CandyLady
(8-15-06)
I'm 39, 5'5", 317lbs, BMI 51, the mother of five children.(21, 17, 15, 7, 6) and I will be a grandmother this November!!!
Took my first steps this morning and went to my PCP and got my referral! He did my chest x-ray, ekg, and set up my sleep study. My dear, loving husband recorded me snoring and NOT breathing to let my pcp listen to, which turns out is an excellent idea. My PCP told me to thank him since he had NO doubt that I have apnea and needed the study. My study is the 28th of August. I called the surgeon I have chosen to do my banding and I am scheduled for a seminar on the 24th. My pcp also said to come back to do all the necessary blood work. So far he's being very supportive. I explained to him I've been haunting the obesityhelp website for two years now. I think I have read every single profile to make my decision.
I am just like everyone else, we all have the horror stories from being overweight. I have decided it's time to do something for me. My mother is morbidly obese, has been all my life, now she is in a motorized chair, has had two strokes, has high blood pressure, her knees are shot, the list goes on......I WILL NOT BE MY MOTHER. I will not do that to myself, my husband, or my children. My father is also morbidly obese, but did not become that way until he retired from the military and became a truck driver. He has battled prostate cancer (survivor 4 years and counting) and degenerative disc disease which has required four back surgeries.
I have tried all the weight loss gimmicks, been to weight loss centers, joined gyms, starved myself only to gain it all back and feel (in my mind) like the biggest failure in the world. I'm looking forward to doing so many things when I succeed this time.
My husband is the worlds greatest. I tell my mother in law (whom I love and is all for this step in my life!) all the time that she did a wonderful job raising my husband. I could not ask for anything more when it comes to him. He supports my decision to have this surgery, but also tells me that he loves me any way he can get me. He says I'm the most beautiful woman in the world and that he's lucky to have me. (most of which, in my mind.....is just a load of crap, I mean, how could he love me? I'm huge....like I said, just in my mind.....) He says if I never lose a pound he doesn't care, as long as I'm happy. WELL, we all know I'm not happy!!!
I've decided to do like some of the other people on this site and make a list of some things I would like to change or be able to do once this journey is complete. So, here goes:
Be healthy and be around to see my children grow old.
Be able to take a shower and not need a shower immediatley
after from all the sweat of drying off.
Be able to fit in a chair and not have my butt hang out the side.
Be able to sleep through the night.
Be able to shop on the "other" side of the store for clothes.
Buy something that fits and it not be polyester.
Not be embarrased to be in my childrens classroom.
Take my kids back to Six Flags and be able to ride with them, not
just watch.
Go on a cruise with my husband and feel comfortable in my own
skin.
Spend more summers at the beach and not be the whale.
Not be the biggest person in the photos from Christmas with my
in laws.
Not have to worry about the white plastic chair at someone's BBQ
breaking if I sit in it.
When friends invite us to swim, being able to get in the water
and not sweat to death just watching everyone else.
Be able to paint my toe nails without the use of an oxygen mask.
Be able to stop using humor to cover my pain.
To stop everyone from telling me "You have such a pretty face."
Which we all know is code for......"If only you weren't so BIG!"
Stop hearing my six year old say when he sees a weight loss
commercial, "Mom you need that."
Be able to trip and fall on one of my kids without thinking I had
killed him. (cried for days over that one)
Fit through a turnstile.
Be able to walk in a resteraunt through the tables on the way to
ours and not knock off purses and coats from chairs.
Ask for a booth instead of a table because I can't fit in the booth.
Be able to beleive my husband when he says I'm beautiful, with
out rolling my eyes.
Be able to run and play with my kids. I used to run track in High
School, I miss that.
Go to a class reunion and not be embarassed, actually that may
have been the drinking to cover the embarassment that actually
caused that...hhhhhmmmmm.
To fit in a bathtub again without water sloshing over the sides.
To make my husbands exwife find something to call me other
than fat ass....yea, thats original.......we all know I'm fat,
give me something we can work with.......LOL
To make my ex husband figure out what he gave up, and eat his
words "What are you going to do, just grow around the house?"
Cross my legs
To feel as beautiful as my husband thinks I am.
To be pain free.
I'll add more when I have more time....hehehhehe
October 4, 2006
Update! I have been to the surgeon and have changed my mind from lap band to gastric bypass. The money that was going to be involved was keeping me from doing this. Our insurance pays 90-10 and we were told at the seminar that the surgery is $60,000. I do not have 6,000 dollars just laying around, so I've been depressed for a while, but all the time my husband is saying "Get approved and we'll come up with the money." GUESS WHAT????? My loving husband has found a way for me to undertake this journey!!! His open enrollment for our insurance at work is in November so he's changing our policy to buy up to 100% coverage!!! My deductible will be $600- AND THATS IT!!!!! God love him, he's the most wonderful man in the world! I went to the surgeon last week and also saw the psychologist and got all the insurance stuff handled. Our new coverage will kick in in January, SO, I will have surgery after the first of the year!!!! Life is good...
November 11, 2006
It happened today!! I AM A GRANDMAW!!!!!! My new grandson is named Jaxson Wayne, he weighed 7 lbs 1.1 oz, and he was 19 3/4" long. And I must say...........the most handsome baby in the world, but I'm not partial or anything! He had to come by c section which was not planned, but he is doing great and my daughter in law is doing great too. God gives ya kids to love and grandbabys to spoil......LOL
November 28
Okay.... I was shopping in Bealls with my daughter and got a phone call from Sue at FedEx Freight health benefits...........she made me cry in the checkout line.......I'm APPROVED!!!!!! My pre-op stuff is scheduled for December 28, surgery on January 8th!!!! I could have actually had the surgery on the 15th of December but I have to wait for the first of the year for my insurance coverage to change! I was expecting a long drawn out wait, but first submittal and I got approved!!!! God is great! I'll update soon!!!
December 26, 2006
12 days until I start over. Christmas was good, only one small trauma. We got our boys a puppy for xmas on Tuesday, he died xmas eve about 1 am. We think he had parvo, not sure. Anyway, my son came over with a vidoe camera and taped me just to be able to have something to look back at once I reach goal, and I will, oh yes, I will! I go the 28th for an upper gi and all the nutrition classes and to pre-register at the hospital. Life looks good. Ta Ta For Now.
January 5, 2007
Just got off the phone with my surgeon's office, almost no surgery for Monday. Our insurance changed on the first, and I was confused about what was taking place, but it's all worked out and it's a GO for Monday. Gotta be honest, getting kinda nervous. All will be fine, my husband is here laughing at me, he'll be off work all next week to help in my recovery. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes. I will try to update before Monday again, if not.....................see ya on the LOSING side!!!
January 10, 2007
Oh my gosh....I am home now, still sleeping in the recliner cause I can't lay down. The left side of my stomach is killing me! I knew I'd be sore, but geesh. I was only supposed to stay for outpatient, but they kept me two days. I have tried applesauce today. so far so good. I have my husband giving me my shots twice a day ( God love him, he's soooo sweet.).The pain medicine they gave me keeps me pretty loopy, but so far I'm thinking that's how I need to be. I'll talk to ya'll later.
Dana
February 21, 2007
Okay, I've been in trouble! We came home from the hospital and I did not feel well the entire time I should have been healing.(There was no being able to breathe or walk any distance without having to sit down) There was one night of a fever of 104, my husband called the surgeon's office and he said to try ice and if it didn't go down call back, the ice packs worked, but I've never had a fever that high, does NOT feel comfortable. By the time we went for my two week check up my surgeon had me do xrays in his building and they sent me straight to the hospital. He said I had fluid buildup in my lungs. We went straight to the hospital that evening at 5pm or so, they had my room waiting. We spent about 1 hour in my room and one of my surgeons partners came in to check on me and sent me to ICU (NOT kidding, could NOT breathe) Had to go do a CT scan, ya know where you LAY DOWN and go through the tube??? I can't breathe, so let's lay me down.........LOL. They put me on all kinds of IV's and medicine and oxygen. My surgeon comes in and tells me from the tests I have fluid build up and an infection under the new pouch. I spent three days in ICU, the last day they sent me to radiology and had a chest tube put in and another drain tube put into my side. (They give you some medicine that they say will help you not feel the pain....BS. They hurt like hell.) Spent a week in the hospital on iv's, antibiotics and having my drains emptied every four hours. And then some more FUN!! I became allergic to something they were giving me and have been covered with a red rash and losing all my skin on my hands and forearms since. The benadryl they were giving me didn't touch it and nothing we've tried has helped either. I had to do breathing treatments every four hours too, nothing like being in the hospital to get well and never being able to rest......ha ha. The day before I got to come home they decided to take out the chest tube. My surgeon's assistant was going to take it out, she said I would feel a slight sting. She prepped me to take it out, I'm holding my husbands hand with my right hand, she is on my left, I'm sitting on the bed, she says okay, little sting, here we go.....she tugged, had to physically stop, reset her hands and place one of them on my back for better traction, and she tugged again ripping a hole in my back where the tube came out. My chest is on FIRE, I'm in agonizing pain, and can't catch my breathe. She looks at the tube and says "It's not supposed to be curled on the end like that." YA THINK?????????? The end of the tube had curled into a curly cue shape when the guy in radiology put it in and she had to rip it out without it coming out straight. Needless to say shes pushing my nurse button calling for pain medicine NOW.............a little toooooo late!!!! Had to wear the other drain tube home for two weeks, now that was fun....NOT! My poor husband had taken off the week of my surgery to help me out, ended up being off three weeks straight before he could leave me alone. Have to give a big kudos to his job, they did NOT charge him vacation time, just let him off with pay. (He's a supervisor for a big freight company and they are the best!) Still not feeling up to snuff, but I did walk half a mile yesterday, GO ME!!!! I've lost 42 pounds so far. Have had some throwing up and food getting stuck, my gosh that hurts. Still not sleeping on my sides, it hurts. Trying really hard to get in all my water and protein, taking all my vitamins and supplements like I'm supposed to. I have to tell you, nothing tastes the same to me since the surgery. I used to love chocolate, can't stand it now, sugar free or jello or whatever, if it's chocolate, don't want it. Our water now tastes too bad for me to drink, we're buying bottled water now. Pineapple, juice, tuna, soups, just about everything tastes different, and not always better. Eating has been a trial and error process. Bread is not a good thing for me, it gets stuck. Anyway, I'm home and doing okay, trying to get back into some kind of routine. I'm supposed to go to work March 30th so I have something to work towards. I'll try to be better about updating more often! Ya'll take care!!!!
March 27, 2007
Weighed today, I'm at 259!! I was 317 the day of surgery, so I've lost 58 pounds already!! Yeah, go me......... My arms are starting to have a wiggle waggle already! I'm already looking for a plastic surgeon to help with that and my stomach when the time comes. I'm eating okay, still getting stuff stuck now and then but working it out. I'm making shakes for my protein drinks, I think I'm getting enought of that in. I KNOW i'm not gettin enough water everyday. But, all in all, everything is going good. You should see my grandbaby, growing like a weed, looks just like my son when he was little. Feeling old, I'm going to be 40 May the 1st. Started a new job this last week, working with counseling mentally challenged, I like it a lot so far.
Take care all!! It's great to be a loser!!!!
April 17, 2007
I've been very busy! My job is going great! Let's see.....I weighed this morning and I'm at 249!!!! WOO HOO! I'm wearing size 22's now, if I get the stretch kind I'm in a 20. When I hit 230 I will be the smallest my husband has ever seen me, so I know I'm going to pass that! My mother had her surgery on the 2nd of this month and is doing well so far. She has lost 24#'s in the last two weeks. Her feet are not swelling at all now, but she took a tumble out of her electric chair and it ran her over so now she's trying to recoupe from that. It's always something! My grandson is still perfect, he has two teeth now and is rolling over. Hard to believe he's five months old already. My big 40 is coming May the 1st......feeling old............LOL! Why am I up at 5:40 this morning?? Let's see, at 4 my husband threw the covers off and yelled "Sh--!" See, he has to be at work at 2 a.m. so he was going to be three hours late for work. (it takes him an hour to drive) He's NEVER late or calls in sick......NEVER. So, I've been up since 4 just goofing off. Anyway, I need to find one of the BMI calculators again so I can see where I'm at now. I love being a LOSER!!!! Take care all! (I'm at 68#'s lost since January 8th)
May 22, 2007
Good grief it's been a bit since I've been here. Everything is going great, I've lost 83 pounds so far, looking forward to summer this year! My whole attitude has changed! We are getting ready to move in three weeks so it will probably be a bit before I check back in. To everyone looking to lose weight, go for it! I'm not kidding ya'll, my whole outlook on life has changed since having this surgery. I don't like to sit still now, I have to be going, going, going!! Gone from size 26/28 to a 18/20 so far!!!!! Take care!
Dana
July 12, 2007
I DID IT!!!!!!! I hit the 100 pounds lost mark yesterday morning!! WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!! I'm at 216.6 as of this morning. I have to get some more pictures on here so ya'll can see my progress. My family is doing well, my daughter in law was held up at work yesterday! She's a teller at a bank in DeSoto and she was robbed yesterday, thank God she wasn't hurt (just emotionally). My grandson is WONDERFUL! He's 7 months old now and crawling all over the place. Anywho, life is good, the new house is wonderful, my job is wonderful, my husband LOVES the new me and is still so supportive! I will holler back again soon! It's wonderful to be a LOSER!!
Dana
August 13, 2007
My gosh it's been a bit since I updated! Just got the internet back up since the move and I didn't realize how much time I used to spend sitting on my butt looking at the screen till it was gone! I know, you all want to know my total pounds gone now.......DRUMROLL please!!!!!!! 112 POUNDS GONE! I am 205#'s now. Size 16, kinda loose, working on 14's. I can not tell you the difference in my life! I feel better, look better, act better, have a better outlook, I can't name all the changes because there are too many. If you would have told me eight months asgo that I would feel the way I do now from just losing weight I would have called you a l iar, but it's the truth, my life has changed completely for the better. I suggest exercising now to my family instead of saying, "Maybe later." I am all for being outside and not sitting on the couch, going to the mall, shopping, trying on clothes, taking pictures, swimming, all that good stuff! I just spent the weekend in Galveston with some girlfriends of mine and we had a blast!! I wasn't the wallflower sitting in the back while everyone else had fun, I was doing it too!!!! This has been such a blessing for me and even with the complications I had from the surgery, I would so reccomend someone have it in a heartbeat. I'm trying to post new pics so ya'll hold on as soon as I get it to work they'll be up! Gotta go get the boys in the shower but everybody take care and keep smiling!
Dana
August 27th, 2007
Sunday I weighed and had to wake up my daughter!!!! I am officially under the 200 lb mark! ;)~ I am 199.9
I wore my husbands size 36 waist blue jean shorts all day Sunday, just because I could. He is loving this weight loss thing. I can not tell you guys how much different it is being on the losing side. I have on a XL shirt that fits loose, and a size XL pants from coldwater creek that are too loose. For the first time since I was in High School I can shop on the other side of the store, oh yes, you know what I mean, the OTHER side of the store, where the skinny people shop and get to pick from the latest fashions instead of whatever material was left over from making the grandmaw clothes........you know what I mean!!!! On another note, my grandson is truly wonderful and my 2 smaller children started back to school today! (Allelueah!!!) Work is going well, I still love my job and the people I work with. Guess I can't ask for much of anything else! Oh yeah, and my 18 year old daughter got a JOB this last weekend, life is good! If you couldn't tell already, I'm having a great day! It's one of those ^^UP^^ days! Have more and more of those lately. Anywho, I will holler back at everyone later! God Bless!
Dana
September 5, 2007
Weighed this morning and I am 194, total of 123 pounds lost since January! I am really tired this evening, Wednesday at my job is the worst. We have three doctors on instead of just two and we stay until 8 o'clock instead of 5. Anyway, wanted to say hey and good luck to everybody who is thinking of having or has had surgery, it was still the best decision I've made!! CYA later and God Bless!
Dana
September 13, 2007
I weighed on Sunday and I am at 192 pounds, wearing a size 16 that's kind of loose. I haven't been that size since after the birth of my first baby (Justin) who is now 22 years old! I love people's reactions that haven't seen me for a while.....tee hee!! I saw a friend today that hasn't seen me since I had my surgery and she was BLOWN away that it was me!!! And I have to mention that she is also going through some difficult times in her life, she has cancer and has decided to stop chemo and just live the rest of her life without being sick. God Bless ya Dee. I'm still feeling great, loving every minute of it! Take care ya'll!
Dana
September 30, 2007
Weighed in this morning and I'm at 189!!! I was stuck at 192 for about three weeks, really pissing me off, but now I'm moving again!! Yeah! I had my daughter in laws mom come by yesterday to pick up our grandbaby and she kept telling me I need a smaller size jean so today I went to the store and she was right!! 14's fit me just right!!! I have not seen a size 14 since high school ya"ll.............And by the way, my daughter in laws mom has had the bypass too, she started in a 26-28 and she's a freaking size 6 now......I am so happy for her! She looks wonderful! So anyway, life is good, work is good, noone is sick so we're all doing good. Grandbaby is just growing like nobody's business. Walking everywhere, he's only 10 months old but he's walking like a champ!! I have to get a new wedding ring, mine keeps falling off my hand, I know, I could just get it sized, but after 10 years I think I need an upgrade.....LOL!! My son Aubrey's birthday is the 9th of next month so we'll be partying soon! He wants an army party so I've been making plan for his "boot camp" party! Well, ya'll take care and God Bless!
Dana
October 27, 2007
I weighed this morning and I am at 175 lbs....my 14's are loose, I'm stealing my husband's button up Levi's and wranglers to wear instead of buying new clothes right now. I still can not believe the ride this has been for me. I have not felt this good in twenty years! I tell everyone that will listen about having the surgery and all the changes medically and physically it has done for me. (not to mention mentally!!) Everything is going well, no problems with me or my family, we are blessed! My daughter has moved out into an apartment so now we are down to four, just my husband and I and the two boys. (7 & 9) We had a party for Aubrey and I tried my hand at making homemade tamales and they turned out so good!!! My husband helped me with everything......we make a PERFECT team! We had homemade tamales, homemade enchiladas, homemade beans and rice. Everybody had a great time. Anyway, my best friend Rhonda came to see me this last week, she had the lap band done and has lost an amazing amount of weight, 162 lbs I think. I love ya girl! Miss you too. My total pounds lost now is 142. I still can't grasp it, I think it's going to take a while for my brain to catch up with my body. Ya'll all take care!! God Bless!
Dana
November 18, 2007
Good Morning! I have no idea why I'm up this early except for the fact that I've been sooooo sick this last week and I'm still coughing so much I can't sleep from it.I was off work Wed, Thur, and Friday, home in bed all day and night. Most of yesterday in bed with the exception of going with the boys to Hastings to rent a movie for them to watch. I think it was the flu, coughing, aches all over, chills, I couldn't eat or drink anything, probably dehydrated. Feeling a bit better this morning except for the dang cough and tightness in my chest. I had my daughter get me some new pants yesterday (she is asst. mgr. at a western wear store) because my hubands pants no longer fit me, they are all tooo big. I look like a clown trying to wear them. The rockies she got me were size 13, and the wrangler slim fits were 11's!!!!! When she came by the house to drop them off she and I both got into my "last" pair of fat pants. Oh my gosh......it was tooooo funny! I'll see if I can get a photo of that onto my page. I weighed when I got up and I'm at 165.6 For a total weight loss of 152 POUNDS!!!!! Just 6 1/2 more pounds and I will have lost half my total body weight since starting this journey! And for those who don't remember, I started at 317# and I had surgery Jan 8th, 2007. Thats just 10 months!!! After I tried on my new pants last night I made my 18 year old daughter try them on for me just to prove we wear the same size now!! I still am in shock, I've said it before but I'm saying it again, it takes a while for you head to catch up with your body. When I look in the mirror, I still see just fat, but everyone else is amazed when they see me, I've already had three people tell me enough already, stop losing weight. My goal I set before surgery was 150#'s, I believe I will pass that. When I got pregnant with my first child I weighed 135#'s, most people are saying that's going to be too small.......we'll see! And I've been visiting with some friends who have already had their tummy tucks, that's next on my list! Tummy tuck, boob lift, and arms done. My youngest son Jacob just woke up so I'm going to go.... Ya'll take care and God Bless!
Dana
January 7, 2008
Happy New Year! I hope everyones having a blessed beginning. I weighed this morning and I am at 153#'s which means I have lost 164#'s in ONE YEAR! I go for my 1 year check up with Dr Kuhn this Wednesday so we'll see what he thinks and hopefully all my labwork will come back showing that I'm in good shape. I used a BMI calculator the other day and I'm in the overweight range still....I think that thing is wrong. I have all of my friends and family telling me I already don't need to lose anymore weight. I had set my goal for 150 so we'll see what happens. All of my family is well except for my Dad, he has phneumonia but is feeling better. My mother had her bypass a couple of months after me and she has lost 93#'s and is having her left knee replaced this February 13th so we'll be getting her out of her wheelchair soon! Work is going well, don't have anything to complain about! I'm going to fix the boys dinner so I'll check back in after my appointment Wednesday! Take care and God Bless!!!! Dana
February 3, 2008
GOOOOOOOO GIANTS! We just got back from watching the Superbowl at my in laws, GREAT GAME!!!! Anyway, I had my one year checkup and my surgeon said, and I quote, "I am the poster child for the bypass surgery!" I weighed this morning and I am at 147#s which means I have lost 170#'S so far, wearing size 8 jeans and feeling wonderful. If my tailbone problems were gone I'd be in perfect condition. I broke it back in July and have had problems ever since, my PCP wants me to see a surgeon to see about having my tailbone removed but with work the way it is right now I can't take the time off for that. My original goal was 135#'s but I'm already getting flack from people about not losing anymore weight but the way I see it, I'll stop when I stop. My husband loves me just the way I am.......breathing! Gotta get the kids to bed since they got to stay up late for the game. Check back later!
Dana
June 17, 2008
I have not been on in forever.....okay, here goes, I have been in a funk, I have had two endoscopy's and a GIANT ulcer, not able ot eat anything (and I mean anything), everything was coming back up, I lost down to 121.6 lbs, trust me, that small doesn't look good on me. We are in the process of healing the ulcer and trying to get some weight back on me, I would gladly settle for a size 7 or 9 at this point. On the up side I have gotten a promotion at work and will be moving to the Dallas office to work very soon. My grandson is growing like a weed and loves spending time with Gram and Pap. I'm in a size 2 and will post new pictures soon. Hope all is well with everyone else! Take care and God Bless! ((((I may hate myself in the morning....but I'm gonna love you tonight! :)~
January 26,2009
Happy New Year to all! Had my 2 year check up! I am in the process of getting another endoscopy scheduled, haven't been doing so hot latley. Went to see my surgeon because half of everything I eat comes back up, I spent one morning in the Emergency Room about two weeks ago and my surgeon says I have an obstruction in my bowels that I will need another surgery for that is a direct result of the bypass. He says since I have had my bypass they are figuring out there is a specific spot in the intestines where they pull them through that has to be tacked down now, when they did mine they were not doing it. I'm back to trying to eat mushy, yucky stuff that I know will stay down. I weighed this morning and I am at 126.3. (I've lost 191#'s total) I am having second thoughts about having had this done, but I know this too shall pass. It has become very depressing to not be able to eat, and I had not figured into the equation the way you feel about food when you can't have it! I keep telling my husband, "I just want 1 Whataburger......just 1 big fat juicy Whataburger with cheese!" My parents took us to a Mongolian Grill resteraunt yesterday and everyone just loved it, I did too, got my bowl and picked out just shrimp, water chestnuts, bean sprouts, and garlic sauce, took it up to the grill, they fixed it for me, I had 2 bites and was in the bathroom relieving myself of it. Yesterday was just a bad day I guess. On the UP side, my new grandson will be here April 1st @ 7:30 a.m.!!!! Our other grandson Jaxson is growing soooo fast, he is in the stage of repeating everything he hears! My Dad says "Holy Moly" all the time, so now Jax says it about everything, he has caught us all off guard a couple of times with a few choice curse words thanks to my son and daughter in law!!!! LOL! We love him to death! I will get some new pics on here and get back on and let everybody know how it goes with the surgery and hopefully this will fix my problem for now. Take care and God Bless!!! Dana
About Me
Before & After
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