My story

May 04, 2009

I am waiting to lose the 15 pounds that Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital requires before the surgery. Only 9 more to go!!

05/12/03: It seems I just can't lose that dreaded 15 pounds. I had lost 6, but now seem to have gained it all back.

05/19/03: I just had my psych eval done and then I called Dartmouth. They said they have everything they need. Now it's just a waiting game. They told me I should hear something in about two weeks. I started all this last October and I know that's a relatively short time, but I am so anxious. I want it now.....

06/02/03: I have somewhat of a date to see the nurse/practitioner. It will be in July sometime. She said after I see her and then the surgeon 1 to 2 weeks later, the surgeon will schedule my surgery for 30 days after that!!!!! I can see it happening now! I am so excited.

07/15/03: Well I had a little set back. I never heard from Dartmouth with my appointment. I called the other day and she said she had thought she already sent me one. Now a lot of people have gotten in front of me and my appointment won't be for a loooooooong time. So I took matters into my own hands and called Dr. Yeaton in Saratoga Springs, NY. I have an appointment with him on 07/28 and then I will (hopefully) have my surgery a month later. I am excited.

07/28/03: I just returned from Dr. Yeaton's office in Saratoga, NY. He will do the surgery! He is going to submit my info to my insurance and then as soon as he hears from them he will schedule my surgery. I am so glad I found this Dr.

08/07/03: I met with Caroline Cooney the nutritionist with Dr. Yeaton. She is awsome. She really filled me in on all kinds of things. My insurance company has my referral so now all I'm waiting for is their approval.

08/18/03: My insurance company approved me for the surgery!! It took them three days to approve me. Now I am just waiting for the surgeon to schedule my surgery. Hopefully, it's right around the corner.

08/20/03: I have an appointment on 09/03 to do paperwork with the surgeon. At that time I will get my surgery date. Yahoo!!!

09/04/03: YAHOO!!! I saw Dr. Yeaton yesterday. My surgery is scheduled for Sept. 30. I am so excited. I have lost 19 pounds since I saw him last. I'm hoping to lose a little more before the actual date. My sister died from a pulmonary embalism after a surgery, so I'm a little nervous that something like that is going to happen. I am confident that nothing is going to happen, so I need to get a grip!!

09/14/03: I am counting the days as they slowly go by. I really am not nervous. I think I'm more nervous about my children and what's going to happen with them while I'm in the hospital. My husband works a lot of hours and he's not going to be around to make sure they get their homework done, etc. He is going to take some time off while I'm in the hospital, but there are still a few days when he just can't be there. I'm sure it will all work out.
14 more days to go!!!!!!!

09/23/03: Today I go for pre-op at the hospital. Only 7 more days!!! I am so excited. I still have a cough that's left over from my pneumonia. I hope it's gone by the 30th.

09/29/03: Tomorrow is it!! I still have my cough, but they are going to do the surgery anyway. They did a chest xray and checked my white blood cell count and everything looks fine. I am scared out of my mind. I have to be at the hospital by 5:45a.m. That means I have to leave my house at 4:30 to get there on time. I won't need any drugs to knock me out, I'll be so exhausted!! LOL.....
I will update when I'm on the other side. Wish me luck....

10/03/03: Well I'm home!! I was only in the hospital for 2 1/2 days. I did manage to have the lapRNY which is great. I'm still sore, but really not as bad as I thought I would be. I will update more later. Thanks to all who sent me encouraging e-mails.

10/05/03: I am 5 days post-op and things are going just great. I still have one part of my stomach that is so sore. Other than that I am doing great. I have had no desire to eat anything although I do try to get some broth and jello down. I am constantly drinking my water. So far I have had no regrets about this. I haven't had a chance to weigh myself, but I see the dr in a few days so we will see....

10/16/2003: I am 2 weeks and 2 days post op. I have lost 27 pounds!!!!! I am so happy. I am feeling pretty good, too.

10/26/2003: I am feeling wonderful. I go to the Dr. on Monday and will get weighed in then. I know I have lost more since the 27 pounds previously, but I don't feel like it. I am eating basically everything. Very, very small amounts though!!!! I am so happy that I have had this done.

11/05/2003: Well, I am down 37 pounds now. I weighed myself on the 30th. That makes 37 in one month!! I have had no regrets about about this surgery. I wish I had it done years ago.

12/01/2003: I made it through my first holiday!!! I even lost 6 pounds! My total now is 54 pounds.

12/15/2003: It's been 73 days and I have lost 63 pounds!! I am still so excited about the whole process. I should have done this years ago. I still can't tell the difference other than the way clothes are fitting. I am getting into clothes that I have had in the back of my closet for years. It's so nice to actually get into the clothes and have them feel loose and comfortable instead of making me feel like a stuffed sausage. LOL!!!

12/17/2003: Good News!! I have finally hit under 300. I am now 299. I am so excited. I have now lost a total of 67 pounds. What a great day!!

01/29/04: I have lost 85 pounds now. I was getting a little discouraged because I had only been losing about 2 pounds a week, but this week I lost 5!! I have to get better with my protein though. My hair is getting a little thin. I have to remember to keep drinking my water and exercise, exercise!! 281 yippee!!!

03/21/2004: I have now lost a total of 109 pounds. Everything is going great. I should have done this so much sooner.

07/08/2004: I'm back!! I have lost a total of 135 pounds now. I finally weigh less than my husband!!!! I am psyched. People that haven't seen me in awhile, just walk on by. They are stunned when they realize it is me. I have started to double up on my exercise. Things were really slowing down for me so now I walk in the morning and in the afternoon. It's actually very nice. Who would have thought I would enjoy exercise!!

10/01/2004: WOW!!!!! It has been one year since my surgery. I have lost a total of 150 pounds. 70 to go before I am at my goal. This surgery has changed my life. If anyone has second thoughts they need to get rid of them and do this. I am playing with my kids again, my house has never looked so clean and my husband feels like he has a new wife!!
I thank my surgeon, Dr. Howard Yeaton, every day of my new life. He is truly a life saver.

02/04/2005: It has been four months since my last update. In that time I stopped losing weight. I have been so upset about that fact, but I have finally started to lose weight again!! I lost five this week. I hope it continues. Regardless, if I don't lose anything more, I will be eternally grateful that I got this surgery. It was a life saver. I'm in a size 16.

03/06/2005: I still haven't lost any more weight. I keep losing inches which is still just as good. I just wish I would start losing again. I have to stop eating a few things that I know I probably shouldn't eat. I'm going to give it this week and see how it goes with cutting some things out. I still love the whole process. I wouldn't go back for anything.

07/08/2005: I have started losing weight again. It's only been a pound or two here and there, but I'm glad to see it going. I had to stop eating some things. At my office there is always a ton of food and I found myself grazing. Now I stay in my office for most of the day and only poke my head out a few times. I need to lose 66 more pounds to get to my goal of 150. Somedays it seems like I will never get there, but I know I will. I haven't given up. I love myself now and I am always happy. Whenever anyone sees me, the first thing they say is "you look happy". Aint that the truth!!!!!!!!!!!

08/22/2006: OK - I am in trouble. I have not lost anymore and I have actually gained some back. Not a lot. But any is too much. I have now decided that my goal weight should be 145 only because when I do the BMI calculations it still tells me that I am overweight at 150. So that means I now have 86 pounds before I reach that goal. I have joined weight watchers and hope that will help me reach my goal. I think I got into a rut where I was satisfied where I was and thought it was enough. Well, once you start not exercising and not watching what you eat, you are DOOMED! I am back to exercising and I want to add one new bit of exercise into my day every day. I did lose one pound at weight watchers this week. Not really worth mentioning, but at least it's a pound lost and not gained.

Photos



Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Howard L. Yeaton, M.D.
Insurer Info:
Blue Cross Blue Shield, PPO
BC/BS was wonderful. They approved me after 3 days. The Dr.'s office did all the work. I did absolutely nothing.

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