Stephanie G.

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I own a company that specializes in clear heart (see through) lockets that you personalize with floating charms to make each one unique.  Several people asked me about my website but OH pulled the post so I thought I'd post it here.  It's www.StephiesLoveLockets.com .  A lot of people have made a "journey" bracelet by putting their starting weight in numbers inside (example: 2-4-7) then adding a butterfly or birthstone from the month they had surgery.  Anyway, if you're interested check out my website and give me a shout if I can help you design one for youself or as a gift for someone.  I can make ones for birthdays, Christmas, baby showers, weddings etc~the list is endless.

I haven't posted in a very long time but I remembered when I was a newbie that I frequently read other people's profiles to see what I was about to undergo.  So here is my 3 year 3 month post-op update:

Starting weight: 242-size 22/24
Today: 149-size 8/10.
I just had an annual physical and my labs are perfect and I have NO medical conditions other than some arthritis that prevents me from doing a lot of exercise.

The one thing I want to stress, is that I find it so hard to maintain my weight the further out I get.  In the beginning, weight just fell off-it didn't matter what I ate.  Now I have to conciously think about everything I put in my mouth.  If I had not established good eating habits in the beginning, I know I'd be having an issue with regain.  I see so many of my friends that are struggling with this and it breaks my heart. 

Pearls of wisdom from a "veteran":
1.  Establish a good relationship with other WLS people-whether it be thru the TMB, OH, or a local suport group.  We "get each other"- no one else does.
2.  Change your eating habits from the beginning and stick to them.  PROTEIN first, don't drink with meals, shop on the outside aisles of the grocery store.  No fast food (or very little), avoid "slider" foods.
3.  Drink your water~ least 64 oz a day but none with meals.
4.  The CARB MONSTER is real and lives in your house.  Kick his butt to the curb-his whole mission is to sabattage your weight loss. 
5.  Be very careful about cross addictions.  A LOT of my friends are struggling with Rx drug addiction, alcoholism, gambling-these things are REAL.
6.  Seek out some professional counselling.  You got fat for a reason.  We are all food addicts and need HELP working thru those emotions.
7.  Vitamins are NOT optional.  If you had a RNY, you can DIE if you don't take them.  You made the decision to have the surgery so keep up your end of the bargain.


Don't let this post scare you.  My surgery has been the absolute BEST thing I've ever done.  I have met the most incredible people, have had more fun in my 50's than I ever had in my 30's, I still eat everything I always ate, just maybe prepared a little differently (no more fried foods).  The only food I can't tolerate is milk in large quantities-no biggie.  I still eat cake/candy but only a bite or two-and belive me, it's enough to satisfy me.  Being THIN is AWESOME and is well worth any sacrifice I had to make along the way.

I recently had my 6 month plastic surgery check-up and everything is perfect.  I LOVE my flat tummy and perky "girls" more than anything.  It is the end to my journey.  I am now at a comfortable weight and size for me.  I weigh 153-158, have a "normal" BMI and wear a size 10.  For a 54 year old woman, I think I look good and feel great. 

I remain very active in my support groups both online and in person and encourage everyone to seek out that support.  Other people don't understand what you have been through or are going through like WE do.

I am also faithful about taking my vitamins, I still drink a protein drink (5 days a week) for breakfast and I get my labs checked every six months.  This is a committment for LIFE and is not an easy fix to a lifelong problem.  I also weigh everyday and record it on a calendar in my bathroom so I always know where I am in my "5 lb maintanence range".

I'm not the perfect WLS patient, I do eat more carbs than I should and have one "snack size" Hershey bar every night but as long as I can maintain, I'm happy.  I am a little over 1-1/2 years post-op and pray that I will not have a regain in the future.  I know if I follow the principles I've learned and continue to stay connected with my peers, I will be successful.

Just an update at one month out from my Tummy Tuck and Breast Lift.  I feel really good.  I can now walk fully upright and haven't taken any pain meds in 10 days.  I did have an infection in my TT incision but after 3 days on antibiotics it was better.  I had one drain out in 2 weeks, the other one came out at week 3.  Life is so much better without them.  I'm still bruised which is crazy but that's just me.  It's not the norm for most people.  My right breast starting hurting this week and I'm told it's the nerves re-connecting and re-awakening.  All I know is it doesn't feel good.  The funny thing is, my BL never hurt at all until this week.  It's not bad enough to take pain meds, just uncomfortable. I still tire easily but heck I'm 53 years old so that's just normal for me.  Plus all this inactivity doesn't help.  I've lost 10 lb since surgery (including 5 lbs of skin) and now wear a size 10/12, was wearing 12/14 pre-op.  So I have dropped one size for sure.  I've also lost 5 inches off my waist.  (Glad I took those measurement beforehand).  All I have to say, is it is worth every penney I spent to pass a mirror and see a woman who has a waist for the first time in her life!!!!

Tips for anyone having a tummy tuck:

Get a walker and use it for the first week.  (I bought mine at a thrift store for $5).  I attached a small bag/backpack to the front to hold my cell phone and drink.

Use a shower chair or potty chair in the shower for the first week or two.  It's much easier to sit down while showering.

Pad your incision line with overnight Kotex pads.  I bought cheap ones fron the dollar store and lined my incisions with them to protect from drainage and to keep the compression garment from rubbing on the incision.  (It's much cheaper than gauze and thicker too).  Cut a pad in 1/3 and then make a slit in each one to put around your drain tubing to keep the drainage off your clothes.

I used a plain old abdominal binder for the first week over top of my nightgown to prevent rubbing.  After a week, I alternated between the abd binder and my compression garment.  I bought a Silhouette brand one that had a 4 inch elastic top, it's crotchless and has zippers and hook and eyes on both sides.  (google it on the internet).   You can pee and poop with it on cuz it's crotchless.

Take 2 stool softners every time you take pain meds.  I also took 2 fiber tablets and drank Benefiber daily in my protein shake.  You do NOT want to get constipated!! 

Ask for LIQUID pain meds.  I used liquid Lortab and it worked in like 15 minutes.  (much faster than pills).  I also asked for liquid Phenergan (for nausea).  I used it along with my pain med cuz it has a sedative effect and makes the pain med more effective.  (I never was nauseated, but it sure helped with the pain). 

An On-Q pump is a must.  It injects numbing medicine into your incision site slowly over 4 days.  It made a huge difference.

Strip your JP drain tubing every 6-8 hours.  Start at the end closest to your body and squeeze the tubing between your thumb and forefinger to force the fluid down into the bulb.  The tubing should be flat and clear when you finish.  If you don't understand make sure you ask your doc about this.  It's very important to prevent clogs.

Don't put any creams, oils or lotions on your incisions unless specifically told by your doctor.

Your appetite will markedly decrease.  Keep lots of liquids on board  (I started eating SF popsicles again.) 

Make sure you continue your vitamins.  Zinc is important for healing so I started taking a zinc supplement about 3 months before my plastics.  Also keep that protein going, it's essential for healing.

Get a lanyard for around your neck and pin your drain tubing to it while you shower. 

Clothing:  I wore loose PJ pants and a button-up shirt home from the hospital.  I live in loose nightgowns for the first week.  After that I wore exercise suits when I had to go outside.

Hide your JP drains in a fanny pack.  No one can see them.

Weigh yourself, take pre-op pics and take your meausrements the day before you go in.  These will be very important later down the line.  I love looking at the difference.  Can't wait for all the swelling to go away so I can re-measure my tummy.

I said I'd post after my plastics and just got so busy I apologize.  It's been 2 weeks since I had a Tummy Tuck and Breast Lift and all I have to say is that it wasn't nearly as painful as I expected.  OK, let's start at the beginning.  I went in Thursday Oct 9th at 6:30 am and the first thing they did was overcharge me by $900.  I was so nervous I didn't even argue, I just paid it.  (I did get my money back the following week).  I had an IV started and then just waited until Dr Byrne came and "marked" me.  He planned to remove about 2-3 lbs of skin from my belly.  The next thing I know, I was awake in the recovery room and Clay was by my side.  I don't even remember leaving the holding area or saying goodbye to Clay.  I was in surgery a total of 5 hours and they say I woke up within 15 minutes of the time I hit recovery.  Within the hour I was texting people!!  The pain was certainly tolerable, I had both an On-Q pump and they were giving me morphine and alternating that with Vicodin.   Dr Byrne came to see me and told me that he removed 5 lbs of skin!!!  That was a lot more than we expected.  I was also able to donate it to the tissue foundation so that was really nice.   I spent the night and was discharged home at 8 am the next morning.  They removed my catheter at 3 pm and I finally got up at 2 am to pee.  Getting up the first time wasn't fun but I managed it with a nurse and tech helping me.  I also walked around the unit for a good 5 minutes.  We had a hard time trying to decide which vehicle to take me home in.  We have my convertible or Clay's truck.  He ended up bringing a step and we got me into the truck.  Once I was home I just settled into my recliner for the rest of the day.  Only got up to pee.  Each day got better and better.  I used a walker for the first week to help me get around plus it reminded me to walk stooped over.  It was an absolute lifesaver.   I also used a potty chair in the shower to sit on.  I was able to shower 48 hrs post-op.  Needless to say, I needed help to shower and undress for several days.  The On-Q pump lasted for 4 days and was wonderful.  I noticed a definate increase in pain after it was empty.  I went through 2 bottles of liquid Lortab in the first 10 days, then I switched to Darvocet.  I kept the pain med on board constantly to keep the pain tolerable.  I never let it get bad.  I also took Phenergan with it even though I had no nausea.  Phenergan adds a sedative effect that allowed me to rest.  Now that I'm two weeks out, I take one Darvocet about 2-3 times a day and it's enough to keep me comfortable without making me sleepy.  I still have one JP drain (I started with 2).  The first one came out at my 2 week check-up but the other one will probably be in for another week.  I also am supposed to be walking completely upright but that really pulls but I'm trying.  I've posted pics on my profile for people to see.  If you would like to see them, send a friend request and I will add you.  I will also try to add some hints and tricks that will help future plastics patients that I discovered along the way.

Well it's finally here.  Tomorrow I go in for my tummy tuck and breast lift.  I feel OK about everything I'm just disappointed that I never reached goal.  In fact I've gained a few pounds waiting on the plastics.  I've been doing a lot of stress eating lately.  Hopefully my appetite will decrease after I have the surgery.  My hubby just got diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes this week so he will be on a high protein, low carb diet as well.  I hope that will help me to be more compliant with my diet. 

Anyway, I will post again detailing my experience with plastics once the swelling has gone down and I can sit at a computer.  I think I'm ready...got my drugs, recliner is ready with lots of pillows to prop with and I've got my cell phone...what more could I need?  Oh yeah, prayers...

I wrote this on the actual day, just forgot to post it to my blog...jeesh!!

 

Today is officially the one year anniversary of my WLS.  Thanks to those of you that came to celebrate with me at the BBQ.  I am so very grateful for the fact that I was given a new lease on life because of this surgery.  As most of you know I had a poorly placed lapband for 2 years and never lost any weight.  I vomited DAILY for 2 solid years and felt like a complete and total failure.  I was also told by several people, including 2 DOCTORS, that I failed the surgery.   When I decided to have a revision to a bypass, I was so scared that I would once again fail the surgery.  I was so happy to finally find out that it wasn’t my fault.  My lapband wasn’t placed correctly and I had a HUGE hiatal hernia from storing all my food in my esophagus.  So at the time of my bypass I was 242 lbs, wore size 24 clothes, was on blood pressure medication, was a borderline diabetic, had very high cholesterol and had sleep apnea.  Today, one year later, I’m down 80 lbs, wearing a size 12, off my BP meds, my blood sugar is completely normal, my cholesterol is normal and my sleep apnea is better but not completely resolved.  It hasn't been easy, in fact it's been a daily struggle but it is still the best decision I've ever made.

 But the absolute BEST thing to come from having this surgery is all the friends I have made along the way.  I have never in my life, thrown a party and had 64 people show up.  Heck prior to WLS, I didn’t know 64 people, no less want to invite them to my home.  The simple words, “I love you” just don’t seem adequate to describe how I feel about you guys.  Gina and Dana you 2 have been there to guide me from Day 1.  If you hadn’t welcomed me to the board, I probably wouldn’t have ever given it another try.  The Terrell troopers and Allen support group peeps have been there for me in more ways than I can count.  Then there are my on-line friends from near and far that I can’t imagine letting a day go by without visiting with you and reading about your lives.  You know who you are so I won’t even try to name names.  A special shout –out to my dear friend Becky with whom I have so much in common.  I love you more than my scale- and that’s a fact!!  Anyway, thanks to all of you that have been with me though my ups and downs and I look forward to many more years of friendship and support. 

Yesterday I went for a Plastic Surgery consult with Dr Byrne of Rockwall and LOVED him!!  He told me I didn't need any lipo cuz what I had left was skin and not fat...woohoo!!  We decided on a tummy tuck and breast lift without augmentation.  He thinks I have enough tissue that I won't need implants.  The total cost I think will be $10-11K.  His office girl had some difficulty adding the numbers so I have to go back by there to be sure.  I felt very comfortable with him, even standing there NEKKID!!  We are planning on October so it won't be so hot when I'm wearing the compression garment.  Plus that will give my weight a few more months to stabilize.  My daughter graduates college in December so I think the timing will be perfect.  Now if I can just lose another 5 lbs...I don't think I'll see my original goal of 150 but I'm in a size 12 and I feel very good about myself other than all the loose skin.  Now if I could just afford get the arms done too!!
240/164/150

Well it's been a while since I posted.  I've been very frustrated with my weight loss and myself.  I FINALLY broke out of the 170's and now I'm into the 160's.  But it's taken 4 months!!!  I hit 179 in January and today I am 168.8.  So basically 10 lbs in 4 months, YUCK!!  But on the bright side, I'm wearing mainly size 12's (a few 14's depending on the cut and style) and medium scrubs.  So hoe cool is that?

The best part of this whole experience has been the friends I've met through OH.  I literally know over 100 people who have had this surgery that I talk with on a daily or at least weekly basis.  50 of us took a trip to Louisiana to see Dana a couple weeks ago and we have dinners every other month where about 100 of us get together.  I have never had better or closer friends in my whole life.  These people would do anything for me and vice versa.  This coming weekend I'm attending my first conference on WLS here in Dallas.  I actually got a hotel room so I can spend more time with these people I love so dearly.  If you're reading this, I strongly encourage you to get involved with support groups whether it be on-line or in person.  They make all the difference in the world.

240/169/150
-71 lbs