LisaNY
10/15/04 - Update
Well the past few weeks have been a whirlwind of doctors visits!! The day I meet with Dr Garber, I also meet with Dr Holover, and Sharon, the nutrionist. Dr Holover explained that I needed an upper endoscopy and wrote me a script for blood work. Dr Garber suggested (highly) that I lose 20 lbs before the surgery, so Sharon out me on "2 shakes a day and a sensible meal for dinner" plan. I also have to drink at least 3 QTs of water a day. I have always been a water drinker but now I have to up the amounts a little. Having 2 shakes a day and nothing else to eat except for dinner really made me appriciate my one meal a day!! :D
The next doctor I went to see was the cardioligist, Dr Gottesfeld. He is really a very nice man. He suggested that I go for a 2 day stress test and have an echocardiogram. So on Tues, I had my echo, then part one of my stress test. I got a call on Tuesday night that my echo was fine,...no problems!! Wooo HOO!! Good news!! Then I went back on Wed for part 2....that was the really stressfull part...walking on the treadmill!! The whole test is about 4 hours but I did it over 2 days so it was only 2 hours each part! I got a call that night frm Dr Gottesfeld saying that my stress test came back normal and as far as he is concerened, he sees no problem for me getting this surgery!!
Right after the part 2 of the stress test, I had to rush to get to my 4pm appt with Dr Genovese, pulmenary doctor. He and Dr Garber share an office. The tech brought me in and gave me the breathing tests. I havent smoked in 9 years so I guess my lung capasity is pretty good because the doctor said my lungs are very healty!! Before the tech started the tests she said she needed to weigh me. I didnt take off my sneakers, this was the same scale that Dr Garbers office uses....and guess what??????? I lost 15 lbs in 3 weeks!! WOOOO HOOOO!!!! I was sooooooooooo excited!!!! If I can only lose another 5 or so before next thursday (that is my next weigh in with Sharon) I will be golden!! I guess I was doing something right for the past 3 weeks!! :D Anyway, Dr Genevese told me he wants me to go for a Sleep Study. he asked me if I snored and I laughed so hard...I said...like a BEAR!! Good thing my husband is a sound sleeper huh?? LOL Anyway, he said ti would take 3 weeks to get an appt then andother 2 to get the results!! :( I wasnt happy about that....I dont want to drag this out too much!! Well I got a call yesterday form the sleep center and my appt is scheduled for Oct 30th!! and she said the results will get to the doc in a few days after that! So who knows....maybe if all works out, I may get this surgery sooner than I expected!!
Well that is my update for now. Next week I meet with Dr Winowsky (psychologist) and go for my weigh in. I will update more then!!
10/28/04 - Update
I went for my endoscopy on the 14th and it wasnt as bad as I thought. What was uncomfortable was them trying to get the IV in my arm!! :( Apparently, I have very deep veins!! LOL...I cant help that!!
I went back to the nutrionist, Sharon on Thursday, 10/21 for a weigh in. I have been on the 2 shakes a day and a meal at night diet to lose 20 lbs. that was one month and I lost 19.5 lbs!!! Sharon was so excited!! she said that is the most anyone had lost!! Woooo Hooo!! Of course, when I get home I tell my parents and my husband. Mom and husband are thrilled for me and then my father turns around and says...well if you lost 20 so far why cant you lose the rest without this operation??? ARghhhhhhhhhhh.........doesnt he realize that I have tried all these diets all my life and it work for a bit but then I gain the weight right back and then some??? Sometimes I dont think he
understands!!!
I also meet with the the psychologist and had a wonderful talk with her. The whole visit lasted about 1 hour, not bad considering people seem to wait for hours in his office!!
I am going back for another weigh in on Nov 11th. and to meet with Dr Garber for my 2nd visit. At that point I will have all my testing done and he will have all the results!! :D then the insurance stuff starts!! Hmmm...I hope there wont be any problems with that!!
I havent had any problems with any doctors except the endocrinologist! I went about 3 weeks ago for a vist, then got bllod work done on the 9th. I have not heard from the doctor about my results. I called last week twice and again today and get the same BS excuse...we will call you back. When?? when Im dead??? How freaking hard is it to call someone back with the results??? its either all ok or you need further testing?? they only work 4 days a week, and 2 of thise days are 1/2 days!! Nice life huh??????? I guess that doesnt give him enough time
to call anyone!!
I have been reading the boards and each day I get nervous and excited about having the surgery!! I just cant wait to be on the losing side!!!
12/21/04 - Update
I have been very slacking in updating my journey but with the holidays approaching...I have been SUPER busy! My meeting with Dr Garber on 11/11 went well. He suggested that I see a vascular doctor, to check out the redness on my legs. I went to Dr Yuan and had a sonogram of my legs done and the results came back good. There isnt anything really wrong with my legs that losing weight wont be cured. I have to wear surgial stockings(how attractive!! LOL) until I go for surgery. Not too long now!!
I also meet with Sharon on the same day for a weigh in. I lose another 5 lbs. bringing my total to 30lbs!! :D
I did have to go for another Sleep study...arghhhhhhhhhh...because...surprise, surprise.. I have sleep apnea!! DUH! I could have told them that!! so the second study was to get the calibrations for the CCap machine...ohh the joys!! I really cant wait for the day I get the machine...........NOT!!!!!!
Anyway, I am getting nervous and excited all at the same time and I know once the holidays are over the time will just fly!!
2/3/05....4 days until my surgery!! I went for my pre-surgical testing on 2/1/05 and everything is fine. I meet with Ann...the bariatric nurse and she made me feel much better about this surgery. I am still a nervous wreck but Im dealing with it!! I have lost a total of 35 lbs so far since I first meet with Dr Garber and I already feel better...I can just imagine how I will feel afterwards!!
Think good thoughts for me on Monday and I will be back to update when I feel up to it!!
11/9/05 - I have been VERY bad about updating my profile!! I am now 9 months out and have lost 140lbs!! I feel like a BRAND new woman! I am doing things that I would never thought about doing a year ago!! My husband and I just got back from a very relaxing and romantic week in Aruba! We rented jetskis and ATV's. I wore a bathing suit ALL week!! I bought 4 bathing suits to go down with! I have NEVER owned 4 bathing suits at one time!! We had a photo session with a professional photographer. These pictures came out so beautiful!!!
here is a picture of my husband and I at dinner one night
Here are some of the professional pics that we took
11/14/05 - Last night my sister and I went to a charity function for the Long Island AIDS association. It was called Chef's Secrets and it featured chefs from many different restruants on Long Island and well as the guest chefs Dan & Steve from the show Party Line on TV Food Network. Here is a picture of my with them!! :-D
Here is a picture of me in front of our Christmas Tree on 12/10/05
12/20/05 - NYC Transit Strike
Why is this so important because today i walked from Penn Station (32th and 7th) to my office (52nd and 5th). For me this is the BIGGEST wow moment for me!! I think back a year ago and I would have had to hail a cab (if one was avaliable) or stay home from work because there was NO way I could have walked a block nevertheless 20 blocks and 3 avenues!!! I am leaving my office around 3:30pm to make the walk back to Penn Station so I can get a train home to Long Island!! I dont mind the walk...at all...but I do hope that they settle before tomorrow morning!!
2/3/06 - Almost 1 year out!!
I think back to one year ago and can not beleive how my life has changed. I went for my "year" check-up at the doctor yesterday. I lost another 4lbs bringing my total to 184lbs lost forever!! I can not imagine how I carried 184lbs around on my frame...and I thought i was "big-boned"...no i was just a fat ass!! :LOL::LOL::LOL:
I do not have to see the doctor again for 3 months....I do however have to go for one more b12 shot and get blood work done next month. Everything is going well. I have been a little slacking in the exercise dept, because work and my life has been soooo crazy. I know, that is NO excuse but I PROMISED myself that I would go back to the gym 3-4 nights a week starting on Monday!!!
My husband is in awe of me....and cant keep his hands off of me!! LOL...and that's a GOOD thing!!
I am no longer afraid of sitting in a chair...for fear of breaking it
I am not longer afraid that the escalator (at my subway stop) is broken and I will have to walk up 5 flights of stairs...because now I CAN!!!
I know that people are looking at me, not like Im a circus freak, but because Im beautiful and carry myself well.
I no longer feel the need to sit in front of the TV and pig out....I can sit in front of the TV but I always seem to need to do something else!! :D
I LOVE to shop for clothes, and not have to worry IF I can find something to fint, BUT which outfit should I take!!
I am a much happier person, I smile and laugh all the time and I have been told....much more fun to be around!!
July - 2006
Just got back from a nice week in Virginia Beach! it was a very relaxing wonderful week! I went with my hubby, sister, BIL, neice and my parents.
We had some professional pictures taken on the beach...here are a few!
My Husband and my neice
My family
