My Motto: Hold On.

March 2006
Measurements
Piece = Starting / Today
Neck = 16 / 13.25
Bust = 51 / 40.5
Upper Arm = 18.5 / 10.75
Wrist = 7 / 6.25
Waist = 51 / 30.75
Hips = 63 / 47
Thigh = 33.5 / 24.5
Calf = 20.5 / 16.5
Ankle = 10.25 / 9
Total Inches Lost = -71
Weight = 330 / 178
Total Weight Lost = -152


January 1, 2006
New year, new me! On December 9, 2005 I underwent reconstructive surgery. It's now been 3 weeks and I am healing quite nicely. My measurements show the improvement and I am very thankful to be rid of the extra skin, especially around my stomach area, as it was causing a great deal of back pain. My back has not hurt since surgery, but maybe that's because everything else is painful. Ouch! That's all I have to say about that.

Dr. Pesta, my bariatric surgeon, did a tummy tuck and arm lift. Dr. Bruce Chau performed a breast lift with augmentation. Anyone who says the wls hurts more is wrong. I think I am a tough person with a high threshhold for pain, but this is the most pain I've ever been in at one time. My surgeons were both wonderful and I received excellent care at Bi-County. I am glad I decided to have reconstruction because I feel so much better about my body. I am so happy this is all over and I doubt I will be having anymore reconstructive surgery in the future.

One not so great complication from the surgery is that I woke up with a paralyzed vocal cord. Apparently this can happen during surgical procedures, especially long ones like I underwent. My doctors say that my voice should return to full strength in 3 months or so. That's a long time to wait and whisper. Ugh...

My latest round of surgery brings my grand total of inches lost to 69.5, more than 5 feet off my body!!! My current weight is 178 - 14 pounds away for the goal I set for myself of 164, which is 1 pound less than half the person I was when I started this amazing journey. So far I have lost more than 75% of my excess weight and for that I am very proud of myself. This still puts me in the moderately overweight category but I look great and feel fantastic.

Measurements
Piece = Starting / Today
Neck = 16 / 13.5
Bust = 51 / 41
Upper Arm = 18.5 / 11
Wrist = 7 / 6.25
Waist = 51 / 32
Hips = 63 / 48.25
Thigh = 33.5 / 24
Calf = 20.5 / 16.25
Ankle = 10.25 / 9
Total Inches Lost = -69.5
Weight = 330 / 178
Total Weight Lost = -152


November 15, 2005
24 days til Round 2! I'm going in to get my bust, arms and tummy tuck done. It will be a lot of surgery and a huge recovery process, but I know this is the next step in this journey. I need to send in an updated picture for this site since the last "after" pic was taken a year ago. Had a horrible round of DS at work this morning, which I think was caused by a caffeine/sugar overload. There was certainly a lesson learned there.

Measurements
Piece = Starting / Today
Neck = 16 / 13.5
Bust = 51 / 37.75
Upper Arm = 18.5 / 12.5
Wrist = 7 / 6.25
Waist = 51 / 35
Hips = 63 / 50.5
Thigh = 33.5 / 25.25
Calf = 20.5 / 17
Ankle = 10.25 / 9
Total Inches Lost = -63.5
Weight = 330 / 190
Total Weight Lost = -140


July 10, 2005
I finally have gotten around to doing my measurements and now I have erased over 5 feet from my body! What an accomplishment. The hanging skin is no fun, however. I really need to get focused in the next few months and try to drop the remaining 30 pounds from my frame so I can have the plastic surgery to have the skin removed.

Measurements
Piece = Starting / Today
Neck = 16 / 13.5
Bust = 51 / 39.5
Upper Arm = 18.5 / 12.5
Wrist = 7 / 6.5
Waist = 51 / 35
Hips = 63 / 51
Thigh = 33.5 / 26
Calf = 20.5 / 17
Ankle = 10.25 / 9
Total Inches Lost = -60.25
Weight = 330 / 200 (grrrr)
Total Weight Lost = -130

Tomorrow morning starts the new workout plan, day one. More physical stimulation, less bar time. Rock on.

April 29, 2005
Well, I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. DP had to take my gall bladder out on Wednesday - said it was full of tiny gall stones, plus it was gooey. He said it was obvious it was bothering me. Now...OUCH!

It's kinda funny - I went back to Bi-Co for the surgery and so many of the nurses and assistants remembered me and I remembered them. They put me right back in Room 320 where I was imprisoned for 5 days last May after I leaked. What a different experience this was - I was up and around that night with no IV. I went and made friends with the new bariatric patients and DP called me the Liv Lite poster child - lol.

This gall thing is nothing - he took it out lap - compared to what I went through last year. I'll be up and running in no time so I can have my one year celebration!!

February 27, 2005
Still keeping up with the treadmill - even though I don't have a lot of time to work out right now between work and school I force myself to go for at least 10 minutes. I know I can spare 10 minutes a day and if that's all I've got then at least I can say that I did something in the realm of exercise that day!

The plastics appointment went well, but I am going to go for another opinion. This doctor told me that I will be able to have a breast lift with no implants and I was very happy to hear that. It will be expensive, but I know I'm worth it!

Measurements
Piece = Starting / Today
Neck = 16 / 13.5
Bust = 51 / 41.75
Upper Arm = 18.5 / 13.75
Wrist = 7 / 6.5
Waist = 51 / 35.5
Hips = 63 / 51
Thigh = 33.5 / 26.25
Calf = 20.5 / 18
Ankle = 10.25 / 9.25
Total Inches Lost = -55.00
Weight = 330 / 209
Total Weight Lost = -121

February 7, 2005
Today is my 9 month anniversary and in honor of it I ran for 3 minutes on the treadmill at the gym!! I know that might not seem like much to a normal person, but considering I got short of breath just walking into the hospital on May 7th, I consider it a major accomplishment. I've lost over 48 inches from my frame - that's 4 feet!! - and I've lost enough weight to equal a high school cheerleader.

Next Saturday I have my first plastic surgery consultation and I'm very interested to see what his plans are for reshaping my body...as well as how much this is going to cost me. I don't care. This hasn't been easy and I've earned it. I want the works.

February 1, 2005
Sag, sag, sag. I have skin hanging off my body and there's nothing I can do about it at the moment. It could be worse though, which is what I keep telling myself! On a good note I am infatuated with my collar bone at the moment, which seems to have appeared overnight. So I guess I have to take the good with the bad. :-)

December 20, 2004
BRRRRRRR! Ok, I know it's pretty cold up here in Michigan, it's about 7 degrees outside right now, but I cannot get warm! I'm sitting in my office with a sweater, a jacket and a scarf on and I'm still cold! I don't remember this happening before and my friends and co-workers are telling me the reason is because I don't have the 'insulation' that I used to have. I wonder if I'll ever get used to this!?

December 1, 2004
Wow! I've been so busy lately that I haven't had a chance to post anything! Even though I'm coming up on my 7 month anniversary, I still need to post my 6 month results. I didn't make it to -100 by my birthday, but it did happen about a week later. I'm in a mad redistribution phase at the moment, but I'm dealing with it. Even though the scale isn't moving, the inches are coming off and I am really starting to see a difference! I went to see DP for my six month check up. He says I'm doing great, but my iron level is so low that I now have to take it 3 times a day.

Measurements
Piece = Starting / Today
Neck = 16 / 13.75
Bust = 51 / 42.5
Upper Arm = 18.5 / 13.75
Wrist = 7 / 6.25
Waist = 51 / 38
Hips = 63 / 53
Thigh = 33.5 / 28.25
Calf = 20.5 / 18
Ankle = 10.25 / 9.5
Total Inches Lost = -47.75
Weight = 330 / 225
Total Weight Lost = -105


September 30, 2004
12 days to lose 6 pounds - ooooh! I just might make it!

September 19, 2004
Ew. And that's all I have to say about that. So, my goal of losing that 12 pounds over a month to get to -100 by my birthday isn't looking so great anymore because I'm right smack in the middle of a redistribution phase. Yep, I haven't lost any weight in the last 8 days, and there's no telling how long this will last. The good news is that I did manage to lose 7.5 inches this month so I can't complain...AND 2.25 inches came off my hips which translates to a loss of ass which ALWAYS makes me happy!! Soooo...I'm still shooting for -100 by 10/12 but if I don't make it I'll be ok with it.

I've been having lots of fun with my new found energy. Some of my friends can't keep up with me and I'm now able to hang with some of my friends that I could never keep up with! I've been going to lots of football games and tailgates, collecting new experiences and meeting new people. I went to my first yoga class on Friday afternoon after a particularly stressful week and found it very relaxing. I can't wait to go back and think I might make that a part of my normal Friday routine! In all I am very happy with what is going on in my life right now.

Measurements
Piece = Starting / Today
Neck = 16 / 14
Bust = 51 / 43.5
Upper Arm = 18.5 / 14.5
Wrist = 7 / 6.5
Waist = 51 / 42.25
Hips = 63 / 56.25
Thigh = 33.5 / 30
Calf = 20.5 / 18.5
Ankle = 10.25 / 9.5
Total Inches Lost = -33.25
Weight = 330 / 242
Total Weight Lost = -88

September 11, 2004
My goal of losing 100# by my birthday is in sight! Only 12 more pounds to go in the next 31 days. I know I can do it. Then I can submit another picture to the site. Holllller!

September 7, 2004
Went to Philly this weekend to hang out with my friends and had a blast! Today is the four month anniversary of the surgery and I'm down 85 pounds - wow! I really feel like I'm living my life once again.

August 29, 2004
I made it back from the Dominican Republic. Finding food wasn't easy. I sustained on a diet of pina coladas and bacon for most of the week, with bits of chicken whenever I could get them. I couldn't believe I could drink the pina coladas - what a suprise! I had a great time and again was not self-concious about my body in my bathing suit. No problems on the plane either! =)

Kristin and I went to see DP on Thursday for our check ups. DP says I'm doing great. I got another B-12 shot and this time we did bloodwork. Each morning I take 2 Flintstone vitamins, 325mg of iron, 3 Viactiv chews and 500 mg of B-12. I really think the B-12 helps out with my energy.

Great news! I am officially down below 250 lbs! I set a goal to be at 250 by my birthday, which isn't until October 12th! I was pretty excited when I hopped on the scale yesterday morning. Since I had reached my goal I decided to dive into my closet of really old clothes and have a little fun. I was in a wedding 4 years ago and wondered if I could fit into that dress yet. Sure enough, it didn't fit - because it was WAY too big! So I decided, what the hell, I'll try on my prom dress. It fits! Actually, it's a little big in the shoulders now! I can't believe I am the same size now that I was in high school 8 years ago. Wow!

August 12, 2004
Here I am - 3 months out and down more than 70 pounds! Sometimes this is all so surreal to me. It seems like my surgery happened years ago, but it hasn't been that long at all. I often think about what I will look like 3 months from now, 6 months from now and 9 months from now. I am so excited for the changes I can hardly contain myself. When I see my friends they comment on how I am melting away.

This month I finally lost more from my hips. I've been stepping up my lower body workout at the gym to concentrate more on that area. The skin on my arms is getting loose and my thighs are also starting to hang. I knew this would happen and was prepared for it, but it's still not easy to look at in the mirror.

I can see a big difference in the clothes I wear. At the time of surgery I was bordering on a size 28 and now I can fit into 22's! I haven't been in clothes that size in more than 2 years. I cleaned 5 garbage bags full of clothes out of my closet last weekend and now it's looking pretty bare. Oh well, guess I'll have to go shopping.

Two weeks ago I went canoeing with my friends up north. I wasn't self-concious about the way I looked in my bathing suit like I was last year. Believe me, I'm no bombshell, but I KNOW this is the best I've looked in years and that makes me happy. I wasn't dead tired at the end of the day. I even played kickball with everyone and wasn't winded from running the bases! What a difference a year makes!

Next week I'm going on vacation to the Dominican Republic. I am so excited. I went to Aruba last summer and was anxietous the week before because I worried if I would fit in the airplane seat and if it would be uncomfortable. On the plane there I didn't even bother putting my seat belt on - even during take off. For the ride home I eventually asked for a seatbelt extender. :-( This time, I know I'll fit and won't need any help with the seatbelt! The bathing suits I bought 3 weeks ago already had to be altered, but I guess that's a good thing too!

As we were driving home from the canoe trip my friend and I were talking and he told me that I just bubble now - meaning that I am so happy, energetic and full of life. He's right. I notice it too. Even though I started out with the worst case scenario, I am having a much better time living my life day after day. God, I am so glad I did this.

Measurements
Piece = Starting / Today
Neck = 16 / 14
Bust = 51 / 44.75
Upper Arm = 18.5 / 16
Wrist = 7 / 6.75
Waist = 51 / 43
Hips = 63 / 58.5
Thigh = 33.5 / 30.5
Calf = 20.5 / 19.25
Ankle = 10.25 / 9.75
Total Inches Lost = -25.75
Weight = 330 / 258
Total Weight Lost = -72

July 15, 2004
Had the 2 month visit with DP today and everything is great. I got my B-12 shot, which always puts me into overdrive for the rest of the day. I feel so hyper after it - like I can't slow down. Weird. He was pretty impressed with my workout schedule, which is 4 or 5 times a week. Although I'm only down 12 pounds from my last visit, I lost 8 inches off my body so I'm obviously redistributing my weight, which is very normal around this time.

Measurements
Piece = Starting / Today
Neck = 16 / 14.5
Bust = 51 / 45.5
Upper Arm = 18.5 / 16.5
Wrist = 7 / 6.75
Waist = 51 / 43.5
Hips = 63 / 60
Thigh = 33.5 / 30.75
Calf = 20.5 / 19.5
Ankle = 10.25 / 9.75
Total Inches Lost = -21.5
Weight = 330 / 271
Total Weight Lost = -59

July 10, 2004
Tonight Kristin and I met up in Greektown to open our "I Lost 50 Pounds!!" present. We got matching Elsa Peretti "s" necklaces from Tiffany & Co. They are gorgeous and will remind us of our cheer: Get Skinny!!

I also participated in my first aerobics class at the gym called Defined Assets. It was excruciating and as I am writing this I can hardly walk and have trouble standing up and sitting down. But the main thing is that I stayed for the entire class. Even if my legs fall off tomorrow I know I have accomplished so much and there is no way that I would have been able to do this at the beginning of 2004.

July 2, 2004
I've been working out at the gym 3-4 times a week for the last two weeks and I'm suprised at how much I like it. Tonight I was able to do the treadmill for 20 minutes, work the circuit and then hit the elip machine for 12 minutes at the end of my workout. Today it's been 8 weeks since the surgery and I'm feeling great!

June 23, 2004
Wow - Tonight I actually participated in an hour long water aerobics class! The trainer at GLAC said that was a great place for me to start out because it's great cardio but easy on the body. It was so much fun!

June 22, 2004
I thought I should mark this monumental day with a post. First of all, as of today I have lost 49 pounds. That’s like a 4th grader. Goodbye! Next, this afternoon I actually went to the gym – and lived to tell about it! I joined the Great Lakes Athletic Club in Auburn Hills. Expensive, yes, but hopefully the results will pay off. Although my workout was tiny compared to most of the other club members, I am proud of myself! I set small attainable goals – mostly because it was my first day but also so I didn’t get discouraged. I was able to do 7 minutes on the elliptical machine (my goal was 3) then 3 sets of 10 reps on 4 arm and 3 leg machines and finally walk 5 laps around the track (the goal was 3).

I look at this as a wonderful beginning. Tomorrow I’m planning on taking the hour long Gentle H2O class. It will be nice to get in the pool! And who knows, if things go well next week I might be getting up early to hit the gym before work. I am not playing around here! I want this so bad and I am willing to work for it. I am going to do this.


June 13, 2004
37 days post-op. Went out to dinner for the first time since WLS last night. I drank water and had part of a chicken soft taco with some mashed potatoes. Nothing I would have eaten before, but it was still good to go out and participate in something that felt so normal with my family. I have an appt with my doctor on Tuesday and I am anxious to ask him about working out. I want to start stepping up my exercise so I can work on my lower body where I carry the majority of my weight. I noticed that I've hardly lost anything around my hips/stomach area and that is what needs the most work.

Measurements
Piece = Starting / Today
Neck = 16 / 14.75
Bust = 51 / 48.75
Upper Arm = 18.5 / 17.25
Wrist = 7 / 6.75
Waist = 51 / 45
Hips = 63 / 62
Thigh = 33.5 / 31
Calf = 20.5 / 19.5
Ankle = 10.25 / 9.75
Total Inches Lost = -13.5
Weight = 330 / 286
Total Weight Lost = -44


June 12, 2004
It's been 36 days since WLS and I am down 44 lbs - more than I've ever lost at one time in my life! That's a five year old! Yesterday was the first day I was able to eat soft foods. This was my menu for the day:

16 oz Crystal Light
1 Atkins Advantage protein shake
2 Pria Carb Select bars
1/3 cup canned chicken breast
1/4 cup Carb Options alfredo sauce
40 oz water

= 56 Protein, 51 Carbs, 35 Fat, 689 Calories

Kinda high in the fat range, but still acceptable.

June 10, 2004
Alas! The drain is finally gone!! Yesterday I had a scope of my stomach pouch and the doctors ruled that I am now leak free. I can finally get on with this process like a normal patient!

June 8, 2004
Well, I did get the picc line out last Thursday but the drain is still in. I had a CT scan on Friday to rule out an anastemosis. Luckily there was nothing and my doc said that the leak site healed very well. Tomorrow I have a stomach scope so the doctors can look around down in the pouch. Then maybe - MAYBE - I can get my drain out.

I'm not hating life anymore. I just really hate this nasty drain. I want it out so I can get on with the healing process and start to feel normal again! Yesterday was the one month anniversary of the surgery and I am down 41#. Wow. That's more weight than I've ever lost at one time in my life, even after months of Weight Watchers or LA Weight Loss! And this time it's gone for good, which makes it that much sweeter.

I was talking to a friend yesterday who was condidering the surgery and I told her outside of the weird complication I had, everything has gone extremely well and I would still do it all over again. So...I'll continue to live by the motto I adopted through all this: Hold on.

May 31, 2004
I got good news on Friday - I passed my swallow study so I was able to go back to the liquid diet all weekend. What a relief! Hopefully this week at my appointment my doctor will pull my drain and I can say good bye to the picc line too! The TPN is making me gain weight, which is really discouraging! Other than being miserable about all of these things sticking out of my body, I feel great.

May 22, 2004
Well, I am still hooked up to this machine, who I have endeared as "Chad", and the drain is still in. This has been such a hard week for me. I cry daily just because I think what I have to do sucks so much. I haven't had anything to eat or drink in 9 days and it is so hard! I just want a sip of water!! Unfortunately, I think this TPN is making me gain weight. I had gained 4.5 pounds when I checked on Thursday, but when I checked today I was back down to a loss of 26 - on Wednesday I was down 30!! What's up with that? Obviously it's not my fault and nothing I've eaten, but it's still depressing. I just keep telling myself that 26 lbs in 2 weeks is awesome - in fact I think it's the most I've ever lost at one time in my entire life.

Measurements
Piece = Starting / Today
Neck = 16 / 14.75
Bust = 51 / 50.5
Upper Arm = 18.5 / 17.5
Wrist = 7 / 7
Waist = 51 / 48.5
Hips = 63 / 62
Thigh = 33.5 / 33
Calf = 20.5 / 19.75
Ankle = 10.25 / 10
Total Inches Lost = 7.75
Weight = 330 / 304
Total Weight Lost = -26


May 18, 2004
Finally, I am home after 4 more days in the hospital, which were quite unexpected. Apparently, I developed a tiny leak in my pouch and an infection in my drain site. I hated being cooped up in the hospital! Luckily, Dr. Pesta and his surgical team were awesome and so helpful. They wanted to make sure I had a speedy recovery and did everything they could to set my mind at ease. They are so thorough and they really do care about the patient. Dr. P and his team always took time to come by and answer all of my questions and they put up with my mood swings, which ranged from sedated to happy to tears to despair. They were like little sunbeams on a gloomy day.

Now I am home with a picc line and am being fed through it 18 hours a day + I have 2 hours of antibiotics per day for the next 2 weeks. Hopefully I will be able to start eating after the 2 weeks are up, but won't find out until after a stomach scope, I think. After that it will be back to Phase I. Even though it's a pain in the ass, it's still manageable. All of the supplies and medicines are delivered to my house and a nurse will be coming out weekly to do labs.

In all, even though I certainly wasn't planning on this complication, I would still do it again. As of last night I was down 26 pounds in just 10 days. I think I'm in a redistribution phase already because I haven't lost since Friday.

May 12, 2004
Today is the first day that I feel good enough to sit at the pc and write. I am in pain still, especially around my shoulders and I don't know why. Here's a breakdown of my days since the surgery:

5/7 - Arrived at hospital @ 6:30, got taken to a pre-op room right away. Kristen and her mom were already there and after about 20 minutes Kristen was taken away for her WLS. After a while the nurse came into to do blood work, start my IV, etc. Later I was taken to get my epidural. It didn't hurt and for that I was thankful. The last thing I remember is being wheeled into the operating room and moving to the table.

Pre-op Measurements
Piece = Starting/Today
Neck = 16
Bust = 51
Upper Arm = 18.5
Wrist = 7
Waist = 51
Hips = 63
Thigh = 33.5
Calf = 20.5
Ankle = 10.25
Total Inches Lost = 0
Weight = 330
Total Weight Lost = 0

I woke in recovery and said out loud "I can't believe I f***ing did this!" Kristin was next to me and she was crying. Later I was moved to a private hospital room. The epidural worked great most of the time, but I did have to ask for additional pain meds twice due to spasms across my stomach. Also, I woke up in my room with the worst headache and couldn't figure out why. It was so bad I had to take a Tylenol suppository. Figured out later that it was a caffiene withdrawl headache. Anyone who is thinking about having WLS - kick the caffeine habit BEFORE you go in!! My nurses and aides on Friday were great. The midnight shift nurse, Janine, was great too. The midnight aide, I can't remember her name but it was something like Tashawna, was rude. I had her 2 nights in a row and both nights she would bust into my room with the BP and temp machine like she was trying to wake the dead, which in turn made me jump and caused a lot of pain. She also snapped at me for eating ice chips directly after having my temp taken.

The staff did have me up and walking that night, which was good. Hard to figure out how to get out of bed at first. Almost passed out the first time because I got up too fast. Almost puked when I watched them change my drain.

5/8 - Ate some red jello for breakfast and was visited by the anesthesiologist, Dr. Stoy (very nice). I walked around a lot today. PM shift nurse was not good but the aide, Ashley, was wonderful. Had lots of visitors, which was really nice. The midnight shift nurse was so much better. Saw Dr. Pesta around 5 pm and he said I was doing really well. In fact, a lot of people couldn't believe that I had just had my surgery the day before.

5/9 - Woke up this morning and Kristin and I ate our jello together while watching TV. Dr. Stoy came in around 9:30 and removed my epidural. The pain started in within the hour. Ouch! Dr. Pesta came through around 11 and released me to go home. The 40 minute car ride home wasn't bad. Went to sleep as soon as I got home. Woke up with severe gas pains and took more pain meds. Had to sleep sitting up tonight because pain was so bad and I couldn’t get comfortable.

5/10 – (Monday) Still major gas pains. Called Kristin to see how she was doing and she said milk of magnesia helped her. Realized I haven’t had any type of bm since Friday morning. Took sugar free Dulcolax, but it didn’t work until Tuesday morning. Wasn’t interested in breakfast at all. Had cream of chicken soup for lunch and dinner, some Isopure and jello as a snack. Slept in my own bed tonight, but shoulder pain is setting in on left side.

5/11 – Woke up with killer shoulder pain on both sides. Had a great protein shake for breakfast made with milk, French vanilla carnation instant breakfast and zero carb Yoplait yogurt. It was great! (BTW, my mom is my chef and she is doing a wonderful job since I can’t really do much for myself yet.) Only took 50 mg of pain meds today, down from 90 mg yesterday. Really only taking it for shoulder pain now. Had cream of chicken dumpling soup for lunch and Isopure for dinner. Trying to get all my protein in has been really hard.


May 5, 2004
Happy Cinco de Mayo! I went out tonight with a few friends to mark the passing of my margarita days. I said a silent goodbye to that part of my life and I am ok with it. Tomorrow starts the fun stuff: bowel prep. Oh boy!

I've stocked up on Isopure and the other items I need. Now it's upstairs to pack my bag for the hospital. Wow - it's almost here. I can't believe it!

May 2, 2004
Just 5 days til surgery. I have been busy trying to get everything in order from work to what I need to take to the hospital. I went to my dermatologist yesterday and he told me that theoretically I could get rid of my morphia schleroderma that has been on my stomach for the last 13 years when I have excess skin removed in the future. Amazing! Taking a page from another members journal, I have decided to make a list of reasons why I want to do this. She was glad she did that when she looked back a year later and it seems like a smart idea. I will post it later on. I also need to take a current picture and post it.

April 2004 - 21 days til surgery! Kristin and I keep in contact almost daily. We are both so excited about this journey that we are getting ready to embark on. Even now I think it's safe to say that this has been a long, strange trip and the big event hasn't even taken place yet! I've been trying to get approval for this surgery for 2 years - in that time I've felt highs and lows, urgency and franticness, sadness, anxiety and euphoria. What a journey!! In 3 weeks I know things will change again and take on a whole new meaning. How exciting!

March 2004 - Well, going the BCN route just wasn't working for me. Even though my PCP was willing to help and BCN did approve me for an initial consult I decided to enroll in BCBS Community Blue when open enrollment time came around. I am very happy with this decision and everyone tells me that getting the surgery done with this new insurance is not hard (so I hope they're right). I did a lot of leg work checking it out to make sure I would be approved before I made the switch because it will cost me more in premiums, but the extra money will be worth it and will still be less than the amount I would have had to pay through BCN. So now I am just waiting until May 7th.

The people at Liv Lite and Dr. Pesta's office have been very helpful. Polly @ Liv Lite even introduced me to another woman, Kristin, who is my age and is having her surgery the same day. We have been talking back and forth about the surgery and it is so nice to have someone who is going through the same thing as I am!

Weight Chart
05/07/04.....330
05/19/04.....300
05/22/04.....304
06/13/04.....286
07/15/04.....271
08/12/04.....258
09/07/04.....245
12/01/04.....225
02/01/05.....209
09/26/05.....196
01/01/06.....178

About Me

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