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Doing Pretty Good.BMI under 30

jULY 24,2014---i AM DOING GOOD..I AM KEEPING MY WEIGHT LOSS OFF AND LOSTIN A POUND HERE AND THERE..I AM DOWN TO 204 AND ONLY 6 LBS FROM MY GOAL OF 198..BUT WITH MY KIDNEY DISEASE I HAVE FLUID RETENTION AND MY WEIGHT FLUCTUATES SO THAT MAKES IT HARD I GET SO CLOSE THEN THE FLUID ADDS 5 LBS OR SO ON ME..BUT I AM HAPPY WHERE I AM--I HAD THE EXCESS SKIN FROM MY BELLY REMOVED LAST YR IN SEPT 2013-WITH THAT I HAD A HERNIA REPAIR.. I STILL HAVE PROBS WITH DIARHEA-I LIVE ON IMODIUM.. I WALK WITH A CANE DUE TO MY UNBALANCE PROB FROM NEUROPATHY--BUT I AM NO LONGER CONSIDERED A DIABETIC AND TAKE ABSOLUTELY NO INSULIN OR MEDS FOR DIABETES ..    :-)  NOW I WAS TOLD 2 WEEKS AGO FROM MY ORTHO DOC THAT I NEED A KNEE REPLACEMENT--UGH--I TOLD HIM I AM TIRED OF HAVING SURGERYS --SO MAYBE NEXT YR.. I TURNED 52 ON JUNE 29TH--I CANNOT BLAME MY BONES/JOINTS CAUSE I AM THE ONE WHO WEIGHED 448 LBS AND PUT THEM TO OVER WORK TO HOLD ME UP. MY HUBBY HAS HIS SHOULDER OPERATED ON IN MAY AND IS GOING BACK TO WORK IN A FEW WEEKS--BAD ROTATOR CUFF INJURY.. I AM SO BLESSED TO HAVE MY HUSBAND--ALL WE HAVE IS EACH OTHER AND GOD.. PRAISE GOD FOR THAT.. WELL I AM PRAYING FOR ALL MY FRIENDS ON HERE AND ALL OVER FOR YOU TO HAVE STRENGTH IN YOUR WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY. TAKE CARE AND THANKS FOR READING THIS..SUSIE SMITH FROM EXETER,PA

10/22/2013- IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I UPDATED..I HAD A HERNIA AND I RECENTLY HAD MY HERNIA REPAIR AND ALSO I HAD A PANNI (LOOSE SKIN ON BELLY REMOVED) ON 9/27/2013..I AM RECOVERING SLOWLY--BUT SURELY.. THE PLASTIC SURGEON DEEMED IT MEDICALLY NECESSARY FOR ME TO GET MY SKIN REMOVED FROM MY BELLY AND HE TOOK OFF 9 LBS OF LOOSE SKIN FROM MY BELLY.. WOW..  I ALSO HAVE LOST 1 MORE LB SINCE THAT SURGERY ON TOP OF THE 9 LBS OF COURSE.. MY BMI IS AT 34 AND I HAVE LOST A TOTAL OF 224 LBS.. I AM TRYING TO GET TO MY GOAL OF 198.. BUT IF I DO NOT GET THERE I AM SO HAPPY I AM WHERE I AM AND NOT WHERE I USED TO BE.. I LOVE OBESITYHELP.COM AND IT IS SO HELPFUL STIL TO ME AS IT WAS WHEN I FIRST STARTED RESEARCHING WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY. IT IS TRULY A JOURNEY AND I HAVE COME TO CALL IT AN "ADVENTURE" AS I HAVE HAD TO HAVE 2 SURGERIES SINCE MY RNY TO CORRECT COMPLICATIONS..BUT I HAVE EXCEPTED THAT IT IS PART OF IT ALL.. SOME PEOPLE ARE BLESSED WITH NOT HAVING ANY COMPLICATIONS AT ALL--BUT MOST OF US HAVE SOMETHING.. I TAKE THINGS ONE DAY AT A TIME.. I REGRET BEING SO FAT FOR SO LONG AS THE DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS ARE PERMANENT FOR ME AND I LIVE IN CHRONIC PAIN EACH DAY.. BUT THE LORD GETS ME THRU IT ALL AND I AM 51 NOW AND IF I DID NOT HAVE MY RNY I WOULD HAVE DIED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.. SO IT HAS BEEN 6 1/2 YRS SINCE MY RNY AND I AM SO GLAD THAT I MADE THAT HAD DECISION TO HAVE THE SURGERY.. GOD BLESS YOU ALL ON YOUR ADVENTURES AND REMEMBER YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!  SUSIE SMITH FROM NE PA

  HELLO MY FRIENDS.I HAD MY REVISION WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY ON 12/5 AND ALL WENT WELL.. THE NAME OF THE SURGERY WAS ACTUALLY CALLED A "GASTRECTOMY" I HAD A FISTULA THAT IS A COMPLICATION FROM MY GASTRIC BYPASS AND I HAD TO HAVE THE 3/4 OF MY STOMACH THAT WAS BYPASSED TAKEN OUT..SO ALL WENT WEL; AND I WAS ONLY IN THE HOSPITAL 3 1/2 DAYS--NO CPMPLICATIONS..I AM VERY WEAK AND IN ALOT OF PAIN--I HAD TONS OF ADHESIONS ONCE AGAIN ON MY INTESTINES THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED BEFORE THE SURGERY SO I AM BLACK AND BLUE ON THE OUTSIDE AND IN AND IN ALOT OF PAIN AND SUPER TIRED..I HAVE LOST 1 LBS SO FAR IN THE PAST 9 DAYS SINCE I HAVE BEEN HOME AS AT FIRST AFTER THE SURGERY I WAS SO BLOADED WITH FLUID AND GAS.. I HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF MY INSULIN AND OTHER MEDS FOR NOW SO I DO NOT GET DEHYDRATED--AS I HAVE DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS LIKE KIDNEY DISEASE--I HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AS TIME GOES BY IF I NEED TO BE PUT BACK ON INSULIN--I MAY NOT  AND MY BP IS GOOD ALSO.. SO TIME WILL TELL AND I SHOULD KEEP DROPPING MORE WEIGHT--THE WEIGHT I GAINED LIKE 30 LBS AND HOPEFULLY I WILL MAKE IT TO MY GOAL FINALLY--THE DIABETES EDUCATOR TOLD ME THAT HIS FISTULA WAS MESSING WITH MY PANCREAS AND MY BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS SO NOT THAT IT IS OUT I SHOULD BE DOING GOOD WITH MY SUGARS.. ANYONE WHO HAS READ MY OTHER POSTS AND HAS BEEN PRAYING FOR ME AND THINKING OF ME THANK YOU SO MUCH AND MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU IN MANY WAYS..YESTERDAY ON 12/16 ME AND HUBBY JUSTIN CELEBRATED OUR 15th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY AND THAT WAS SO WONDERFUL.. IF I DID NOT HAVE MY ORIGIANAL GASTRIC BYPASS IN 2007 I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD MY NOW --SO I AMS O GREATFUL TO THE LORD FOR WATCHING OVER ME SO WELL.. PRAISE HIS NAME ON ALL THE EARTH.. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL AND ESPECIALLY HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR 2012 !! OH- I GOT MY GASTRIC DRAIN OUT ON WED AND WHAT A RELIEF AND ALSO MY INCISION LOOKS GOOD AND I HAVE DISOLVING STITCHES SO I DO NOT HAVE TO GO BACK TO SEE THE SURGEON AGAIN--UNLESS I AM HAVING A PROBLEM--BUT SO GOOD SO FAR.. I JUST HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH GI NUTRITION TO CONTINUE MY STAGES OF MY EATING SCHEDULE.. GOD BLESS--HUGS AND PRAYERS TO YOU ALL--SUSIE SMITH FROM EXETER,PA

 MY SURGERY IS AT 12:25 PM TODAY WE ARE LEAVING SOON TO GO TO DANVILLE PA .. I PRAY ALL GOES WELL.  HOPE I WILL NOT BE IN THE HOSPITAL MORE THAN 3-4 DAYS THIS TIME.. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT FRIENDS.

HELLO FRIENDS.. UPDATE-- I HAVE AN APPT ON OCT 28, WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS SURGEON --AS I HAD AN UPPER GI AND IT PROVED THAT I HAVE A FISTULA AND IT IS CONNECTED FROM POUCH TO OLD PART OF STOMACH AND IS DEFITELY ACTIVE IN DRAINING ALL FLUIDS AND FOOD THAT I EAT FROM MY POUCH TO THE LARGER BYPASSES STOMACH..SO THE SURGEON AND I WILL TALK REVISION OR MY OPTIONS... I HAVE GAINED SOME WEIGHT AND AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT IT--I DONOT WANT TO BE SUPER MORBIDLY OBESE AGAIN.. I PRAY THAT  ALL GOES WELL.. PLEASE PRAY IF I DO HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER SURGERY THAT I SURVIVE IT--AS THE SURGEON TOLD ME LAST YR-A SECOND SURGERY WILL BE HARDER ON ME.. SO WE WILL SEE..I PRAY THAT I DO NOT GET THE BRUSH OFF--AS I HAVE GOTTEN THAT BEFORE.. I PRAY THAT ALL OF YOU ARE DOING WELL-NO MATTER WHERE U ARE IN YOUR JOURNEY..PRAYERS AND GOD BLESS .. SUSIEQ 

 iT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I UPDATED MY BLOG HERE--ALMOST A YEAR..FOR ANYONE WHO IS FOLLOWING ME I DO APOLOGIIZE..I HAVE BEEN STEADY WITH MY WEIGHT BASICALLY GO UP AND DOWN 5-10 LBS AS I HAVE KIDNEY DISEASE AND FIGHT THAT FLUID RETENTION..I HAVE NOT MADE IT TO MY GOAL--BUT I AM MANAGING TO KEEP OFF OVER 200 LBS AND I AM FOR THE MOST PART--HAPPY.. I HAD A COLONOSCOPY IN MARCH AND THE GASTRO DOC FOUND 1 POLYP AND INTERNAL HEMOROIDS--THE POLYP CAME BACK CLEAN--LAST YR I HAD AN ENDOSCOPT AND THEY FOUND 3 POLYPS IN MY POUCH AND THEY WERE CLEAN ALSO..AT THAT TIME I THINK I ALREADY POSTED ABOUT THIS--BUT JUST IN CASE I DID NOT--THEY ALSO FOUND FROM THE ENDOSCOPY THAT I HAVE A  LOOSE STAPLE AND A FISTULA GROWING OUT FORM MY POUCH TO MY OLD PART OF MY STOMACH--HAD SOME DRAMA THERE--BUT I SAW THE SURGEON AND INQUIRED ABOUT A  REVISION--I DID NOT REALLY GET ANY ANSWERS FROM THE SURGEON SO I JUST ACCEPTED NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT AND NOT RISK IT AND HAVE ANOTHER SURGERY )REVISION) BUT IF I GAIN ALOT OF WEIGHT OR HAVE MORE PROBS--I WILL HAVE THAT TALK WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS SURGEON.. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY JOURNEY.

JUNE 3 2010
  SORRY I HAVE NOT UPDATED SOONER--BUT I DID HAVE AN APPT LAST MONTH WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS SURGEON DOWN IN DANVILLE PA WHERE I HAD MY ORIGINAL RNY BACK IN 2007.. WE TALKED ABOUT THE ENDOSCOPY I HAD AND THE PROBS THAT WERE FOUND--LIKE THE LOOSE STAPLE AND FISTULA-ENLARGED POUCH AND THE POLYPS THAT WERE FOUND AND CAME BACK CLEAN.
 THO I DID NOT GET MANY REAL ANSWERS OR ANYTHING I DID NOT ALREADY KNOW-- HE SAID THAT THEY COULD DO A REVISION--BUT THAT IT WOULD BE MUCH HARDER ON ME THE SECOND TIME--AS ON ANYONE--ME MORE CAUSE OF MY DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS AND SUCH.. SO HE TOLD ME--SINCE I WAS SO UPSET THAT I GAINED 10 LBS IN 3 MONTHS THAT IF I KEEP GAINING WEIGHT THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT THE GI NUTRTION DEPT WHO I SEE EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS--TO SEND ME BACK TO SEE HIM AND WE WILL TALK REVISION.. HE DID SAY THAT MY PROBS ARE NOT THE REASON I AM GAINING WEIGHT AND THAT
SOMETIMES A FISTULA WILL GROW OUT FROM THE POUCH TO THE OLD PART OF OUR STOMACHS--BUT I ASKED AND HE SAID THAT IT SHOULD NOT CAUSE ANY PROBS --ALSO HE COULD NOT ASSURE ME THAT THE LOOSE STAPLE WILL NOT FALL OUT AND CAUSE A PROBLEM.. HE AND HIS NURSE DID SAY THAT MY POUCH WAS NOT ENLARGED BECAUSE OF OVEREATING AS THE GI NUTRTIONIST DOCTOR HAD LECTURED ME ABOUT AND I DID NOT APPRECIATE THAT--I KNOW THAT I AM NO ANGEL AND I EAT THINGS I SHOULD NOT--BUT NOTHING LIKE I USED TOO AND I FEEL FULL FAST SO I FELT THAT MY POUCH WAS STILL WORKING FOR ME--
I KNOW THAT AFTER A COUPLE OF YRS THAT THE POUCH DOES ENLARGE SOME--BUT THE SURGEON AND HIS NURSE SAID THAT MY WEIGHT WOULD NOT BE SO STABLE A YEAR LIKE IT IS IF I WAS OVERLOADING MY POUCH--SO I WAS GLAD THAT THEY DID NOT ACCUSE ME OF OVEREATING..

 SO THE SURGEON SENT A LETTER TO THE GI NUTRITION DOC AND MY PRIME DOC EXPLAIING THE PLAN WE AGREED ON--I FEEL THAT HE MET ME HALF WAY AND WAS HAPPY ABOUT THAT FOR NOW--SO HE TOLD THOSE DOCS THAT IF I CONTINUE TO GAIN THAT I NEED TO SEE HIM AGAIN TO TALK REVISON-- I SAW MY PRIME DOC 3 WEEKS AFTER SEEING DR STRODEL IN DANVILLE AND MY PRIME DOC SHOWED ME THE LETTER HE SENT..
 I HAVE DECIDED TO STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT AND WORK AS HARD AS I CAN TO LOOSE MORE WEIGHT--I WANT TO GET TO MY GOAL.. I STILL HAVE LIKE 50 LBS TO LOOSE TO MY GOAL.. I TEND TO WORRY TOO MUCH AND GET OVERWHELMED AT FIRST WITH THINGS--BUT I NEED TO TRUST IN GOD AND LET HIM CARRY MY BURDENS.. SO I AM DOING THAT..
 I AM SO FRIGHTENED THAT I AM GONNA WEIGH 300+ POUNDS AGAIN AND DR S DID NOT SAY HOW MUCH MORE WEIGHT I HAD TO GAIN TO PROVE I NEEDED A REVISION--SO WE WILL SEE.. NO ONE UDERSTANDS HOW SCARY IT IS FOR US--ONCE YOU WEIGH LIKE 448 LIKE ME--WHEN I STARTED GAINING THE WEIGHT I GOT SO SCARED--NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT FEELING UNLESS U HAVE BEEN THERE.. I WAS IN A WHEEL CHAIT AND COULD NOT BREATHE AND WAS SO CLOSE TO DEATH--THIS RNY SAVED MY LIFE AND I DO NOT REGRET THE SURGERY--PLZ DO NOT GET ME WRONG--I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS SURGERY AND LOSING 200 LBS--I JUST WANT TO KEEP IT OFF AND NOT GAIN..
 I SAW MY KIDNEY DOC ALSO RECENTLY (yes i have too many doctors) AND I LOST 5 LBS SO THAT WAS AN INDICATION THAT SOME OF THE WEIGHT I HAD GAINED WAS FROM MY KIDNEYS--I DO HAVE STAGE 3 CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE AND MY KIDNEYS RIGHT NOW ARE ONLY FUNCTIONING AT 48%--BUT MY KIDNEY DOC SAYS THAT HE DOES NOT WANT TO CHANGE ANY OF MY MEDS AND I NEED TO GO BACK FOR MORE BLOOD AND URINE WORK IN 3 MONTHS AND THEN 6 MONTHS AND I HAVE TO SEE HIM AGAIN IN 6 MONTHS--LIKE IN NOV..
 OTHERWISE I AM DOING FINE AND ENJOYING TH NICE WEATHER.. I PRAY THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING GREAT AND THANKS FOR READING THIS.
  GOD BLESS
    SUSIE SMITH FROM NE PA

My name is Susie & I live in NE PA.. I an 44 now and 2 weeks and 4 days post-op from my Open RNY surgery done on 2/6/07 at the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville,PA by Dr Peter Benotti..
Things are coming along pretty good.. I cannot say that it is easy
every day is a new challenge and I take 1 Day at a time. I go for my follow up visits with the GI Nutrtion Doctor--Dr Still  & with my surgeon Dr Benotti this week on 2/27 & 3/28/07..
 I lost 68 lbs all together before my surgery.. So I will see what the official weight is on Tues.. My scale says that i weigh 340 lbs and if it is right I have lost a total of 108 lbs all together since last Feb 2006...
 This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and if you are considering having this surgery-you really need to make sure that you get yourself well informed so you know what to expect.. And you need to get in an excellent Bariatric Program-Like in Danvilles Geisinger Hosp. You have to complete a very well planned out GI Nutrition program before you can even see a surgeon and they make sure that you are well informed.. DO NOT THINK THIS IS THE EASY WAY OUT!  It is not and you have to be very serious about wanting to lose the weight and be ready to work your BUTT off....This surgery is just a TOOL to help us get the weight off fast and we have to still watch our diets and we have to Exercise.. A real Life change is the key.
 I am diabetic and have diabetic complications and I had no other choice But to have this surgery if I wanted to live a few more years with my wonderful husband of 10 yrs who takes good care of me--He is my best friend--my nurse --my provider and sometimes during PMS my worst enemy..lol But i do not know what i would do without him.. I thank my GOD for him everyday.
And I thank GOD for this site and having it to talk to others who know exactly what i am going thru..

WELL.
 I HAD TO HAVE AN ENDOSCOPY IN MARCH LAST MONTH AND IT SHOWED THAT I HAVE A LOOSE STAPLE AND A FISTULA--ALSO THE DOC TOOK OUT A FEW SMALL POLYPS THAT WERE FOUND IN MY POUCH AND THEY WERE BOPSIED AND CAME BACK CLEAN.. I HAVE GAINED A FEW POUNDS SO I AM SCHEDULED TO SEE THE GASTRO SURGEON IN DANVILLE PA TO SEE IF HE IS GONNA DO A REVISION OR A REPAIR OR WHAT--MY POUCH IS STRETCHED A LITTLE BIT.. I HAVE LOST OVER 200 LBS AND NOW I AM BEARLY HOLDING ON TO A 200 LBS LOSS--I STILL HAVE ABOUT 50 LBS TO LOSE TO MY GOAL--MY RNY WAS  OVER 3 YRS AGO AND I WAS DOING SO WELL AND BOOM--EVERYTHING IS CRAZY.. I AM WORRIED THAT THE LOOSE STAPLE IS GONNA COME OUT AND CAUSE PROBS--THE FISTULA --WELL THEY ARE NOT TELLING ME MUCH ABOUT THAT--BUT HERE ON OH I HAVE READ ABOUT A REVISION AND IT SAYS THAT A FISTULA IS A COMPLICATION OF WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY--SO I AM PREPARING MYSELF TO GO THRU THIS ALL AGAIN--I NEVER WANT TO BE 448 LBS AGAIN.. BUT IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE GASTRO SURGEON DR STRODEL SAYS AND IF MY INSURANCE WILL PAY-- I HAVE A DIFFERENT INSUR NOW THEN I DID BACK IN 2007.. I HAVE GEISINGER HMO AND MEDICARE IS MY SECONDARY INSUR--SO I WILL SEE ON MAY 5th WHAT HAPPENS.. I AM NERVOUS AND TRYING NOT TO BE DEPRESSED.. I AM STILL ON INSULIN AND STILL HAVE A BMI OVER 35 AND HBP AND OTHER CO-MORBIDITIES.. I JUST DO NOT WANT TO END UP HAVING EMERGENCY SURGERY IF SOMETHING HAPPENS WITH THIS STAPLE OR FISTULA..
 THANKS FOR READING THIS AND I PRAY THAT WHEREVER YOU ARE IN YOUR JOURNEY THAT YOU ARE DOING GREAT !

 BLESSINGS TO YOU
    SUSIEQ