Re: To Volley- Long Reply-Sorry

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Thank you Pam I am Black to Pamela A Marsh wrote: Jazzy, that is what we are here for. You are going tobe just fine. Be encouraged.By the way, I love your name.Pam Marsh--- Wanda wrote:> Wow Pam what a beautiful story .I am similar to you> only I am 5ft.3> I have every thing you had and I weigh 221 now> plus I take Insulin shots twice a day plus I have> knee hip lower back and leg pain > and I am 65 years old and hoping to get accepted> and hope it happens for me like It did for you .I am> so happy for you > I want to get off the meds. and be healthy .I> still have some things I want to do in life I want> to

live a long time .I am doing this for my self > there are so many things I still want to do .> thanks for sharing your beautiful story it has> really encouraged me to not give up some day i will> put my pictures on the board and share my story to> encourage those behind me .> Thank You > Jazzy> > Pamela A Marsh wrote:> About the 10%. It is a true that the number that> shows on the scale at orientation is the weight they> go by. Although this is true, NEVER let this> discourage you from losing any weight, just be> advised> that the 10% loss does not count until the day of> orientation or after they take your weight on> orientation.> > My journey: I spoke to my PCP in October (middle of> Oct 04) and that afternoon I got calls

with> appointments to see the psychologist and the> nutritionist. Once done with that (this occurred> the> following week), my PCP sent the package via email> to> South San Francisco (Board) and two days later, she> emailed me the approval letter. One or either two> weeks later, the actual letter came to my house. > The> letter informed me not to call Richmond (your> approval> letter will or should tell you where you will be> assigned) for at least three months, that they would> contact me. > > Three weeks after getting my letter, I got my> appointment for my orientation (Orientation was Nov.> 16, 2004-group setting). It was two hours. We got> the binder with all the program requirements, a> presentation by one of the surgeons (it was Dr.> Fisher> for my orientation), a chance to ask

questions and> they explained the program. The last thing we did> was> get weighed. I then multiplied 10% x my weight> which> was 249.5 (I needed to lose 24 pounds). In mid> December I had a second nutritionist apt (group> setting) and got weighed (they did not record this,> rather it was for my own information to see where I> was) and I had lost 15 or so pounds. The last week> of> December, I called to let them know that I had> gotten> within 5 pounds of my goal weight and they scheduled> me to see the surgeon which was on Jan 6th 2005 (I> don’t think the within 5 pound rule applies> anymore). > On Jan. 6th, I weighed in right at 225 (I had lost> 24.5 pounds and was at my 10% weight loss goal). > She> said congrats and gave me a lab slip to do my EKG> and> to go see the Bariatric team to get a

surgery date. > I> went and had the EKG done right then and went over> to> get a date.> > My date was for February 14th 2005. I had my pre-op> apt (group setting) two weeks later along with the> nurse apt. (individual) and Anesthesiologist apt> (individual). I got a call saying that my surgery> date was moved to Feb 1st because someone canceled. > That Friday before the surgery, I got a call> canceling> my surgery because a cancer patient needed to have> emergency surgery and there was no room in the ER. > I> was upset but it turned out that later that> afternoon,> I got sick so they would have canceled me anyway (I> caught a cold).> > So I waited one more week. I have to tell you that I> struggled to keep my weight at goal. I would go up> two pounds and then back down, up three and back>

down.> The morning of surgery, I got 7 different readings> on> my home scale and panic set in. Richmond weighs you> the morning of surgery and if you are not at goal,> they will cancel your surgery. When I arrived, I> weighed in at 221 (4 pounds under goal weight) and> had> surgery. I went home the next day. The only> problem> I had was gas and they would not give me anything> for> the gas but I found out that mint tea cure this> problem, at least it did mines. Also, I found a> scale> just before I left the hospital and I just had to> get> on it. To my surprise, I was back at 247 (a 26> pound> gain) but this was due to the liquid they pump in> you.> The surgeon said it will come off. So my first two> weeks instead of losing weight like a lot of people> do, I spent that time

losing those 26 pounds. Then> the weight began to come off. I am down to 140 and> have stayed there since Nov of 2005 (6 month stay)> and> I just had my plastic surgery done on April 19th> (tummy tuck with abdominal muscles tightened, breast> lift with saline implants) and all went well. I was> out three weeks and I did not have any pain. Of> course I was on valium and vicoden so who would feel> any pain. It has been a great journey. I wear a> size> 8 but Robynn keeps telling me that I need to buy new> clothes because they are too big. I have not lost> anymore weight but I think because the extra skin is> gone, I can go to a size 6. I don’t want to be> smaller than an 8 (5 feet 2 inches) but will take> what> I get. I have not been good about working out. I> have not worked out in almost 6

months and that is> not> a positive thing to tell a pre op but it’s the> truth. > I do my protein but on occasion if I want something> that is classified as a no no food, I have some. I> don’t deny myself, I just have a small bit and that> satisfies me. I weight myself once a day (morning)> just so I can keep tabs on things. I have been> fortunate since it has been a year and 3 months and> I> am still at my same weight. I plan to start back> working out after my follow-up apt with he plastic> surgeon tomorrow (I am hoping she clears me for> working out) since it will be six weeks now I> believe.> I want to work on toning now and trying to build up> some muscle which I know will show up on the scale> as> a gain but that is okay as long as I am healthy and> still wear the size I wear and even if I don’t

who> cares. All of my sickness are gone and I feel> great. > I had diabetes (double dose and was getting ready to> start on the shot), high blood pressure(2 meds for> this), acid reflux (one med) , asthma (3 meds for> this) and high cholesterol (2 meds).> > The last time I took medication for anything was the> day before surgery and that was one of my blood> pressure pills. Now I a free. Free from sickness> and> meds but more importantly, free to be me again. I> say> again because I was always at 140 until kids and> that> is when my weight problem came about. I just got> back> to where I was in weight wise but I am smaller in> size> than I was before when I weighed this amount (I know> it is due to the muscle loss).> > I have enjoyed this journey and met a lot of> brilliant,

beautiful, loving and caring people on> here> with a lot of knowledge. So stick around, there is> lot that you will learn. Apply what will work and> the> rest discard it. Sometimes you won’t get the answer> you wanted to hear but it will be the truth and that> is all that really matters.> > It won’t be easy but it is doable. I think the> hardest part for most is the10% but if you do the> program, the weight will come off. I chose not to> do> the 1200 calorie plan but I suggest that you do it> because it teaches you how you will be eating post> surgery and others that followed it lost their 10%> that way. My process took 3 and a half months from> beginning to the day I had surgery which is quick. > === message truncated ===__________________________________________________