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Well, It has been a while since I have posted on this site. However seeing as how I am over 6 years post-op ( by a month LOL) It's time to do so. It seems I started my journey so long ago that I now qualify as an old timer! Read my profile for more details. But here I am, alive and well.
And let me start by saying how important supplements are. If you are looking into having the DS and are not willing and or able to take your vitamins and have the follow-up lab work done then you need to do something else.
HOWEVER, if you want to get to a healthy weight, and are able and willing to continue to follow-up your health on a daily regimen. Then in my honest opinion the DS is for you.
When I started my journey I did research  & lots of it. This site was a life saver for me. And that is why I feel OBLIGATED to post now.  I ended up in Brazil, not caring when I got on the plane to go there if I would come home alive or dead in a pine box. My life was just so painful, both physically and emotionally.  I could not even step off of the curb on the sidewalk without fear of hurting myself. Weighing in at 360+ lbs comes at a price.
Now, my life is so different. My lab work is PERFECT. Sure, I have had medical issues. The last bout this past December almost killed me. But it had nothing to do with the DS. Today, my health is fine and dandy. And I feel fine and dandy.
Strange to say out loud but it's true. I was highly morbidly obese for the most part of my life and yet now I feel as if I am normal.
Isn't' it funny how being at a normal BMI for a period of time can change ones whole perception on life and how to live?
Just so you know, I lost friends when I had this surgery. They did not support me because they did not want to see as anything other than the person they knew. Honestly now, I do not miss them. IT"S OK. My true friends stuck by me and have literally applauded every single achievement I have made in my weight loss and more!
I am married now, for the past 3 going on 4 years, to a wonderful man. My job has changed. Due to the economic crap this country has gone through in the past 6 years, I don't make anywhere near the money I used too... but it's OK.
I had my plastic's done in MX. (again, read my profile) and although I still have issues (purely vain ones) with the loose skin on my thighs, and cannot wear shorter length shorts or skirts and dresses, who the hell cares? I am healthy. I am happy. I look decent, for the first time in my life. I sound vain don't I?  I'm not. When you live your life being ridiculed and laughed at behind your back or even at times to your face about looking the way that you do, well, I am sure some of you will understand me. I am being honest and upfront about things. I do so especially for those who are looking for help.
The DS has a price to pay. Or two. (OK,two) Gas & BM's. Some of you may slam me. Go ahead, it's the truth and I said it. I have a minimum of 4 BM's, I lovingly refer to as Crap Mousse every morning. AND there are days, not every day mind you, but there are days when no matter what, the gas just happens. And Dear Lord Almighty it is a killer! Weighing in at 160 or below comes at a price also.
Personally having lived at over 360 and under 160....the lesser weight wins hand down!
3 years after my DS, one of my brothers had an RNY because his insurance would not pay for a DS. He lost a LOT, and, it grieves me to say, he has gained almost, if not all of it back. My heart breaks for him. I have friends whom had the RNY as opposed to the DS whom have done pretty good. Although not one of them has a normal BMI after 6 years. And it saddens me to say most of them are at weight where they they started from.
So, to end my saga, my BMI is normal. My bowl movements and gas are not. I am the one who lives my life. No-one else. I choose the normal BMI. If I had it to do all over again, I would have done it so much sooner.
I hope and pray that my personal journey helps someone else.  
I turned 49 years old this past June. I bought my first bikini this past summer.  I'm trying not to cry while I type this. I posted those pic's here.
If I have helped you, please let me know. If I can help you I will. This site has so very many good people on it. I would not be  where I am here today without them.
Jamie

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OK. So I / we, Mark & I how ever you need to say it, both quit smoking Feb. 2, 2008...2 weeks before we got married. Gosh, so much has happened. Screw 175  & holding. We need to change that to 186 & holding. Crap. I have got to loose that last 30 or so lbs or it will kill me. I had Plastic's with Dr. Saucedo in Montery Mexico 2 weeks after Mark & I got married. I look better now than I have ever loked in my life. I swear. And to be honest I feel kinda dumb in some ways complaining about 30 lbs. I mean Jeeeeshh. I started this journey at 360....come on people! I remember looking at all the before & after pohtos and hoping and praying that one day, some how, maybe, I could be one of "those people".  I'll be damned, here it is a few years later & I find that  I am one of them. Un real!
For all of you doing your research I applaud you! Research away!  I researched my WLS for over a year and the DS was the best choice for me. No regrets people! I researched my plastic surgeon for 2 1/2 years. Again. No regrets!

Well it's time for another update. I do not come here and post like I should I know. Guilty as charged. The economy sucks. The new job I got in June ended 12-04-08. Business was that slow.  The good news is that while I worked there I had excellent insurance benefits and I got all my lab work done. It was perfect except that my zinc was a little low. I've added more to my routine. My bone density scan showed all was well. Oh yes, one more thing. I've lost 5 more pounds. I am holding steady at 175!
And at 45 years of age, against the odds, I have met the love of my life. We are deeply in love with one another and he accepts me as I am...loose sagging skin and all. I will never believe that this could have happened for me had I not had the DS.
Bottom line I will eventualy find a job. I am healthier and happier than ever!

Time has flown by since I last updated. And life-changing events have taken place. I was let go from my job of 10+ years at the end of March. I have, as of last Friday, started a new career with better pay and benefit's! I am learning a whole New World, the world of auto repair & am very grateful for this opportunity.
I have lost 1/2 of me. I weigh 180 #'s & I am a size 12. I think I may be finished as loosing as I have not lost anything in a very long time and have been at this size since the end of December 07.

My BMI is 28.1; I am still moderately overweight. My goal is to have a NORMAL BMI. Hopefully it will happen for me one day. But not loosing a # in all this time makes me wonder if I will ever make it.

Well, here I am again. I weigh in at 187 theses days. There is the most anoying bounce that takes place. It drives me crazy. I have seen 183 and I bounced back to 193....like I said before annoying. 
I had a stint in the hospital last month. read my post in October for all the information on that. The good thing is I have had no problems since. Praise God. 
I have started a new chapter in my life. I am dating. It is so strange to me. I don't quite know how to handle all of the attention I am getting. There are times that I will notice a man looking at me with apreciation in his eyes. I like it. There are times when I see a man look at me with lust in his eyes. It offends me. I suppose I have to take the good with the bad on it. It is so wierd to have them looking at me period that I can't explain it. Imagine, being invisible to humanity esp. the opposite sex for years and years and then all of a sudden BOOM, they notice you, they want to be with you.....crazy stuff. 
It could get to your head. It really can. In my mind I am still the 360# woman they were ignoring before.
I feel I am changing. I am still me. But better.  My self confidence level is sky rocketing. I feel so good. I feel happy with myself. I like who I am becoming. It truly is as if I have broken out of this shell that bound me in my past and I am learning how to live life all over again. 
I am now in a size 14. Size 16's are too big. Tops are a Med to a Large depending...I swear I wish the fashion industry could set a size and have it stick for women .
Hey, I went to the after ThanksGiving "black friday" sales and it hit's me as I am looking around that I could wear anything I wanted off the rack. It was too much. I bought a couple of little things but it was so nice. I felt so normal. NORMAL. That's all I want. I still need to loose 30 lbs. If I can get the last 30 off. Hell, who am I kidding. I will get the last 30 off.  I have too.  And if I don't. Well. I am still a DS Success. Period.

OK. Way past time for an update. I am down 153#'s as of this morning. I am in a size 16...notice please there is no W behind that. I am still in an XL to a L top.But hey, that so beats a 30/32 it ain't even funny. I can do so many things now. Like paint my own toe nails. Which is wonderful! And Run! OK, I am not doing any running like on a regular basis mind you but I can run from one side of a room to another! Or like at the VBS in June I ran pushing a kid in wheel chair so that he could participate in the games. It was so wonderful. 2 weeks ago I got a chance to see my BF DeDe for the 1st time since Feb. Bless her heart she took one look at me and started crying, the whole time going on and on about how good I look. I did not kno whow to handle it, so I  accused her of drinking before high noon. A joke, when in doubt, make a joke. 
I saw my almost 18 year old son for the 1st time in a year and a half last Sunday. He did not say a word to me about what I looked like for about 2 hours, then started freaking out about how skinny I was and how it ws so weird that the facial expressions and the mannerisms and voice were all "mom" but the package did not fit his idea of me anymore! It was a good thing, and a good visit.  I had missed him so much. The little turd. That is all I have in me today.

Well, soon I will be 8 months out. Time has flown. So far I am down 128#'s. Currently at 232#'s on the scale. I have gone from a tight size 30/32 to a 18 average or 16W.  I feel great. Life is good. I broke up wtih my BF. Things I would overlook in the past will no longer be accepted. He is a great guy and will always be a friend. But that is it. And it is over.
I have been working on my house. painting /redoing and the like. It is looking so good. I have more energy than I have had in years. Loving this DS and my new life. 
I changed my hair color to something darker and got a shorter cut. I love it. I look so much younger. I feel so much younger.

This Christmas was so different than it has been in years gone by. 
I ate anything I wanted. Well...that is after I got in my protein. Not too much of anything, but I could eat without guilt. 
I, along with my mom, cooked Christmas Eve diner for my family and some friends and it was wonderful.  Everyone was happy with the gifts I bought them and I was pleased with mine.
This is my 4th month since my DS. I had my lab work done and went to my Dr. I have had to add 1 folic acid and 1 more Vit. D to my Vitamin routine but other than that I am doing great! My Dr. was impressed with my scar, my tales of Brazil and most importantly the overall improvement in my health. My cholesteral was normal. I don't think that has ever happened before. Oh, and I have lost 90 lbs. 
It is so hard to believe that I have done this. When I look in the mirror I can't see such a huge difference but I do see a difference. And it is an improvement.  Of course my family, friends, and co-workers say the diffrence is huge. 4 months have passed and so far so good. I am loving this DS.

10/27/2006

Wow it has been a while and I have not seemed to be able to update this profile since I had my DS In Brazil. So here goes. Everything was perfect. God had His hand on me the whole time. GLORY TO GOD! HE blessed the whole trip. The plane ride was fine. No problems with anything. Going through customs was a breeze. I used the wheel chair at the airports both going to Brazil and the trip back home.  If you are healthy and able to walk, like I was, Use the wheelchair service anyway. It was a huge help.

Dr. Marchesini was wonderful. He was better than I expected. Let me tell you when you hear people on this and other boards talking about Dr. Marchesini and how great he is you need to pay attention. He was wonderful. I honestly feel that I recieved better care at the hospital Santa Cruz in Brazil than I would have gotten here in the USA. And I have been in hospitals here before and I know first hand. The nurses were great. The hospital was CLEAN. Durval was a hoot. I was treated like a queen the entire time I was there. I met a security guard at the Hospital. He was my angel, as he translated for me that first night after surgery. His name is Emillio and he was great. What a good friend I made. he took me out on a bus tour of Curitiba nd was my personal tour guide, body guard, translator after I got out of the hospital. He even took me to a couple of night clubs to listen to the music and dance. That's right, 2 weeks after surgery I was on a dance floor with a handsome man dancing and having a good time. I wonder how many 360 lb women who have end up dating a native after thier WLS in a forien country?? Too funny. ( it wasn't like real dates).  That first night after surgery by the way is a doosey. Can you say pain? Good grief. But I made it. Everyday afterward I felt better and better. I was almost sad when it was time to leave Brazil. I had made some new friends, both American and Brazilian, and I am not used to being treated so well. It was an experience I will carry close to myheart fro the rest of my life. I will defianatly go back to Brazil for plastics when the time comes.

These past two months have been amazing to me. The scale is moving in a downward action that i have not been accustomed to seeing in the past. My surgery weight was 360 lbs. My wieght to date is 299 lbs. I have lost 61 lbs. All the clothes I could wear before surgery have been bagged up and are awiting me taking them somewhere to donate them. My switch Sister Joy has blessed me with all her pre surgery clothes so now I have thnigs to wear that are not only very pretty but they fit me! She is such a blessing and I am so grateful to have her in my life. My BF, dear man, does seem to act a little Jealous over the Emillio thing, I say Good for him. He needed a little jolt anyway!

I feel better now than I have in a long time. I have the have a future to look forward to.