Mandy M.
October 13, 2006 Still down 85 pounds....the dang scales just aren't moving. I think it actually maybe that I'm not eating ENOUGH. and I know that I'm not getting in enough water. BUT my clothes are fitting better everyday even though the scales aren't showing a loss. I just have to have faith that it WILL move...it HAS to.
October 8, 2006 Down 85 pounds in size 20 LEI junior plus jeans and an XL tshirt :D
Here are pics of me in a nightgown I bought pre-op!
October 1, 2006 My best friend, Tanita, my sis-in-law Harriett, and I went out for a girl's night out! I'm down 84 pounds in this pic. I almost look normal.
September 26, 2006 Here's a pic taken of me. 80 pounds down!!!
September 25, 2006 Well Saturday, Sept. 23rd was four months out for me and I spent it in the hospital having gallbladder removal surgery. I weighed this morning and it looks like I'm down to 254.4 OMG!!! Thats a total of 77.6 pounds. I'm recovering well from the gallbladder surgery but I can't return to work for a little over a week. :( Update more later!
September 16, 2006 Down a total of 72 pounds now!
September 6, 2006 Major wow moment today. Today is picture day at my school. So last night pulled out an outfit (deep blue pantsuit with a fitted button up top) and it FIT! I've not worn this outfit in at least 3 years. The good thing is its almost TOO big :D :D :D Maybe I'll post some pictures later today.
September 4, 2006 Sunday was not good to me. WOW! What a night! I ended up in the emergency room at 2:00 am. due to HORRIBLY EXCRUCIATING pain in my upper right chest through to my back between my shoulder blades. I have never experienced so much pain for such a long period of time (about 2 1/2 hours). ER said bloodwork looked normal. I called my surgeon's RN and we scheduled and appt with my surgeon, she (like many others in my family feel it is gall stones and that I had my first "attack." I seriously thought I was having a heart and attack and that death was very near. VERY scary. I have my appt 9/13 so hopefully I will know more then.
September 2, 2006 Still at 265. I'm ready for the scales to move, but I know with the exercise it WILL come off :D
Here's a pic I took tonight. I can't believe how different I look. Looking iin the mirror everyday, I don't see much of a difference. BUT pictures help me see the changes.
*I can actually see a little space between MY right arm and my body!!
August 30, 2006 I joined a gym Monday. Boy, do I feel it today. I weighed today and am at 265. This is the least I've weighed in at least 7 years!!! Feeling great with a loss of 67 pounds in 15 weeks.
August 26, 2006 This is the most recent pic I have. Down 66 pounds in 14 1/2 weeks in this pic :D
August 24, 2006 --- I am officially 3 months and 1 day post op. I went for my 3 month check up today. I am down 61.5 pounds since the day of surgery and down a total of 65.5 pounds. Dr. Whipple said everything looks great. He did mention I need to up my exercise so I can build and maintain muscle mass. My exercise program has been nonexistent except for my 20-30 minutes of weights and leg lifts I do each night (well almost every night).
Highest 332 2 1/2 months -55 4 1/2 months -85
August 8, 2006 ---Its been a while since I updated. I am now 11 weeks out and down 53 pounds since surgery :D
May 28, 2006 --- My surgery was Tuesday, May 23, 2006. I came home Friday. Everything went extremely well. I have weighed and I am now down 20 pounds. This is from pre preop diet. I have lost approx 10 since surgery. But I am going to use my highest weight as my before weight. Because I count the preop diet as part of my surgery.
Thanks for all the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes!
Mandy
I am going to try to recount as much as I can remember:
My surgery was scheduled for 7 a.m. so I had to arrive at day surgery at 5 a.m. We waited a very short time before they called me back. I met the "tech" and the RN that would be prepping me for anesthesia both VERY nice. The tech had actually had the surgery 2 years earlier (she was so nice and offered suggestions and advice).
I was on my period so I told them that and they told me not to worry. Then the HORROR began. I had to pee for a pregnancy test. I could NOT pee. I tried off and on for an hour. They ended up in and out cath'ing me on the table right before anesthesia.
Anyway...after getting in the prep room they gave me a hospital gown and ran my IV's. They gave me something to help me "RELAX" and boy did that work. lol While here Dr. Whipple came in and talked to me and so did the anesthesiologist.
Then they rolled me back (on the bed) to anesthesia. I remember some very nice people talking to me. They made me spread my arms out on these side panel things. Put the oxygen mask over me. I felt like I was struggling to begin with but then I started breathing through my nose only and thats the last thing I remember.
I vaguely remember Dr. Whipple standing over me and telling me everything went excellent. I remember waking up in my room at about 1:30ish. I couldn't believe it was that late. My parents said surgery took almost 3 hours but Dr. Whipple sent messages to them 3 times to let them know all was going excellent. He also said my liver looked SUPER and I did very well on my preop diet.
I had alot of visitors in and out that day. I enjoyed my morphine pump.
The nurses were all extremely nice. I survived on the ice chips with no problem food was the last thing on my mind.
I did have a hard time peeing when they took the cath out and they had to in and out me AGAIN. You better believe I peed on my own the next morning.
Dr. Whipple and Jodi gave me the ok to go home Thursday evening if I passed gas (which I couldn't). BUT I woke up Friday morning about 7:30 with awful stomach pains. I told my mom, "I've got to get up." As soon as I stood up I passed gas. I buzzed the nurse she came in, I told her, and I was getting in my mom's car at 8:15. Quickest discharge I've ever heard of lol.
I've been in the recliner most of the time. I get up every hour or so and walk around. The GTube is definately the most painful part for me. and the nasty Potassium drink YUCK!
I weighed when I got home Friday evening and weighed 322.6 this morning I weighed 312.6 WOW. Thats 20 pounds since my initial visit :D
May 8, 2006 --- W99T!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a surgery date. It will be May 23. I was hoping for May 26th but the surgeon will be out of town that day. SOOOOO I have to start my liquid diet 3 days sooner than I thought. I am sooooooooooooo excited :D
April 28, 2006 --- I went for my Initial Consult yesterday. I started off by meeting with Glenda the NP and Outpatient Manager at Memorial Health Bariatrics. I then took the Psych Evaluation and determined that I am NOT crazy. I met with the psychologist briefly and discussed my weight history and family background, support system, work, etc. I then met with Glenda again. This all took about 3 hours. I then went and ate lunch went back to meet with my surgeon, Dr. Wipple. He was very nice.
I registered for the Patient Education Seminar and received my HUGE notebook of guidelines and suggestions.
Glenda said she will call me next Friday to tell me I am accepted and we can schedule my surgery then. A surgery date of May 26th should be NO problem :D.
To Do:
Attend my 2nd Support Group Meeting
Attend the Patient Education Seminar
Have a urine Nicotine Test done.
YAY!!!!!!!!!!
April 25, 2006 --- Where to begin?!? I came down with a sore throat on Thursday night then fever and chills Friday and Saturday. We thought I may have been having an allergic reaction but the doctor says its Strep. So he put me on Amoxicillin (an antibiotic). I went Tuesday for my H. Pylori test. I was concerned my condition or the antibiotics could have some affect on the results. I called and spoke to Glenda (the outpatient manager at Memorial Health Bariatrics). She felt that since I had only taken 2 days and a dose of the antibiotics the results should not be altered.
April 19, 2006 --- I went to the informational session tonight and stayed after for the Support Group meeting. It was neat because I go to meet Carol who I've corresponded with on the board. It was great to see and meet the post-ops and hear their stories and advice.
April 18, 2006 --- I have my Initial Consult scheduled for April 27th. I am so ready for it to get here. After researching this surgery for so long I can't stand the wait any longer! I really wish I could have the surgery done in Mid-May but I know thats being overly optimistic. As a teacher I have plenty of "sick leave" days I can take and I would have more recover/weightloss time before the next school year starts up. Plus I'm tired of being Morbidly Obese.
Diet after diet, I have lost 25-30 pounds only to gain 40 pounds back. I read on here where someone once said they "dieted their way" to 332 pounds. I hate even typing that number. I think back to when I weighed 230 and I thought I was so huge then.
I plan to attend a Support Group meeting tomorrow night. Its held after the free weekly infomational session. I'll probably go early enough for it too.
I'll update more after I experience my first support group meeting.
March 31, 2006 --- I received a phone call from MH Bariatrics today to schedule my Consultation appointment. She seemed EXTREMELY nice. She said I need to be there on April 27th at 10:30 and I will not finish until at least 2:30. So, I have to take a day off from work. Not a big deal, since I have plenty of days I can take.
I also had my appointment with my PCP today. He was and is SO WONDERFUL. I was really skeptical of what his take on WLS would be. He basically told me that he has seen WLS work really well for several of his patients (we are from a small town). He feels I am an "excellent candidate". He made me aware that there are some serious risks that go along with it BUT with my health (great, except for being Morbidly Obese) they are very minimal for me.
He also prescribed Welbutrin for me to help with my journey to quit smoking. BUT my insurance is giving me a hard time about covering it. They need prior approval.
Anyway it was a very fruitful day and I look forward to 4/27!!
March 22, 2006 --- Well, I attended the information session held by Memorial Health Bariatrics tonight. I am so confident with this decision.
A little background on me -- I am a 25 year old teacher in Swainsboro, GA. My State Merit Insurance does not cover this surgery. I have been overweight all of my life. I have finally come to the decision I am ready to take a risk to make my life better. I have been researching this for over 2 years now.
