jboogie
May 25, 2004 (306 Lbs)-Day of surgery
June 1, 2004 (288 lbs)- 1 week post op
June 15,2004 (284lbs)- 3 weeks post op
June 29,2004 (276.5 lbs)- 5 weeks post op
July 16,2004 (265.5)- 7 weeks post op- Total -41 pounds
August 13, 2004 (253)-11 weeks post op-
September 28,2004 (235.5)- 4 months post op Total 70 pounds!!
November 5, 2004 (226)- 51/2 months post op Total 82 pounds..
May 26,2005 (186lbs)-1 YEAR 1 DAY POST OP...TOTAL LOSS 120LBS
January 2006 (174lbs)-Total loss to date 132lbs
Hello everyone! I came "across" this site browsing. I am having the surgery 2 weeks from today 5/4/04. I am excited and nervous. I am 33 years old and have been severly overweight after the birth of my son (he is now 10). I have done every diet out there, and we all know dieting is like a yo-yo, you lose and then gain it all back. My primary doctor suggested the surgery about a year ago, and fortunately my insurance is going to cover the procedure.
My family supports my decision, they have seen how many times I have tried different diets. The doctor who is going to perform my surgery is the best here in Miami. He does not do the Laparoscopic surgery, but the more traditional "open" method. It is hard for me to comprehend that a year from now, I will be a totally different person. I will feel great. The funny thing is that I have never felt shy about being a "big girl". Last year I modeled and did photo shoots. I was the jlo for the big girls (ha ha).In my 20's I could handle my weight, but now that I am 33 it is catching up with me. For health reasons,I decided the surgery was the best option. If anyone reads this in time, please please email me. I have a co-worker who had the surgery done a year and a half ago, and I have asked her a million questions. So if anyone could give me any suggestions, tips, etc I will greatly appreciate it.
Wednesday April 28, 2004
Less than a week to go!!!YEAH.
What a week I have been having!!! Well first off getting pre op tests is nuts! I had to go to my primary get blood work done, then go to another medical center to get an EKG and chest exray. Then today go and pre register at the hospital. (Had to pay $300 co-pay that stinks) and then meet with a doctor, nurse, case worker. Lord this entire week I have been coming in late to work. At the hospital they really went into full detail on what to expect and they explained everything that I need to do before, during, and after my stay. Okay so bottom line I finished everything and the countdown is on. Since this is my last weekend Im sorry but I am going to like go eat somewhere nice. Maybe have a steak since I know that I won't have that for a long while. My friends plan to take me out and celebrate this weekend, and I decided to take my farwell pictures and video. It is going to be fun to look at them a year from now!! Well I need to get back to work. My job has been awsome especially my director, she is just caring!!. I am blessed to have a great boss who generally cares about me. She has gotten references on my surgeon, and has given me the support that I need.
By the way this site is awesome. I have gotten so many support emails, and it just really helps. Honestly I did not realize how many people have gone through this and can relate to this rollercoaster ride. Well this Friday will be my last day of work, and I won't have access to a computer while I am out.
SOOOOOOOOO see you on the other side!!! I can't wait to sit on the loser's bench!!!
Love you all!!!!!
Ok Not even 5 minutes after entering this journal, I got a call from the surgeons office, and they told me that my surgery has been POSTPONED!!!!!! May 25, almost a month from now!!! DAMN that sucks. I have been mentally preparing myself for next week. My surgeon had an emergency....I am so upset that I am surprised I am not crying. The only good thing is I dont have to go to do all the testing and registration again. Anyways I am going to go Im tooo upset to write...
May 13, 2004
Well surgery is 1week and 4 days away... I am hoping that the date is for sure this time, and no changes. Well yesterday I was reading the memorial page on this site, and it kinda freaked me out a little. I am glad that they have a page to give condolences. I had to like read each one, and it scared me what can happen. In a way it is good to know what to expect, but it still freaked me out. Regardless I have to take this chance, it is for my health and at 33 I am feel the effects of my weight. So ta ta for now I will be back next week to log my pre jitters!! I can't wait to look back at this next year....I wonder how everything will turn out.
May 19, 2004
I officially have the jitters....yes I am yes I am...It is Wednesday and that means 6 more days. I have to say it over and over that this site is DA BOMB!! I have so much support emails that it just makes things easier. I have read other profiles that mention the days before surgery go by so slow. In my case, it is like blink blink surgery day is here. I am not even gonna lie I am having pre-op eating frenzy!!!! I don't know if it is nerves or what, but I am snacking away. I know its bad, that it is not healty ray ray ray, but I know that after the surgery I will have to change my snacking, so I guess I am getting my last bit in. Thanks for all the support from everyone!!!
June 8, 2004
TWO WEEKS POST OP!!!!
I am back and I feel good to say the least. It has been a rocky road!! The recovery was not easy. Two days after the surgery I was throwing up non-stop. I don't know why I was sooo nausiated. On Friday May 28th I was released, and as soon as I got in the car to go home, I started throwing up. The entire night was like that so on Saturday morning, my mom had to take me right back to the hospital. They ran tests, and decided that I had to be re-admitted. So Saturday May 29 and Sunday May 30th I was in the hospital and was released Sunday night. I have been ok ever since. I still have my days of nausea, but no throwing up. A week after surgery I got weighed, and I went from 306 to 288. I was estatic. HOWEVER this week I have not lost a thing. I am soooooo disappointed. I am going to call the doctor tomorrow and ask if that is normal. Not one pound. WHY????? I am hardly eating. So I dont understand. Now my new fear is that the surgery might not work on me, and I hate to think negative. Well I am going to go to the message board and get some feedback and hopefully this is normal not to lose from time to time. Again thanks for all the support!!!
June 30th 2004- 5 weeks post op and -30 LBS
Ok I had no idea that between the last time I made an entry in my journal it would just get crazy. I returned to work on Monday June 14 which was almost 3 weeks post op. I felt fine, and my job is an HR Assistant so it consists of paperwork and phone calls etc. That week went by fine no problems. Ok last week Monday June 21 I went home had dinner and low and behold I threw up after my meal. No big deal it happens. BUTTTT the vomiting did not stop. By 10:30pm I was on my way to the hospital with my son. I had to call his dad to come and pick him up from the ER. My beautiful mom came and stayed with me the entire night. Mind you I was in the ER vomiting about every 2 hours. Needless to say they kept me and put me in room on Tuesday. I stayed in the hospital for 6 days!!!!! Throug out my stay I had vomiting episodes that lasted hours. Pain meds and nausea meds would not work the last resort was morphine and that did the trick. They ran every darn test you could think of. Upper GI, um what else oh yeah putting a camera down my throat to check my tummy. It was crazy. Well thank GOD that everything was fine no leaks etc. BUT to this day, they cannot give me a clear explanation on why I was throwing up constantley. Well I am 5 weeks post op and down 30 lbs. I feel ok, but I am hardley eating since I am afraid of having another episode. I know I have to get over it and get in my proteins. I am not even going to lie, I have crazy cravings. I mean if I see a commercial on TV regarding a plate of food I change the channel. I wish I could bite into a burger sometimes. But believe it or not I don't even go there, I am to scared of getting sick. Despite the rocky road I have been through, I am happy with my decision. Everyone at work and outside of work have noticed a "change". They can see it in my "face". So that is a good thing. Well that is it for now.
Hugs & Kisses!!!!
July 16, 2004
I am back and 7 weeks post op, and it has been ROUGH!!! Guess what I went back to the hospital again!!!! So to sum it up here it goes June 21- June 27 hospitalized for constant vomiting, took millions of test could not pinpoint the cause. For the next week everything was great. Then July 5 yep vomiting episode again. Now when I say vomiting episode. It is crazy. I throw up and then its like my stomach is on fire. Then the nausea and the vomiting starts again. So went back to the hospital and was not released until July 12. This time they changed medications so now I am on Zolfran and other meds which seem to be working. I am eating great and to date (knock on wood) have not felt sick or nauseated. SOOO I am down 41 pounds and I hope I keep losing. I will update soon. Smooches
August 13, 2004 (Friday the 13th)
Okay I have not updated in a while...wanna know why?! Yes Ms. Jennifer got sick AGAIN and I was hospitalized again. If you are not keeping count this go around is the 3rd time hospitalized. Yes this time it was for another week. It is for the same reason. VOMITING and the acids in my tummy are on overdrive. I am on strong meds right now and I have been home for 1 weeks without any problems or nausea. On a happier note, I can see the difference in how I look. I am not going to deny it, I look good. I am wearing a size 18, and honey I cant even remember the last time I wore that size. My only hope is that I dont get sick anymore!!! I left it in the hands of God to complete my recovery. I am not going to worry anymore! Well today we had a hurricane scare, but Charley missed us. My boo came back from Chicago yesterday so I am happy to see him, on Sunday he will be 10 imagine that. He is also looking good lost some weight while visiting Chicago. Well I am off to go to the movies later w/ Chris...smooches....& much love to my mommy & sis for taking care of me!!!!
September 28, 2004 (-70lbs)
HI I am back. Well since my last hospital visit I have been doing great. No more sickie poo. Everyone has noticed my weight loss it is crazy. When I go out dancing, strangers come up to me and give my compliments. It is great. I feel great. I am eating ok. Small portions but basically anything that I want. I still have to learn to eat slower so I can know when I am full. I have thrown up a couple of times for feeling to full. I started going back to the gym, but I need to make it a ritual. I am trying not to buy to much clothes since I am going to continue to loose. Well I will keep in touch...love me.
Friday November 5, 2004 (-82lbs)
Ok long time no write...Things have been GROOVY!!! I have not gone back to the hospital for vomiting. So I am doing GREAT, feeling great. Funny how when you loose weight other problems just happen to pop up. Well I went for my annual exam & of course the gyno checks the breasts and low & behold he felt a lump under my right breast. I was totally freaking out and he was so non-chalant. So he sent me for a mamo, and everything looked fine. I went the following week for a ultrasound and they said it was fine not to worry. The point of the story is that my gyno said since I have lost so much weight my breast mass is smaller and you could detect things now. I was like wonderful. I mean I am 33 years old so age has nothing to do with breat issues. Well of course now that I am smaller the guys are trying to holla more than ever. I mean when I was heavier yes guys hollared then,but now its crazy attention. I am even considering going back into modeling. I might try out for a fashion show in NYC. We will see, I need new photos and so forth and right now I am on a tight budget. Photos are expensive. Well its Friday and I am going out tonight so I will check back in soon. I told my friends that when I hit 199 we will have a party. Just to be in the 100's is like a milestone!!!
Anyways I am out smoochies....Big up to my baby BUNNA.
February 10, 2005 203lbs (-103lbs)
WOW I have not updated in a while..I read on my last entry and I did take up modeling again. I had a photo shoot 2 weeks ago, I have yet to see the pictures. Well I did post a pic here on the sight. It is not recent though. Well it will be a year that I did the surgery (May). I have come a long way!! I am so happy with how everything has turned out. It seems like everyone knows somebody that has undergone this procedure. I have never gotten so many compliments in my life!! I look at the before and after pictures and the only thing that comes out of my mouth is WOW. The other day I cleaned out my closet, and I am not going to lie I definately got tears in my eyes. Its just such a big change. I hung up my new clothes and just to compare the old and new no words can explain. I know that there are risks involved w/ having this surgery, but I will always support it and recommend it to everyone. Sometimes when I am out, and I see a heavy person I want to hug them and tell them there is a way out!! That would just be stepping over the boundaries I know, but I have been in their shoes. I know what price you pay being heavy physically and is just sucks. So I will be thirty four next month, and I am going to celebrate being healthy and happy!! BYE smooches...
May 26, 2005- 1 Year 1 Day POST OP 186lbs
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
I cannot believe that it has been one year already...and what a year it has been. I feel great!! The only downside is that I can eat a little more, and the last visit to the doctor my B-12 was low. I dont know about you but shopping is like crazy. Now that I can buy clothes in the regular side of the store not plus its like a different world!! So much to choose from. Sometimes I go crazy!! I have to say big up to my family for supporting me through this past year. I had it rough and they stuck by me.
Well on the flip side of things. I am dating a wonderful man!!. We dated 2 years ago...when he use to live here in Miami. He moved back to NYC and off and on we would see each other. In December he came down (I was 7 months post op)and since then we have been talking everyday, and taking turns monthly to see each other. He met my family (that is a good sign). I am really happy. My thing is that guys are soooo superficial. If you did not talk to me when I was a plus size, damn sure dont try and talk to me now. At least with this man, he knew me at a plus size, and had we dated. So I know that its not about being plus or not! Well we will see were this goes. I really really like him alot so with Gods will, this relationship will continue to grow!!!
Take care...God be with you....smooches...
January 2006-----HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!
It is 2006 Can you believe it!!! In a couple of months I will be 2 years post op. It is hard to believe that time has gone by so fast. I don't know about anyone else, but I still get sick... I think it is something that I will have to deal with. What I mean by "sick" is that I still throw up after eating. I guess since the food taste so darn good, it is hard to stop. Of course I get tooo full and then off to the bathroom I go. Regardless I am soooo happy with the outcome of this journey. Sometimes I come across old pics and I can't believe that was me only 2 years ago. WOW. I am about a size11/12. Well I made a goal for this year to find a great surgeon and get rid of some excess skin. Thank goodness that the only area that needs some help is my tummy. Other than that I am not to flabby. The only thing is just to go through another surgery pardon the expression SUCKS!! The tummy tuck is not a walk in the park. UUGGH just to go through that soreness feeling. I know no pain no gain, but it is something I have to look into. Other than that, life is good. I am still seeing my New Yorker man. I am not going to lie, it is HAARD having a long distance relationship. We take turns, and see each other every month. He has brought up the marriage thing, so we shall see what happens with that. I love him so much, and I hope that things work out this year.....
Well I will try to keep up my journal thoughout the year.
LOVE and smooches.....