Tiff
I am 23 divorced with a 4 year old daughter. Life is hard. Playing with my daughter is not enjoyable. I hope to have surgery in February 2006.
1/5/06
I met with my surgeon yesterday 1/4/06. He was wonderful and the staff was amazing. I can't say enough good things about them. My surgery is scheduled for 03/30/06.
1/10/06
Since my appt I was told I had to quit smoking. I have been nicotine free for 4 days. Please send prayers my way I am having a hard time, but through God I can do anything!
1/23/06
I had my nutrition class yesterday. It was very long, but had so much good information. Just my Psych Eval left to go.
03/06/06
I had my psych eval on 02/28/06. I passed with flying colors. My surgeon's office called having problems with my insurance. Turns out they had an old ID #. I called them back, and they should have my approval with in the week.
03/21/06
I had my pre op the 14th. Everything went well. They did blood tests, which I think came out normal. I went to the hospital to know where to go. Everything is set to go!!!
My insurance needed a letter from my pcp. Since I work in that office I got the letter done the same day and faxed. My surgery is one week 2 days away!!! I hope to hear for sure from my insurance tomorrow.
04/04/06
Well I haven't written in a while. I was getting the last minute things together. I got my insurance approval on Monday the 27th. I had surgery on Thursday the 30th. I am doing great. The first night out of surgery I walked across my room. The next day I was walking around the 5th floor 3 times. Then Saturday I walked 4 times in the morning, and then I was released. The tube in my nose had to be the worst. I did not have much stomach pain, but I have several slipped discs in my back and they hurt the worst. I was in severe pain from my back, but to date my stomach has not really hurt. At my pre op appt on 03/14/06 I weighed 314 today when I got on the scale, 6 days post op, I weighed 296. I want to be under 200 pounds. My goal weight is 175. Well I am sitting in an uncomfortable chair so I will write more later. Thank You to everyone for all of the support.
04/09/06
I went for my post op on the 5th. I was not taking in enough protein and fluids. I did not feel well. I had a high heart rate, and low blood pressure. At first my Dr. wanted me to go to the ER and start IV fluids. After talking with me he decided I could go home, but had to come back in 2 days. I did not get my drain out on Wednesday. So I went home and did as the Dr. said. On Friday when I went back I got my drain out, and was back on the right track. I am feeling well and starting on prueed foods. I learned my lesson, and will take in the protein like I am supposed to.
04/27/06
4 weeks post op and 28 pounds less! I went through a week and a half plateau, now I am dropping about a pound a day. I am feeling good. I have more energy then I have ever had. I can exercise and not have an asthma attack. I am looking forward to climbing some mountains this summer, and hiking with my dogs. I am learning a new way of eating and having a new outlook on life.
5/9/06
I am trying to change from getting on the scale every day. I am trying for once a week, but it isn't working out to well. I know I should only get on once a week, but I have an impulse to get on 2 or more times a day. I am now down 33 pounds and feeling much better. I will start a regular diet on the 14th, Mother's day.
5/22/06
I think I forgot how to eat regular food. Every time I go to get something to eat I alwasy think of soft foods. I know this is not what I sould be eating, but it has been hard for my brain to register something else. I make myself look at everything I am eating and tell myself, how long will this stay in my stomach? How much protein am I eating? Will I stay full for 4 hours on this? After I think about that I am able to make a decision as to what to eat. I have lost 41 pounds. I think I am losing is slower than most, but that is okay. I am training myself to eat differently.
06/07/06
I am down 53 pounds since the day of surgery!!! I am able to wear clothes I have not worn since before I got pregnant 5 years ago. I can't wait to be under 200 pounds!
06/29/06
Haven't written in a while. I am down 73 lbs!! yaaaahoooo. Well it can be so hard at times I say why did I do this? Then I think about how many things I can do know that I couldn't do then. It is all worth it. I may get down, but I have to keep looking for towards the rewards this will give me. I hate having stalls, but they can't be avoided. Mine seem to last for 2 weeks, then I start loosing again. I am glad I started this life changing experience. Sometimes I wish I could just skip ahead and see what I will look and feel like at 1 year out. Well that won't happen. I am 3 months out tomorrow, and have 9 months to wait to see that picture. Yesterday I went outside with my daughter and jumped on the trampoline. Before I would be so tired that I couldn't stay out for long. Yesterday we jumped and played for an hour. I was able to keep up with her, and she loved every minute of it. That is what is important for me. I want her to be proud of herself and I for what we can do in our lives.
07/08/06
Okay, well I am getting a little stressed out. The scale has only moved 3 pounds in the last 3 weeks. Granted I had the monthly cycle in that time. I have however noticed that I am wearing smaller clothes. I tried on some jeans 2 weeks ago and they wouldn't button, but yesterday I put them on again and they fit perfectly!!! I also dropped my shirt size to an XL. I have worn 3 and 4 X's for years. I have gone from size 26 pants and now down to 20's. I can't wait to be down to a 16 that is my next goal. My next weight goal is 200. Only 42 pounds to go. To date I have lost 74 pounds and it has been the best/worst time of my life. Best because I never could have done this without the surgery. Worst because this is the hardest thing I have ever done. I have stepped up my exercise program to an hour and a half every day. Maybe that is what is slowing the weight loss. Muscle does weigh more than fat.
7/24/06
Okay the scale moved!!! So I have now lost 83 pounds. From 316 with a BMI of 48 to 233 with a BMI of 35.4. Wow when I see those numbers it makes me want to cry. This is all like a dream. I mean I have made major changes. The weight comes off faster than my mind can register. I still see me at 316 in the mirror, then I take a picture of myself, and say wow is that really me? It is!!! I will be 4 months post op in 6 days.
8/5/06
Down 91 pounds. BMI is now 34.2. Everyone told me that the hardest part would be the mental part. Well they were right. Getting past the mental part, seeing myself as I am, getting used to not turning to food, dealing with all the issues that started the overeating and weight gain.
08/20/06 wow 95 pounds. My goal was 100 in 6 months. It is looking like 100 in 5 months. 1 and 1/2 weeks and I will be 5 months out. I love everything about my new life. I never thought I could live like I do. I saw my "night before surgery" pictures. WOW I could not believe that was me! It is so amazing. I am forever gratefull to Dr. Schoen.
09/02/06
101 pounds gone! Today I weighed and I am 214.8, which I round and say is 215 which is 101 pounds!! I am astonished. I NEVER in my life could have lost this much without the surgery. The most I lost with "diet and exercise" was 20 pounds, and that was in a years time! I love every minute of my "NEW" life.
10/03/06
I am 6 months post op as of September 30!! I took my pictures and compared them with my pre op WOW I couldn't believe it was really me. I sent my pics to my friends and they were astonished. As of 6 month post I have lost 107 pounds and 72.25 inches!!!!!
So far everything is going really well. I love everything about my new life.
1/5/06
I met with my surgeon yesterday 1/4/06. He was wonderful and the staff was amazing. I can't say enough good things about them. My surgery is scheduled for 03/30/06.
1/10/06
Since my appt I was told I had to quit smoking. I have been nicotine free for 4 days. Please send prayers my way I am having a hard time, but through God I can do anything!
1/23/06
I had my nutrition class yesterday. It was very long, but had so much good information. Just my Psych Eval left to go.
03/06/06
I had my psych eval on 02/28/06. I passed with flying colors. My surgeon's office called having problems with my insurance. Turns out they had an old ID #. I called them back, and they should have my approval with in the week.
03/21/06
I had my pre op the 14th. Everything went well. They did blood tests, which I think came out normal. I went to the hospital to know where to go. Everything is set to go!!!
My insurance needed a letter from my pcp. Since I work in that office I got the letter done the same day and faxed. My surgery is one week 2 days away!!! I hope to hear for sure from my insurance tomorrow.
04/04/06
Well I haven't written in a while. I was getting the last minute things together. I got my insurance approval on Monday the 27th. I had surgery on Thursday the 30th. I am doing great. The first night out of surgery I walked across my room. The next day I was walking around the 5th floor 3 times. Then Saturday I walked 4 times in the morning, and then I was released. The tube in my nose had to be the worst. I did not have much stomach pain, but I have several slipped discs in my back and they hurt the worst. I was in severe pain from my back, but to date my stomach has not really hurt. At my pre op appt on 03/14/06 I weighed 314 today when I got on the scale, 6 days post op, I weighed 296. I want to be under 200 pounds. My goal weight is 175. Well I am sitting in an uncomfortable chair so I will write more later. Thank You to everyone for all of the support.
04/09/06
I went for my post op on the 5th. I was not taking in enough protein and fluids. I did not feel well. I had a high heart rate, and low blood pressure. At first my Dr. wanted me to go to the ER and start IV fluids. After talking with me he decided I could go home, but had to come back in 2 days. I did not get my drain out on Wednesday. So I went home and did as the Dr. said. On Friday when I went back I got my drain out, and was back on the right track. I am feeling well and starting on prueed foods. I learned my lesson, and will take in the protein like I am supposed to.
04/27/06
4 weeks post op and 28 pounds less! I went through a week and a half plateau, now I am dropping about a pound a day. I am feeling good. I have more energy then I have ever had. I can exercise and not have an asthma attack. I am looking forward to climbing some mountains this summer, and hiking with my dogs. I am learning a new way of eating and having a new outlook on life.
5/9/06
I am trying to change from getting on the scale every day. I am trying for once a week, but it isn't working out to well. I know I should only get on once a week, but I have an impulse to get on 2 or more times a day. I am now down 33 pounds and feeling much better. I will start a regular diet on the 14th, Mother's day.
5/22/06
I think I forgot how to eat regular food. Every time I go to get something to eat I alwasy think of soft foods. I know this is not what I sould be eating, but it has been hard for my brain to register something else. I make myself look at everything I am eating and tell myself, how long will this stay in my stomach? How much protein am I eating? Will I stay full for 4 hours on this? After I think about that I am able to make a decision as to what to eat. I have lost 41 pounds. I think I am losing is slower than most, but that is okay. I am training myself to eat differently.
06/07/06
I am down 53 pounds since the day of surgery!!! I am able to wear clothes I have not worn since before I got pregnant 5 years ago. I can't wait to be under 200 pounds!
06/29/06
Haven't written in a while. I am down 73 lbs!! yaaaahoooo. Well it can be so hard at times I say why did I do this? Then I think about how many things I can do know that I couldn't do then. It is all worth it. I may get down, but I have to keep looking for towards the rewards this will give me. I hate having stalls, but they can't be avoided. Mine seem to last for 2 weeks, then I start loosing again. I am glad I started this life changing experience. Sometimes I wish I could just skip ahead and see what I will look and feel like at 1 year out. Well that won't happen. I am 3 months out tomorrow, and have 9 months to wait to see that picture. Yesterday I went outside with my daughter and jumped on the trampoline. Before I would be so tired that I couldn't stay out for long. Yesterday we jumped and played for an hour. I was able to keep up with her, and she loved every minute of it. That is what is important for me. I want her to be proud of herself and I for what we can do in our lives.
07/08/06
Okay, well I am getting a little stressed out. The scale has only moved 3 pounds in the last 3 weeks. Granted I had the monthly cycle in that time. I have however noticed that I am wearing smaller clothes. I tried on some jeans 2 weeks ago and they wouldn't button, but yesterday I put them on again and they fit perfectly!!! I also dropped my shirt size to an XL. I have worn 3 and 4 X's for years. I have gone from size 26 pants and now down to 20's. I can't wait to be down to a 16 that is my next goal. My next weight goal is 200. Only 42 pounds to go. To date I have lost 74 pounds and it has been the best/worst time of my life. Best because I never could have done this without the surgery. Worst because this is the hardest thing I have ever done. I have stepped up my exercise program to an hour and a half every day. Maybe that is what is slowing the weight loss. Muscle does weigh more than fat.
7/24/06
Okay the scale moved!!! So I have now lost 83 pounds. From 316 with a BMI of 48 to 233 with a BMI of 35.4. Wow when I see those numbers it makes me want to cry. This is all like a dream. I mean I have made major changes. The weight comes off faster than my mind can register. I still see me at 316 in the mirror, then I take a picture of myself, and say wow is that really me? It is!!! I will be 4 months post op in 6 days.
8/5/06
Down 91 pounds. BMI is now 34.2. Everyone told me that the hardest part would be the mental part. Well they were right. Getting past the mental part, seeing myself as I am, getting used to not turning to food, dealing with all the issues that started the overeating and weight gain.
08/20/06 wow 95 pounds. My goal was 100 in 6 months. It is looking like 100 in 5 months. 1 and 1/2 weeks and I will be 5 months out. I love everything about my new life. I never thought I could live like I do. I saw my "night before surgery" pictures. WOW I could not believe that was me! It is so amazing. I am forever gratefull to Dr. Schoen.
09/02/06
101 pounds gone! Today I weighed and I am 214.8, which I round and say is 215 which is 101 pounds!! I am astonished. I NEVER in my life could have lost this much without the surgery. The most I lost with "diet and exercise" was 20 pounds, and that was in a years time! I love every minute of my "NEW" life.
10/03/06
I am 6 months post op as of September 30!! I took my pictures and compared them with my pre op WOW I couldn't believe it was really me. I sent my pics to my friends and they were astonished. As of 6 month post I have lost 107 pounds and 72.25 inches!!!!!
So far everything is going really well. I love everything about my new life.
10/23/06
I can't believe my BMI is down to 31. I don't ever remember having a BMI that low. I feel incredible! I can't believe all the changes that have happened to me over the last 6 1/2 months!! I will never regret my decision to have the surgery!
11/4/06
Okay it has been rough lately. I fell off the wagon completely and I am working really hard to get back on track. I found out I can handle sugar. Not to the same extent as the past, but still more than I want to. I can eat a candy bar without getting sick. So I can eat a candy bar 2 or 3 times a day and not get sick. I hate that. I know better, but still keep doing it. I have thrown out the chocolate so I can get back on track. One of my online support groups has issued a challenge for those who have fallen off. We are going to protein and low carb only from 11/6/06 until Christmas. i know I can do it, but it will be hard. I have to get back on track! I will not go back to my old ways.
1/22/07
Wow I haven't written in awhile, time for an update. I have lost 127 pounds since the day of my surgery and I would never change anything about the surgery. I was in the hospital recently from complications, but those I brought upon myself. On January 9,2007 at 2 a.m. I went to the Emergency Room here in Leadville for severe abdominal pain, so severe it was hard for me to breathe. I have heard that we turn our food addiction into other addictions, but I didn't want to believe it. I thought I would be the one to not get anymore addictions, i was very wrong. I was doing fine for the first 8 months, and then stress started building in my life and since I could not eat my way through it I had to find other ways to deal with it. I made some bad choices and because of that ended up with ulcers, and the ulcer finally gave me the wake up call I needed. I had a perforation and it was the most painful event of my life. I was sent flight for life from here to Denver on 1/9/07 at 3 a.m. and my surgeon, Dr. Schoen, came to my rescue and performed another surgery to close the hole. I spent 9 days in the hospital and will remember these events for the rest of my life. All I could think about is what have I done to myself and am I going to die? I have 2 kids to take care of and they mean the world to me. I now know why the surgeons have rules and why we should follow them. I will follow them. I had to start from the begenning again, with liquids, I see my surgeon on Wednesday the 24th and will move onto soft foods, but will not be eating regularly for about another month. This has taught me a BIG lesson and it was the scariest point ever in my life.
About Me
Leadville, CO
Location
28.6
BMI
Surgery
03/30/2006
Surgery Date
Nov 30, 2005
Member Since