carolyn p.
July 17, 2005♥
Hi there!
My name is Carolyn, I am 40 years old, 5 foot 6 inches tall and FAT-FAT-FAT! I am anxiously awaiting a surgery date. My insurance provider is Kaiser and there is quite a long wait and a few hoops you must jump through to get from point A to point B. I told my new primary physician in February of this year that I wanted this surgery. Although I understand why they take you through this process, I have been ready for this surgery for over 3 years.
Let me give you a little history...... I have struggled with weight all of my life(duh!) and have felt the painful sting of guilt and ridicule, have lost and gained 100's of pounds during my lifetime- have starved myself, been on Weight Watchers, Atkins, Low-fat, Slim Fast, Cabbage soup--the list goes on and on...you name it, I've done it. (I know this is so familiar to anyone reading this). I have health issues directly related to obesity and my reasons are MANY for wanting this surgery.....Here are just a few: I don't want to die at 41 (Like my mother did) or die of a heart-attack at 52 (like my father) or die at 64 (like my Grandmother)...I want to LIVE, and I want to be HEALTHY! I want to be here for my family and to someday attend both my girls' weddings, to watch as they have families of their own. I want to be a healthy grandmother for my future grandchildren and to go for long walks without feeling like I'm going to pass-out, I want to climb Mt. Everest (well, maybe that's taking it a little too far!!) But, you get the picture! ha ha.
I had decided to have this surgery 3 years ago, but my husband was dead-set against it, my 2 girls both cried when I told them what I was planning and all my friends thought I was nuts. I knew I couldn't face the surgery without support from my family and friends, so dutifully, I cancelled my plans and went on the Atkins Diet (one more time). I lost over 40 pounds, but gained it all back and then some (sound familiar??)
I am meeting with my surgeons, Dr. Dutta and Dr. Dennen, the case coodinator, anesthesiologist and nutritionist with the Fremont Kaiser facility on the 29th of this month. It is supposed to be a 2-3 hour long meeting and I am hoping that they will schedule a surgery date on this day! I have already begun to lose some weight-which I started in February after weighing in at my Doc's office....a whopping 320lbs!!! EEEK!!!! I will pray and keep my fingers crossed. Please keep me in your prayers and write to me anytime and thanks for reading!
God Bless! (304 lbs.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2005♥
Well, here I am again....I just got back from Fremont Kaiser-WHEW! I was there from 9:30a to 2:30pm!! (patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue) Ü I had to sit and wait most of the time, but I was able to meet with the Doctor, which by the way, was not Dr. Dutta as I assumed, but one of his partners-Dr. Dennen. He is very personable, pleasant, down to earth and has a great sense of humor-which I just love! I am happy that he will be doing my surgery-I feel certain that he will do a great job. Anyhow, where was I? Oh, ya...I met with him, the anesthesiologist the nutritionist and the coordinator. I have 10 more pounds to lose (I am currently at 302.5 lbs) and if I lose 5 of them by the time I have my 2nd psych appt (what, did they think I was crazy the 1st time and just checking again to be sure?!?)which is August 31st-they will most likely schedule a date for me. Wooooo hooooooo!!!!!! I said, "NO PROBLEM-I will have them off!!!" I'm on my way! More to come.....(302.5 lbs)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
August 30, 2005♥
I'm going to try and not sound like a downer, but I am sooooo sad! I just got a call from the coordinator at Kaiser and she told me that Dr. Dennen is taking a vacation in September and almost all of October is booked with some on a waiting list. So It looks like I won't be getting my surgery until around November. I know I can't force things to happen and I am a firm believer in the fact that God has our life mapped out for us, and I know it is not my time right now, but it's just terribly hard to swallow this news as I've lost the 10% of my weight, I've done everything they've asked me, all the appointments, orientations, meetings, the waiting (this time) since February (and almost 4 years since the LAST time I wanted to have this surgery done). I'm just more than ready. Now, I have to go to my last psych evaluation tomorrow with the knowledge that there is so much more time to wait..... (293 lbs.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 4, 2005♥
Okay, I'm doing much better than on my last post. I'm okay with the fact that I have to wait until November for my surgery. I put this little poem together and I hope you enjoy it:
♥My true life's journey is about to begin,
To embrace what's ahead and turn away from what's been.
The pain of this weight I will suffer no more,
I will turn the last page, I will close the last door.
"VICTORY IS MINE!" I will scream from rooftops,
Enjoying every minute, for always-nonstop.
Be prepared world, for here I come!
I'll never turn back to where I came from.♥
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 26, 2005♥
Well, hello again....I guess my "True Life's Journey" just hit another speed bump! Ü Nancy, the coordinator for Kaiser FINALLY called me back after 4 attempts at leaving her messages in the last few days. Dr. Dennen returned from vacation, but I never heard a word about when my surgery would be. Sooooo, anyhow-I spoke to Nancy and was kind-of upset with the fact that ALL of October is booked and almost ALL of November as well. She told me that I am #10 on Dr. Dennen's waiting list (whatever that means) She explained to me that they are sooo back-logged and she can't even give me a date, as they don't know what the surgery schedule arrangement for November and December will be because of the holidays. I'm seriously beginning to wonder if this will ever happen!
Oh well, such is life. C'est La Vie(292 lbs.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 14, 2005♥
OH MY GOSH!!!! I HAVE A DATE!!!! NOVEMBER 23, 2005!!!! THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING!!! WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOO. 2 people dropped off the list and I was ready to come apart at the seams when the coordinator from Kaiser called today and gave me the TERRIFIC NEWS!!! Ok, no turkey for me, so what?? I could care less...I'm soooo gosh darn happy happy happy! The countdown begins!! BRING ON THE TURKEY BROTH, BABY!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 15, 2005♥
Now, I'm even more blessed!! Faith has honored me by becoming my angel!! YEAH!!! Thank you, Faith! Kisses and Hugs to you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 18, 2005♥
HEY.....I'm still a go for surgery!! Only 5-Yes, count them-5 days until THE BIG DAY! I'm sooooooooooooo excited-I just can't wait. Yesterday was my last day at work for a while. Everyone gave me big hugs and said they will be praying for me...my best buddy, Kathi started crying and then of course, I HAD to also! (BTW, I cry at Kodak commercials. Give me a reason, I'll cry about it.) She said she won't know what to do without me for a month or so...sweet Kathi!! It seems that everyone at work is sick with SOMETHING! Lately, I've been so paranoid about getting sick (no surgery if I'm sick) I think that people are going to start referring to me as "Mrs. Howard Hughes"!! I'm not kidding! When I'm at work and I hold the hand rails while walking upstairs, touch a lightswitch, use a telephone that someone else used -I immediately run to the bathroom to scrub my hands. My best friend at work and I have lunch together everyday and she will sometimes take a sip of my drink. No problem, generally..... But, she did that 2 days ago and I flipped...I gave her the 20-questions: "Are you feeling sick? Is anyone in your family sick? Are your dogs or cats, rabbits, monkeys, fish sick? Do you plan on being sick anytime soon?"(HA HA) She said-geez, you make me feel like a leper or something-I told her I'm just being VERY careful and promised her that when I return to work, that I will let her lick my food before I eat it just to prove to her that I don't think she has cooties! hee hee Faith (my angel) has planned my "Last Supper" for this Saturday night. I am really excited and looking forward to meeting some of the OH folks I've talked to on the boards. That's all for now.
Take care and God Bless! (289 lbs)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 22, 2005♥
Here I am....sooooooooo excited and anxious about tomorrow!! I'm still not nervous, I thought that perhaps I would be by now, but I'm just calm and thrilled that my day is finally here! God has washed away all fear. I have to leave my house by 4am to get to Fremont at 6:30am. I have been saying all along that I'm getting a 2-for-one deal...not only having the Gastric Bypass, but also they are removing my gall-bladder. Well, lo and behold I'M GETTING A 3-FER!!! Wow- 3 for the price of 1!! HA HA During my Pre-op and physical yesterday, my doc also found that I have an umbilical hernia (thinks it may be from when I was a baby!) that he will repair. So what would have taken 2 1/2 to 3 hours will now be 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Sorry to those that have to wait for me to get out of surgery....I'll be snoozing, I won't notice the time difference! :-)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 28, 2005♥
Hi there!! I got home from surgery on Friday the 25th!! All went well and I'll try to remember what happened from the time I got there, so all you that are looking into this will feel a little more comfortable!!
Ok, Kaiser told me to be at the hospital at 6:30am (I was there at 6am) But then after all the paperwork was filled-out, they told me the doctor won't even be at the hospital until 8am or a little before. Geez, I could understand maybe 30 minutes to an hour, but tell ya to come an hour and half early??? Ok, first weigh-in (to be sure I didn't binge out.....really what would it matter with the colon cocktail the day before?? :-) I weighed-in at 288.5 pounds(Moooooo-oops, just slipped out) Then I was prepped after I got into my cute evening gown and beautiful blue hair net-got my IV in, met the anesthesiologists (I got 2!) the surgical nurses and then they scooted me into the surgery room....woooo hooo, it was soooo cold! I'm not normally one to get chilled easily, but I'll tell ya, there was an arctic wind a blowin' up my OVER-sized gown (really nice, that they make em so big for us!) The surgical nurse asked me to lie down on the table which had 2 protruding bars for my arms...it kinda looked like a cross, which kinda freaked me a little bit. She told me to put my arms out on the bars and the 2 anesthesiologists (I still don't know if I'm spelling that correctly!) gently strapped my arms down. They put warm blankets on me(mmmmmmmm-yummy, that felt soooo good!)I was actually quite comfortable...Then the mask came... over my nose and mouth and I could hear in the background the faint sound of my surgeon coming in. The surgical nurse said "HI, Larry!" I heard him return with a sing-song sound in his voice-I just love my surgeon-can you tell?? Anyway, I thought I would be able to say hi to him as well, before he started the surgery, but dang it, the anesthesiologist told me to take a couple of deep breaths (we all know what THAT means) All I can remember is the 1st deep breath-then I was in LA LA land! The next thing I remember is that I woke up in the recovery room and said, "Is it already done?" The nurse chuckled and said "All done!" I remember going in and out and feeling quite happily drowsy. Some hospital folks (don't know who-they could have been anyone, and I wouldn't have known the difference) wheeled me into my room and then blew up like a balloon thingy under me to move me to my new bed. WOW, that felt so good-it was so cool. Now, instead of being cold-I had a fever of 101 degrees (so I was told later), and the cool air felt wonderful-I told them to do that again and I heard one of them laugh. I guess that blow up thing helps them to move big fat arses when the person can't really do anything to help them move to the new bed. I don't know, I never asked. Anyway, I went out like a light again then the next second (which was more like 10 minutes-my husband came into the room-then my 2 girls, then our good friends, Jeanette, Mick and Janine) Ray said I was off and on like a light. He said I'd be laughing or joking one second, then out the next. My daughter crystal said, "Man mom, it was so funny, you'd be saying "OH, HI CRYSTAL"...then boom, snoring away"! Anyway, over time, I found out that the surgery ended up being 5 1/2 hours instead of the 3 1/2 to 4 hours that they had intially said it would take... What I found out later from Dr. Dennen, is that my gall bladder was loaded with gallstones.....40 TO BE EXACT!! I couldn't believe it! He said in order to get it out laparascopically, he had to remove each one, then take the gallbladder out-otherwise he would have had to open me up....THANK GOD I HAD THE HEAD OF SURGERY DO MY BYPASS!! I have to say, HE IS THE BEST!! I'm so fortunate that he didn't just say, forget it-I'm cuttin' her wide open to get this thing out!! I ended up with 8 incisions vs. the normal 5 for just a Bypass. Anyway...I was up and walking in 5 hours (they told me I would be up in 6 hours anyway, but I wanted to get outta that bed) I felt dizzy and made it halfway down the corridor and felt nauseous-the nurse had no bucket for me, so I found my way to a sink in the hallway....no need....only dry heaves...even with lots-o-pain-meds...YOU DON"T WANT DRY HEAVES! Owie! Made it back to my room had some ice chips and went to sleep for 4 hours, then back up for another run around the halls! ha ha This time no barfies.....but lots of nausea. Found out the nausea was caused by the pain medication. I never used my morphine button as they had me on a constant drip the 1st day and 1/2 of the 2nd day. After they turned off the auto dispense, I was in a little pain, so I pressed the button...WRONG MOVE! I immediately was lookin for the barf bucket...Ok, forget it, I'd rather be in pain than deal with this!! I actually wasn't in a lot of pain-just when I strained to get out of bed, or back in. I have to tell you about the JP drain tube...I was really worried about getting that thing removed, but Dr. Dennen assured me it wouldn't hurt. He said it would just feel "weird" when he pulled it out....He counted 1-2-3 and YANK....Well, yes indeed-it felt weird. Kinda like someone grabbing your intestine and pulling it though a little hole. It was very quick, 1/2 second no pain-no problem...not to worry!! Well, surgery was on Wednesday, and I was released at 3pm on Friday (pretty cool-only had to stay 2 days!) I had visitors, calls galore and beautiful flowers sent from so many well-wishers as well as a ton of E-mails when I got home...thank you to all of you who made me feel so special!!!... I am home now and keeping my water down (drinking 64 oz. a day is now my JOB!) ha ha It is difficult to get that much down when you have to sip sip sip! I have kept soup and jello down as well. No problems yet except for the fact that Dr. Dennen took me completely off my diuretics-have a lot of water gain, but he is assuring me that it will eventually disappear....hmmmm. He told me that if in 5 days the water doesn't subside, that I can take only 1 (I was taking 2-40mg. lasix per day) every other day, he is afraid of dehydration, and so am I!! I have all this extra water on me, but we're afraid of dehydration-GO FIGURE!! :-)I have been walking all around the house upstairs and down-it has been 5 days so far since surgery, and I decorated the inside of the house for Christmas-had a lot of help and I didn't over-do it, but had a wonderful time listening to Christmas music and enjoying the day being creative! It looks beautiful, by the way! hee hee Wow...I guess I've rambled on enough....Just want anyone to know, who may be reading this..."Don't be afraid!! Leave it all in God's capable hands and HE will see you through!!" JUST DO IT....I'm so glad I did, and I haven't even seen the results yet!!
God Bless! xoxoxo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 2, 2005♥
I STILL can't believe it is December.....WHERE DID 2005 GO?!? I just feel so blessed to have been given this 2nd chance at life (aside from the health issues from which I will free myself). It almost seems surreal to realize that I've had my surgery and I am now on the verge of my true destiny. Ya know, I've thought a lot about this. Isn't it amazing that all of us here, find that this is the beginning of our lives? It's so upsetting and exciting at the same time. We aren't finishing 8-10 years of college, we haven't found the cure for cancer, we haven't been named "Humanitarian of the Year, Pulitzer Prize Winner, Publisher's Clearing House Winner, Lotto Winner"....However, I don't think that one of us could be any happier if we had! Isn't the truth? Society has placed such a HUGE demand on us...emphasis ONLY on mere outer appeararance. (Who cares if you're a creepy, nasty, low-down cheating, scummy, lying, ugly person on the inside) We have ALL been made to feel like 2nd class citizens-never good enough, attractive enough, worthy enough, etc etc...the list goes on-ALL BASED ONLY ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOME EXTRA FLESH AND FAT!!!!! How freaking SUPERFICIAL!! I haven't even begun to lose weight. In fact, I weigh more now than when I went in for surgery (Darn water-retention!). But I KNOW what is in store for me by reading all the wonderful profiles within this site. I know I will soar like an eagle on the winds of success and savor the feeling of being thin, of being noticed, of being attractive and worthy...by society's standards. You know, I have a strong love and faith in God, and I know by HIS standards that I AM ALL those things and more-I know that by HIS standards that I am PERFECT just like I am...however, all my life, even knowing that....I still have to strive to meet society's standards....WHY???? I STILL have to ask myself that question....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 6, 2005♥
Well, I guess I counted those chickens before they hatched! I was feeling soooooo great after surgery-I just couldn't believe it! So the day before yesterday, I landed in emergency with a 102.3 fever and an internal infection with my umbilical "repair" (I still say the surgeon should have left well-enough alone!!) I was and still am in massive pain in that area-it feels like my insides are being ripped out when I try to sit up from a laying position. I feel much better today-I don't have a fever nor do I have nausea, but the antibiotics aren't working fast enough for me. I have my 2-week appointment with my surgeon this Friday, so he will have to decide what will be the best procedure at that point.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 7, 2005♥
Today is exactly 2 weeks since surgery and I won't go on and cry and whine about the fact that I've only lost 4 pounds (I did come home 20 pounds heavier 2 days after surgery from all the fluids, but I'm not counting that!) I got an extra helping of understanding and encouragement on the boards today, so I am feeling much, MUCH better about the whole thing! (thanks to all!) I just have to be patient with the fact that my body is a water-hogger (for now) and that my infection may be playing some part in this nasty review! I just need to stay away from the scale!! Anyway, on a much brighter note....Janel came thru her surgery yesterday with flying colors and they released her TODAY!! Can you believe that? Doc sez, "Gimme your kidney", then she gets the boot the next day!! I'll tell you though, I did go see her at the hospital (even though my tummy still really hurts from the infection) and I would have never imagined she even had surgery! She looked and sounded sooooo great!
Thank you, Jesus!! (284 lbs)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 10, 2005♥
I'm baaack....I went to see Dr. Dennen yesterday for my 2 week/2 day post-op appointment. He took one look at my hernia infection and said he was going to have to re-open the entire incision! Oh my gosh, I was so scared. He assured me that it wouldn't hurt because all the nerves are dead at the incision site. Well true, it didn't hurt when he cut it back open, but when he packed it with gauze.......YEEEEEOWWWWIE! I kicked my feet and clenched my fists (ready to sock him!). Dang-that HURT! He wants me to do this to MYSELF 3x per day!!! Well, my husband helped my last night, and today I did it by myself (It took me a good 30 minutes to get up enough nerve to barely get that gauze in there!) It still hurts a bit, but it does feel better than it did yesterday.
The saga continues...........
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 18, 2005♥
Guess what? I've been named POTW!! WOW, what an honor! Jilly-Bean, thank-you for nominating me...you are such a sweetheart! Sooo, what do I do, now? What is my POTW job function? Just sit back, relax and glow in the limelight?? ha ha...ok, I can do that!
I'm still taking care of my hernia incision...I sure hope it closes, soon. There isn't much pain involved any longer, but I just want it all done and settled, ya know?
And I just want you to know as well...I did weigh myself today (yes, yes, I know-I said was going to stay away from the scale-but I just HAD to know!) I'm down a total of 20 pounds since surgery! I am happy with that, although it does seem a little slower than most-I know we all lose at different rates of speed. I've said it before and I'll KEEP saying it over and over (sorry) I am so blessed to have been given this 2nd chance at life!! I won't waste time worrying about how slow its going (Please, everyone-REMIND me of this, when I start whining about it, Please?? ha ha) (268 lbs.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 28, 2005 (1 month,5 days since surgery)♥
With the urging of Lynnie ((hugs)), I am updating my profile. I have to say that I am feeling great and I don't feel like I've even had surgery. My hernia incision is almost healed and now I'm thinking about the fact that I have to return to work on the 2nd of January :-( My doc gave me until the 27th (yesterday), but my wonderful boss who loves me (and I her) gave me an extra week off-BLESS HER HEART!!! OK, I miss my buddies, but the 4am wake-up routine and a 45 minute commute along with just the everyday stuff that transpires.....well, suffice it to say, I JUST DON'T WANT TO GO BACK YET!!! Ok, I'm jumping out of my pity-pool....All better, now. I went to the gym this evening (at 6pm) with my hubby and I did the eliptical for 20 min, and the bike for 25. I feel so much better when I exercise. Now, my face doesn't get all beet-red and I my heart doesn't race like it used to. I weighed myself again this morning and I am down 6 more pounds to (262 lbs.) YEAH!!
Blessings to all...until next time! xoxoxo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 24, 2006♥
Here I am again! It has been exactly 2 months (+1 day) since surgery. It was a rough month and I plateaued for a couple of weeks. I tried to stay away from the scale as much as possible(which helped me stay in a positive state of mind). I've only lost 8 more pounds since my last post(34 total since surgery! Ü) But I FEEL SO HEALTHY!! I am able to work-out for 50 minutes to 1 hour at the gym, now-and I have added some weight training as well. I get in between 70-100 oz. of water a day and my calorie intake varies. Some days I am able to consume more than others. On a normal day, I consume about 800 calories. I take my vits religiously and I have added salad to my diet which is very exciting! I missed my salads!! I have had no problems (other than the avocado earlier on!)with keeping food down. Chicken and pork are still a little difficult for me to digest, but I'm sure with time I will be able to eat those meats without difficulty. You just have to listen to your pouchy and STOP when you feel full-it is that simple! Sometimes I can only take 2 bites of something and be full. Other times, I can eat more-it just depends. Just eat slowly, chew like crazy, and STOP the minute you feel full! I absolutely LOVE the Protica protein vials (ONLY the Blue Rasberry Swirl flavor...the others are NASTY!) I get 25 grams of protein in a couple of swigs!
My hernia incision is all healed and it is a much smaller scar than I thought it would be.
People at work really notice my weight loss, but it is still difficult for me to see it in myself. I notice that my clothes are fitting loosely, but I still find it hard to SEE it when I look in the mirror. I wonder when I WILL be able to see it in myself? Hmmmmmm
Take care until next time......xoxoxoxo
(254 lbs.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 24th, 2006 (3 months, 1 day since surgery)♥
HOLY SMOKES....CAN YOU SAY PLATEAU, AGAIN?!? Geez-no wonder I could NEVER lose weight and keep it off ALL those years before I had surgery! Eating 600-800 calories a day and exercising 5 times a week and I still plateaued-AGAIN! I have quietly and secretly felt like such a loser (and no-not in the good sense) reading everyone's messages and profiles.... "OOOO, I lost 60 pounds in 2 months", or "WOW-lookie here, I lost 88 pounds in 3 months!" YADA YADA YADA, I KNOW, I KNOW-we aren't supposed to compare ourselves to others here....but COME ON.....5 weeks of plateau-ville for me and I'm only 3 months into my surgery?? Gimme a break!!!
I was on this last STUPID PLATEAU for 3 weeks and FINALLY it broke!!!!!!!..Can anyone give me a HALLELUJAH?!?! Before I had surgery, I would do everything I was supposed to do, but always ended up hitting a brick wall more than once during my diets. Then, of course, I would give up and go back to all my bad habits. BUUUUUUUUUT, AAAAAH HAAAAA.....you NOOOOO CAN DO THAT after surgery! YEAH!! You just have to keep on keepin' on.....stay the course and be PATIENT! Ok, so for 3 weeks I stayed at 254/256 lbs, then today I got on the scale and LO AND BEHOLD....DA DA DA DAAAAAAAAA..... 244 lbs!!!! I DROPPED 10 POUNDS IN 1 WEEK!!! Leave it to my FREAKY body!! ha ha ha I was wondering if it would EVER happen! Anyone reading this.....BE PATIENT....I'm living and breathing proof that you can BEAT THE PLATEAU!! Ü
Ok...now here is the really good news...I figured out how much I've actually lost (before and after surgery) I lost 32 pounds before surgery and I've now lost 44 pounds since surgery...for a GRAND TOTAL OF 76 POUNDS!!! WOOOO HOOOO (can you say, BITE ME, MR. PLATEAU!!) HA HA HA HA
Until we meet again........(244 lbs.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 10, 2006 (6 1/2 months since surgery)♥
Ok, I just went to my 6-month post-op appointment yesterday in Fremont and I am excited and elated to announce that I have lost 72 pounds since surgery and 32 prior to surgery, for a....dah-dah-dah-daaaaaaah.....grand total of 104 pounds!!! I am stoked!! I feel sooo good (other than the fact that I am anemic..the doc upped my iron to 2 per day, and we all know what that means....I now have to take stock in prune juice!) ha ha! I am up to an hour on the eliptical and I generally work out for a total of 1 hour and 30 minutes/5-days a week. I feel so healthy and I'm sooooooo happy and blessed (I know I say that ALL the time) to have this second chance at a REAL life.....actually LIVING instead of just SURVIVING!!! My Angelette, Janel and I met at Kaiser and we spent the entire day there for her PRE-OP! We had a great time (other than the EKG scare!) and then we had her last supper at Claim Jumpers last night. We had a great time together! Until next time.......... (216 lbs.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 23, 2006 (1 year since surgery)
WOW! It's been a YEAR since my surgery!!!! I can hardly believe it's been that long!
What an amazing journey it's been so far!! Such a wonderful blessing! Aside from the weight-loss-which to date is 128 pounds (this is a combined 96 pounds since surgery and 32 pounds prior to) I've gone from 320#(which is not my all-time highest) to 192 pounds!! I've gone from a size 26/28 to a 14/16. So unbelieveable, that I don't even believe it myself-seriously! Mentally, my mind STILL has not wrapped around the idea that I am smaller. It's so strange that when I see a tag on clothing and try it on, I still think "Oh, someone HAD to have mis-marked this!" Or when I walk into a room, I still feel like the fattest person there-still constantly pulling on my shirt to cover my poochie! Everyone tells me in time, my mind will eventually catch-up and I'm hoping this is true.
Physically though....WOW- That is a different story!! My gosh-the way I FEEL is amazing! I have sooooooooooo much energy!! I can walk for hours and not get tired...my feet don't hurt! I can work-out at the gym for an hour and still want to do more. I can bend over and not feel like my head is going to explode from the pressure! To be able to comfortably cross my legs! To fit into restaurant, theater, amusement park seats-COMFORTABLY!! (even tho in the back of my mind, I'm thinking "They MUST be making these seats bigger,now!" ha ha There are soooo many other things I can do now, that I couldn't before and it's an awesome trip to my mind when I accomplish something that seems so insignificant to the "thin" world, but means the WORLD to us!!!
I am such MAJOR proponent of this surgery...I am not afraid to tell everyone I've had it done, and have talked so openly about it (the good, the bad and the ugly) There are many whom I know that are now are seriously looking into it for themselves. It makes me sooo ecstatic that they will also be able to experience this WONDERFULLY-AMAZING-PHENOMENAL-EXTRAORDINARY-MIRACULOUS-LIFE-SAVING-GIFT, we've been given!!
I want to say THANK-YOU, first of all to God, for allowing me to wake-up from surgery and experience this entire journey and for the REAL life I'm now LIVING. I want to thank my surgeon, Dr. Dennen-You're the BEST! I know I'm not on here as much anymore, but I want to thank this website-It's definitely a GOD-send!! And last, but not least...all the GREAT people I have met here! What an AMAZING group of people you are!!! And over time, I can't wait to meet more of you! (OK, Where's my OSCAR?!?! Geeez-that sounded like an acceptance speech!!)ha ha
Take care all, and MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU!!!!! (192 lbs)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
