Deb B.

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Cyndi M. 19 years, 3 months ago

~~~WAY TO GO~~~~ I just wanted to tell ya great job on your weight lossssssssss, Keep up the great work. Huggssssssss

Deb B. 19 years, 3 months ago

Hello again everyone. I am now a little over 6 months post surgery. What an amazing 6 months it's been. I had my 6 month visit today - have lost 85 pounds so far. Noticing that the weight loss is slowing now which the doctor said to expect. I hope to be down another 45 pounds during the next year. My short term goal is to be wearing a size 12 for my daughter's birthday in March. Right now I am in 16's but did buy my first size 14 pants! I haven't been in a size 14 in over 15 years. It's amazing. I look and feel 15 years younger. People who haven't seen me in awhile are stunned to see the change. I have to admit it IS incredible. I am in a pretty routine food mode now and it is very easy to follow. Of course there are still some days when NOTHING agrees with me but those days are few and far between now. And there are still days when I would rather drink than eat - still hard for me to believe! My cholesterol is now in the 150s (down from 248); triglicerides are 78 - down from the 300's! My thyroid meds have been cut in half. I am ecstatic! Thank you to everyone from Dr. Q's office and the support group for making this experience so positive. Julie - you are a godsend! I appreciate your support, your guidance, and most of all your energy! THANK YOU!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. MAY 2005 BE A GREAT YEAR!

Deb B. 19 years, 8 months ago

Hi, this is Deb. I am sorry to have been so derelict in updating my profile over the last 2 months but I have been SOOO busy with my "new" life! I am now 10 weeks post-op and have lost 45 pounds!! WOW!! I feel great. My blood work has all come back good and I have even dropped 80 points off my cholesterol count. Another WOW!! I have dropped 2 clothing sizes and have so many clothes that now just hang on me. (Hot water and a hot dryer can't even make them small enough!). I have been so busy with work, my daugher, travelling and just enjoying life! I can see a big change in my body and so can everyone else. It's a big boost to hear people commenting on how good I am looking. another WOW!! I am still having problems getting in all the food that I am supposed to be eating! who would've ever thought I would say that. There are some days that I don't even feel like eating. I'd be happy to just drink liquids all day long. I have no cravings whatsoever. The only thing I can truly say I miss is an occasional soda. I haven't had one since May (other than the root beer float that is in the recipe book that Julie hands out. And by the way it is EXCELLENT!!). I am eating a larger variety of foods. Occasionally I'll find something that has agreed with me before, now suddenly doesn't agree with me (case in point - EGGS). But I'm eating shrimp, quesadillas, chinese food, greek food, italian food. I'm experimenting with my own recipes too. I eat chicken and turkey altho I do try to get fish in on a weekly basis (altho sometimes the smell just doesn't set right so I end up not eating it). I am finally able to eat salads again (who would've thought I would actually MISS salads!) And there are some days when I can eat more than others. It's all just experimenting with the process. I have had a few incidents of vomiting but realize they are usually due to eating too fast or too much. The slower I eat the better I do. Luckily I have never "dumped". I missed the summer fruits and am now eating a little melon, mango, pineapple, and berries. I have discovered that I can eat sugar free popsicles, fudgesicles and sandwiches on an occasional basis. I can eat sugar free cookies too - ONE, not an entire bagful! I tried a bite of a sugar free candy bar and right up it came. Ugh. No more of THAT! I am exercising as regularly as possible. I go to the gym, and also use my Tony Little Glider at home. I will soon be out bike riding with my daughter as soon as she gets her new bike. We also are enjoying taking our dogs out for walks. I look forward to skiing again this winter for the first time in years. Other activities are becoming easier too. I hope to be playing tennis next spring and maybe coaching my daughter's basketball team!! I even went on vacation to the beach and wasn't embarrassed to wear a bathing suit - another BIG WOW!! I am so happy with my "new" life and hope that by my birthday in 3 months that I will be down another 25 pounds. When I first started I thought it would take forever to drop 140 pounds but by my birthday I'll be halfway there! For those of you still pondering the surgery I have found that this website along with the support group are very important and helpful. This is a life altering decision and certainly not one to be taken lightly. Do I ever regret doing this? Honestly, maybe once or twice. Why didn't I have the willpower to stick to a diet and get the weight off myself? Why didn't I stick to an exercise program? What if, what if, what if. Well there are no more what if's for me. I made the choice and the decision and I am happy and at peace with it. I can live the rest of my life this way because I will HAVE a life to live. Thank you to everyone who has wished me well, sent prayers, and continued to support me thru this process. I am there for you too!!

Deb B. 19 years, 10 months ago

Hi everyone, this is Deb. Well at last I am on the "other side" and moving towards my new life. Again I want to thank EVERYONE and ANYONE who sent me messages of support, good thoughts and prayers. They were all so appreciated and raised my spirits immensely! Well here is my surgical story?!! I arrived at the hospital Thursday morning at 5:45. I was a little nervous but had already taken one ativan to keep me calm. I went to the short stay section immediately - there was no paperwork to do, just get there! I had a very funny volunteer show me a room where I could change and get ready. My very good friend was with me to keep me calm and on a steady course. I have to say I could not have done this without her - nor should anyone do this alone!! A nurse came in and tried to insert an IV but couldn't do it. I was already feeling groggy - from what I don't know! Ativan doesn't usually affect me that way. Next thing i knew I was in the operating room talking to the anesthesiologist. He seemed nice enough but frankly i don't remember much! I do remember commenting when they got me on the surgical table that it was so narrow - how do they put patients larger than me on the table! What a silly thing to say! Pretty soon the IV was in and I was starting to get very whoozy. I did notice the B/P monitor and that my blood pressure was very low. I kept asking if that was OK and was told it was. I think the last time I saw it, it was 102/45. Next thing I knew I was in my private room. I have absolutely NO recollection of recovery at all! I was VERY groggy from the anesthesia and in fact had a very hard time coming out of it. The nurse kept trying to wake me up and get me out of bed but there was NO WAY that was going to happen. I was lucky that I had no catheter, no oxygen tube and was in a regular room as opposed to ICU. At some point late in the day (I think it was around 6PM) they got me out of bed. Frankly I have to admit I do not remember much of anything other than the gas pain. It was excruciating. They kept telling me I had to get up and walk but that was next to impossible. I think by 8PM I MAY have walked 2 laps around the floor. the nurses told my friend they were concerned because if I did not get up and move around I could develop pneumonia and/or clots. I tried - I honestly tried but that darned anesthesia - yuck! The next morning was a little better but I was still having the affects from the anesthesia. I got out of bed and walked 2 laps - very unsteady and in great pain from the gas. By 12 noon, I finally broke thru the wall and was able to start thinking clearly and move around. By the end of the day I had walked 35 laps - 1 1/2 miles!! I was starting to feel better (except for the gas which settled in my upper left shoulder and middle of my belly). Keep walking, I was told. OK, OK I'm walking!! Still nothing. I got my first meal that day - yummy (LOL). Broth, tea, cranberry juice, jello, sorbet. I had the juice which I watered down and that was it. In the evening I had the sorbet and that felt good in my throat. More walking! That nite I asked for something for the gas pain and they gave me Tordal (spelling??) which did help a little. I have to say that I did not have a clue the gas pain would be so intense. By Saturday I was doing better. Up and WALK!! 7 more laps before the doctor even came in. He was impressed that I was walking so much. Yeah!! But still the gas was stuck. Finally around noontime on Saturday I got a little relief from the gas. Whew! And news that I could go home that day! WOW! Was I really ready? I was sure ready to get home to my own bed and get a good nite's sleep. There were numerous delays in getting me released just because the floor was so busy. Finally the nurse came in to remove the drain. I was doing just fine with her removing stitches and moving things around. THEN she said "take a deep breath" and she pulled what felt like a 25' snake out of my guts. YIKES. But the discomfort (and shock) last only a few seconds. Pretty soon I was actually discharged and allowed to walk out of the hospital (WALK WALK WALK!!). It was good to get home to my own bed, my own bathroom, my own "things." I rested a little. Went for a WALK - the fresh air felt so good and it was a beautiful day. It was nice to see my doggies wagging their tails welcoming me home. Soon my daughter would be home and her fears would be put to rest. I drank what I could that night, small sips of water, a little snapple tea, juice. I wanted COLD things, nothing hot. The gas was still there so I could 1/2 a dose of the pain meds that were prescribed and went to bed. I must have slept for 10 hours because the next thing I knew it was 8:30 the next morning. Each day is getting easier and better. I am getting my wind back with the walking and doing things around the house. Decided to take this week off work and just rest and take care of myself. Getting all the protein in is a good trick at this point. I will talk with the nutritionist tomorrow at the doctor's office. I am thirsty all the time and carry a bottle of COLD water with me. Cold is definitely settling better than hot. I found last nite that having a little non-fat vanilla yogurt (not the frozen kind) helped a lot with the gas. Today is so much better than yesterday! Now I just need to get all that protein in and all the vitamins and I'll be all set. I look forward to the on-going support from the website, as well as the support group. My good friend who came to take care of me will be having HER surgery in September and I will be going to stay with her and help her out. Originally I planned on just having the surgery done and being alone. i know now that would have been a BIG mistake. For those of you who have surgery pending, be sure to have someone there with you. Not only was it comforting and a big morale booster, but the nurses are not always available when YOU need something. I was lucky that the hospital was OK with my friends sleeping over in the room even though the room was small. Coming home is a big boost to the spirits and I am so happy to be here! Thank you again to all of you for your support, love, well wishes, thoughts and prayers. I'll keep posting updates and will look forward to the on-going comraderie with all of you! deb

Deb B. 19 years, 10 months ago

Hi this is Deb. Not able to give an update just yet (have been busy since I got home) but have a question for those of you who have had the surgery. How do I get rid of this gas??? I walk, I'm moving around a lot, I'm careful with what I'm drinking. But everything is causing gas and just sitting heavy in the middle of my belly. Any advice??? Please?? Thanks so much. deb

Jill W. 19 years, 10 months ago

Deb Best of luck. Keep you in my prayers.

Deb B. 19 years, 10 months ago

Hi this is Deb. Just a quick update to let everyone I am home today, Saturday. I'm a bit groggy and as many of you may remember - GASSY! but I feel pretty darn good. I will update more after I settle in at home and get a good nites sleep! Thank you again - EVERYONE - for ur many thoughts and prayers. Your strength helped me immensely. On to a new smaller me!! deb

Diane B. 19 years, 10 months ago

Hi Deb! Congrats on having your surgery! Let the weight loss begin!! I bet you feel relieved now. It's over and now you are on the other side and can join the ranks of the losers. Welcome, my friend!!! Happy RE-Birthday to you! From this day forward you life will change forever. Just try to take it easy and remember to sip, walk, deep breathe and cough. Take those pain pills and splint the tummy! These first few days are rough, but I assure you they get better with each passing day. Some days those emotions will resurface and try to get the best of you, but just remember what you’ve been through to get this far! I’m sure you’ll be proud of what you’ve accomplished so far. You know you can always come here and get a dose of confidence and good will! We will still be here to support you and cheer you on as the pounds come off! I just wanted you to know that I was thinking about you today and that you are in my thoughts and prayers for an uncomplicated, swift recovery. You are an official loser!! Wishing you much success in your weight-loss journey. Soft hugs to you today. God bless, DI from NJ - Lap RNY, 12/09/03 -52 lbs *In Loving Memory of Momma Angel*

StalkerVal******* 19 years, 10 months ago

Hi Deb, Good luck sweety,you will do just fine and think of the new you that will be so much more for your daughter..:) God Bless you sweety...Hugs Val

Angela G. 19 years, 10 months ago

DEB, May GOD watch over you tomorrow while you are going through your surgery . I will be praying for you that you have speedy recovery and that things go well. MAY GOD BLESS YOU. (((HUGS)))