Rants and Raves....proceed with caution *lol*

I haven't posted anything really significant in forever it seems so I am going to let it all out...beware Ok, for those of you that don't know me I will kinda re-introduce myself. I had RNY in April 2005 and have currently lost 192 pounds ( and still losing). Here are my stats: Pre-op: 336 pounds BMI 54.6 Current: 144 Pounds BMI 23 Clothing Sizes: Pre-op: 30/32 and sometimes much bigger Current: 8/10 (can you freaking BELIEVE that?!?!!??!) The weight loss has been outstanding and for that part I am extremely thrilled!!! What a huge difference. It's amazing. Ok, now for the rant part I am still having alot of problems..not as much as some but still problems none the same. Let me say before I continue that I am not trying to talk ANYONE out of having this surgery because I still believe that it is a life saving tool and MOST people have little or no real issues. I am just ranting for a minute hoping to get some insight or support or whatever so here goes... I still can't eat anything solid and I am getting really frustrated with it. I go on Feb 21st for an endoscopy and upper GI to see if I have a stricture or what is going on...if they don't find anything then they are talking about a feeding tube *shrug*..who knows?!?! I changed doctors because honestly it seemed like my surgeon just frankly didn't give a damn. Found a great doctor here in Athens that is actually taking me serious so that is great. One of the other issues that I never knew about before surgery was the tooth loss. Not sure if it is a result of malnutrition or from all the throwing up I do (everyday...all day), but I have lost just about all of my back teeth and have damage to most of them....so I have been having extensive dental work for the past month. At least IT is getting resolved, but the bad thing is that when they came up with a "treatment plan" they quoted me one price so I went and got financing for that amount and now they are trying to jack up the price....I swear I go back tomorrow and I am going to raise hell. I swear I am beginning to dislike doctors *lol*. HEART: FEBRUARY IS HEART MONTH...PLEASE GET A CHECK UP!!! Ok, had my pacemaker implant in October...had a few set backs there and now it feels weird again (hard to explain) so I am going to call the cardiologist and make an appointment to have it checked out AGAIN!! I have been having dizzy spells again and sometimes it burns and feels weird. I have no idea. I have had so many opinions about the heart disease so I am going to warn you all anyway...one doctor says that it is probably genetic and others have said that it is because of the extreme weightloss and loss of muscle mass that caused it. I would recommend that everyone have a HEART checkup soon just to make sure your ticker is ticking the way it should. My hair is STILL not growing back...damn, can I get a hamburger??!?!? I miss food so much still. I guess maybe if I could at least eat SOME of the things I like it would be ok, but noone ever told me that I would be eating soup for the rest of my life *lol*. Everything looks and smells SO freaking good...I even tried to grind a grilled hamburger up in the Magic Bullet and eat it. NOT A GREAT IDEA!! On the positive...I rode a 4-wheeler for the first time ever, I am starting the process to get plastics, I am smaller than any of my friends from high school , I have my 20th year high school reunion in July and am actually looking forward to going, I got married in December (put some pics on my profile btw), blood work is coming back fine (don't understand THAT but OK hehehe), one of my son's friends told him that I was "hot and cool" (I am officially the "cool mom"..I love that), am WAY more active. There are so many great things about this surgery and so many not so good. I have a hard time answering the infamous question 'would you do it again'. Not sure...if I could go back knowing what I know now then probably not. It is the hardest thing in the world. It is for sure not the easy way out. I just want to feel "normal" again and maybe occasionally eat something that doesn't have to be served in a bowl. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE being thinner. I LOVE buying clothes. I LOVE not having diabetes. I LOVE that I don't have to worry about the stuff I did when I was 336 pounds and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to have this surgery. I dunno...maybe I would do it all again. See what I mean?!?!? Hopefully it will be better soon. I know that I need to get more involved with the group here and I am thinking of starting a support group in the Athens area because I really miss talking to people who have been/are there. Please feel free to e-mail me if you would like to chat. I am not online as much but I am getting better about it. Ok, I feel better now that I could get that out. Keep me in your thoughts!! P.S. Can someone PLEASE change my picture on the board?!?!? Shree

Hey Shree, Quick question, did you have heart problems before surgery? I have been dizzy and have passed out, like you said feeling weird. I have an appointment on the 12th to be fitted with an event monitor and I have an echocardiogram on the 13th. No one seems to agreeing that it is my heart, cardio says it isn't, ER dr said it is, neurologist says that it is something else...you get the picture. Kim

No heart problems before surgery but there were alot of family members that DID have heart surgery. The explaination one doctor gave me was that the condition I have is called bradycardia or low heart rate. Basically my heart was beating at HALF of what is should. The specific disease is Sick Sinus Syndrome (sinus of the heart not the nose *lol*). So I had to get the pacemaker to "shock" my heart when it slows down too much. PLEASE go get checked out because that sounds EXACTLY like what was happening to me....the worse one was I had gone to the kitchen to get something and opened the freezer door and got REALLY dizzy, fell backwards and full force on my head...I couldn't move or speak...I seriously thought I had died (ok, when I woke up and saw nothing but the bright kitchen light overhead I freaked for a minute). That was the WORST. Good luck with everything and let me know if you need anything. Shree

Kim, I didn't have any heart issues before surgery...of course one cardiologist says that the problem was hidden because of the excess weight...who knows?!?!? I have a disease called bradycardia(slow heart rate) because of a problem called Sick Sinus Syndrome (heart sinuses not the nose kind...that confused me at first *lol*). My heart rate is half of what it should be. When I am resting it falls somewhere in the 30's and it should be in the 60's to 70's at rest. I was flatlining at night and had passed out several times...the worst one was one night I got up and went to the kitchen..opened the freezer door, got dizzy and went down. I felt my head hit the floor twice and when I woke up I couldn't move or speak. I seriously thought I had died. Of course it didn't help that when I woke up all I could see was the bright overhead light in the kitchen blinding me...I thought I was headed for "the light". It is so scary. PLEASE keep getting opinions and don't let them tell you that nothing is wrong. Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of WOMEN??? I had no idea. One doctor tells me that it is genetic (alot of family with heart problems), but others have said that it is possible that along with other muscle mass loss that I could have loss muscle mass in my heart as well. WTFK?!??! I just want to get the information out there for everyone just in case it IS a side effect of the rapid weight loss. Good luck with everything and if you need anything please let me know. Shree

WOW ...I had no idea this was that rough for you....but i can somewhat feel your pain right now ...I just got a lap band in Nov and got a fill a week ago and i can hardly eat anything ...Soup is good ...some mashed potatos are ok ..But solid foods after 3pm will not stay down no matter what i feel like ...I got sick off one potato chip ...HELLO ONE ...so i know it is not as bad as you but know you are not alone now ...And yes i can go have some of the fill pulled out but to be honest i dont have 350.00 to go back so soon .....Yes that is the cost eveytime i go get a fill ....you i do it all again ... I would totally do the RNY again but with a different surgon ...The lap band ...i dont think i would ..i think i would have went a different rout ...but i am getting use to it ..I never had this many problems with my RNY ( granted my RNY was probly messed up from teh get go and that is why LOL ) But anyways ...How have you been? and how is married life treating you? i have 3 more months and then i will be walking down the asile ....So maybe not being able to eat will be good to get into that smaller dress LOL ......i can tell you this i will be unfilled for the hooneymoon that is for sure since we are going on a cruise and all ..... Tina at MB was asking about you the other day ...She is down to a size 2 but looks bad if you ask anyone around there ......yes i am STILL there part time ....need the $$$ Larua

Sorry you are having a hard time too...it sucks!! When you are at MB you should go down to the Great American Soup company on ATlanta Road....man, they have GREAT soup!!! I miss them *lol*. Three months huh??!?! Getting excited? Where are you having it? Wow...Tina is in a size 2?? Dang, that is TINY. I would like to gain back about 15 pounds or so if I ever get to eat. They are going to do the endoscopy on the 21st and I am hoping they can stretch me...if not then they are talking about putting in a feeding tube. I hope not. Where are you working in addition to MB? Let me know how you are doing. Shree BTW...I put some wedding pics on my profile since you asked on Myspace *lol*

hey there ....Well i know Tinas doc said she needed to gain about 20 pounds and if not then they were going to go in and see if there is something they can do ..but she has the fobie ring or what ever that was and that stops you from eating really .... We are getting married in Tampa on a cruise ...but we are doing it at the port so people who can not afford to go on the cruise can still come to the wedding ...So i have my dress and eveything now i just am trying to hold off on getting the aultedrations done to it and all ..... I am an appraiser now. I work on Windy Hill and i am doing homes and comercial property ...and then i swing over to MB a few nights a week and work there for some extra cash. What are you doing now? Man i hope you do not need a feeding tube. That would totally suck if you ask me ..... keep in touch Laura