HELLO???? Down #18 in 8 days!!! HOLY [censored]

Hi Laureen,

I'm so glad everything is going well. :-) Keep your chin up, enjoy
your family and get them to go walking with you.

Take care,
Carmen

--
Please note change in Reply To address carmensrt <at> gmail <dot> com
Hotmail isn't working and is being abandoned

Later! LOL I really enjoy the alone time. I reflect on all that has
transpired in the last 6 months. WOW!!! Ch Ch Ch Changes!!!!!!
Laureen

"Laureen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well Monday night the devil sat on my shoulder and told me " This WLS
isnt going to work for you, you're hopeless, nothing will work. You're
going to the doctor on Thursday and I bet you might be down #5 pounds
and anyone not eating would lose that!!!. How embarrassed you will be"
You all must understand what it is like for me to try and try and fail
consistantly. At least I can admit it. I was thinking I would fail at
this too after being given this wonderful tool to lose weight. Its not
magic surgery but a tool OK???

So I got up Tuesday morning and went to my "home" scale and weighed.
HOLY [censored] #380 exactly on day 8 post op!!!! I stood there and cried! Im
a believer now. I mean I know everyone will lose weight on clear
liquids only but not that much! Of course it wont continue at this rate
but I have lost #30 since Dec 28th. Here's the story. I go in for a
checkup on Dec 28th, I am so depressed I refused to weigh, doc comes
in room and asked me why I didnt weigh and forces me to do it,I get on
and he tells me I dont have to look, I dont, I go into the room, sit
down, and I see he wrote 410!!!!!! DAMN!!!!, we talk about WLS decision
I have wrestled with for a couple of years now and all my problems
associated with obesity, I cry at many intervals during this visit, I
leave feeling hopelessly lost, I decide to do WLS a week later, I make
WLS surgeon appt for Jan 18th, make new one with GP for Jan 13th and I
go and tell him I'm doing surgery and he helps me round up all the
medical records I need,I express my fears, he tells me if I dont like
this guy we will find the perfect surgeon. My anxiety has been so great
the past couple of weeks that on this visit I willingly weigh in, I
have lost 10 pounds I am now #400. Monday before surgery I have sore
throat and fever and get even more anxious thinking surgery will be
cancelled. Wed night at 7:30 pm GP calls me to check in on me, tell me
I am doing the right thing, that if there was a "perfect" patient for
this surgery thatI was it, We will get you though this, and he would
think of me and say a prayer for me on Monday morning! How nice huh?
The Friday before my surgery I go in for a "base" weight(knowing
everyones scale will differ) at GP's office and it reads 398. Then I
have the surgery Jan 31st, I go to GP's office incredibly worried
yesterday on day #8 post op and see #380. I am down EXACTLY #30 pounds
from the end of December guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Watch me shrink!!!!
Laureen
410/380

Good luck with your post-op.

BTW - how much did your surgery cost (the total cost, not just your share)?
And, who paid for it?

GG

It was $14,410 total and I paid for it myself. The surgeon has a flat
fee of $4500 and that includes post op appt's and if he has to take you
back to the OR for any complication. He stressed it was a one time
charge, $1125 to his assistant, $885 to the anesthesiologist, and $7900
to the hospital for a 4 day stay. All meds, compression stockings, IV's
etc where included. I paid the surgeon and assistant the day of my
visit with him, I sent the anesthesia money in, and paid the $7900 the
morning of my surgery.
It would only have been more if I have been sent to ICU for a period
of post op intubation. I was fortunate enough to not have to take a
loan out or go in debt for the surgery so that really relieved me of a
lot of stress.
Laureen 410/380

"Laureen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

It was $14,410 total and I paid for it myself. The surgeon has a flat
fee of $4500 and that includes post op appt's and if he has to take you
back to the OR for any complication. He stressed it was a one time
charge, $1125 to his assistant, $885 to the anesthesiologist, and $7900
to the hospital for a 4 day stay. All meds, compression stockings, IV's
etc where included. I paid the surgeon and assistant the day of my
visit with him, I sent the anesthesia money in, and paid the $7900 the
morning of my surgery.
It would only have been more if I have been sent to ICU for a period
of post op intubation. I was fortunate enough to not have to take a
loan out or go in debt for the surgery so that really relieved me of a
lot of stress.
Laureen 410/380

Interesting...that was less than some of the figures I've heard.

Thanks, and best of luck.

GG

I was NOT interested in dealing with the clinic advertised in TV ads,
swollen headed docs who played God, or celebrity endorsed places. I
found a surgeon who is just that , a surgeon. He isnt a bariatric
surgeon. He is a general surgeon who is chief of surgery of Overlake
Hospital. He has done around 3300 gastric bypass surgeries since 1977.
He is well respected. Has a mortality rate of 1/400 rather the national
average of 1/200. He is not hand holder nor does he have an aftercare
program. But..... he is excellent at what he does. I get my support
from a WLS surgery group that consists of about 220 people who have all
had their WLS done by the same doctor. Yes, there are nay sayers in
their too so it is not biased or a group solely consistant of happy
campers. He did at one time appear on TLC channel as he did this
husband wife team. Both of them were very ill and very obese with many
comorbidities preoperatively. I think the girl had problems and the guy
did real well. They were just featured on a local TV show after 2
complete body lifts. It was incredible!!!!

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

The Friday before my surgery I go in for a "base" weight(knowing
everyones scale will differ) at GP's office and it reads 398. Then I
have the surgery Jan 31st, I go to GP's office incredibly worried
yesterday on day #8 post op and see #380. I am down EXACTLY #30 pounds
from the end of December guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Watch me shrink!!!!
Laureen
410/380

I'm really happy for you, Laureen!

--
Saffire
205/144/125 - 5'1.5"
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

"Laureen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well Monday night the devil sat on my shoulder and told me " This WLS
isnt going to work for you, you're hopeless, nothing will work. You're
going to the doctor on Thursday and I bet you might be down #5 pounds
and anyone not eating would lose that!!!. How embarrassed you will be"
You all must understand what it is like for me to try and try and fail
consistantly. At least I can admit it. I was thinking I would fail at
this too after being given this wonderful tool to lose weight. Its not
magic surgery but a tool OK???

So I got up Tuesday morning and went to my "home" scale and weighed.
HOLY [censored] #380 exactly on day 8 post op!!!! I stood there and cried! Im
a believer now. I mean I know everyone will lose weight on clear
liquids only but not that much! Of course it wont continue at this rate
but I have lost #30 since Dec 28th. Here's the story. I go in for a
checkup on Dec 28th, I am so depressed I refused to weigh, doc comes
in room and asked me why I didnt weigh and forces me to do it,I get on
and he tells me I dont have to look, I dont, I go into the room, sit
down, and I see he wrote 410!!!!!! DAMN!!!!, we talk about WLS decision
I have wrestled with for a couple of years now and all my problems
associated with obesity, I cry at many intervals during this visit, I
leave feeling hopelessly lost, I decide to do WLS a week later, I make
WLS surgeon appt for Jan 18th, make new one with GP for Jan 13th and I
go and tell him I'm doing surgery and he helps me round up all the
medical records I need,I express my fears, he tells me if I dont like
this guy we will find the perfect surgeon. My anxiety has been so great
the past couple of weeks that on this visit I willingly weigh in, I
have lost 10 pounds I am now #400. Monday before surgery I have sore
throat and fever and get even more anxious thinking surgery will be
cancelled. Wed night at 7:30 pm GP calls me to check in on me, tell me
I am doing the right thing, that if there was a "perfect" patient for
this surgery thatI was it, We will get you though this, and he would
think of me and say a prayer for me on Monday morning! How nice huh?
The Friday before my surgery I go in for a "base" weight(knowing
everyones scale will differ) at GP's office and it reads 398. Then I
have the surgery Jan 31st, I go to GP's office incredibly worried
yesterday on day #8 post op and see #380. I am down EXACTLY #30 pounds
from the end of December guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Watch me shrink!!!!
Laureen
410/380

I'm so happy this is working for you Laureen.

About that devil on your shoulder put your thumb and pointer finger together
aim at him and let go after you flick his ass off your shoulder tell him to
shut up. :o)

Keep up the good work and get better!
Angie

You are not going to "fail". I believe that you are going to use this
physical intervention as a catalyst for the behavioral changes you
want, and need, to make.

I am rooting for you!

T.

No, the funny thing about this is because of the surgery and the bit of
swelling involved the satiety nerve at the topof my "stomach" is
temporarily distrupted, fooled into thinkning I am full. It is funny I
no longer feel shaky and light headed like I need to eat and my blood
sugar has yet to plummit below a good 85 or so. I wake up with an empty
feeling in my little pouch kind of like a sour stomach. It hurts a bit
to put a cold drink in an empty tummy so I roll with it and drink
something warm like broth or tea when I wake up. Swallowing air is easy
to do and painful so I learned a cool trick. Take a drink, do a deep
breath in through my nose, deep breath out, swallow as soon as I exhale
and no air goes down. I probably over answered your question.
Thanks for asking,
Laureen

"Laureen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well Monday night the devil sat on my shoulder and told me " This WLS
isnt going to work for you, you're hopeless, nothing will work. You're
going to the doctor on Thursday and I bet you might be down #5 pounds
and anyone not eating would lose that!!!. How embarrassed you will be"
You all must understand what it is like for me to try and try and fail
consistantly. At least I can admit it. I was thinking I would fail at
this too after being given this wonderful tool to lose weight. Its not
magic surgery but a tool OK???

So I got up Tuesday morning and went to my "home" scale and weighed.
HOLY [censored] #380 exactly on day 8 post op!!!! I stood there and cried! Im
a believer now. I mean I know everyone will lose weight on clear
liquids only but not that much! Of course it wont continue at this rate
but I have lost #30 since Dec 28th. Here's the story. I go in for a
checkup on Dec 28th, I am so depressed I refused to weigh, doc comes
in room and asked me why I didnt weigh and forces me to do it,I get on
and he tells me I dont have to look, I dont, I go into the room, sit
down, and I see he wrote 410!!!!!! DAMN!!!!, we talk about WLS decision
I have wrestled with for a couple of years now and all my problems
associated with obesity, I cry at many intervals during this visit, I
leave feeling hopelessly lost, I decide to do WLS a week later, I make
WLS surgeon appt for Jan 18th, make new one with GP for Jan 13th and I
go and tell him I'm doing surgery and he helps me round up all the
medical records I need,I express my fears, he tells me if I dont like
this guy we will find the perfect surgeon. My anxiety has been so great
the past couple of weeks that on this visit I willingly weigh in, I
have lost 10 pounds I am now #400. Monday before surgery I have sore
throat and fever and get even more anxious thinking surgery will be
cancelled. Wed night at 7:30 pm GP calls me to check in on me, tell me
I am doing the right thing, that if there was a "perfect" patient for
this surgery thatI was it, We will get you though this, and he would
think of me and say a prayer for me on Monday morning! How nice huh?
The Friday before my surgery I go in for a "base" weight(knowing
everyones scale will differ) at GP's office and it reads 398. Then I
have the surgery Jan 31st, I go to GP's office incredibly worried
yesterday on day #8 post op and see #380. I am down EXACTLY #30 pounds
from the end of December guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Watch me shrink!!!!
Laureen
410/380

"Laureen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well Monday night the devil sat on my shoulder and told me " This WLS
isnt going to work for you, you're hopeless, nothing will work. You're
going to the doctor on Thursday and I bet you might be down #5 pounds
and anyone not eating would lose that!!!. How embarrassed you will be"
You all must understand what it is like for me to try and try and fail
consistantly. At least I can admit it. I was thinking I would fail at
this too after being given this wonderful tool to lose weight. Its not
magic surgery but a tool OK???

So I got up Tuesday morning and went to my "home" scale and weighed.
HOLY [censored] #380 exactly on day 8 post op!!!! I stood there and cried! Im
a believer now. I mean I know everyone will lose weight on clear
liquids only but not that much! Of course it wont continue at this rate
but I have lost #30 since Dec 28th. Here's the story. I go in for a
checkup on Dec 28th, I am so depressed I refused to weigh, doc comes
in room and asked me why I didnt weigh and forces me to do it,I get on
and he tells me I dont have to look, I dont, I go into the room, sit
down, and I see he wrote 410!!!!!! DAMN!!!!, we talk about WLS decision
I have wrestled with for a couple of years now and all my problems
associated with obesity, I cry at many intervals during this visit, I
leave feeling hopelessly lost, I decide to do WLS a week later, I make
WLS surgeon appt for Jan 18th, make new one with GP for Jan 13th and I
go and tell him I'm doing surgery and he helps me round up all the
medical records I need,I express my fears, he tells me if I dont like
this guy we will find the perfect surgeon. My anxiety has been so great
the past couple of weeks that on this visit I willingly weigh in, I
have lost 10 pounds I am now #400. Monday before surgery I have sore
throat and fever and get even more anxious thinking surgery will be
cancelled. Wed night at 7:30 pm GP calls me to check in on me, tell me
I am doing the right thing, that if there was a "perfect" patient for
this surgery thatI was it, We will get you though this, and he would
think of me and say a prayer for me on Monday morning! How nice huh?
The Friday before my surgery I go in for a "base" weight(knowing
everyones scale will differ) at GP's office and it reads 398. Then I
have the surgery Jan 31st, I go to GP's office incredibly worried
yesterday on day #8 post op and see #380. I am down EXACTLY #30 pounds
from the end of December guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Watch me shrink!!!!
Laureen
410/380

I am so happy for you1 I look forward to following your progress.
Take care
Lori

It's amazing how well eating less works.

--
Most people are dumb as bricks; some people are dumber than that. -- MFW

"Laureen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well Monday night the devil sat on my shoulder and told me " This WLS
isnt going to work for you, you're hopeless, nothing will work. You're
going to the doctor on Thursday and I bet you might be down #5 pounds
and anyone not eating would lose that!!!. How embarrassed you will be"
You all must understand what it is like for me to try and try and fail
consistantly. At least I can admit it. I was thinking I would fail at
this too after being given this wonderful tool to lose weight. Its not
magic surgery but a tool OK???

So I got up Tuesday morning and went to my "home" scale and weighed.
HOLY [censored] #380 exactly on day 8 post op!!!! I stood there and cried! Im
a believer now. I mean I know everyone will lose weight on clear
liquids only but not that much! Of course it wont continue at this rate
but I have lost #30 since Dec 28th. Here's the story. I go in for a
checkup on Dec 28th, I am so depressed I refused to weigh, doc comes
in room and asked me why I didnt weigh and forces me to do it,I get on
and he tells me I dont have to look, I dont, I go into the room, sit
down, and I see he wrote 410!!!!!! DAMN!!!!, we talk about WLS decision
I have wrestled with for a couple of years now and all my problems
associated with obesity, I cry at many intervals during this visit, I
leave feeling hopelessly lost, I decide to do WLS a week later, I make
WLS surgeon appt for Jan 18th, make new one with GP for Jan 13th and I
go and tell him I'm doing surgery and he helps me round up all the
medical records I need,I express my fears, he tells me if I dont like
this guy we will find the perfect surgeon. My anxiety has been so great
the past couple of weeks that on this visit I willingly weigh in, I
have lost 10 pounds I am now #400. Monday before surgery I have sore
throat and fever and get even more anxious thinking surgery will be
cancelled. Wed night at 7:30 pm GP calls me to check in on me, tell me
I am doing the right thing, that if there was a "perfect" patient for
this surgery thatI was it, We will get you though this, and he would
think of me and say a prayer for me on Monday morning! How nice huh?
The Friday before my surgery I go in for a "base" weight(knowing
everyones scale will differ) at GP's office and it reads 398. Then I
have the surgery Jan 31st, I go to GP's office incredibly worried
yesterday on day #8 post op and see #380. I am down EXACTLY #30 pounds
from the end of December guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Watch me shrink!!!!
Laureen
410/380

((((((((((((((((((laureen)))))))))))))))))))))))))
i can feel you smiling!

--
rosie
http://img182.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img182&image=dcp07005uo.jpg

"Laureen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
: Well Monday night the devil sat on my shoulder and told me " This
WLS
: isnt going to work for you, you're hopeless, nothing will work.
You're
: going to the doctor on Thursday and I bet you might be down #5
pounds
: and anyone not eating would lose that!!!. How embarrassed you will
be"
: You all must understand what it is like for me to try and try and
fail
: consistantly. At least I can admit it. I was thinking I would fail
at
: this too after being given this wonderful tool to lose weight. Its
not
: magic surgery but a tool OK???
:
: So I got up Tuesday morning and went to my "home" scale and
weighed.
: HOLY [censored] #380 exactly on day 8 post op!!!! I stood there and
cried! Im
: a believer now. I mean I know everyone will lose weight on clear
: liquids only but not that much! Of course it wont continue at this
rate
: but I have lost #30 since Dec 28th. Here's the story. I go in for
a
: checkup on Dec 28th, I am so depressed I refused to weigh, doc
comes
: in room and asked me why I didnt weigh and forces me to do it,I
get on
: and he tells me I dont have to look, I dont, I go into the room,
sit
: down, and I see he wrote 410!!!!!! DAMN!!!!, we talk about WLS
decision
: I have wrestled with for a couple of years now and all my problems
: associated with obesity, I cry at many intervals during this
visit, I
: leave feeling hopelessly lost, I decide to do WLS a week later, I
make
: WLS surgeon appt for Jan 18th, make new one with GP for Jan 13th
and I
: go and tell him I'm doing surgery and he helps me round up all the
: medical records I need,I express my fears, he tells me if I dont
like
: this guy we will find the perfect surgeon. My anxiety has been so
great
: the past couple of weeks that on this visit I willingly weigh in,
I
: have lost 10 pounds I am now #400. Monday before surgery I have
sore
: throat and fever and get even more anxious thinking surgery will
be
: cancelled. Wed night at 7:30 pm GP calls me to check in on me,
tell me
: I am doing the right thing, that if there was a "perfect" patient
for
: this surgery thatI was it, We will get you though this, and he
would
: think of me and say a prayer for me on Monday morning! How nice
huh?
: The Friday before my surgery I go in for a "base" weight(knowing
: everyones scale will differ) at GP's office and it reads 398. Then
I
: have the surgery Jan 31st, I go to GP's office incredibly worried
: yesterday on day #8 post op and see #380. I am down EXACTLY #30
pounds
: from the end of December guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
: Watch me shrink!!!!
: Laureen
: 410/380
:

"Laureen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > Watch me shrink!!!!

Quoted message said:

Laureen
410/380

=====================
Good for you! :-) I'm glad you're doing so well.
--
Wysong
Age 60. Height 5'6"
Starting date: 1/8/05
171/ 165 / 140 lb
Starting date LC 7/01 at 207lbs
Stopped losing on LC 11/01 at 165lbs
==========================================

X-No-Archive: yes

"Laureen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
They were just featured on a local TV show after 2

Quoted message said:

complete body lifts. It was incredible!!!!

================================
Speaking of body-lifts, what happens to all the lose skin after you lose the
weight? Will it have to be surgically removed?
--
Wysong
Age 60. Height 5'6"
Starting date: 1/8/05
171/ 165 / 140 lb
Starting date LC 7/01 at 207lbs
Stopped losing on LC 11/01 at 165lbs
==========================================

Very good news! Keep it up.

--
bjgeiger
"Laureen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well Monday night the devil sat on my shoulder and told me " This WLS
isnt going to work for you, you're hopeless, nothing will work. You're
going to the doctor on Thursday and I bet you might be down #5 pounds
and anyone not eating would lose that!!!. How embarrassed you will be"
You all must understand what it is like for me to try and try and fail
consistantly. At least I can admit it. I was thinking I would fail at
this too after being given this wonderful tool to lose weight. Its not
magic surgery but a tool OK???

So I got up Tuesday morning and went to my "home" scale and weighed.
HOLY [censored] #380 exactly on day 8 post op!!!! I stood there and cried! Im
a believer now. I mean I know everyone will lose weight on clear
liquids only but not that much! Of course it wont continue at this rate
but I have lost #30 since Dec 28th. Here's the story. I go in for a
checkup on Dec 28th, I am so depressed I refused to weigh, doc comes
in room and asked me why I didnt weigh and forces me to do it,I get on
and he tells me I dont have to look, I dont, I go into the room, sit
down, and I see he wrote 410!!!!!! DAMN!!!!, we talk about WLS decision
I have wrestled with for a couple of years now and all my problems
associated with obesity, I cry at many intervals during this visit, I
leave feeling hopelessly lost, I decide to do WLS a week later, I make
WLS surgeon appt for Jan 18th, make new one with GP for Jan 13th and I
go and tell him I'm doing surgery and he helps me round up all the
medical records I need,I express my fears, he tells me if I dont like
this guy we will find the perfect surgeon. My anxiety has been so great
the past couple of weeks that on this visit I willingly weigh in, I
have lost 10 pounds I am now #400. Monday before surgery I have sore
throat and fever and get even more anxious thinking surgery will be
cancelled. Wed night at 7:30 pm GP calls me to check in on me, tell me
I am doing the right thing, that if there was a "perfect" patient for
this surgery thatI was it, We will get you though this, and he would
think of me and say a prayer for me on Monday morning! How nice huh?
The Friday before my surgery I go in for a "base" weight(knowing
everyones scale will differ) at GP's office and it reads 398. Then I
have the surgery Jan 31st, I go to GP's office incredibly worried
yesterday on day #8 post op and see #380. I am down EXACTLY #30 pounds
from the end of December guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Watch me shrink!!!!
Laureen
410/380

Well, this what my surgeon told me before he ever looked at me. "If you
have stretch marks and have marked weight loss, you will need a body
lift. No stretch marks, no body lift". Well I am blessed and only have
a few small light stretch marks so I dont know what will become of me.
If it gets in the way of my life and I suddenly become vain I will have
it removed. If it doesnt I will wear a smoothing spandex panty and call
it good.

X-No-Archive: yes

"Laureen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, this what my surgeon told me before he ever looked at me. "If you
have stretch marks and have marked weight loss, you will need a body
lift. No stretch marks, no body lift". Well I am blessed and only have
a few small light stretch marks so I dont know what will become of me.
If it gets in the way of my life and I suddenly become vain I will have
it removed. If it doesnt I will wear a smoothing spandex panty and call
it good.

====================
Lets hope you don't need more surgery. I remember someone on one of these
NGs that had something like 30 lbs of excess skin removed after they lost
the weight.
--
Wysong
Age 60. Height 5'6"
Starting date: 1/8/05
171/ 165 / 140 lb
Starting date LC 7/01 at 207lbs
Stopped losing on LC 11/01 at 165lbs
==========================================