Darlene E.
July 2, 2003
Today I Went to Dr. Freeman's Office for my consultation visit. I was very impressed with this group of very nice people.
Hi I want to tell you a little about me. First I am 41 Years old and married to my best Friend for almost 26 years. (Yes, if you do the math I got married when I was 16) We were High School Sweethearts. Awww.. Ain’t that Sweet! Anyway, We have 1 adult son, (another love of my life). He is married for 2 years and has a wonderful gorgeous wife (she’s perfect). They have 2 beautiful little girls Macy is 4 and Alexus is 1. And Yipee!! That makes me NANA!! Being Nana is just so wonderful and such an incredible blessing. I don’t want to miss a minute of these precious little girls lives. But in being so much out of shape due to the excess weight I have to Sit Out if a lot of the fun things to share with my family.
How did I get this big? Boy, It can really creep up on you can’t it. One thing I think about myself is I am a nurturer I try and make the whole world happy. Anyway, I have always put others before me as being important to the point of not taking proper care of myself. My husband has always driven a truck for a living and that is a super lonely life for both of us. I started seeing a problem when I went through the “Empty Nest” thing when my son went to college. Now the bigger I get the more my joints and body hurts and aches.
I was not a heavy child or teen, so I know what it feels like to be thin. I have tried all sorts of gadgets and devices to try and lose weight since the seventies. I have about everything Richard Simmons has put out. (He just seems so sincere) I’ve bought the infomercial stuff - videos, subliminal tapes, gadgets, etc. I’ve seen the Diet Doctors- Taken diet pills. Exercise classes, exercise equipment you name it. They all worked for a while then it comes back plus some.
My reasons for wanting to do this is this time not the vanity thing, it has to do with living the rest of my life in a healthy way. I want to grow old with my wonderful husband . I want to be able to enjoy my little Granddaughters for the blessings that they are. I want to be able to play with them and do things with them not just sit by and watch them play.
August 9, 2003
Well, It is only 10 days till my surgery!!! Yikes! I'm very excited but also very nervous and scared!!! And to top it all off I Visited the Memorial site last night!! I sure want to survive this and be healthy. One of the memorials said that the person didn't get enough protien and messed her liver up. How will I know when I've gotten enough??? How much Gram wise is enough? HELP!! I am a very positive person and if someone tells me how much I need I will surely try to get it in...
Ya'll keep me in you Prayers....
August 15, 2003
OK, I had all my Pre-op stuff done yesterday. Now I feel lots better about all of this and I am very excited...
It was a really long day but we had alot of fun in the conference room just meeting the others who were having surgery next week.
Only 4 more days!!! Yahooooo!!
My family and friends are being so good to me wishing me well and getting me little gifts......
My Cousin Denise got me a full-length mirror (something I didn't own) so I can watch me melt away!!! She also got me this little mini water cooler that looks just like a big office cooler and it holds 8- 8oz. glasses of water. So I'll get all my water in each day. I am a Nail Tech and all of my clients are just like family and have been just wonderful about my time off and everything.
I really appreciate all the well wishes everyone on this website have been sending me, Thanks and keep me in your prayers!
August 16,2003
Only 3 More Days!!! =0D Yipee!! Today is my Last day to eat before going on all liquids before surgery..... What to eat , What to eat...... LOL
August 18, 2003
Well, tomorrow's the big day!! I'm very excited, but very hungry also this liquids for 2 days prior is rough. It seemed like all day yesterday everyone had food or was talking about it.
I went to see my Granddaughters for a little while that helped alot. ( They Are just So Sweet!) I don't want to miss a minute of them! I have been getting lot's of phone calls from well wishers. That's nice of them..
Just had my nice green bottle of Magnesium Citrate (YUCK) Wretched a couple of times but got it down....
Well, Gotta Run... Literally.... If I don't add more today... see ya on the other side!!!
I'll post again soon as I'm home....
August 24, 2003
I Made it!!! I'm officially POST-OP now!!
Everything went Text book so The Dr.s Said. Yipee!
I Get My Drains out Tomorrow morning.... I will post more later tomorrow.... Kinda Tired still yet...Thanks for all the Prayers and comments!!
January 19 2004
Uh Oh! It has sure been awhile since I have updated.... Sorry... I'm just feeling so much better and having such fun. I do read this site about every day but I just don't stay long enough to update. I'll try to do better. I know how much reading all these profiles have helped me! I am 5 months post op today. I have lost about 73 pounds. I feel sooooo much better. This is just so facinating to get rid of your clothes because you know you won't ever be that BIG again.And Boy is my hair falling out! (That's Kinda Scarey) thanks goodness mine was already very thick to begin with... Wonder how long this will last? I have only thrown up twice and frothed a couple of times also. I have not dumped as of yet because I refuse to try and see if I can handle sugar. I don't like to be sick!!! Ok I have updated some I will update more later...
February 25 2004
Hi, Well I made it half a year!!! I went for my 6 months Check up and Dr. Freeman said everthing was just great. I've lost 78 pounds. Thank You Lord!
I also got a copy of all the pictures that they take of you when you go in for a visit.I always knew I wore my clothes big to "Hide" in them but I never realized how much I was Hiding in them until I saw the pictures. And the thing I am really struggling with is buying the correct size in a blouse because in my little mind I am not supposed to be able to buy anything but 2-3or 4x tops and it feels really weird to buy a 1X or an XL and it actually fit. It has just been so many years that those sizes just haven't been a choice.
I feel great and I don't throw up any. My hair is comming back in very fast now and that is good.
March 18, 2004
Hi All!!!
I'm still doing good! I'm really glad I had this surgery I feel so much better even if I didn't lose another pound.(of course I know I will) Tomorrow is 7 months since I had my surgery, I have lost 88 pounds! Yipee! I can wear some size 18 pants (Do you have any Idea how long it has been since I could say that?) YEARS!
June 29, 2004
Oops!! It has sure been awhile since I have updated.... Sorry! But I do Check everyone elses updates Every day. I love this site and also the message board...
Well, I really need to send in some new pictures as people around town are really commenting on how much different I look now. My husband says I have taken 20 years of my looks! I have lost about 110 pounds I can wear anything from a size 14 (stretch) in pants up to an 18 not stretch... and that is just too cool!! I just went below 200 for the first time yesterday!!!!! WooHoo!!! That was sure a long time comming!!
I am really amazed at the ammount of energy I have now!!! But I still have a day every now and then when I feel draggy and low energy... But they use to come along every day when I was Super Morbidly Obese... I did my BMI today and I am at 34.9 down from like a 52 or something!!!
Last Thursday I took my Grandaughter Macy to Six Flags Over Georgia and We had ball!! She's a little daredevil!! She would ride anything they would let her on!
I didn't get stared at, I was just one of the crowd!! I fit into the rides and that was great!! I felt like a teenager agian for the first time in years!!
If I could have seen Dr. Freeman that day I would have given him a big ole hug for giving me my life back!! I truly thank God for Dr. Freeman and this life Saving surgery!
Would I do it again?? You Bet!! I am sooo happy now. I'm not embarrased to go to restruants and out in public places now and that's cool too. I'm not really happy about the excess skin I have now but I plan on taking care of that when the time comes... I hope and pray that I can get insurance approval for the excess sikn removal.
Oh Yeah!! Another thing the other day My dear Husband bought me 2 Dozen Roses just because!! I has been years since I have gotten roses from him! He said he was proud of me and appreciates all that I do to take care of him and our Grandbabies and family. Wasn't that sweet! He's Great!