Mary Lou B.

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So, here I am 3 years and 4 months post-op.  I am going on my first airplane ride this Monday and very excited about it!  I can't believe I'm 47 years old and never been on a plane!  And I'm going to Florida--first time for that too!  Wow! I sure lived a sheltered life.  

Tomorrow I will be attending my 30th High School Reunion too!  All this in one weekend.  I'm excited but nervous about the reunion.  I'm not sure why. I guess I'm worried about how I look even after losing all the weight almost 3 years ago. 

My hubby told me that there won't be anyone looking better than me!  He's such a good guy!

I can't believe it has been 2 years and 8 months since my WLS.  I am maintaining around 165 pounds and very happy there.  We are preparing this weekend for our camping holiday.  We leave Monday morning for Parry Sound.  Really hoping to have a chance to meet Janet from this site.  She lives there and I am going to give her a call after we are settled in.  This holiday will be the first time I have dared to wear a two piece bathing suit in over 20 years!  Should be interesting.  So, life is good and I am so glad I had this surgery!  I feel blessed each and every day that God gave me a second chance at life with WLS. 

Yep, last weekend I went shopping for a new swimsuit because we are going camping for 2 weeks this August.  I was excited and scared when I went into the fitting room to try them on.  I took a size 14 and a size 12 with me.  You know, it's been more than 2 years since surgery and I have maintained my 130+ pound loss for well over a year now, and I STILL doubted that either size would fit me!!  The size 14 was too big and the size 12 fit quite comfortably.  In fact, I liked it so much, I bought two of them.  Now, to put this into perspective, I haven't really shopped for a bathing suit in almost 20 years---and I haven't worn a 2 piece in well over 20 years!

Now I can check one more thing off my "What I want to do when I hit my goal weight" list!  Give it up for WLS!!

I just wanted to see this in writing--I weigh less than EVERYONE in my house!  Woo Hoo!

Life is so good and I am so blessed!

It's hard to believe that it was 2 years on November 28th that I had my WLS.  I went to my family doctor today to get the annual blood work done and he couldn't believe it either.  He has now sent 15 of his patients to Barix for WLS.   He told me that he has other family physicians from south-western Ontario calling him to ask about how to send a patient for WLS in the US.  I told him that he is a rarity because man,y many people have family doctors who either don't know anything about WLS or refuse to sign the paperwork because they don't want to be 'held responsible' should anything go wrong. He feels it is the family doctors responsibility to help their patients find a way to lose weight so they are not sucking our health care system dry from conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.  I agree with him 100%.  He is just one more blessing in my life!

Well, Christmas is just around the corner!  I'm looking very forward to it this year.  The tree is up and all the shopping and wrapping is finished.  My greatest food weakness during Christmas is chocolate!  I stuff my husband and boys stockings with it.  But I have discovered that I can have one Herseys Kiss at a time and I really like the new candy-cane white chocolate ones!  

I am still maintaining at about 155-160 pounds and wearing a size 8-10 in pants.  I'm feeling great and life couldn't be better!

I can't believe it's been 22 months since surgery!  I feel great!  I am staying at about 155 pounds.  The original goal (the doctor's, not mine) was 140 pounds, but I am so happy where I am, that if I never lose another ounce, I'm OK.  

My sister is doing really well too.  She is down from about 315 to 180ish and looks like a million bucks!  

The only problems I ever experience now are if I over-eat or take in too much fat at one sitting.  I stay right away from the sugar--don't even attempt it!  

My hair has finally stopped falling out.  I started growing new hair within months after surgery, but the old stuff just kept falling out.  I thought it would never stop.  

My family doctor has sent several patients to Barix, but recommends they meet with me first to get the 'good, the bad and the ugly" about WLS before they go.  I really enjoy sharing and talking with people who are just starting their journey.

Well, not much else to say--life is good!

I promised myself before surgery that I would keep my profile updated at least every 6 months.  It's been almost 7, so I thought I better get going!

I am staying between 150 and 160 pounds depending on the 'timeof the month' etc.  

I can eat just about anything, but in smaller portions of course.  I still eat too quickly or too much once in a while.

One thing I have noticed since I lost the weight is that my periods are much more painful and I have more 'symptoms' than I had when I was heavy.  They have been bad enough that I went to my doctor about it.  He told me something I didn't know--estrogen is stored in fat!  So, since alot of my body's estrogen used to be stored in my fat  and it is now in my body where it should be, my periods changed.  This includes alot of pain and tenderness and they are very heavy.  I have an appointment to see an OB-GYN in July to discuss my options.  The periods are bad enough, I am contemplating a hysterectomy.  

We purchased a new home in February--our first brand new one.  We are really enjoying it except for all the dust and dirt because of the homes being built in the sub-division around us.  Four years ago when we moved to Aylmer, we never thought we would be in a beautiful brand new home.  God has been so good to us and blessed us so much!  I have a great paying job that I love and now we have this home!  He is good all the time!

Our oldest son, Nick is home from his first year at university.  He is attending Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo.  He is taking performance music.  Nick is a very gifted French horn player--another blessing from God!  Our younger son, Greg, just finished his third year of high school and enjoying the summer holidays.  He would like to go to college and take something in the computer animation field  He is a very talented young artist--well, another blessing!  

I am planning my tummy tuck for next spring and looking very forward to it!

I guess that's it for now.

It's been almost 2 months since I updated my profile, so I thought I'd better get it in gear.  

I am down to 153 pounds.  That's a loss of 132 lbs.  My BMI is 27.1 and started out at 50.8 before surgery almost 14 months ago.  I'm very, very happy with my results and my decision to do this.  It has changed my life!  

I went to Walmart yesterday and bought two pairs of their name brand jeans in a size 8!  OK, maybe you didn't catch that--I said in a size 8!  The only part of me that has been a size 8 in the last 25 years is my pinky finger!  

I MUST get some updated pics on here.  But first I have to buy a camera!  We haven't had one in our house in a very long time--hmmmm... wonder why?

November 28th was my one year anniversary since surgery.  Wow, how time flies!  I can't believe it's been a year already.  

I went to Barix for my first annual check up on Monday November 27th.  Dr. Schram was very pleased with my results.  They expect you to lose 60-65% of your excess weight during the first year.  I have lost 85% of mine!  I started at 285 pounds with a goal of 140 pounds.  I currently weigh 160 pounds which gives me a loss of 125 pounds!  Amazing!  I really don't care if I lose another ounce.  I'm very happy where I am and feel like a completely new person.  I know I look like a new person!  I saw someone on Monday who hasn't seen me for 3 years and didn't know I had lost weight.  When I was re-introduced to her she went all freaky and couldn't believe it was me!  After she settled down, she admitted that I looked familiar, but she just couldn't place me!  So funny!  

It was a nice day spent in the US.  I went with a friend, Nancy, who I don't get to spend as much time with as I would like.  We had a great day!  We shopped in Ypsilanti at a few stores--took our time with no pressure to hurry.  Thought we would get pulled over at the border though.  The guard asked us how much we spent and then asked to see our receipts.  Then he asked me if I knew how much we were allowed to spend when you are only over for the day.  I told him I thought it was very little or nothing.  He said you're right-nothing.  Then he hands me everything back and says have a nice day ladies.  Off we went.  We stopped at Applebees for supper in Windsor and then headed home.  I bought 2 pairs of pants, a pair of black boots and some Christmas stuff.  I also bought a bunch of groceries we can't get here.  All in all--a fun day!

Kevin and I ventured off to Barix on Saturday (18th) for my appointment with Dr. DiNick at Barix.  He is a reconstructive surgeon.  I really went for another opinion as I doubt I will travel down there for my tummy tuck.  Since I've had two Canadian surgeons give me quotes from $3,600 to $12,000 I really wanted a third opinion and I thought it wise to get one from a surgeon who deals strictly with WLS patients.  

Anyway, he was just as wonderful as Carey Poisson said he was.  He was relaxed, patient and very knowledgeable.  He showed me before/after photos of other TT's which were amazing but not unrealistic 'Barbie dolls'.  He spent about half an hour with me and the consultation was $100 US.  Dr. DiNick explained everything from where I would be cut to the fact that he sees his patients on a regular basis for check ups for an entire year after surgery.  He wasn't sure what the quote would be as they don't deal with very many self-paying patients.  He is going to have his staff send me a quote by mail.

So, all in all, I was very pleased with him and learned some things from him that the other two surgeons hadn't talked about (probably because I didn't ask the right questions) but after talking with hubby about it and weighing all the pros and cons, it just seems very inconvenient for me to go to the US for this surgery.

Down a couple more pounds to 160!