julieandmaddy
I'm still here!
Oct 24, 2012
It has been forever since I have been consistent on here! So, that might have to be a goal. Time flies so quickly...haven't I said that before? My oldest is 18 and in college now. The twins are a couple of hours away living with their mom. They turned 16 in August. Maddy will be 16 in March. And the baby started kindergarten! I am blessed to have 5 pretty awesome kids/stepkids....and I thought with the oldest graduating and moving away, life would slow down a bit, but it only got crazier! I wouldn't have it any other way...I am able to participate with the 2 that are home more now than I ever could have before surgery. I work primarily in Home Health and Hospice now, a job I never expected to grow to love! I took the position because it is a Monday through Friday deal, which allows me to help with all the extracurriculars. Now, nearly 2 years later, I am so lucky to be able to impact peoples lives every day!
I am also really excited to be part of the new bariatrics program at my hospital. Dr. Hornbostel has moved away and the new surgeon started here in July. Our hospital is one of the few in Missouri that had achieved Center of Excellence in Bariatrics, so we are now actively trying to regain that accreditation and Dr. Joseph will start doing Bariatric Surgery soon. We have started information and support group meetings and I love being a part of that! I didn't realize how passionate I have become about long term follow up after surgery! I have managed to maintain my weight...I'm up to 130 now, but my size has stayed the same, and I teeter with about 3 pounds, but overall, I am truly blessed and even with a few malnourishment problems that I created, have been very successful over the long road. I hope this support group takes off like wildfire...I need the accountability!!!
0 comments
I am also really excited to be part of the new bariatrics program at my hospital. Dr. Hornbostel has moved away and the new surgeon started here in July. Our hospital is one of the few in Missouri that had achieved Center of Excellence in Bariatrics, so we are now actively trying to regain that accreditation and Dr. Joseph will start doing Bariatric Surgery soon. We have started information and support group meetings and I love being a part of that! I didn't realize how passionate I have become about long term follow up after surgery! I have managed to maintain my weight...I'm up to 130 now, but my size has stayed the same, and I teeter with about 3 pounds, but overall, I am truly blessed and even with a few malnourishment problems that I created, have been very successful over the long road. I hope this support group takes off like wildfire...I need the accountability!!!
Yep, I'm still here!
Feb 10, 2010
It's been a while since I updated, I can't believe how fast time flies! So, the quick synopsis is this: I am remarried, my oldest step-daughter is 15, the twins (boy/girl) are 13, my oldest daughter will be 13 in a couple of weeks (Note to self: don't plan to have 4 teens at one time--it's enough to drive a sane person crazy! =-) ) The baby is now 3 years old. I am almost finished with my RN through Excelsior College--an absolutely wonderful self-paced program. When I finish that, I will decide whether I'm going to lean towards bariatric counseling or pediatric nursing--both are career choices that I am finding that I love and am good at. Oh, choices! Maybe I'll do both! Anyway, on the weight issues, I am holding steady at about 125. I would really like to lose about 5 pounds, but I have literally NEVER lost weight the healthy way. I just need enough to keep my jeans from being tight, but I didn't realize that this far out of surgery, those old forces would creep back in so easily and try to take over. I have lost about 2 pounds and am very proud to say that I've made a few adjustments, nothing drastic and it seems to be working. SLOWLY. That's the hard part. But it's also the healthy part, so I keep telling myself! Hope all is well on your homefront!
0 comments
Hi all! happy holidays!!
Nov 28, 2008
Well, I have settled in nicely at the hospital ...I am working as an LPN on the Pediatric floor and 2SW. I LOVE it!! I wish I had done it years ago, but as we all know, everything happens for a reason and I don't think it would have meant near as much to me any earlier in my life! So, now, I am a nurse, still a student, I will eventually get my Master's in Nursing Education, but for now, working on my RN, should take about a year. My baby is now 2, and I have an 11 year old, 12 year old twins, and a 14 year old...wow! What a handful! As for surgery, I had bloodwork done recently, and although most of my levels are at least in the low end of normal, my iron and Vitamin D levels are low, and of course the B's, so I am taking some supplements and I'll have them rechecked in a couple of months...I see patients in the hospital a lot with health problems related to a lack of taking vitamins or eating right...just a constant reminder that I am going to keep taking my vitamins and although my diet could be better, it could be a whole lot worse, and I just keep trying to get in my protein first and everything else later. No cardiac work ups for me! And no neurological problems either! Not if I can prevent it, and I can by doing what I'm supposed to do! So, if you are considering surgery, just know that it is not an easy fix, it is a lifelong commitment, and you MUST follow directions or you WILL be sick, unhealthy, unhappy, and possibly die! This is not an option, it is a requirement! Get a good counselor, one with bariatric experience would be great--there are a lot of issues to work through during this process. Get a good vitamin, keep up on your bloodwork, and nip the problems before they get out of hand. Rely on your family and know that they will have to go through a process too while you change. It's not going to effect just you, but everyone around you. (My ex-husband says he does not like who I have become...we were divorced before my surgery, but he doesn't like that I stand up to him now, instead of just giving in to whatever ridiculous demands he is having at the time). But most of all, be happy. Be proud! This is not easy, no matter what you hear, and you can be as successful (or not) as you want to be! Happy Holidays everyone!!
Quick update
Jul 09, 2008
Well, since I haven't been here for quite some time, I'll give you the quick run-down: Had surgery 4-12-05. Started at about 221, got down to 119 by January, 06. Got pregnant in April, had a beautiful baby girl in January 07. Only gained 7 pounds during pregnancy, had no problems but awesome doctors who loved me being their guinnea pig! Continued to lose weight after baby, all the way to 109...giving me a grand total of 112 pounds lost, plus 17 more, presurgery. I am now at a much healthier weight of 120, and have stayed so for about 6 months--the most stable my weight has ever been! I keep up on my lab work, eat lots of protein, keep extra B12 shots coming and so far everything is normal...yeah!!!
About Me
Sedalia, MO
Location
23.6
BMI
Surgery
04/12/2005
Surgery Date
Apr 24, 2004
Member Since
