MAY ROLL CALL

Well, another month has dawned and it is once again time to simply check in! Again, post as much or as little info as you care to post. Hopefully everyone will check in so the rest of us will know you are doing alright and/or are around, even if you are more comfortable lurking most of the time. A great big "Welcome" to all the wonderful new posters. It is great to have you here! Truly this is a great board, everyone is so very caring and helpful. To all the new post-ops ... CONGRATS!!! Truly, this surgery has been a life saving, life altering, a life giving blessing for me. Hang on though, it can be somewhat of a wild ride, at least at first. So many ups and downs ... just make sure you keep your mind focused on the true prize of this surgery ... a better quality of life, thus allowing us to do and be what we were truly meant to do and be. I know that personally when I was pre-op I had things that I wanted to do that I was unable to do, either because of my insecurities as an overweight person, or simply because of the physical limitations of my weight. Guys, this does change ... and it is so very cool when it starts to happen to you!!! And then each and every time something new comes up and you can face it and conquer it ... WOW!!! It truly is a whole new life full of wonder! So, whether you are pre-op or post-op ... continue to continue jumping those hurdles. Sooner or later we will all meet our goals. Some of us a little slower than others, but the good thing is, it is not a race and we all have the group here to help lift us and sometimes even help to carry us to ensure that we too can cross that finish line. BUT the support doesn't even end there ... nope, they still continue to watch over offering support and help, even after goal has been attained. As we all know, that just because our scale reads that magical number, the hurdles do not stop. Life has hurdles, but together we can jump them all!!! And when you have a little less weight, it is so much easier to jump a little higher each time we try to clear one. Perhaps soon enough, we will all enter into the WLS Olympics and each carry home our own personal Gold Medal!!! I truly am amazed and blessed every time I am able to hop on the computer and slip in here to read up on all of you. WONDERFUL, wonderful support people here. Wonderfully encouraging pictures, and journals. Where else can you get this kind of great support and encouragment? We are all so very blessed! Warm hugs and many, many "thank yous" go out to you all ... you guys really do rock!!! I wish each and everyone of you the absolute best in this coming month!!! Hugs!

I wanted to extend a big thank you to all who offered such care, support and prayers for my mom's emergency. Your warm words and support meant so very much to me. THANK YOU from the very bottom of my heart! Update: Mom was released from the hospital even though her BP was still too high running about 190/180 give or take a little bit. Her pulse was still racing, she still was nauseous, dizzy, blurred vision, hot flashes, ringing wet sweats, cold clammy skin ... When I walked into her room, I hardly recognized her, she was so bloated. I am beside myself that they would allow her to be released under those cir****tances (really makes me appreciate our docs here even more than I already did) At any rate, they think she may be dealing with Renal Failure and are sending her as an outpatient for testing to let them know. She spent several days in the hospital, and her personal physician did not come in to see her even one time. Guys, we are so blessed to have caring docs here!!! I was concerned that she had a heart attack, but they were unable to verify ... found out right before they released her that they had the monitor hooked up incorrectly. But they went ahead and released her without an accurate reading. She has already had one stroke, and is very blessed not to have had another one with her BP so very high. They docs there did give her BP meds and her BP is coming down at home. I am trying to talk her into going to a new doc, and a new hospital. No need for you all to respond to this post .. what is there to say anyway??? I simply posted to give you an update and to help you better understand how very blessed we are to have the doc that we have. As for me personally, this has been another wild month ... but the bumps and hills are getting easier and easier to jump. Even with mom in the hospital ... this surgery was shown to be such a huge blessing ... I had to run to and from the car (kept the cooler in there) so many times and I had the energy to do it with a bounce in my step. I had the energy to endure the stress at the hospital. Pre-Op, I would have never dreamed of making trips out to the far end of the parking lot on purpose!!! I would have avoided it at all costs, circiling for hours if need be to get a closer parking space .. and would have never, ever made a trip back out to the car unless it was a matter of life and death or going home to my bed. I have entered the fine category of overweight ... out of the obese category now. That was a real shocker to me. I am wearing 16 jeans now (some are pretty tight, but hey, I am in). I find myself looking for ways to spend more time outdoors ... and have taken on the choir of the lawn and find it enjoyable. Here I was clearing/cleaning up all the downed sticks and limbs from the winter and hauling them out to the back 40 ... ME ... doing that!!! I run around the yard with the weedwacker like a wild woman!!! WATCH OUT WEEDS!!! Can hardly sit still for more than a few moments ... so much time to make up for. I had said in my journal and to my husband for such a long time that he had to pull so much of my weight because of my limitations that one day I would be able to offer him some relief ... well folks, that day has come. I am now a help instead of a burden (he would never say that I was, he is a good, good man) but I knew I was and it was only getting worse. But now I am proud to say that I am able and desire to help lighten his load a bit. Oh, I know this falls under TMI, but I finally got a new bra this past month, and already I have had to hook it on its smaller hook ... and speaking of bras and TMI ... did you all know that you can reach around to your back to hook one? I always had to preform some strange moves to get everything hooked up and situated and then the thing was still uncomfortable. Now I can simply reach around the back with ease and hook everything and I hardly know I am wearing one now ... not quite sure if this is because I went and was fitted or if it is because I have lost weight ... who knows for sure, but rest assured that I am glad it is no longer uncomfortable. BTW - my newest addition is a cute little under-wire!!1 *wink* No more industrial strength bras for me!!! Okay, the end of TMI section!!! My eating ability has really changed these past couple of weeks. Suddenly, I find it easier to eat ... hardly having trouble with dumping at this point ... not bragging, only telling you this to give you hope if you are at a stage where it is a little harder to eat like I have been. More things are agreeing with me, and I am starting to get a little braver with trying new things. Although while on my trip to my moms for the hospital, I did stick mostly with protein drinks, cheese, etc ... things that were known winners for me, because when I am stressed, I have a harder time with my food. I am down to 194/195 ... hoping to make it to the 180's by next month. Wearing a large/extra large in shirts, and 16/18 in pants. I can not tell you the last time I was at this weight ... it is great! My body is still morphing ... kinda strange watching how the body is changing shape. Looks like the mid section is going to be the last thing to go on me. It doesn't help that my hernia is rearing it's head again and my abdominal muscles are so messed up ... looks like I will most likely need to have tummy surgery again for that reason alone ... but looking at the bright side ... maybe I can get a tummy tuck and work on that six pack afterwords!!! I am doing my best to not stress out over the scale numbers and continue to watch that I get in more food per the nutritionists advice to help avoid the cycle that I have gotten myself into of starvation mode. BTW she said that one that happens, our bodies are capable of functioning on 40% less. Keep that in mind when you think that less is more when it comes to eating guys .... I have never been a huge eater, have just always hung around with the wrong food groups and they got me into trouble. Trying to get past it now with sound nutritional choices and following the docs advice ... but it is hard to try and eat more when you are so used to eating less. Truly a scary thing. Well, enough chattering this morning .... hugs to one and all!!! Hugs, Tammy

Tammy, Welcome back. I've missed you. Thank you for your kind email. I'm still waiting, though. 5/19/04 we try again. I've been busy with the boys and baseball-we love it. Everynight a practice or two or a game or two, last night we had off so we went to the Blue Rocks! I've been thinking about you are your family and wishing you all well. Dianne

Dianne, Thank you so much! I missed you guys also! I am sorry to hear about your delay of surgery. Guess it would not have been quite as bad had you not already done the liquid fast and all. But I gotta say, I love your attitude ... you are going far!!! Just hang in there and soon it will all be a distant memory with you posting away about your wonderful post-op success stories. My prayers continue to be with you! Hugs, Tammy

Hi Tammy, Glad you posted the update about your mom, and you're right, it really does make you appreciate when you get quality medical care. I'm sorry she and your family had to go through all that, and hopefully things will be better soon. Congrats on the new bra! lol My body is doing weird things in that area that I didn't think possible. It seems everyday I prove there really is gravity I am doing wonderfully! Most foods seem to agree with me, no aches and pains no fatigue since I came home. I feel truely lucky to have come through so well. I am exercising on a daily basis and it feels really good to have that as a regular part of my life again. I was always a very active person before and it feels good to have that back again. Look out West Virginia hike...here I come! I think I have hit my first plateau now at 6 weeks. My loss seems to have stalled for a few days but that's ok, I was prepared for this and not freaking out over it. I am MORE than pleased with a 40ish pound loss in 6 weeks! Life is good, family is happy ( ok I have teenagers, so they aren't THAT happy lol ) and I am wearing clothes from my closet that haven't seen the light of day in a couple years. I guess the best part about gaining so much weight is the 10 sizes we have in our closets fit again on the way back down LOL. Linda

Linda, I have found the whole shape shifting thing to be so very weird since surgery. My body just keeps doing the strangest things ... but I am not complaining at all. I am trusting that the change in diet with the added protein, the excercising is helping to buid a brand new person, both inside and out. I have to tell you Linda, that I am thrilled watching your transformation. I am so proud of you and happy for you. You are doing a WONDERFUL job!!! Hugs, Tammy

Hi, Tammy and everyone! Well, I'm 23 days out from surgery. I haven't looked at a scale since I was in to see Bret at 2 weeks. I see him again on Monday. I am still feeling very good overall. I am been trying some heavier pureed foods (like chicken and a piece of pork chop) Both sat on my pouch for what seemed an eternity. Just some nausea, but enough to teach me a lesson! I know that I need to slow down when I eat, but I have not dumped yet! I have been sticking to pretty basic foods such as shakes, cottage cheese, oatmeal/flaxmeal, and soups. I have noticed a mild ache at my beltline on the left side that has come and gone in the last two days. I'll ask Bret about that on Monday. I have also noticed a strange pulling sensation where my drain was when I twist my upper body (like when backing up in a car you look over your shoulder). Still just 3 1/2 weeks out so the drain site is probably still healing inside. Once again, I'll ask Bret on Monday. Overall, I would say that I feel great! More energy, walking LOTS more! I want to go out and dig in the garden, but I know that it is too soon. Well, that's about all for now. Ken

Tammy, So sorry to hear your mom had a rought time of it with those doctors. I will say a prayer for you both. I am 2 months out and have lost 44 pounds. I am stuck now and petrified I am not going to loose anymore (1st real plateau) I know I will its just those deep rooted fears popping up. It has been 14 days now since I have lost anything. I keep gaining and loosing 2 pounds. I really hope this plateau will break soon. It sucks eating like a bird and not loosing. Ive been watching my carbs...I slip sometimes and have a couple of tortilla chips (my weakness) but overall I really watch what I eat and keep my journal perfect. I see the nutritionist today so I am hoping she has some suggestions (aside from upping the exercise that I really need to crack down on) I know that will help alot. But its awesome that I have lost 44 pounds. Its such a difference! Havent had any complications at all and I can tolearate just about everything even sugar even ice cream (dont worry had once 5 sips of my sons milkshake awhile ago) a little TMI: was umm....backed up and hoping that was going to "clean me out!" but it didnt then came the realization I must tolerate sugar quite a bit! I have hurled due to eating too fast of course but I can tolearate everything. So I have to be extra extra careful. Once I break this plateau I will be in better spirits Im sure but right now I am REALLY struggling to not get depressed over eating hardly nothing and not loosing. Thats a first for me! I notice that I still get big time hunger cravings (like i did yesterday WHEW!) But today is alot better. It is definitely a learning experience everyday and you certainly have to still WORK at getting the weight off. Never realized how many carbs are in things Its an ongoing battle and hate hearing "oh you took the easy way out!" nooo... still have to count calories (actually I have to count more things now than before!!!) and still get hunger cravings just this time my pouch cant fit it all in. OK I feel as though I am just rambling now. all in all doing great with having lost 44 lbs. need to exercise more and stuck on a miserable plateau that I AM GOING to get off of soon Best Wishes Everyone !!! Elizabeth M -44

Hi Tammy and everyone Just so you know Tammy, I am keeping you and your Mom in my prayers. And way to go on the new bra!!!! Well as everyone probally knows, I was denied from my insurance company for the appeal I submitted, for the reason....No doctor supervised diets for the last 2 years. So I went to my pcp she put me on a supervised diet and exercise program she wants me to keep a journal and I will go to her every month until NOVEMBER so I guess I may be having a Christmas surgery oh what a gift that will be. I called Dianne from Dr. Wynns office to tell her what was up she told me that the only thing I will have to do over is a ekg no problem.....Since I have no idea when my surgery will be, and I can't remove a date from my profile, I think I am going to start a new profile, and if I do I will be Dana C. I will still stay intouch with everyone, because you all are my family. I can't go one day without getting on to this site, so I know I can't go 6 months. Oh I almost forgot, just for the heck of it, I am sending in one more appeal. Take care and I will keep in touch as Dana C.

Tammy, you know that you and your family remain in my prayers - I pray that your mom is feeling better soon! As for me, I'm down 81 lbs - just 3 lbs from a major milestone - out of the 3's!!!! I'm staying off the scale till the weekend in hopes to be thrilled at my mini-success. My 24's are now baggy and I have been wearing 22's in jeans - down from tight 32's and yesterday I actually wore my very first pair of capri's - a size 20! OK, they were jean and has stretch to them, but they zipped, and when I got them at the Goodwill 3 weeks ago, they couldn't / wouldn't!! I went to Ocean City near the end of April and was able to walk the boardwalk - I wore my pedometer - I walked over 6 miles on Saturday! My knees and back didn't ache - it was fantastic! I feel so unbelievably blessed to have had this surgery and the success that I have already enjoyed. I realize I have a LONG LONG LONG way to go, but this has been truly a gift that keeps on giving. I have been trying to stay busy throughout the day, going up to my parents or going up to go swimming - can't wait until their pool is open so I can swim everyday! Hopefully the weather will continue to cooperate so we can get the pool ready for action! I also have been stuffing envelopes for the 4th of July parade - 18000 of them! We do them every year - this time I have to get them done early because we're actually going on a mini-vacation for the end of this month. We'll be flying out to LA - going to Disneyland - I am so looking forward to flying without a seatbelt extender, riding in the rides, and knowing that I won't tire out so easily from walking. We also are renting a convertible to drive up to Hollywood. Should be quite a fun time - Now...where do Nicholas Cage and Dean Cain live again? Enough of my babbling - I'm happy and well - and hope all of my AMOS friends are the same - whether pre or post - You guys are the best! ((hugs)) Carla