Guest guest Posted April 19, 2003 Report Share Posted April 19, 2003 My name is Joe Marino. On April 17, 2002, I had an RNY gastric bypass surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. My surgeon was Dr. Mun. I cannot say enough about the wonderful team that is there. Before surgery, I weighed 407 pounds. I had a 64 inch chest, 34 inch thighs, 58 inch waist pants, 5X shirts, a 23 inch neck, sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, diabetes, high cholesterol, an enlarged liver, enlarged heart, tachycardia, and everything hurt. At 38 years of age, I was suffocating in my own body. The doctor was keeping me alive by artificially lowering my blood pressure and forcing my kidneys to work through medication in order that my body could pull the fluid out of my legs and expel it. Today, I weigh 260 pounds, having lost 147 pounds. My chest is down to 51, my shirts are a little big for me at XL, my pants are baggy at 40 (smaller would fit if it were not for the extra skin), my thighs to 25 (again, that number would shrink with loose skin being removed), my neck to 18, and all of my co-morbidities (medical jargon for the things that were showing that I was going to die young, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, high cholesterol, tachycardia, liver problems, etc.) are gone but for the sleep apnea. The apnea was at such a point when I was pre-op that my bi-pap settings of 22 over 20 were not keeping my breathing regular all of the time that I was asleep. Now, I am on a C-Pap with settings of 8. That is an amazing drop in pressure in just one year! That is my only remaining medical issue at this time. All of my blood work and my check ups show that I am now officially healthy! My blood work for my one year appointment showed all levels, including blood sugar and cholesterol, were within normal limits. My resting heart rate, once consistently at 110+, is now averaging in the 60s. For the last several months, I have dropped only about a pound and change per week, but I am fine with that. It is good to keep heading in the right direction. I don't weigh myself very often, so I do not get hung up on what the scale says. My clothing keeps getting too big for me, so I know that I am headed in the right direction. Today, I am a better husband, father, minister, worker, and everything else than I was before. My health is restored. The gym is my destination most every morning. Getting up at 5 or 5:30 to get to the gym is easy now that I don't have to fight to get out of bed. There have been a lot of fun things that losing the weight has brought for me. Having not seen a bunch of folks for over a year, then seeing them at a retreat that I go to every year, it was fun to talk to them and see them slowly try to figure out who I was. Being able to run is fun. Being able to run up and down three flights of stairs at Cape Cod hospital when I was there with one of the folks who lives in one of the houses that I manage was exhilarating (the elevators were being worked on). Seeing people who started this journey at the same time that I did having great success in indescribably fun! Being there for those who have come after me is a blessing. If you are curious, you can check out my before and after pictures. You can see them at http://photos.yahoo.com/bigbadjoe1964 then click on the folder that says " before and after " or whatever part of that phrase is in the window. Please forgive the name. It was the football team that we had on Yahoo a few years ago. It is a long story... so we will save it for another time. This site has been a great source of information and inspiration in this journey. It is nice to be able to participate now. God bless, Joe <>< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 19, 2003 Report Share Posted April 19, 2003 My name is Joe Marino. On April 17, 2002, I had an RNY gastric bypass surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. My surgeon was Dr. Mun. I cannot say enough about the wonderful team that is there. Before surgery, I weighed 407 pounds. I had a 64 inch chest, 34 inch thighs, 58 inch waist pants, 5X shirts, a 23 inch neck, sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, diabetes, high cholesterol, an enlarged liver, enlarged heart, tachycardia, and everything hurt. At 38 years of age, I was suffocating in my own body. The doctor was keeping me alive by artificially lowering my blood pressure and forcing my kidneys to work through medication in order that my body could pull the fluid out of my legs and expel it. Today, I weigh 260 pounds, having lost 147 pounds. My chest is down to 51, my shirts are a little big for me at XL, my pants are baggy at 40 (smaller would fit if it were not for the extra skin), my thighs to 25 (again, that number would shrink with loose skin being removed), my neck to 18, and all of my co-morbidities (medical jargon for the things that were showing that I was going to die young, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, high cholesterol, tachycardia, liver problems, etc.) are gone but for the sleep apnea. The apnea was at such a point when I was pre-op that my bi-pap settings of 22 over 20 were not keeping my breathing regular all of the time that I was asleep. Now, I am on a C-Pap with settings of 8. That is an amazing drop in pressure in just one year! That is my only remaining medical issue at this time. All of my blood work and my check ups show that I am now officially healthy! My blood work for my one year appointment showed all levels, including blood sugar and cholesterol, were within normal limits. My resting heart rate, once consistently at 110+, is now averaging in the 60s. For the last several months, I have dropped only about a pound and change per week, but I am fine with that. It is good to keep heading in the right direction. I don't weigh myself very often, so I do not get hung up on what the scale says. My clothing keeps getting too big for me, so I know that I am headed in the right direction. Today, I am a better husband, father, minister, worker, and everything else than I was before. My health is restored. The gym is my destination most every morning. Getting up at 5 or 5:30 to get to the gym is easy now that I don't have to fight to get out of bed. There have been a lot of fun things that losing the weight has brought for me. Having not seen a bunch of folks for over a year, then seeing them at a retreat that I go to every year, it was fun to talk to them and see them slowly try to figure out who I was. Being able to run is fun. Being able to run up and down three flights of stairs at Cape Cod hospital when I was there with one of the folks who lives in one of the houses that I manage was exhilarating (the elevators were being worked on). Seeing people who started this journey at the same time that I did having great success in indescribably fun! Being there for those who have come after me is a blessing. If you are curious, you can check out my before and after pictures. You can see them at http://photos.yahoo.com/bigbadjoe1964 then click on the folder that says " before and after " or whatever part of that phrase is in the window. Please forgive the name. It was the football team that we had on Yahoo a few years ago. It is a long story... so we will save it for another time. This site has been a great source of information and inspiration in this journey. It is nice to be able to participate now. God bless, Joe <>< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2003 Report Share Posted April 20, 2003 Congratulations, Joe, and all the best. It sounds like it has been a very successful and rewarding year for you. I am guiding a friend through this surgery, and he's going to have it in about a month. We were talking about food quantity....how a Nyquil cup of tuna salad was more than I could eat in the hospital after the surgery.....and what I can eat now, which is considerably more than immediately post-op, but way less than before. And it varies. I just wondered what an average lunch looked like for you at the one year mark. Congrats again! in Austin RNY April 1998 One Year Out > My name is Joe Marino. On April 17, 2002, I had an RNY gastric bypass > surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. My surgeon was > Dr. Mun. I cannot say enough about the wonderful team that is there. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2003 Report Share Posted April 20, 2003 Congratulations, Joe, and all the best. It sounds like it has been a very successful and rewarding year for you. I am guiding a friend through this surgery, and he's going to have it in about a month. We were talking about food quantity....how a Nyquil cup of tuna salad was more than I could eat in the hospital after the surgery.....and what I can eat now, which is considerably more than immediately post-op, but way less than before. And it varies. I just wondered what an average lunch looked like for you at the one year mark. Congrats again! in Austin RNY April 1998 One Year Out > My name is Joe Marino. On April 17, 2002, I had an RNY gastric bypass > surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. My surgeon was > Dr. Mun. I cannot say enough about the wonderful team that is there. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2003 Report Share Posted April 20, 2003 Way to go, Joe! Jac Amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic http://members.cox.net/xxxfarmpaints http://www.pictureitdigitaldesigns.com/ mailto:jholdaway@... One Year Out My name is Joe Marino. On April 17, 2002, I had an RNY gastric bypass surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. My surgeon was Dr. Mun. I cannot say enough about the wonderful team that is there. Before surgery, I weighed 407 pounds. I had a 64 inch chest, 34 inch thighs, 58 inch waist pants, 5X shirts, a 23 inch neck, sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, diabetes, high cholesterol, an enlarged liver, enlarged heart, tachycardia, and everything hurt. At 38 years of age, I was suffocating in my own body. The doctor was keeping me alive by artificially lowering my blood pressure and forcing my kidneys to work through medication in order that my body could pull the fluid out of my legs and expel it. Today, I weigh 260 pounds, having lost 147 pounds. My chest is down to 51, my shirts are a little big for me at XL, my pants are baggy at 40 (smaller would fit if it were not for the extra skin), my thighs to 25 (again, that number would shrink with loose skin being removed), my neck to 18, and all of my co-morbidities (medical jargon for the things that were showing that I was going to die young, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, high cholesterol, tachycardia, liver problems, etc.) are gone but for the sleep apnea. The apnea was at such a point when I was pre-op that my bi-pap settings of 22 over 20 were not keeping my breathing regular all of the time that I was asleep. Now, I am on a C-Pap with settings of 8. That is an amazing drop in pressure in just one year! That is my only remaining medical issue at this time. All of my blood work and my check ups show that I am now officially healthy! My blood work for my one year appointment showed all levels, including blood sugar and cholesterol, were within normal limits. My resting heart rate, once consistently at 110+, is now averaging in the 60s. For the last several months, I have dropped only about a pound and change per week, but I am fine with that. It is good to keep heading in the right direction. I don't weigh myself very often, so I do not get hung up on what the scale says. My clothing keeps getting too big for me, so I know that I am headed in the right direction. Today, I am a better husband, father, minister, worker, and everything else than I was before. My health is restored. The gym is my destination most every morning. Getting up at 5 or 5:30 to get to the gym is easy now that I don't have to fight to get out of bed. There have been a lot of fun things that losing the weight has brought for me. Having not seen a bunch of folks for over a year, then seeing them at a retreat that I go to every year, it was fun to talk to them and see them slowly try to figure out who I was. Being able to run is fun. Being able to run up and down three flights of stairs at Cape Cod hospital when I was there with one of the folks who lives in one of the houses that I manage was exhilarating (the elevators were being worked on). Seeing people who started this journey at the same time that I did having great success in indescribably fun! Being there for those who have come after me is a blessing. If you are curious, you can check out my before and after pictures. You can see them at http://photos.yahoo.com/bigbadjoe1964 then click on the folder that says " before and after " or whatever part of that phrase is in the window. Please forgive the name. It was the football team that we had on Yahoo a few years ago. It is a long story... so we will save it for another time. This site has been a great source of information and inspiration in this journey. It is nice to be able to participate now. God bless, Joe <>< Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2003 Report Share Posted April 20, 2003 Way to go, Joe! Jac Amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic http://members.cox.net/xxxfarmpaints http://www.pictureitdigitaldesigns.com/ mailto:jholdaway@... One Year Out My name is Joe Marino. On April 17, 2002, I had an RNY gastric bypass surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. My surgeon was Dr. Mun. I cannot say enough about the wonderful team that is there. Before surgery, I weighed 407 pounds. I had a 64 inch chest, 34 inch thighs, 58 inch waist pants, 5X shirts, a 23 inch neck, sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, diabetes, high cholesterol, an enlarged liver, enlarged heart, tachycardia, and everything hurt. At 38 years of age, I was suffocating in my own body. The doctor was keeping me alive by artificially lowering my blood pressure and forcing my kidneys to work through medication in order that my body could pull the fluid out of my legs and expel it. Today, I weigh 260 pounds, having lost 147 pounds. My chest is down to 51, my shirts are a little big for me at XL, my pants are baggy at 40 (smaller would fit if it were not for the extra skin), my thighs to 25 (again, that number would shrink with loose skin being removed), my neck to 18, and all of my co-morbidities (medical jargon for the things that were showing that I was going to die young, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, high cholesterol, tachycardia, liver problems, etc.) are gone but for the sleep apnea. The apnea was at such a point when I was pre-op that my bi-pap settings of 22 over 20 were not keeping my breathing regular all of the time that I was asleep. Now, I am on a C-Pap with settings of 8. That is an amazing drop in pressure in just one year! That is my only remaining medical issue at this time. All of my blood work and my check ups show that I am now officially healthy! My blood work for my one year appointment showed all levels, including blood sugar and cholesterol, were within normal limits. My resting heart rate, once consistently at 110+, is now averaging in the 60s. For the last several months, I have dropped only about a pound and change per week, but I am fine with that. It is good to keep heading in the right direction. I don't weigh myself very often, so I do not get hung up on what the scale says. My clothing keeps getting too big for me, so I know that I am headed in the right direction. Today, I am a better husband, father, minister, worker, and everything else than I was before. My health is restored. The gym is my destination most every morning. Getting up at 5 or 5:30 to get to the gym is easy now that I don't have to fight to get out of bed. There have been a lot of fun things that losing the weight has brought for me. Having not seen a bunch of folks for over a year, then seeing them at a retreat that I go to every year, it was fun to talk to them and see them slowly try to figure out who I was. Being able to run is fun. Being able to run up and down three flights of stairs at Cape Cod hospital when I was there with one of the folks who lives in one of the houses that I manage was exhilarating (the elevators were being worked on). Seeing people who started this journey at the same time that I did having great success in indescribably fun! Being there for those who have come after me is a blessing. If you are curious, you can check out my before and after pictures. You can see them at http://photos.yahoo.com/bigbadjoe1964 then click on the folder that says " before and after " or whatever part of that phrase is in the window. Please forgive the name. It was the football team that we had on Yahoo a few years ago. It is a long story... so we will save it for another time. This site has been a great source of information and inspiration in this journey. It is nice to be able to participate now. God bless, Joe <>< Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2003 Report Share Posted April 20, 2003 Joe, This is such an awesome story. It makes me feel that much better about having this surgery. Not that I have ever doubt the need for it. I really don't want to die quite yet. But it always makes me grateful to hear a success story. Thank you. Lori Owen On Sun, 20 Apr 2003 04:29:44 -0000 " Joe " writes: > My name is Joe Marino. On April 17, 2002, I had an RNY gastric bypass > > surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. My surgeon was > > Dr. Mun. I cannot say enough about the wonderful team that is > there. > > Before surgery, I weighed 407 pounds. I had a 64 inch chest, 34 > inch > thighs, 58 inch waist pants, 5X shirts, a 23 inch neck, sleep apnea, > > congestive heart failure, diabetes, high cholesterol, an enlarged > liver, enlarged heart, tachycardia, and everything hurt. At 38 years > > of age, I was suffocating in my own body. The doctor was keeping me > > alive by artificially lowering my blood pressure and forcing my > kidneys to work through medication in order that my body could pull > > the fluid out of my legs and expel it. Today, I weigh 260 pounds, > having lost 147 pounds. My chest is down to 51, my shirts are a > little big for me at XL, my pants are baggy at 40 (smaller would fit > > if it were not for the extra skin), my thighs to 25 (again, that > number would shrink with loose skin being removed), my neck to 18, > and all of my co-morbidities (medical jargon for the things that > were > showing that I was going to die young, such as diabetes, congestive > > heart failure, high cholesterol, tachycardia, liver problems, etc.) > > are gone but for the sleep apnea. The apnea was at such a point > when > I was pre-op that my bi-pap settings of 22 over 20 were not keeping > > my breathing regular all of the time that I was asleep. Now, I am > on > a C-Pap with settings of 8. That is an amazing drop in pressure in > just one year! That is my only remaining medical issue at this > time. All of my blood work and my check ups show that I am now > officially healthy! My blood work for my one year appointment > showed > all levels, including blood sugar and cholesterol, were within > normal > ts. My resting heart rate, once consistently at 110+, is now > averaging in the 60s. For the last several months, I have dropped > only about a pound and change per week, but I am fine with that. It > > is good to keep heading in the right direction. I don't weigh > myself > very often, so I do not get hung up on what the scale says. My > clothing keeps getting too big for me, so I know that I am headed in > > the right direction. > > Today, I am a better husband, father, minister, worker, and > everything else than I was before. My health is restored. The gym > > is my destination most every morning. Getting up at 5 or 5:30 to > get > to the gym is easy now that I don't have to fight to get out of bed. > > > There have been a lot of fun things that losing the weight has > brought for me. Having not seen a bunch of folks for over a year, > then seeing them at a retreat that I go to every year, it was fun to > > talk to them and see them slowly try to figure out who I was. Being > > able to run is fun. Being able to run up and down three flights of > > stairs at Cape Cod hospital when I was there with one of the folks > who lives in one of the houses that I manage was exhilarating (the > elevators were being worked on). Seeing people who started this > journey at the same time that I did having great success in > indescribably fun! Being there for those who have come after me is > a > blessing. > > If you are curious, you can check out my before and after pictures. > > You can see them at http://photos.yahoo.com/bigbadjoe1964 then click > > on the folder that says " before and after " or whatever part of that > > phrase is in the window. Please forgive the name. It was the > football team that we had on Yahoo a few years ago. It is a long > story... so we will save it for another time. > > This site has been a great source of information and inspiration in > > this journey. It is nice to be able to participate now. > > God bless, > Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2003 Report Share Posted April 20, 2003 Joe, This is such an awesome story. It makes me feel that much better about having this surgery. Not that I have ever doubt the need for it. I really don't want to die quite yet. But it always makes me grateful to hear a success story. Thank you. Lori Owen On Sun, 20 Apr 2003 04:29:44 -0000 " Joe " writes: > My name is Joe Marino. On April 17, 2002, I had an RNY gastric bypass > > surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. My surgeon was > > Dr. Mun. I cannot say enough about the wonderful team that is > there. > > Before surgery, I weighed 407 pounds. I had a 64 inch chest, 34 > inch > thighs, 58 inch waist pants, 5X shirts, a 23 inch neck, sleep apnea, > > congestive heart failure, diabetes, high cholesterol, an enlarged > liver, enlarged heart, tachycardia, and everything hurt. At 38 years > > of age, I was suffocating in my own body. The doctor was keeping me > > alive by artificially lowering my blood pressure and forcing my > kidneys to work through medication in order that my body could pull > > the fluid out of my legs and expel it. Today, I weigh 260 pounds, > having lost 147 pounds. My chest is down to 51, my shirts are a > little big for me at XL, my pants are baggy at 40 (smaller would fit > > if it were not for the extra skin), my thighs to 25 (again, that > number would shrink with loose skin being removed), my neck to 18, > and all of my co-morbidities (medical jargon for the things that > were > showing that I was going to die young, such as diabetes, congestive > > heart failure, high cholesterol, tachycardia, liver problems, etc.) > > are gone but for the sleep apnea. The apnea was at such a point > when > I was pre-op that my bi-pap settings of 22 over 20 were not keeping > > my breathing regular all of the time that I was asleep. Now, I am > on > a C-Pap with settings of 8. That is an amazing drop in pressure in > just one year! That is my only remaining medical issue at this > time. All of my blood work and my check ups show that I am now > officially healthy! My blood work for my one year appointment > showed > all levels, including blood sugar and cholesterol, were within > normal > ts. My resting heart rate, once consistently at 110+, is now > averaging in the 60s. For the last several months, I have dropped > only about a pound and change per week, but I am fine with that. It > > is good to keep heading in the right direction. I don't weigh > myself > very often, so I do not get hung up on what the scale says. My > clothing keeps getting too big for me, so I know that I am headed in > > the right direction. > > Today, I am a better husband, father, minister, worker, and > everything else than I was before. My health is restored. The gym > > is my destination most every morning. Getting up at 5 or 5:30 to > get > to the gym is easy now that I don't have to fight to get out of bed. > > > There have been a lot of fun things that losing the weight has > brought for me. Having not seen a bunch of folks for over a year, > then seeing them at a retreat that I go to every year, it was fun to > > talk to them and see them slowly try to figure out who I was. Being > > able to run is fun. Being able to run up and down three flights of > > stairs at Cape Cod hospital when I was there with one of the folks > who lives in one of the houses that I manage was exhilarating (the > elevators were being worked on). Seeing people who started this > journey at the same time that I did having great success in > indescribably fun! Being there for those who have come after me is > a > blessing. > > If you are curious, you can check out my before and after pictures. > > You can see them at http://photos.yahoo.com/bigbadjoe1964 then click > > on the folder that says " before and after " or whatever part of that > > phrase is in the window. Please forgive the name. It was the > football team that we had on Yahoo a few years ago. It is a long > story... so we will save it for another time. > > This site has been a great source of information and inspiration in > > this journey. It is nice to be able to participate now. > > God bless, > Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2003 Report Share Posted April 20, 2003 Hi Joe, What a great success story! The fact that you are a minister is an excellent opportunity for you to reach out to hurting people who think they should not have WLS because it may not be God's will. I get soooooo many e-mails from Christian's who are being told by other well-meaning Christians that WLS is the easy way out and does not conform to Christian philosphy. Of course I feel the exact opposite about WLS and you obviously do too! Lap RNY Sept 2001 Minus 198.5 pounds 333.5/135 http://www.wworw.com > > Today, I am a better husband, father, minister, worker, and > everything else than I was before. My health is restored. The gym > is my destination most every morning. Getting up at 5 or 5:30 to get > to the gym is easy now that I don't have to fight to get out of bed. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2003 Report Share Posted April 20, 2003 Hi Joe, What a great success story! The fact that you are a minister is an excellent opportunity for you to reach out to hurting people who think they should not have WLS because it may not be God's will. I get soooooo many e-mails from Christian's who are being told by other well-meaning Christians that WLS is the easy way out and does not conform to Christian philosphy. Of course I feel the exact opposite about WLS and you obviously do too! Lap RNY Sept 2001 Minus 198.5 pounds 333.5/135 http://www.wworw.com > > Today, I am a better husband, father, minister, worker, and > everything else than I was before. My health is restored. The gym > is my destination most every morning. Getting up at 5 or 5:30 to get > to the gym is easy now that I don't have to fight to get out of bed. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.