Donna B.

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Cinna G. 21 years, 11 months ago

Happy ONE Year Anniversary to You. I hope that this post finds you healthier and happier than ever. Please stop by and update your profile so that others can follow your progress. You never know who you might inspire. Have a great day!

Donna B. 22 years, 7 months ago

OK.........Here's a long awaited update.....!!As of Sept. 18th, my "official" weight loss was 54 lbs. I broke 200!! Yeah! At 196, I look and feel wonderful! I think 54 lbs in 4 months is absolutley fabulous..I do believe that as of this date(Oct. 1st) I am down even more..my "unofficial" weight loss is approximately 62 lbs. Except for the recent events that has everyone depressed, life isn't so bad. I actually feel like getting up in the morning! I have been getting a good nights' sleep, no tossing & turning to get comfortable anymore, no pins & needles in my arms & legs. Now when my head hits the pillow, it's lights out until daybreak! AND...I CAN CROSS MY LEGS!!! Another great discovery..I can walk up the 4 flights of stairs to my daughters' dorm room, without feeling like I'm about to pass out or have a coronary! My knee is still a bit of a bother..in April, I tore a ligament in it, but as the weight comes off, it becomes less of a pain! I find that I don't "dump", but I do need to remember to chew my food well, and not to gulp down liquids. Usually the first few bites will remind me! Sometimes I need to "restart" my meal. If I allow myself to become too hungery, I find I eat too fast, take big bites and not chew it well, like I was used to doing before the surgery. That's when I inevitably get that very uncomfortable feeling, and need to get rid of the offending bite of food, and start again. So far, I have no problem with any foods other than rare meats and concentrated sweets. I seem to have lost my taste for some of my old favorites! Sweets leave an after taste, sort of like aspertame would leave an after taste for some people. This is exactly what I had hoped for. My tastes have changed pretty dramaticaly. I actually crave things I wouldn't have dreamed of eating before. Although I am still trying out various foods, I find that any and all soups are my very best favorites. I am still convinced that this was absolutely the very best thing I could have done for myself. I am very happy with myself and the results this is producing for me. Someday, I may actually need to follow a "diet" to lose more, but as for now, just eating less is such a relief! It is a wonderful feeling to have the choice to be picky and just eat what you want, and not feel the need to "clean" up the leftovers! There is no guilt in leaving food when you feel satisfied and full! (Besides, I now find that my friends and family have become scavangers, always watching to see if I leave anything that they can finish for me!) Next Dr.'s appointment isn't until Dec. I will try to keep my profile up to date. PEACE.

Theresa B. 22 years, 7 months ago

Hi Donna. How are you? It is Sept and no new updates.... Good luck I see Dr rovito Nov 7th

Donna B. 22 years, 10 months ago

Well.....here's the official countdown! I am thrilled to pieces! Starting weight was........................250 Weight day of surgery (May 17th)...........246 Official weight June 12th .................228 (-22 lbs! in 26 days!! Not too bad, eh? Looking forward to a FABULOUS summer. Hang in there everyone!

Donna B. 22 years, 11 months ago

Hi everyone....well it's almost three weeks since my surgery..and I still feel great!! I have been sampling everything and so far, so good. I find that if I eat or drink too fast, i.e. with much enthusiasm (!), I get a gassy pain, sort of like a rock is in my tummy, and I need to "burp" it out. I seem to be doing alot of burping (and "gassy" things!) but feel great afterwards anyhow. After the first few bites, it helps to wait and burp....seems I have more room then and can continue to eat slowly. Best of all, I can feel that I have lost weight. My scale, of course, doesn't think so, but then my scale & I were always in disagreement. Never did care for that scale anyway..... At times, it has surprised me at how much I am able to consume. If I eat at a slow, steady pace, I have found that I can finish a Wendy's Grilled Chicken sandwich, skipping half the bread though. Some things just fill me up super fast too, like two or three tablespoons of egg drop soup...maybe it was the MSG? But then again, you know what they say about Chinese food, fills you up but then your hungry again in an hour!! Too true!!Not bad though, huh? My husband is already wondering if this surgery was worth it, being that I can still "eat"!!! What was he thinking? Yes I can definetly tell that I am losing weight, slowly but surely. Slow is good. The things I have not tried yet (as per Dr. Rovito's advice) are rice, al dente pasta, and beef (red meats), and of course been watching my sugars and fats. I am spending much time in my garden, taking it easy, and trying not to over do it. I do get tired still. I have much energy in the morning and have all these plans of things I'd like to get done, but time doesn't always allow it. I am still finding it hard to get the water in. I am also drinking Carnation instant breakfast (sugarfree) each morning (keeps me regular, LOL!!) and been drinking alot of tea, hot & iced. Next Tuesday (6/12) is my check up appointment at Dr. Rovito's....looking forward to getting that official weight loss reading. I am loving this feeling of being able to control my intake! This was the main reason I decided to go with this surgery. I knew that if I didn't have a handle on the amount of food I could eat (inhale?), that I would probably blow myself right up and out of this world! Now I only need to taste a little portion of the best selections and I am good to go!!! I love that I don't feel guilty about leaving food on my plate anymore! Now to work on taking smaller portions! (Alas,my eyes are STILL bigger than my stomach! LOL! Ha! Even more so now, huh ?!!?!!!) Here's wishing that all is going well with all of my WLS Buddies.....will update soon.........Ma

Laura B. 22 years, 11 months ago

Dear Donna, YOU SOUND GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU GO GIRL !!!!! YOU MAKE ME LESS NERVOUS ABOUT JUNE 12th. KEEP ME POSTED!!!!!!!!!!!!! LAURA

Donna B. 22 years, 11 months ago

Well it certainly is a Brand New Day! The Sting concert was fantastic! He sang something from every album, including "Roxann"& "Every Breath You Take"..two of my favorites from when he was the chief of "Police"!!I sang as loud as I never thought possible so I got some good breathing excersize in as well as physical! Too much fun! And I am feeling great! Getting rid of the "drain" really set me free!!LOL! Anyway, I hope to be getting some food shopping done today...pick me up some well deserved goodies. Funny how the "goodie" catagory takes on a different meaning now..a healthful one. Last nite before leaving for the show, I had tuna w/mayo on veggie crackers...more than I thought I would be able to eat, but I think I just stopped in time! And they were delicious! I'm finding that water may become a problem..don't want to guzzle it down, and small sips just don't cut it. Next appointment with Dr. Rovito will be in three weeks. And I am already anxious to see how much of me will be gone! As it is, it's 10 lbs in 5 days, but I am still retaining from the surgery.I want to tell everyone I see now that this may be the answer they are praying for. Hopefully the Lord will lead them...Till next update...

P B. 22 years, 11 months ago

Hi Donna! I am seeing Dr. Rovito today also! It's my first appt with him and and very exctited to meet him..I have had wonderful things about him over the past few weeks. I originally was going to go with Dr. Colberg down in Philly but am interested in the LAP procedure as opposed to the open..after reading how well you did i'm even MORE excited! *LOL* I'm in Allentown and just being able to ahve it done closer to home and not ahve to travel way down to Philly will be so much better! I'm so happy things went well for you!! God bless :)

Donna B. 22 years, 11 months ago

Hey everyone! After a sudden, unexpected family emergency, my surgery had to be rescheduled! I had the dreaded feeling that if I didn't go through with this soon, it may be shelved forever. I thought I would have to wait months for the reschedule, but miraculosly, Dr. Rovito took things upon himself(what with it being Mother's Day weekend, his staff was away!)and found a volunteer to switch dates with me.(Thak you volunteer....whoever you are!!!) Thurs. the 17th was my new day giving me the opportunity to get family issues in order, sadly. So it was only by a few days that this was put off. Thank you Lord!! Now I am 5 days out of surgery and am feeling fantastic! Could this be right? I have to see Dr. Rovito today and finally get this drain removed. It certainly won't be missed. I actually had a pleasant hospital experience, if there could be such a thing! Everything went well. Surgery was scheduled for 7 AM. I was in surgery for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours & in my room (window seat!)by 3 PM. The Morphine drip was put to good use. At 4PM I got a roomate! Although I did not see her through the curtain, she sounded up and very lively! Good! We come to find out we both had the same procedure, same surgeon...her surgery was at 11AM..We were both feeling really great! The Dr., Nurses and staff had a great time with us and after our barium swallow the next morning, they kicked us out...we were having too much of a good time for major sugery patients! We were both eager to get home and we're gone by 4PM Friday. When I got home I was feeling the effects of the Percocets and just wanted to sleep. Sat. morning, I was up brite & early, watering my garden! I couldn't believe how good I felt, and friends couldn't believe how good I sounded too! Amazing! Sunday I felt ready to try out my new tummy and had a small handful of dry Cheerios, tea, then on to some baby food fruits....I wanted to be sure that the barium and percocets didn't stop me up, so I had as my first choice, prunes & apples....by Monday all was in good (too good) working order! So far I had pureed baby food fruits, tea, apple juice, Cheerios, and oyster crackers..just nibbles..I am looking forward to the Dr.'s ok for real food. I have some "head hunger" but I am still afraid to try any meats or anything really not on the "list". I would like to thank everyone for keeping me in their prayers during this time, and to thank them for all their emails. I would also like to thank all the new friends I have made in the hospital, especially Tricia, and her WLS family! It was a great way to spend recovery, meeting people who have already been there, to give me the confidence of knowing I had made the right decision, and showing me with exuberance, what happiness I had to look forward too. It was a pleasure to meet you all. Also, Tina, if it wasn't for you.....!!Thanks so much for showing me the way. Your fortitude is amazing. Glad I have a friend like you to go through this fantastic journey with. Think of all the people we'll soon make jealous! LOL! And lastly, above all..I would like to thank my husband. This must have been the hardest week of your life. Through it all, you still saw in your heart, how much I really wanted to be "normal", even though you already thought I was. You loved me fat, you loved me thin, you loved me for better, and for worse. I bear your sorrow too and with love I will see to it that you feel no remorse. Great days are ahead for us! I am glad to have you to share them with. I am looking forward to finding out what Dr. Rovito's scale says today. I feel like I lost 20 lbs. alrady. I am also eager to see my WLS roomie...been 4 days! (we have the same appointment time) Then it's off to the "Sting" concert tonight in Wilkes-Barre....a Mother's Day gift from my daughter. I will be updating again soon. May the Lord guide those who are searching. Best of luck to everyone pre & post op. Hugs and prayers to all. Donna

Sue H. 22 years, 12 months ago

Good luck and God BLess. Tomorrow is going to be a good day. I feel it. Sue