ShirleyBb
May 2, 2005
I am 43 years old and have been living life as a fat person way to long! (About the last 33 years) I stopped the endless cycle of yo-yo dieting over 10 years ago saying that if I ever decided to lose weight again it would be something "drastic". Now the time has come, the weight is really starting to slow me down and I don't like it. I am so excited my surgery is scheduled for June 20th and I can't wait.
May 18, 2005
I went to my first support group meeting last week and was amazed by the numbers I was hearing. One after another post-op people got up saying they had lost significant amounts of weight in very short periods of time. Every one of them said they would do it again. This is very encourging and makes me want my surgery date to be sooner. 4-1/2 weeks to go!
June 1, 2005
First catastrophie averted. I got a call last Wednesday that there was blood in my urine sample taken during my testing. During lab work for my PCP in April she diagnosed me with a bladder infection since I had blood in my urine. She had prescribed an antibotic which I had taken exactly as directed. I couldn't believe I still had an infection. Since I had no symptons at all the first time there was no way to know the antibotic didn't work. My surgeon's nurse wanted me to take more of the same antibotic but I said it obviously didn't work. She then told me to contact my PCP to follow up on the condition and report back to them. My PCP definitely thought I had gotten a second bladder infection, that the antibotic she had given me the first time got rid of the infection and that I had just gotten another one. I refused to accept this and didn't want to just take the same antibotic again and have it not work because now we are fast approaching my surgery date and if this is not cleared up I would have to postpone my surgery - this is something I definitely did not want to do. Finally my PCP said she would go ahead and do a culture to see exactly what the bacteria is so she would know exactly what medication to prescribe to get rid of it. Well, she just called and said I do not have any kind of infection. Some people just have blood in their urine. I am so glad I pushed to not accept the simple answer as this would have only delayed my surgery. I would have taken the antibotic again for 7 days and be re-tested and still have the blood. Only 2-1/2 weeks to go!
June 6, 2005
New problem - now I have an eye infection! What's going on??? I am usually healthy all the time. Last night I thought I had something in my left eye so I took out my contacts. It still felt like I had something in my eye so I just wore my glasses. I figured it would be cleared up by morning. I woke up this morning and my eyelid was all swollen and the eye really irritated. I called my eye doctor and was able to get in right away. He said I have a bad infection in both eyes. I have to put antibotic drops in my eyes for 7 days. That's until June 12th. My medical release is scheduled for June 10th with my PCP. Hopefully she can release me even if it is conditional to completeing these drops. I go back to the eye doctor on June 14th so I can get a note from him saying it's all clear before I go to my pre-op appointment on the 15th. Again, I'm nervous about having to postpone my surgery - I don't want to have to do that!!!!!
June 18, 2005
Well eye infection is gone. PCP gave me my medical release. I've had my pre-op appointment, shopped for my cottage cheese and yogurt and I'm ready for surgery! Two more days and I can't wait!
June 23, 2005
Well I'm 3 days post op and I feel amazingly good. No pain really, just soreness. My surgery was Monday, came home Wednesday and today's Thursday. So far I've eaten scrambled egg, cottage cheese, and yogurt. Right now I'm drinking some of my protein supplement. Nothing has tasted bad so far. I'm not hungry at all and I'm not having to hard a time getting my fluids and meals in. This is amazing stuff - just the idea that they can do this to you and you can be up and around in just a couple of days! My surgery was laproscopic so I'm sure there's a big difference if it is open. Now I can't wait until my first follow-up appointment on July 1st to see how much weight I've lost!
July 20, 2005
I'm one month out! And I feel great. The only issue I had was my eyesight. Right after I got home from the hospital, I realized that I couldn't see anything up close. I couldn't read my watch and caller id stuff like that. I called my surgeon to see if maybe it was a reaction to one of the medications. His nurse told me to call the pharmacist so I did. They said they didn't have anything listed for my drugs relating to vision so I called my surgeon back again. The next day his nurse called me back to tell me it was probably due to the change in my blood sugar. (I had just been diagnosed as diabetic in April). When the blood sugar changes it causes a change in the pressure in the eyes affecting the vision. I already had an appointment scheduled to see the eye doctor like 3 days later. When I went in to see him I found out what the problem was. My eyesight had gotten significantly better! I had been in his office right before my surgery and just exactly two weeks later my eyesight improved a lot. My right eye went from a 7 to a 6 and my left eye went from a 9.75 to a 7! As soon as they gave me weaker contact lenses I could see fine!
Well at my first follow-up 10 days after surgery I had lost 13 pounds. At my nutritionist follow-up 24 days after surgery I had lost 20 pounds. I was a little disappointed - I wanted to have lost 25 by this date but I just thrilled it's coming off no matter how fast or slow at this point. I haven't been sick at all. The only "episode" I've had so far was 2 nights ago. I just ate too much. It was horrible. I felt like I wished I would vomit so it would go away. I didn't vomit but did spit into the sink a number of times. I tried to burp in hopes that it would make it feel better but no luck. After about 20 minutes I was fine, but oh boy I don't want to do that again! The nutritionist told me to try anything I like, as long as it fits into the 3 grams of fat and 3 grams of sugar max, and is not over 2 ounces. I have tried whole wheat bread, no problem, whole wheat torillas, no problem, fat free hot dogs with saurerkraut, no problem, boca burgers, a whole burger is too much, hummus, no problem, and light torilla chips, no problem.
I've been exercising everyday - 30 minutes on the treadmill. Right now that's a little over a mile at the speed I'm going. Thinking about joining some type of gym in a few months once the treadmill just doesn't feel like enough.
August 22, 2005
Two months out now! Lost 41 pounds. I seemed to slow down for a while but the last week or two it's coming off faster again. I think I'll definitely hit my 50 pounds in 3 months goal.
So far everything's been great. I haven't gotten sick at all and I've tried ground beef, pizza and pasta. In small quantities of course! I know I've eaten over my 3 grams of fat limit at one meal but I still didn't have any reaction to it. I hope I'm not one of those 20% who don't dump. I think that would not be a good thing as I go along. I'm afraid I might start eating things I shouldn't if it doesn't make me sick.
I've had to buy all new clothes. I'm wearing a size 22 mostly now, (down from a 26/28) I can fit into some 20's and some 18/20's. I'm selling my old clothes on e-bay. (and boy do I have a lot of them) I figured as long as I can make enough money to cover the costs of the clothes I have to buy on the way down I'm good.
On the eye front, I had my laser surgery a little over a week ago. I can't see too great yet but it does seem to be getting better little by little. They said because they made such a large correction on my eyes it takes time for it to really heal and come into perfect focus.
September 27, 2005
I had my 3 month check up last Friday. I have lost 55 pounds so far! It's awesome! Everything looked good with my blood work the Dr. said. The nutritionist said I was eating exactly what I should be - I was concerned I was eating too much!
I joined the YMCA a few weeks ago and have been going 3 times a week after work. I am still doing the treadmill at home for 30 minutes each morning but now I also do the elipical machine, stationary bike and some weight machines too!
I've sold a lot of clothes on e-bay and even have "extra" money (made more than I've spent by far). I'm wearing mostly 20's but I did just buy my first pants suit in a size 18.
My eyes are much better. I can see 20/25. I go back in December for another check-up and they may schedule a revision on one eye which is 20/30. They think they can get it better and then I would see 20/20!
January 16, 2006
Well life is wonderful. I've lost 97 pounds so far and feel great. I'm going to the YMCA 4 days a week and still doing the treadmill at home 6 days a week. I have to buy a treadmill since the friend I borrowed one from wants it back.
I can pretty much eat anything I want as long as I don't eat too much or too fast. I do keep to a very strict sugar free/very low sugar diet. But as far as bread, pasta, meats...etc. I haven't found anything that makes me sick.
I'm down to a size 14 now (misses not womens!!) Even was able to buy 3 tops in size medium (what do the skinny people wear?) Since a 14 was my personal goal when I started I guess I'll have to shoot for maybe a 10 now...that just sounds crazy to me. I wore 18/20's in high school. I don't think I could have worn a 10 in elementary school! Well, I'm certainly not complaining.
My eyes are doing good too. Go for another follow-up later this month.
January 26, 2006
100 pounds gone forever!
February 1, 2006
Under 200 pounds for the first time since high school!!!!!
March 14, 2006
Down 115 pounds - this is amazing!
July 10, 2006
OK - so I've been extremely delinquent in keeping up with my journal! It's been just over a year and I'm down 141 pounds, I've exceeded my doctor's goal and I'm only about 9 pounds from my personal goal. Now I'm seriously looking into my plastic surgery options.
January 18, 2007
Alright so it takes me 6 months to get on here and update anything. Oh well! I'm down 145 pounds, wearing size 8 pants and small or medium tops. It's pretty unbelievable even still now to me. From a 28 pant and 3X top! The journey has really been a very positive one and much easier than I had anticipated.
I'm getting ready to leave for Costa Rica to have plastic surgery with Dr. Macaya on
February 27th. I'm having a tummy tuck, breast lift and arm lift. My mom's going down with me and we're going to tour the country first. My husband will join me about a week after the surgery.
Hopefully it won't take me another 6 months to update this and I'll try to get a new picture on here soon! This one doesn't even look anything like me now!
June 21, 2007
I've been a post op for two years today! I have maintained my weight lost and am still at 158 pounds. I've gone down as low as 151 but it seems to fluctuate daily (if I weight myself everyday) between 153 and 158. I'm definitely eating more like a "regular" person now and am lucky I don't have a problem with too many foods - mainly just sugars and fats. I can eat pasta and breads no problem. I am still an avid label reader and try to keep the calories, fats and sugars as low as possible. I started snacking when I was down to 151 and still losing so I would stop losing. I'm still snacking but as I said the weight is stable. If I see it go beyond the 158 I will immediately go back to the old staples from the beginning. I realize it is all too easy to put this weight back on and I am determined that is not going to happen.
As for the plastic surgery, I had a wonderful experience down in Costa Rica. I actually was lucky enough to even find a local plastic surgeon who was willing to see me if I felt it necessary close to my home. Dr. Macaya was the sweetest, most caring person you could hope for. He is also a very skilled surgeon. I had an extended tummy tuck, breast lift w/augmentation and arm lift all done in the same surgery. I had very little pain and am happy with the results. The care I received at the recovery retreat was also top notch. There was a nurse right there 24 hours a day - she came up every morning to take my temperature and blood pressure, change my bandages and help me shower and dress. Then the night nurse would come up at night and do the same. Dr. Macaya even came to me every evening to check on me! You certainly wouldn't find that in the United States! I did go to the local plastic surgeon when I returned to have some fluid drained off my abdomen. He said he thought Dr. Macaya did a great job.
Anyway, life as a "skinny" person is great. I plan on taking full advantage and doing all the things I couldn't do at 300 pounds - like go to the amusement park and ride the extreme rides - now I can actually fit in them! I'm even wearing a bikini this summer for the first time in my life - who'd of thunk it - at 45 I'm showing my mid-section!
March 12, 2008
OK so I'm getting a little frustrated with myself. I was very happy at 158 then all of a sudden the weight started coming on. I really feel like I was eating and exercising the same way I had for the last year but all of a sudden my body started holding on to the food or something. I not panicing yet but at first I said if I go above 160 I'm going to have to go back to the way I ate right after my surgery. The next thing I knew, literally in about 3 months I had gained another 8 pounds. Now I'm at 172 and it seems to be stable but I want to go back down to the 158. I hope this is possible. I'm going to really start trying again!
Photos
 303 6/20/05 |
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Hospital Reviews
Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: David Spencer, M.D.
Insurer Info:
Anthem Blue Cross, Priority Healthkeepers
