox! Just not as big as one!
I feel great and would do this again if I ever had to! I'm keeping the weight off and have learned many lessons about food, depression, eating disorders etc.
I will never be fat again!

Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Well I'm only 8 days away from my 2 year anniversary. I can't believe it has been 2 years already.
All of my tests are back and normal. The ulcer I had is healed and my blood levels are back to normal. I'm feeling pretty good but having eating issues now. I get gas so bad with certain foods and have tried everything on the market to stop it and it doesn't work. I am afraid to eat anything gassy at work or in public so I'm not eating very much these days. Mostly just lunch meat and cheeses. I eat veggies and fruit at home, but I have lost more weight because of it. I am down to 122 now and seem to be holding there. Some days I'm 124. It seems like any activity I do makes me drop more weight. We went to a wedding on Saturday night and I dropped 3 pounds over the weekend. Probably from dancing. I don't want to lose anymore weight. I'm really small now. When I got sick with my ulcer I was down to 118 and looked like the walking dead. At least I was able to put some of that weight back on.
But..I feel great, so that's important. I wanted to have the rest of my plastic surgery done over Memorial Day week but that's not going to happen. I probably won't have it done till fall now.
I'm scheduled for a follow-up diagnostic mammogram on my left side on the 17th. The doctor wants to check that lymph node to see if it has changed since Sept. especially since I had breast surgery. I'm sure it's fine, but I won't put something like that off.
I'll update again after those test results come back.

Saturday, March 26, 2005
Well, on Friday, the 1st of April, I have to go in for that test to check on my ulcer. I hope it is healed. I'm feeling better now, but I don't know how my blood levels are doing. The doctor will test me then.
I am planning more plastic surgery. Probably for the end of May. I am getting a face lift and breast implants. I should have let Dr. Kinney put the implants in when he did my breast lift. I just assumed I would have enough to work with that I would still be normal size. They look good, but from years of stretching from the weight of them, they are still too low on my chest. I can't go braless at all.
I can't wear sleeveless tops either because of the skin hanging under my arm pits. I just want to be able to wear the spaghetti straps and the cute little sun dresses. I haven't had a dress on in years, and I really feel good about myself when I can wear a dress and not feel like it's a circus tent.
Dr. Kinney will fix all of that when he does the implants. I'm not planning on going large again. I always hated being big busted. I just want something that looks healthy and normal for a change.
My weight seems to be stable now. I do run between 124 and 127. I guess that's ok. It just depends on what I eat.
I've started an exercise program here at home. Lifting weights and doing 100 sit-ups per day, etc. I'm trying to build muscle in the tops of my arms to pull up some of the loose skin. My "bat wings" aren't really that bad, but the skin that hangs down the sides of my arms and under my arms makes me look like I have the body of a 70 year old!
And, I don't want my tummy tuck to fail. My tummy is flat and tight. Dr. Kinney did a fabulous job on me. I will be happy when it's all done.
My face...people tell me to leave it alone, but I feel like I look 10 years older now. I have alot of loose skin around my mouth that is causing deep lines next to the corners. And of course, my forehead looks awful. And then there is that skin that hangs like a turkey under my chin. I have total confidence in Dr. Kinney. I'm so glad I chose him! He is a wonderful surgeon. I just can't say enough nice things about him.
I can't wait for the nice weather to finally set in. I plan on doing alot of things outside in my yard. I'm constantly planting and changing things. I'll be purchasing my first bathing suit in years this summer. I have always been shy about wearing one in front of people, so I'll have to get one that covers alot.
Happy Easter!

Sunday, Feb. 28, 2005
My blood tests are back and my iron levels are increasing. That means NO malabsorption issues! The ulcer was the culprit as to why I lost so much blood. I am still taking medication for that and in 5 weeks, I go back in for another endoscope to see how it is doing. If it is not healing with the meds, the doctor will be doing some sort of operation on me. I think it is healing but I do have days where certain foods really bother my stomach. I have been on that medication for over 3 weeks now and it will take 6-8 weeks for the ulcer to heal according to the doctor. I'm doing what I can to pamper it. I'm feeling better, but I am still really low on energy. I get tired out pretty fast.
My blood level started at 7.2 and is now up to 9.7. That's about 2 units of blood that have been replaced. I am not scheduled for anymore blood tests as of yet. I'm sure the doctor will do his own testing on April 1st when he does the scope.
I managed to gain some weight back, but it falls back off pretty easy.
I was down to 118 and now I am at 126. I go back and forth 3-4 pounds depending on what I eat.

Thurs. Feb. 10, 2005
Well, I'm feeling a little better. Having some cramps in my legs and still getting the pulsating in my head. Ringing in my ears etc. I have to return to my work on Monday and am still extremely exhausted. I have to wait until the 18th to go for my next blood draw to see if the iron supplements are working. Then on my 8th week....I have to go in for another endoscope to see if the meds are healing the ulcer. I sure hope so.
I managed to put back 3 whole pounds this week. I hope I can retain it. I am very small now. It looks pretty "anorexic" but I'm eating so that's all that matters. I sure hope this doesn't turn out to be malabsorption.
I'll write more later.

Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005
Well, I finally have all of my answers and I just about died getting them due to negligence from idiot doctors that don't want to listen to their patients.
I ended up going to see the doctor I always see for bariatric issues. He did an endoscope on my pouch and also a colonscopy yesterday. He found an ulcer in my new pouch that is the culprit for this whole issue. When I was given the angiogram the week before I ended up at this blood specialist I was sent to by my primary doctor, the blood thinners given to me for the procedure made this ulcer bleed pretty bad. Enough to deplete 1/2 of my blood in that short of a time span!
If this blood specialist or my primary physician had contacted my cardiologist for my lab work from the week before instead of going by blood work that was 7 mos. old, they would have seen that I lost that blood in only 1 week. That would have been a red flag and they should have figured out that I had been bleeding internally.
The blood specialist tried to sell me $8,000.00 worth of iron injections that would have kept bleeding out! Injections that insurance would not pay for.
Fortunately, the last time I saw this idiot blood specialist, I also had an appt. with my cardiologist for my angiogram follow-up. When I told him I was diagnosed with severe anemia, he was shocked. He said there is no way he would have given an anemic patient an angiogram. I could have bled to death on the table.
He showed me my lab results from that test and there was nothing wrong with my blood. There are going to be some nasty letters written to the Aurora Network regarding this blood specialist. Because he wouldn't listen to me and was convinced that I had malabsorption issues with my gastric bypass, WITHOUT, actually having proof of that, I almost lost my life.
If you ever have the slightest doubt that your doctor is wrong, it is your right to question it and you should. It could save your life.
Hopefully the medication for the ulcer and the iron supplements my colon doctor put me on will get me back on line soon. I'm trying to eat more to gain some weight back now. I lost too much weight because of all of this.
I'll post more later.

Saturday, January 29,2005
Well a lot of stuff has happened since my last posting. I have developed severe dehydration and severe anemia. I am seeing a specialist right now and will have to start Iron injections this week. My iron was dangerously low. I was having alot of problems with my blood pressure and heart rate. I ended up having to have an angiogram, as my stress test showed I had a blockage on the left side of my heart.
That was all crap. They didn't find any blockage once they got in there, my heart is perfectly healthy, and the cardiologist said my heart was having spasms. That was causing the blood pressure issues. Two days later, they figured out that I was severely dehydrated. After a few days of re-hydrating myself, I went in for another blood test and they found my anemia!
This never ends. I was then sent to an endocrinologist, blood doctor, and he is saying I have malabsorption issues from my gastric bypass.
I start Iron injections this week some time as soon as the rest of my tests come back. They want me to consider having a blood transfusion but I'm scared to death of getting blood from an unknown donor. I'm trying to do as much as I can with over the counter iron supplements until they start injecting me. My iron did come up a little but it takes a long time to do that orally. I realize that I'll still have to have the injections, that's not a problem, but no transfusion unless I'm on my death bed!
This doctor says he can fix my problems and I also went back to my bariatric surgeon. I will be going to see him again to get my vitamins changed and go over a new diet with him. Because I've been so sick, I haven't been eating enough and have lost way too much weight.
I'm trying to get a handle on all of this right away. I look like I'm anorexic now. Just seems weird that I have been healthy up until now. After my plastic surgery, I started going down hill. I'll post more later when I know more.
I'm going to do some research about all of this here on the site. Maybe I can find some answers and figure out how to put some weight back on.

Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004
Well, it's back to work for me tomorrow. I am doing very well these last few days. I finally started feeling like I was back to normal last weekend. I am not as tired as I was, but still could use and enjoy naps during the day.
It's going to be hard going back to work after being off for 2 months. I'm getting quite comfortable staying home. I am at 122 pounds and never thought that would be an issue. I am trying to gain some weight back. This size is too small for me. I did manage to gain back 2 pounds.
My incisions are still tender and my doctor removed 3 more stitches on Friday. They would not dissolve and were getting infected. I don't go back to see him now until March 11th. At that time he will do a mini-nip and tuck in his office to remove the "dog ears" from the ends of my incisions under both breasts. He did an awesome job on me and I am more than pleased with his work. He is a fine surgeon. I'm using Mederma on all of my incisions. I believe that stuff really works. My incisions are very fine lines so I shouldn't have too much scaring.
Today I'm finishing up last minute issues in the house, getting ready for Christmas. Time seems to be passing so quickly these days.

Sunday, Nov. 28, 2004
Happy Thanksgiving all!
Today I am spending time here on the web site doing research to see what it's going to take to FATTEN myself up!
I am getting way too skinny now and that worries me.
I am not trying to lose anymore weight, it's coming off by itself. I don't want to look anorexic. I am 121 this moring. I have officially lost 120 pounds. I never thought I would see the day that I was looking into GAINING weight!
I am way too thin now. My size 4's are now big on me.
I have lost 12 pounds just since my plastic surgery. I know that 4 of that was fat and tissue removal, but I can't afford to lose anymore. I had a loss of appetite from the pain meds, but have been off of them for a couple of weeks now.
I found that during that time, my pouch must have done some shrinking too. I had my first issue with puking since a year ago. I have not thrown up for over a year from eating. Now, I can't hold that much food again. It's just like being newly post op from the bypass. I had to make myself throw up some steak the other night. I ate too much and was sick for over 3 hours. Boy did that bring back memories from my surgery! Lesson learned. I know when to quit. Then I was scared about pulling a muscle in my stomach or causing a hernia if I had to throw up. I was ok, but I was certainly worried about it.
I feel good, but am still tired and wore out from the plastic surgery. I can function throughout the day, but I do tire easily and I get very sore around my waist, back and hips. I usually can't handle too much walking around yet. An hour in a grocery store kills me.
I should be returning to work around the 13th and I plan on using my next two weeks off wisely. I am going to lay around and sleep as much as possible.
I see Dr. Kinney for my next check up on the 10th. He will tell me at that time if he will release me.
I had to have him cut out some knots from my stitching last monday. They would not disolve and were causing me too much grief. They got infected and were rubbing on my clothes. I tried everything over the counter to try to clear up the infection, but with the constant rubbing on my skin, it was constantly irritated.
He will also do a "mini" nip and tuck in his office later on to remove the "dog ears" on the sides of my breasts from the augmentation.
I want to start lifting weights as soon as he gives me the ok.
I have loose skin under my arms now that is more noticable since I lost this extra weight. I also want to tighten up my legs as much as I can.
I won't have anymore plastics. This was enough. Although I didn't have any real pain to speak of, the recovery was worse than the bypass.
Dr. Kinney offered to discuss my legs, but I don't think I want anymore done.
The only possible plastics I may look into later would be my face. It's really sagging now and I have tons of new wrinkles on my forehead. I'm wearing my hair different now, with bangs, to cover as much as I can.
Another thing that I noticed after the plastics was that my butt still looked like it was sagging. Now that I'm 1 and half months post op and the swelling has gone down, my butt isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I think with some exercise, I will be able to firm that up.
Ok...will update later.
Friday, Oct. 29, 2004
Well, I'm two weeks post-op today from my plastic surgery. I got myself grounded from my surgeons nurse. She told me I am not allowed to do anything, not even a small amount of dish washing. Just shower and lay around watching the tube. I called them because I wanted to know if there was something I could take for the swelling in my tummy. I am concerned about that. She said that if I don't get on my back and stay there I could risk messing up my tummy tuck. She said that if I continue with too much movement, it will irritate the tissue inside my tummy and not heal properly. I'm trying to behave, but it's really hard for me to just lay around.
I lost 6 pounds after the surgery, but put 3 back on. I'm eating more now because I'm bored. My blouses are now a small from a medium and I went from a size 8 dress to a size 6.
I'll be glad when I can do normal things again. I didn't have any real pain to speak of however, I do have days when I feel pretty sore.

Sat. Oct. 23, 2004
I had my 1 week check up with Dr. Kinney. He was very pleased with the outcome of my plastics. He wants to talk to me about doing my legs now. They are pretty saggy but I'm not sure I want to go through that. I will try to exercise them to build up some muscle and maybe that will help. He took all of my drains out yesterday. I was surprised. He did have to stitch one of the drain holes shut yesterday, it would not stop bleeding. I thought I would be stuck with them for at least another week. He told me to continue to wear my body garments for a few more weeks. He will see me on Nov. 22nd. He's a great doctor and has a wonderful bedside manner. I would recommend him to anyone. I'm still feeling a little weak, but I am getting around better now. I'm happy I had this done, but just as with the WLS, I have asked myself: "What was I thinking?" I am grateful that I didn't have much pain though. I fared very well with surgery as well. Now to get on with my life. I'm now 127 pounds and wonder if this will finally stop. I don't want to lose anymore weight. I'm small enough now. It's going to be time for new clothes again now. I still can't believe that this is my body.

Thurs. Oct. 21, 2004
Well, I worried for nothing. I had my plastic surgery on Friday, and it went very well. Other than some sore muscles in my tummy, I have had no real pain to speak of.
I was on a morphine pain pump in the hospital, and of course talking out of my hat most of the time. When I came home the doc gave me a form of percoset. I had to stop taking that because I thought I was super woman!
I only used it for the mild discomfort and to sleep. It actually had a reverse affect on me. Shortly after taking it, I would get very sleepy and take a short cat nap, then I would wake up and feel like I was on speed or something.
The morphine and percoset made me itch really bad. I am now able to take care of the "uncomfortable" feeling with regular tylenol.
The only issue I have now that is worrying me is that I can hear my heart beating or my pulse in my ears. I don't know if I have a sinus infection brewing or if this is a pinched nerve or a constricted vein. My blood pressure is not elevated and my pulse rate is normal, so I can't imagine what is causing this. I can hear this while I'm sleeping and it wakes me up. It's starting to scare me. I go to see Dr. Kinney for my 1 week check up tomorrow. I did tell them about it by phone and they didn't seem too concerned. It wasn't like this in the hospital, just since I came home. I started back on the augmentin that the dentist gave me just in case it is a sinus infection. Hopefully, that's all it is. I am down to 129 pounds this morning. The doctor removed 4 pounds of dead skin from my trunk and he did a breast lift on me. So I had a breast lift, tummy tuck and lower trunk resection. I am cut full circle around my butt and tummy. He saved my original belly button and it looks great. I didn't want a fake one so that worked out great. The incision lines are finely cut and straight. They are very thin and look awesome. I'll be able to tell more when the steri-strips and bandages come off. I have two drainage tubes in my lower stomach and one in each hip. They are starting to change color now, not so much blood in them. Everything looks great. I can't remember ever having "perky" boobs or a flat tummy. I hope I don't end up with any long term issues after going through all of this. I will post more later.

Wed. Oct. 13, 2004
Well, today is my last day of work. I have a vacation day tomorrow and surgery on Friday. I'm nervous, scared, excited, anxious, etc.
I took my last available vacation day to get last minute things in order. I have my livingroom all set up for when I come home. Clean bedding, meds, t.v. remote, phone close by etc. Even bought a portable toilet seat to raise mine higher because I know it's going to be a problem bending.
Lots of issues have been racing through my head the last few days. Especially my mother. She passed away when I was 12.5 and I miss her terribly. Last year when I was preparing for my gastric bypass, it was just as it is now..I cannot get her off of my mind. I know she was with me then and I'm sure she is with me now. Protecting me. I know they say when you are about to die, your life rushes past your eyes. This appears to be happening in slow motion. I don't really think I'm going to die from this surgery, but it's really weird that I am remembering stuff about my life that has not come up in years. Things that I had totally forgotten about.
I have all my papers in order, just in case. Life insurance, all my bills paid and up to date, the cupboards stocked, the house spotless. I don't want to leave any loose ends just in case. I'm sure I'm not the only one that goes through this.
I think I am more afraid of this surgery than I was the gastric bypass.
I typed a letter to fax to my surgeon today also, reminding them to make sure they mark my records that I am not to have any NG tube. "Stomach capacity is 3 oz." Every gastric bypass patient is at risk of their pouch being popped with an NG tube. If the staff isn't aware of it and doesn't know how to deal with gastric bypass patients, it can be serious.
I have been a nervous wreck this last week and I can't wait to just get there and get it done and get home! I have lost more weight, not much, but I'm sure it is due to my nerves. I haven't been eating much. Too many issues preying on my mind.
I am down to 132 and I suppose after they take off all this dead skin, I'll probably be around 126 or so. I had my daughter take pictures of me in my "Birthday Suit" over the weekend. I was just nauseous when I saw them. I had no idea how bad I look with this skin hanging everywhere. It's not as bad as some people, but it is for someone my size.
I also went through my closet this a.m. and bagged up a ton of size 10's to give to a good friend I work with. I am in a size 4 now so these were all wasted. At the time I purchased them, I honestly didn't think I would wear anything smaller. Had I known this, I wouldn't have bought so many NEW clothes. Live and learn.
Well, I'll update when I get home from the hospital.
Tummy tuck, breast lift, and complete lower trunk resection for me on Friday. Wish me luck!
Missy

Sunday, October 3, 2004
Well, I'm scheduled for my plastics on Oct. 15th! I'm scared but excited at the same time. I will be getting a tummy tuck, complete lower body lift, and hopefully a breast reconstruction. I had a mammogram two weeks ago, and it figures, it came back with something showing up on the test that was never there before. It showed a lymph node-benign, so the docs are concerned about me getting the breast reconstruction. I may have to wait and go back after they check it again in 6 mos. I have to talk to the breast specialist as soon as I can get in to see him. Hopefully it will be before my surgery. My work insurance is covering everything. I got the call on Friday. That was great news. They originally said they would only pay for a traditional tummy tuck. I sent an appeal letter and it just so happened that Principal revised their program and are covering everything. I also appealed to BC/BS, my hubbies work insurance, and I have not heard back from them as of yet. I should hear something before the end of this week.
Now that I have complete coverage, I just hope this test didn't throw a monkey wrench into things. I was content with knowing I only had tummy tuck coverage, and now that I know they changed it and are covering everything, I want it all!
I'll write more closer to surgery. 12 days to go!

Monday, Aug. 9, 2004
Today I am at 133 and according to the calculator here on the site, my BMI is 23.4! However, my profile is still showing a 24.7. Who knows? I thought I was done losing but I have dropped another 3 pounds over the last week or two. I've been pretty busy doing yard work and house chores, so I'm sure that wore off more of my fat.
I have an approval for a traditional tummy tuck through my insurance, however, my husbands insurance turned me down completely. I have been working on an appeal letter and will try to get that done this week.

Monday evening, June 21, 2004
Ok, I had my consult this morning with Dr. Thomas Kinney from Milwaukee. I worried for nothing. His office is submitting my surgery to insurance. He told me everything he planned on doing and said he would keep me probably 1-2 nights in the hospital. That's good, because I live over an hour from there. No liposuction necessary. Just a complete lower body lift, which should help my legs somewhat, and then he will do a breast lift. I really liked him. He appears to be in his early 40's.
He will contact me as soon as they hear something from insurance.
Now, I'm excited!

Monday, June 21, 2004
I have my first consult with a plastic surgeon today to see about a tummy tuck and a breast lift. I'm very nervous about going and even more nervous about actually having it done. I'm not sure if insurance will pay for this or not. The waiting game starts again. I'll be glad when this is all over. To date I have lost 107 pounds. I weighed in at 135 this morning. That puts my BMI at 24.7 which is considered normal! FINALLY! I'm considered normal!

Sunday, May 30, 2004
Well, here it is Memorial Day weekend. The weather is lousy here. It's been raining off and on for two weeks. Everything is flooded here and the rain is washing the crops away. We've been inside all weekend. So, since I was bored, I decided to update my photo and have added it to my profile. I still have to learn to smile better for pictures. I have such a dumb look on my face.

Friday May 21, 2004
Well, I'm 1 year post-op. I weigh 137 pounds and my BMI is at 25.1. I am STILL considered over weight. I have to be at 24.9 to be considered normal. Hmm...
I'm looking into plastics now. I have an appointment with Dr. Kinney in Milwaukee on June 21st. I've never met him, however Dr. Kumar recommended him.
I'm hoping to be at goal by then. That is only about 7 pounds, but you never know.
I'm scared to death of plastics. I wasn't scared of the bypass surgery though. I'm just afraid that after I have my tummy tuck, the pain will be so bad that I won't be brave enough to go back for the breast surgery. I know they won't do everything all at once. I didn't think I was going to need my legs done, but they are getting pretty saggy now. Another 10 pounds or so and they will really be flapping in the wind. My knees are starting to wrinkle too a little bit. But...as far as I'm concerned, I am healthy and happy. I had blood work done two weeks ago and it was right on top! I must be doing something right.
My bra has gone from a 42 DD to a 36D. I have gone from a size 22-24 pants to a 4-6. My tops have gone from a 2XL to a small/medium. I'm impressed! But, I still see a fat girl in the mirror. Hopefully if I have the plastic surgery, I will finally see the real size that I am. Everyone else says I'm really tiny. I don't think so.
I have to see about getting my picture up here for my 100 pound loss. I am late getting that to Kricket. I'll write more later. Hope all is well with everyone else.

Sunday, April 11, 2004Monday, March 29, 2004
Well, I did it! I have lost 100 pounds! This is a wonderful day.
I have 12 pounds to go to reach goal.
Getting pretty saggy though. But I can deal with that.
Have a great Easter all!
Missy

Well, I'm almost there. I weigh 143 this morning. One more pound and I will have lost 100! I have about 13 pounds to go now. It is getting harder to lose weight now as I can eat more. I have to watch myself and be strong with the cravings. I don't want to fall back into the old patterns. I don't ever want to be fat again.

Sat. March 20, 2004
I am at 147. It's harder to lose weight now. I am 10.5 mos. post op and happy that I am where I'm at. I look very tiny even though I am still 20 pounds over weight. I had my check-up with my surgeon last Tues, and everyone there thought I looked like I was at goal. He was very pleased with my progress. He will see me again in June. He said if I start to gain weight back, he will put me on the Atkins diet. High proteins.
My size 8 pants are huge on me now. It's so weird that I know I am still 20 pounds over weight, but my clothes are getting so small. My legs look like bean poles now. I can't believe how much my body has changed over the years. I carry my weight totally different than I did in my 20's and 30's.
Again....at least I'm not a 24 anymore!
I'm not going for a tummy tuck. My tummy is getting smaller as I exercise, so I chose to try to finish it myself. I could use a boob job though. They look awful. Of course, there is alot of skin there. Size 42 DD to a size 36 D. I would like to have it done, but am afraid of plastic surgery. No exercise will ever tone these babies up...but at almost 50, it's not like I'm going to be wearing bikinis or anything. I'll worry about all of the plastics issue when it becomes bothersome to me. Right now, I feel great and am happy.

Sat. Jan 31, 2004
See how things can change over night. I was complaining about gaining and losing the same few pounds, and this morning I am down to 148. I have lost 94 pounds in 8 months. That's just how this goes. I'm happy.
I finally bought "new" clothes. Bought a size 12 pants, I was swimming in them. Took them back for a 10, I was swimming in those. I am now in a size 8. NEVER would have guessed I would ever wear an 8! Of course, it depends on the brand of clothing you buy. Some of my pants are 10's and 12's and they are snug.
What size am I? I don't have a clue. Why can't all manufacturers stay with a standard size chart? Oh well, at least I'm not wearing a size 24 anymore! Happy Day! Just for curiosity, I used the BMI calculator this a.m. here on the site. This is what it says:

Your BMI or (Body Mass Index) is 27.1

You are in the "Moderately Overweight" category for your height and weight.
Since your BMI is 27.1 you do not qualify for "Bariatric Surgery".

This is what it said when I started this last May:
Your BMI or (Body Mass Index) is 44.3

You are in the "Morbidly Obese" category for your height and weight.
Since your BMI is 44.3 you may qualify for "Bariatric Surgery".
Wahooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sat. Jan. 24, 2004
I am down 90 pounds now. I'm starting to slow way down on my weight loss now. I am actually gaining and losing the same 4 pounds. That worries me. I am so afraid of gaining all this weight back. My appt. with Dr. Kumar went very well. He was very pleased with my progress. I have an appt. in March and he will discuss my tummy tuck at that time. I really don't look like I have that much more to lose, but I do. And that is just for "my" goal weight. Not what the charts say I should weigh for my height. If that were the case, I'd have over 30 pounds to go. People are already nagging me to "stop" losing weight. I laugh when they say that. It's not like I can stop it. I just explain to them that it will stop on it's own. I'm not starving myself or actually pushing myself to lose the rest of my weight, but I don't want to end up going over the edge either.
For 5' 2" and 150 lbs. I am in a size 10 petite pants and a medium ladies top. Doesn't make any sense.
I'm not complaining. I never thought I would see a size 10 again in this life time. I'm still feeling great and feel healthier than I have in years. The pains in my legs and hips are just about gone now. I can do so much more now without having the arthritis get in my way. It's good to be me, the real me, finally! Will write more later. Good luck to all newbies.


Mon. Dec. 15, 2003
I am down 85 pounds now. The scale said 155 this morning. Only 25 pounds to go. I hope I don't get too thin. I don't want to look sickly. I'm lazy about exercise. I really have to force myself to stick with it. I work on it for maybe 2-3 days, then get lazy.
I'm finding foods that I can't eat all of a sudden. Tacos give me potty problems and eating nuts bothers my digestive tract. This is new to me. These things didn't bother me before. I have a check-up with Dr. Kumar tomorrow so I will discuss all of this with him.
Looking forward to Christmas. I have family coming in from Florida that I haven't seen for a couple of years.

Sat. Nov. 30, 2003
Well, I'm 6.5 mos. post op and am down 80 lbs. I have another 30 to go. I still feel great, however, with the damp weather here in Wisconsin, my bones are still bothering me. The arthritis has calmed down considerably, but I do have my days. Thank God for my hot tub!
It really helps.
I am in a clothing frenzy again. I am in a size 12-14 now, and am still doing the "Thrift Store" shopping. I have walked through so many stores looking for just the right thing to buy, but...I don't want to spend that kind of money for something I'll only wear for a week or two.
I would have never imagined I would have come to the point where I am complaining about my clothes being too big!

I am still healthy and am now looking at the sagging skin. It doesn't really bother me too much, but I am trying to bring myself to the realization that a tummy tuck and breast surgery is in the future. I guess I figured that this would all take care of itself. For some reason, plastics scare me more than the weight loss surgery ever did. Well, I am thankful that this is ALL I have had to worry about.

I am eating normal foods now, but still have my limits. I haven't had any problems, unless I over eat of course. I know that I can tolerate sugar now, but I am finding that sweet things are sort of nauseating to me. That's a good thing.

Well, Happy Holidays all! Best wishes to all pre and post ops!

Missy

Wed. Oct. 22, 2003
WAHOOOOO! I have lost 75 pounds at 5 months post-op! I feel great and the best part is...I am no longer considered OBESE! Just "over weight". This is truly a blessing.

Saturday, Oct. 4th.
I haven't written in a while so I thought I should update. I have lost 64 pounds now. I have another 46 pounds to go to get to my goal. It seems like a drop in the bucket considering where I started. I know for my size I really should be 118 pounds, but I would look like I have been on the Karen Carpenter plan if I got down that low. As I said before, anything under 130 will make me look anorexic with the way I carry my weight. I weigh 175 right now and people don't believe it. They are figuring I weigh about 150. Winter weather is rolling in fast here in Wisconsin and it's time to haul out some winter clothing. So, back to the thrift store today. I have a few things, but not much in the way of warm clothes. I did find a beautiful long wool dress coat, but, it's too small for me right now. I couldn't pass it up for only $5.00 and some dryell! I used the dryell on it and it's like new. I can't wait to wear it.
I do need an every day coat though. I did find one for $3.00 but haven't cleaned it yet or even tried it on.
I'm still feeling great, no problems what so ever. I see Dr. Kumar in two weeks. They will be surprised when they see me. I'm trying to take off another 5-10 pounds before then.
Also, my brother and his wife will be here visiting and I saw them last year in July when I weighed 250, so this will be fun too.
More later.

Friday, Aug. 29th.
Well, work today and then off for 9 days! Wahoo! This is going to be a great day. I got up this morning to 184 pounds! That means I am past my half way mark. I have lost 56 pounds now. I'm still considered as obese however. I have big plans for this week including a family gathering for my step-sons 18th birthday here at my house. I have a ton of landscaping to finish and also inside projects that I have been putting off since we bought this house last year. On the 6th of Sept. we will be here 1 year. I guess it's time to get moving, plus, it will help me shed some extra weight. If I don't keep busy I get bored and eat things I shouldn't.
I really have to set my mind to doing more exercises though. My stomach is really getting flabby now and I really don't want to have any plastic surgery if I don't have to. I am at a point where I am between sizes and am having trouble finding clothes that look nice or fit me good. I am not buying new clothes right now, just what ever I can find at Thrift shops etc. I'll have to make another run to that place this weekend. I only have 4 pairs of pants that fit me right now. But every day, I look at all the "little" clothes hanging in my closet and just keep saying: "pretty soon!" I remember the day when I would stare at the clothes I used to have that I had outgrown because I was getting fatter by the day, and I would get depressed because I knew I would never be able to wear them anymore. Well, that turned out to be true, but that's because they are too big now. I have given away almost everything I had from before. I have very little of my original wardrobe left. That feels good, but it's sad to see the amount of money I spent on good clothes and ended up giving them all away or donating them.
Everyone at work has been very supportive and they comment to me every day how good I look now. It's nice, but it's still not sinking in. It may never sink in. There will always be that fear of having to fight to keep it off, even with the surgery.
More later.

Sunday, Aug. 22, 2003

Well, I have spent my last 2-3 weeks in a nasty depression. Always wondering if this is as far as I will get. Amazing what you can do with a little more water and protein. Yes, I know that this is a major player in the amount of weight you lose and getting stuck on a revolving plateau, however, sometimes you just need a good swift kick! I was also afraid that I may have stretched my pouch out too large. I tried the "cottage cheese" test and found out that I can eat over 4 oz. of food now! That is scarey.
Sitting around feeling sorry for yourself and not sticking to the exercise, protein and water is what gets you into these slumps to begin with. Get some determination. Don't give up. The human brain is actually very vulnerable. You can talk yourself into most anything. And I have also learned that just because you are eating high protein foods, it doesn't mean that you are eating the right things. There is alot of fat in so many things. Forcing myself to get back to drinking the protein shakes worked to break my plateau. I thought I was doing fine with my proteins by eating foods loaded with them. But, some of those foods are also very high in calories.
I also realized that some of the stuff I was eating actually made me feel like I was starving two hours later.

Finding out that I can "cheat" and have "just a bite" of things I KNOW I shouldn't be eating is just fuel for the fire. Yes, I have been pushing the food issue lately. Digging into potato chips, cheetos, eating pizza, fried foods and actually eating cranberry muffins and zucchini bread. It didn't make me dump, so yes, I had another one the next day. And hey, they are going down really easy now.

So why not? Because after going through such a serious operation to lose weight, common sense should tell you that you are tempting fate. I have been going back and forth with the same 4-5 pounds for 2-3 weeks. I was so proud of myself to be under 190. I was down to 188! Then, one morning I got up and I was 193 again! How depressing.
It just goes to prove my theory that I can and always have been able to, eat fattening foods and be guaranteed that a two pound gain would show up two days later.
That's been that way my entire life. I learned that years ago while going to Nutri System. The counselor told us, "eat a donut, find it two days later!"
So, again, I have promised myself to toe the line and get my proteins, water and exercise in. Yes, I did this a couple of times now and you would think I'd learn.
So I decided to start setting goals for myself. I always work better under pressure and I know you really shouldn't set goals for yourself with this program, but I have to do it.
I want to have at least 10-15 more pounds of by Oct. 17th. That is when my brother and his wife will be here to visit and the last time they saw me I was 240 pounds! I have lost 52 pounds at 13 weeks post op and yes, that is an awesome weight loss, but if I don't toe the line, I could end up messing this whole thing up and never losing another pound. But hey, 3 more pounds and I'll be at the half way mark! That's something to look forward to.

I just really wish I could eat some sweet corn though. More later, and best wishes to all of you!


Sunday, Aug. 10th.
Today I am down 50 pounds and have a brand new granddaughter. She was born on Friday, the 8th. She is just beautiful.


Wednesday, July 30th.
Wow, this surgery is awesome! I have been on a roller coaster ride for the last week or so. I got down to 196 and the scale went back up to 201! Of course I got depressed. Well, this morning, the scale said 195! I have lost 45 pounds in 10 1/2 weeks! I couldn't be any happier right now. Clothing is becoming an issue though. I have to dress up every day for work, and I am between sizes. With my stomach hanging now, it is more visible in certain clothes, so I just keep wearing my baggies. Time to make another trip to the thrift store I guess. I can't wait ot get into the size 16's I have hanging in my closet. Amazing how even a size 16 is a treat. After wearing size 24 for the last 10 years, that 16 is looking pretty inviting. I tried to exercise about 6 weeks post op and hurt my stomach. I think this might be a good time to start. More later!

Sunday, July 27th.
I learned a lesson about brussel sprouts last night. DON'T EAT THEM! I got sick and was in so much pain, I had to force myself to throw up. When they came back up, it was terrible. Hard to get them up and they burned my esophogus all the way up. It still feels like there is something stuck in there. I wanted them so bad, but realize now, they weren't that great! I hope I didn't damage anything. But, on a lighter note, I am down 44 pounds. I am at 196. Only 66 more pounds! Wow, and I'm only going into my 11th week post op.
Ok, time to go back to bed. I woke up at 3 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep.

Saturday, July 18th
Well, I finally got under the 200 mark. I am 198 this morning. I am so happy to see the number 1 replacing the number 2 in those 3 numbers! That means I have about 70 pounds to go! I feel great. I am doing alot of activities I haven't done in years and without pain. My arthritis bothers me somewhat, but I don't need drugs to function anymore. I still haven't used my CPAP machine to breath at night. My hubby said he very seldom hears me snore anymore. Getting rid of the arthritis, sleep apnea and the bloating from the hiatial hernia I used to have is a blessing! I can finally function just like everyone else that is healthy.

Sunday, July 13th:
I FINALLY DID IT! I AM AT 200 POUNDS THIS MORNING! I HAVE LOST 40 POUNDS IN A LITTLE OVER 9 WEEKS! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!
LIFE IS GRAND!
This surgery has saved me! I walked with my granddaughter yesterday morning. We only walked a mile, but it was nice to be able to spend quality time with her and not have to be concerned about how long I could walk or how far. I had no pain in my feet, ankles or legs. We had a great time.

I'm waiting for my second granddaughter to make her entrance into this big world. She is due any day now. She will be my 4th grandchild. I have two grandsons also.
I'm so glad I listened to my daughter and checked into Gastric Bypass. I had pretty much come to the mind set that I was just going to die a fat person and at a young age. I would have NEVER looked into this surgery or thought I would qualify to have it, much less get the insurance to cover it, if it had not been for my daughter. She is now the "mother" and my voice of reason. It's amazing how they grow up and tell you what to do. ;-)) I love her and am glad that she brought this up to me. Pretty soon, she and I will be borrowing clothes from each other!



Friday, July 11th:

I weigh 201 this morning. I can't get past 200 to save my life! Maybe this weekend.
I saw my surgeon for my two month check up yesterday. He was pleased with my weight loss. I have lost a total of 38 pounds since two weeks before surgery. I had lost a little bit of weight on my own.
I have been having issues with meats. They really fill me up fast and hurt alot. I am going back to soft foods. Dr. Kumar thought that would be a good idea for a while. He said that the stitching inside can take up to 90 days to heal and I could just be irritating that. I can eat alot of salad in one sitting and it seems to give me "mental" satisfaction. I have been having problems drinking the protein shakes also. They make me so nauseated just to drink or even smell them now. Any type of shake bothers me. Dr. Kumar gave me a prescription for nausea. He told me to forget the shakes for a while and just concentrate on soft high protein foods like egg whites, cottage cheese etc. Give my pouch time to heal. I am only 8 weeks post op right now.
I have a great deal of respect for Dr. Kumar. Most doctors don't even remember your name when you see them. Not him...he remembers you from the first day he sees you. I respect that.
Will post again in a week or so.


Sunday June 29th:
Well, my weight loss has slowed down again. I had been having "fast foods" like pinto beans and cheese from Taco Bell, and really not doing my shakes right again this week. I am returning to work tomorrow after being off for six weeks, so I have been busy getting clothes together and getting my house in order. That kept me so busy, I was eating on the run. I notice that when all of these things come into play, I don't lose any weight. I really have to concentrate on me for a change. I feel pretty good although I had two episodes where I had bent to pick something up and my stomach felt like it was stretched or torn inside to the right of my incision. I see my surgeon on the 10th, and maybe he can shed some light on that.
I do have a sore throat though. AGAIN! I just went to the doctor last week for a sore throat and sinus infection. I fell asleep with the fan going on me one night and woke up with a sore throat. I can't win for losing here. I really wanted to be healthy when I go back to work. I'm a little concerned that after this surgery, I will get sick easily. We shall see.

Monday, June 23rd:
Well, I finally did something right. I must have done something good with going back to the protein. I was down to 208.5. Down another 1.5 pounds. That means I have lost 31.5 pounds. I hope the rest of the week is this productive.

Sat. June 21st.
Well, will I NEVER learn to stop eating! Man this hurts! I just never get it. I decided to be strong and go back to liquids and purees this week because I have trouble with eating lately. I thought it just had to do with meats. The truth? I eat too damned much! I am over stuffing myself and don't realize it till it's too late. Why? Because I eat too fast! I had soup for lunch, and just couldn't pass up some imitation crab meat! The soup would have done it.

Feels like alot of pressure in my chest. Burp, burp, burp, nothing helps. I tried to walk it off, and that didn't help.
I started doing sit-ups and leg lifts this week. I did it for two days and believe I did too much! My stomach hurts around my incision now.

I have not lost any weight this week, so that is concerning me. I am still at 210, 30 pound loss. I know, it is a good loss for only 5 weeks, but I am impatient as hell!
I haven't been drinking my shakes like I was, so I started back on those yesterday and am really pushing the water.
I guess I just have to start putting notes all over the house to remind me! Don't over eat! Don't eat so fast! Chew Chew Chew!
PLUS, someone went off the road in front of my house last night and cleaned my mailbox off of the post. I only found half of the mail box! Ok, gotta go to Home Depot. Will write more later.

OH YES...I HAVE PICTURES UP FINALLY ON http://www.picturetrail.com/missy1105

Monday, June 16th:
Wow, I am on top of the world this morning! I have lost 30 pounds and am in the beginning of my 5th week Post Op. I put my favorite pair of jeans on this morning! They are a size 18, and a little tight around the waist, but they fit everywhere else. Doesn't sound very encouraging to be in an 18, but when you started out in a 24, it feels pretty darn good! I haven't worn them in about 3 years. That was my first goal! My second goal is to lose 40 pounds before I go back to work. I am hoping that will be two weeks from today. As long as I get my eating and nutrition straightened out, I may get my wish. My surgeon says I have extreme fatigue and that for once in my life...I am eating TOO LEAN! Go figure! So, I have to pick up some additional vitamins and start eating better. I am ready to go back to work in my mind, but I have days where I just am totally worn out. My arthritis is really bothering me now. My shoulders feel like they are dislocated. I am seeing my regular physician on Wed. as I have come down with a sinus drip that is causing me to have a really bad sore throat. When I see him, I will discuss the arthritis with him. Maybe he can give me an injection in the joints or something. I have pain killers that he gave me before, but I don't like how they make me feel.
Well, more later.

June 5th.
Well, I am down 25 pounds in a little more than 2 weeks. I am happy with this loss. I do have days when I get depressed, however, I believe it is because I am bored. I am not very talented as a "chef" and have days when I just settle for a jar of baby food because I don't have the imagination to make my own meals. My hubby does all the cooking in this house. He loves to cook and really missed his calling in life. He is a hard working man and is out in the fields after his regular 9-5 job, planting and managing his crops. He really doesn't have time for me this time of year. I guess I will have to learn how to make my own meals or starve! lol
I found out that dumping does not necessarily mean that you have to throw up. I have had (really gross) explosive diahrea 3 times now. This last time, I had rapid heart palpitations prior to this happening, along with shortness of breath. I was trying to figure out what was going on. I hadn't eaten anything, or had I?
I was helping my daughter with her house work and while cleaning the kitchen, I was drinking my protein shake. Oh look...there are some "goldfish crackers", those won't hurt me. I'll just have a few of those. I ate 6 of them, with my shake. Talk about stupid move! I immediately started getting the rapid heart palpitations, pains in my chest and shortness of breath.
My daughter asked me, "What did you eat mother?" "Is this from those shakes you have to drink?" "Maybe your iron level is low."
Well, because I have never thrown up, I guess I just didn't realize what dumping was.
About a half hour later, the symptoms went away. She and I followed my 9 year old grandson around the subdivision on his new little motorized motorcycle, 7 whole miles per hour, and we played outdoors with the kids for a bit.
I started feeling a little crampy and sort of bloated and really tired. I decided it was time to go home. I live 18 miles from her and I have to say, Thank God I got home when I did!
I had EXPLOSIVE diahrea for about 30 minutes. I just made it home. So, lesson learned.
Today, I decided to get smarter with my eating. I had a half of a hamburger for my lunch. That curbed my cravings. It made me feel good to know I was eating real people food again.
I didn't want to get to this point, as I was satisfied with my current diet, baby food, pureeds, etc. But....my doc told me last week that I could graduate to soft foods, and eat burger if I wanted to, as long as it was chewed really well. So, I am changing my game plan as of today. I want to look like my picture again soon without diahrea or puking!

May 27, 2003
Again, this photo is OLD! This is my GOAL photo. I am well on my way. As of this morning, I weigh 220.5! Not bad in a week! I started my journey at 242 and lost some weight on my own prior to surgery. The morning of surgery I weighed in at 236.5. But, since the day of surgery, I have lost approximately 17 pounds.
I am eating the pureed meals at this time. I have grown to like baby food. I pretty much live on it. I do make myself some regular meals, but the baby food is easier. I don't overcook, don't overeat and they go down pretty easy. Some of them are pretty gross, but you can certainly doctor them up.
You do have to keep a close watch on the sugar in them however. Some of them are pretty high in sugar content.
I see my surgeon this Thursday for my first visit. I am curious whether he will let me return to work or not. I know I probably shouldn't push it, but, I am doing so well with my recovery. I am walking 3/4 - a mile per day. I just walk the perimeter of the property line here and it keeps me safe and it's a little challenging. A little hilly, but it is best that way. You use muscles that you don't ordinarilly use that way.
I am more than happy with my choice to have this surgery. I have been blessed with a great surgeon, a great recovery and a brand new life. God Bless you all, and I hope you have the same outcome I have.

May 21, 2003
I sent this photo of my husband and myself to the site as my "GOAL" photo. This is how we both looked 12 years ago. Since that date I have put on over 100 pounds. So, this is where I have always wanted to be and now I am finally on my way!
My surgery went well and I was only in the hospital 3 days. I am sore, of course, and have some minor discomfort. Good things come to those who wait.

May 15, 2003
The countdown is down to 3 days! I am so excited. I have clothing, etc. ready for re-entry into my next life. It's funny, I used to always joke that I'd come back a size 8 in my next life! This weekend, I will be changing the floor tile in a storage closet/pantry and getting my things ready for the hospital.
I learned alot of lessons about protein drinks over the last three weeks, and I also learned to READ THE LABEL! I have been hearing about Carnations Instant Breakfast. There isn't much protein in those, and there is more sugar than the nutrition shakes you find at GNC. I will be taking a trip there on Sat. to get more. I think I'm ready with everything else.

I am having issues with my hubby's insurance this week. The psych results are in and my doctors office faxed them to BC BS and they claimed they never got them. I faxed them again myself today and some little snot tried to tell me that their fax machine takes 24 hours to do the imaging from the faxes. What a crock! I was born at night, NOT LAST NIGHT!
I got the answer I wanted after "nicely" telling her off. They have my papers, and now they are presenting them to a medical board for consideration. They didn't tell me this was going to be this involved. Had they told me this in the beginning, I would have done this alot sooner. They gave me the impression that it was something that could be done in a day.
My insurance is covering the first 85% so, if the other company doesn't come through, then I will just have to pay the rest I guess.
I'm going in no matter what!
More later.
May 13,2003
Well, 6 more days to go! I passed my psych analysis with no problems. My house is all in order. I am so excited. I have heard alot of good stories but not as many horror stories. From what I am hearing, a good percentage of the patients that have trouble post-op do not appear to be following Doctors orders with foods and activities. I'm planning on following it to the letter and hopefully I won't have any problems.
I'm not scared or worried about the surgery itself, I am more worried about having disgusting bodily functions in public such as vomiting.
I have all of my food and supplements ready. I still have to find some B-12 gel-caps. I'm covering myself in lotion after each shower so my skin hopefully won't sag.
Having some really weird dreams lately though. Things that I have been told by a dream analyst that are "re-birth" type dreams. I hope that is a sign of my new life, not my new AFTER life. ;-)) Will update again later.
Missy
May 2,03: I have a date! May 19th at 8 a.m.
I'm totally psyched about this. I have my psych analysis to get through and then I'm ready.

May 9th: Ten days to go! I had my psych analysis today and worried for nothing. Betsy, the doctor was awesome! I love her. She passed me with flying colors. I stopped by my surgeons to get my before picture taken. I got weighed. I actually only lost 3.5 pounds on my own but that's better than nothing.
So, I also had my pre-op testing today. Chest x-ray, blood workup, EKG and a general physical. I'm as ready as I can get. Just wait for the paperwork to get to Compcare Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and I will be ready!

I am 48 years old. Married with 2 children and 3.5 grandchildren. (One due in Aug.03) I am hoping to have my surgery before June of 03.
I have fought my weight most of my life and come from an obese family. I have lost weight plenty of times in the past, however, always gain it back. My best loss was 95 pounds, and believe me, I did all the "bad" things in the book to get there. The end result of turning myself into this person was, I only got to enjoy the weight loss for two years and it gradually started coming back. I have now gained back 106 pounds!
I have sleep apnea, arthritis in all of my joints, severe swelling in my feet and ankles and have also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I have severe bloating, hiatial hernia, gurd, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and suffered a TIA in January.

My insurance approved with no problems, my husbands sent me for a psych analysis. That, in my opinion is ridiculous.
Anyone NOT wanting to have surgery when they are morbidly obese and have severe health problems, to me is a death wish in itself. But, you have to follow what they say or not qualify for the surgery.
I am looking forward to my "second chance". I want to be able to enjoy my family and play with my grandchildren and and go out dancing with my husband again. I want my life back!
I realize the chances I am taking, but I also realize that my quality of life isn't much better right now and will only get worse. I have been getting pre-op testing done on my hernia and also had a colonoscopy. I have colon cancer in my family and felt this should all be checked prior to my surgery. Because of the TIA (stroke) I have been tested for several other problems too. I feel I am more than ready!
I feel that I have chosen a very competent doctor and feel good about my decision. I should have my answer within the next week or two from the secondary insurance.
Looking forward to hearing from anyone that has any suggestions etc.