Beverly N.

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09/28/2006 - Well, today is my 6-month anniversary, and I'm down another 4 pounds. I wish it would have been a little better (shooting for 6 pounds/month), but I'll take what I can get, especially after yo-yoing so badly this month. My total loss so far is 56 pounds. To be on track with the "50% by 6-month" rule, I would have needed to be down 60 pounds, but I'm not too far off of that mark at 46.6%. I just need to have faith in my DS, and realize that my body is going to do things in it's own time. I also need to be a little better in my diet - sometimes I still have too many carbs.

I'm looking forward to going to see Dr. Anthone. Maybe I'll have hit the 50% mark before then, who knows? I have an appointment with hime on October 13th, and will also be attending the support meeting (my first!) on October 12th. Can't wait to meet up with some members of the "Omaha Mafia"!!

OMG!!!! I just noticed, my BMI is now 39.5!!! I started at a BMI of 49, so this is the first time in many years that my BMI has been in the 30's. Yeah, me!!! Oh, this also means that I am now merely OBESE instead of EXTREMELY OBESE. I can't believe it!!!

09/15/2006 - Well, I'm really getting depressed now. I've tried really hard to stay positive, but this lack of progress is getting really old! 

The first couple of days after my anniversary date (28th of the month) I actually lost 3 pounds. I was very excited, thinking the weight loss might finally be picking up. But then the ususal yo-yo started, and here it is over half-way to my next anniverary date and my net loss for the month is 0.2 pounds. 

I've been tracking my food in fitday.com, and I'm getting in 90-100 grams of protein and about 100 grams or less of carbs, ususally 1500-1600 calories (actually less with the part we malabsorb). I don't know if this is too much, or just too many carbs, or just that, like everything else I've tried, the DS isn't going to work for me. I've also checked my progress against others using Starr's Lab Rat data (http://www.studiostarr.com/WLSdatawebpage.htm) and I believe I'm the slowest loser on the chart, so it's NOT just in my imagination. Also, my clothes are not fitting any differently, so it's not just losing inches in lieu of pounds either. I really, really hate to whine, but at this point, I don't know what else to do, so.....WAHHHHH!!!!!

08/28/2006 - Much better this month...down -8 pounds! I'm now at 220 pounds, for a total loss of -52 pounds. Whew! Hope I can keep losing at this rate for awhile. I'd really like to make the 50% loss by 6-month goal, which means I'd like to lose an additional 8 pounds by September 28th. This would make exactly 50% of my excess weight lost by the 6-month mark. Keep your fingers crossed!

I finally thought to request my operative report from Dr. Anthone, so here are my measurements:

Total small bowel length: 660 cm
Alimentary lmb length: 400 cm (61%)
Biliopancreatic limb length: 260 cm (39%)
Common channel length: 200 cm (30%)
Stomach volume: 100 ml

08/02/2006 evening - Well, I guess I tried on too many clothes. I was still going through my closet today, and before long started getting stomach pains. before long, I couldn't stand up straight. I ended up going to bed early, but was in increasing pain throughout the night. By 3:30am I was not only in excrutiating pain, but having cold sweats and nausea, too.

08/03/2006 - When my daughter got up, che insisted that we call Dr. Anthone's office to see what they thought. I was told to get to the ER, as it sounded like a possible bowel obstruction. Since I have a very full cardiac history, the ER guys ruled out another heart attack first, then concentrated on the abdominal pain. Turns out Dr. A's office was right - I had a partial small bowel obstruction, and was admitted to the hospital. By the afternoon of the 3rd, I was feeling a lot better. It seems to have resolved (at least for the time being) on its own. Thank God I don't have to have surgery again! I was released to go home the next evening. I am still getting quite a bit of bloating after eating, so I don't think things have resolved completely, but definitely MUCH better!

08/02/2006 - Just a quick post to say that I lost -4 lbs. in month 4 for a total of -44 lbs. Not a great amount, but better than a stall. In addition, I had my first two WOW moments. 

I was at the local horse rescue, and without thinking, squatted down to play with the barn cats. No problem! When I realized what I was doing, I just couldn't stop smiling - I haven't been able to squat like that for years! 

Then, WOW #2, I went through 3 large trunks of old clothes that I was saving for when I got smaller, hoping that some of them would fit now. Well, I had UNDERGROWN most of them! I now have 64 items of clothes on their way to Goodwill. What a surprise! Amazing how little things just keep getting better and better! What a trip!!!

06/29/2006 - I'm now three months out, and down another 8 lbs. for a total of 40 lbs. gone. I was really thinking I was losing slowly, but then Scotty pointed out that per the doctors, you should be losing about 30% of your EWL at 3 months, 50% at 6 months. Looking at it that way, I am right on track. I was originally 272 lbs. - would like to get down to 152 lbs. - an EWL of 120 lbs., so 40 lbs. is 33%. Guess I need to stop worrying!

The most exciting thing to happen to me recently, though, is the birth of my first grandchild - Joseph Dara - on June 27th. Isn't he just the cutest thing you've ever seen??

05/27/2006 - Sorry I've been so negligent in posting, but time has seemed to just get away from me. I'll be 2 months post-op tomorrow. I still can't believe how picture-perfect my surgery and recovery have been. 

I was admitted to the hospital 1 day prior to my surgery so that I could meet with the staff cardiologist. He was NOT happy with my echo-cardiogram results, and I really thought that he was not going to allow me to have the surgery. Instead he ordered another echo. I was really concerned, as it is always difficult to get good pictures due to my weight. I was really upset, and told the echo tech why, so she said that she'd try extra-hard to get me a good reading. 

Well, bottom line, the cardiologist came in during the test, and the tech was able to get really good pictures, and the cardiologist gave me clearance, though somewhat reluctantly. I'm sure he thought I would not survive the surgery. Luckily though - and thanks to Dr. Anthone's great skill - I came through with flying colors!

The only really bad day I had was the day after the epidural was removed. I was nauseated almost all day. But by the next day, all was better, and I haven't looked back since.

The first 3 weeks were really great as far as my weight loss was concerned, but since then it has been really slow - down two pounds, up one, stay there a few days down one, up one, down two - you know the routine. If it weren't for the fact that I have read this story over and over again from others who have gone before me, I would really be getting frustrated. But I knew that this was to be expected, and am trying to just let things happen in their own time.

For month 1, I lost a total of 25 pounds. If I'm the same tomorrow (my 2-month anniversary) as today, I'll be down an additional 7 pounds for a total of 32 pounds in 2 months. Not a fast as many, but certainly better that I've ever been able to do on my own. The last time I dieted, I was on Weight Watchers for over a year and only lost 27 pounds, so in comparison, this is great!!

03/29/2005 - Hi From Bev's daughter: My mom is doing well after her surgery. The surgery lasted 2.5 hours and she was off the vent during the recovery. She just took her first 'steps' he he and walked the halls and is not sitting in her chair. Will post more as I can.

03/23/2006 - The final countdown is here! Only 5 days until I'm switched! My daughter and I will be leaving for Omaha in 3 days (Sunday) and will go to see Kathy at Dr. Anthone's office first thing Monday morning. After that, Dr. A is having me admitted to the hospital so that I will have a chance to meet with a local cardiologist who will follow me throughout my stay at Methodist Hospital. I don't know if he'll want additional tests done, but Dr. A thought this was the best way to proceed because of my heart problems. Then, at 7:30am on Tuesday I'll be wheeled into the operating room, and when I wake up, I'LL BE SWITCHED!!!!!

I keep feeling like I ought to be nervous and scared, but I'm really not. I know my kids (30, 28 & 21 - but still "kids" to me!) are really worried, but I just feel resolved. I'm tired of waiting, I'm tired of being sick and fat, and I just want to get started getting better! Of course, not all of my health problems (Type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis, CHF, COPD, thyroid disease) will go away, but the vast majority of them will be eased greatly by the loss of weight, and some - most notably my diabetes - will HOPEFULLY be a thing of the past! I know that my heart disease puts me at a higher than normal risk during surgery, but I really trust in Dr. Anthone, and trust that God would not have brought me this far and then not bring me through safely to the other side. But I'd still appreciate any prayers/good thoughts/swinging chickens anyone has to offer! Also, prayers for good driving weather would also be appreciated!

Better get some sleep for now - don't want to get myself sick before the big day! Bye for now.