ObesityHelp

April 2, 2003 My first appointment with Celio Burrowes.
It was very exciting

April 3, 2003 First meeting with psychologist

April 8, 2003 Second meeting with psychologist

May 5, 2003 approved!

June 7, 2003 Today I went to my first support group meeting. It was amazing! I had tears in my eyes listening to everyone introduce themselves, and offer their kind words. It seemed as though for once in my life I was not alone, but with others who had the same problem as me. It felt great. I can't wait to have the surgery....even if I am still nervous. I still have a lot of questions. Hopefully, Dr. Burrowes can answer them.

June 11,03 Today I had to be at Northside Hospital for 7:30 am. They did an ultra sound and x-rays. It is hard to believe I am going through with this. It still seems weird. I can't wait until I've had the surgery and can start "my new life" ...if you can call it that.

June 12, 03 Today I went to Dr. Burrowes office to pick up some paper work. I then went down one floor for an EKG and an echocardiogram. It was cool to watch, but a little scary. It kind of showed me how "fragile" we all are. I've been eating like crazy! Not good! I don't know why. I know there is an end in sight, and I know it's not healthy nor helpful, but I can't stop! I know with once I am post-op it is likely that a whole new group of problems will arise, but I can't wait to be there. It's as though I prefer to deal with the problems that come up, as oppose to trying to speculate what those problems will be.

June 28, 2003 Well, I'm getting pretty nervous. I have my pre-op appointment in a little less than a week. I know I should write down my questions for the doctor, and I will. I just hope I ask the right questions. I'm mostly nervous about after the operation and getting back to work on time. I am a teacher and have 4 1/2 weeks before I have to be back at work. I just can't miss school once it starts. I just hope there are no complications! I have another problem. I can't stop eating. I don't know if it's out of desperation or fear, but I must have put on 10 - 15 pounds since the beginning of this whole process. I plan to attend group therapy after the operation, I just wonder if I couldn't benefit from it now. I guess at this point in the game, that is no longer an option. My mom will be here from Canada on July 8th. Wow, only 2 weeks to go. I wish the operation was tomorrow. If anyone has any practical advice or suggestions, I would love to hear from you!

July 7, 2003 Well, I had 2 more appointments and a pre-op phone call with Northside Hospital. During the phone call, the hospital explained the procedure and what I needed to bring to the hospital. They also asked if I had any questions. I went to see my surgeon on July 4th. I asked some more questions...too many! I got my medicine prescription. It all seemed pretty routine. One answer I received kind of bothered me, but perhaps it's routine. I asked if after the surgery the doctor would come speak to my mother. He told me he would probably call her. I heard that surgeons do that sometimes, but I would prefer if he were to speak to my mother in person. I then asked if he would speak to her in person if there were complications. He said yes, but that explained that he had every reason to believe there won't be complications. After leaving the doctor's office, I had a final appointment at Northside Hospital. Apparently, I forgot to go speak to the anesthesiologist last time I was there, so I had to go do that. They will be putting an epidural in to deal with the pain after the operation. I had to sign a whole bunch of consent forms...though I've been doing that the whole time. Just a few more days.

I went for dinner the other day and told a friend I was having the operation. She told me about a co-worker's daughter who died from the operation. I know she only told me that out of concern, but I wish she hadn't! The scary part is that this person only died 8 months after the operation. Yikes! I was just hoping to get through the operation...now it seems there is so much more to consider. Anyway, I try not to think "What if" because I have no control over hypothetical situations. It's best to deal with "what is".

Well, 4 more days until my operation. I love hearing from others who have gone through it already. I don't think I'll be updating until after the operation....wish me luck!

July 10th

I just looked at my profile, and I realized they have my date posted as July 12th, but it's on the 11th. I'm tired and don't feel like writing. I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 am tomorrow. I was originally scheduled for 2:30 pm in the afternoon, but they changed it. I'll keep you posted. Thank you for everyone who took the time to write me. It means a lot to me.

July 18, 2003

O.K, so my surgery went well. I am very tired. Haven't felt like updating. I was in the hospital 3 days. So far, no complications. I have a major fear of complications. My mother is here to help me...but I'm scared for her to go home. I'm very achy, and tired. I'm doing well though. I gained weight when I came home from the hospital. I was told it was from all the iv fluid..how depressing.

pre op weight 265
night before surgery 260
post op 271

July 23, 2003 (doctor weigh in)
present weight: 249
amount lost since last weigh in: - 16
total amount lost: -16

July 30, 2003
present weight: 244
amount lost since last weigh in: - 5
total amount lost: -21

September 5, 2003
present weight: 225
amount lost since last weigh in: - 19
total amount lost: -40
Feeling very upset and sad because I've been at the same weight for 2 1/2 weeks. I don't know what to do....

September 22, 2003
present weight: 213
amount lost since last weigh in: - 12
total amount lost: -52

October 6, 2003
present weight: 208
amount lost since last weigh in: - 5
total amount lost: -57

October 17, 2003
present weight: 202
amount lost since last weigh in: - 6
total amount lost: -63

October 23, 2003
present weight: 200
amount lost since last weigh in: - 2
total amount lost: -65

October 29, 2003
present weight: 198
amount lost since last weigh in: - 2
total amount lost: -67

November 6, 2003
present weight: 195
amount lost since last weigh in: - 3
total amount lost: -70

November 13, 2003
present weight: 192
amount lost since last weigh in: - 3
total amount lost: -73

November 22, 2003
present weight: 189
amount lost since last weigh in: - 3
total amount lost: -76

November 24, 2003
present weight: 187
amount lost since last weigh in: - 2
total amount lost: -78

November 29, 2003
present weight: 185
amount lost since last weigh in: - 2
total amount lost: -80

December 6, 2003
present weight: 183
amount lost since last weigh in: - 2
total amount lost: -82

December 13, 2003
present weight: 182
amount lost since last weigh in: - 1
total amount lost: -83

I'm getting a little worried. I feel like I've been going back to my old eating habits. I've been eating the wrong foods and too much of it! All of the sudden, I have an appetite! I guess now is when the real work starts. I want to see if I can go back to an average weight loss of 3 pounds a week. This is getting hard! I think I need to loose another 75 pounds, though my doctor told me 40 would be fine. I went for a check up with my surgeon this past week. He was happy with my weight loss. I'm just worried about the next 6 months. HELP!

December 20, 2003
present weight: 175
amount lost since last weigh in: - 7
total amount lost: -90
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? LIFE IS GOOD!!!

January 4, 2004
present weight: 171
amount lost since last weigh in: - 4
total amount lost: -94
I lost these 4 pounds before I left for Montreal. (I went for 10 days) I did not loose while on vacation. I am hard at work trying to go back to an average of 3 lbs a week.

January 12, 2004
present weight: 168
amount lost since last weigh in: -3
total amount lost: -97
I was worried for a while that I wouldn't loose. I can eat a lot more now. I must make an effort to stay on tract.

January 18, 2004
present weight: 166
amount lost since last weigh in: -2
total amount lost: -99
It's hard, but I'm working hard at trying to eat healthy more protein, less carbs, no sugar

January 21, 2004
present weight: 162
amount lost since last weigh in: -4
total amount lost: -103
I'm trying sooo hard. I want to loose another 47 pounds. I'm on my way to thin. I hate the way my body looks naked, I love how it looks in clothes. I wonder what I'll look like at 115 or if I'll get there (though I believe I will :) )

January 24, 2004
present weight: 157
amount lost since last weigh in: -5
total amount lost: -108

January 26, 2004
present weight: 155
amount lost since last weigh in: -2
total amount lost: -110

January 31, 2004
present weight: 154
amount lost since last weigh in: -1
total amount lost: -111

February 7, 2004
present weight: 153
amount lost since last weigh in: -1
total amount lost: -112
what a bummer! no weight loss this week
going to try extra hard this week!

February 14, 2004
present weight: 152
amount lost since last weigh in: -1
total amount lost: -113
BAD WEEK! Went back to a lot of my old habbits.
Its very scarry... but new day, new week!

February 17, 2004
present weight: 151
amount lost since last weigh in: -1
total amount lost: -114

February 21, 2004
present weight: 148
amount lost since last weigh in: -3
total amount lost: -117

February 28, 2004
present weight: 153
amount lost since last weigh in: +5
total amount lost: -112
bad week ...bouncing up and down

March 11, 2004
present weight: 150
amount lost since last weigh in: -3
total amount lost: -115
having a hard time breaking into 140s
poor eating...have to get it under control

March 16, 2004
present weight: 147
amount lost since last weigh in: -3
total amount lost: -118

March 21, 2004
present weight: 144
amount lost since last weigh in: -3
total amount lost: -121

March 26, 2004
present weight: 144
amount lost since last weigh in: -0
total amount lost: -121

March 28, 2004
present weight: 141
amount lost since last weigh in: -3
total amount lost: -124


April 17, 2004
present weight: 138
amount lost since last weigh in: -3
total amount lost: -127

April 26, 2004
present weight: 135
amount lost since last weigh in: -3
total amount lost: -130

May 9, 2004
present weight: 131
amount lost since last weigh in: -4
total amount lost: -134

May 17, 2004
present weight: 128
amount lost since last weigh in: -3
total amount lost: -137

May 23, 2004
present weight: 127
amount lost since last weigh in: -1
total amount lost: -138

May 25, 2004
present weight: 126
amount lost since last weigh in: -1
total amount lost: -139

May 27, 2004
present weight: 123
amount lost since last weigh in: -3
total amount lost: -142
I'm more or less at my goal. I am still going to try for another ten pounds. I went for a check up with my doctor yesterday. He told me if I tried I could lose the last ten pounds easily. I am very excited. He took pictures. We spoke about reconstructive surgery. The nurse was or at least seemed surprised how little excess skin I have. I have a lot, but I guess not compared to others who have had the same surgery. I told the doctor I probably would only want surgery next summer. I'm very pleased with my success and proud of myself. If anyone has advice about plastic surgery/ reconstructive surgery, I would love to hear from you.

June 1, 2004
present weight: 122
amount lost since last weigh in: -1
total amount lost: -143

since writing the last update, I lost a pound, but then gained two. I know I shouldn't weigh myself each day, but god, I don't always understand the scale. I hope this is a short setback, hopefully related to my period cycle. It is very frustrating. I really wanted to lose another six pounds before going to Montreal is six weeks. At first I was on such a roll that I thought I could lose ten pounds before Montreal, but now it doesn't look that way. I would settle for three pounds at this point :)
I went to a support group meeting Wednesday night (three days ago) and heard Marisa Lawrence(a plastic/ reconstructive surgeon) talk. I've since made a consultation appointment with her for June 15. While I don't think I would be able to/ nor am interested in having any more surgery until next summer, I am still very curious. What a frustrating process!!!! Anyway, I'll keep you posted. Wish me luck that I get to my goal (short term goal anyway) by the time I leave for Montreal.

June 6, 2004
present weight: 121
amount lost since last weigh in: -1
total amount lost: -144

Future Goals:
I need to lose 8 more pounds to have lost the 10 pounds the bariatric doctor told me to lose

I need to lose 2 more pounds to get to the target weight I created for myself by the time I get to Montreal

In a perfect world, over the next six months, I would be able to lose 18 pounds and get down to 100, but I don't know if that is realistic.

July 19, 2004
present weight: 120
amount lost since last weigh in: -1
total amount lost: -145

Well, I'm one year out. I bounce back and forth between 120-123.
I would like to lose 7 more pounds. I think I can do it... over a long periode of time. I'm now in Montreal visiting family and friends. This is a lot of fun. Some people don't even recognize me. Tonight I'm going to a party and will see some more friends that I've not seen since the weight loss. It is all very exciting.

July 22, 2004
present weight: 118
amount lost since last weigh in: -2
total amount lost: -147

Five more pounds to go... then I will have lost the ten pounds Dr. Burrows and I talked about at my last appointment. Maybe I can do it before I go back to work on August 4th...

September 21, 2004
present weight: 112
amount lost since last weigh in: -6
total amount lost: -153

to quote... "Nothing tastes as good as thin!"

October 11, 2004
present weight: 110
amount lost since last weigh in: -2
total amount lost: -155

November 29, 2004
present weight: 109
amount lost since last weigh in: -1
total amount lost: -156

December 18, 2004
present weight: 108
amount lost since last weigh in: -1
total amount lost: -157