Debbie W.
6/9/09 - Went for my check up last week and Dr. Wilson was so impressed with me. They just couldn't believe that I could be 5 years post op and have maintained my same weight for 4 years. They said I was a star role model. That sure does make you proud. I know that I couldn't do it without exercising like I do. I am hoping the results on the blood work are here today or tomorrow so I can see how that is. I am sure if they have concerns they will give me a call. I guess because of my age and the malabsorption of calcium they sent me for a bone density test since I had not had one ever.
6/1/09 - Well I go for my yearly check up on Wednesday....this is 5 years already. I can't believe it. I can't wait to see how all the bloodwork comes out and what Dr. Wilson has to say. This will be my first visit to his new office. I will follow up to the doctor visit later in the week or next week afer I get my results back. I am faithful with taking my vitamins so I should be good.
4/21/09 - I can't believe I let my 5 year Anniversary go by and never put a word in my story. What a great 5 years it has been. Boy do I get to eat my words from my last post. Very strange that I would say something like that and truly always thought it was true that in the local bar there really weren't any guys I would be interested in. Boy was I wrong.....I have been seeing AJ for about a month met him at the bar I didn't think I could ever meet someone. The plus on the entire situation is one of my friends of more the 20 years has known AJ for over 2. That made me feel much better about going out with him. When you haven't had to date in over 15 years it is very strange/scary to start trying.
I have been getting told by so many people that I am losing more weight. My jeans are getting loser but in my mind I really hadn't lost any. I decided to get on the scale yesterday to see if what was being said was true. Apparently dating again is good for weight loss. I have lost 7 pounds since I got back from my cruise on March 12th. I really wasn't trying to lose any more weight but I did want to lose a little so I actually loved how it just came off.
I wasn't sure how I was going to approach the subject of WLS with my new friend and low and behold we were talking one day about eating and something triggered a story about his Mom had Gastric Bypass..perfect opportunity for me to say "me too". He said he sure would not ever have known and told me I was skinny....ha.ha.ha. What is he looking at. I am far from skinny but if he thinks that then great.
Well better get back to work. Will update on the "new friend" when there is more to tell.
3/31/09 - First I should say Happy Birthday to my Step Dad. I can't beleive it has been well over a year since I have written anything. What the heck have I been doing. Well going thru a divorce. I would have never thought it would happen to me but it has. Oh how in the world do you start to date again. I don't even know how to get on the dating scene. I don't want to go places by myself and all my single friends hang out at this local bar but there is really not many opportunities for meeting someone there that I would want to go out with.
12/31/07 - WOW I have been off this profile for a really long time. Well since the last think I submitted was about my new baby I must report that he is doing great. He has adjusted so well with our family.
We just returned from our vacation. We went on a cruise. I have to admit not my favorite cruise but it was still ok. I did learn not to go during December. It was too cold. I like tropical where I can lay out all the time. While on my vacation I did pass out the first night. My husband was standing over me as I woke up. I truly think he that I was dead. I have no idea what would have made me do that so I made an appointment as soon as I got back to town with Dr. Wilson. I just want him to hear what happened and do some blood work. I haven't been feeling weird or anything but you can never be too careful. I will update with those results after my visit on January 22nd.
6/21/07 - We got a new baby last night. I have a friend who works at the Deer Park Animal Shelter. She called us on Monday to let us know that they had a Boston Terrier that had been there to the time limit and would be up for adoption. Well we definitly went to look at him that day and Frank and I both agreed we would take him. He is so cute and so sweet. I can't imagine someone losing their dog and not going to look for him. Any way his name is Clay and he will be going to the Vet the first week in July to get his shots and to see how old the Vet can determine he is. He is so playfull that I think he still has puppy in him.
4/23/07 - Working out has finally paid off....well I knew that all along because of how great I have felt since really becoming dedicated to the gym. On Saturday night several of us that work at Toyota Center went to this local bar for a couple of drinks and one of my fellow co-workers told me that I had a nice rear end and that the jeans I was wearing looked good on me. Wow did that feel great. I just kind of said thank you and didn't really press the issue but I was secretly very happy to hear those words.
4/12/07 - WOW...what a great three years it has been. I just can't beleive I am that far post op. I believe I reached my goal of a size 12 at 1 year. I am so happy to say that I am still in a size 12. My weight flucuates between 190 and 200. I would like to stay on the 190 side but as long as I never get bigger than a 12 I am totally cool with that. I still love working out at the gym. I am about to upgrade to a 24 Hour Fitness Sport which will have some different things for me to do (water aerobics, cycling class, etc.). For now I still work out at least 4 days a week and just try to control my eating and stay away from things I am so suppose to have. I have to admit I have been cheating a bit and sneaking some chocolate here and there. Shame on me but I guess in the old days I would have eaten an entire candy bar but now a bite will do me just fine.
Thats all for now.
2/20/07 - Well yesterday was my first day back to the gym since my Gall Bladder Removal. Man did it feel good. I can't wait to go back again on Thursday. Unfortunately I have to work at my 2nd job on Tuesday and Wednesday but you can bet on Thursday I will be there and then again all next week. Oh and yes I am sore today.
2/19/07 - I had the most wonderful Wow moment this weekend. I went to dinner with a couple of friends and we decided since we were on Westheimer we would go to Sherlock's. I was walking to the ladies room when the guy says in a rather loud voice "Man your hot". I turned around and he was indeed talking to me. He asked me where I was going. I tell you that was wonderful to hear that. I am not sure that I have ever heard those words from a stranger.
2/2/07 - Well this was my first week back to work after having my Gall Bladder removed. When in surgery Dr. Wilson found that I had a hernia as well so he did a repair. I was extremely sore of Tuesday morning when I woke up but it is amazing that every day it progressivly better. I made it thru the entrie week full time hours and I even worked my part time job two nights. Now all I need to do to resume my normal life is to go back to the gym. I see Dr. Wilson on Tuesday, February 6, 2007 and I will find out when it is ok to do aerobics again. I hope he says then is fine however I don't want to rush it. I know my body has just been thru hell.
1/10/07 - I got my results last week from the Hida Scan and it was determined I have a non functioning gall bladder. I am having it removed on January 22nd. Suppose to be outpatient so that is good.
12/22/06 - My Bailey Boy (Boston Terrier) died today. What a Christmas. My husband and I are so sad however we did have him for almost 13 years. We know he is in Doggie Heaven right now. My Baby Girl April (the other Boston Terrier) is zooming all over the house looking for him. I am sure she will get use to it in time and we will get her a playmate soon. We just need some time because we will never be able to replace Bailey. He was a very good companion.
12/18/06 - I had some horrible pains in my abdomen on Saturday, December 9, 2006. I couldn't sleep or get comfortable all night. Woke up the next morning feeling very sore from all the cramping the night before. I rested all day and then tried to go to a family Christmas get together that night. I could only stay for 2 hours because I was miserable. I did call Dr. Wilson's nurse on Sunday and she said I would be sore for a couple of days but if the pain continued then I needed to call back. I couldn't sleep again on Monday night so Tuesday I called back. They squeezed me in for a visit on Tuesday. Dr. Wilson decided to send me for a gall bladder ultrasound and then he would do a scope on my pouch as well. I had the ultrasound on Friday, December 15, 2006 so I am now waiting until tomorrow (Tuesday, December 19th) to get the results. The scope is going to be done on January 4, 2007. I am really hoping they find something with the gall bladder because that will put my mind at ease for the Holidays. Will post again once I get the results.
11/21/06 - I went on a flight this weekend and we flew on a 37 passenger plane. It feels wonderful to be able to fit in that seat and buckle your seat belt and have room between your hips and the arms. I visited with a friend of mine whom I haven't seen in more than 7 years. Her Mom told me I looked younger and prettier than I ever did. WOW what a compliment. I loved it. I don't know if it was because I was from out of town and the regulars at the Bar we went to knew they hadn't seen me before or if I was just actually getting noticed but it sure was nice to have the opposite sex flirt with me. That hasn't happened in a really long time. It really boost your confidence and makes you realize that all your hard work thru WLS has paid off.
Well now I am just waiting for approval. My letter was sent off on January 9th, 2004. I am so anxious, thank goodness I stay busy so that I don't just sit around and wait to hear something. I will be calling the insurance company today to see if they can tell me anything.
3/10/04 - I have a surgery date. It will be April 12, 2004. I am so excited. Of all days to leave your cell phone in the truck I did. My Doctor's office called and left me a message about wanting to move my surgery up. (Why they didn't call my office I have no idea). Needless to say by the time I heard the voicemail and called the Dr's office back they had closed for the day. I called the next morning and unfortunately they had already gotten another patient to move his surgery up. Oh well my thought on that is what ever is suppose to happen is going to happen. Patience is a virtue and when you are going through this waiting process you have to have patience.
Thats all for now. I will update later.
3/24/04 - I had my Pre-Op visit yesterday. I am getting really excited and a little nervous but I know that I have all my AMOS friends praying for me. I have been experimenting with the sugar free foods to determine what I like and don't like. I realize that after surgery my tastebuds will probably change again. I was shocked to see that I had lost 8 pounds since December 30th. All went well with the Pre-Op so everything is a go for April 12th.
3/25/04 - I have an Angel and her name is Stacie Garcia. Stacie and I met when I was working a 2nd job at Avenue. (Avenue is a plus size clothing store for those of you who don't know). She was one of my favorite customers. When I decide to leave she gave me her e-mail address and we have been communicating via e-mail and telephone for over 2 years. I was playing around on the Texas board of OH and saw her name. I immediately had to call and ask her if she was going to have surgery. She is in the approval process right now. Yesterday she sent me an e-mail and asked me if I has an Angel and if I didn't she wanted to be mine. Isn't that the greatest. So needless to say Stacie will keep you all posted on how I am doing after surgery. I thought this was a neat story so I had to share.
3/31/04 - Got a call from Connie at Dr. Wilson's office. My lap work detected a sligh urinary track infection so they are putting me on antiobotics. She said even though it could be symptomless it showed I had a small one. I had no symptoms of any problems but I am glad that they are so thorough.
4/1/04 - Well April is finally here and now the count down is really on. I have 11 days. My friends are starting to call. I really haven't been nervous too much but every now and then I will get this anxiety thing going for just a minute and then it calms down. I am sure by Easter weekend I will get the jitters.
4/9/04 - Well it is Good Friday and surgery is on Monday. I just can't wait. I got an e-card from a friend on my Mothers today and it was so sweet. Todd (the person who sent the card) told he how proud he was of me and how brave and courageous I was for doing this. How great that was to hear someone say that to me. All I want to do is save my life and live a really long time because I am healthy.
I guess this will be the last time I update until after surgery.
5/1/04 - Well I finally decided to get on the computer and give an update. I breezed through the surgery. I just couldn't believe it. I really thought I would be really sore but I only felt like I had been doing a bunch of crunches. I have been so lucky. I have tolorated all foods well. I have not thrown up once since WLS. On 4/18/04 I had my one week post-op appointment. I had to keep asking the nurse is that what the scale says 22 lbs. Yes it is true...I lost 22 lbs. the first week. I think I am down about 30 now. I don't weigh unless I am at Dr. Wilson's office. I go back on May 18th so I will have an update on weight loss then.
5/14/04 - I go to see Dr. Wilson on May 18th and I just can't stand the wait to get on those scales. My clothes are all getting baggy and I am so excited to see how much I have dropped in 5 weeks. As soon as I get back from my appointment I will be posting the results.
5/18/04 - Well I saw Dr. Wilson today for my 5 week follow up. I have lost 33 lbs. I now get to resume my normal life style. I get to move over to solid foods. I can also go back to the gym and I went yesterday. I am hoping to do aerobics soon.
5/24/04 - Today I went for my second visit with Sharon Smalling (the dietician). I have lost 44 pounds since the first time I saw her. She was very impressed with how I was doing and really happy about the foods I was eating. Now I just need to eat one vegetable and one fruit per day.
5/28/04 - I am so excited about the amount of exercise that I am doing. It is all due to having WLS. My knees don't hurt so bad and I have the energy to get up and go work out or walk. On the days that I walk I go for at least 2 miles. On the days that I go to the gym I stay there for about an hour. It feels so good to be doing something good for your body.
6/24/04 - Well I went on Vacation last week. We rode the rapids on the Frio River. It felt so good to be able to sit on the float and not have to have all of my butt dragging the rocks all the time. I can't wait to take that first airplane flight since WLS. I am sure the seat is going to be much more comfortable. I have already undergrown (is that a word) well it is for WLS people all my hand me downs. I really need to start shopping.
6/30/04 - I went for my follow-up with Dr. Wilson yesterday. I have lost 57 pounds. I am so excited. They took my blood so I will get the results in a few days to make sure everything is going good. I feel great so I don't foresee any issues. I am so happy that I like to exercise again. Going to the gym is not a chore any longer. I actually like to go and when I get there I want to stay.
7/1/04 - I went to Avenue to get an outfit. I have nothing to wear so I needed something. I came out of the dressing room and asked this customer if what I had on looked alright together. On my way back to the dressing room she said "I wish I was as SMALL as you". OMG I don't think I have ever heard those words. I have never thought of myself as small but compared to the 306 I weighed on pre-op I guess I do look small. I can't wait to get down to that size 12 goal that I have set for myself and then I really will be small.
7/21/04 - Well I have dropped 65 lbs. Monday was 13 weeks since surgery and 65 lbs gone. I lost 6 last week. I was very excited. I am exercising like crazy and I love it. I still haven't made it to Aerobics class yet but I am going to get there. My Mom told me on Sunday that if she didn't know I had the surgery she would think I was sick. All the co-workers are calling me skinny and sexy. Man does that make you have a big head. I can't wait for the first time I can go out dancing and see what happens. Of course I will only be danching with my hubby because he is #1. Well more to come later.
8/8/04 - I volunteered to be an Angel to Angelina Bonner. Her surgery was on Friday, August 6, 2004. She is doing great and sounded terrific when I spoke with her on Saturday. Being an Angel is fun. It is nice to get to meet a new friend in another city that you can keep up with and keep the message boards posted on their recovery. I wish Angelina all the best now that she is on the losing side.
Also in my last post I stated that I hadn't made it to aerobics class yet but I finally did. It was great. Now I am ready to hit those classes all the time. I am off to they gym in just a little bit. We also went dancing to celebrate my husband's birthday. Boy did it feel great to fit into a size 17/18 Rockie Mountain Jean. I feel like I can dance all around the floor without getting tired and then knees don't hurt anymore. I guess we will go more often. I wish there was a smoke free place we could enjoy.
9/2/04 - Wow it has been almost 1 month since I have updated. I have been really busy with the personal life and haven't exercised the last two weeks like I wanted. I feel like I am gaining weight but I know that I am not. I think I am just addicted to working out and I feel guilty when I don't get to go. I suppose that is a great thing to be addicted to. My friend from work (Reba) had her surgery yesterday. She was a high risk case but being that she and I have such a wonderful and very talented surgeon she came thru just fine. I am glad she is a loser now. I also survived the layoffs at Continental. This is the third time since September 11, 2001 that we have had to let go of our friends/family here at the Airline. That's all for now.
9/14/04 - I went for my third and final visit the the Nutritionist yesterday. I am not getting enough protein. She feels that is the reason my hair if falling off. I thought I was doing ok with the protein intake but I guess I really am not. I have to get down and dirty and count those protein grams. I have to keep my hair. I have lost a total of 85 lbs. Yesterday was also my exact 5 month anniversary. I am very pumped about the weight loss. I also worked out 6 days last week. I love the motivation that this weight loss gives me. You see that scale move down and you just want to work out that much harder.
9/29/04 - Well it is one month from today and I will turn the "BIG 40" or should a say the "little 40" hee...hee. I am so happy. I have lost 87 lbs and I went to treat myself to some new jeans yesterday and I thought what the heck I am going to try on some Cruel Girl. The largest size they come in is a 15. I took them into the dressing room and was able to zip them up. I didn't have to lay down or suck in or anything. Laying down in the dressing room would have been quite hard. I am just thrilled with this tool that I have. I wish everyone reading my profile all the success in the world.
10/6/04 - I had my 6 month follow up with Dr. Wilson yesterday. Can you believe it has been 6 months already. The time just flew by. I have officialy (by Dr.'s scales) lost 87 lbs. When he walked in my room he said hello and walked up and gave me a hug. I love it that he feel so close to his patience. It feels so great to have a surgeon that loves you. He told me I looked great. My BMI is 31.6, and he said you are almost out of the obese catagory. Yea for me!!!. He is thrilled with the amount of exercise I am doing. My labs that were taken on my three month post op were perfect so we took some this time and I am sure they will be perfect again. I stay very faithful to my vitamins. I get colder now than I use to but I don't think it is related to anemia. I am sure it is from losing almost 100 extra lbs of weight.
10/19/04 - Well I went to the gym yesterday and got on the scale. I just had to keep staring to make sure it was correct. I hadn't weighed in two weeks. I have now lost 96 lbs. Only 4 lbs. to go to get to the centry club. I am really excited about that. I might reach 100 lbs. by the time I am 40.
11/5/04 - Well I had my big "40" last week but unfortunately I did not hit the centry club. I am by no means disappointed. I feel blessed that I have had the opportunity to lose 96 lbs. in 6 1/2 months. I am going to get on my first Airplane flight since WLS and I am so excited to see how the seat feels. This is the first time I have ever not worried about having to be the person who gets to sit in the middle. I will update after I return.
11/11/04 - Well I am starting to get a lot of comments from co-workers and friends that I have already lost enough weight. I have that goal to be down to a size 12 and I am currently in a 15. I like what I see when I look in the mirror but I still want to meet that goal.
11/13/04 - I am so happy today was the day I found out that I had officially made it into the century club. It feels so good to loose 100 lbs.
12/14/04 - Wow...I am very excited about my weight. I weighed at the gym yesterday. I hadn't weighed in about 1 month. I have lost a total of 106 lbs. I just can't believe it. I love this tool. I am in size 14 tops and bottoms and I keep trying to shop at Avenue. What is wrong with me? Don't I realize that I don't need to be shopping in that store any longer. Even the Store Manager tells me nothing is going to fit.
Oh my goodness I have always had to shop at the "Plus Size" stores. I really need to go to the mall and spend a day for me in some of those really cool clothing shops. More to come after the Holidays. I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday Season and may God Bless each of you :)
I can't believe it has been a month since I have done any kind of update. I am under the 200 lb mark and that feels great. I really don't remember when the last time I weighed in the 100's. A co-worker pulled me to her desk yesterday to talk about my weight loss. She told me I needed to stop that I looked fine right now. I am in a size 14 and my goal has always been a 12. I want to take what others think into consideration but I still feel the need to get to my goal. I don't want to become too thin so I feel like other people will be a better judge of how I look than I will. I sometime still see myself as a big person even though there is 109 lbs gone. I think I will ask some others what they think about the way I look right now.
2/11/05 Yesterday was my first day back to the gym after suffering last week from Bronchitis. I got to weigh and I am was excited that I am down to 192. This is a total loss of 114 lbs. I also bought my first pair of size 12's. They are Capri's so I am ready for some warm weather so I can wear them. Stay tuned more to come later.
3/29/05 Wow it has been a really long time since I have updated. I am sure that a lot has happend that I should have filled in but I won't be able to remember it now. I promise to try and do better. I went to my Mom's this last weekend and we were talking about what kind of dresses I was going to wear for formal night on our cruise. I told Mom I only had one but needed to get another. She told me come here I might have the perfect dress for you. Well I have never worn anything of my Mothers but I went up stairs with her. Low and behold it fit and it was a size large. Mom said it looked better on me than on her. I just can't believe it I am the same size as my mother. What a great feeling that is.
I go to see Dr. Wilson next Tuesday so I haven't been on the scale for at least 4 weeks. I am waiting to weigh there so I can be excited about the total since that will be my one year follow up. I can't believe how the time flys when you are loosing weight. It is amazing to think it has already been a year. I will post the official weight loss next week.
Stay tuned.
4/7/05 I went for my one year follow up today. The official weight loss was 112 lbs. Dr. Wilson put my original photo up against my face and said look at that. He said I needed a new picture but I think they were short staffed so they didn't take a new one. My B-12 count was low from my 6 month checkup and there was a perscription written out in my file but they never called me to tell me I needed to be taking it. I guess the good news is I have not ever felt like I had no energy. He wrote me a new perscription so I will be getting that filled soon. I have been forgetting to drop it by the drugstore.
I am going on vacation in two weeks so I would like to lose about 5 or 7 lbs. I am cruising so I would like to have a little extra off so that I won't have to worry about it if I over indulge. I guess that will be hard to do with this little bitty tummy but you just never know. I remember my last cruise was when I actually made my mind up to move full force with WLS. I am so happy that I made that decision. I can't wait to go vacationing now.
4/19/05 - I have to share this great weight loss moment. I was working my second job last night and I have become friends with a lot of the security guys that work with me. I was leaving for my break and Chris asked me was I going on my dinner. I said yes but didn't have anything in my had so he asked what was I going to eat. I told him I usually eat a protein bar. Well he doesn't know that I had surgery so to him I just eat that because I want to. He said "Oh is that how you stay so fit and trim". I my goodness all I could do was smile really big. I don't think a male has ever told me I was fit and trim. Boy is that great for your ego.
Leaving for vacation on Sunday and can't wait. We are going on a 8 day cruise. We have 50 people going and a lot of it is my family. I am so excited to be spending quality time with family and friends.
5-31-05 Wow I didn't realize it was so long since I have posted. Well vacation was great. I even lost 4 lbs on a cruise if you can believe that. I did experience some very rough times regarding food while on the ship. Every single time I ate fist I threw it up. I am not sure if it was they way it was cooked or the being at sea and eating or exactly what. I know that I don't want to try fish even at home for a while. I went to the gym while on board the ship. That felt really good to go working out and then go have fun the rest of the day. I tell you taking pictures was so much more fun this cruise than my last one. As a matter of fact I was looking at one of those group shots they take when you get off the ship and I kept saying I thought my Mom was in this picture and low and behold I was looking at my Mother and I thought it was me. That is how much we look alike now.
I am down 120 lbs. so I feel great. I just can't believe what a wonderful tool I have been given.
Well that's all for now.
12/15/05 - I posted about two weeks ago about a severe cramping one day and then breaking out into a rolling sweat the next day. Thanks to my Angel Staci and a friend Debra who have both had WLS they convinced me to call my Surgeon. I did and they wanted to see me but I had to wait a week and a half. Here is the update I posted on OH. I went to see my surgeon today and he said since I haven't had any more cramping or sweating spells there was no need to do a scan at this time. He did tell me that if it happened again I needed to page him and go to the emergency room so that they could do a scan on me right away and check me out.
I also had a WOW moment when I was there. He was looking at my tummy and mashing around for any pain and then he said "have you had any surgery". I haven't so I told him no. He couldn't believe I had not had a TT. He said I didn't have much skin and that it looked great. I had to throw a joke in there and tell him yea I almost have a six pack. We laughed. Anyway what a great compliment to get from your bariatric surgeon. I guess working out does certainly pay off.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday Season.
2/2/06 - I can't believe it has been almost 2 months since I posted something. I went to Austin this last weekend to celebrate one of my friend's 40th Birthday. We went to 6th Street. That was my first time there. (Amazing since I am a native Texan). Anyway we found Coyote Ugly's. I can't believe I got on the bar and danced. Now when I was 300 plus pounds you would have not been able to pay me to get up there. It felt so good to be up there and not have to worry about people making fun of you are heckeling you to get down. I was with a group of 12 girls and all of them have seen me from time to time during my weight loss. One of my friends just kept starring at me and then she grabed my waist and said I can't believe how skinny you are. Skinny....oh my goodness I really didn't ever think I would hear those words. I have some new pictures coming to my profile. Someone at OH is helping me out with posting them. I tried to get some that did show how much I have lost. I really wish I would have been better about the picture taking pre-op and in the interim stage.
2/7/06 - I just had to post how much I love working out. I have been doing aerobics for quite some time and I just recenly started taking a step class. I was afraid to go into this class because I am so uncoordinated. Well I finally did and boy do I love it. I can't go as fast as the instructor but it is ok because she is so good that she gives you different levels to work with. When I come out of the class I am really sweating and call me crazy but I love to sweat. It just makes me feel good. Well that is all for now.
2/24/06 - I was at the gym yesterday and had a great WOW moment. A girl from my aerobics class walked up to me when it was over and told me I was really looking great. Most of these women don't know I had WLS. (I am not keeping it a secret it is just not a subject that came up). I was so excited when she told me that. It is nice that someone notices your accomplishments. I suppose I am toning and firming up and the muscles are starting to become defined. I love that.
