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Hello from a BBW in Tampa Bay



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Hi everyone. I'm a New York girl, transplanted to Florida's Tampa Bay in 2006. I'm 59 years old, divorced, a disabled RN. I've been obese most of my life, and even had an open "stomach stapling" back in the early 1980's, when it was still a new procedure and a very big deal. My surgery took hours. I was in ICU for almost a week afterwards, then in Progressive Care for a few weeks. Finally to a regular room and then home. I was hospitalized altogether for about a month and a half. I lost 160 lbs in just maybe 6 months, but ended up, through the years, gaining it all back. Either my stomach stretched out or the staples let go.

So I found myself mostly at 340 lbs most of the time, til I ended up on Prednisone, which caused a massive weight gain; then the insulin I was prescribed to bring down my insane blood sugars caused an additional weight gain. I peaked at 402 lbs, at which time I was unable to bathe or dress myself, take more than a few steps, get out of bed myself, move myself in bed, fit into any of my chairs, fit into my car, or find any position that was not painful. It was a living nightmare.

I was already half-way through the procedure to obtain insurance approval. I started a serious low-carb portion controlled diet and stopped both of those meds. I dropped 71 lbs in four months but started putting it back on when I got the call that my surgery was approved.

I started the pre-surgery 2 weeks of Optifast and dropped about 35 lbs in 10 days. Then found out my PCP wouldn't give me surgical clearance due to cardiac and renal issues, plus scary anemia. I'm currently drinking over the counter Protein shakes and planning on having a little chicken now and then, waiting for my new surgery date of June 18 to arrive.

I've lost 95 lbs since November 2012. Can't wait for the surgery to reach my goal weight and save what's left of my life.

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Can anyone tell me why my whole post doesn't show up?

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It shows up but is shadow light. Try editing it and darkening the text color on the very light portion.

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:)Thanks

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I can't figure out how to edit. I don't see anything anywhere to click on ... so frustrating

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Hi everyone. I'm a New York girl' date=' transplanted to Florida's Tampa Bay in 2006. I'm 59 years old, divorced, a disabled RN. I've been obese most of my life, and even had an open "stomach stapling" back in the early 1980's, when it was still a new procedure and a very big deal. My surgery took hours. I was in ICU for almost a week afterwards, then in Progressive Care for a few weeks. Finally to a regular room and then home. I was hospitalized altogether for about a month and a half. I lost 160 lbs in just maybe 6 months, but ended up, through the years, gaining it all back. Either my stomach stretched out or the staples let go.

So I found myself mostly at 340 lbs most of the time, til I ended up on Prednisone, which caused a massive weight gain; then the insulin I was prescribed to bring down my insane blood sugars caused an additional weight gain. I peaked at 402 lbs, at which time I was unable to bathe or dress myself, take more than a few steps, get out of bed myself, move myself in bed, fit into any of my chairs, fit into my car, or find any position that was not painful. It was a living nightmare.

I was already half-way through the procedure to obtain insurance approval. I started a serious low-carb portion controlled diet and stopped both of those meds. I dropped 71 lbs in four months but started putting it back on when I got the call that my surgery was approved.

I started the pre-surgery 2 weeks of Optifast and dropped about 35 lbs in 10 days. Then found out my PCP wouldn't give me surgical clearance due to cardiac and renal issues, plus scary anemia. I'm currently drinking over the counter Protein shakes and planning on having a little chicken now and then, waiting for my new surgery date of June 18 to arrive.

I've lost 95 lbs since November 2012. Can't wait for the surgery to reach my goal weight and save what's left of my life. [/quote']

Hi! I too am a RN. I have my sleeve surgery June 18th as well!! Maybe we can keep in touch?!

Amy

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Hi! I too am a RN. I have my sleeve surgery June 18th as well!! Maybe we can keep in touch?!

Amy

iHi Amy, sure, i'd like that. so exciting, isn't it? I don't know how much i'll be on this board, the message board is the least "user friendly" board i've ever seen. it's very frustrating. Are you still currently working? I've been disabled due to my limited mobility due to my weight. I would love to go back to work, but since I've been out of work for a couple of years, i don't know who would hire me at this point. June 18 just can't come quickly enough for me. Waiting and waiting. I just can't wait to lose another 100 lbs and watch the expressions on everyone's faces! :D But most of all I can't wait to be able to WALK.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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