Dee_1111

Hello name is Dee, March 1st will mark my 4 year surgerversery, Gastric Bypass, RouNY. Started out 208 lbs. My lowest weight was 113 lbs, I've stabilized at 115 lbs as of today. I must admit, I'm a bit of a "Peacock", only because I pride or pat myself on the back, for finding what works for me and making it a lifestyle instead of a life change. I found a (hard won) solution to be friends with the foods I love and to tweek them to fit into my life. With that said, it isn't always easy to be spot on. Life happens and my relatives make unplanned visits..but I dust myself off, and go forward. I didn't always have this attitude. For me, being overweight wasn't a good thing. I wasn't a 'Loud and Proud' BBW (Big Beautiful Woman). I was unhealthy. Period. All the health issues that come with being FAT..I had'um. Proud moment for my Doctor who watched me get FAT over the years, poor him who had to suffer threw me! My DENIAL FILE was pretty thick! Poor guy had to lug that to all his visits with me. He otta get a metal. This surgery was a God send, and a 'Once in a life time' GIFT, from the ALMIGHTY above, as I see it, and I treat it as such. My second chance, if you will. I wont even get into the exercise thing..I do it, but I aint at the 'loving it' stage yet, still allergic to it, but who knows, maybe some day while I'm swearing and sweating I'll get an epiphany and fall in love with it. Yeaahh I wont hold my breath on that one. Anyhoo HI

I think you've just described most of us here on this site!!!!..we're with ya honey!..well seeing your going ahead with the surgery, let me say this...you will never regret your choice if you go into it with the full knowledge and understanding that it had RULES. I always tell people who ask me about this surgery, that if you can not follow rules don't have this surgery. There are guidelines and Doctors instructions that must be follow to the letter, and when you deviate from that, is when complication arise. But as you progress in your Journey and you start to feel life flooding back into you body, it is the most unbelievable feeling. My absolute joy came when one by one, each med bottle got thrown away or I no longer need it. That's when I knew this was the right decision for me. I was slowly getting HEALTHY, and so will you, you cant help it, it just happens, its quite amazing,

OH let me just say something about your Eval..Please take this opportunity to totally unload on your Physc..It was the first time in my life that I'd been to a therapist. She explained to me that this was my time to explain to her, why I was sitting in her office, what got me there, and please not to tell her because its mandatory to get the surgery, because she could see right threw that. She didn't want all the right answers. What she wanted was for me to succeed in my Journey, and why she was a necessary evil. I love her. I still call her when ever I need her, even today, 4 years later. So please take advantage of this part of your Journey, its really the most important one. It was hard to look deep inside myself, it was ugly there and I don't want to go there, but she was awesome, and I did look, I cried, yelled, swore, you get the picture. Good times...lol

You go MELMOMMY!!!!

I was almost not going to respond to this post. But I feel for you. I am a mother of 3 grown daughters. All of them have their own homes and families. I would NEVER barge into their homes unannounced. Why? because I respect their lives and trust their judgments. I love the men they love, because I love my children. I don't always like the choices they make concerning the children, but, you know what, I don't have to like it, I just have to respect it. And I do. Advice is hard to give, because every family dynamic is different. But it sounds like you've tried to reason with her, and still, she's not respecting the boundaries. Maybe distance is the answer. Good luck sweetie, this is a tough one for you. The children always suffer the most when family are at odds.

I am very sorry, please forgive me, I had NO idea about you pre-existing condition. My bout with this was only temporary. A side effect from the surgery. I now understand it is much deeper than that. God Bless.

When I fat, sweating was like a sport..Once I reach about 130 lbs. the big chill was on. Thousand, and thousands of us are now supporting the sweater companies of America..lol..my hands are freezing just cuz there extended over the key board!..Although, I am loving all the beautiful cartigans Im amassing

lol..sounds like you have thing well in hand. That my dear is how you CRACK THE FLOOR of a plateau..lol..I love wine to..rats! we do have to cut down on it though..sad, but true

I don't know if my post got threw..Hi Paige, I'm just down the highway from you in Detroit Lakes..How can I be of assistance. I'm Gastric Bypass 3/1/2010 Surgery was in Fargo, Dr. Garcia was my Surgeon.

I would have replied soon but I just arrived here on this site recently..anything I can do, just please ask!

Hi Paige, I just down the highway from you in Detroit Lakes..Im 4 years out, Gastric bypass. How can I help??

Hi I'm Dee, GBP, 3/1/2010..Omgosh..funny you should mention this topic. Now before I had surgery I made sure I had a nutritionist, dietitian, physiatrist, psychologist and Life Coach, in place. Not really thinking I'd be using the phD. ladies. I was wrong!! I have never been a depressed, bi-polar, or any of those things. Well 5 weeks after surgery, in my peripheral I saw SUICIDE and the most horrible feeling of DOOM I had ever felt in my life, how scary was that I tell ya! I couldn't get to the phone fast enough and called my Physiatrist, she's the one who doles out meds. Well she calmed me down and told me that it is a unfortunate side affect of surgery!!..what the hell?..that wasn't in the handbook!!..she told me to wait it out, and in a week if this feeling was still there we'd discuss meds!! I was blown away!!..but it did subside, but I tell you, it has had a devastating effect on me. I will never forget that feeling as long as I live, and hope to never have it again!..but she did congratulate me on recognizing what is was and calling her immediately!! So my dear THIS TO SHALL PASS..recognize it for what it is..Surgery Side Effect.

Thank you everyone..much appreciated..

Success did not come easy, but, none the less, it arrives. Hello my name is Dee, I live in West Central Minnesota, with my husband Terry (& 2 of my 3 girl children, more on them later). In the land of Ten Thousand lakes & the Northern farm belt. Prime fishing, hunting, summer & winter sports wonderland. I'm originally from Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. So all in all, not a bad life. UNTIL!!! wait for it!!!!!!!...wait for it!!!!...my Doctor informed me I was FAT!!! well of course he didn't say that, he called me...wait for it!!! MORDIDLY OBESE!!...what the hell?..no I'm NOT!!.. and that's why my fellow WLS'ers, my DENIAL FILE weight a ton more than I did!! That guy deserves a metal for having to lug that file to every office visit I came to. So begins my 'Journey'. I was never on 'Every diet on the planet", because of that Denial File. I wasn't unhealthy or so I thought, till my last Dr's visit. NOW I had every illness and disease that accompanies obesity. You name it, I now had it, yes the signs were all there, symptoms all there, but that Denial File was with me everywhere I was and went. Again..what the hell?? Fast forward from that point to 2 years later with no weight loss, no change in health and getting worse, no change in lifestyle, mostly from my own laziness and lack of really taking a good look at myself and my future health. so back to the doctor I go with full blown symptoms and tingling sensations, and yep, prediabetic. Crying about how I really did want to be healthy!! Mr. Doctor asked me if I ever heard of RouNY..No I hadn't, then he reframed his question..had I heard of Gastric Bypass, well I had, I watched Carney Wilson on the tv & the net. so, fast forward 2 more years, with research done, all WLS options considered, food experts gotten, all head Doctors cleared me for surgery,family informed, Surgeon picked, insurance ok'd, I had the surgery. It was a whirl wind of productions, but well worth the effort. Now when I look back, that is the point where my new life began, I became the person I always wanted to be. Health is what put my life back in order, weight loss was the 'Perk'. Im not saying it was easy, and certainly NOT a magic bullet. It was ME who had to learn new ways, not only eating but the way I think of life in general. I had to leave the old (complacent, fat & sick)me behind. Change is not easy. I left behind a old friend, I had to, I mourned,felt sorry, and hated her all at the same time. But I know she's proud of me, she tells me all the time. She will always be with me, cuz she lovesssss sugar!!!..lol..Reese's Peanut Butter cups to be exact. I'm constantly slapper her hand away from that lovely orange wrapper lol..life is good..knowledge is better. Thanx for listening and I'm happy to be here:)

Thank you Jersey..I just thought it was very important to point out that its vital to get ALL your ducks in a row, like preparing for a baby. lol. Every thing should be in place for the grand finally!!

Hello I'm Dee, surgery was 3/1/2010. I am now living in maintenance. Before I go into what I know make me a success, I like to say that I am fortunate enough to have at my disposal a nutritionist, Dietitian, Physiatrist, psychologist and a Life coach. Without these 5 incredible people I wouldn't have been able to succeed. They've given me bravado, knowledge, the ability to understand and come to terms with my former self, among a million other pieces of advice to become successful today, etc.. The knowledge I've obtain through them and on my own is the most coveted and valuable thing I have. so, thank you to them for putting up with me, and making me see the errs of my former self, and what I know, and who I am now, and guiding me into genuine good health and good eating habits. So a lot of the words I say here will probably be more their words more than mine. But its the gift they gave me, that I'd like to share that with others. I know a lot of people don't have these 5 people in place, so if I can give you or their words of wisdom, I will be more than happy to share. OK Life before 'Maintenance'..wow where to start..first day home. Scary, as much research and people at my disposal, still scary. I couldn't keep ANYTHING down, dumped the first week I was home. If broth actually made it to my stomach, I was ok, normally it didn't, so I'd just wet my lips with it. That was week one, called my surgeon at least 50 times that week. Just for reassurance. I should have been calling my Psychologist!! lol..there's no handbook for fear & insecurities. My Dietitian was probably a very happy person before she met me, I'm sure of it. But she soon started with the NO NONSENSE attitude. I was instructed to adhere to my prescribed "Phase" foods, I had no special needs in that category, so basically shut up and do it. I did..lol..with good results. so I stuck to all my 'Phases" with a good outcome. I bucked and bit at every turn. The final nail in my (old life) coffin was, after the phases were over and it was time to go back to real food, which is where my life (at first) became a nightmare. MAINTENANCE..my dirty word. Oh let me say this before I end this novel..from day one I have had trouble with food upsetting my pouch. I cant just eat anything I want. My pouch is fussy and cranky till this day. Thank you for listening

Through my Nutritionist, who is not obligated to my surgeons office, went threw a list of designer vitamin labels I could buy. Seeing the (financial) stress on my face, pulled another list from beneath that one. So before I had my surgery we went threw gazillion vitamin labels and compared ingredients and I settled on two. Spring Valley and Nature Made. My lipid tests are all excellent. So large tags or designer vits don't necessarily mean better. Research and compare whats in your accessibly, quality and price range

**Sorry I need to make a correction to the post above: While in PRE-OP learning mode with my dietitian, not Post-OP mode

Well bless your heart Greeneyes, Im 4 years out..and I think your correct, Im pretty sure our new bodies get use to a certain product and when we change that familiar product that doesn't give us what were use to, the body retaliates..I'd do the same thing..lol..I like a certain brand of nail polish..and get all sideways when the cheaper brands flake off in a week...lol..just saying..darn good advice..our bodies are tempermental and talk to us in strange ways

Thank you Mr. Coggin, I will try my best to convey my thoughts and experiences to the best of my ability. Sometimes its hell living in this head Misty!!! lol Thank you for the awesome photos, I'll take the cutie with the scrub brush!! I figure if you can put a cleaning implement in a child hand and get that kind of smile..I'll take 2 to go!!!

Hi Im 4 years out..remember that you life is bout to change, in fact you are about to changed it. I had to have an epiphany that I can not cling to my old ways not even a little. Change is scary and hard. Sugar was my complete and absolute addiction. After surgery I had to resolve myself that I could NOT tweek or trick my food and brain into thinking a certain product or sugary health gimmick would satisfy my sugar buds. With this surgery my food life had to change. I and I alone had make the decisions that if I was to succeed I had to retrain my brain. In the beginning is was a power struggle between me & my pouch..pouch won I gave in and found a way to become friends with it and give it foods IT needed and wanted to make my life happy and functional. Food starts out the enemy, but as the journey goes forward so will you, you will gain unbelievable knowledge you and your choices... Zakura???...the surgery guild lines are there because they work, and your new stomach needs time to heal and get ready for this new journey with you, you are its leader, its you who has to feed it, nurture it, and give it good health. Think of it as its own entity and its you who have to guide it threw its infancy and into a healthy lifestyle..thanx for listening

Hi Im 4 yrs out. I personally don't use ANY artificial sweeteners. Sweets are not in my life anymore, and I no longer crave them. My extensive research tells me aspartame (which most artificial sweeteners are made of) is not a good health product. Stevia seems to be the lesser of all the evils. But again like all things this surgery has taught us is..To get use to tastes that normally we would not like. If I have to use a sugary substance, I just use the real thing in very small doses. Sorry for being the downer, but sugar was one of my biggest problems, not to mention all the damage it did to my system and skin. I've purposely dumped my sugar flavor habit. Not realistic for most people, but it had to be for me. oh I do love to bake, so I've had to tweek my recipes with applesause or mashed bananas, or any fruit that gives me that "I just a great desert" taste. Good question though, says your looking for better alternatives, always keep looking, it gets quite interesting.

Hi Im 4yrs out in March. I remember this stage with contempt and distain..lol..at this stage I was second guessing my decision, thought I'd committed self living suicide..lol..THIS TO SHALL PASS! Your in the FEELING OUT stage..and the what can I's...feeling insecure about how much you actually know about the stages your going through. I read all the literature, still like having a baby, not till it actually happens, then I realized all the standard rules didn't apply to me!! I did not have a smooth beginning. Horrible in fact. Everything that I had researched ( 2 years worth) went straight out the frigging window!! Now I felt alone. One week out and felt like a failure. Silly really, when I look back on it. But with a surgery as major as the ones we have all had, there can be serious consequences. So the doubts and insecurities creep in quickly. THIS TO SHALL PASS. The knowledge you are about to gain about yourself and this surgery is going to be PHENOMINAL. good luck and remember your creating good health and unbelievable knowledge.

Ohhh six babies..lol..I love it!!! Yup your gonna need all the energy you can muster!!!..lol..six babies, love that.

sorry click the wrong button,,,end of my preaching is..while food and I don't love each other yet... we do have a respected understand