Lynne K.

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2 years post-op. BP and cholesterol normal. Weight holding at 165, at least 20 pounds lower than I expected/hoped for. Total weight loss is about 180 pounds. Total inches lost overall an amazing 165. I'm half the size I once was. I also seem to have lost 2 inches in height, but then again, I was probably never measured since high school. So I'm only 5'7" tall now. That means my BMI [body mass index] is 26, not 24, but that's still quite respectable. Would I have weight loss surgery again? In a heartbeat!!
 

What saved me at the hospital: heavy duty chapstick, my own sandals, and my own walker. They gave me tooth brush, tooth paste, soap & powder. Didn't need anything else. Leave at home books, magazines, puzzles, etc., cuz by the time you're interested, they send you home!

12/15/01 Came home from hospital on Wens, after 7 days. Fine now. Hardly hurts.

Eating: jello, gelato, applesauce, juice, instant mashed potatoes, cream of wheat

What saved me at home: my recliner. Can't get comfortable in bed.

12/17/01 First post-op doctor's appointment, 4 p.m.; saw Dr. S about 5:00. 20 staples out. Healing nicely. Weight 326.2 == 20 lbs. gone!

Eating: add pasta, soup [without large chunks], cheese, eggs, peanut butter; can also have crackers & cottage cheese & even low-fat milkshakes.

12/25 Dumping! Ate small piece of homemade cheesecake, made with Philadelphia cream cheese, which I've eaten. But -- 2 hours later, I felt just awful. Compounded it by taking large swallow of cold water. Must have been too much sugar. Won't make that mistake again!!

1/7/02 310.7 = 36 pounds gone forever! Dr. Sanderfer says I'm doing great. There are no dietary restrictions now. And I am to begin taking Flintstones complete chewable vitamins.

1/10/02 Friday -- Having trouble swallowing and/or retaining some foods. Can eat cottage cheese, processed cheese, mashed potatoes or peanut butter with no trouble. Ditto crackers with butter or cheese spread. Grapes ok one time, not the next. Ditto fish fillet. Banana slices almost too sweet! I spoke with Susy and she suggested I might be gulping.

1/14/02 Monday afternoon –– Called Susy again. She asked what I'd been eating with no trouble and what made me choke. Then she said, "Oh, no, you can't eat pasta!" Or rice, or bread [unless toasted well], fried foods [unless with Pam, or meat, [all of which I knew except about the pasta]. I said I was in despair because I was getting little protein, so she read me a list of "good" foods to try, including tofu, yoghurt, nuts [almonds, soy nuts], fish [inc. salmon, flounder], crispy or baked potato, peas, broccoli, veggie burgers, beans [pinto, lentil, kidney], and salad with real dressing & croutons. She suggested smaller plates and utensils, eating much slower, chewing well, etc., and she said to try one bite of any new food, then wait at least 20 minutes before eating more.

1/31/02 Thursday, exactly 2 months after surgery and down to 301.2 on Dr. Sanderfer's scale, which means that, without clothes, I'm under 300 for only the second time in the last 20 years. I've also lost 35 inches! Yeah for me. Feeling fine. No restrictions on what I can eat, except what doesn't taste good or won't stay down. Luckily, that's much better. I'm to take B-12 [prescription] capsules and Viactiv soft calcium [yummy]chews.

2/19/02 Tuesday. Just got the results of some of the blood work. My protein is 6.6, completely normal at 3 months post-op. And my cholesterol has dropped 55 points, from 265 to 210, which is still high, but fantastic from my point of view.

3/6/02 -- Wedesday, 13 weeks or 3 months post-op. No problems. Energy level rising. 62 pounds gone forever! Blood pressure lowest it's ever been. I've also lost 54 inches. How can that be? Dr. Sanderfer says not to diet, that no matter how much I eat, only 250-300 calories are actually absorbed. Fantastic.

4/1/02 -- Monday, just past 4 months post-op. 70 pounds and 60 inches gone, tho I wish it was faster. BP is 117/65, which is fantastic for me. Had a plateau for almost a month! Was to see Dr. S last Monday, 3/24, but when I got there, I was told he'd be in surgery for at least 1-1/2 hours, so I declined to wait. So Suzy said she'd work me in on Thursday, 3/29, at 6:30. Arrived at 6:05 to find office locked up tight! When I reached her on Friday morning, Suzy said they didn't have appointments on Thursday! I guess they tried to phone me -- once. Not a happy camper over this mixup, and I'm not going to get in my car today until they verify that he's actually there. Anyway, I feel fine, but want to ask if there is anything I can do to speed up the weight loss. Noooo -- I got to the office about 15 minutes after doctor phoned in that he was too sick to see patients! But I spoke with Deby, his nurse, and she weighed me and went over my lab results, which were normal, including protein levels.

Monday, 4/15/02 -- Wow, 80 pounds gone. Halfway to my goal weight!!

Friday, 4/26/02 -- Official weight at Dr. S's office was 260.9. Clothes weigh 2 lbs! so I weigh 87 lbs less than I did 5 months ago. Also I have recorded 73-1/2 inches gone forever. Clothes falling off. What a fun feeling. No problems. BP remains nice and low. I want to hide when I hear some of the stories from other patients. Doctor says I'm right on goal. I don't even need to come back until 6 weeks this time. More lab tests ordered. Luckily I see my pcp on May 13th.

Thursday, 6/6/02, 6 month anniversary, 95 pounds gone, bp near normal, cholesterol down, lab results normal, clothes falling off. I'm happy!

Tuesday, 7/16/02, visit to primary care physician, who is amazed that I've lost another 30 pounds, for a grand total of 116 since my surgery. He took me completely off blood pressure meds.

Thursday, 7/25/02, down another pound. Dr. Sanderfer says I'm the poster child for good labs for anyone who has lost so much. They have been perfect every time! Total loss to date is 117.5 pounds and 108 inches. BP today 112/67 with no meds.

Thursday, 9/5/02 –– 218.6 at Dr. Sanderfer's office. Of course, I didn't see him, but only his new PA [physician assistant], and only after a 1-1/2 hour drive and a 2 hour wait in the waiting room [which was full]. Frank was friendly and nice, but he didn't know me or I him, nor did he seem especially aware of me, even though he was holding my chart. He asked if I was still taking Aleve or Motrin for pain [which I've never taken; I was taking prednisone, but have been off that for a month now]. He said my labs were wonderful, but those were the same labs Dr. S. read on the last office visit 6 weeks ago on 7/25. Frank asked how much I'd lost, total [it wasn't in the chart, and I guess my weight from the last visit wasn't either], then told me that my weight loss was exactly on target [which I know cuz I got the BMI and Goal Weight chart from obesityhelp.com and I'm exactly where they said I would be]. Frank didn't order any more tests, but did say to let the office know if my "regular" doctor noticed anything. Frank then said to come back in 3 months and, if I was still doing great, they'd probably "cut me loose."

10/5/02, Saturday, 10 months out, 210 lbs as of last Monday, so 136 pounds gone forever. I still need to lose more, but my goal of 185 is reachable. TOPS is helping with weekly support, as is the UCLA support group which meets in Riverside at Carrow's monthly.

12/9/02, Monday –– Appointment at 2:45. Took me exactly one hour to drive to Dr. S's office. Got there early, of course. Listened to some of the other patients tell their [horror] stories. Weighed in at 195.3. So a total weight loss of approx. 155 lbs [and one friend] in one year. BP 115/71 with no meds. And a grand total of 135 inches lost from all body areas, inc. 14" from bust, 14.5" from waist, 19.5" from abdomen, 17.5" from hips, and 5.5" from upper arms [though there’’s plenty of hanging skin now too]. Went from size 4X to women’’s large in tops, and from size 30 tall to size 16 pants!! Best of all, I feel great! Next appointment in 2 months, with new lab results.

05/05/03, Monday - My last post-op appointment with Dr. Sanderfer. He said I was doing great and my results will hold. I could lose another 15-20 pounds if I pursue an Atkins-type high protein diet, but I'm having too much fun experimenting with my diet and lifestyle to worry about it just now. I don't think I will be having plastic surgery because I really don't have huge amounts of hanging skin and I've heard that the surgery is more painful and has a longer recovery time than the original WLS. I'm happy with my 166 pound weight loss, which is exactly on target with the initial projection this site gave me 2 years ago. I sent out photos of my new look to celebrate. Friends and family can hardly believe it's me!!
 

 

Looking through my family photo albums confirms that I've been overweight all my life. I passed 200 pounds in 1961 [age 20] and reached 300 in 1981 [age 40]. This year [age 60] I was over 350, and I knew that I had to take charge something soon, as I've been on disability for two years and am practically a shut in. I want and need to get off the medications I've been taking for high blood pressure and arthritis pain, because the side effects are too hard to live with. And with less weight to support, my knees and feet should feel much better!!


9/18/2001 I talked with my primary care physician [PCP] about bariatric surgery, and he was very supportive. His receptionist, Anne, had the surgery about 2 years ago and looks and feels so much better.

9/25/01 Nurse Cathy, from my medical group, phoned with my authorization number. This is approval #1. But there was a mixup, and she thought I was approved for surgery at UCLA [so far away]. Found out that the medical group had actually approved me for Dr. Terry Sanderfer at Inland Bariatric in Corona.

10/4/01 Made an appointment with Dr. S. for Tuesday, 10/16. So glad he is nearby [Corona is about 15 miles from home] and the surgery will be at Riverside Community Hospital [5 miles from my home].

10/16/01 Initial consult with Dr. Sanderfer. He answered all my questions and made me feel at ease. This will be a Roux-en-Y distal gastric bypass. Weight today 342.9, which is actually about 5 pounds lower than my good scale at home.

10/23/01 Candi phoned with the news that my surgery was approved. This is approval #2. She said I should schedule my pre-op tests through my PCP and medical group, but they won't order them until I have a surgery date. Candi said Debi would contact me to set a date for surgery, but she didn't think it could be before the new year.

11/1/01 After I inundated the office with calls and messages, Debi, Dr. Sanderfer's office manager, finally came on the phone and said she had received my approval [#3] yesterday, 10/31, and she had scheduled my surgery for Thursday, Dec. 6th. Yeah!! She also told me to complete my pre-op tests through my medical group, and she reminded me to cut down the prednisone from 10 mg to 5. But I figure this is a good time to stop altogether, so I will.

11/6/01 Picked up the pre-op test orders from my PCP. The lab took 5 vials of blood at 8:30 a.m. and another one at 4 p.m. I also had an EKG [5 minutes] and chest x-ray [1 deep breath]. And I had a flu shot, which Dr. S. had recommended for me.

11/19/01 Gall bladder ultra sound this a.m. It only took 15 minutes. The tech shared with me that she had bariatric surgery 8 years ago. And she looks great!

11/28/01 Pre-op consult with Dr. Sanderfer was scheduled for 1:15. He was in surgery longer than expected, so I actually saw him at 3:15. Everything is on track. No pre-op diet or fasting or cleansing. Dr. will check for leaks during surgery, so no ucky liquids to drink later either. Just don't eat or drink after midnight of the big day. Weight today 346.4, up 3 pounds. Must be all the food I've been saying "goodbye" to. Also got post-op instructions, which say to eat liquids and not to worry about vitamins for the first few weeks. And Debi gave me an adorable Bari Buddy Bear! But I'm still scared!!

I've made lists and organized my stuff in preparation for my hospital stay and the week after, which I will spend with my daughter. Hope I haven't forgotten anything major. Minor stuff can be bought. Dr. Sanderfer said he will give me food and vitamin info at our first after-op doctor's visit.

12/4/01 Registration at Riverside Community Hospital. This went very quickly. I hadn't even finished filling out the forms before the nurse wanted blood. Then the admissions counselor was ready and very helpful. She told me specifics of my hospital stay and gave me my spyromometer to practice with.

12/6/01 Be at hospital at 9:30. Surgery at 11:30 a.m.

How many times have you noted: "S/he can eat anything and never gain a pound"? It took me 7 years to realize that I can say that now about me! I lost 185 pounds over the first year after my surgery [December 1, 2001], and I’ve maintained that weight loss, even losing another 5 pounds over the past year. I learned a new way of eating -- smaller portions, lots of protein, fresh fruit and vegetables, easy on the goodies. I make much healthier choices today – but I really can eat anything, although I do avoid rice, pasta, and bread in any quantities because they fill me up too fast. Do I dump? Occasionally, usually when I eat too fast or when the portion has too much sugar at one time. The only thing I miss is soda – the carbonization doesn’t agree with me. Am I lucky? You bet! Am I convinced this surgery saved my life? Yes! And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.