January 31 2008

Today, my mind is so full of thoughts and memories of this past year.  One year ago today, I entered Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego for my RNY gastric bypass surgery.  What a year it has been!  So many wonderful things have happened to me - at times I cannot believe that this is truly my life. My dear, amazing husband has been so wonderful and encouraging to me.  He lets me know that he is proud of me, and that he admires me for doing this.  I am so blessed by him.  I sit in amazement when my skinny friends tell me of their husbands comments about their weight and size and how heartless and thoughtless those men must be.  John never once in our lives together has made a comment regarding my weight in a negative way.  I just wanted to say thanks honey for being there for me each step of the way.  For being my strength and guidance, my help and my rock. Also, dear OH friends, I want to thank each of you for your encouragement and love.  The accountability here is great, and this BMI over 50 board is amazing and wonderful.  Thanks for being there for each of us going through this process.  Thanks for being my "hidden" help and strength.  A place where I could come and read and get info, be encouraged, and find people that truly understand.  Thanks for inspiring me to post my exercise, and allowing me to vent and rejoice. Happy 1st anniversary to me - and to many more years of good health and plenty of activity! Oh, I did update my photos.  Take a look at the "through the months" album to see how I've changed, and the 1 year album to see more from this mornings photo shoot with my dd photographer. Oh, and yesterday was a WONDERFUL WOW moment!  I was at Kaiser and 2 receptionists commented on what a beautiful, trim figure I had, and wondered how I did that after having 3 children and being in my 40's.  They both said that I was beautiful.  I kept trying to see who they were talking about.  I blew away my ob/gyn who last saw me 13 months ago.  She was shocked.  Also, I have a plastics consult on Feb. 12th, and my 1 year post op visit next week in San Diego.   Today, I feel on top of the world! Hugs,

Congratulations on all your success!  Estelle

Thanks Estelle. There have been times over this past year that I didn't feel sucessful.  I thought I was a slow loser and that the weight would never come off, but now at the end of the year, I realize that the advice that I received from others was pretty accurate.  The weight would come off, just stay on the plan.  Eat the way your surgeon advised, and be active.  It will happen.  You are doing a great job as well.  Your progress is great!

Oh my goodness, you're so tiny!  You look amazing.  Way to go!  You are such an inspiration!!

Thanks Jennifer.  Since I haven't had my daughter take pictures in 6 months, it was surprising for me to see the difference.  I am surprised that I do look small!  I have had some friends be jelous because now I am smaller than them.  That shocked me because I outweigh them by 40-50lbs, but I wear a smaller size and I am having a hard time with their attitude. I have to chalk that up to the exercise and keeping the muscle mass that I had.  Yesterday for the photos I was wearing a size medium t-shirt from coldwater creek, and size 12 jeans.  The jeans are a bit big in the waist, but they are snug on my calves.  I have a problem with most pants and my legs.  I hope that will resolve over the next year! Keep up your great work - you are also an inspiration to this board.

Jennie, you have such skinny legs!  I am jealous!  What weight I still have to lose is resting comfortably in my thighs.  Sigh. Congratulations on your anniversary, time certainly flies!  You're almost to goal, too! SoCal Kaiser doesn't do WLS at their own hospitals?  Northern California Kaiser has a few of their hospitals designated as WLS centers.  Here in Denver, Kaiser has a contract hospital and does not have it's own hospital like in CA. Kix PS:  We love you, too, and we're glad you're a member of our "family"

Thanks Kix.  I have been so surprised at how much I've lost in my hips, thighs and butt.  They were very, very, very large before.  My hip measurement was over 70, and my thighs were 36"!  My thighs are now 22, but they are really saggy.  The fat that I do have left is still on those thighs and my calves.  My calves are still 16inches, with very saggy skin as well.  I have had people comment that the only thing that looks like I'm still very heavy are my calves -- nice comment I know! Here is S. Calif, Kaiser does not at this time do their own WLS, except for one place - Harbor City in LA.  Even if you are in that region, you have a choice of going there or to one of the contracted groups.  Kaiser will only use centers of excellence for the surgery, and so far, none of their surgeons/hospitals have that distinction.  Harbor City is working on that, but those guys are still learning and being trained.  I am in the Fontana Kaiser region, and I had my choice of going to San Diego with Pacific Bariatrics - Kaiser No. Cal used to use them as well, or to Dr. Suh who is closer in Corona, but would not take me because of my anemia issues.  He operates at a hospital in Temecula.  Sometimes, they also will send you to UCLA, but there are more hoops at UCLA after you finish the Kaiser program.  The follow up is strange as well.  I request that my Kaiser PCP pull my labs from a lab slip my surgeon provides.  After the labs are drawn, I request copies from my PCP, because not all labs show up on the Kaiser board.  Then I take them to my surgeon for follow up.  If he wants me to do something different, I then relay that back to my primary.  My primary then wants me to do a check up with him as well.  I feel like I'm following up all the time!  LOL Our Kaiser just changed their guidelines for panni removal that sound like what you were told.  My BMI is to be below 30, but I am going to check with my surgeon and primary, because that is almost another 14lbs, and I really don't have that much more fat.  My body fat level is about 27, which my surgeon says is the low end of normal/healthy for me.  If I lost 14lbs, that is about 7% body fat, and that could be a problem.  I'm hoping that if I can provide documentation that my BMI won't get to that without losing the muscle mass, that I will qualify for panni removal sooner. I've been on COBRA since May 12 and will soon have a Blue Cross plan, but I'd really like to keep Kaiser.  I want to do the plastics even if it means staying on COBRA a bit longer to have kaiser do it as a covered benefit, but I can only stay on COBRA until November.  I hope the wheels don't turn slowly for this!  I am also hoping to battle for removal of excess skin above my belly button and a breast lift since this is where I've had all the rashes on my stomach.  I have scars/discoloration like a band across my belly from the rashes. Thanks for being a great inspiration to me Kix!  I watch for your posts - I love your humor.  You have made this easier for me!

Great Job!!!!  I am glad your here to inspire me also!!!  You look Great!!!  I hope I do as well. 

Thanks Tommi.  It is neat so see how much and how quickly we change after WLS.  I know that several months ago, I thought I was going SO very slow with my loss, and seeing the pictures and blogs on peoples profiles made me realize that I was moving along at the same pace they were.  It really helped me to stay focused and keep my mind on my job of good, healthy eating and lots of activity.  I hope that I can encouage others in that same way. You are making great progress as well.  Your ticker shows your hard work!  Keep going!

Congrats on making such fabulous progress in a year!  Your pictures are fabulous - you were beautiful before surgery, and have just become more so as you've shed your layers.  You are lucky to have such a loving, supportive husband; treasure him always.  Great support can make this challenging journey doable, and sometimes even quite enjoyable.   Again, congrats and thanks for sharing your journey with us! Kellie