Yea! I'm finally a Graduate today!

[Guest guest]

Greetings all you wise and wonderful folk:

I've been lurking here for close to 6 months now. What I've learned

from ya'll has put me at the " head of the class " with my surgeon. So

much so, I started my own local support group so that we don't all

have to drive the 1-1/4 hours away to his group meetings all the

time. We have options. Not to mention, your knowledge has allowed me

to educate my surgeon (i.e. we really do feel better not just eating

3 meals a day, doc and I lose weight better this way).

I had laparoscopic RNY on July 3, 2002. I am considered a distal long

limb RNY with 200cm bypassed. Thanks to Vitalady I actually know some

of the ramifications of being a distal. I was one of the lucky ones

to lose 100lbs. in 6 months. I am down a total of 130lbs. now and

have been maintaining that for the past couple of months actually.

I'd like to drop another 10 but figure it'll shake loose when I lose

the tummy (in the middle of appeals for plastics...got a breast

lift/reduction approval last week, second denial of TT &

brachioplasty...I'm still in there fighting).

My only " complication " if you can call it that, was a seroma at the

main port, which I had to pack for 2 weeks. An annoyance, not a real

complication in my eyes. I did clear liquids for first 3 days home,

then the full liquid diet for 1 week post-op, then pureed diet for 6

weeks. I've only hurled 4 times in a year, pretty good I'd say. And

all those times were in the early stages, related to not chewing

chicken breast or shrimp thoroughly. I thought I was smart but NO,

took me 4 times to learn how to really chew that stuff!

I started protein shakes faithfully just over 2 months ago. I piddled

around with some sampling here and there for awhile. Got DH over his

fear of online purchasing (brought him into the new millenium). I

ordered samples of PS100 and Pure Whey Stack from Vitalady, along

with my first vitamin order. I found that Stack (chocolate, of

course) was what had been missing from my post-op life. I am doing 2

shakes a day, sometimes 3. I'm still a newbie protein perv, trying to

get down the routine of when to fit in shakes, real food.

I recently placed my 2nd Vitalady order and got some Proplete Gold

Pineapple Vanilla...yummy! Added some SF coconut syrup...more yummy!

So I'll have one of those as my sometimes 3rd shake.

I donated my gallbladder 3 days ago, on Monday. Figured the hospital

hadn't seen me in a year, why not? Actually, back in early May

Vitalady kindly posted here on my behalf, regarding some pain issues.

Which did turn out to be Mr. Nasty Gallbladder. I now have 4 new

holes to add to the 5 holes from last year's gastric bypass. I may

let DH play connect-the-dots before going in for the tummy tuck!

I want to say to each one of you that you are a unique and special

bunch. Full of knowledge, wit and wisdom. More importantly, you

graciously share that with everyone. Sure there are some quirks here

and there, moods to be tempered with occasionally. But that's the

case in every family! I would feel blessed to be welcomed into this

family.

So here I am, Day One of non-lurking Yippee! (no happy dance

required)

Luttrell

LAP RNY 7/3/02

Dr. Marshall, Peoria, IL

298/168/160

LAP Gallbladder removal 6/30/02

Breast lift/reduction sched. 9/15/03