Nicole091673

Hello.
For years I have considered weight loss surgery but finally started the process in July of 2013. My surgeon is Dr. Robert Quinlin at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV. My surgery is Monday, January 13, 2014. Quinlin and his team have been phenomenal so far.
My highest weight was 334lbs in July. I have since lost 14lbs and am at 320lbs. I am 5'6" and 41yrs old.
I have been big most of my life but that never kept me from participating in life nor were there any limitations until the past few years. When I weighed 270 five years ago, I began to realize the consequence of aging and carrying the weight and gained 60 MORE pounds. This last 60lbs has basically left me exhausted and miserable. It's all I can do sometimes to get to work, keep the house clean, and ...exist. The limitations happened within 5 years and then I was faced with the reality of consequence of working night shift, convenient eating, eating at night, sleeping during the day. It sounds silly but one day I just looked in the mirror and wondered when and how did this happen? Or better yet, how did I let my weight get so out of control?
I am a food enthusiast, not so much sweet things but more drawn to bread and doughy things. And soda!
This week I am on the pre-op liquid diet [high Protein, sugar free Jello, sugar free popscicles, and broth]. It has been very difficult but it is almost over. I made it! Tomorrow morning it's Clear liquids only. Kudos to those of you doing two weeks of liquids.
99% of the people in my life are supportive of this decision. The others think I can lose the weight on my own. But they cannot possibly imagine the convergence of misery that has resulted in this decision. Sometimes I even think "oh my god, you are really doing this!?"...then I nod and think "YES I AM!"
My parents are my biggest support. I thank the Lord everyday that they are here for me.
My anxiety comes and goes. I find myself more anxious in preparing...having the dogs taken care of for three days, the packing of the hospital bag, having clean sheets on the bed for when I arrive back home but I am sure Monday morning I will battling my inner frenzy. Even so, I am ready. Whatever it takes. Fall down seven times, stand up eight.
Tomorrow I will do before pics. And maybe I will figure out how to get a profile picture.
Thanks for reading. It's truly wonderful that technology at least provides this channel of support, experience, sharing, and understanding.

Hi everyone!
My name is Natalie. I will be having gastric bypass on Monday, May 19th. I will post a pre-operative picture to this thread. I can't believe how fast my pre-op time has gone! In December 2013, I attended an informational seminar with my sister to learn more if I would be a candidate for weight loss surgery. My insurance required a total of 4 pre-operative visits. Being a full time nursing, the time has just flown by

. Suddenly, it is the month of surgery and I am feeling a mix of emotions. I am beginning to feel nervous due to never having any prior surgeries or hospitalization, however even more excited in thinking of all the opportunities that could open up for me... In my very near future!
I just wanted to introduce myself to the community, as I would like to share my journey, positives and negatives, with others! (Hopefully, the majority of it being positive).
Do any of you have any suggestions for final preparations? In some threads, I have seen people purchase smaller spoons and plates.. Does anyone have any other ideas that I could consider?
Well, hello again. I look forward to talking with you

So in sticking with my plan for the last three weeks, it was Friday morning and "weigh day". I was happy to see another 3 lb. loss to make 40 in 6 weeks. Then I took my measurements as I have done on weigh day and compared them with pre op measurements. I have lost 23 inches!!!
I felt so good about me, that after hiding my body from my husband for about a year or so, I walked from the bedroom to the clothes hamper in the utility room stark naked twice!!! He just smiled and asked me if this was a parade or an invite!!! LOL