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Hi OH Family!!!! I come back from time to time to check in on everyone and also answer any questions concerns or worries anyone may have . I am currently going on 13 years Post Op and the weight has not returned!!! Yayyy God is Good! Long term expectations and changes are different for everyone so I am opening a Q&A to answer any questions anyone may have I know in this YouTube and Instagram world this method seems old fashioned but I truly believe it is amore intimate and personable way to share your success and journey!! Love Everyone ! Stay encouraged!!!!

When we first start our Journeys I believe we all have an idea of what we would like to look like. Some of us have goals and ideas in our mind of what we would be at certain weights or how happy we would feel. I for sure never imagined that after 10 years I would still or my body would still be trained as it was the first day I left the hospital. Looking at me now some people may never believe that I struggled with my weight or even had issues regarding my weight. I used to be the type of person that was always so proud of myself and how far I have come and don't mistake me I really am truly proud of the courage and the strength and the dedication that my younger self had when I first had the surgery. When I first decided that weight loss surgery was for me. However now 10 years later I am in a different mind frame and society and people also look at me in a different frame of mind. 10 years later when you succeed  and when you've accomplished your goals, and I know you will too! No one sees your struggle no one sees the pain no one sees the doctor visits no one sees the tears you cried to get here all they see is the success and they see in you now what they desire and to them you are now on the other side. On the other side of pain on the other side of the journey on the other side of lifes problems on the other side of emotional eating on the other side of having to manage and control your weight. However this choice this decision is a lifelong commitment and you have to know within yourself that although no one sees hears or remembers any of your struggles that you had.  You know , you remember and that is where you're going to draw your strength to continue to succeed and to one day look back ten years later and say I am proud of who I am I am proud of how far I came and I am proud that I was able to break the chains of obesity. Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous 2018 from my heart to yours!

Hello WLS Family!!! How is everyone doing out there??? Sending virtual hugs and love your way! My mailbox is always open for any question big or small! Take Care of yourselves!! Love and Light 

Hello OH Family! I hope this posts finds everyone well and in good spirits! I am just writing in response to a recent WLS seminar that I attended with a family member. This post is specifically for the newest OH family members and those who are waiting to have their surgeries. I had my surgery done in the beginning of 2008 and I know some of the procedures and requirements have changed but there are some indications that everyone should still be on the look out for, because during the seminar I attended the information and the office seemed predatory. First and foremost you should never have to pay an "attendance" or "appointment booking" fee. This office was charging ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS! for a pamphlet and a tote bag and the details on how to make an appointment! RED FLAG!!! Number two if the doctor is evasive and does not want to fully answer your questions and diverts you to another member of the office staff then RUN don't walk, don't pass go and don't collect 200.00! Lol seriously a lot of new changes with health insurance and coverages has impacted tHE WLS community but still please be on the lookout for predatory doctors and offices!

 

Love Always

HIGHEST WEIGHT: 255 POUNDS

STARTING WEIGHT: 230 POUNDS

CURRENT WEIGHT: 110 POUNDS (GOD IS GOOD)

 

EVERYONE PLEASE THOROUGHLY CHECK YOUR PHYSICIAN AND METHODS CAREFULLY. #NOMORELIVESLOST By Liz KowalczykGLOBE STAFF  OCTOBER 27, 2013

 

 

Dr. Sheldon Randall denies the state’s allegations and has appealed.

Dr. Sheldon Randall has been king of obesity surgery in Massachusetts, running booming programs at three hospitals and training young Harvard surgeons as the operation became a popular option for profoundly overweight patients.

He has performed more than 6,000 weight-loss operations in his 30-year career — nearly one every weekday — and been featured in marketing campaigns by two suburban hospital systems. Under Randall’s leadership, their bariatric surgery programs were designated national centers of excellence by surgeons’ groups.But behind the scenes, the surgeon was under investigation by the state Board of Registration in Medicine. Two months ago, the panel suspended Randall’s medical license, accusing him of a pattern of negligence and declaring him an “immediate and serious threat’’ to the public. Investigators charge that he did not recognize and treat post-surgery complications quickly enough in four patients, two of whom died.

Randall, 61, denies the allegations and has appealed the suspension, enlisting a team of experts who said he provided perfectly fine care for those patients. Four prominent Harvard physicians also have written letters to the board supporting him.

Regardless of the outcome, the case exposes defects in the health care system’s efforts to protect patients: Accreditation programs established to help patients choose the best hospitals may offer false assurances, and the medical board can take months to act on complaints. Hospitals do not routinely communicate with each other about disciplinary actions against doctors, and the medical board does not automatically contact hospitals either when suspensions or similar measures are reported to it.

While Hallmark Health System suspended Randall in March 2012, apparently prompting Winchester Hospital to discipline him as well, MetroWest Medical Center allowed Randall to keep operating — right up until several days before the board took away his license Aug. 16 of this year.

MATTHEW J. LEE/GLOBE STAFF

Cheryl Ferullo held a photo of her husband, Scott Ferullo, 45, who died after open gastric bypass surgery last year.

During that 17-month period, the board alleged that Randall negligently cared for two gastric bypass patients at MetroWest. One, a 67-year-old woman whose surgery was Dec. 19, 2012, died, dependent on a ventilator and a dialysis machine in her final days.

MetroWest would not comment on whether it knew about the Hallmark discipline. Hallmark and Winchester hospital officials also declined to discuss the case. The medical board added the Hallmark and Winchester disciplinary actions to Randall’s profile on the board website, but MetroWest would have had no reason to look there.

The job of notifying other hospitals of a suspension would have been the physician’s, not the medical board’s or Hallmark’s, said Barbara Piselli, the board’s interim executive director. “It is a gap in the system,’’ she said.

Piselli said she could not discuss why it took the board 18 months to investigate Randall, but she said cases often take months because investigators must subpoena medical records, interview witnesses, and locate an impartial expert to examine the cases. There “is a lot at stake for the physician and for the public,’’ she said.

The board does not publicly disclose ongoing investigations.

Randall’s attorney, Chad Brouillard of Boston, said neither he nor his client would discuss the allegations. But in a motion opposing the suspension of his license, Randall said MetroWest found no problems with his patient care. And he said an unnamed expert who reviewed Randall’s cases for the medical board could be a competitor with “a direct financial interest’’ in trying to discredit him because of his success.

At least eight patients or their survivors have sued the surgeon on grounds of medical malpractice during the past 13 years. At least three of the cases have been settled for undisclosed amounts.

In February 2011, Hallmark suspended Randall’s privileges for five weeks because of a “death in the course of/resulting from surgery,’’ according to the medical board’s website. This death was not included in the board’s allegations against Randall, however.

Piselli said in an interview that the board began investigating Randall in the spring of 2012, though she would not say what prompted the inquiry. But on March 14 of that year, Scott Ferullo, a 45-year-old Everett construction worker, underwent open gastric bypass surgery at Hallmark’s Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford, and he died four days later.

The board allegations refer to him as “patient A,” said his wife’s attorney, Robert Higgins of Lubin & Meyer in Boston.

Cheryl Ferullo said her husband was exhausted because of sleep apnea, a condition common in overweight people, and was taking medications for diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

His doctor suggested that the best way to resolve these chronic conditions, and stop taking medication, was surgery. An aunt who had a gastric bypass operation recommended her surgeon, Randall.The day after Ferullo’s operation, his wife said, he was in terrible pain.

The board’s statement of allegations said Ferullo spiked fevers to 106 degrees in the next several days, was confused, and his heart raced. Investigators said Randall failed to promptly investigate whether his patient had a leak or bleeding at the surgery site.

Ferullo died, of sepsis, an overwhelming infection, while being flown by helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital, his wife said.

Hallmark suspended Randall that day, according to the board’s website, and he resigned permanently in November 2012 — two and a half months before the 67-year-old MetroWest patient died.

In her case, the board said she was “a high risk patient’’ and required even “more urgent treatment for complications.’’ The board said Randall failed to quickly evaluate her for a bowel obstruction when she began vomiting several days after surgery.

During 2011 and 2012, both Hallmark and MetroWest, with hospitals in Framingham and Natick, were designated Centers of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the American College of Surgeons — seals of approval they proudly displayed on their websites.

Dr. Jaime Ponce, president of the bariatric surgery society, defended the accreditation program.

He said hospitals accredited by the society are far safer, because they must perform a minimum number of surgeries, buy operating room tables large enough for overweight patients, and regularly review outcome data and improve their programs.

But he acknowledged that patients cannot rely solely on a hospital’s designation as a center of excellence to pick a surgeon. Evaluators inspect hospitals every three years and review their data annually, but do not evaluate surgeon performance, he said.

Hallmark and MetroWest said the surgery groups’ designation is valid, because it recognizes the quality of an entire program, not an individual doctor.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, which had named Hallmark a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery, suspended the designation this month after an inquiry from the Globe, because Hallmark did not notify the insurer that it had disciplined Randall, said Dr. Tony Dodek, vice president of medical quality and strategy. The hospital has used the distinction to market its program.

Hallmark granted Randall operating privileges in 1999, and soon after Randall took over the new obesity surgery program at Mass. General, where he trained several of the surgeons who work there today. Randall left Mass. General in 2007 to start the MetroWest program.

“He has taken on some of the more challenging people and saved a lot of lives,’’ said Dr. Matthew Hutter, who is one of the Mass. General surgeons Randall trained and who wrote him a letter of support.

Dr. Andrew Warshaw, the former Mass. General surgery chief who hired Randall and also recently sent a letter backing him to the medical board, said there were no problems with Randall’s medical care at the hospital. And, he pointed out, the complications the four patients suffered are a known risk of bariatric surgery.

But Randall was unusual in one sense, Warshaw said. He continued to operate the traditional way, through a large open incision.

“The only difference between Sheldon and other people here,’’ Warshaw said, “is that he was doing an open approach and the field was moving on to a laparoscopic approach,’’ which involves using long, thin instruments and a tiny camera to operate through several tiny cuts.

In the four cases cited by the board, investigators faulted Randall for performing open gastric bypass surgery even though it is associated with higher rates of infection and other complications than the less invasive laparoscopic approach — now used in the vast majority of cases.

Overall, bariatric surgery deaths have plummeted during the past decade, from more than 1 in every 100 patients to less than 1 in every 300 patients, said Dr. George Blackburn, a surgeon at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Surgeons believe the drop is in part due to more modern, less invasive techniques.

Blackburn said Randall provided him with data this summer, which showed that his complication and mortality rates were equal to or better than the national average. Blackburn then sent a letter to the medical board, saying, “Dr. Randall is an essential member of the community, providing vital necessary services to countless individuals.

Source : http://www.bostonglobe.com/2013/10/27/mass-obesity-surgeon-license-suspended/uopBPHfH5cmYZJr3BuvWCP/story.html

Thanksgiving is a time where people come together to give Thanks for all the many wonderful things life has granted them. We spend so much time wondering and grieving what we think we have lost throughout the year that we fail to make Everyday a Day of Thanksgiving! We as WLS family members know the struggles that we deal with personally as well as the external struggles we must face everyday. Struggles such as not eating how or what we use to and then having to offer an explanation to prying and seemingly well meaning individuals who encourage us to eat "just a little bit more" or make us feel as though somehow our New and Improved lifestyles are "unhealthy". Take it from me and I mean it when I say, I am so very PROUD of not only myself but each and every member of the WLS community that has taken this journey. I have questioned myself, cried a river of tears and doubted whether or not I made the right decision. I am Thankful and Happy that God made a way for me to receive this new gift. This beautiful gift of life! To all of those who are struggling today I would like to leave you with a few words of encouragement. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "You must keep moving!" Tina Knowles Beyonce mother and the creative visionary for Destinys Child spoke recently at an Enpowerment Conference and her words touched my soul. "Remember when youre going through it... thats all it is... Going THROUGH it!... You are not going to get stuck there... you're not going to die! Just keep moving!" I adore and love each and every one of you and praying for your success on this incredible journey. Be Well and Take Care of yourselves. Happy Holidays!

 ** My post response to an issue Im sure we have all faced***

Hello I just read your post and want to try and help direct you in a more positive direction. Okay the surgery was post-poned because your doctor needs you to lose an additional 15 pounds. First things first get out of the traditional mindset of weight loss. In your case the only thing you need to be doing is reducing your caloric intake. Meaning eating less than your reccomended daily calorie requirements. Exercising heavily will only cause you to gain muscle mass that will make it appear you are still gaining weight. Do not starve your body or it will turn against you and hold on to the weight. Try this trick eat sensibly but only eat half of whatever it is youre eating say your sweets or your fast food orders. At this stage in the game you can not afford the luxury of negative influences or self defeating thoughts. I understand people may mean well but this is the time for you to block out the external and go deep inside to the core of your being and listen to your own feelings and thoughts. Honestly I was not one hundred percent ready to give up food or my candy but thats the beauty of the journey. Your addictions and cravings will be addressed in each step along the way. Be gentle with yourself and pray for guidance and strength. I am not a doctor just a survivor.

 

(***Without going into personal details I received a very Good question from a WLS Family member and I thought the answer could benefit other members as well. ***)

Hi! Thank You for being encouraged and inspired by my journey. This is a very big step towards the rest of your life and you must give it your ALL. Right now especially since you are still in the Honeymoon phase of your weight loss I would suggest taking maximum advantage of this time. For the first year if you can try exercising 3 to 4 times per week for thirty minutes a day until you build up to a hour. I usually spent 30 minutes walking and then eventually running on the treadmill. The other thirty minutes just go around and do some situps or weight lifting. Stay away from all carbs or you will stretch your stomach back out in a few years. Eliminate all sweets until about year two and then gradually bring them in slowly. Think of your stomach as a baby's or a childs stomach. Try walking as much as possible and another thing go to Goodwill or a thrift store for clothes because your sizes will be dropping in a matter of no time! Best Wishes on your journey

 

. Kisses and Love!  

 

 

Hi WLS Family its been a year and Im so sorry I havent posted in a while, but a new article I saw on the lasting effects of WLS urged me to come talk to my WLS babies about weight loss and what to expect after years post-op. Firstly Congratulations to anyone who has made this decision. Its like we all have a special bond no matter where we are in our journey. I am now six and a half years post-op and my weight has stabilized at 110-114 pounds with my highest weight being 255 pounds. My loose skin is minimal now due to aerobic activity. Please dont let anyone discourage you or tell you that you can not do it or sustain results. I know and Ive heard people make jokes and bet on how long it will take for a weightloss person to gain again. Dont pay them any mind. When I decided to have surgery it was for me and only me. I prepped myself mentally chose a theme song ( Goapele-Closer) and strapped on my seat belt. Its out there for you WLS family. Please dont follow your dreams CHASE them with a vengence. I Love You All Stay Encouraged. Many Blessings.

Hi Guys sorry I haven't posted in a while but I'm still here! and I definitely still LOVE you! Ok soo many people wonder what happens after your five year anniversary? Does the weight return? Does the hunger returns? Can I still continue to lose weight? will my weight hit a plateau? Will I still "dump"? Wellll what I can say is that everyone's experience is completely different but I will answer the questions from my experience on the journey... My lowest weight was 107 pounds and right now I bounce between 110 and 114...Still cant tolerate carbs too much.. The vomiting has stopped.. My mind knows only to eat half and to eat each in small portions.. Friends have turned on me family has done the same...My attitude and my whole life experience has changed from this...but I wouldn't trade it for the world its my blessing...It saved my life...Im always open to the new babies of the family for questions of any kind nothings too personal.. I will try my best to respond as quickly as possible... Love you Guys! Hang in There... Oh yeah new pics.. mwah