Jo_Michalko
Starting Weight 375lbs
Hello,
I had a profile on here but for some reason it says its not available. Soooo Im making a new one. I am a 30 yr old mom of four. Happily married for 12 yrs. I met my hubby in high school. We are high school sweethearts. When we got out of school and got married we had our first child a yr later. Thats when My weight problem began. My first child was a woppin 11 pounder. And I had some difficulties delivering her. I lost so much blood tha i was week and anemic for almost two years after having her. Hense the reason for never loosing the baby weight with her. Four years later I got pregnant for our second child still at the weight that i was at the delivery of our first. So I gained even more. She was a normal delivery. But I had twice the weight to take off now. And you guessed it To no avail did that ever happen. Four years later The Dr. gave me the biggest surprise of my life. Told me I was Having TWINSSS..!!! So here I am about 280lbs and Preggers with twins. TWINS double the everything...Sadly to say Even my weight. I went into labor two months early at a Wopping 336lbs. And at this day and very moment I weigh 360lbs. I have considered WLS for years now. And Finally my husband has an insurance that will cover it. I have attempted it before and was turned down by his old insurances. I plan on going to the BTC in Holland Michigan. I have my first Consultation scheduled for Sept. 7th. I am so excited and scared all at the same time. I will keep you updated on my progress. 8/31/01
9/7/01
Well I had my first appt. today. This was the initial consiltation. My weight was more than I thought. Another kick in the teeth. BUT not for longg.... wooo hooooooo. I have to get a phyc evaluation for insurance purposes and then I have to see a cardiologist and have a sleep study done to see if I have Sleep apnea and have a pulminary exam done. Then I can get my sergery date.. I was a bit scared today the Dr. I talked to made me realize just how risky my weight is and to tell you the truth it scared the hell out of me. Im glad Im doing this...!! More updates to come.
11/5/01
Well I am going through Prelim stuff now. Insuance FINALLLYY kicked in. I am getting my palminary and cardio phyc eval and sleep studies done. when those are all in from what I here it wont be long. Providing I have no troubles with the Insurance.. I can hardly wait. I wish It was all done like Yesterday.. I will keep in touch. So far So good ... !!!!
12/30/01
Well Today is my 31st Birthday. And i have all of my prelim stuff in but I have to go back and Redo the sleep Study. Once thats in it wont be long. But we got a slight ckick in the Teeth. :o( Hubby Lost his Job the Monday before Christmas. Our Insurance will only cover for 30 more days. Hopefully we can continue our insurance on our own long enough for me to get the Sergery. Everyone Hope and Pray and Cross your fingers for me. I have come to far to be Shot Down Now. Will Keep you Posted.
1/7/02
Well Made it Through the Hollidays. Happy 2002...!!!! Well I talked to BTC today and checked the status On my insurance approval. She said she would have it out by the end of this week. And it would take up to 2 weeks to hear back from them. This is my hardest part.. The waitinggg. Crossing my fingers hoping for the best. BC/BS is the best about approval so i hear. I sure hope so. Once BTC hears back from them I should have my sergery date within a week or two. Thats about it for now. Till laterr... Ciao
2/13/02
Well Sadly to say my mood is a little depressing at this presant moment. I would have thought by now I would have had the surgery. But Because of the Insurance Chaning due to my hubbys loss of job it is still facing the review board. Hubby lost his job a week before christmas. We continued our insurance ourselves primarily for the surgery. The swich over just so happened to take place right at the time My case was in submission for a yes or no answer on the surgery. They seen that My husbands job no longer exsisted so they put it on the back burner. But we have recently Got the insurance paid for and it is back up in front of the review board again. Now we are just waiting for the Yay or Nay on the surgery so I can get my Date set. I wish all this was done Like Yesterday :o( The waiting for me is a killer. I had my first initial Consultaion on Sept. 7th 2001 It is Feb. 13th 2002 and Im am still PreOP not PostOP.. Pray for me. Will keep you postes as soon as I hear About a date.
2/22/02
WHOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MY Insurance Approved my Surgery. Now all I need to do is get in touch with Scheduling at BTC and set my date.......... YAYYYYYYYYY...!!!!!!!!!!!! Still have a little doubt.. I swear I am the biggest Pestamist there is... LOL..I am afraid something will happen and I wont have my surgery... I guess I will be a believer when it is all said and done... Thats just me though.. I truly am happy ... Yeeehaaawwwww. Will keep you's Posted.
3/08/02
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.....!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE A DATE...!!! April Fools Day can you believe it. My surgery date is April 1st. My initial Reaction was yeah April Fools Right... HaHa. I go for my Pre-Op March 27th. Funny thing. It seemed like it was all taking forever. Now It all seems to be happening so fast.. I am almost scared at the thought. But Only for a sec. I am so ready for this. If I can get past the surgery part of it.. wich is my fear. I will be ok.. "Doin THe Happy Dance" .. Will keep you Posted...
3/27/02
Well I had my Pre-Op testing done today. All looks well and ready to go. Four more days till the big BANG...IM a little nervouse. But mostly just want to get it done and over with. I cant wait to start losing. Finding a whole new world that this once Fat person can actually fit into now. As my vlever friend stated. How hard it is to be fat and live in a thin mans world. O how nice it will be to fit in a resturaunt booth, wear normal sized clothes bought and a normal sized store, Sit in theater chair with arms.. Without Pain, walk from point A to point B without running out of breath, Being able to put my shoes on without my head feeling like it is going to explode from the pressure, RUNNNNNNNNN, The list is endless... Alot of things people dont realize we have to put up with and be humiliated with on an every day basis. I am so happy those feelings are going to be a thing of the past. I have been in one big dream state for awhile now. It if finally time for it to be reality. At my pre-op I have gained even more weight. Thank god my spiral is going to start going down instead of UP. My surgery is on April 1st. I problably wont update again untill im feeling well after that. To anyone considering the surgery have Faith. I know Im not going to regret it. Once I get it done Im sure I will reccomend it for everyone. I have a very good feeling about everything. Love and Best wishes to all of my Overweight sisters and brothers. God Bless.
4/05/02
Well I made it. Im Post-Op and Home. The surgery went great. No problems at all. Things I felt and am feeling right after surgery. Well first of all I had minimal pain in my inscion area but great pain in my ribs. And Coughing is a night mare. But other than that I feel really good. I sleep alot. But Hey its only 3 days after my surgery. Walking and drinking are your key the closer you stick to your Drs. Plan the better you feel. Walking gets rid of the stiffness and Gas. My first experiances after waking up out of sergery was a very very very dry mouth. To me this was my biggest bother. I hated it. And you cant drink anything untill 2 days after your sugery so it was a killer. All I could do was swab my mouth out with a mouth spunge and some water. To me this was the worst of it all. My morphine drip was my best friend for 2 days. Now My vicodine. I wont lie and say it doesnt hurt it does. Just follow the Docs. Orders and your pain is minimal. I cant wait for the pain to go away so I can start my new Life.. Im so excited and feeling fine... Thank you and Love to all who posted and gave me there love and best wishes the days preceding my surgery. May god be with you. And I wish you all Luck and Love. Will fill you in more as I becom the biggest loser in my life. Ha Ha I love that saying.!!
4/19/02
Hello again.. Well I am 19 days out. I feel great. Pain is gone. Im really looking forward to going on pureed foods MOnday. I had a doctors appt. to get my ears checked so I got a sneak peek at my weight loss. I have lost 23lbs in 17 days ....... I am so totally shocked........ I cant believe it Im finally losing woooooooooooo hoooooooooooooo...... all of those years never seeing anything but the numbers going up... I have lost all of my water weight. I actually have cheek bones ankle bones and shin bones... he he it is soooooo neet. I have a recheck on Monday.... Will post again then and let you know what they say.......Till then.......God Bless..... Life is Good
5/15/02
It has been awhile since I have posted Today was my six week check up. I have lost 40lbs WOOOOOO HOOOOO can you believe that 40lbs in 6 weeks. I am now on full foods. My belly gets upset sometimes when I eat but I have been told that will pass in about 2 weeks it is just because my new tummy is not used to regular foods yet. I am walking for a 1/2 hour everyday..... and I FEEL GRRREEATT...!!! Still get a little tired out about mid day. Doc says its normal because of the big shock to my system. I dont go back to the Doc. Untill July for my 3 mo check up. Im off all restrictions from surgery and looking forward to this downward spiral...Yeeehawww...!!!
7/27/02
Wow been awhile since Ive been here. I have alot to update. I am now almost 4 months out. I havnt gone for my 3 mo. check up yet. I know Big NO NO. I plan On getting in this next week or so. I have lost 85lbs. And Feeling Awsome. The energy is unbelievable. I can just keep going and going with no aches and pains I LOVE IT...!!!!! I have ran into a few minor problems. I chipped a piece of my knee cap out of my knee so I have been laid up with no exercise. But I do what I can. Swim when I get out to the lake and it seems to still be working. Im noticing bagging skin. I really have to get my butt to a gym and tone. Im noticing a differance in my clothes finally went from a 4x down to a 2 x in shirts and a 30/32 in womans pants to a 26/28 andin some things a 22/24. Clothes are feeling great baggy on me. I even dared ware a swimming suit to the beach this summer. Covered in a big T-shirt but I wore one none the less ... Well that about it for now. IM loving life.
9/20/02
It has been awhile again since Ive posted last. In the meantime I have Lost 105lbs altogether in 5 mo... Woooooo Hoooooooooo. No problems. Although I am reallly starting to get baggy skin. Was hoping I wouldnt but O well its better than the fat. Bye Till Next time.
11/12/02
375/250/140
I know its been awhile since I have posted. I promised I would keep up on my prfile. I am doing great However 7 mo Post-op and 125lbs Gone for good.... Whoo Hoooo.... Almost In the 240's My Energy level is Unbelievable. I have been Be Boppin around here like a Teenager. My kids think I have gone Nuts. HaHa. Everyone is telling me I look like a Kid. Lossing weigh has takin 10yrs off from my looks. The best thing is . I feel it...!!! I have made a web page with my pics from Month to Month. I am doing to paste the URL in here if I can find another way to post it I will. Here It is ~~~> http://www.geocities.com/cj_michalko/JosWLS.html?1035479996745
Dont know if that will Link In my profile but just copy and paste it into your browser. I have 110 more lbs to go to get to Goal.. Wish me luck.
Untill Next time. God Bless.
06/18/03
I am so sorry it has takin me so long to get back here again. Butt I dont feel that guilty. I have been living life and loving it. I have recently started working again. And I have reached my 1 yr date. Wooooooooo hooooooooooooo...!!!! 1 yr 2mo post op and Im down 179 lbs... and Im finally under the 200 MARK...... Yeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwww.............!!! I feel sooooooo GREAT....!!!!!! :o) there is so much I can do I cant even begin to explain how wonderful my life is now. I cant believe me I Ex-375 pounder is actually out in the work force again.. and Im on my feet all day and it doesnt even phase me..Its so awsome. I can eat more things but am still happy to see that I get full quickly. I make it a point to stay away from sugar even still. I dont want to know if I can tolerate it. Why bring back an old bad habit if i can help it? thats my theory. I do miss some things but I have found my little quirks that get me over cravings quickly. Still loosing but not as fast now. I loose about 1 to 2 lbs a week if that.... but its ok with me Im just glad Im under that 200 mark. Untill next time. Love to all and God Bless.
375/196/140
Oct. 21st 2003
Hello again. Just thought I would update a little. I am 1 1/2 yr post op now. I am down 200 Lbs Exactly Sittin at 175. I have inquired about getting skin removal now I have my first consultation with cosmetic surgeon in Nov. I feel wonderful. Not dropp as fast now mabey loosing 5 lbs a month. I think Im probably at goal now its just skin removal that I need to take care of. I cant believe the ME I see in the mirror these days. Its almost as though I dont remember that 375 pounder a year and a half ago. But I have to keep a vivis picture of her in my mind as a safty feature to be good so I dont ever have to go back there. LIFE IS GOOD...!! Untill Next time. LOVE TO ALL
04/13/04
Hello Again...!!! *Big Smiles From Me* Status I am now 2 yrs out and at a steady standstill at 170 lbs. And I have no Complaints. I did have a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon. I didnt like him :o) So on to the next. I do have Alot of Skin.But thats to be expected after loosing a WOPPIN 205lbs WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO...!! I am SOOOOO Proud of myself. I feel Great. My Goal was 140 But I will not complain. I dont care about that STUPID goal anymore I am so happy wear I'm at. Again I can not believe the things I am doing. Working, Playing with my kids, Riding Bikes,Jumping on Trampolines....Ha Ha Yes You Heard me right JUMPING on Trampolines,,,,,And Jogging with my Daughter... How Cool is that...? I tell ya things are so wonderful....! AND I DO TOTALLY and COMPLETELY Recommend this Surgery To ANYONE whos is overweight and hating there life because of it. :o) I am Updating my Picture on here this one was at my year date. I have lost 50 lbs since then ...I have to laugh because Back then I thought I was done loosing...:o) God Bless and Love To all. Talk again soon.
12/19/05
Havnt updated in forever.... Doing great... staying at a steady weight between 160 and 170.... In college for X-ray tech. Loving life.... My fears now is making sure the weight stays off... It has so far, but I will always have that fear that it will come back I think. I think it is that fear that makes me be good. If I see lbs comming on I go right back to the basics... till its gone........ Things are good.. No Plastic surgery yet. No insurance... prolly wont have for quite awhile.. .I guess I will just have to cope for now...God Bless
10/01/07
Hello again
This April I will be 6 yrs. out. Just thought I would update things in my life as of current. Still no skin removal. Have had the rottenest luck with that. Mostly Insurance Matters, but I hover right around 160lbs most all the time. I have lost a total of 215lbs. since the day of surgery. I never imagined loosing that much and keeping it off for 6 yrs. I am blessed. The fear of it comming back is till very present in my thoughts. I think that fear helps me. Still doing everything I never could with the weight. Still in college changed my major from Radiology and am now going into surgery. Who knows mabey someday I will get to work in an OR for Gastric Bypass. That would be way awsome. Still loving life. Only wishing I could get this extra sagging skin off my body...... I want to be firm now. My tools are still working. Sugar still makes me sick. Thank God they still work. If I sway and be naughty they kick right in. Im glad that certain foods or over eating still make me feel ill. Tells me that my surgery is still working. I'm so afraid someday it won't and I will have to really really work at staying thin like before surgery. That scares the hell out of me. I could never go back to that big girl without serious Mental repercautions. I would love to get down to 140 or even 150 I think some of that will go with the skin if I can ever get it off. Other than that I am still loving life and things are awsomeeeee.... I still swear by the Gastric Bypass and am so very happy I made this choice in my life. Untill Next time God Bless and Best of Wishes
