Nicki C
I have been overweight most of my life. I recently got married 09/2000 to the most wonderful, loving and supportive man in the world!! I Love you Honey! My sister told me about this surgery around Nov/Dec 2000. I decided to look into it. The more I researched the more I knew I wanted this surgery. I feel that my sister saved my life. If it wasn't for her I would have never known about it. I Love you Cheryl. I Thank God for my family and the encouragement they have given me and the perserverance to continue my research. Thank you GOD!!
Here is my journey below:
03/06: Well, I did it!! I got my breast and arms done 2/17/06. It took 3 weeks to recouperate. My dr did a wonderful job. You are the best!! I had a lot of fluid retention in my arms and I my breast where really itchy!!! Neosporin, ya'll Neosporin.....It's helping tremendously. When I spoke with my plastic surgeon, he stated that he took off 2 lbs. from each arm!!! WOW. I couldn't believe it, but I can truly see a difference. I can finally wear tank tops an short sleeve shirts without feeling self conscious (sp?) I am back to my size D cup and they (breast and arms) really look great. I am really pleased with the results!! My family has been so supportive of me getting my surgeries. I Love you all!!! Thank you GOD for giving me the strength once again!!! :-) I know you would not give me anything that I could not handle!!! :-) I am still dealing with the vitamin deficiency, but I guess baby steps at a time......Until next time.... :-)
11/05: Well, it's been over a yr since I updated my profile and wanted jot down a few things... :-) I am still dealing with my vitamin D deficiency. During the summer I went to the Vitamin Shoppe and started taking Liquid Cal + Mag w/vit D, and Liquid B-Complex for my lack of energy. It appears to be working. I will doing blood work within the next few weeks to see how I am coming along. Drum roll please.... :-) I am finally getting back to completing my plastic surgery work. I will be getting my breast lift/aug and arms done in Feb '06. Oh I am so serious this time, that I even scheduled a date before I left his office. The doctor performing the surgeries is the same dr. that repaired my hernia/ and completed my TT. He is a very skilled dr and I am in great hands!!! After he completes the top portion, I will get the lower lipo completed to the legs and a LBL (lower body lift). Since I have such dense fat below, I have to get the lower procedures completed in 2 separate surgeries for my lower half to look the way I want them too. I know that lower half will be painful, but worth it in the end. I cannot wait to be able to wear shorts again, and wear shirts that don't have wear quarter length shirts due to the excess skin. This will be costly, but work the effort in the end. Again, I would like to thank my family and doctors for all their support.
08/04: Hello everyone!! :-) Well, I did not go to Costa Rica for my plastic surgery, I had other health issues I am currently dealing with and I wanted to let everyone know. I have been doing everything I am suppose to: take my vitamins, exercise, eat right and do my blood work. I started to feel real tired, my bones and muscles were hurting/weak and I had severe lower back/hip pain. It was due to lack of vitamin D. I did do blood work and my nutritionist did in fact increase my vitamin D, but it was not enough. I went to 6 different doctors, and back to my nutritonist to do additional bloodwork to determine that I had osteomalacia (adult on-set of rickets). If you drink caffinated coffee take that out of your diet. Vitamin D and Caffeine do not mix and it takes calcium and magensium from your muscles and bones and causes severe pain. Be pro-active with your health. Get to your nutritionist and get your blood work done. This is very important. This has been going on for about 8 months. I wanted to pass this information on to all post-ops!!Take Care and God Bless!! :-)
01/12/04: Wow, what a difference 2 years make!! Health wise I am doing great, started to exercise again. I had a little trouble since 12/02 with exercising due to my accident, but I am making it. I am striving to complete my plastic surgery journey this year with a Breast lift and implants (yes, I did decide to do it!!), lower body lift, and arm lift. I am researching information in San Jose, Costa Rica to have all my surgery done. It is not that expensive and the surgeon's there are Americian Board certified. I am truly blessed with my health. I have to say WLS is one of the best decisions I have made for myself. I not only ridden myself of my diabetes, but made my body so healthly in the process. Since my surgery, I had a total of 3 other family members get WLS and alot other just get healthly. I just want to thank everyone for their continued love and support!! I will let you know what happens when I go to Costa Rica!!! Happy New Year to everyone and God Bless you all!!!!!!!!
04/20/03: Well, it's been a hot minute since I updated my profile, alot of things has happened since Dec 02. As you know, I was in a car accident and I have been recovering from that, however due to the accident, my hernia was aggrivated and I had to have surgery to repair it. So, I had to have the hernia repair and I also did the tt. The total skin poundage removed was 8. I have to say it really makes a difference. The healing process/time I have to say was worst than the gastric bypass I had last year, but the with pain meds my doctor provided, I was ok. You know what they say is true, some people can truly get addicted to plastic surgery once they see the results and forget about the pain. Sometimes, it's hard to put things in prospective, because we not only want to lose the weight, but the excess skin too, and we feel we want to have that perfect body. My question....Is there a perfect body out there?? I think NOT!! But in the meantime, I am going to try to fix somethings that need to be done, like getting my arms done. Maybe breasts (and that is a big MAYBE!!). I also have alot of excess skin on my legs which would require a lower body lift. But heck, if I had these legs for all these years, and for all those years, I had the excess skin....I guess I can keep them. :-) I'll just wear capris during the summer and as long as there is pantyhose, I will be alright!! I am just truly thankful and blessed that I have made it through the gastric bypass, a serious car accident, and the hernia repair/tt surgery. I have put my body through alot this pass year and I think, no I know, I that I am going to give my body a rest for awhile. Will post as soon as I can. Good luck and GOD BLESS to everyone going through the WLS process and the post ops who had the surgery and reclaimed their lives!!
12/18/02: I am down another 9 lbs., currently at 189. I am so happy. I am looking into plastic surgery around the summmer of 03, since my hernia isn't really giving me any problems and found a doctor to do my TT and my lower body lift. I recently got into a serious car accident. I am blessed to be here to write this because I think my car is totalled. GOD is with me all the time, but he was truly with me that day. I will post a picture very, very soon, I promise (within a week or so) I feel great, just came from a cruise and I ate like crazy (all protein foods) and still lost weight!!! That's the type of vacation I like!!! I would like to wish everyone a safe and blessed holiday season. Until next time.. :)
10/15/02: I am truly, truly blessed. I currently weight 198.2, a total weight loss of 110 lbs!! Woo Hooo!!! I am almost at goal. I have 28 more to go. I am still dealing with the hanging skin and I am looking into Plastic Surgery. I am planning on having surgery next year sometime. I am in sizes 14/16 and some 12's, shirts are Large and I went down a shoe size!! I took a recent picture of myself and hoping to post it soon! I would like to again THANK all of my family and friends for their love and support. Will post again soon!!!!!!!!
08/11/02: God is Good!!! I feel I been on a plateau for a few weeks, but to my surprise...Drum Roll Please...... I made it to the 100+ loss club. I am currently in a size 16 petite jeans and 14/16 shirts! Sometimes I feel my weight loss should have been a little quicker and with this surgery we always anticipate "great" weight loss fast and when that dreaded plateau hits we get discouraged. But I have to remember, if I am not losing weight, I know I am losing inches! My family has been so supportive of me from the very beginning and I LOVE YA'LL FOR IT!!!!! People who haven't seen me in awhile are a little overwhelmed of the weight loss and the shock on their face when they see me makes me feel real good!!! I've been truly blessed. Right now, my sister is doing her pre-op testing to have her surgery in January '03. I will be by her side just as she was by mine. I am so excited for her. I am rooting for you Cheryl!!!!! I also have a cousin going through the pre-op testing too!! Millie you can do it!!!!! I guess I was the guinea pig for the surgery, but that's ok! My mother and father are true advocates for the surgery and I love you!! My husband Chad and his parents were also very supportive (Mom, Thanks for the clothes!!) and I love you too!! I will post a new post-op picture soon. Until then, take care and GOD BLESS!!!
06/02/02:Life is Great!!! I have lost a total of 80 lbs and I am size 18 petite jeans and size 18 shirts!!! I feel so blessed. I had very few episodes of vomitting (eating something a little too sweet/greasey or I just ate a little too much for my stomach to handle). No major complication. Right now I am really concerned about the hanging skin, but I still have another 6 months or so to go to lose weight, so I guess I will wait until sometime next year to think about the excess skin removal. Until then, please pray for me and if you know anyone who is interested in having the surgery be supportive, ask questions, and stand by them through the whole process!!! This was a life changing event in my life and everyone who supported me, I love you and will never forget all the advice and emotional support you gave. I Love You!!! Until next month.....
04/04/02: I have to say it's getting better and better!! I no longer have Type II Diabetes and I am in a size 22 from a size 28!! YIPEEEEEEEE!! Currently I am down 55lbs. I had an issue regarding exercising (had to buy a treadmill) and I know I could have lost more, but heck, I feel great and I am healthy and that's what counts!!! My appetite seems to be huge, trying to have control is hard, but I feel I can eat some things others can't. My Dr. did say I will have an appetite with a vengeance, but I didnt know he meant now!!! Just pray for me and I will update again soon!!! Maybe in a month or so, I can add a picture to my page!
03/02/02: As of this date, I lost a total of 45 lbs and I am a smaller size in my clothes!! Yippee!! I have been hanging on to some Gloria Vanderbilt jeans for years, a size 24 and I can finally get into them!!!! I have to say that my Dr. told me that I would have an appetite with a vengeance. I have to say it's true!!! I am allowed 30 carbs a days and I have been trying very hard to stick to it!! I have to say my new eating style is catching on with my family. Their diabetes is back to normal and they are staying away from those dreaded CARBS!!!! It seems that all my clothes are getting big, while I am getting smaller. I have to admit, I feel really good about myself, my health and my weight loss. Will update again soon!
01/30/02: As of today, I am 30 lbs gone!!! I am doing alot better. I also started walking too. I want to Thank GOD for given me an unevental and speedy recovery. I've been blessed! I also want to Thank my family and friends for their courage and support. Without them, I dont know how I would have got through this (You know who you are and I Love You). My Surgeon-Dr. Marcus, and the hospital Holy Cross Staff.
01/15/02: Currently I am dealing with the epidural incision, I developed an allergic reaction to the hospital tape and got really bad, painful blisters. I am also coping with abdominal pain. I am taking meds and it is helping. I have a doctor's appt on Friday, so I will update then. Talk to you soon!!!
01/13/02: Coming home from the hospital YEAH!! They doctors said I had a speedy recovery considering I had complications with the epidural procedure and my blood pressure dropped to 50!:( Thank GOD he touched me and everything was ok with the surgery and it turned out fine.
01/08/02: Date of Surgery..All prayers are welcome and Praise to God for an uneventful surgery and speedy recovery. 308lbs. day of surgery.
11/01: I finally finshed all my pre-op testing (whew!) and I waiting for approval. It feels like it taking a lifetime! I am calling 2-3 times a week to hear the referral for surgery is still pending......FINALLY, I HAVE BEEN APPROVED!!! WOOO HOOO!! My surgery date is Jan 8, 2002. I could have opted for an earlier date, but due to the holidays, I really dont want to put my husband and family through even more stress. I can wait for the new year to give birth to a new me!!! Again, I like to thank GOD, my husband, family and friends for all their support!! I Love You All!!!
10/01: Happy Anniversary to me and hubby!! We went to Florida and of course, I needed a seatbelt extender and was a very uncomfortable flight for me. I didnt let my husband know..I wanted us to remember this trip as enjoyable and it was. Well, I scheduled all my pre-op testing. I had to actually bug my PCP nurse, because my PCP was out for 6 weeks!! Ugh. But the final referral for the surgery was submitted. I still have some test to complete.
8-17-01: I finally received my initial referral for Dr. Marcus and per my new PCP I should have no problem being approved with a BMI of 50+. I am really excited about this because I want to have the surgery by the end of the year!! Dr. Marcus was great and very knowledgeable, caring and compassionate. I was overwhelmed with a calmness and when I left his office, I knew this was the right thing to do for me!!
03/01: My Dr (who is actually a Nurse Practionier - I needed a real Dr., not a nurse for a procedure of this magnitude) gave me big grief. We were going back and forth and I finally got some referrals. I decided to change my PCP and Med Ctr location. I am hoping that this will help. Well I saw my new dr. and he is very nice, but before I proceed w/the surgery he wanted to try Xenical :( . I said ok, but I have my mind made up about the surgery. And he knew this, he just wanted me to make 1 final effort at losing weight. I didnt have a problem with that.
01/01: I currenty trying to get a referral/approval from my Federal-Kaiser. They state that I have to have these 3 symptoms: hypertension, sleep apnea or orthopedic problems. I have some orthopedic problems and I have Type II Diabetes. My regular Dr. does not want to approve a referral to the surgeon and doesn't like the idea at all. However, I pushed my weight around :) and I see the orthopedist next week. Please pray and wish me luck. Well, I never saw the orthopedist and found out by a former patient of Dr. Marcus(the dr that I want to do the surgery) that I was going about it the wrong way. My first support group meeting is 1-24-01 and have 2 others to attend. Actually attended the support group meetings in February '01.
