mollie627
Hello everyone. I had my surgery on November 3rd and, after a 8 day hospital stay, I came home to start a new life. After a week or so on the liquid soup and jello diet I got the ok to start trying new foods and see how they worked for me. As of today i've lost 67 pounds and am feeling wonderful.
As a matter of fact, I have lost nearly 500 pounds, I am getting a divorce from my husband of 11 1/2 years and am starting a new life for myself and my kids.
I don't have any real problems with most things, but sometimes I can eat something one day and be fine and the next time I eat it it bothers me.
I have gone from wearing a size 30 jeans which barely would button to a 22 that are not really snug either. They had to contain me in Lane Bryant the other day when I bought my new jeans, I screamed so loud and started crying from happiness that they thought someone was attacking me. I haven't worn that size since I was a plus size model and in college.
The diet is so easy and i'm not hungry at all. My eyes are still way bigger than my stomach but my stomach ends up being the winner every time. I have been very lucky not to get too sick from overdoing it. If you can stand the pain, it usually subsides within a few minutes. In 2 1/2 months i've thrown up once and the second I swallowed that last piece of meat, I knew I was going to throw up. There's no feeling like it in this world.
I have begun an exercise routine three to four days a week. I am actually working out in a gym of a medical weight loss center that I joined years ago and have a lifetime membership so its free. The owner of the facility was tickled to death to see that I had had the surgery and he actually works out with me at least once a week and is helping me work on routines so that I don't get a hernia.
My incision is still kind of tender, some times more than others, but one of the best things I have found to help heal and soften your scar is cocoa butter, slather in on at least three times a day and as many other times a day as you think about it. It not only helps fade the scar, it helps keep it from thickening.
Its great to turn heads again, I can only imagine what it will be like after another 80 pounds or so.
Good luck to anyone who is considering this surgery and feel free to email me if I can answer any questions you have. I don't hang out in the chatroom but will be happy to communicate with anyone who emails.
P.S. Get the b-12 shots (they are definitely worth it), take your vitamins, and drink drink drink and chew chew chew chew chew chew.
March 22, 2001 Hey there. Well I did it, I hit the 100 pounds down mark. I am doing great. I still can't get used to being smaller, its been a big adjustment, I look in the mirror sometimes and still don't recognize myself. I was in Lane Bryant last nite and I comfortably fit into a size 18 pants, they had to contain me again. I was so happy. I walked out of the dressing room and over to the triple mirror and thought, I wish that other woman would get out of the way so I can see how I look in these jeans, it was me.
I still have trouble with some foods, I really miss vegetables but the majority of them kill me. I have found that Prime Rib goes down very nicely. The rarer the better because its more tender.
I still don't do any sugar, i'm not sure if I have dumping syndrome or not, I have iritable bowel syndrome and its hard to tell the difference. That did not improve with the surgery but there's always hope.
I would have had this surgery to lose half of what I have already lost. I have absolutely no regrets. I really am going to have to have the tummy tuck, i'm already having trouble with the skin iritation from the hanging apron. Oh well, what a shame, hope the insurance company is kind about the surgery.
Good luck to anyone having the surgery or considering the surgery. Please feel free to email me anytime if you have any questions.
8/13/01 Hi everybody. Wow, its been a while since I updated. I haven't been to see Dr. Gaar for a bit so i'm not sure of the official total but I can tell you that I am down about 150 pounds. I am posting a picture that was taken of me in May in a size 14 dress. Wow was I ever excited to get into that and shock that I could get into it.
Alot has changed since March. I divorced in March of this year and after getting a new job and so many other changes in my life, things are starting to normalize and i'm feeling great. The stomach nausea is still there and that grand old diarrhea still plagues me but I feel great. I'm easily getting into a 14 and even size 12's now and still room to go, the weight has just fallen off. I am starting to feel like i'm eating too much but i'm still losing so I think i'm just getting used to small portions.
I can truly say that when I go to the doctor I almost jump on the scale instead of sitting in the lobby and sweating about how much more i've gained and the crap I will get from my doctor about it.
Good luck to everyone that has had this surgery or are considering it. What a lifestyle change it has been, but man o man, what a wonderful change i've seen in myself.
Take care.
1/4/02 - Hello Again. Well, I made it through the holidays and it was rough. My eyes are truly larger than my stomach. I have lost 183 pounds to date and have really slowed down. My BMI has gone to 28 and am getting closer to that normal mark every day. I have an appetite that really has to be worked on. I know i'm still eating smaller portions but am still feeling like i'm eating too much.
My kids have been the most wonderful support for me. I've met so many wonderful people and dated some great fellas.
Would I do it all over again? well, hell yes I would, I still have pain every day from the incision, still have that i'm going to come unglued feeling in my stomach and I hope that will go away eventually. I'm about 20 pounds away from a tummy tuck and boy do I need it.
Its still hard to look at myself in the mirror and recognize myself. I am down to a size 12 and really don't care if I get any smaller. I'm very comfortable with my size now. I have surpassed my goal by three sizes and am thankful to God and Dr. Gaar for helping me through.
Its rough and I have good and bad days but everyone does. It really feels good to walk up on someone that hasn't seen me for a while and they don't recognize me at all or their eyes have such a shocked look on them. I can't believe its me in the mirror but thank the Lord every day for seeing me through the surgery and giving me a new life for me and my children.
Good luck everyone and i'll update again when I have more news to report.
November 4, 2002
Well hello everyone.
Wow, what a year its been, two days after my post in January I conceived a little girl to my and her fathers surprise. After being on birth control my hormones from the surgery were apparently in such a receptive condition that I found out in February that I had a new little one on the way. Unfortunatly her father was not and has not been as happy about a gift from God and he has moved on to another woman but it was best to see his true colors before blending a family with him. After the initial shock of being pregnant at 37 years of age and not married, I began to settle into the idea and did all the things the doctors and specialists told me to do. It was a long road but my blood sugars were under tight control even though I had to go back on insulin for gestational diabetes this time, my blood pressure stayed normal to borderline. At 20 weeks I began to have some labor contractions and dialated to 5 cm and ended up having to have a cerclage (stitches in cervix) to prevent her from being born too early. Needless to say, after the surgery I had to lay on my back for the duration of the pregnancy. (I had a wonderful high risk perinatologist group and they were so wonderful and caring) It wasn't easy with a 12 and 4 1/2 year old at home and no income and no support from the father but we made it through.
September 6, 2002 I gave birth to a healthy 6 lb 9 ounce baby girl that I named Veronica Elizabeth. She was born at 36 weeks and short of having jaundice, she's been wonderful. After two previous c-sections I went VBAC with her and while I was the only one present for her birth besides the hospital staff, they allowed me to deliver her after her shoulders were delivered and cut the cord. What an experience.
I gained 27 pounds with the baby and at 6 weeks I had lost 24 of it. I definitely need a tummy tuck but am not looking forward to any more surgery for a while. Would I do it all over again? HELL yes. I would have done it to lose 50 pounds. I thank God every day for giving me the options and seeing me through the surgery and every day life. I ask Him to bless Dr. Gaar and his work so that even more people can be "uncaged" from their life of pain and suffering. God Bless everyone and i'll write and update again when I have more to report.
November 5, 2002
Hi again, just wanted to let you know that I went to the doctor (OB/GYN) for a post op check after having my tubes tied last week and I had lost 11 pounds since his consult a month ago. Short of the 27 up and down for the baby i'm still down 193 pounds and ecstatic that the weight is still coming off. I am still in hopes of losing a few more pounds and looking at a tummy tuck but i'll be just as happy without it, medically I think it will help my back and also help me avoid the iritation of skin rubbing on skin like it does now.
Ms. Veronica is 9 weeks old today and I am going back to work in a week. Even though i've been through this twice before, its not going to be any easier this time i'm sure. To add more to the fire, its my first day at a new job. I transferred to another position within state government and am looking forward to working with three legal professionals that i've known for years.
Take care and i'll keep you posted. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and God Bless.
3/10/03 The holidays were rough this year but we made it through. My new job is working out real well. Veronica was six months old this week, impossible to believe that she's growing so fast. My weight loss has slowed to a crawl now. I fluctuate from 170 - 175 now and am comfortable with this weight.
10/24/04 I can't believe its been so long since I updated you all. So much has happened, lots of illness for me. Major anemia kills my energy level, I almost died last Christmas from my hemoglobin being so low. I had a hysterectomy in August 2003 as I had adenomiosis, endometriosis and other problems. Veronica's father has put me through a living hell and it continues but we keep our chins up and keep going. A year ago I decided I was just not cut out to have any relationships and decided to just go life alone and had accepted the thought of just being a mom and going on with life. Much to my amazement I was blindsided by a wonderful man that I met on a blind date that my girlfriend and his daughter in law decided needed to happen. We've been together a year. I celebrated my 40th birthday on a cruise in Jamaica with the love of my life. I can truly say that I love this man more than life itself. I never knew love until I met him. I hope that I do the same for him. We are in the middle of trying to blend two families and what a job it is. The Brady's had nothing on us. We have five children (2 boys 3 girls) raging in age from 27 to 2 plus a daughter in law and granddaughter to boot. What a klan.
My energy level is still lower than i'd like. I feel the chronic anemia robs me of my energy so much. With all these kids, my job and school, there isn't alot of time left for hobbies or other pursuits. I left the paralegal profession after 20 years and haven't looked back. I'm working with special needs children in a school for physically and mentally disabled individuals and love going to work every day.
Well, thats about it. Never know whats around the corner. A week from my 4th anniversary for gastric bypass and i'm still doing pretty good. I've gained some weight but still float up and down 20 pounds. I really need a tummy tuck but just don't think I can face the thought of surgery now. I do have an appetite which gets me in trouble.
Take care, hopefully it won't be 18 months before I update again.
God Bless.
7/1/2008
I cannot believe I haven't posted anything on here in almost 4 years. My how time flies. So much has happened in the last 4 years. The gentleman I spoke about in 2004 and I are still together. I think we were just always meant to be. The longer we're together the better our relationship becomes. Its impossible to tell you everything we've done the last few years. This past New Year's Eve Denis got down on his knee and proposed. That was truly the biggest surprise i've ever had in my life. I cried for 45 minutes and was totally speechless. Those of you that know me know i've never been at a loss for words. We were married April 5th 2008 with almost 200 friends and family in attendance. We went on a dream honeymoon and have spent the last three months in wedded bliss. We are now a large family. Five children (2 boys, 3 girls) that range in age from 30 to 5 and we also have a granddaughter and several nieces and extended family to boot. I have been working for the fire department in the arson bureau over 3 years now and life is just about perfect for me. The hernia i've spoken about several times above has plagued me long enough, i'm going for a surgery consult in the near future. I am considering a revision since i've gained back nearly 75 pounds and I really don't want to go back to the way I was. My health is pretty good other than weight issues causing aches and pains for my joints. My step daughter is getting married this weekend and we'll have a new member of the family though he's been part of the family as long as I have. Any advice you have to pass along for those that have had revisions I would appreciate it. Thanks so much and i'll try to be better about updating more often.
God Bless!!!
Photos
 325 January 2000 - I am miserable and gotta do something about it. |
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 170 October 18, 2004 - My 40th Birthday on a cruise with the love of my life. |
