juliette .

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life is good,  life is good, How many times can I say this,  In 2 weeks I will be driving to N.H. to see my wonderful Dr. Looser.
I am not at goal, have had some issues, Taking care of my Daughter Miranda and their home in N.Y. She is finally pain free after 5 1/2 years,  One could say its been a long road. but all is good now.

My sister Theresa just went through weight loss serjury 2 days ago. (the sleeve)  she is home now resting. I wish her the best
its not the easy road to weight loss, but as the days go by it gets easier.  and when you see the weight come off, its such a lift in one self esteem and everything else becomes eisier.  Hopefully this will be her answer to back and hip problems. I love you my sweet understanding and unconditional loving sister  that you are. Best of Luck, and keep in touch,  their is not a day that goes by that I do not think of you.

Love to my baby sister, Julie

I  am doing  better in  life,  I  am totally   happy  with me,  and where  I  am going
it  seem  God  does  not  give  you  more  than  one  can  handle  and there  is  always  place  for  one  more  if  needed.

I  am  still  in  LINY,   getting  things  for  the  big  wedding  of  my daughters,  oct  19,
Aug  10,  2008   she  was  caught  in  the  subway  doors ,  which slammed  several  times  upon  her ,  catching   her  back  and  stomach, and  this  did
add  to  her  back  problems  and  dissability,  (she  has  7  rods  and  pins  keeping  her  standing )   this  has  been  a  horrific  experience  to   her  and  I  am  caring  for  her  at  her  home  now.   She  had  to  go  on  dissability  because  of t his,  and   the  good  news ,   Her  doctor   said  she  would  be  dancing  by  her  wedding.   Oh,  I  pray  he  is  correct   in this.
In  the  meantime  we  are  purchasing  a  home  here  on t he  Island,   if  it  ever
goes  thru.   Our  part  is  done,  but  the  sellers  bank  is  so  slow.......
Hope  they  move  on  this,   Hate  to  move  this  home   the  last  6  weeks before  the  wedding. 

On  the  positive  side,   weight  is still  comming  off ,  and  slowly,   I  am comfortalbe  in  my  skin,  I  move  more  gently,  and  have  found  a  great   inner  peace  within  me.   Thank  you  God  in  helping  me  with  this decision ,  it   was  the  best  I could  have  chosen  for  me.   Us.   my husband,  daughter  and   I

surgury went  well, but instead of a 3 to 4 inch opening try 8 inches, and a mesh was inserted about 12 x 12 inches, seems it was one of the largest openings they have seen. Well I am home with Home Visiting Nurses  and  wound care with  Nurse Susan Porter. she is the greatest. and I have that little fluid pouch which I have to empty 2 to 3 times a day. and keep count of  units that come out of me, otherwise I am sore, to be  expected,  and Monday May 7, 2007, I go to have the stitches and collection hose pulled out. so now I will feel better about doing exercises and walking, I was feeling like my guts were pulling out and guess what,  they were.

well I went to the doc. Gens and Low and behold I have to have surgury, seems a hernia has developed where my rny was preformed march 6,2006 Surgury would have been that day, but due to the Plavix , blood thinners.  IT will be done on May 1, 2007, I should be holding out at the house with a low , low profile, A mesh will be inserted and recoupe time is o long      6 to 8 weeks of    sitting around playing my guitar or hooking on a rug, I am making for my daughters wedding on 10/2008  Actually a tradional Wedding Rug,  She and her new Husband will stand on during the wedding , and it then becomes the first thing entered into their home and put at the foot of the bed, wherever they live or move too. A meaning of union and love between the 2 of them.

In April of 2005, while at my Doctor Nancy, after my physical exam, she asked me about my weight increase of 100# over the past year. Between the stress of our new home. garage, daughter moving to N.Y and in-laws i was taking care of 45 min. from the home in Maine, (alzheimers and infirmed the other)the diabetes
meds.Avandia. And so much stress, No kitchen to prepare foods, I found my self eating at the fast foods, to console myself daily.
Doctor Nancy, had told me about a patient who had the surgury, and was doing great, she no longer had adult onset diabetes. and had lost all the weight. I have had it since 1980.
I waited till my next apt. with Doctor Nancy, In June I spoke more about the surgury. I found out where her patient had gone . The next thing I did some research on Doctors and Hospitals in Maine who had a program for WLS.
My next Doctor Nancy apointment. Sept 1st week , 2005. I decided to get infor on this WLS , and was given a name and a place that an informal meeting was being held in Portsmouth..I believe it was the Frank Jones Center off the Rte. 1 By-pass. And called Nancy Seisman the Bariatric Co-ordinator to see what day the meeting was on, and on
Sept 30, 2005 I went to the meeting , that changed me for the rest my life, for the better.
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Get your own countUP at BlingyBlob.com


This is the most precious forever kitten , that never grew up, my munchkin cat, with dog like characteristics, AnnieSpring when she was a baby, only 10 oz at 5 mo. old, and 5# full grown, she fetches, Growls when an unfamiliar car pulls into the yard, Runs to the door when the doorbell rings, follows me around the house with her tail wagging. Lays down near the computer while I am on it. Goes to bed when I say,"Anniebelle, Its time for bed" She runs and jumps onto her stool to reach the bed, she can't jump on the bed she is only 10" high. So i built her a special stool. And sits on my pillow till I get into bed, and sleeps by my feet. Watching the front door. My keeper of the night. Annie!
Dans cat Jazzpurr and my little Anniebelle on window perch, where they watch all the wild birds feed, and sit by Dan when he is reading in his office.

In Sept of 2001 ,After my purchasing a home from my Aunt, I was thrown in a whirlwind of pressures.( that lasted 3 years) Living in 2 places about 3 hrs apart, having to remodel the 20yr old home we had been living in for the past 20 yrs. to better standards. Floors redone and kitchen had to be redone. New sink , countertops, kitchen cabinets refaced And the work was done my myself, I am the tool belt diva, and my husband Dan is my helper, who was still working full time and on the road for the Gov't.
I also planned to tear down most of the home in Augusta, and reabuild it before my husband retired for good. I was acting as the
contractor and hired a builder to do exactly what my dreams had been in the finished product. I also hired a fromer builder who had built us a garage in southern N.H. area and were pleased with his work. Between those 2 projects and the 3rd in N.H. and the 3 hr trip each way took its tole on me, weight wise. I also had to make 2 or more trips to Portland , Maine to help take care of my in-laws, and give mother her tub bath. In an apt. that the heat was on 100 degrees in the middle of summer.

Why did I have open RNY surgury?
The answer to this question? I wanted to LIVE

My husband and I tried to seek the help of surgury with the Lap/band procedure and we were rejected thru B/C B/S.So we left that on the back burner. The insurance dosn't believe in Lap/Band procedure, due to the fact many poeple who have the surgury like this usually regain their weight after 5 to 6 years.
Weight , as my family knows, has been an issue all my life.
Did I loose weight before? Yes, but only to regain it all back plus more
 each time.



Daniel said he would support me not matter what, and would drive with me back and forth the 3 hr drive each was, we would make it a special day for the 2 of us. Shopping doing errands, and Anitqueing. What a wonderful guy I have. 1 in a million.
My decision after carefull thought was to keep it between only a few people, One of them is my best friend for many years, (35yrs.)_ Skip Poole/ Then in case something happened, and that he could help my Dan, is Charlie, a friend of many years 30+ also My daughter, Miranda and her partner Matt. No one else would know. I made this decision after careful thought. It was not to hurt anyone. for my peace of mind, But I would have to come to term with this also, and at the moment I chose I did no want anyone else in this decision.




Married 30 yrs this year, very happy and still have that passion with my beloved husband, one daughter Miranda 24 is my other love.


Avid Rug Hooker of antique rugs. and Victorian Lampshade designer. Retired and loving it. 56 yrs old , and so glad i did the WLS Oh! yaa----
RNY- open surgury, outch! and took a long time for those muscle to stop spasming on me, about 3 mo.
Lived in southern N.H. for 20 yrs prior to moving back to my birthplace to be with family and friends in Augusta









My journey started Sept. of 2005, at the weight of 377 with my first meeting. And signed the papers for more info. and asked for someone to get in touch with me.
Nancy Seisman the Bariactric Co-ordinator first called me and set up a personal meeting with her to discuss my weight , likes, dislikes, and find out more about me. I was weighed, and it was documented.
Next came the many appointments, like Mental evaluation, group Classes with the therapist , every week for 8 weeks,
EKG, blood work , meeting with Dr. Looser. , Group support meetings. and evaluations. which took about 3 months in all,
I have to say i was not bored with any of it, as well as my husband saying he learned quite a bit out of the classes I attended. and He accompanied me too
I had to loose 24 lbs before surgury. Gastric ByPass surgury was approved after the first letter was sent by my Dr. office. a date was scheduled in Feb. of 2006.
I had 2 postponed surgury dates due to Dr. Looser's emergency surguries. finally my date is scheduled, so anxious, need to focus
My date to have the meeting with the doc. was canceled because of an emergency with a patient who was having complications, and Dr. Looser had to return to the operating room, Another meeting date had to take place. I was at this time at my goal for the operation. Another glitz , My Dr. had a vacation was the 2nd cancelation, then my daughter had to have back surgury in Feb. so off i went to Long Island , N.Y.


I finally got a date, March 6 of 2006 and guess what ? While i was in N.Y. and taking care of the house for my daughter , building shelves for their storage closet and Matt"s computer room, I LOST another 12 # and I did all the cooking. What a surprise A Good One at that.

Surgury date scheduled for : 3/6/06 = 337 lbs Lost -40 lbs
I AM TOTALLY SERIOUS ABOUT W L S




While preparing for the surgury I decided to do something special for myself , That first ounce of water they talk about after the xrays are taken , then and only then can you drink an oz. of water. So I purchased some crystal cordial stemware that only hold an oz and 1/2 of water , Packed them with my belongings and told my husband that is what I wanted my first sip to be in.
When the nurses were given the ok that i could drink, My husband pulled out my crystal goblets and toasted with me a drink of water for our new begining. It was so special.
All the nurses were so delighted , and thaught that their barriactric floor should do that for others. We donated a set to the floor for the patients to feel good about themselves when taking their first drink of water celebrating their new life on the loosing side.
FOR YOUR FIRST DRINK AFTER WLS
CELEBRATE YOUR NEW LIFE WITH A TOAST
OF CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER,
Try it , I bet you will also like it.

March 6th , 2006 MONDAY ----D day and at 337 # (-40 lbs.) for me and my new life.
Surgury did work out well, we had a 2+ hr drive from Central Maine to the hotel near the Pourtsmouth Hospital,
Arrived at hospital at 5 am. of March 6 2006.
This was the easy part. prep and sleep.
Strated surgury Lapriscoptic, and Dr. tried to do the surgury and ended finding major scarring from previous surgurys. and had to do an open-RYN. Was in surgury 3+ hrs. total.


March 7, 06 Tuesday- nothing to eat or drink, went for an exray to see if leaking in stomach, They forgot me in the hallway for 2 hrs and felt terrible no one was bringing me back to my room, a kind tech. found me crying and helped me, called my floor and found out that the assistant took the wrong patient up to their room and left me there they thaught i was back in my bed, DID anyone check if 



March 8 , Wed.--- sipping water, and in severe pain, Med pump adjusted . not doing much , very tired, I feel something is wrong, Head nurse in bad mood, things on floor not going well for her, I get the brunt of her attitude. Heavy construction for the new part of the hospital is getting in the way of everyone


March 9 Thursday ,2 am - problems, went to bathroom , Huge Clotting and major bleeding , Had a Hystorectomy in 1980, so i know it is bowls. Went back to bed, Wed 4am given bed pan, they will not let me out of bed, Severe bleeding from bowls, left me on bed pan 2 hrs, WoW i was sore on the fanny, and could not get a nurse, (there were Construction Problems with communications network all push buttons were not working on floor) Finally nurse comes in takes the bed pan does not clean me and says she will be back, I fall asleep, from the meds. drip line open and not realising I was 103 in fevers. No vitals taken for a while.

March 9 at 9 am I am awoken to be taken for a MRI and wheeled to the downstairs room, The nurse tech goes to take me off the gurney and realize I am still attached to the sheets from the dried blood and that I had been left in deplorable condition, I was so far out of it, i did not realize what was going on .( You will understand more when they go to check me out on Sat.) (Tech says "I would never send anyone down here in that condition, shame on the floor nurse" and then reported it to the Head Nurse. MRI was finished, and they put clean sheets on the gurney, and placed me in the hall to be transported up to my room, OOOOOOOOOOH! I can's believe it took another 1 1/2 hr. to get someone to bring me up to my room again, and in severe pain, and what i did no know till I got up to my room is that I had a 103 fever and was getting worse. Finally my beloved husband started yelling up in my room that I should be back and sent someone to see where was. An attendant found me in the hall on the gurney , and whelled me to my room where A nurse was waiting to clean me up but I was wearing a gown that did not have cords or snaps, so the IV had to be taken out so i could remove the gown, and the Aid could not do that. Head nurse was in bad mood, She comes in the room and grabs my gown at the arm and neck as she proceeds to take out the scissors and cut the gown off me saying " I just don't have the time to "F___ around with this" and walked out of the room. My husband said He was not leaving my side after all that had happened to me.
Severe Bleeding continued for 1 more day , MRI showed it was old blood from the surgury that was in the colon, and I would be ok. The fever was from a UTI that had come from the Urine Cathe. and had more meds to counteract that. Sent down to have a port for blook and IV as my veins in my hand were not good, and in case I need blood, I have had 2 a day for the last 2 days.
PM comes around Jan and Her husband Dan visit, a nurse comes in < and wants to take blood, that is ok , but I say "I have a port", she says " no, I want to take it from your arm" ," I say no! I had a port put in for that, shoud you not use it" , she says " NO, its my way!
My Respiratory tech is there, She wispers in my ear, " Don't bow down to her, If you say no, she cannot do that, she must use the port! "
"I say no, use my port for blood", and she turns around she throws her kit on the floor and walks out.
The next thing i know the Head Nurse comes in and takes blood from my port and everything is ok. now


March , 10, Friday., Dan my husband sat quietely by me reading his book, I fell into deep sleep, I been have in and out of bed for short walks, before that I was unable to walk much, I want out, and Home. Can't stay awake, this is not right.,


March11 , SAt. I am going home, but before I can go home I must have another unit of blood, I am still low. Nurse comes in and says I am taking out your pain meds." Oh! no wonder you were so sleepy, some one had put your pain meds pump at 100% + what you pushed the button to get ." Well I was feeling no pain!

The ride was a great refreshing wonderful feeling, My husband took a side trip to surprise me. He stopped at a jewelery store and bought me a white gold 3ct. 3 stone early anniversary ring. He wanted to celebrate the new me, and our 30th anniversary, in Oct. He will have it sized in Sept.
He helped to give me my meds on time and gave me water every hr. and helped me in and out of bed. Wonderful and Gentle as he is always .


I am still using my crystal goblet to drink my oz of water, it feels not too good to swallow and stomach feels full. but at least the crystal goblet lets me sip slowly and I know just how much i have had by the cold ice pitcher beside my bed or chair my husband keeps filling with water and ice. He has been so wonderful to me.


But in all " I love my Dr. Looser" , just a wonderful guy and cares. and was so appologic and understand of my fustration. This situation was not his fault , Dr Looser had not control of this, the program he has built should in no way reflect on what happened to me. It is a wonderful program in total, Mentally , emotionally , physically, and nutritionally, in every aspect. and "Nancy" the Bariactic Coordinator , we love you, as well as "Kim" the Nutritionist. thank you all for the wonder future I will have
.
post surgury 3 mo. 6/6/06 = 290 lbs -47 lbs (total -87#)
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June 16, 2006, what a wonderful feeling, I climbed a ladder to put hooks in the joist of the garage, and I could not do it, at the former weight it was hard to move. let alone turn over in bed, and how about tying your shoes. or taking a long walk without you ankles hurting. And how about going to the bathroom, no more trouble for me, its a wonderful thing with 90 lbs gone from the body. I can imagine loosing another 100 # just how much i will feel different. Its been just over 3 mo. + 10 days since my surgury I will not weigh myself till i go to the Doc. office on june 30. I want that surprise.
I cannot touch Splenda, Nutra Sweet, or eat anything that says no sugar in it, as it is "refined sugar" they are talking about, but how about that glucose, corn syrup, dextrol, etc. its just messes me up and i get real bad "Dumping" as my husband bought sugar free popsicles and just one and i was ill for 3 hrs. drooling, upchucking , and the whole Dumping thing , it was not nice at all.
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June 17th, feeling good, not eating more than 3 oz protien per meal, things I like to eat are
Atkins shake 18 gram protien, Revival Bars 20 grams protien, no sugar added, found at Obesity .com for us Bariatric patients, Sauted chicken livers with Onions, great iron there. cottage cheese with applesauce and cinnamon, string motzerella cheese, Decaf Coffee, Simply Smart milk 0% fat, I have 2 cups for breakfas ,20 grms protien, and 2 cups water to follow, tuna fish with mayo, scallops, Lobster, tamalee from lobster on crackers, pizza i eat the cheese only, low fat hot dogs, chicken , hamburgh cooked to the side of the grill, so it does not get dried out. and red in center, this is easy to digest better. French oinion shop,when ordering at restaurant have them hold the bread and I eat the cheese and broth. the slower I eat the better it is, and do not have it come back on me, and i do not eat more than 3 oz of meat at any time of my meal, On diet coke, I have 2 oz of diet coke added to 10 oz of ice water and stir, just to flavor my water. it is good that way. and do not have the fizz .

When I went to see my Nutritionist Kim, she told us she would not be there anymore as she had family problems and needed time out from her work at the hospital. Kim told us that she also had taken time to be a Chef on a schooner out of Camden, Maine and would be taking 5 to 7 days excursions and would be working on a book she had been thinking of writing. Also she asked if we were in the area, If we could stop and say hi to her. Kim I will miss you, You are a wonderful caring person, and it shows, you have that special glow.

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June 20th 2006
Today My Dan, bought me a 1 ct. 5 stone ring in white gold. to go with the ring he bought me on the way home from surgury. to wear as a wedding ring with my anniversary ring. What a sweetie,


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June 24, 2006 Today is my 56 birthday and I am now down to 287 # and feeling wonderful, lots of energy, and my husband is wondering when the "julie-energizer-bunny" will slow down. I'm up early in the morning chores done, shopping at Wally World at 6 am, I beat the majority of shoppers this way, and just having a ball trying on clothes in the many containers in the Garage, that have different sizes from 14 to 32, The most fun is getting rid of outdated and old clothes, and those that no longer fit me. We moved here a year ago ( taking care of my husband Mom with Alzheimers and Ill father, as well as building a new house as my husband was still working and reinishing the old house to sell that were a travel time of 2 1/2 hrs apart each way. So this was not easy to unpack all at once, So unpacking meant just the necessity's and had not found many of the containers till now. What a joy to pack and send out to GoodWill and Salvation Army , hope others can use them, I say" Adios" to the old, " Hello" to tne new me, I's on my way to a total transformation, I will post a new pic at 100# loss soon.

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June 30, 06 Went to dr. today and i am down to 277 , which means a total of 100# lost.
Packing for a trip to Hicksville NY to take care of my daughter who is having back surg. Dad is staying home to take care of the animals. I will be back and forth every 3 weeks from here to there. and back again, till the last of October. Its going to be a hard time as she is having 5 dics fused and a pin put in her back. SCARED! I am for her she is only 24 yrs old, and this is her 2nd surg. in 5 months the 1st one did not work. Prayers are needed. She is the love of my life and a tru treasure to have. I love her dearly.
I am all packed and ready to go. Hope the trip is smooth. julie in Maine

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JULY 13 , DAUGHTERS SURGURY OF JULY 11 TH ,A SUCCES WITH 7 PINS IN LOWER BACK WITH 3 DISC FUSED. THANK YOU LORD !
We are doing well in N.Y. and daughter has a wonderful "Lazy boy recliner" and is helping her relax , its been 1 week since surg. and feeling in legs comming back, thanks to Dr. Obedian, in Plainview, N.Y. for the great surgury done and the personal wonderful care
7//0
August 3, 2006~~~~~~~Happiness is having your 100# century card posted to my page. Just got home from shopping with my daughter, and just checked my page to find a surprise, a wonderful surprise. SOOOOOOOOOOO! Happy that this is behind and I have accomplished this, now for the next 100#

MIRANDA AND I, SHE IS RECOVERING FROM BACK SURGURY








Today is August 10, 06 My Daniel is on his way to N.Y. on Saturday to join us. His dad is back in Rehab. at the assisted living center. Prognosis is not good , they have given him less than 6 months. Kidneys not functioning, cronic conjective heart failure, and so many more , he is now unable to walk, and is slured speech, and totally dioriented. He will be here till Sept 3, then as soon as Miranda get the ok from her Doc. to travel , we are taking her up to see her gram, and grampy. and spend 2 weeks with us, a change of scenery from the apt and 2 room we are in all the time.


August 11, 06 Just talked to Dan, he, was suppose to be comming back to Long Island tomorrow , But he is not. His dad's throat is closing, he is unable to swallow. I made Dan call the Doctor in charge at the Rehab. The nurse wanted to put in a feeding tube, and was forcing Dan to make a decision right there on the spot. and wanted and answer now. Dan called the Doc. and told the Doc just what the living will said, doc's reply was "now that you read that to me, I am not going to put a tube in, it would be against the law". then he explained that Dan's dad's organs were shutting down, his kidneys , his heart, and more. It would be a matter of days before he would go with his "Heavenly Father", they will give him pain meds to help. Ernie is non coherent, Dan has to call his brother and Sister to tell them, Oh, I wish i were there to hold him and look in his eyes, even just to be there, but my place is with my daughter, who is doing better but is unable to walk for more than 1/2 hr at a time nor can she stand for more than 5 min in one place. Sometimes the Lord gives us too much. lately, he has done that to us. I don't know how much more he will be able to take, If only I were there. Miranda's grandfather fell in the bathroom the same day she had her surgury for back fusion and 7 rods implanted. She is so upset, it was her only ' Pappy. She is not well enough to travel up to Maine yet.

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August 14 ,06 We were told that my DH father has a week or less to live, we are leaving for Maine on Wes. the 16th so Miranda can see her grandfather, and be with Dan to help support him in any way we can.

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August 15, 06 We did not make it to Maine yet, scheduled to be there the 16th due to Miranda's Doc to ok her travel and rent a car.
phone call at 7:15 was from DH, who said his dad had passed away during the night sometimes, as they had just found him . Hope he was in peace.May the Lord take possession of his soul.

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