angeliquestarsmommy
I started my Duke WLS process, July 6 2005, after my daughter was 6 months old and at the time she was born in Jan 2005, I weighed 341lbs, I could not stand it anymore. I went to Duke WLS seminar July 2005. Got my surgery date Nov 2005, it was scheduled for Jan 23 2006. I had a GREAT experience with Duke WLS. Everyone was so great. I had Dr. Pryor.
This is my story. If you have any questions PLEASE ask. You can always reach me at [email protected]
Jan 23 2006.
Got to the hospital with my mom at 6am. They prepped me for surgery, took blood, hooked me up to the IV. 7:30am walked into the OR and don't remember anything after that point until I woke up at about 10:30am in the ICU. Feeling ok, little sore, but no actual pain. They said it lasted exactly 2 hrs, no complications at all. Dr. Pryor said I looked great, everything went very well.
When I woke up my mom, dad and step mom were there. That meant a lot to me. I will be honest and say I missed my husband (Brad)not being there with me. We separated Dec 31 2005, so it really bothered me. I also missed my daughter, Angelique, she just turned 1 about week 1/2 ago. I won't be able to pick her up for a few days. Mama has her at night for 2 weeks while I recover.
4:30pm. I gotta get up, I can't just lay her and sit. The nurses said if I got up the other WLS patients will want to get up also. NOT, well that’s ok, I wanna walk. I am a fast healer and need to get up and walk.
10pm & 4am. I went walking again.
Jan 24 2006
I got into a regular room today. It was a tiny room. Lucille & Ellen from work came to see me and brought me flowers. Still feel fine, no pain, just sore. I am walking more and more as the hrs go by. I can't just sit or lay.
Jan 25 2006
Dr. Pryor comes in says they are watching me walk around the hospital and see how well I am doing. I CAN GO HOME. Dad came to pick me up and took me home. Stopped by BJs and bought me a scale. AGHHH I didn't want one, but now I gotta have it. I am not gonna try and obsess with the weight. Brad came over and gave me a hug and said he was glad I did well with the surgery. That really was cool and meant more than he knows to me.
Jan 26 2006
Well not really on pain pills anymore. I am not hurting so why take them.
Jan 27 2006
Ok well I feel so good I am driving to a support group meeting at Bob Evans for lunch and meet the girls.
Jan 28 2006
GOTTA GET OUTTA the house. Brad has Angelique for the weekend, so me and mama are gonna get out. We went shopping at Wal-Mart. I went walking around the neighborhood. It may have been 3/10 of a mile, but each day goes by more and more.
Jan 30 2006
DAMN I MISS my baby. So I went to her day care and picked her up and have her for the rest of the week. I feel so great I could have started back to work. But I am gonna take the week off. I will start back Feb 6 2006.
Feb 6 2006
Started back to work and LOVING IT. Feeling great and walking at work 1 mile at least a day. Started doing 25 crunches, arm curls, leg lifts. As the days go by I will increase my crunches.
Feb 21 2006
Now I am kinda on a plateau right now. I am staying in the 284-288 range for the last almost week. I started on soft foods and doing really good with it. I have not had any pains or problems what so ever. Feeling great, no complications, keeping everything down. No vomiting, no nausea. I have plenty of energy. I can't really complain. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Yes I miss not being able to eat something’s. But I look in the mirror or the scale and see 284 down from my highest at 323. I have also lost 21 inches. Would I like to eat a pizza? YES, would I like to eat some Chinese food? YES. But I know it could make me sick or not be good to my pouch and I HATE vomiting. So why do that? I will be able to eat again just not as much. That's ok with me. I am not fussing. I try to walk at least a mile a day. I also do 100 crunches a night. I also do leg lifts, arm curls stuff to tone me up some. So I won't have as much flab to get rid of.
I hate it that some other women that had surgery same day I did aren't doing as well. They complain no energy, can't keep foods down, nausea, etc... Here I am energy, no nausea everything I eat I keep down and have no problems with anything I eat. I eat tuna, peanut butter, goldfish crackers, lots of cheese, hamburger, ham, turkey, crab salad, chicken, eggs, shrimp, grits, oatmeal, I drink skim milk, and unsweet tea and mix splenda with it or crystal light. Yeah I am missing drinking sodas, I mean it's not killing me, but I would like it. I am getting tired of tea, milk & water. Some juices don't sit well. I don't throw them up. It's just a feeling I get.
March 1 2006
Ok my plateau is over. YIPPIE, I am now 278.5. So far a total of 42.5lbs lost so far and -24 inches. I know some of you that don‘t get to see me that often want to see a picture of me. As soon as I get someone to take one of me and then I will get it downloaded on the computer I will put it up. I personally can t see a difference, but others say they can. I can in my clothes. I have gone down 1-3 clothes sizes, depending on what it is. If it is a dress, night gown, pants or shirts. I started out in 30/32 clothes, sometimes 26/28 would be too tight. Those clothes that I had basically fall off of me. 26/28 looks like a tent on me. I can wear jeans now depends if they are 24W or just a 24. That really does make a difference. When before I would wear jeans that were 30 or 32. So from a 32 to a 24. That’s a huge difference to me. Plus I can buy jeans from Wal-Mart and not just Lane Bryan catalog.com for specialty jeans. I have a night gown that is an 18/20. I have not been an 18/20 in YEARS. I have also not been less than 300lbs in years either. I am still walking 1-2 miles a day.
I still do not have a goal weight, and I am not going to. I will just do the best I can and be happy with what I lose. Because say I never get to the goal weight, do I cry? Do I flip out? Do I get mad? I mean some people obsess with it. I am NOT!! I am not saying I am happy at the weight I am, but it will go down, it will. If I get to say 200lbs, I will be just as happy. I mean that means I lost 121lbs. How many people can say that?? Plus I am still fairly young, so I will get to it and tone up some also. I may never be a model, but I am just fine with that.
April 17 2006
I have now lost 70lbs and 50 inches. I FEEL great, I can now officially see a change in my face and in the rest. I know everyone else sees it, but I had not for the longest time. It was a self image thing. Until you go thru all I have gone thru you don't know how it feels. But I am learning to accept it. Again, I have no goal, just lose and see. THATS ALL.
August 7 2006
6 months and 17 days later, I have FINALLY lost 100lbs. I am in the century club!!!!!!!!!!
Sept 17 2006
209, I weigh 209, I am only 9lbs away from being less than 200lbs, mind boggling to me. Really. AGHHHH LOVING It!!!!!!!!
Oct 23 2006
Not much to update on here either. I again and the same weight I float around 209-212. I am trying now to get the information about the plastic surgery. My insurance will pay for the tummy tuck, but not anything else. So hey some is better than none. I am still happy where I am.
Feb 14 2007
I am 1 year post op now. I have only lost 3lbs since Oct, weight loss is SLOW now. I am in the maintaining stage. Which I have slacked off, I feel so guilty from it. But I am still HAPPY and proud to say I did the surgery.
Now as it stands I am in the middle of the plastic surgery process for my tummy tuck, basically just waiting for my approval or not. I went 2 weeks ago. Honestly, if I never get it, I will still be happy and proud I had my surgery. I never had a goal of weight loss really. I am not at my IDEAL weight and probably never will be, but I am HAPPY at where I am.
Jan 3 2007
I went for my consultation for my Tummy Tuck with Dr. Rhett High-Raleigh Plastic Surgery.
I have Aetna insurance and their Clinical Policy Bulletin on Abdominoplasty,Suction Lipectomy says:
Aetna considers abdominoplasty and/or suction lipectomy medically necessary according to the following criteria:
Point 1. Panniculus hangs to or below the level of the pubis; and
Point 2. The medical records document that the panniculus causes chronic intertrigo (dermatitis occurring on opposed surfaces of the skin, skin irritation, infection or chafing) that consistently recurs over 3 months while receiving appropriate medical therapy, or remains refractory to appropriate medical therapy over a period of 3 months.
On point #1: Well it DID hand, BELOW my pubis.
On point #2: I went to my PCP in Oct, my OBGYN in Nov, and back to my PCP in Dec. BUT my PCP had changed from Oct to Dec. So I basically had 3 totally different Drs, document my rashes I had on my belly button. I also took pictures every single month. Every time I went to the Dr, they would prescribe me some type of cream to fix the “rash”.
March 5 2007
I GOT APPROVED BY MY INSURANCE TO HAVE MY TUMMY TUCK AND THEY PAY FOR IT, YIPPIE!!!!!!!
April 16 2007
Tummy tuck at Rex Hospital. They cut off 10.9lbs off my tummy. He cut from hip to hip and a full vertical incision like to the mid tummy below the breast area.
April 22 2007
I am now 6 days post op. I am not in ANY pain, thank god. I took out my pain pump Friday, I had my surgery on Monday. I have never been in real pain from day one anyway. Just very sore and BORED. I have been taking showers, when I get out, have a hair dryer ready to make sure I dry everything. I can't wait to get back to work. I start back tomorrow. I feel like I can. I usually don't like to take pain pills, but since my daughter has been gone I have been able to focus on ME I get my baby back in 2 weeks, my mom has her. Pain pills are my friend. LOVE EM,
Maybe I am not a normal person when it comes to surgery stuff and listening to Drs. I had my TT on Monday April 16, My boyfriend drove me home Tues morning. I was fine, then I got BORED and got in my car Wed afternoon and drove 5 miles down the road to Blockbuster to get a movie. Then Thurs drove again to Wal-Mart drove around in there with one of those grandma carts but I got along just fine. I have never been in ANY pain, sore, yes pain no. I took my own pain pump out Friday. I am still sore, but have been able to do anything with reason. I have washed dishes and clothes.
April 23 2007
OMG I AM 201.5lbs. I have not been at this weight since, since, well damn I am not sure when. OMG I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!
May 14 2007
OK OK, No one ever said I was the brightest bulb in the box. I still had 1 drain bulb in me after almost 4 weeks post op. So Friday night as I was taking a shower, my 2 yr old daughter slammed the shower door and I had my bulb hanging on a hook on the shower and when she slammed it, the hook fell and my bulb has some fluid in it and fluid weighs some. So it pulled my tube ½ out, you could see the white piece coming out. I tried to put it back in, but it hurt too much. So I left it alone, well for awhile. Now as you know when you milk your tubes and the fluid goes in the bulb and you drain it, you mash it and the bulb compresses. WELL my tube must have not had any air suction and I was not draining anymore, so MY DUMBASS, cut the tube. I thought I would just cut the tube and have a tissue, napkin, gauze something to catch the fluid. Well that worked for awhile until I went to the bathroom and saw that the small tube I cut, WENT BACK UP INSIDE ME and I cannot get it back out and it’s closed up. Now this does not hurt or cause me pain. But I have the end of the drain tube up inside me. SO I called my PS this morning and told the secretary. She said to come in at 3:00pm today. So I am not sure if the PS is gonna just numb me with a needle and cut it out or what? I mean I know they won’t just leave it in there.
So I know I did not take the (who has had their drain tubes/bulbs in the longest) but I know I take the dumb ass award?? Come on now, WHO’S with me. I also thought some people would read this story and they were having a bad time, this would make them laugh and think, wow, mine is not that bad.
June 11 2007
I am 8 weeks out as of today. I had my TT & MR April 16 and had my drain tube removal surgery May 15. The PS said there was not enough fluid to worry about putting another drain tube in. BUT I can wiggle my belly like a water bed. I mean you really can see it JIGGLE and know it is fluid. I don't go back to see him until July 23. I am not in any pain of course. But it is annoying. Should I call him? Or just deal until I see him again. I saw him 2 weeks ago and it was the same then. I thought it would have gone away by now. It’s like a pocket FULL of fluid and no way to really get out. I feel that if I stick a needle in it, it will squirt EVERYWHERE. Of course I won't do it.
July 17 2007
OMG I have gained 16.5lbs since April after my tummy tuck. WTF????
March 23 2008
I am not even sure what else to say now. Since my tummy tuck in April 2007, I have gained 36.5lbs BACK I weigh the same as I did when I was almost 4 months post op. I just don’t know what to say. I am sooooooo sad that I can’t lose anymore. I am hungry all the time. I eat in the middle of the night. I have no energy and its not getting any better. Duke (Patrick, Hillary, the psycs can’t help me).
I am getting married April 4 2009 and I GOTTA LOSE THIS to fit into my wedding dress!!!!!!!
|
Date |
Weight |
Lost |
|
January 14, 2005 |
341 |
|
|
January 3, 2006 |
321 |
20 |
|
January 11, 2006 |
315 |
6 |
|
Jan 22 2006 |
311 |
4 |
|
Jan 28 2006 |
301 |
10 |
|
Feb 23 2006 |
283 |
18 |
|
Mar 23 2006 |
265 |
18 |
|
April 23 2006 |
252 |
13 |
|
May 23 2006 |
239 |
13 |
|
June 23, 2006 |
234 |
5 |
|
July 20 2006 |
225 |
9 |
|
Aug 16 2006 |
220 |
5 |
|
Sept 23 2006 |
209 |
11 |
|
Oct 23 2006 |
208 |
1 |
|
Nov 23 2006 |
208 |
0 |
|
Feb 23 2007 |
205 |
3 |
|
April 16 2007 |
210 |
-5 |
|
April 23 2007 |
201.5 |
8.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Date |
Weight |
GAINED |
|
July 17 2007 |
218 |
-16.5 |
|
Aug 13 2007 |
225 |
-7 |
|
Sept 20 2007 |
226 |
-1 |
|
Oct 17 2007 |
229 |
-3 |
|
Nov 15 2007 |
230 |
-1 |
|
Nov 30 2007 |
228 |
2 |
|
Jan 23 2008 |
230 |
-2 |
|
Feb 23 2008 |
235 |
-5 |
|
March 23 2008 |
238 |
-3 |
