Stacey's Journey in Weight Loss

Evening Before Surgery August 9, 2005

Las Vegas March 11, 2006

June 25, 2006

Sydney and I Fit in My Old Pants July 4, 2006

2005

5-4-05 Today I attended the Weight Loss Seminar for Bariatric Surgery.  The meeting was very informative but left me feeling exciting and hopeless.  The meeting included talks from the surgeons, dieticians, and psychologists.   People who had the weight loss surgery also talked to us about their success with the surgery.  There was one girl in particular that I felt inspired by.  Her name is Susie and she was about my size and she looks absolutely stunning.  I feel hopeless though because my insurance won't cover anything to do with weight loss.  $30,000 is not in budget!

6-2-05 Today Kristal's family came to Menomonee Falls to visit and her aunt had the lapband done for $15,000.  I went to Kristal's to talk to her aunt and find out all the details about her surgery.  I felt a sense of hope when I heard she had the surgery done at the Surgery Center and saved $15,000.  She explained who to call and get the appointment with and alot of other interesting information that they don't tell you at the meeting.

6-3-05 Today I called Tammy from Dr. Chua's office to find out the cost and how to proceed with the process of being approved for surgery.  She was very helpful and explained who to call and the process involved.  So I called the office and got an appointment with the dietician for the next week already.  Wow, that was really fast and everyone was so helpful!

6-7-05 I had my first appointment with the dietican today.  I was weighed in at 322.9 lbs.  Can you believe that I let myself get that big?????  The dietician's name was Amy and she was nice but had me log my food intake for a month before she would clear me for surgery.

6-17-05 Today I met with Dr. Blair to go through the Psych evaluation for surgery.  Dr. Blair and I talked about the steps in making the surgery a success and we also addressed my on going battle with depression.  Alot of my depression has to do with my weight.  She also suggested that I move my dietician follow up to earlier in the week so I could be dicussed on the Thursday meeting for approval.  I was so excited that people were looking out for me.

7-5-05 I met with a new dietician today, Deanna.  My weight had dropped and I was finally feeling successful and felt like it was going to happen and I could control my eating with this new lifestyle.  I was approved from Deanna in no time and was all set for the surgeon's appointment.

7-29-05 I met with Dr. Valladares today and I had lost 14.4 pounds since June 7th.  I think this proved that I was serious about this weight loss!  He explained the procedure and the risks involved with the procedure.  He mentioned that I could probably look at having the surgery with the next 2 weeks!

8-1-05 I was suppose torecieve  a call to schedule surgery today  with Tammy.  I didn't hear from Tammy but I did hear from Sophie about a video to watch about the procedure.  I will give Tammy a call tomorrow.

8-2-05 I called Tammy today to tell her that I could do all the testing asap and have the surgery with the first available date. She tentatively scheduled for Thursday of the following week (8-11-05).

8-3-05 Tammy called at 9:30 this morning to tell me that the surgery would be Wednesday August 10th. Exactly one week away. She faxed the preop testing orders to me to take to Dr. Newhall. I called and brought in the orders right away.

8-4-06 I was able to get the lab work, EKG, and chest x-rays done today. Tommorrow it will be the upper GI. Wow it is getting so close.

8-5-05 Today I went in to get the Upper GI xray done. When talking to the Tech, we realized that the wrong test was ordered. After about 30 minutes, I was getting the correct test done. I had to drink 3 types of barium for the testing. Not the greatest tasting liquid but it means I am one step closer to my date!

8-7-05 Today my friend Kristal and I went to Red Lobster for one of my last meals. I was glad I went because they had a light minute maid lemonade and it was awesome. It is something else I can add to my diet for post op.

8-8-05 Today I met with the Dr. Yamat at the Surgery Center. He is the anathesiologist for the surgery. He was a very nice guy. It was nice to be able to see the place where my surgery would be taking place. I also had to hand over the $15,000 cashier's check that is the key to my healthier life. It won't be long now.

8-9-05 Today I went grocery shopping to purchase my liquids and pureed baby food and soups. I also got a donut and candy bar for my last chocolate fix!

8-10-05 Today is the big day! I arrived at the Sugery Center at 10am and actually went in for surgery at 11:45. They are good about giving you nauseau medication so you don't get sick. The nurses were very nice and made you feel comfortable. The surgery went great according to Dr. Chua. When I was in recovery, I was really cold and asked for pain meds. I got them right away. They were good about checking up with you. I was able to go home at about 4:30 pm. I was tired and sore but that was to be expected. I ate chicken broth and a popsicle and drank water. I don't feel hungry at all!

8-11-05 I am still sore today. It is mostly getting up and down from the couch or the chair. Also getting to sleep is difficult since I am a tummy sleeper. I had my gall bladder removed in December so I knew pretty much what to expect.

8-12-05 Still feeling sore today but I also do know that it is going to be worth it. I have extreme pain when I get up and sit down and sleeping is horrible.

8-19-05 Today I finally felt the pain subsiding. I could tell a major difference. It still hurt to bend and such but the port pain wasn't so bad. Now that I am feeling better, I am feeling like it really worth the little pain spell.

8-23-05 I am finding myself hungrier than usual. I did go for my first post op doctor's visit. Dr. R told me that this was normal as my stomach was swelled from surgery and is feeling better now. He said I will reach that full feeling after my first adjustment. On the scale, I weighed 295 so some of the lost weight has come back since I have been eating a bit more. I went for a walk tonight and haven't really eaten much today in hopes of losing the extra weight.

9-16-05 I had my first saline fill today at Dr. Chua's office with Deb. I was nervous as I didn't know what to expect. The thought of a needle entering my stomach was frightening. I knew that once the first fill was completed, it would be easier each time since I knew what to expect. The fill was easy and I was out of the office in 15 minutes. We went over my eating and exercise. I need to change a few things: stop weighing myself every day, stop drinking with my meals, and start exercising. This will be very challenging not to eat and drink at the same time. I ALWAYS drink and eat at the same time. I will do it though, for ME!!
9-21-05 I attended the support group for the first time. It was nice to get together with people who are or will be going through the same thing you have. The only discouraging part is hearing the weight loss success from the gastric bypass patients. They lose their weight much faster than lapband patients. I need to remember where I would be without the band in terms of my weight loss and stop comparing apples to oranges (or comparing myself to anyone else for that matter). It was nice to see Susan and also meet my band buddy, Meg. Meg and I got along so awesome. I am excited to start the exercise class with her. Meg was banded just 4 days before me!

9-25-05 Today was the first day I threw up. I was just talking at the support group how I could get things done and never threw up. Today was my day. Stacy had a purse party and made crackers, cheese, sausage, and veggies. I was excited as all these things I have eaten before with no problems. Today they didn't agree with me. I think I was also eating too fast. Live and learn. It is a real different vomit. It comes right back up as it went down.

10-4-05 Today I started at Curves. I like the machines and feel the workout on my muscles, etc. I will be joining next week.

10-8-05 Today was another one of those days. I went to the store and got a South Beach Diet Pizza. Lots of protein so I thought it would be good. Not sure if I ate it too fast or if it didn't agree with my stomach but it came back up. I didn't feel like eating at all..

10-9-05 Today was another day of not keeping food down. I ate a turkey breast strip and potatoes. I should say I tried to eat it. I was eating slow and just kept feeling the turkey getting stuck in my throat. After I threw up, I didn't feel like eating again. I thought I would be starving them but that wasn't the case.

10-10-05 Today I offically joined Curves for a 1 year commitment. I love the workout and don't mind going by myself at all. I am hoping to see my body getting toned with this workout. I also received the documentation to begin working out with aerobics. I will be starting that next Monday. I also made spagehtti and threw that up. I know why this happend. I was eating way too FAST.

10-28-05 Today I went for my second fill. I was scared to death when she was having trouble locating the "soft" spot to put the needle in for the fill. My port flipped and she was getting the back side of the port. She manuevered the port as long as I could take the pain. I didn't feel any pain until the numbing effect disappeared. Then it felt a little tender. She ended up getting the saline into the port. I have to let her know that I have a tilted port that points downward. I am a little nervous that I may have to have it surgerical repaired. She told me that as long as she can fill it, I am okay.

2006

1-12-06 Went in for a fill and Deb could not get find my port. When she did, it was flipped and all she could feel was the back metallic piece of it. I was going forced to have revision surgery on my port. Exactly what I was hoping would not happen based upon my last visit. I will have to wait to see when and how much this will be!

1-18-06 Went to Mount Sinai for the port revision surgery. Today is my birthday! I didn't have a choice for the date because Dr. Chua and Deb are going oversees to do surgeries. The surgery was very painful as I could feel most of the surgery. Many times, they had to give me more number to try to help but I could still feel it. I could also smell the burning. They moved my port up to another muscle. The nurse was very good about massaging my head as I laid there crying. This was the worst pain I have ever felt. I am so glad it is done.

3-11-06 I am in Vegas for our Passion Parties convention. This is the first time in my life that I have felt somewhat pretty. It was nice to be with my friends and have them notice. This was the first time I could really see the change. What an awesome feeling!

6-25-06 Today I offically reached the 100 Pound Mark! Next Goal is Onederland. 199.9!