Re: Lurker finally speaks!

[Guest guest]

Diane

Welcome to the group. I am sorry you are having such a struggle.

Keep coming back and post often.

Lori Owen - Denton, Texas

SRVG 7/16/01

Dr. Ritter/Dr. Bryce

On Mon, 12 May 2003 17:04:01 -0000 " quilterdot2002 "

writes:

> Hello all, I have been lurking religiously for about a month now

> and off and on before that. I think it is finally time to introduce

>

> myself. My surgery was in 9/99 so I am just over 3 1/2 years out.

>

> I really wish I had found this site much earlier, but am grateful to

>

> have found it now. I have Vitalady to thank for that as she

> referred to this site on the AMOS site so I gave it a try. Anyway,

>

> my surgeon was Dr. Mark Vierra at Stanford in Palo Alto CA. He was

>

> a " typical " surgeon w/no bedside mannor but the only one my

> insurance would approve. He did these surgeries on the side as his

>

> practice was mostly cancer patients. He was considered one of the

> best at abdominal surgeons at that time. He was absolutely no help

>

> with aftercare so I turned to the AMOS site for support. I moved

> from Palo Alto and never even went back for my 1 year check-up. He

>

> called me a " shrimp " as most of his WLS patients were much bigger.

>

> I was 250 and 5'6 " and was insulted everytime he said that because I

>

> was a lot bigger than he was. My weight loss was okay but due to

> severe osteo arthritis in my hip was not able to exercise at all.

> So I was happy when I lost approx 85 lbs. This enabled me to have a

>

> hip replacement one year ago which has also changed my life. I am

> just now able to exercise more normally though I found out after

> getting off all the meds for arthritis that I have it in my other

> hip also. So I am confined to an exercise bike at the moment.

> After my hip surgery, I had to stay down (no activity) for about 3

> months and then was able to get out of the house first w/ a walker

> and then a cane and then nothing. Unfortunately, I have gained

> about 20+ lbs. and had been so frustrated because although I hardly

>

> ate much food, I was gaining. There have been numerous stresses in

> my life the worst of which was my husband having to work in another

>

> state since October and having him home only a weekend a month. I

> have 2 daughters ages 10 & 12.

> Since finding this site I have learned that the food I was eating

> were carbs and sugar. I have always taken 60gr. protein daily and a

>

> pretty good regime of vitamins, but the carbs are the problem. I

> have used sugar for stress for years now. I can tolerate w/ almost

>

> no dumping. I wanted so desperatley to join you all in the 3 day

> all protein experiment, but couldn't make myself. I did order

> samples from Vitalady and have found a couple I will now order. The

>

> last 2 days I have been suffering a terrible cold and realized I

> have not eaten any carbs so now I am going to jump in and up my

> protein and try not to eat many carbs. It won't be easy, but I have

>

> a leg up with this cold.

> I wish to thank you all for all the time you give to this site and

> all the excellent information you give us. I hope to contribute in

>

> the future.

> Diane