a quick update

[Guest guest]

Hi Kym, our wonderful sibling who gets to travel in Florida leaving all of us

behind to suffer! Just kidding -- the sunshine is finally here, too, and I

just love, love, love it! Congratulations on the cholesterol level! Looking

good! I'm sorry about the vitamin D, but the trip to Florida, plus the med

should get you back up to where you should be. Sounds like you have a real

handle on the thought process issue -- we all just have to keep working on

it!

I think you are very smart to wait for the surgery, as your body has had a

lot to cope with in the past year!

As for the " head " issues, I find myself observing bodies and their foibles

(and I was in a good place for that the last two days -- a swim meet)! Even

young (high school) students have imperfect bodies, and even the most perfect

body is imperfect in some way. I think we need to take care in exaggerating

our skin issues (especially those of us who are older -- I'm 49). Skin IS

looser when you are older. Just a fact of life. It doesn't respond and

return to shape as it did when one was younger (drat it). But even those

people who are great beauties and who have never had an overweight day in

their life, have looser skin as they reach a certain place and time! We can

minimize skin issues with surgery, with lotions and sunscreens but they are

going to be a reality with aging, and this, in a way is very freeing.

Sometimes we can get to " what is, is " and be happy with it!

I, too, love my Beano!

Keep up the good work, Kym! Your update in inspiring and it is so good to

hear you doing so well!

Hugs and blessings, Ann

[Guest guest]

great update so glad to here how well you are doing. hope you had a great time

in FL. I grew up in WA so I know about the gray. I am on my way there in two

weeks so iam trying to soak up all the sun I can take care and have a day

Amber In Hawaii

gastric stapling 1989 lost 40#

D.S. July 8th 2002

starting wt 287 size 26

wt at 10 months 171 size 14

starting BMI 48 NOW 29

a quick update

Hi fellow switch brothers and sisters!!!

I just got back from three glorious weeks in Florida. Sunshine does

the soul good. And the body too I guess. I had my one year labs

done before my trip to FL and I was deficient in Vitamin D of all

things. This hits me as strange since my multivitamin and my

calcium BOTH have vitamin D... but I do leave in Seattle where it is

GREY GREY GREY in the winter with no sunshine so maybe that is why I

was D deficient!!! I wonder if I could claim my trip to the Florida

sun as a medical expense? Ha!! Dr. K put me on Rococal or

something like that. I'll retest again in 3 months.

My cholestrol was 95!!!! Amazing. My bone density showed I am

above average.

I'm down 130 lbs since 6/5/02. I have been bouncing around 125 to

130 down since end of February. I have not been compliant with

carb watching nor excercise since my hystrectomy and these damn

hormones made me gain water weight. So I know I have lost more fat

(clothes fit different).... but it is slowing WAY DOWN. No more 10

lb a month losses per month for me.

I am hoping to lose another 35 lbs or there abouts. I am psyching

myself for excercise and being diet complaint. I dont care if I have

to do weight watchers or adkins.... I really want to give it my all

to try to hit my goal. I figure if this is my set weight (and I'd

be ok with it if it was...) I at least want to feel and know in my

heart I did everything I could to get where my head thought my set

weight should be.

My husband got laid off a few weeks ago so I am trying to decide if I

should have the tummy tuck now while he's off of work and can watch

my three kiddos. I think I am going to wait till next year though.

I just cant get up the gumption to submit my body to a 3rd abdominal

surgery in a span of a little over a year.

The newest process of my weight loss that I am working on is my

head. I still have eating issues that I have basically ignored thru

this DS weight loss process. Time to realize that there are

consequences for eating crap. I also now have to realize

what " beauty " is... and that it isn't wrapped up around some

arbitrary number that I assign as a dress size. I have to learn to

be happy, proud and appreciate this body God gave me... saggy boobs,

scars, crepey skin and all. I need to be mindful that I am what I

think.... and I am impacting my children by what I say and do.

It's time to get with the program. (Im pep talking myself... can ya

tell?)

I can not say enough about BEANO. Those of you who are suffering

gas issues... need to try it. I also have found that it even lessens

the gas longer term..... for a few weeks. I need to take 2 or 3

pills if I am eating an all white flour meal like spaghetti... but it

really works.

My hormone levels are now back to normal after the hystrectomy.

(there were some very dark days after that surgery!) And guess what

is back? Those stupid tiny white bumps. I am now CONVINCED they

are estrogen related somehow. I'm praying they are also weight

loss related: ie... when I am losing weight, my body also makes

those stupid bumps <grin>.

I would really love to see updates from folks. They are the posts

I enjoy reading the most even if I dont get to respond to everyone.

--Kym in Seattle

Down 130ish pounds

6/5/02 with Dr. K

[Guest guest]

Oh my goodness Carol, what a great post! Congratulations to both you and

Chuck for the fabulous jobs you have done. I am so happy to hear about your

renewed self-confidence -- that is so, so important to our well-being. I

just loved reading your post!

Hugs and blessings, Ann

[Guest guest]

Hi Kym!

How cool to be in Florida for 3 weeks! You and I are about the same

in the weight loss area. But, I have 3 mos on you! I'm down 132 lbs.

from 327 to 192, size 26 stretchy to size 16 jeans!! It's been about

18 yrs or so for that! Chuck is down from 330 to 228 in 6 mos! Size

52 pants to size 40! We got married 23 yrs ago and he was a size 38

then! We're both very happy with our ds. Chuck's only problem is

loose and sometimes urgent bms. Dr. K has put him on a round of

Codiene. I put him on acidophlyis (sp) and between the two it's

getting better. I'm guessing it will slow down when his rapid weight

loss stops. He might end up skinnier than me I am also eating

carbs and not exercising. I eat my protein first, lots of water, but

I do eat carbs. I also feel like if this is my set point, that's OK-

I'm happy with my size now. I'm not the biggest person in a room

anymore and I can fit so many more places and I have more range of

motion,it's incredible! Chuck and I can actually eat in a booth!

We're looking into buying a Honda CRV which we never would have

considered at our pre op sizes! I'm back at selling real estate too.

I'm having a lot of success with it too! I couldn't even fit into

my dress clothes before, and I didn't feel like I looked

professional enough to be taken seriously. It's a different story

now! I have a renewed self confidence and I'm so very Happy! Chuck

is even going to start RE school tomorrow if he can stay off the

potty long enough! We've joined the rest of the " normal sized " world

and are loving it!!

Sorry for the long post, I get carried away talking with you all who

understand like no one else who hasn't been in our shoes can

Carol

[Guest guest]

> Hi Kym!

> How cool to be in Florida for 3 weeks! You and I are about the

same

> in the weight loss area. But, I have 3 mos on you! I'm down 132

lbs.

> from 327 to 192, size 26 stretchy to size 16 jeans!! It's been

about

> 18 yrs or so for that! Chuck is down from 330 to 228 in 6 mos!

Size

> 52 pants to size 40! We got married 23 yrs ago and he was a size 38

> then! We're both very happy with our ds. Chuck's only problem is

> loose and sometimes urgent bms. Dr. K has put him on a round of

> Codiene. I put him on acidophlyis (sp) and between the two it's

> getting better. I'm guessing it will slow down when his rapid

weight

> loss stops. He might end up skinnier than me I am also eating

> carbs and not exercising. I eat my protein first, lots of water,

but

> I do eat carbs. I also feel like if this is my set point, that's

OK-

> I'm happy with my size now. I'm not the biggest person in a room

> anymore and I can fit so many more places and I have more range of

> motion,it's incredible! Chuck and I can actually eat in a booth!

> We're looking into buying a Honda CRV which we never would have

> considered at our pre op sizes! I'm back at selling real estate

too.

> I'm having a lot of success with it too! I couldn't even fit into

> my dress clothes before, and I didn't feel like I looked

> professional enough to be taken seriously. It's a different story

> now! I have a renewed self confidence and I'm so very Happy! Chuck

> is even going to start RE school tomorrow if he can stay off the

> potty long enough! We've joined the rest of the " normal sized "

world

> and are loving it!!

> Sorry for the long post, I get carried away talking with you all

who

> understand like no one else who hasn't been in our shoes can

> Carol

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~```

Carol and Chuck,

YOU GO GUYS!!!!! What a great up date, isn't this surgery GREAT???

Hope this life is all you both want.

Good luck and God bless,

Pat in Taft

[Guest guest]

gabe is doing about the same. he had a reaction to one of his iv

antibiotics but they are just running it at a slower rate and

everything has been fine. he's been a little more congested sinus

wise. i will probally know more tomorrow. the drs round on monday

mornings and then meet to discuss each pt individually. the game plan

is to be here two to three weeks. he is recieving three iv antibiotics

on top of his other meds. they bumped his breathing treatments up to

four times a day. he is doing okay. i really miss posting to you

guys. my computer at home has some kind of bug. hopefully it will be

fixed soon. i will do my best to keep everyone updated while we are

here. thanks so much for all of your support and thanks in advance

for any cards that were sent. oh by the way gabe is six years old.

talk to you all soon. hope everyone out there is well.

evelyn