I have so many exercise machines I could start my own gym. I've been using the treadmill (even started jogging on it) and then I use the Ab Lounger which I think is making a difference on by waist. I really enjoy walking outside and like you soon enough will be shoveling snow. My friend is really working hard with water aerobics and walks at the local ice arena. I saw her the other day and was amazed at her results. I don't know if any of those are possibilities but Happy Exercising with whatever you do. Bonny

Hi tavia, First off welcome to wls board. I am so sorry to hear about your terrible experence. I hope and pray that all that will be behind you and soon it will be just a horrible nightmare. Your weight loss is great! Goldie

hi deb: you're doing wonderfully. the protein is always a challenge and the water is boring but necessary, too. i've gotta get more exercise, too, but am not yet even thinking about winter LOL gotta find the motivation to get out there TODAY. take care, deb. keep up the great work. dorthe

Hi Tavia, Sorry to hear all what you had to go through. I had a few complications, but nothing like what you went through. I am glad to hear it is over for you. Take Care and congrats on the weight loss GREAT Job!!! Cheryl

Hey everyone!! I had my WLS on 2/2/05 and I am down 105 pounds so far! I had many complications. One complication let to another one etc etc. It really was a living nightmare, but I do not regret having gastric bypass at all! Everyone always asks me that question(if I regret it or not). My name is Tavia, 26, I live on Long Island, NY. I look forward to getting to know you guys and hearing your stories and following everyones successes! i thought I was post my story so you can get a little bit of where I am coming from. I guess you can say that I am coming out of my shell. I really wanted nothing to do with doctors, hospital, or any thing gastric bypass for awhile. I am coming to accept this is who I am know what what I experienced was my WLS reality. Well, here goes! I had it gastric bypass done laprostopically first. My first complication was the rest of my stomach(not the freshly made pouch) filled up with air and I had to have surgery fully awake to drain the air out of my left over stomach. Then I came down with pneoumia a day after . I was constantly gagging and a cat-scan showed my passage was not made wide enough causing anything going down (water, spit medicine) was getting stuck and had to come back up, so I went in for a re-do surgery that ended up being open because my oxygen level went down dramatically low and Dr. Gellman and Gadetala had to finish. Dr. Gellman said my nails were getting blue(a sign of lack of oxygen). I was gagging for air when I woke up. I was rushed up to the ICU and put on a respirator and an x-ray revealed one of my lungs collapsed and my heart rate was very high. It was so surreal. I left like I was watching one of those medical TV dramas where they were rushing me down the hall screaming out medical orders and for people to move. I stayed on the respirator for about a week b/c my pnemoumia was getting worse and so was my oxygen level. My other lung didnt collapse but turned into something called like a pancake lung. I had tubes going in my nose, and an IV in my neck and arms. They kept on sticking me w/the IV b/c the IV kept on falling out or the viens were collapsing. To top it all off, a few days into the respirator I got the flu. I was so weak that they were going to put a feeding tubes in me but my husband told them not to b/c I didnt want anymore tubes in me(I obviously couldnt speak so I wrote it to him) I had a really bad reaction to an antibotic that was given to me and broke out in a really bad rash all over that itched like crazy. I had cold sores all over my lips, bed sores, bactrial and yeast infections and strange rashes all over the place. I was so disgusting. I looked like a complete monster. You would never know looking at me know expect for the IV scars on my neck. So all together I was in the ICU for maybe two weeks. Then I started to get better. The respirator came out and my throat was so sore and I could not talk for days. My lungs were having a hard time taking deep breaths and I couldnt form words with the breaths I could take. I was so weak I couldnt walk, climb stairs, sit, stand, etc and needed physical therapy. The pnemounia and flu went away gradually an was discharged a couple of weeks later. Dr. Gellman admitted me a couple of times back to the hospital for having a fever, problems breathing and dehydration. Turned out to just get a virus but he didnt want to take a chance I would get so sick again. Each hospital visit lasted like a little under a wee****il my fever went away. I was overall such a horrible experience but I was so lucky my husband never left my side and never showed he was scared(even though he was terrified) and was so supportive. He slept next to me every night,(even in the ICU-he told them they will have to drag him out by his hair if they really want him to leave) ask the doctors, nurses etc a million and one questions etc. He was like my personal nurse. He always went to get me cold water, fresh towels, change my sheets, etc. He kept such a positive outlook that I dont think i would have made it if it wasnt for him. I can tell you that I never ever ever want to go to the hospital again!! I had post-tramatic stress and I had a hard time going into see Dr.Gellman b/c I would always think he was going to admit me again. To this day I cannot drive down community drive. I do not want to even see the hospital let alone go in it. Ick! But I do not regret having the surgery. I just wished I could have been more mentally prepared and really said goodbye to my 3 year old son. Sorry if this story is too much for some(understandable) but it is my WLS reality. I hope no one on here at to go through anything like I did. I look forward to talking to all of you guys! Take care. Tavia