Caryl Mauk

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It's been a while since I've updated my blog.  My weight has been stable the last 3 months, oscillating a few pounds around 188.  Today I am 185, my new low weight.  I lost weight continuously for 18 months (6 months before surgery and a year after), so it doesn't bother me to stabilize for a while.

I'd still like to lose a few more pounds and would like to have plastics to remove some of the loose skin.  I'll have to see how finances work out for that.

I'm having to be much more careful now not to overeat.  I can eat much more easily now than in the first few post-op, but still somewhat less than pre-op.  Overall I'm very pleased with the results of my surgery.

I just had a consult with Dr. John LoMonaco in Houston.  I found him a few months ago on the list of plastic surgeons here on OH and decided to check him out after reading his many positive reviews.  I know many people consider reconstructive surgery following massive weight loss, so I'll post details of my consult here.

I met with Dr. LoMonaco first in his office and we talked about the procedures I'm interested in, the areas I'm not happy with, and my medical history.  Then he had me go with his assistant to another room to take pictures.  They had a blue screen and lights and had me undress.  A woman took pictures from different angles and the doctor came in for a couple minutes to look at my body and tell me some of what he thought he could do.  After the pictures I got dressed and went back into the doctor's office and we talked some more and he showed me my pictures.  He compared me to some other people and showed me their before and after pictures.  Then I met with his patient coordinator to discuss the financial end of things.

Here's what Dr. LoMonaco told me.  He said I probably only need to lose about 10 more pounds and said he would not recommend 20 pounds.  The reconstructive surgery goes better if there is some fat under the skin.  He said he thought he would take off about 10 pounds of skin from my front.  I don't need a breast lift.  He said the scar would not be worth the possible improvement in shape.  He said I could have implants to fill out the upper part to get more cleavage and he could adjust the size of the implants to get the breasts closer to the same size (one is like a cup size smaller than the other).  For the lower body, he said I could go with either an extended tummy tuck or a lower body lift.  The difference is the body lift goes all the way around.  The incision would run along the bottom of the abdomen just above the pubis and around along the top of the buttocks.  It wouldn't show with underwear on or a bathing suit.  The extended tummy tuck would be just the front part of the incision going around as far back as he can work without turning me over on the table.  I don't have near as much loose skin on the back as the front so he thought he could give me good results with the tummy tuck.  There is risk of developing "dog ears" which is a pinched looking area at the ends of the tummy tuck incision, but he says that could be revised in an office procedure if it was a problem.  The main reason to do the body lift would be if I am very unhappy with the saggy skin on my butt.  I got quotes for all the procedures.  The tummy tuck would be around $10,000 and the body lift would be close to $20,000.  The breast augmentation would add about $4000.  It's a lot to think about.  I'm not sure I want to change my breasts enough to get implants.  I had thought they were more saggy than they really are and I thought the breast surgery could do more about the extra fullness I have at the back and sides.  The doc said the surgery to fix that stuff requires a long incision that is not very attractive and wouldn't be worthwhile for the small bulge I have.  All in all, it looks like my expectations for the lower body were pretty realistic but not so much for the breasts.  It's tempting to say I should do the tummy tuck because it's so much cheaper and not as difficult a surgery.  I'm afraid I would end up being disappointed with the results and regret not spending the extra money.  I'll have to think it over.  I'll probably mull it over for a while and then make another appointment to discuss it some more.  Dr. LoMonaco also said I could email questions.

I wish I could afford to do this surgery sooner.  Most likely it will be next summer at the soonest.

Tomorrow it will be one year since my surgery.  I have lost 94 pounds since surgery and 134 pounds in all.  My weight loss is much slower now.  I  feel good about the progress I've made.  I have to really watch what I eat now, though the restriction of my surgery definitely helps me eat less than I would have before. 

In one week I have an appointment with Dr. LoMonaco in Houston to discuss plastic surgery options.  I don't have the money right now for this surgery, but I can get information to make a plan.  Hopefully in the next year I can get this arranged.

I feel good about how things have gone since my gastric bypass.  It's one of the best things I've ever done for myself.  Now I need to work on maintaining my loss.  I would like to lose another 20 pounds or so, but the most important thing is not regaining.  I see my surgeon for follow up tomorrow.  I didn't plan it, but the appointment falls on the one year anniversary.

Well I reached my next goal today.  I am down to 190 lbs.  That puts me at a BMI of 29.8 which is now overweight instead of obese!  It was the late 80's last time I was here.

I feel good about my progress so far.  I know I could do better as far as exercising and I could improve my eating.  So far, I've never stopped losing weight.  Of course I don't sweat the fluctuation of a few pounds up and down over the course of days.  I look at the overall trend over several weeks.  I'm losing every month, even though the loss is now slower.

Like a lot of other folks, I've noticed as I get further out from my WLS, I've gotten busier.  I spend less time cruising the message boards and more time doing other things.  The support I've gotten from this website has been wonderful.  My next step is looking into plastics and I'm sure I will continue to turn to OH for info and support.

I've been doing well.  I started a new position in the ICU at my hospital and have been very busy with orientation.  I haven't been exercising very much.  My weight loss has slowed down, but I'm still losing.  I'm feeling good.

Working in the ICU, I often see the results of end-stage morbid obesity.  We regularly have patients who are over 400 pounds and dying of the effects of their huge size.  I am thankful I was able to turn things around before hitting the point of no return.  I am saddened and horrified to see the results of such extreme obesity.  Unfortunately the people who are the worst off tend to be in extreme denial about the consequences of their weight.  I don't know what else to say.

I'd like to loose at least 25 more pounds.  I'm preparing to set up some plastic surgery consultations.  I'm not sure how I'll pay for reconstructive surgery, but I'm going to explore my options.

I realized today I have lost 72% of my excess weight.  Considering typical result is supposed to be loss of 60-80% of excess weight, I'm doing ok!  I definitely want to lose more, but I sure am pleased with where I am now.

I stepped on the scale this morning and it said 198.  It was a big surprise and I had to try again.  Still 198!  It has been 18 years since i was less than 200.  I'm so excited.  I know the numbers will bounce around a bit in the next week or two, but the trend is definitely downward.  Even if I'm over 200 a few more times, in a few more days the scale will consistently read in the 190's.  I have worked so hard for this, though the perfectionist in me says not hard enough.  That's all right.  One day at a time.  Today I will savor this moment.

I saw my surgeon yesterday and he said we couldn't have asked for better results from my surgery.  That made me feel really good.  I know part of it is his skill, part is my healing, and part is the work I've done to change my lifestyle.  I'm glad I've been able to take it this far and hope I can keep going at least another 30 pounds.  150 would be the ultimate, but 170 sure would be exciting, too.

I can't believe it!  200 lbs today.  Give it another week and I'll be in Onederland!  I haven't been below 200 since 1989.  I've been losing about a pound a week lately except this last week my appetite was off from being sick so I lost two.

I saw my GI doc this week.  He says as long as I'm feeling better we don't need to scope.  That's nice to hear.  He also had me cut back down to once a day on my PPI.  I ran out of the Protonix samples so I switched back to Prevacid.  I never thought Protonix really held me 24 hours anyway.

I went shopping yesterday at Target and picked up some inexpensive t-shirts and some pj pants and a camisole for lounging.  It was super cool being able to just look through the regular stuff and find my size.  There was one thing I considered getting that only had xs and xxl left.  My "middle size" was all gone!  I bought XL, which is definitely what I need on the bottom.  I might have been able to go L on top, but for PJ's I don't mind having them a little loose.

My husband really likes the new cami.  I know it shows my tummy bulges, but I just think ahead to my tummy tuck one of these days.  My husband thinks I look sexy and that's what counts.

I've been feeling better on the double dose of Protonix.  I'm eating fine but still having a harder time drinking enough water.  I tried some Propel again today but it still makes my stomach hurt.  At least most of the time I'm pain free.

I'm transferring to a different position at the hospital the 3rd week of March.  I'll be working in the ICU.  I'm looking forward to the change and getting to learn new skills.

I ran into a nurse I used to work with at my last job the other day.  She's been working on my unit recently.  I've lost almost 120 lbs since I worked with her and grown my hair out.  She's lost some weight and is very thin now and had grown her hair, too.  We didn't recognize each other at all until I introduced myself and we started talking.  We recognized the voices.  It was pretty funny.

I've been having stomach pain the last few days.  The doctor says it might be an ulcer.  It's been hard to get enough water in.  I have an appointment with my gastroenterologist February 27th.