Re: To Volley- Long Reply-Sorry

[Guest guest]

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.

Remember this is not a race and I am glad that my

process did not take 6 months or a year or more. I am

not saying there is anything wrong with it but I was

just ready to move on with my new life and let me tell

you, I am truly living now.

Sorry for this being so long but I will be willing to

share more of my story but I will try to keep it

short. Robynn, Francisco, , Colleen and so many

others that I just can’t call everyone’s name are

simply beautiful. I think Francisco and are

true veterans (I think they are at the 2 or 3 year

marks). Colleen and I are about two days apart from

each other and Robynn is almost a year.

Be encouraged and NEVER give up and don’t allow anyone

to make up your mind whether to have this surgery or

not except you. We had one person and I won’t say his

name, rather I will allow him to share his own story

with you that decided to try to lose weight one last

time on his own. He was successful with losing 80 or

more pounds and when he got to where he felt he need

to go ahead and do the surgery, he called and got a

date right away. He is doing great and I really hope

that he will share his story along with the many

others in this group.

Be encouraged and we are here for you.

Pam Marsh

--- volleyfeen wrote:

> Hi Pam! Thanks for your welcome greeting! I didn't

> realized that any

> weight I lose now does not count towards the 10% you

> are required to

> lose. I guess I can wait until orientation (if I

> get accepted into

> the program). But given the pain I have on my

> knees, losing some

> weight now may take some of the pain away. My

> doctor prescribed some

> Motrin 600 for the pain and I'm due to begin

> physical therapy soon. I

> hope all that helps me deal w/ the pain for now.

> Please tell me more about your journey! I'm curious,

> how much weight

> have you lost? and are you now used to your new

> stomach/new diet?

> what is the hardest part about sticking w/ the

> post-op program? where

> there any complications after the surgery? was it

> painful at any time?

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

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 JazzyPamela A Marsh wrote: About the 10%. It is a true that the number thatshows on the scale at orientation is the weight theygo by. Although this is true, NEVER let thisdiscourage you from losing any weight, just be advisedthat the 10% loss does not count until the day oforientation or after they take your weight onorientation.My journey: I spoke to my PCP in October (middle ofOct 04) and that afternoon I got calls withappointments to see the psychologist and thenutritionist. Once done with that (this occurred thefollowing week), my PCP sent the package via email toSouth San Francisco (Board) and two days later, sheemailed me the approval letter. One or either twoweeks later, the actual letter came to my house. Theletter informed me not to call Richmond (your approvalletter will or should tell you where you will beassigned) for at least three months, that they wouldcontact

me. Three weeks after getting my letter, I got myappointment for my orientation (Orientation was Nov.16, 2004-group setting). It was two hours. We gotthe binder with all the program requirements, apresentation by one of the surgeons (it was Dr. Fisherfor my orientation), a chance to ask questions andthey explained the program. The last thing we did wasget weighed. I then multiplied 10% x my weight whichwas 249.5 (I needed to lose 24 pounds). In midDecember I had a second nutritionist apt (groupsetting) and got weighed (they did not record this,rather it was for my own information to see where Iwas) and I had lost 15 or so pounds. The last week ofDecember, I called to let them know that I had gottenwithin 5 pounds of my goal weight and they scheduledme to see the surgeon which was on Jan 6th 2005 (Idon’t think the within 5 pound rule applies anymore). On

Jan. 6th, I weighed in right at 225 (I had lost24.5 pounds and was at my 10% weight loss goal). Shesaid congrats and gave me a lab slip to do my EKG andto go see the Bariatric team to get a surgery date. Iwent and had the EKG done right then and went over toget a date.My date was for February 14th 2005. I had my pre-opapt (group setting) two weeks later along with thenurse apt. (individual) and Anesthesiologist apt(individual). I got a call saying that my surgerydate was moved to Feb 1st because someone canceled. That Friday before the surgery, I got a call cancelingmy surgery because a cancer patient needed to haveemergency surgery and there was no room in the ER. Iwas upset but it turned out that later that afternoon,I got sick so they would have canceled me anyway (Icaught a cold).So I waited one more week. I have to tell you that Istruggled to keep my weight at

goal. I would go uptwo pounds and then back down, up three and back down.The morning of surgery, I got 7 different readings onmy home scale and panic set in. Richmond weighs youthe morning of surgery and if you are not at goal,they will cancel your surgery. When I arrived, Iweighed in at 221 (4 pounds under goal weight) and hadsurgery. I went home the next day. The only problemI had was gas and they would not give me anything forthe gas but I found out that mint tea cure thisproblem, at least it did mines. Also, I found a scalejust before I left the hospital and I just had to geton it. To my surprise, I was back at 247 (a 26 poundgain) but this was due to the liquid they pump in you.The surgeon said it will come off. So my first twoweeks instead of losing weight like a lot of peopledo, I spent that time losing those 26 pounds. Thenthe weight began to

come off. I am down to 140 andhave stayed there since Nov of 2005 (6 month stay) andI just had my plastic surgery done on April 19th(tummy tuck with abdominal muscles tightened, breastlift with saline implants) and all went well. I wasout three weeks and I did not have any pain. Ofcourse I was on valium and vicoden so who would feelany pain. It has been a great journey. I wear a size8 but Robynn keeps telling me that I need to buy newclothes because they are too big. I have not lostanymore weight but I think because the extra skin isgone, I can go to a size 6. I don’t want to besmaller than an 8 (5 feet 2 inches) but will take whatI get. I have not been good about working out. Ihave not worked out in almost 6 months and that is nota positive thing to tell a pre op but it’s the truth. I do my protein but on occasion if I want somethingthat is classified

as a no no food, I have some. Idon’t deny myself, I just have a small bit and thatsatisfies me. I weight myself once a day (morning)just so I can keep tabs on things. I have beenfortunate since it has been a year and 3 months and Iam still at my same weight. I plan to start backworking out after my follow-up apt with he plasticsurgeon tomorrow (I am hoping she clears me forworking out) since it will be six weeks now I believe.I want to work on toning now and trying to build upsome muscle which I know will show up on the scale asa gain but that is okay as long as I am healthy andstill wear the size I wear and even if I don’t whocares. All of my sickness are gone and I feel great. I had diabetes (double dose and was getting ready tostart on the shot), high blood pressure(2 meds forthis), acid reflux (one med) , asthma (3 meds forthis) and high cholesterol (2 meds).The

last time I took medication for anything was theday before surgery and that was one of my bloodpressure pills. Now I a free. Free from sickness andmeds but more importantly, free to be me again. I sayagain because I was always at 140 until kids and thatis when my weight problem came about. I just got backto where I was in weight wise but I am smaller in sizethan I was before when I weighed this amount (I knowit is due to the muscle loss).I have enjoyed this journey and met a lot ofbrilliant, beautiful, loving and caring people on herewith a lot of knowledge. So stick around, there islot that you will learn. Apply what will work and therest discard it. Sometimes you won’t get the answeryou wanted to hear but it will be the truth and thatis all that really matters.It won’t be easy but it is doable. I think thehardest part for most is the10% but if you

do theprogram, the weight will come off. I chose not to dothe 1200 calorie plan but I suggest that you do itbecause it teaches you how you will be eating postsurgery and others that followed it lost their 10%that way. My process took 3 and a half months frombeginning to the day I had surgery which is quick. Remember this is not a race and I am glad that myprocess did not take 6 months or a year or more. I amnot saying there is anything wrong with it but I wasjust ready to move on with my new life and let me tellyou, I am truly living now. Sorry for this being so long but I will be willing toshare more of my story but I will try to keep itshort. Robynn, Francisco, , Colleen and so manyothers that I just can’t call everyone’s name aresimply beautiful. I think Francisco and aretrue veterans (I think they are at the 2 or 3 yearmarks). Colleen and I

are about two days apart fromeach other and Robynn is almost a year.Be encouraged and NEVER give up and don’t allow anyoneto make up your mind whether to have this surgery ornot except you. We had one person and I won’t say hisname, rather I will allow him to share his own storywith you that decided to try to lose weight one lasttime on his own. He was successful with losing 80 ormore pounds and when he got to where he felt he needto go ahead and do the surgery, he called and got adate right away. He is doing great and I really hopethat he will share his story along with the manyothers in this group.Be encouraged and we are here for you.Pam Marsh--- volleyfeen wrote:> Hi Pam! Thanks for your welcome greeting! I didn't> realized that any > weight I lose now does not count towards the 10% you> are required to

> lose. I guess I can wait until orientation (if I> get accepted into > the program). But given the pain I have on my> knees, losing some > weight now may take some of the pain away. My> doctor prescribed some > Motrin 600 for the pain and I'm due to begin> physical therapy soon. I > hope all that helps me deal w/ the pain for now.> Please tell me more about your journey! I'm curious,> how much weight > have you lost? and are you now used to your new> stomach/new diet? > what is the hardest part about sticking w/ the> post-op program? where > there any complications after the surgery? was it> painful at any time?> > > > __________________________________________________