My highest weight was 288. When I saw that I could see 300 approaching, and that is when I decided it was time to do something. I started researching WLS. At 280 I started the pre surgery diet. Today I am at 238 and feeling wonderful. 50 pounds down from my highest. It's a landmark and I am really excited. Am about 1/3 to goal, at 7 weeks post surgery! YIPPEE>

My highest weight was 288. When I saw that I could see 300 approaching, and that is when I decided it was time to do something. I started researching WLS. At 280 I started the pre surgery diet. Today I am at 238 and feeling wonderful. 50 pounds down from my highest. It's a landmark and I am really excited. Am about 1/3 to goal, at 7 weeks post surgery! YIPPEE>

My Highest weight was 245, I was miserable. That was when I did the atkins diet, and it got me to the 225. And I've creeped bay up to 235.

I'm really down today, Trying to get my blood pressure down is not easy.

I've been taking meds, walking, eating better, but I've not gotten below

140/88, that was my lowest reading. I went last week after sitting down at the automatic BP machines in a Local Pharmacy. It gave me great readings, I was so excited....then, I went for my offical reading at my Dr. it read 150/90. I was so deflated. I don't know what else to do.

I'm taking Garlic pills, eating walnuts, everything I can think of to make it

come down. Is there anything else I can do?

Today I feel, weak, drowsy, no energy. What am I doing wrong? Will forcing myself to get up and take along walk help?

The longer this goes on, the farther way I get from surgery, I just want

to cry. I had a date....and it's gone. I could be in recovery right now, and

maybe 20 lbs down. I'm soooooo, sad. I've got to get out of this funk.

Something has got to change. I don't know what else to do.

thanks for listening.

Judy:blushing:

My highest weight was 386. At least my highest measured weight. Hell, could have been over 400 at some point (would not surprise me). But the 386 was accurate, and it was a real wake up call for me. I purposely avoided scales and would not even weigh in at my doctor's. I judged myself by how loose things felt, and if they got tight, well, then I would only wear the looser fitting clothes. It was sad and sick how I lied to myself and used excuses as to why I was fine with my weight. BP up? Must've been the salty food. Tired from snoring? Just was overly tired. Considering I never looked at my body in the mirror, just my face, it's no wonder I had such a poor idea of how sadly obese I really looked. Friends at work, from a distance, now do not even know it is me. I am very proud of that!

Excellent job Cajun!!! 1/3 of the weight gone is amazing at 7 weeks, you should be very proud. Good luck on the last 2/3, you'll be at goal before you know it!

Great job Cajun!

My highest weight was 287 - that was when I was married and miserably unhappy and used food to comfort me - then I'd see how fat I was from eating the food and eat more food because I was depressed. After my divorce, I started exercising and cut out all refined sugar and red meat from my diet, ate half of what was on my plate and eventually got so I ate half of the half. I dropped down from a 26/28 to an 18/20. I was at 220. Then I met Bearded and happiness set in, so I slowly started regaining. I was at 262 when I decided to have the surgery and 259 the day of surgery. I'm now at 207 and looking forward to ONEderland. I've gone from a 20/22w to an 16W or an 18 in misses; I'm in an XL top and they are getting too big.

Judy - Hang in there and don't get discouraged. Check what you are eating and cut out any salt anywhere you can - are you eating Soup or frozen dinners? They have a TON of sodium in them. Drink lots of Water and exercise. Eventually your BP will come down; it may never be perfect, you may be one of those prone to higher BP - my doctor believes that my normal BP is higher than others - I tend to run right about 130/80 without medication. If it gets back up there, I will have to go back on BP pills -- I never had this trouble with BP even when I was close to 300 -- it only started rising in March of this year. I don't let it get me down - if it can be controlled by my weight/diet GREAT; if I have to take medication for it then I'm okay with that too. The main thing is DON'T STRESS yourself out about it - stress will raise your BP -- it's a vicious circle. Accept it, watch what you eat and exercise and drink lots of water - your body will do what it's going to do. Hang in there!

My heighest weight was 320. That is hard to write down. I'm at 304 as of today and having my surgery in 5 days.

My Highest weight was 245, I was miserable. That was when I did the atkins diet, and it got me to the 225. And I've creeped bay up to 235.

I'm really down today, Trying to get my blood pressure down is not easy.

I've been taking meds, walking, eating better, but I've not gotten below

140/88, that was my lowest reading. I went last week after sitting down at the automatic BP machines in a Local Pharmacy. It gave me great readings, I was so excited....then, I went for my offical reading at my Dr. it read 150/90. I was so deflated. I don't know what else to do.

I'm taking Garlic pills, eating walnuts, everything I can think of to make it

come down. Is there anything else I can do?

Today I feel, weak, drowsy, no energy. What am I doing wrong? Will forcing myself to get up and take along walk help?

The longer this goes on, the farther way I get from surgery, I just want

to cry. I had a date....and it's gone. I could be in recovery right now, and

maybe 20 lbs down. I'm soooooo, sad. I've got to get out of this funk.

Something has got to change. I don't know what else to do.

thanks for listening.

Judy:blushing:

Judy,

Try this in the dr's office next time. Take three deep breaths - exhale slowly - feel yourself relaxing, go limp even, then let him take your blood pressure, close your eyes, and breathe deeply and exhale slowly when the cuff is slowly deflating. Its a good trick to slow your blood pressure.

When you are anxious about the possible high reading, it is self-defeating, & it will be a higher reading. Sometimes called white-coat syndrome. (Dr.s make us anxious about the whole thing).

If it is not down enough, ask him to take it again, maybe even three times, will yourself into deep breathing relaxation each time. It usually works!!

Cheers,

Donna:001_cool:

Judy, are you saying that you can't have surgery because of your blood pressure? Are you on blood pressure medication - you should be able to get control of it with medication. You may have to try different meds - it took me almost two months to find the right medication for me. Once I started my pre-op diet and had surgery I was very quickly able to get off the medication. High blood pressure is one of the co-morbidities that qualify you for the surgery.

Judy, are you saying that you can't have surgery because of your blood pressure? Are you on blood pressure medication - you should be able to get control of it with medication. You may have to try different meds - it took me almost two months to find the right medication for me. Once I started my pre-op diet and had surgery I was very quickly able to get off the medication. High blood pressure is one of the co-morbidities that qualify you for the surgery.

Yes I am on meds, Lotrel. Once a day. I woke up feeling drained, tired,

with no energy. I took my meds, had a walk and felt better for a few hours. Now I'm feeling sleepy and tired again. It's only 3:42 pm. Yes, the Dr. that gives approval after all the Pre-op Tests, would not approve me

with my Blood pressure being so high. It was 167/94 and that wasn't the

highest, it's been. Once at work it was 208/110. I know that has to be bad. I really am trying, but the stress of it all it getting to me. I want this so badly and that seems to be keeping me from it. I have back problems as well, it is killing me today. I"m going to take a nap and relax.

I weighed 377 at one time. Through diet and my gym addiction, I lost 135 lbs but could not keep it off. I regained to 312lbs before having sleeve surgery.

Yes I am on meds, Lotrel. Once a day. I woke up feeling drained, tired,

with no energy. I took my meds, had a walk and felt better for a few hours. Now I'm feeling sleepy and tired again. It's only 3:42 pm. Yes, the Dr. that gives approval after all the Pre-op Tests, would not approve me

with my Blood pressure being so high. It was 167/94 and that wasn't the

highest, it's been. Once at work it was 208/110. I know that has to be bad. I really am trying, but the stress of it all it getting to me. I want this so badly and that seems to be keeping me from it. I have back problems as well, it is killing me today. I"m going to take a nap and relax.

Next time you go to the doctor, be sure you are not rushing around shopping or doing things before your appointment, go early, and do some meditating/relaxation exercises while in the waiting room. Have your appointment in the early morning because your pressure should be lowest then. Ask the nurse to let you sit quietly and rest for 5 minutes in the blood pressure area before they take your pressure. Close your eyes and take slow breaths like stoongal said, and relax during those 5 minutes. Be sure you are not drinking any alcohol at all in your diet, because that raises BP. As already pointed out, so does salt.

I hope things get better for you.

Cajun-Woooo hoooooooo!! WTG!!! You are doing WONDERFUL!! Isn't it a great feeling! and the more you lose the more motivation it gives us! a "Win-Win" Keep up the good work!

Judy- This too shall pass! It's just a temp. setback, ez for me to say ino- but It will work out for you... I just know it will! Keep your spirtits up and conquor this!!

Bob- I can so relate to what you said... I was in total denial about how big I was... NEVER would look in a mirror- and LOVE your NSV- people not knowing who you are!!!

VA- You go girl! ONEderland is right around the corner!!

I'm so proud and happy for each and everyone of you!!

Judy, I still think that working with different blood pressure medications may be your answer. The one I took was recommended for once a day, but after experimentation with my doctor, I ended up taking two in the AM and one in the PM. That was the only combination that kept my pressure in the 120/130 range. Work with you Primary care physician to get the pressure under control. Once you have the surgery it will be much easier to control on less medication.

Judy, I still think that working with different blood pressure medications may be your answer. The one I took was recommended for once a day, but after experimentation with my doctor, I ended up taking two in the AM and one in the PM. That was the only combination that kept my pressure in the 120/130 range. Work with you Primary care physician to get the pressure under control. Once you have the surgery it will be much easier to control on less medication.

Thank you, I will take ALL advice. Try to relax and take deep breaths before the nurse takes my BP. Have her take it more than once. BTW, the last time I went in, the Nurse seemed to be in a hurry, she let the air run out of the manual BP apperatice very fast, faster than I've ever seen. She seemed irritated that I wanted a manual BP reading. SO next time I'm asking for 3 different ones. I also want to talk to my Dr. about taking more than one pill a day, because I can tolorate these, and I have taken more than one. Lately I've taken on in the morning and one in the evening. The Doctor that approves for surgery requires, 4-5 readings under 140/ on the top level of the BP reading. THANKS again for your advice.

My highest weight was in 2008 at 271. When I realized I weighed over 100lbs more than my husband, I knew I had to do something. I lied to myself about my size, squeezed my heifer hiney into size 22 pants, but should of been in 24s. I refused to look in a full size mirror, or even try on clothes.

I carried my weight well, and disguised my size with clothing. No one could believe how much I weighed. I kind of think those people were just trying to be nice. I was huge.

I knew I had to do something, and surgical intervention was going to work for me.