MS NIKKI
2003 Age 26 Height 5'7 Pre-op weight~320 Clothes size~28/30 Initial Goal Wt.~200(by 8 mth.) 2nd Goal Wt.170 (by 1-year ann.) Initial Clothes size~12 / 2nd Goal Clothes Size 8/10 6th month post-op. 214 (-106) 1 year ann. post-op.~183/just 13 more pounds to go;) 7/3/03 My inital entry... I have been overweight all of my life. However all that is about to change. I been reading about the gastric bypass procedure for the past year. And finally asked my doctor ,Dr. Yvette Crossing, about it and she referred me to Dr. Titus Duncan. I meet with him back in Feb. 2003. I enjoyed his presentation regarding the surgery and was convinced that this was my answer to discovering a healthier me. So the journey began... I have visited the cardiologist, psychologist, and my PCP. All doctors have cleared me for the surgery. I am now waiting for the holiday to end; so my surgeon's office can send my information to the insurance company. Hopefully, I am approved the first time around. Wish me Luck !!! 7/7/03 It's My Birthday!!! 7/8/03Today I called the doctors office and they informed me that my information had been faxed to the insurance company. So now the waiting period begins.....approx. 30 days in Ga. I went to the dietician today and they were very friendly and helpful. 7/23/03 Several days have passed... I decided to call the insurance company.. they have no information in the system yet was their response.. I will call the surgeon's office in the morning and call the insurance company back at the end of the week. Still waiting.... 7/24/03 Called both offices back ... the surgeon's office is refaxing the information the the insurance company... hopefully they will receive this fax... I will call back on tomorrow and Monday to see if they receive the fax this time.. Still waiting.... 7/28/03 I called the insurance company and they have received the paperwork from the surgeon's office now the wait begins again... 7/30/03 I called the insurance company and they said that "I" wait are you sitting down " I AM APPROVED APPROVED APRROVED" I love that word.I know I am going to tell very body I know Thank you for your thoughts and prayers... for I will be on the other side soon enough. The downside was when I called the surgeon's office the ladies who schedule the pre-op and the surgery date are both on vacation until Monday or Tuesday:( But in the meanwhile I will be working out and trying to lose some weight before surgery. I know this is a requirement for my surgeon to operate on his patients.I can't believe only 2 days for approval from July 24 (Thursday)@4:30p.m.to 28(Monday)@5:00p.m. Thank you Lord!!! My dream will soon come true and I will be half my current weight. The summer break is almost over. I go back to work August 5, 2003 and the students start on August 11, 2003. This will allow for us teachers to get in full gear and be ready to receive the new students. And I start back for the fall semester of the doctorate program at the end of August taking 3 classes a week. All this will keep me busy... until the time for the surgery. I will keep you posted of the surgery date hopefully by Wednesday of next week. Peace 9/4/03 I know I have been away for a while, but I am back. I have a surgery date DECEMBER 3,2003. Three months or 90 days left until the big day. I meet with the surgeon again on October 30 and the pre-op is scheduled for November 17. I am looking forward to the most exciting event of my life. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. As always I will stay in touch;) 10/12/03 Greetings,I appreciate all the thoughtful emails. Keep them coming. Last week, I purchased a Gazelle excerise machine and it is simply wonderful. Beginning this week, I will start a no carb diet combined with drinking only liquids (NECTAR and 48 hour Diet) on the weekend. Hoping to loss approximately 15 to 20 pounds before December 3 (surgery day). I know it sounds like a strict routine but, hey I need to start conditioning my mind and body for a smaller food intake.Well, time surely is going by fast I see the doctor on October 30 then on November 17 and finally on the BIG DAY December 3, I will be on the other side. Imhotep 11/8/03 I can not believe how time has gone by so fast. I went to the doctor on the 30th of October. Everything went well just a meeting to still see if you wanted to go through with the surgery. I told them I have come this far, there is no turning back now. I also had to visit my PCP because, I needed an updated medical clearance. November the 17,2003 I will see the anesthesiologist, do final blood work and tour the hospital. I also want to lose 10 pounds before December 3. Wish me luck!!! Imhotep November 12, 2003 I had to go to the doctor today, to follow-up on my blood work. Well, I have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I wish I could change this diagnosis. Well, My doctor has put me on some medicine and I have to check my glucose level 3x a day. The good news is the doctor mentioned the surgery will more than likely eliminate the diabetes. On the brighter side of things, my surgery is right around the corner and I will soon be rid of all of these overweight issues. 12/1/03 Time really has gone by fast. I only have two days left until surgery. I am so excited. So, many of my friends are wanting to help me and supportive and everybody is praying. Well, I begin clear liquids today and tomorrow. I also have to prep and clean out my system. I am sure I will be back on the keyboard as soon as I get home and get settled. Thank you all for the thoughful email and messages. Until next time I will surely be on the "LOSER SIDE" then. ;) 12/5/03 I'm Hooomme!! The surgery was a success. I am feeling much better, the gas pains have gone for now. I started eating jello when I came home yesterday. My sugar level had dropped down to 52; so I had to eat something. I do not have an appetite for anything. I have not taken any pain mediciation since I have been home. The morphine made me nauseated while I was in the hospital. I havebeen able to tolerate the gas pressure by walking it down. My family have all been so supportive. Everyone came down to see me in the hospital and stayed with me until late that night. My mother stayed the night with me and has decided to come home with me for a period of time. She does not want me to have to go up and down the stairs in my house. I feel lighter already. I will take a full shower today and remove the surgey bandages; I can't wait to see the six small incisions sites. Thanks you for all the prayers and thoughts. Well, I will talk with you all later, IMHOTEP! 12/11/03 I bought a scale today and I now weigh 294. I can't believe it from 317 to 294; that's 23lbs. in 11 days. God is GREAT!!!I will keep everyone posted regarding my progress. Imhotep 12/17/03 I went to the doctor today for my two week follow up. I am glad to report I now weigh 289. I will start weight resistiant training this weekend, start back on the gazelle and going to Curves in the upcoming days. Stay do not have a appetite for much of anything. I have tried homemade tuna and chicken salad and chicken and clam chowder soup. I will try to stay on top of all the vitamins I have to take. BariBlends provides all the minerals and supplements, ProCel is for the protein and Fruit Juice Plus is for fruits and vegetables. Ans as all ways i will continue with the 64oz. water intake daily. Imhotep 1/19/04 Boy time really goes by fast. Happy New Year to all!!!I have lost 45 lbs. now and I can now wear a 24. I really can't not see a huge difference; but everyone else does. My schedule has been very busy; I have a hard time being consistant with my exercises but I am trying. I have to make the time everyday. I want to reach goal by August with only a 115 lbs. to go I will acheive my goal. Imhotep 2/21/04 Time really goes by fast. I am now 260 and feeling good. I have to be honest I had stopped exercising daily and drinking enough water but now I have started back. I want to lose another 80 pounds. Then I may have the nip and tuck surgeries. Iwent to the doctor on Monday my blood pressure and sugar level was normal. My PCP told me I did not need to take any medications.(SMILE) Until next time. 4/2/04 Just one day before my 4 month anniversary. I am now at 245. A total of 75 lbs. now. I hope by May I will be 230. By August at least be 180. I have been looking into the nip/tuck surgery because my skin is not retracting and my arms are just hanging and my lower abdomen is hanging also. I have being researching information regarding the full body lift. but, until I reach my 180 mark then I will consult with a doctor regarding this procedure. Until, then I will continue to exercise and drink protein and water. Peace 5/9/04 Happy Mother's Day to all mothers!!!Well, it has been a month since I last checked in. I am now 230 wearing 18's. I have lost 90lbs in 5 months and want to lose 10 more this month so I will have lost 100 lbs in my 5th month postop. By July 7, my birthday I want to be 200. I am going to start working out everyday to get this weight off. I will start eating fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood only. (NO CARBS, CHICKEN OR BEEF) Vitalabs makes the best protein shakes ever. I highly recommend them to any one who can not find a great tasting protein shake. The protein shakes come in pina colada, strawberry & cream and peach-pineapple.Until next time. 6/8/04 Greetings to all!I have lost 106 lbs in 6 months. I am now 214 from 320. I want to be 200 by the end of this month. Then I will only have 40 more pounds until my goal weight of 160. I bought a pair of 13/14 jeans they are snug but they do fit. I recently went to a plastic surgeon just to see what to except regarding surgery. Well, as I thought I will probably have a full body lift, arm lift and breast lift done. The reason being I have lost so much so fast my skin did not constrict and it has been stretched out for so long. I want to find an excellent surgeon who can do it all at once. If anyone could recommend a surgeon please email me. I like it do research on all major surgeries ahead of time so there want be any unexpected bumps in the road ahead. I will wait until I am about 12 months to 15 months post-op year to have the procedure done.I have increased my work out. I work out at the gym 3 days a week 20 minutes treadmill 20 minutes eliptical trainer and weight training of the entire body. Today I will start walking 2 miles on the other days that I am not in the gym. Still not drinking as much water as I should but will continue to try.I go for my 6 month check up with my surgeon on 6/10 and with the PCP on 6/11. PLUS feel free to email me :)I will try to update with a picture soon. 9/27/04 I have been so busy, I can not believe I have let this much time go by without checking in. Well, I am now 195 and everyone says I look so good and do not need to lose any more weight, but whatever I want to lose 20 more and then proceed with the full body lift procedure plus breast and arms in a seperate procedure in Atlanta. Well, feel free to ask questions if seeking pre/post op advice. Remember stay focused, Stay positive and enjoy your LIFE !!! 12/03/04 I must truly say time surely has gone by fast. I am one year post op today. Congrats to me, I have not had any complications and all medical issues subsided months ago. I can truly say that this gastric bypass surgery was the BEST decision I have made for myself ever in life. I have lost a 140 pounds. I went from being 320 on this date last year to 183 pounds on the same day a year later. I cannot even believe it myself. I still sometimes feel it is a dream and from time to time I ask people to pinch me because I know I am dreaming. I now wear a size 12 and some 10's. I will be glad when I have the skin procedure done. Most of my friends and family say I do not need it but, I want it! Then I will feel complete. I will try to send a recent photo. Everyone says I look different even my mother sometimes does not recogize me. Go figure? Peace to you all and Happy Holidays! 6/2/05 I can't even believe how time has gone by so fast. I am now down to 173 and counting I guess??? I really want to have the skin procudeures completed and then I will be finished. I do not want to lose to much more wait because I have approx. 25 pounds of excess skin that need to be removed and I do not weant to look like a toothpick. Baseline for me is approx. 157-160. I plan to continue to tone and workout to gain additional upperbody strength. I would like to tone my hips up instead of out and down. Despite all I am still enjoying life and looking forward to a great summer 9/18/05 Greetings to all! I just got home from the hospital. I had to have a internal hernia repaired. Well, since I am back home I quickly remebered what it was like being a newly post op patient again. The sore stomach and lying on my back in order to sleep at night. But, hey this will all be over soon. I am just looking forward to getting this skin off. I am going to look into another surgeon performing my skin removal procedures. I have only heard great things about his work. Well, I am still stable with my weight about 170 now. 20 pounds of skin still needs to be removed and then I will be at my goal 150. Well, until next time. Stay safe sweet and remeber to keep GOD 1st. I will also try to send a new picture soon. 11/28/2005 Greetings, I hope all are well. I had to go back into the hospital again. I am doing well though. I have lost more weight approx. 8lbs. I am now down to 166 size 10 medium and small tops. Even though I am not trying to loss any more weight. I would love to just maintain my current weight until next year when I have the skin procedure preformed. I will try to send some pictures soon. Until next time 6/3/06 Time really does fly by. I have been approved for the panni procedure. The surgeon will be performing this surgery along with the abdominoplasty. However, the insurance company will not pay for the abdominoplasty procedure I will be having them both done at the same time. Well, until next time be safe and enjoy life!!! 12/6/06 THANKS FOR READING AND I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED! 12/23/2006 I had my tt done a week earlier than I anticipated. I am home and very swollen but I am up and moving around. I had my 1 week post op visit and am looking forward to the 2 week visit. Hopefully I will get my JP drains taken out then. Well I will keep you posted. PEACE!! HAPPY HOLIDAY AND NEW YEAR!!! 1/1 /2007 Well here I am at the begining of a new year. I have had the supposed tt and panni procedure. I am not pleased with the tt procedure at at all. I am very disappointed in the work the the surgeon perfomred I stiil have a stomach and I am larger now than when I went in for the surgery. I do not know what is going on. I plan to to see him on Thurs. for my 3rd post visit I will be 3 weeks out. The results of the tt prodecure and a joke. However the panni producre was great that was the lower portion of the tummy being removed. It is like he forgot he had to perform to surgeries for some thing. I am I lookinf into finding another doctor. To do some revisions to this mess. It just makes me so mad and angry that this happened to me. I pray for strength eveyday to see me through. I still have all 3 drains in and hopefullt they will be removed on this upcoming visit. I hate this so much. Please email me or leave information for a GREAT platic surgeon who does good work on gastric bypass patients. I am embrassed to go back to work due to the fact that I can not wear any of my clothes. I guess he pulled fat down ontop of other fat therefore there is this fat ass bulge like a big ass intertube tire around what used to be the smallest part of my waist. I tried on some clothes and nothing fits. My favortie dress that was snug on does not even come close to fitting now. I am so confused on how this happened. However, I will get this messed fixed if it is the last thing I do. Thanks NiCole
FOOTPRINTS One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to him, and the other belonging to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. Lord, you said that once I decided to follow You, You'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me. The Lord replied "My son. My precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." 
