Peggy B.
The Journey Continues!
Feb 09, 2018
Hello, everyone! I recently posted my journey to a healthier me on my Facebook page and realized how long it had been since I came here to visit with my Gastric Bypass friends! I always aspire to inspire and hope I can once again do that for y'all here!
September 8, 2006
Oct 17, 2006
Not doing very well at jornaling anymore. Seems like since WLS life has become very, very busy! So many good things happening. I feel like I'm living a dream.
I just had hernia surgery this last Friday. A little scary considering what I went through in November of 2005 with emergency surgery due to a leak around my lil' pouch. I thought I'd have a two day stay in the hosptial but they let me go home the same day! Wahoo!!! This surgery went very well and I'm on the road to mending.
Today I went for my follow-up office visit after hernia surgery and the nurse removed my drain and all my incision stitches of which there were a bunch! Wahoo!!! No more bandages and I can even shower without covering up my incision now. Ah!!! The life I lead now!!! : 0 )
What was my biggest WOW moment was when I weighed in. I had lost another 7 pounds since my last office visit. I have now lost over 80 pounds and only have 13 more to go to my goal weight of 150 on the surgeon's scales. Can't wait to get back on my feet totally so I can start exercising again. That will be awhile yet. I'll always be careful 'cause I don't want the alien (hernia) poking back out of my belly. BTW I have gone from size 18-20's to 10 -12's and expect shortly to be in 8 - 10's!!!! Yea!!! Baby!!!! Oh and I'm going through mid-life crisis - I've highlighted my hair and I'm now blonde for the first time in my life at the age of 48!
Another wonderful WOW moment is that not only have I finally achieved success with losing weight, I have become more confident in myself. I applied for an art show and guess what! I was chosen to hang my artwork here locally for the whole month of June, 2007! What an awesome feeling! I am so excited and nervous all rolled into one.
Anyhow, I pray that all my friends here at WLS are having as much success after surgery as I am. Despite all I've been through this last year life has never been so good!
Peggy B.
I just had hernia surgery this last Friday. A little scary considering what I went through in November of 2005 with emergency surgery due to a leak around my lil' pouch. I thought I'd have a two day stay in the hosptial but they let me go home the same day! Wahoo!!! This surgery went very well and I'm on the road to mending.
Today I went for my follow-up office visit after hernia surgery and the nurse removed my drain and all my incision stitches of which there were a bunch! Wahoo!!! No more bandages and I can even shower without covering up my incision now. Ah!!! The life I lead now!!! : 0 )
What was my biggest WOW moment was when I weighed in. I had lost another 7 pounds since my last office visit. I have now lost over 80 pounds and only have 13 more to go to my goal weight of 150 on the surgeon's scales. Can't wait to get back on my feet totally so I can start exercising again. That will be awhile yet. I'll always be careful 'cause I don't want the alien (hernia) poking back out of my belly. BTW I have gone from size 18-20's to 10 -12's and expect shortly to be in 8 - 10's!!!! Yea!!! Baby!!!! Oh and I'm going through mid-life crisis - I've highlighted my hair and I'm now blonde for the first time in my life at the age of 48!
Another wonderful WOW moment is that not only have I finally achieved success with losing weight, I have become more confident in myself. I applied for an art show and guess what! I was chosen to hang my artwork here locally for the whole month of June, 2007! What an awesome feeling! I am so excited and nervous all rolled into one.
Anyhow, I pray that all my friends here at WLS are having as much success after surgery as I am. Despite all I've been through this last year life has never been so good!
Peggy B.
March 30, 2006
Oct 17, 2006
It's been a long time since updating. Sorry about that. After being laid up for so long, when I finally got back on my feet, I had a lot of catching up to do.
I'm feeling good. Down 60 pounds since the day of my surgery on 10/25/05 when I weighed in at 245.5. On 3/16/06 at my last office visit, I weighed in at 185.5. It feels great to have the weight gone. I'm struggling with the last 30 - 40 pounds.
I'm at my second plateau and finding myself a little depressed about it. I'm slipping back into old habits of snacking on carbs again. Wish I'd never started that because now it's hard to stop again. I need to eat more protein. As a matter of fact I need to print the 10 protien plateau buster diet someone posted awhile back. Also need to get to the gym and tone up some of this flabbiness.
Anyhow, I'm happy for now in size 12's. In my mind I'm still extra extra supersized large. Today I looked at a size 12 pants and shook my head because they looked too small. I almost put them back but stopped myself and went and tried them on. They fit perfect. I'm dreaming of the day I fit into 10's. That's a size I've never, ever wore in my whole adult life not even for a month or two!
Good luck to those of you just starting your journey. You're not alone in this endevor. It is not an easy way out. Like it has been said over and over again on this board, WLS is a tool only. What you do after surgery is up to you!
Peggy B.
I'm feeling good. Down 60 pounds since the day of my surgery on 10/25/05 when I weighed in at 245.5. On 3/16/06 at my last office visit, I weighed in at 185.5. It feels great to have the weight gone. I'm struggling with the last 30 - 40 pounds.
I'm at my second plateau and finding myself a little depressed about it. I'm slipping back into old habits of snacking on carbs again. Wish I'd never started that because now it's hard to stop again. I need to eat more protein. As a matter of fact I need to print the 10 protien plateau buster diet someone posted awhile back. Also need to get to the gym and tone up some of this flabbiness.
Anyhow, I'm happy for now in size 12's. In my mind I'm still extra extra supersized large. Today I looked at a size 12 pants and shook my head because they looked too small. I almost put them back but stopped myself and went and tried them on. They fit perfect. I'm dreaming of the day I fit into 10's. That's a size I've never, ever wore in my whole adult life not even for a month or two!
Good luck to those of you just starting your journey. You're not alone in this endevor. It is not an easy way out. Like it has been said over and over again on this board, WLS is a tool only. What you do after surgery is up to you!
Peggy B.
December 11, 2005
Oct 17, 2006
Well, what a journey this has turned out to be! My textbook case turned into the one in a million leak case. Ten days after surgery I ended back up in the hospital with a leak. They opened me up and found infection. They cleaned that mess up and pumped me full of antibiotics and then two days later closed me back up.
I was in intensive care for several days. Total hospital stay for second surgery was ten days. A period in my life that I don't remember too much about except for it wasn't too fun. My sweet husband stayed with me the whole time. I don't know if I would have made it if it hadn't been for him.
While I was in the hospital, my wonderful sweet mother passed away. It was so hard knowing that I wouldn't be able to attend her funeral. It was in Maine so even if I were feeling better, I wouldn't have been able to fly yet. She was my best friend and I miss her.
Well, will try and write more later.
Peggy B.
I was in intensive care for several days. Total hospital stay for second surgery was ten days. A period in my life that I don't remember too much about except for it wasn't too fun. My sweet husband stayed with me the whole time. I don't know if I would have made it if it hadn't been for him.
While I was in the hospital, my wonderful sweet mother passed away. It was so hard knowing that I wouldn't be able to attend her funeral. It was in Maine so even if I were feeling better, I wouldn't have been able to fly yet. She was my best friend and I miss her.
Well, will try and write more later.
Peggy B.
November 4, 2005
Oct 17, 2006
No more wicks! Went for my first post-op office visit and I've already lost 14 pounds! I also have graduated from clear liquids to full liquids which I am excited about but when I stop and think about eating, it's like I'm not hungry. What did they do? Snip the food line to my brain? Very new sensation for me, I must say!!! Made homemade chocolate chip cookies for my family yesterday and didn't even want a bite. It was enough just to be up and playing the Mom part of my life again.
Anyhow, I'm on full liquids this week and if all goes well, then I can graduate to puree'd foods. I'll be on that for two weeks until I go back for my second checkup.
I also can do anything that is the equivalent of five pounds worth of work. I can sweep my floor with a regular broom but I can't vacuum. I can load and unload the dishwasher but I can't lift heavy pots of food (anything over five pounds). I can do laundry but someone else has to carry the laundry basket for me. Anyhow, my teens are gonna' have to hang in there for three or four more weeks.
I am sooo glad I had this surgery done. Now if my body would just catch up to my mind so I can go back to doing the things I really want to do!
Peggy B.
Anyhow, I'm on full liquids this week and if all goes well, then I can graduate to puree'd foods. I'll be on that for two weeks until I go back for my second checkup.
I also can do anything that is the equivalent of five pounds worth of work. I can sweep my floor with a regular broom but I can't vacuum. I can load and unload the dishwasher but I can't lift heavy pots of food (anything over five pounds). I can do laundry but someone else has to carry the laundry basket for me. Anyhow, my teens are gonna' have to hang in there for three or four more weeks.
I am sooo glad I had this surgery done. Now if my body would just catch up to my mind so I can go back to doing the things I really want to do!
Peggy B.
October 24, 2005
Oct 17, 2006
It is 9:09 p.m. on Monday night. Hubby asked me a little while ago if I was ready. I told him, "Heck, yea! Let's go now." He simply smiled. I can't honestly say I'm going to look forward to the discomfort of surgery but I have a peace about it. Once the surgery is performed, the healing can begin and my life on the losing side can start.
I have been obese all my life. I have been called names since grade school. My name has always been changed from Peggy to "Miss Piggy". A sad memory that I will always have inside of me. My high school years were good but not great. I was so overweight and my parents, strict Baptist, wouldn't allow me to participate in anything after school unless it had to do with the church. Growing up in a very, very small town in Maine, there wasn't very much else to do except watch television and eat my mother's delicious homemade cookies and pies. On the occasions that I was invited by other teenagers to the movies, bowling or roller skating, I wasn't allowed. I was stuck at home with food as my only friend. Thus my weight steadily climbed.
Now, as an adult, my health is deteriorating and my weight is climbing ever so higher. I have dieted myself for thirty years to my all time high of being 100 pounds overweight. I have acid reflux and recently had a doctor double my dose of Nexium. I wake up cough because of the bile that has spilled over into my lungs. My legs and lower back ache constantly and my feet hurt.
Tomorrow, under the skilled hands of Dr. Krietz, I will have Lap RNY-Gastric Bypass Surgery. A surgery, that once performed, cannot be undone. In other words, there is no going back. I am ready for this change. Surgery will give me the starting tool I need as an morbidly obese person to relearn how to eat and live as a thin person. There will be temptations and there will be lots of challenges to overcome but excitedly, I look forward with anticipation to becoming a new person. I will finally be given the gift of health and a thin body, something I have longed for all my life.
I will be the one to pick the prettiest clothes off the sales rack and they will fit. I will finally be able to stand tall and smile with confidence with others in a crowd that I now avoid.
Thank you Dr. Krietz and Dr. Shimmer for my upcoming surgery. Thank you Great West Healthcare (American Life) for realizing the medical necessity of this surgery that ultimately leads to a healthy, healed body and mind. Thank you to my angel, Gina A., who has been my friend and rock. She's been with me through all the ups and downs and all the mood swings that go along with the fight for surgery. Thank you to all my AMOS friends who will be praying for me tomorrow as I go through the doors into surgery. Most of all, thank you God for giving me the answer to my prayer that I have been asking for for many, many years. I am certainly blessed!!!!
I can't wait to get home and talk to y'all about my experience. I pray that all those seeking this surgery will be as blessed as I am today!
Peggy B.
I have been obese all my life. I have been called names since grade school. My name has always been changed from Peggy to "Miss Piggy". A sad memory that I will always have inside of me. My high school years were good but not great. I was so overweight and my parents, strict Baptist, wouldn't allow me to participate in anything after school unless it had to do with the church. Growing up in a very, very small town in Maine, there wasn't very much else to do except watch television and eat my mother's delicious homemade cookies and pies. On the occasions that I was invited by other teenagers to the movies, bowling or roller skating, I wasn't allowed. I was stuck at home with food as my only friend. Thus my weight steadily climbed.
Now, as an adult, my health is deteriorating and my weight is climbing ever so higher. I have dieted myself for thirty years to my all time high of being 100 pounds overweight. I have acid reflux and recently had a doctor double my dose of Nexium. I wake up cough because of the bile that has spilled over into my lungs. My legs and lower back ache constantly and my feet hurt.
Tomorrow, under the skilled hands of Dr. Krietz, I will have Lap RNY-Gastric Bypass Surgery. A surgery, that once performed, cannot be undone. In other words, there is no going back. I am ready for this change. Surgery will give me the starting tool I need as an morbidly obese person to relearn how to eat and live as a thin person. There will be temptations and there will be lots of challenges to overcome but excitedly, I look forward with anticipation to becoming a new person. I will finally be given the gift of health and a thin body, something I have longed for all my life.
I will be the one to pick the prettiest clothes off the sales rack and they will fit. I will finally be able to stand tall and smile with confidence with others in a crowd that I now avoid.
Thank you Dr. Krietz and Dr. Shimmer for my upcoming surgery. Thank you Great West Healthcare (American Life) for realizing the medical necessity of this surgery that ultimately leads to a healthy, healed body and mind. Thank you to my angel, Gina A., who has been my friend and rock. She's been with me through all the ups and downs and all the mood swings that go along with the fight for surgery. Thank you to all my AMOS friends who will be praying for me tomorrow as I go through the doors into surgery. Most of all, thank you God for giving me the answer to my prayer that I have been asking for for many, many years. I am certainly blessed!!!!
I can't wait to get home and talk to y'all about my experience. I pray that all those seeking this surgery will be as blessed as I am today!
Peggy B.
October 14, 2005
Oct 17, 2006
So much has happened over this last month! I can't believe it. Hurricane Rita decided to come to town on September 23rd and, boy, was she ever mad!!! Of course, my office visit with the surgeon on that day was cancelled.
Anyhow, my office visit with Dr. Krietz is now October 17th which is Monday and my surgery date is October 31st...Halloween day! Hope the goblins stay away. I'm going to tell Dr. Krietz to please leave the masks at home...lol.
I can't wait. The countdown has begun. Only 17 more days to my new life and my journey to a heathier, thinner, happier me!!!!
Peggy B.
Anyhow, my office visit with Dr. Krietz is now October 17th which is Monday and my surgery date is October 31st...Halloween day! Hope the goblins stay away. I'm going to tell Dr. Krietz to please leave the masks at home...lol.
I can't wait. The countdown has begun. Only 17 more days to my new life and my journey to a heathier, thinner, happier me!!!!
Peggy B.
September 20, 2005
Oct 17, 2006
Pulmonology testing went fine. Took forever though. My appointment was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. I didn't get out of there until almost 1:00 p.m. It was a good visit despite the waiting. I had a chest extra and then had to do the breathing tests. Dr. Chinn was very helpful. He gave me a prescription for my sinus headaches, nasal spray for my allergies and something else for my asthma and something else for my ear that's been bothering me. Oh and he doubled my nexium. He says it's better to get all this stuff under control before my surgery so I will be healthier than to put it off.
Friday I have my appointment with the surgeon to set up my actual surgery date and to schedule an appointment to have bloodwork done! Waaahhhooo! I'm hoping to have surgery real soon after the first of October. That way I will be on my way to a thinner me before the holidays arrive.
I'm praying for all of you just starting your journey. Research and stay involved in your paperwork. I feel that my sucess was due to the fact that I stayed active in my documentation and didn't leave it for the surgeon's office to handle. Brenda at Dr. Kreitz's office was wonderful and helpful. Without her I wouldn't have gotten anywhere. Anytime I had a question she had the answer. She knew what I needed to submit and had suggestions when I didn't know exactly what to do. Thank you Brenda!
Now if only Hurricane Rita will stay out in the gulf and die. I can't believe that there is the threat of bad weather on the day I'm supposed to schedule my surgery.
My delima now that I know I can have this surgery is, who do I tell and who do I not tell? I really do think that once I have my actual date, I will make up announcement cards and send them out telling everyone that I am having the surgery but I don't want to hear any negative talk. I don't even want to discuss this with anyone. I have discussed it with everyone I need to --- my husband and my kids.
Anyhow, will solve that problem when the time comes.
Peggy B.
Friday I have my appointment with the surgeon to set up my actual surgery date and to schedule an appointment to have bloodwork done! Waaahhhooo! I'm hoping to have surgery real soon after the first of October. That way I will be on my way to a thinner me before the holidays arrive.
I'm praying for all of you just starting your journey. Research and stay involved in your paperwork. I feel that my sucess was due to the fact that I stayed active in my documentation and didn't leave it for the surgeon's office to handle. Brenda at Dr. Kreitz's office was wonderful and helpful. Without her I wouldn't have gotten anywhere. Anytime I had a question she had the answer. She knew what I needed to submit and had suggestions when I didn't know exactly what to do. Thank you Brenda!
Now if only Hurricane Rita will stay out in the gulf and die. I can't believe that there is the threat of bad weather on the day I'm supposed to schedule my surgery.
My delima now that I know I can have this surgery is, who do I tell and who do I not tell? I really do think that once I have my actual date, I will make up announcement cards and send them out telling everyone that I am having the surgery but I don't want to hear any negative talk. I don't even want to discuss this with anyone. I have discussed it with everyone I need to --- my husband and my kids.
Anyhow, will solve that problem when the time comes.
Peggy B.
September 19, 2005 (evening)
Oct 17, 2006
Just wanted to post that I will be having my office visit with Dr. Chinn tomorrow. After talking with at least seven different people, Betsy in the Business Office told me to tell them that she approved it that I would only have to pay my $15 co-pay tomorrow. If there is an additional charge they will bill me. "Thank you Lord!" That means, on Friday when I have my office visit with Dr. Kreitz we can go ahead and schedule my date for surgery! Waahhhooo! Someday soon, hopefully in October, I will be through the gate and on my way down the path to a healthier, happier me!
Peggy B.
Peggy B.
September 19, 2005 (morning)
Oct 17, 2006
I've just found out I've won the biggest lottery of my life. I've been given the gift of WLS by my insurance company and I can't wait. I am excited, dizzy, excited, spinning, excited.... Well, you get the point.
I have an appointment tomorrow with the Pulmonologist but would have to reschedule until after verification of approval from insurance because of out of pocket expenses. I called the insurance company this morning just to see before I called to reschedule with Dr. Chinn. They said that I was approved and a letter had been sent out on Spetmber 17th. Thank you Great West Healthcare (American Lifecare) for giving me this wonderful gift of a healthier life! Even though I have been told that my surgery has been approved, I think my hands will still shake when I open that special letter when it arrives.
I can't wait until I actually have a date! I will get that this Friday when I have my office visit with Dr. Kreitz. Thank you Brenda and all the office staff at Dr. Kreitz's office who have put up with me. I wouldn't have been able to do it without y'all. Thank you Gina, my wonderful angel, who's been with me since the beginning.
Can't wait to be on the losing side of life! I will enjoy the ride.
Peggy B.
I have an appointment tomorrow with the Pulmonologist but would have to reschedule until after verification of approval from insurance because of out of pocket expenses. I called the insurance company this morning just to see before I called to reschedule with Dr. Chinn. They said that I was approved and a letter had been sent out on Spetmber 17th. Thank you Great West Healthcare (American Lifecare) for giving me this wonderful gift of a healthier life! Even though I have been told that my surgery has been approved, I think my hands will still shake when I open that special letter when it arrives.
I can't wait until I actually have a date! I will get that this Friday when I have my office visit with Dr. Kreitz. Thank you Brenda and all the office staff at Dr. Kreitz's office who have put up with me. I wouldn't have been able to do it without y'all. Thank you Gina, my wonderful angel, who's been with me since the beginning.
Can't wait to be on the losing side of life! I will enjoy the ride.
Peggy B.
About Me
Westlake, LA
Location
24.2
BMI
May 26, 2005
Member Since
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
2005 one month before surgery!
248lbs
2018 Current Weight
159lbs
