VA Post-op Poll

1. Surgery date/type of surgery: 2. Starting weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size: 3. Current weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size: 4. Pounds/inches lost: 5. Goal weight/BMI: 6. Medical issues that have resolved because of the surgery: 7. First wow moment after surgery: 8. Best overall wow moment after surgery: 9. Most recent wow moment after surgery: 10. What has been the easiest thing since surgery? 11. What has been the hardest thing since surgery? 12. If you could pass along advice "been there, done that" to pre-ops, what advice would it be?

1. Surgery date/type of surgery:2/21/05--_RNY 2. Starting weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size:240/45/20/6.5 3. Current weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size:113/21/0 to 6/6 4. Pounds/inches lost:127 5. Goal weight/BMI:I'm there! 6. Medical issues that have resolved because of the surgery:High blood pressure, knee pain, high cholesterol 7. First wow moment after surgery:can't remember 8. Best overall wow moment after surgery:looking at photos and realizing it is me! 9. Most recent wow moment after surgery:being smaller than my daughter 10. What has been the easiest thing since surgery?buying new clothes at Goodwill! 11. What has been the hardest thing since surgery?Head hunger at first 12. If you could pass along advice "been there, done that" to pre-ops, what advice would it be? Enjoy every moment of this ride!!

Oh, yeah. Sleep apnea and snoring gone too!!

1. Surgery date/type of surgery: 5/20/2005, lap RNY 2. Starting weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size: 276/42.6/22-24/13 3. Current weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size: 166.5/25.7/12 top-10 pants/11.5 4. Pounds/inches lost: -109.5 lbs/83.75" 5. Goal weight/BMI: 160/24.7 6. Medical issues that have resolved because of the surgery: diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea 7. First wow moment after surgery: geez, not sure... fitting into old clothing I guess 8. Best overall wow moment after surgery: fitting into old clothing 9. Most recent wow moment after surgery: fitting into old clothing 10. What has been the easiest thing since surgery? 11. What has been the hardest thing since surgery? avoiding evening grazing 12. If you could pass along advice "been there, done that" to pre-ops, what advice would it be? try not to compare your weight loss to others - hard to do, easier said then done. be aware that breaks, plateaus and stalls are natural. no one can predict how long they will last but your weight will move again.

Wow, Kathy...what fun this is going to be!!!! 1. Surgery date/type of surgery: 12/16/05/open 2. Starting weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size:Highest was 298 pounds, surgery date 248 ...Size 22/28...shoe size 7 1/2 3. Current weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size: Current weight 171, sizes vary now...most are 14's and shoe size is 7... 4. Pounds/inches lost: From the highest 121 and since surgery 78 pounds 5. Goal weight/BMI: Goal weight is 120-130 6. Medical issues that have resolved because of the surgery: Diabetes in check, no more pills, cholestoral ok now, high blood pressure gone, depression in check, (got rid of nasty husband...hehe) fibromyalgia better, and the list goes on....much healthier now 7. First wow moment after surgery: Finding out I had knuckles!!!! 8. Best overall wow moment after surgery: Putting on a size 14 pair of jeans....a 38d bra...and I am dating again and am told I am beautiful...imagine that??? 9. Most recent wow moment after surgery: Finding out that the dress I had saved for Easter go too big for me....and my closet is almost empty. 10. What has been the easiest thing since surgery? Enjoying my new life. 11. What has been the hardest thing since surgery? Having food for comfort anymore...but it is worth it... 12. If you could pass along advice "been there, done that" to pre-ops, what advice would it be? Drink your protein somehow....take care of yourself and let the tool work for you. thanks Kathy... Hugs, Betsy

1. Surgery date/type of surgery: open rny 11/30/05 2. Starting weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size: 305 lbs, size 26, 8 1/2 - 9 wide shoes 3. Current weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size: 222, size 16, 7 1/2 -8 wide shoes 4. Pounds/inches lost: 83 lbs & multiples inches (on my profile) 5. Goal weight/BMI: 155 lbs 6. Medical issues that have resolved because of the surgery: joint pain 7. First wow moment after surgery: my mom getting excited at 12 days out of my surgery because she could see the changes in my face 8. Best overall wow moment after surgery: my step dad telling me how great I am doing and how good I look and giving me a hug & kiss on the cheek. 9. Most recent wow moment after surgery: Mailman & UPS man noticing my weight loss 10. What has been the easiest thing since surgery? protein shakes 11. What has been the hardest thing since surgery? getting in enough water 12. If you could pass along advice "been there, done that" to pre-ops, what advice would it be? The first few months adjusting to the changes and new lifestyle may make you feel really abnormal and be very mentally frustrating because you are different and aren't liek everyone else anymore. It does get better and will pass. Courtney

Kathy! Thanks for helping me stall....supposed to be studying for finals, but this is a little more fun! 1. Surgery date/type of surgery: 3/14/06 LAP RNY 2. Starting weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size:265/45/22/9 3. Current weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size:234/40.2/still wearing the 22s and 9s, baggy and big! 4. Pounds/inches lost:31 unsure of inches overall as I forgot to measure preop! but down 10 1/4" since April 11. 5. Goal weight/BMI:135 6. Medical issues that have resolved because of the surgery:so far, less back pain, less stress incontinence 7. First wow moment after surgery:my husband noticing my wrists getting smaller 8. Best overall wow moment after surgery:my wedding bands fit now! 9. Most recent wow moment after surgery:I'm due for one! 10. What has been the easiest thing since surgery? feeling great 11. What has been the hardest thing since surgery? vitamins and protein! 12. If you could pass along advice "been there, done that" to pre-ops, what advice would it be? make sure your surgeon is a bariatric surgeon with a full bariatric program so you're not as clueless as I am!

1. Surgery date/type of surgery: August 15, 2005/ Lap RNY, distal 2. Starting weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size: 379 (surgery)/63.1/6x/10 3. Current weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size: 250/41.6/22-24/8.5 4. Pounds/inches lost:129 (155 from high)/no clue on inches - lots! 5. Goal weight/BMI: 180/30 6. Medical issues that have resolved because of the surgery:diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, back and knee problems 7. First wow moment after surgery: I fit into a pair of 28 jeans (first one that mattered to me) 8. Best overall wow moment after surgery: When I realized I'm only 2 jean sizes from being my husband's size. 9. Most recent wow moment after surgery: realizing I could see the bones in my wrist and feet. 10. What has been the easiest thing since surgery? shopping 11. What has been the hardest thing since surgery? head hunger 12. If you could pass along advice "been there, done that" to pre-ops, what advice would it be? Stalls happen. I have at least one a month and I'm still losing. Tonya Brown

1. Surgery date/type of surgery:September 7, 05 2. Starting weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size:361/67/32-34/10 EEEE 3. Current weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size:249/47/18-20/9 1/2 EE 4. Pounds/inches lost:112 pounds...wowsers 5. Goal weight/BMI: 150/28.3 6. Medical issues that have resolved because of the surgery: high blood pressure, arthritis pain, lack of mobility 7. First wow moment after surgery: I flew out to Kansas city, on a plane, carried my own stuff...and didn't need a seat belt extender 8. Best overall wow moment after surgery:Walking without my cane. 9. Most recent wow moment after surgery: I had my wedding rings made smaller by 2 sizes! 10. What has been the easiest thing since surgery? accepting compliments 11. What has been the hardest thing since surgery? Keeping myself from spending so many HOURS on this web site! 12. If you could pass along advice "been there, done that" to pre-ops, what advice would it be? Do what your surgeon and nutritionist say, don't worry about daily blips or lack of them in the numbers on the scale. Keep your EYES on the PRIZE..... Jeannie

Great poll Kathy! Here is my response... 1. Surgery date/type of surgery: 1-29-03 Lap RNY 2. Starting weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size: 307 lb/50+/28-30/10 3. Current weight/BMI/clothing size/shoe size: 168 lb/30+/14's/8.5-9 4. Pounds/inches lost: 178 lb not sure about final inches lost 5. Goal weight/BMI: 145-150/BMI-healthy 6. Medical issues that have resolved because of the surgery: High BP, borderline sugar issues gone 7. First wow moment after surgery: hmmm I would say walking great distances..I'd have to look back at my profile...I'm 3+ years post op 8. Best overall wow moment after surgery: my preggers journey and birth of Nora who is happy and healthy 9. Most recent wow moment after surgery: I'm starting to lose weight again and can fit into some clothes pre-Nora that I bought new but didn't get a chance to wear until now 10. What has been the easiest thing since surgery? hmmm good question 11. What has been the hardest thing since surgery? wow there is a laundry list here... 12. If you could pass along advice "been there, done that" to pre-ops, what advice would it be? Document your journey as much as possible with pictures, journal entries, a weight chart etc...it's amazing the transformation we go through it WILL help others... Kat