Pam D.
Time to take Care of My Heart!
Feb 12, 2011
September 21, 2008
Sep 21, 2008
Well, I have made it 2 years post-op. I am so excited. I am weighing 172 now, still trying to get below 169 (to have a normal BMI). I am able to wear alot of size 10's so that continues to be amazing to me. I am exercising 30-45 min four to five times per week. Doing walking and jogging with some weights. I am thrilled to only have a sagging abdomen that can be taken care of with SPANX. I am able to stay away from bread, rice and pasta as well as sugar but do eat some crackers now and then and probably that is why I am slowly loosing. My greatest WOW moment has been sharing at the pre-surg groups occassionally at Weight Wise (my surgery program). Also I am excited to have just completed the Support Group Leader training with OH. OH has been such a great resource and I appreciated it always being there. I am very excited to be starting a support group in our small town for WLS grads and folks thinking about the surg. Good luck to all who are ready for surgery. If you are thinking about surgery, it is a wonderful tool, it does not fix everything in your life but it will work to help you loose weight if you follow the guidelines. Thanks for reading my update. Let me know how you are progressing in your quest for a healthier you. May God Bless and Keep You!!!
February 9, 2008
Feb 08, 2008
Glad to report that I have lost 151 lbs since surg. Right now on my scales I weigh 174. I have changed my goal wt to 165 so I have 9 lbs to go to this goal. When I reach this weight I plan to get new undergarments from Victoria Secret. Now I am wearing some size 12 clothes. I never thought I would be able to wear a size 12 again. It is marvelous. A sad thing happened approx 2 weeks ago. A OH friend took his life. He is "Head Parrot" on this site. No one knows for sure why he just stated in his note that his "head was not right". It is a big red flag for us all to be sure and take care of all aspects of our new lives. If you look at his profile he had everything in the world to live for. Please take care of your mental health as well as your physical health. I am still glad I had the surg. Trying everyday to deal with old issues of self esteem and self worth. The surg is not magic, many of the same issues still exist but the good news is that I get to deal with them in a size 12 body instead of a size 28 body. I am so thank-ful and blessed by family and friends who have been great sources of strength through out these 17 months since surgery. The airplane ride on a recent trip was great. I did not feel crowded at all!!! Good luck to everyone!
Journal Entry
Oct 13, 2006
As most others have stated, weight has been an issue my whole life. In 4th grade I weighed #140. I remember this because when we had "Health Day" Ms. Keil our teacher brought a scale to weigh us all. I remember her exclaiming "You weigh more than I do." Pursuing this surgery is so important to me. I want to be able to enjoy the rest of my life in a healthy manner.
July 14, 2006
I first began thinking about surgery as a possibility in Nov 2005. A three co-workers had surgery in the past. All lost 100+ pounds and 2 have kept all of the loss off for at least two years. Their lives have changed. I am blessed with a good life now, a great husband of 27 years and 2 great children age 20 and 23. The 23 yr is married to our wonderful son-in-law. My job is an active one and I am having trouble with bad knee pain. I am afraid if it hurts this bad at age 50, I will not be able to keep up or have a good retirement. I am so tired of being the biggest person in any group.
I have been doing water exercise three times a week since Sept of 2005. Since March 2006 (5 months ago) I have lost 13 pounds and gained back 4 pounds. My paper work has been submitted this week to Atena after 3 + months of supervised weight loss. I am hoping for approval and a possible surgery date in late August. I wish I could loose the weight on my own but any upset sends me on a tail spin and back to eating. I know that WLS is not a cure all for all the problems in my life but I would like to eliminate the stress of being morbidly obese!!!
August 30, 2006
I AM APPROVED!!!! I am so excited and yet scared to death. The program I am enrolled in submitted my information to Aetna three times. They kept saying that they had not received all the paperwork. The third time the person submitting my information sat by the fax machine and then called to verify that the entire request and records were received. I think this happened on August the 2nd and now I am approved. My surgery is scheduled for September 19, 2006. I sure hope that I do ok. I have prayed and prayed about this decision and know it will not be easy but I just feel as if I need to do something. I am so thankful to get this opportunity. I just want to have a healthly life. Please keep me in your prayers.
September 06, 2006
Well I was pre-admitted to the hospital today , had an EKG and lab work. The bad thing was that I gained 3 lbs since June. Ugh!!! Lots of stress and worry about being approved did not help me stick to my plan. I am going to have to really try hard to loose more these next two weeks. My secondary insurance pays 60% and I received financing for the other 40%. Shockingly I found that I am shorter than I thought. Probably just old age. I am 5'8" instead of 5'9". I just feel really blessed and thank-ful to have this opportunity.
September 27, 2006
Eight days post-op and on the sugar-free clear liquids. Down 11 lbs (including fluid weight from hospitalization). I have been doing ok. Excited about the weight loss but sure would like to have food. However, having food is what got me to this state!!! Surgery went very well. Can't say enough good about Foundation Bariatric Hospital in Edmond and Dr. Greg Walton. This is a very involved surgery but they made it endurable. I was about to walk on the tread-mill for 10 min the last two days so that gave me a great accomplishment feeling. Hope you are having a great day!!!
October 8, 2006
Not quite three weeks post-op and I have lost 28 lb. It is amazing. I was able to start soft proteins 5 days ago so far I have had cottage cheese, smashed pinto beans, lowfat cheese, deli-turkey and the best finely chopped schrimp with no-carb ketscup and a dash of horse radish. I eat just a bit and fill full so I am not eating much. I am able to drink without problem. No physical hunger but a few occasions of head hunger. It is so nice to be fitting in some clothes that I have have not been able to wear for years. And it is so nice not to have clothes so tight that I can't be comfortable. It is just totally amazing!! I remain very thank-ful. My scars are healing well. I worked part of two days last week and at the end of the week I was totally pooped (asleep by 8 pm). I was able to get back to water-walking on Friday for 40 min. More later.
February 10, 2007
In 9 days I will be 5 months post-op from by RNY Surg at Weight Wise Bariatrics in Edmond with Dr.Greg Walton. I am so grateful and thank-ful for this experience. I am doing great. 87# lost since surgery and 106 # since this time last year!!!! I am wearing size 18 pants and 14-16 tops. I could fill pages about the exciting things that have happened over the last five months. Here are some of the highlights:
* my husband's gleam of desire and pride when he looks at me
* my children's look of pride when they say"Mom you look so good"
* being able to wrap a regular size bath towel around me after getting out of the tub AND HAVE IT FIT
We are going to get to take some trips for my husband's job and one for fun. It has been great to not have the dread that I would look terrible when we travel!!! WLS is not an easy fix. You have to be committed to work the program your physician sets out for you and to do the part to change your life style and to avoid coping in the old ways. But I am here to tell you it is worth it to make that committment!! But remember nothing worth having comes easy!!!!
March 13, 2007
I am so excited, almost 6 months since surgery and 114 # lost. Still have to deal with head hunger but I am so thank-ful that I have not had any problem bigger than constipation. It was great to be able to lay out on vacation in a bathing suit and not feel mortified. I am so thank-ful to have had this surgery.
June 28, 2007
This month is my 9 month aniversary since surgery. I have lost 132 # my BMI is around 29.5 the best part of all is that I am now overweight for the first time in 20 years and not obese. It is amazing. I am so excited to be feeling so much better. I am actually able to walk on the street with a knee brace. I am full of gratitude for this wonderful tool and for a great family!!! It was a hoot to be asked to give a talk at the Weight Wise seminar. I wish all the potential members luck as they pursue possible surgery. Gotta get to work and then home to pack for our trip to Hawaii!! Can't wait. More later.
October 13, 2007
Almost 13 months since surgery. Oh my goodness. 142 lbs lost. I am thrilled to death about how I look. I can wear a size 14 now and wear some size mediums. I feel so blessed. We had a wonderful time in Hawaii. I wore a bathing suit with out feeling self conscious. I am still walking and trying to eat correctly. I do have slip ups but try to get back to the program as soon as possible. I fight the head hunger but no physical hunger. I am so thankful for my family and friends who have been great support to me along the way. Life is grand!!!
