Patricia C.
Yesterday was my seven year anniversary. What a whirlwind the last seven years have been!! It's wonderful. I have been working with wls patients at Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee for just over four years now and am still as excited about others having wls as I was when I had it.
In reflecting back over my journey I need to mention a couple bumps in the road I encountered. When I was 3 ½ years post-op I had an incarcerated hernia and blockage that required surgery to correct. Ten days after that surgery I had an adhesion that blocked my bowels and required another surgery. This ended up with me having to get my nutrition thru a PICC line hooked up to a bag of liquid nutrition. It was a scary time but I was taken great care of and have not encountered that kind of problem again.
Five and a half years post-op I had pancreatitis which caused me not to be able to eat and a surgery to make sure it wasn't anything to do with my gastric bypass. Again I received my nutrition thru a PICC line. This time for nearly 2 months. I had a few spells of being frightened during these problems but things are fine now.
I'm not happy that I experienced either of these bumps but it sure has helped me to understand better when someone else is going thru similar things . I believe it helps others know I went thru this and that things are great now.
I have maintained my weight at 170 pounds fluctuating a bit at times. If I'm up a few pounds, I get a bit more serious til I get back to my allowed weight range.
There are actually times I don't think about having been obese as far as wondering if I'll fit in a booth or going to the plus size clothing. However there are times I slid back into that thought pattern. Now seven years out when I meet people the don't know I have been obese in the past and it's pretty cool to be treated like a 'regular' person.
Something I learned this month that helped me be more accepting of others who treat me better than I was treated as an obese person. Here's what I learned:
I would get angry at the people who would now hurry to open a door for me or stop the car so I could cross the road. I felt that they would not have done that before because it didn't happen before. Now it happens a lot. What's up with that? Well not only am more 'normal' as far as society is concerned but I do carry myself in a different manner. As an obese person my demeanor certainly indicated to others to leave me alone, don't make me stand out in a crowd, don't bring attention to me. Now that I feel better about myself my demeanor does not say those things. I do not flaunt my new size but simply existing and mingling with society put off a different feeling I have of myself. I am giving the vibes that is fine with me if you want to open the door for me. This was a wonderful thing for me to realize, now seven years later.
I hope my experiences help someone else. Would love to hear from you if you have any questions about anything in my profile.
My how time does fly. It's been 2 ½ years since I updated my info here. I am still doing well.
My weight has leveled off between 160 and 170. I feel very healthy here. I am almost 6 years post-op and happy to say I still dump when I try things I shouldn't, I'm happy about that though not at the time it's happening.
Working with so many folks having weight loss surgery and with the surgeons, nurses and staff has been a wonderful experience for me.
I want to encourage all you wls'ers to research for yourself and learn as much as possible to make an educated decision. Do consider staying in contact with a counselor as you go thru this journey and stay a part of your support group. It will help you as you stay on track and you will be helping those getting ready for surgery as well.
3/38/05
Since I last posted I have changed jobs. I am now the Weight Loss Surgery Coordinator for
What a journey this has been. I'm still very glad I made the decision to do this. Now with my job allowing me to have a part in others lives as they take this journey life is even more fulfilling.
I found the maintaining stage to be much more difficult than the losing stage. I lost down to 149 pounds and felt great but after seeing some pictures I decided 149 was much smaller than I wanted to be so I decided to gain 10 pounds. By adding a snack in the morning and afternoon I was able to do that. The only problem was trying to stop at only 10 pounds. I actually gained back about 25 pounds and have not gotten rid of 5 of that. I'm comfortable where I am now. My ability to walk long distances is still great and doing physical activities is not only "doable" but exciting as well.
It's hard to believe over 2 ½ years has passed since I had my weight loss surgery and a year has passed since my tummy tuck. Life is great. I'm so glad I made this decision 3 years ago.
I'm very involved with working with other weight loss surgery patients and I find that work very fulfilling. I lead a pre-op support group meeting and a general support group meeting each month in
Two years ago tomorrow I had my first appointment with Dr. Scott Watson to discuss weight loss surgery. I was very embarrassed to be going to this appointment. I did not tell many people about my interest at that time.
It's now 2 years later and I am 20 months post op. I have lost 125 pounds and have maintained my weight of 150 for 9 months. I had a tummy tuck and butt fixin' 5 weeks ago by Dr. Jim Brantner in
I have done wonderfully with both surgeries and would do either one again in a heart beat. My health has sky rocketed.
A friend and I started a support group in
As I have been losing my weight I have become more interested in my overall health. I noticed my skin was getting dry however and I wanted to do something about that. I have been a protein drinker from day one. About 14 months after surgery I added Juice Plus to my diet. These capsules have given me the fruits and veggies, on a daily basis, that I was not getting while concentrating on getting my protein in. No more dry skin problems since then either.
In conjunction with the Walk for Obesity we are making
One of the best rewards of having my new health and size is being able to go, go, go and do, do, do. I enjoy people and helping whenever I can. During Vacation Bible School this year the 1st graders were hugging me and wrapping their arms all the way around me and they had lots of arm left after reaching all they way. They just kept telling me how they could reach all the way around me. (They couldn't do that before and they remembered). I loved those hugs.
For those of you who are just in the research stage of wls I suggest you research and research some more. You can't know enough. I felt very informed when had my wls and I attribute my great success to being well informed. The only thing I know now that I didn't know then was how important fruits and veggies are to preventing degenerative diseases and our ability to get the required amounts in is very limited. But now I have that taken care of as well.
Please feel free to email me if you'd like to hear more about my journey or if you are interested in our Support Group Meetings in Johnson City, TN.
2/20/03
Thirteen months ago was my life changing wls. I have lost 120 pounds and gained an entirely new life. I reached my 120 pound loss at my one year anniversary. I am now wearing size 10 (some 12's) and I don't want to lose anymore weight so I've increased my food intake. Maintaining my weight has not been any problem. I began carefully introducing more foods after about 8 or 9 months out. If I keep my intake within reason, I don't experience any problems.
I began line dancing at my year anniversary. This is something I could have never done before wls. My activity level has increased four times at least.
Everyone I run into, who has not seen me in a year, has no idea who I am. It's really exciting to experience this. Most people are happy for me. Some either say or indicate that I took the "easy way out" and give me the feeling they don't like that. Oh well, I know this is what God had in store for me.
I will be honest here and say I still have the fear of regaining my weight. I started out weighing everyday (I don't recommend that). Now I weigh weekly. On the occasion I see my weight climbing I get "serious" again and it's much easier for me to get the pound or two back off.
I still say this is one of the best things I've ever done for my health.
If you are reading this and have any questions or just want to talk to a post-op wls'er, please feel free to email me. I WILL answer you. I love sharing my story with wls hopefuls.
Well, it's been 10 months since my wls and I am feeling great. I've been ice skating, roller skating and just plain having fun. I have lost 114 pounds, now weighing 158 and am wearing size 12 clothes. Actually tried on a pair of size 10 pants today and they fit but they were snug.
Our online support group and our local support group are growing by leaps and bounds. We have over 125 people online and about 80 attending the local meeting in
It's unusual being a "normal" sized person and not having folks look at me like I'm the biggest person around. Oh, I am forever having people tell me to stop losing weight cuz I'm plenty small enough. Ha. I really still have about 8 pounds to get to "my" goal but I don't argue with them. I just say "OK".
I'll update more next month.
It has been 8 ½ months since my surgery and I am down 103 pounds. I am so glad I made this decision. I feel so "normal" and I did not even imagine I could feel that way ever again.
Our support group has grown by leaps and bounds. It's so exciting to share this wonderful decision with so many fellow
I am now 7 ½ months out and have lost 98 pounds. Have been on a plateau for about 3 weeks but I can tell my inches are shrinking. My clothes are pretty much a 14/16. Can get in lots of 12/14 tops.
Have been riding my bike now and working in my yard pulling weeds for hours. Never could have done that before.
Another
Tomorrow is my 6 month anniversary and I am down 87 pounds, weighing 185 now. I have gone from a size 26/28 to size 18 and am feeling very good.
I have much more energy and self esteem. I have not encountered any problems other than a little lactose intolerance and I have to stay away from processed sugar but to me that is not a problem. Many folks ask me if I would recommend
I will be 5 months post-op next week and have never regretted my decision to have
I have been concentrating on making wise food decisions during this time so I will be well prepared when my weight loss slows down.
I am almost 3 months out now and doing well. I have departed with 49 pounds and am feeling great. Compared to some of my counterparts I am losing a little slower but that is fine with me because I am losing. My energy level is way high and I can do many thing now I could not do for the past several years.
I cut my grass with a push mower twice this year already. Would not have attempted it before. I am sitting with my legs crossed and loving it.
Every food I have tried has done well with me. I do know when my pouch is full and I have no choice but to quit. I have been learning better eating habits during this past 3 months. Hopefully this will carry over for life.
I am so thankful for
I went back to work yesterday. Everything went real well - I was happy to be back. My energy level is pretty much where it was before surgery.
Many of my "old" clothes that were put way back in the closet because the were too small are fitting now. It's very exciting to get them out and wear them again.
I find myself much more interested in my appearance now. I want to take more time getting ready for work. This is exciting to me because before
I am very thankful for my surgery.
Dr. Scott Watson is wonderful. I was in the hospital from Thursday until Tuesday at
My eating has been great from the beginning. I am doing my 3 oz. per meal 3 times a day along with at least one protein drink and lots of water.
I am 2.5 weeks out today and feeling really good (have shed 20 pounds). I do have some discomfort in my stomach. Dr. Watson explained that there are some stitches inside that will cause that and it may last for a while. Still can't sleep on my sides but it is getting closer.
My new LAP RNY date is
Update on
I am scheduled for LAP RNY on
Photos
 279 lbs. Pre-Op |
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 158 |
Weight Loss Survey Responses
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Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Scott Watson, M.D. F.A.C.S
I have had my surgery now and just wanted to say again that Dr. Scott Watson is wonderful. He is very understanding, personable and competent. I felt that I was being taken great care of and I was never scared or nervous about him doing my surgery. I would recommend him to anyone seeking WLS ======== My first impression of Dr. Scott Watson, Johnson City, TN was an impressive one. He is very confident and has just received training in LAP WLS. I think I was about the 3rd or 4th patient he has dealt with about WLS so things are very new to his office. I am actually the very first patient that received insurance approval. When the office staff called to tell me they had the date and insurance approval I think they were more excited than me. I had to take a psyc. evaluation and a nutritional class. Dr. Watson also had me take a test about the surgery itself, making sure I really understood what I was doing. There is no support group yet as Dr. Watson wants to wait until he has some post-ops to meet with. He said he wants a medical person to be at the support group meetings as well. I like that idea. I have not actually had the surgery yet but so far I am very impressed with Dr. Watson.
Insurer Info:
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Virginia, PPO suitcase
I called my insurance company to see what I needed to do to and they said to be either 100 pounds overweight with a BMI of 35 with co-morbidities or 40 without. My BMI is 46 and they assured me all I needed to do is have my doctor call them with a date for surgery. My doctor called them when they had a date and I was approved while my doctors office waited on the phone. Wonderful insurance company. I would highly recommend BC/BS Trigon with PPO suitcase to everyone.
