amcdowell779

Hello! My name is Aimee. I am 34 years old and a mother of three. I am in North Branch, MN about 45 minutes north of the Twin Cities. I am Pre Op currently but very close to getting surgery scheduled. I am having my surgery done at Unity Hospital in Fridley by Dr. Frederick Johnson. I started my WLS journey July 27th, 2012. I am just looking for people to connect with that are nearby. Please introduce yourself and tell your stories here!!

Hi all. I've been gone from here for quite some time. Hope everyone's doing well. I just have a question. I'm having right side pain after eating. Like really bad stabbing pain. I'm going in tomorrow for an ultrasound to rule out gallstones. Has anyone dealt with this? This is my second day with symptoms and I've suddenly become Ill like feverish, nauseated and have a really bad headache. Does this sound like gallstones? I've lost 100 lbs in 6 months and they say it's common in people who've lost weight quickly. Thanks for any responses.

I shopped at a store in the mall called Vanity. I haven't been able to shop at a regular store in years and not only that but I wasn't in the largest size in that store. I'm fitting into "regular" clothes. I came home and weighed myself for the first time in like a month and I am down 20 lbs since the last weigh in and a grand total of 100 lbs today!!! Can't believe it! I'm so excited.

Well my pen pal is nnaddour on here. She sent me a huge package that included Propel Zero Water, Popsicle cups with a protein Popsicle recipe, a menu note pad, sugar free Hawaiian punch and pink lemonade singles for water, a can opener, a protein shot, chunky pb protein bar, pedometer, sugar free hard candy, sugar free vanilla pudding, mini brownie bites, corn nuts, and two snack containers. WOW!! Thanks a ton Nicole-- loved it all!!

Omg you look so good!! Keep it up!!

I have been wearing stretchy pants/shorts pretty much daily since surgery so I hadn't noticed much of a difference in my clothing until I came across a pair of size 18 shorts. The last size I was in was a 26. I tried them on and they fit perfectly!!! I thought they must've been stretched out or something so I found another pair and to my surprise they fit just as well. And these are not stretchy at all. They actually have a button and zipper!!! Yee Haw!! Feels pretty good.

Oh by the way my highest weight was 321 and now I'm at 259. So I'm down 62 lbs total!!! Here's my Barkley. He's 6 months old and a naughty lil boy!!

Hello!! I haven't posted in quite some time. I've been following along though for the most part and would like to say that each of you are an inspiration and I'm so glad I found This RNY thread. Well I had my surgery April 8th, I weighed 301 that day and today I weigh 259. I am in a size 18--down from a 26 in under 3 months!! This journey has been almost surreal so far. It was so hard for me to "let go" of my BFF - food, at first. As time passed that got easier and my relationship with food has changed drastically. I am not getting in enough protein daily. Are you guys still supplementing protein shakes and what not to get in enough daily? I am taking my vitamins but having trouble finding Calcium Citrate that I can actually tolerate. Any suggestions? I need 1800 mg per day. Another side of my story is that I did the surgery and I'm working towards my goal and my other goal was to get back into school, which I am this August for the fall semester. I am struggling though with my husband. He's not willing to change with me. He's perfectly content on how life is currently and I am not. We both have MAJOR things to change and work on and he is flat out refusing to change anything. We are currently looking at separating possibly. He will not do counseling. I don't know what to do other than to keep improving myself and maybe, just maybe he'll start to get the hint to change some of his things. I'm hopeful. Thanks for listening and thanks for this awesome group!! The pics are from pre op and current. I will also post a pic of my pup like you guys were doing. I need to show him off!!

Well I'm officially a loser! I had my surgery April 8th and everything went great! I walked shortly after waking up, little to no pain but I did stay on top of the pain meds at first. Went home the next day, have been sleeping in my recliner and doing fine. I'm on three weeks of full liquids. I've been eating puréed and some soft foods though. I had been throwing up daily after eating, but for the past two days I've been really careful and luckily have not puked. I am happy to say that I am down 11 lbs as of this past Monday. You can already see a difference in my face and down two pant sizes!! I'm now back to work and feeling full of energy. My incisions still get sore but nothing intolerable. My mom started to freak me out right before surgery saying that this surgery was messed up and she didn't like it. Never mentioned that before though. She's my toughest critic also. I try not to share too much with her because I don't need the lectures. My husband on the other hand, has been terrific. He's been really supportive and excited for my loss. We've been able to talk about the surgery and weight loss very openly, which I really like. My friends haven't really been as supportive as I thought they would be. Especially my coworkers. They acted like nothing had happened when I came back to work. Oh well, that's ok. I know who my true friends are. I find it very supportive to be on these forums also. Next Monday I'm going to go to a weight loss surgical support meeting that I found nearby my home. I've also been doing weekly counseling with a lady that is a gastric bypass patient herself. She is four years out and is so amazing!! I suggest finding someone that has knowledge of the surgery or has done it themselves if you are considering counseling for food issues and what not. Well I am super happy and excited for this journey that I am on. I am down a total of 32 lbs since pre op. only going down from here. The hardest part was the first week home and not being able to eat, so I cheated and got really sick. Not worth it at all. This is all a learning process though and I learn from my mistakes. I regretted this the first week actually because I was mourning the loss of food so badly, but now that the inches are coming off and the scales moving and feeling better everyday I'm glad that I had it done. Everyday does get easier. Luckily I haven't had any complications or major side effects like some people do. Hopefully it'll stay that way too. Good luck to all that reads my blog.

Just recieved my first pen pal box from Martinmommy3. It was filled with a jump rope, a mini fan, protein bars, a book, Special K chips, Iced Tea and mints. Plus a nice card!! Thanks so much. Love it all!!

I ate half of a Michaelanas light cheese lasagna for dinner and tolerated it very well. It wasn't that bad either!!

You look amazing!

You look like a new person! Congrats!! Keep up the work!

I thought that was my problem with my stall too but I've cut them down to practically nothing, increased my protein from 60 gm's to 90 gm's and increased my activity and I'm still at a dang stall. What gives!! I had surgery April 8th and I'm only down 23 lbs!!! I'm so scared that my loss isn't going to happen but trying to stay focused and not on the number on the scale!! That's hard- lol. Hopefully that helps you.

Fit into a booth at Perkins today, COMFORTABLY!!! I was so excited!!

Happy Mothers Day!! I too have been at a stall for over a week!! It gets so discouraging!! I just want to see that scale MOVE!! I am down 24 lbs since April 8th. I am doing everything I'm suppose to so I guess I need to just wait it out. Hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day.

Have the names gone out yet for May??

I'm having trouble with water. Soups are fine, I can drink them with zero problems but water hurts in the middle of my chest. My PA said it was from my esophagus being swollen from vomiting. They put me back on my acid reflux med and told me to take smaller sips. I do have some cramping in my stomach also, but do not know why this happens but it sucks!! I was having trouble getting my water in last week but I'm doing better now. Hope you find some relief.

Well, I've had a rough couple of days. Was in ER last night for dehydration. They gave me fluids and sent me home. Then my surgeon wanted me to be seen at his office today, because I have been having trouble swallowing water. So the PA I saw today recommended that I start my acid reflux meds again, which I've been off since surgery. She also said that my esophagus is swollen from throwing up so I just need to be really careful with my sips. All in all I'm doing better now tonight. Not feeling too bad. Just wanted to give you guys an update. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Went out for dinner last night and was able to order cheesy cauliflower soup and a side of smashed potatoes. I ate the cup of soup, no problem but the potatoes were just too heavy. I was excited they had such a good soup to order!! Tonight I'm having my fat free broccoli cheese soup. Yummy!!

Just gotta post that I'm down 5 more lbs today for a total of 22 since surgery and 42 all together!! Can't believe how it's coming off. So happy!!

Well I weighed in this morning and I'm down 6 more lbs since surgery. So that's 17 lbs since surgery and 38 lbs all together. I'm sooooo happy!! I had surgery on the 8th. I noticed when I walk the day before it helps move the scale the next day. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's working for me. Lol. Good luck to all of you too.

Thanks!