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January 4, 2007 Well Happy New Year to everyone!!! This has been a fantastic year to say the least!!! Between December 14 and today, I have lost 16 pounds, and moved from a 10-12 to a comfortable size "8" and boy is life Good!!!
I saw Scorro on yesterday along with her family- she looks like a MILLION BUCKS!! She is about as big as my daughter Tayelor!
I had my drains removed on Tueday and boy do I feel FREE!!! I did not realize how cumbersome those things could be!!! My doctor has complimented me on how well I managed to care for myself after surgery which helped in the way of swelling... I have been extremely blessed!!
December 18, 2006 What a whirlwind year this has been for me!! I have just returned home from the hospital where I just had 7 pounds removed in a Panniculectomy surgery!!! I have NEVER been so flat!!! This morning I have on a medium pair of pajamas that were too tight when I bought them and this morning they are falling off of me!!! LIFE IS GRAND!!!!! With Swelling, JP Drains, bandages, and a binder, I am still down to 165- That's a total of 138 pounds lost and I am still losing. I was not sure what I wanted my final weight to be, but I have been inspired to go to about 150 or thereabouts....Life is GOOD!!! Not only have I lost this weight, I have completed the requirements for my Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and in my MAJOR classes- I have maintained a perfect 4.0!!! LIFE IS GOOD!!!
October 9, 2006 Good Afternoon All!! Well today I had my one year follow-up with Dr. Byrne...As of today I am down 128 pounds which is 2 pounds away from 80% of my excess weight!!! This morning as in a few other mornings past I have slipped my hips into a size 10!!! I have NEVER been able to do that , so that made me feel absolutely wonderful and THEN the most amazing thing happened!!! My aunt who is 10 years older than me has always been smaller than me! When I was 16 she went through a major clothes give-away and I remember feeling so bad because I could not fit any of her clothes at 16!!! Today I am officially wearing one size smaller than her!!! - Can I tell you that life is literally AMAZING!!!!! I still can't completely see what others do when they look at me, but hey I didn't completely see 303 pounds either- so what the heck!!!!!
May 26, 2006 I know its been a LONG time- however I have such good news to report!!! NOT only have I lost 100 pounds, I have hit the "one"derland club - all in the same week!!! I am so happy that I can't stand myself!!!!! March 9, 2006 Well life is grand!! For the first time in the history of my surgery, I can SEE the weight loss- a little bit!!! I am down 80 lbs., and looking towards 100 lbs. which is soon to come!! I am having the same "issue" regarding the clothes size, but I think I have been afraid to try on anything in a different size, so I have been wearing size 18's- still!! For anyone contemplating this surgery, I would definitely recommend it- for this has changed my entire life!!! I can wear high heels ALL day, something that I have not been able to do in a LONG time!!! Next stop, 100lbs.!! Yeah ME!!
January 13, 2006 At weigh in today, I have lost a total of 61.5 pounds. I am comfortably in a size 18 for most things- again depending on cut!! I am so excited about this surgery and what it has done for my life. To be able to go into the store, and walk up to a rack and pick up something in your size- that is BLISS!!! I still can't "see it", but who gives a crap- cause I couldn't really "see" myself at 300 lbs either!!
January 10, 2005 OK- so the last time I posted, I THOUGHT I had not seen a great loss in clothes- however, that is definitely the UNTRUTH!! I have moved from a size 26/28 to a size 16/18 top, and 18 or 20 bottom depending on the cut and style of the pants or skirt. Can you imagine my elation when I discovered that I am now the same size that I was at the age of 17??????? This surgery has saved my life! As of today I am at 244 lbs. WOW!!!
January 3, 2006 I am glad to see that I am not the only one experiencing this "problem". I have lost 55 lbs. in 2 months , however when I look in the mirror, I still "see" the girl at 303 lbs- in a size 26/28 . I kept wondering why my colleagues at work kept "urging" me to maybe do a little shopping- mind you, I knew my clothes were a "little big" , however I knew something was wrong when my 12 year old said, "don't you think it's time for you to go to the store? " I followed her advice, mainly just to see what size I had become. Remember I said that I used to be a 26/28 not so long ago- well this week I am in a size 18 top and 20 bottoms- COMFORTABLY! Talk about shocked? I WAS- definitely glad but SHOCKED! Needless to say, we went SHOPPING this weekend, nothing overboard, but just a few items to hold me over till the next change! I guess positive affirmations and a good mirror will help with this delayed sight!
December 29 ,2005 Well can you believe that this is the end of 2005?? I have done extremely well- I am down 53 lbs since surgery on 10/7/2005. I have not seen a GREAT loss in clothes size, however I CAN see a difference. As for my other accomplishments this year- I finished the semester in school with a 3.25- 19 semester hours, WOW ME!!
November 24, 2005 Happy Thanksgiving! I am officially down 40 lbs. Here is the new pic!-
October 13, 2005 Well I have an official count: 6 days after surgery I have lost a total of 13 lbs- never to see those again!! This is in addition to the 5 that I lost prior to surgery!!! How wonderful!!!
October 12, 2005 Well 3 months to the day I entered my profile here, I have had a consult, done pre-op testing and had surgery and I now am on the losing side!! It has been a wow! set of moments for me! I am feeling great, my only complaint is thirst!! I have lost 10 lbs. within the first 4 days after surgery and will get an official count on 10/13. After waiting 3 years for this, I know that God answers prayers and all in the right time.
October 4, 2005 OK I am 3 days away from surgery- 3!!! The time is going by so fast, I am experiencing so many emotions all at once- but the one thing that I am most aware of is that my life is getting ready to CHANGE!! WOW!! Change is good.... October 2, 2005 The days have gone by so fast!! I am 5 days away from surgery and quickly counting down!! I went to a WONDERFUL support group the other night with about 11 or 12 people from Charleston- we had a great time. I haven't laughed so much in weeks! I also walked away with a wonderful angel by the name of Dawn, who has surgery scheduled on 10-28, with the same doctor as my own. I am so excited.......Life is about to change and I can't wait!!! September 26, 2005 You won't believe this, but I have a date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You won't believe this either but it is October 7, 2005!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I JUST has my consult September 15, 2005.... God is SO Good!!!! THis is the answer to prayer!!!
August 31, 2005 Well just back from the doctor who is having me sent for a sleep study in 2 weeks- 1 week after my consult with Dr. Byrne. This is to help determine to cause of my headaches in the morning...did I need another reason for gastric bypass? I can't think of any!! August 10, 2005 Well back from another trip to the doctor- the reason for my headaches? A buildup in my sinus cavity!!! Thank God!!! I must admit that I was more that a little nervous about what could really be going on- however God is Good !!! August 5, 2005 OK folks...back to the doctor today and we have discovered a fibroid tumor on the back of my uterus that happens to be the size of a tennis ball. For those of you that do not know, fibroids are a result of an over abundance of hormones- namely estrogen. These tumors are non cancerous, however weight plays a great part in the amount of hormones that your body produces. Until my consultation with Dr. Byrne, my OB-GYN has decided that we will try and manage the excessive bleeding with medication, so that I don't have to have a hysterectomy that will prevent me from ever having children naturally with my "prince charming". Did I need another reason to have gastric bypass? I can't think of any..... August 3, 2005 Well today was the referral day. Things went extremely well, my doctor wrote my referral after notating my weight loss efforts. She also ordered a sleep study as well as an MRI to rule out a “pseudo tumor” that is nothing more that extra fluid created in your spinal column that is only attributed to weight. In essence once the weight decreases, so will my headaches IF this “pseudo tumor” is the thing that’s causing the pain. My Dr. is also concerned that my weight has increased more than a few pounds in the last 6 months. WHATEVER these problems can be attributed to, I am now one step closer to my second consultation with Dr. Byrne. ( the first was in 2003) I must say that all is going according to schedule. My consult is September 15, 2005, meanwhile the MRI is 8-8-05 and the sleep study date is pending….that’s all for now folks! July 30, 2005 Ok I went away this weekend and did I not have a headache THE ENTIRE weekend? I have high hopes that the doctor will be able to provide some relief for me on next Wednesday...that's all folks! Check me out with my sister- can YOU see why WLS might be a good thing?
July 24, 2005- I just found out today that my cousin is 100lbs lighter from gastric bypass (that 100 lbs gone in 7 months!!). I am so excited for her and for myself! My referral appointment is getting closer and closer! I can't wait. Isn't life grand?????
July 14, 2005 Well I called my PCP to have my referral updated, and discovered that I will have to go in for an appointment. This is good; I needed to make her aware of some changes that I have experienced- yucky things like Pounding Headaches! Stress Incontinence! HBP! Sleep Apnea! Arthritis! - Things that I NEVER thought I would deal with. So I will go in on August 3. I have huge hopes that I will be able to have my surgery during the Christmas Holidays (vacation from school!). Keep me in your prayers
July 12, 2005 Hello my name is Towana and I am the mother of one beauty- Tayelor, who is 11. She is most affectionately known as "my doll-doll.” I am an office manager in the school system and currently attend college full time at night with 1 year left on a BA in Social Work- which I discovered to be my calling while working through some pretty rough problems in my new marriage. This drastic change was made AFTER completing 2 years of nursing school. I am proud of myself and the changes I have been forced to make . I have moved in leaps and bounds, and desperately need my body to be on the same page as my mind. I have rediscovered what I have known all along: Excess weight is only indicative of underlying issues. Once those issues are dealt with, the weight MUST GO! My self esteem, which suffered when I was younger, is well repaired now so I can only imagine what it will be like when I have reached my goal of successful weight loss. I am nervous and excited all at once, however I believe that this is my season for this surgery and I intend to walk joyfully into it. I met with Dr. Byrne about 2 or 3 years ago, but due to some life changes, I was unable to move forward. I believe that God does all things well, and so instead of seeing that as a failure, I elected to see it as something that would only benefit me and give me time to make some adjustments to "my mind". It was time well served, and I now have a better grasp on me, and feel much more equipped to handle sucha drastic change. Tayelor- my Beauty!
