STEPHANIE B.
OCTOBER 18,2000......
WOW WHERE DO I START,OVER THE LAST 18 YEARS I HAVE FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF THE BULDGE, I'VE DONE ALL THE DIETS, FROM PILLS, TO NUTRITIONISTS. OH SURE I CAN'T SAY SOME OF IT DIDN'T HELP, BUT IT NEVER WORKED FOR LONG, I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME LOSING AND GAINING, I HAVE TO SAY THAT MY GAINS HAVE FAR EXCEEDED ANY LOSS.
I'M A 35 YEAR OLD MOTHER OF 3 WONDERFUL KIDS, FROM 10-17 YEARS OLD. AND I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE A MOM, BUT IF I DON'T GET A HOLD ON MY WEIGHT PROBLEM I MAY NOT HAVE AS MANY YEARS TO DO THAT AS I WOULD PREFER.
I'M 5'8 AND WEIGH 363, I HAVE HYPERTENSION, EDIMA, GERD, AND ALTHOUGH I DON'T SEE IT MENTIONED OFTEN, AN INCONTINENCE PROBLEM. MY JOINTS ACHE FROM ALL THE WEIGHT, AND I CAN'T DO MUCH OF ANYTHING WITHOUT HURTING.
I WANT SO MUCH TO LOOK AT MYSELF AND NOT FEEL DISGUST AT WHAT I HAVE BECOME. I WANT TO GO TO THE MOVIES AND FIT INTO THE SEATS, WHICH ISN'T POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW, I WOULD LOVE TO FLY WITHOUT ANY RESERVATION MY LAST FLIGHT WAS BAD, AND UNTIL I LOSE SOME WEIGHT I WILL NOT FLY.
I HAVE RESEARCHED AND READ MOST OF EVERY PROFILE HERE, AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS AND WILL BE MY FINAL ALTERNATIVE TO HELPING ME OVERCOME OBESITY ONCE AND FOR ALL. I AM IN THE FIRST STAGES OF GETTING REFERRALS, AND AS I PROGRESS I WILL KEEP MY PROFILE UP TO DATE.
I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERYONE FOR THE INSPIRATION IN THEIR WORDS ON THIS SIGHT, I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS BATTLE, THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE LIKE ME, WHO HAVE YET TO BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY AND I WISH EVERYONE SUCCESS WITH ALL MY HEART.
NOVEMVER 21, 2000....
WELL AFTER VISITING MY DR THAT I HAVE HAD FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HER BELIEVEING THIS WAS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW LIFE I WAS DENIED HER REFERREL BECAUSE OF MY INSURANCE, BECAUSE SHE IS IN A DIFFERENT STATE...OK...SO WE'LL VISIT ANOTHER DR. WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID.....HAD A PHYSICAL AND AGAIN WAS DENIED THE REFERREL....WHY? SHE FELT MY BLOOD PRESSURE WAS TOO HIGH FOR THE RISK...HMM....COME BACK IN 2 WEEKS AND I'LL GIVE YOU THE REFERREL IF IT HAS GONE DOWN....WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY I LEFT THE OFFICE IN TEARS....ALL I WANTED WAS THE REFERREL TO SEE THE SURGEON...ISN'T HE THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY DECIDES IF THE SURGERY WILL BE PERFORMED? WELL IT SEEMS IF I CANNOT GET MY REFERREL.NEXT WEEK I WILL BE LOOKING FOR A NEW DR WHO CAN HELP ME...I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A HURRY UP AND WAIT THING, MAKING ME CRAZY...ALL I WANT IS TO BE HEALTHY AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF, BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAVE FELT THAT WAY.
DECEMBER 8, 2000
WELL I GOT MY REFEREL AND MY APPOINTMENT TO SEE THE SURGEON JANUARY 8, 2001, AM GETTING ANXIOUS, HOPEFULLY THIS WILL FINALLY BE THE YEAR I CAN KEEP MY RESOLUTION OF WEIGHT LOSS....YIPPEEEEEE...WILL UPDATE AFTER FIRST CONSULT.
FEBRUARY 5,2001
IT HAS BEEN AWHILE SINCE I HAVE UPDATED, MY APPOINTMENT ENDED UP BEING TODAY WITH DR. SAX. HE IS A VERY CARING AND PROFESSIONAL MAN, MADE ME FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE, ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS AND I AM SO RELIEVED, WAS A NERVOUS WRECK WHEN I GOT THERE..LOL....ANYWAY MY PHYSC EVAIL AND SECOND APPOINTMENT WITH DR SAX IS ON MARCH 26,2001, IT SEEMS LIKE A LIFE TIME AWAY BUT I KNOW IT WILL GO FAST...WILL UPDATE AFTER MY SECOND APPOINTMENT...I'LL HAVE A DATE THEN!!!! WOOOHOOOOO...
MARCH 20,2001
WELL, THE DR'S OFFICE CALLED, CANCELLED MY APPT WITH DR SAX, HE WILL BE OUT OF THE COUNTRY ON THE 26TH...HMMM...BUT I AM KEEPING MY EVAIL APPT ANYWAY, THAT APPT IS WHY IT TOOK SO LONG TO GET IN FOR MY SECOND APPT WITH DR SAX, SO I WOULDN'T RESCHEDULE...I AM APPROX 3HOURS FROM ROCHESTER SO THEY WANTED EVERYTHING IN ONE DAY...THAT'S OK...I'LL MAKE THAT SECOND TRIP ON APRIL 2 FOR DR SAX, HAVE MY SURGERY DATE AND BEGIN MY NEW JOURNEY...WILL UPDATE AFTER SEEING DR SAX....
MARCH 27,2001
I HAD MY APPOINTMENT WITH THE PHYSC.HE WAS A NICE GUY. VERY VERY THOROUGH WITH ME, LOTS OF QUESTIONS SOME I WAS NOT EXPECTING, WAS REAL NERVOUS BUT HE GAVE ME A THUMBS UP AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS....ON TO DR. SAX NEXT WEEK..I AM ALMOST THERE, AND SOON I WILL HAVE A BRAND NEW BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!
APRIL 4,2001
OK, HERE I AM AGAIN...MY APPOINTMENT WENT GREAT, DR.SAX WENT OVER EVERYTHING AGAIN WITH ME AND NOW I AM WAITING FOR A CALL TO TELL ME MY DATES...ONE FOR PREOPS AND THEN ON TO SURGERY!!!! YEEEEAAAAAAAA......SO THE NEXT TIME I COME IN HERE TO UPDATE I WILL BE POSTING MY DATE FOR SURGERY,I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE IT...
APRIL 9,2001
WELL, CALLED THE DR OFFICE AND I HAVE A DATE!!!!!!!! JULY 3, 2001, SEEMS LIKE FOREVER BEFORE THAT TIME WILL COME BUT I'M READY AND THANK GOD, I TOO, SOON WILL HAVE A NEW BEGINNING!! THANK-YOU TO EVERYONE HERE, YOUR WORDS OF INSPIRATION, AND TO MY GOOD FRIENDS LAURA AND MOE WHO ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE SURGERY, THANKS FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, YOU ARE WONDERFUL BLESSINGS
IN MY LIFE. I WILL POST MORE AS TIME GOES ON, AND CONTINUE MY DAILY JOURNEY THOROUGH WLS, READING AND TALKING IN CHAT!!
APRIL 13,2001,
80 DAYS TIL SURGERY, FEEL LIKE I WILL GO OUT OF MY MIND WAITING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, WOULD LOVE THE PHONE TO RING AND SAY "HEY STEPH, HOW DOES APRIL-MAY SOUND?" UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA HAPPEN. I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO BE PATIENT, UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS NOT ONE OF MY STRONGER VIRTUES, HEY...I AM WOMAN AND WE ALL KNOW THAT WE WANT IT NOW...NOT LATER...LOL..OH WELL.
APRIL 26,2001
WELL IT'S 68 DAYS TO GO...AND LEARNING MORE AND MORE EVERYDAY,I AM SO EXCITED AND NERVOUS ALL AT THE SAME TIME...AM LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ON THE OTHER SIDE.
MAY 5,2001
WELL 58 DAYS TO GO, AND I HAVE A NUTRITIONIST APPOINTMENT ON THE 14TH OF MAY. NOT SURE WHAT I WILL DO THERE BUT WILL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH. I STILL HAVE TO SCHEDULE MY PRE-OPS AND TRY TO GET IN A COUPLE MEETINGS BEFORE MY BIG DAY!!
MAY 29,2001
WELL IT'S GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER, ONLY 35 DAYS TO GO BEFORE I BEGIN MY JOURNEY, I HAVE GOTTEN OVER THE NERVOUS AND NOW AM ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR MY TURN TO START A NEW LIFE.
July 3,2001
Im posting for Stephanie as she went in today for her surgery. I spoke briefly with her on the phone tonight and she seems to be doing fine other than feeling pretty uncomfortable. She went in this morning expecting to have and open done and ended up having the lap, and in the end an open?? She was a little to out of it to explain just what that meant. I didnt get to speak with her for long as she was very tired, sore and still quite medicated..lol. CONGRATULATIONS!!! Stephanie you are now on the other side!! I wish you the best!! ~Moe~
July 10, 2001
Moe again posting for Steph. Steph seems to have taken a turn for the worse and is still in the hospital. I wont get into details but, her surgery was not a sucessful one and shes got some major problems right now and she could really use some prayers from everyone. ~Saying a prayer for you right now Steph in hopes that you pull through this~
NOVEMBER 13,2001
WELL HERE I AM WHAT A JOURNEY THIS HAS BEEN, I CAN'T TELL YOU I AM HAPPY I HAVE HAD THE SURGERY, AT LEAST NOT YET, I HAD MANY PROBLEMS, ONE SURGERY TURNED INTO TWO AND 40 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL MOST OF WHICH WAS SPENT IN ICU. MY SURGERY WENT WELL ON THE 3RD OF JULY BUT ON THE 8TH THINGS GOT BAD, I ENDED UP WITH A LEAK WHICH MEANT I HAD TO BE OPENED UP AGAIN AND CLEANED OUT FROM ALL THE INFECTION..LEFT WITH A WOUND YOU COULD HIDE A SHIP IN, I WAS NOT A HAPPY CAMPER...I DON'T REMEMBER A LOT OF MY HOSPITAL STAY AS I WAS SO OUT OF IT MOST OF THE TIME. I DO KNOW UNTIL ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I HAVE BEEN VERY SICK, NAUSEA, WEAKNESS, AND THE INABILITY TO KEEP ANYTHING SUBSTANTIAL IN MY BELLY. I AM FEELING BETTER THESE DAYS, MY STRENGTH ISN'T UP TO PAR AND I STILL NEED HELP TO GET OUT OF A CHAIR OR UP STAIRS, ECT... I IMAGINE IT WILL TAKE ME AWHILE TO REGAIN MY STRENGTH... I HAVE LOST A TOTAL OF 73 LBS THUS FAR, AM THRILLED ABOUT THAT AS I HAVE A NECK NOW, BUT IT HAS BEEN A LONG HARD RIDE TO GET HERE.
PLEASE FOR ANYONE CONSIDERING THIS SURGERY, MAKE SURE YOU ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF THE RISKS, YOU HEAR SO MANY GOOD THINGS, IT MAKES YOU FORGET ABOUT THE BAD, I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THINGS CAN BE VERY BAD, IT ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE AND I THANK GOD THAT I AM STILL HERE.
IF ANYONE WANTS TO E-MAIL ME, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ..I HAVE RELOCATED TO TEXAS, OUTSIDE OF FORTWORTH AND I AM ALSO LOOKING FOR SUPPORT GROUP(S) IN THE AREA....GIMME A HOLLAR
DECEMBER 29,2001
WELL THIS YEAR IS ABOUT OVER...THANK GOODNESS!!...I AM DOWN 80 LBS AS OF NOW AND ALMOST 6 MONTHS OUT...THINGS HAVE SLOWED DOWN QUITE A LOT. I AM STILL RECOVERING YOU MIGHT SAY, AS THE OPEN WOUND IS STILL NOT COMPLETELY HEALED, ALMOST THERE, STILL NOT A LOT OF STRENGTH BUT I HAVE STARTED WALKING A LITTLE MORE AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HELP ....I NEED TO DRINK MORE WATER...MY HAIR FALLS OUT IN ABUNDANCE..I'M SURPRISED I HAVE ANY LEFT TO BE HONEST.....I CAN EAT ANYTHING....AND THAT IS A BAD THING..BECAUSE I DO....NOT LIKE BEFORE THOUGH A COUPLE CHIPS AND I'M DONE....I GET SICK WHEN I OVER-EAT...BAD THING....STILL LEARNING...DRINKING AND EATING TOGETHER...THAT'S A BAD THING FOR SURE, JUST NOT ENOUGH ROOM IN THERE ANYMORE FOR BOTH!!....LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE WEIGHTLOSS AND HOPE TO WEAR A BATHING SUIT THIS SUMMER AND NOT FEEL TOO BAD ABOUT IT...LOL....THAT'S ALL FOR NOW.....HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!
MAY 7,2002
WELL IT'S BEEN FOREVER IT SEEMS SINCE I HAVE UPDATED THIS PROFILE, I AM -107 LBS TAKING ME TO 237, NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EVER SEE THAT DAY AGAIN...I HAVE STARTED WORKING AGAIN AND IT FEELS SO GOOD TO HAVE THAT INDEPENDENCE, NOT AFRAID TO GO INTO PUBLIC ANYMORE, AND I FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF FOR THE MOST PART, I HAVE A FEW PROBLEM AREAS I NEED TO WORK ON, LIKE MY STOMACH, AND ARMS, AND I THINK SOMETIMES I WILL FLY AWAY ANY MOMENT IF I WAVE TOO FAST, BUT I AM MOBIL AND CONTENT. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HITTING 200 LBS AND I THINK IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME FOR THAT TO HAPPEN BUT I THINK WITH WORKING AND GETTING OUT MORE THESE DAYS IT WILL COME OFF MORE QUICKLY. MY HAIR HAS STARTED REGROWTH, THAT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER I THOUGHT FOR SURE I WOULD GO BALD, BUT IT HAS REGAINED IT'S HEALTH AND IS NOT LOOKING TOO BAD THESE DAYS.
I HOPE THAT EVERYONE OUT THERE CONSIDERING THIS SURGERY TAKES PLENTY OF TIME TO READ THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THIS SURGERY, ASK YOURSELF IF YOU ARE READY TO DIE, THIS IS A SERIOUS THING, NOTHING TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. IT'S NOT A QUICK FIX, AND SOMETIMES EVERYTHING DOESN'T GO AS PLANNED, I WILL NEVER AGAIN RECCOMEND THIS SURGERY TO ANYONE IT ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE AND NO AMOUNT OF WEIGHT LOSS IS WORTH IT. I HAVE 3 BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN AND I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT GOD GAVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE TO LIVE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THEIR LIFE WITHOUT MOM WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE, ALL I KNOW IS THAT WITHOUT THEM, MY LIFE WOULD BE NOTHING. SO PLEASE, PLEASE, BE SURE OF YOUR DECISION AND KNOW YOUR RISKS, AND BELIEVE WHOLE HEARTIDLY THAT THE RISKS INVOLVED MAY BE ONES YOU WILL FACE. BLESSINGS TO ALL.
JUNE 25,2002
HELLO ALL JUST A QUICK UPDATE, IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR AND I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT I HAVE LOST 122 LBS SO FAR, SEEMS LIKE A LIFETIME AGO SINCE MY SURGERY...I STILL HAVE MY MOMENTS OF SICKNESS BUT THEY ARE FAR AND FEW BETWEEN ANYMORE, STILL HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THE DRINKING WHILE EATING THING BUT IT'S GETTING BETTER. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WILL BRING, I AM HOPING TO LOSE ANOTHER 40 POUNDS AND I WILL BE COMPLETELY CONTENT WITH MY WEIGHT THEN, EVERYONE SAYS BECAUSE I AM SO TALL IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE I WEIGH AS MUCH AS I DO, BUT I STILL SEE IT AND NOT ALWAYS LIKING WHAT I SEE, I REMIND MYSELF WITH PICTURES OF BEFORE AND I DEFINATELY LIKE MYSELF MUCH BETTER NOW....I GUESS THAT'S ALL FOR NOW GOING TO THE BEACH WITH MY KIDS....WOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE, I WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE THAT LAST YEAR...SO EVERYONE TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU!!
AUGUST 4, 2003
199 POUNDS OMY GOSH I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT SINCE HMMMMMMMMMM...I CAN'T REMEMBER! WHAT A WONDERFUL THING...I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD EVER MAKE IT ACTUALLY I WAS STUCK FOR SOOOOOOO LONG I FIGURED I SHOULD JUST BE HAPPY AND MAINTAIN, BUT NOW, I WANT TO LOSE ANOTHER 12 AND ANOTHER 12....THEN I WILL BE COMPLETELY CONTENT AND I KNOW IT WILL NOT COME EASY BUT WHO EVER SAID IT WOULD BE FROM THE BEGINNING!!! CONGRATS TO ALL YOU LOSERS AND BEST WISHES TO THOSE OF YOU BEGINING YOU JOURNEY!!
About Me
Before & After
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