This is the day I have been dreading since day one. I have heard awful things about the psychiatrist appointment. It was
a breeze. I don't know why I was worried so much. Dr. Mark Nickels at Strong Memorial Hospital, in Rochester, NY is whom my
appointment was with. I had heard horror stories about him but he was really nice and really good at his job. He just wants
to make sure that you don't have other issues to deal with before surgery. He also wants to make sure you know what you are
getting yourself into. This appointment lasted about 1 hour. It went by really fast. At the end of the appointment he told
me that "I am an exceptional candidate for the surgery." He said that he doesn't expect or anticipate any problems with me.
The only concern he had was my age. He said that I am on the younger side of the candidates and younger people have a harder
time succeeding, but he really doesn't see that as an issue with me. Phew!!!!! My last appointment was a success. Now all
I am waiting for is my paper work to go through. Oh yeah and my gall bladder ultra sound in December. This is just to see
if they need to take it out while they are in there poking around. :)
December 10, 2002
I had my ultra sound for my gall bladder yesterday to see if they need to remove it. I am perfectly normal. I get
to keep my gall bladder at this time. :) One month from today I have surgery. Hip Hip Horray!!!! I can't wait!
December 12, 2002
Diane from Dr. O'Malley's office called me today and left me a message on the answering machine that told me to call
her immediately. It was very urgent. When I got the message I called her and she told me that Dr. O'Malley decided that he
is going on vacation the first two weeks of January. WHAT!!!!! She told me that they had to move my surgery to a later date.
WHAT!!!!! NO WAY!!!! She said she will see what she can do but probably late February early March. I told her I would
come anytime to have it done. She said well I will see what I can do and call you back tomorrow. Needless to say I am not
impressed at all. VERY SAD! BOO HOO!!!!!
December 13, 2002
Diane never called me back today. So I called her back. She told me that they had Christmas Eve open for surgery but I
probably wouldn't want that would I. I immediately said, "I'LL TAKE IT!!!!!!!" So my new surgery date is December 24(Christmas
Eve). Yippee!!!!!! Merry Christmas to me!!!!!
December 17, 2002
Today I had my Pre-Op Testing at Highland Hospital. There was really nothing to it. Everyone I met with was so excited
for me. If only they knew how excited I was. LOL! I had to fill out the paper work and then they took me right in. I met with
a nurse first who explained to me what they were going to do. She explained procedures they day before and everything like
that. She was very nice. Next the PA came in and asked me some more questions and did a quick exam on me to make sure I was
still alive (LOL, he said if I wasn't then we both would be very rich and famous.) He was great! I was then moved to another
room. They did an EKG on me and took 3 little viles of blood. Quick easy and painless. I am really impressed with Highland
Hospital so far. Oh, then they sent me up stairs to x-ray. I had to have a chest x-ray too. One from the front and one from
the side. My first side one did not come out so we had to take a second side one. Oh well. The radiologist was also very nice
and efficient. They have a way around there of getting you right in and right out. No waiting at all. After this I went to
lunch at the Olive Garden. Yummy! Boy did I enjoy it! It was great! Check that off my list of places to go before next Monday
when I go on my liquid diet!
December 22, 2002
I had my last meal tonight. Yum, Yum. It was my mom's homemade lasagna. I could not have asked for a yummier meal. I also
had Taco Soup (that my parent's friend Roy had made), also very yummy, and Italian Bread. I am stuffed like a piggy. Oink,
Oink. Tomorrow I start liquids and my new way of life.
December 23, 2002
Oh my I have been on clear liquids all day as a requirement before surgery. I have had water, ginger ale, jello, and broth.
All I can say is that I don't believe I will be a fan of broth after surgery.I called and got my surgery time for tomorrow.
I am at 8:15 am. This means I have to be there at 6:45 am. My mom's surgery is at 11:00 and she has to be there
at 9:00 am, but she is going with me. The stuff I had tonight was nasty! Not a bad day considering. We celebrated Christmas
tonight. It was just like Christmas morning including stockings and all of our presents. We just did it a couple days earlier.
Tomorrow is the day!
December 24, 2002 (As I remember it...)
It was very very early this morning. Oh My! I didn't really sleep at all though last night. I got dressed this morning
in my very loose fitting clothing. It was so comfy. We left my house for the hospital at 5:30 am. Phew! When we got there
we went to the Same Day Surgery enterance. Everyone who goes for surgery goes there from what I am told. I waited only about
2 minutes. They called me into this little prep area and had me change into hospital garb. The gowns were huge. But very comfortable.
I had to put my stuff into a bag that would be delivered to my room later.They also put my hospital band on, had me take a
pregnancy test (call me Mary), and gave me a shot in my belly that was a blood thinner. I waited a couple minutes with
my family.
Then a very nice nurse walked me over to the surgery holding area. They had me lay down on this bed and chill out. When
I say chill I mean chill, it was FREEZING in there. A different nurse took my vitals and yet a different nurse started my
IV. Everyone kept checking this little red binder that had my name on it. I am assuming it had my life history in it!
Next the anastegeologist came in and talked to me. I had to sign a consent saying that it wasn't his fault if things went
wrong or I reacted wrong with things. He wasnted to make sure I didn't have any loose teeth that would fly out at him. I was
like, NO! But then I laughed. His name was George Turnisky. He was very nice and very reassuring. He then gave me something
to relax me a little more.
The nurse that was going to be in surgery came in a talked we through what they were going to do. She also told me
that they were just waiting for Dr. O'Malley to get there. As soon as she said that he walked in and checked that little red
book and then came and talked to me. He is so nice, sweet, and understanding. I really like him. It was cute because he looked
almost as excited as I did. Next thing I know I was being wheeled into the operating room by Dr. Turnisky and the operating
nurse.
Once I was in there I was looking around for a bit getting kind of loopy. I heard some of the people talking to Dr. O'Malley.
Then the anestegeologist but a little mask on me and I was gone. Next thing I knew they were talking to me telling me it was
all over and they were transfering me onto a bed. I spent the next hour in recovery. I had nurses asking me about my
pain and I remember moaning. This is all I remember about recovery.
Next thing I know I was in my hospital room and my dad and brother were there. Dr. O'Malley came in and told me that they
had to do the surgery open rather than lapriscopically because my organs were in different places. He said I am only the 2nd
person that he has operated on that he has ever seen this.He said he had to open me and get right in there to see what
excatly was going on. From what I understand my intestinesand colon were on the opposite side. My appendix
was in the middle and I have a larger liver. Am I a weird one or what? I do remember that at one appointment I had with him
he said everyone looked the same inside. LOL! The rest of the day is kind of a blur. My mom was wheeled in a few hours later.
Apparently her surgery went alot smoother than mine did.
Then I remember my friends Nicole and Stefano coming into visit. I was really very loopy and did not remember much at all
about their visit, well bits and pieces. They prescribed a morphine pump and it was working wonderfully this night.
December 25, 2002
Yeah, It is Christmas! I received the best present this year! A new start on life! I can't wait!
December 25, 26, 27, 2002
My Hospital Stay!
I have to say that the hospital stay was the worst part of the whole experience. I am not at all impressed with the nurses
I had. My mom and I were sharing the same room (she had the same surgery right after I did). One time I had to ring 4 times
and wait 3 hours for pain meds. They only brought us one set of towels for the both of us to share the whole time. Our bathroom
bag fell on the floor in the bathroom and obviously we couldn't pick it up. It stayed there and even the cleaner mopped around
it. It seemed like we were a hassle, an interuption to their coffee. Since it was a holiday I understand that they may have
been short staffed, but when I went for a walk (I had to go by myself, even when I was on the morphine, not one nurse walked
with me at all) they were all sitting at the station drinking coffee and chatting. All of the nurses would come in at the
begining of their shift and introduce themselves to us. They told us to call if we needed them. Then they took off. When we
called they did not respond. One morning I had a nurse who didn't even know how to put the booties on your
feet to prevent blood clots. She said, "Oh, well I don't work on this floor, I work in Geriatrics, I am just filling in."
Well last my surgeon's secretary knew every floor had the same booties. The nurses stuck my mom SIX times trying to
get an IV in her. They had not clue what they were doing. Finally, the got Dr. O'Malley in there and he got it on the first
try. When I left the hospital on the 27th no one even volunteered to wheel/walk us out. We had to go by ourselves. When
I checked out I weighed myself and was down 10 lbs already! Yeah! This is only the beginning!
I just have to say again that I absolutely loved my surgeon. He is amazing. He visited me everyday, even Christmas! He
is very frank and up front with hsi patients. He is very confident and very skilled. He also understands the needs and feelings
of an obese person. I am very blessed to have had him as my surgeon. His resident that he had working with him was also in
to see us twice a day. He was great too. Very nice, and he is learning from the BEST!
December 29, 2002
Oh my! I have been home a few days on this liquid diet. I have to say it hasn't been bad. I have been living on cream soups,
pudding, jello, popsicles,(sugarfree) etc.... I am very sore but not that sore. I use my pain meds once in a while when it
becomes unbearable. But it hasn't been bad. One of the hardest part is trying to get all of the water in. The thing
that really sucks is that I can not get comfortable anywhere I go. My butt is numb. I am unable to lay on my side
or tummy. I have propped my pillows up on my bed, and I can get semi-comfortable then my but hurts. Geez! Well I get
my staples out on 1/3/03. I will update then.
January 3, 2003
Today was my one week visit to the doctor's office. I finally got my staples out! Yippee!!!! It feels so much better. I
also had my first official weigh in. I have lost 26 pounds already! WOW! I can't wait to lose more. I also got put on a new
diet today. Today starts one month of puree foods. I know, it sounds disgusting, but tonight I had chicken breast and mashed
potatoes and they never tasted so good. I don't have to go back to the Dr. until February 4. Oh more about my Dr.'s visit.
I weighed in. Then I went in and sat on the table and the PA (not the Dr. :( ) took my staples out. Most of them I didn't
even feel but there were a couple that were very tender and they hurt quite a bit. It was mostly a raw feeling. After she
had taken out all the staples and the one stitch I had left (from my drain), she put littles stickers on my called steri-strips.
They are in place for about a week. Then she gave me my new diet and answered any questions that I had. After my appointment
I had to go down to the lab to get my first set up blood work taken. I will hear from them if something is abnormal is what
tehy said. I also received a prescription today for Trinsicon. This is a supplement containing B12, Iron, and more.
I think that is all for now.
January 23, 2003
A couple of days ago I took my measurements again and I have lsot 17 1/2 inches. Yeah! I went to visit my friend Sandy
today in the hospital. She had the same surgery done yesterday! Yippee! While I was at the hospital I buzzed down to Dr. O'Malley's
office and stepped on the scale. I lost another 10 pounds.This brings my grand total to 36 pounds gone! I am a little disappointed
because I want the weight to come off faster. What can I say I am greedy. I was hoping to be down a lot more than this. I
will keep trying. The other day I had my first experience getting something stuck. It was not a good time let me tell
ya. I swallowed a piece of chicken without completely chewing it. It got stuck and made me feel very uncomfortable and sick
feeling. I went out to the kitchen sink, leaned over it and the uncomfortable feeling passed after a couple minutes. I hope
I learned my lesson.
January 29, 2003
I went back to work today. What an experience! It is now 10:30 pm and I am exhausted and sore. I substitute taught all
day long in Penn Yan for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade special ed. Then I went directly to Tops to work. I am bushed! I am able
to get more exercise in lately. My incision area hurts today. I think maybe I overdid it. I don't know what else I would have
done though to make it easier. We'll see how things go in the next week. I go to the Dr. on Feb 4. Hopefully I will have lost
more! YEAH!
February 4, 2003
I went to Dr. O'Malley's office today for my one month check-up. I am officially down 38 pounds. I don't even remember
a time where I have lost 38 pounds in a month. Amazing. I don't feel any different and I don't look any different. But hey
I guess it will come eventually. I wasn't too happy with myself , especially since my mom lost 4 more
pounds than I . I am doing everything right I don't know what the problem is. Hmmm.....
February 17, 2003
I had my first real visual sign that I am losing weight today. I have an interview in NYC on Wednesday. I tried
on my black pant suit that I have not worn in quite some time because it wouldn't fit. It fit and I
actually had extra room. The pants were perfect and the jacket, I thought, was a little big. WOO HOO!!!!!
February 20, 2003
You will never guess what happened. I was so excited that my suit actually fit I forgot it. The funny thing is I was about
1/2 hour from getting to NYC when I realized I forgot my garment bag with my suit in it. I FREAKED OUT!!!!!! I mean
really FREAKED! It has never been easy to find clothes especially when you are specifically looking for something. As
fate would have it Mom and I found an Avenue store. I frantically
tried on different outfits. The only one that I thought
looked professional came in a size smaller than I have been used to buying. Plus it did not have a stretchy waist. It zipped
on the side. For kicks I tried it on. Apparently I have lost enough that it FIT!!!! It
actually looked better than the
other suit.
My interview went very well. I hope to hear in the next month. After my interview I went to visit the people I interned
with at MTV. They had no knowledge that I have had the surgery. The first thing they said to me was "GIRL, YOU LOOK GREAT,
HAVE YOU LOST WEIGHT!" It was so exciting that someone had noticed. I mean people notice but the people that see you regularly
don't count as much as the people you see once in a great while. I hadn't seen my friends at MTV since last August. Another
thing that happened when I was visiting at MTV is a discussion about the interview I had at NBC last August. The interviewer
was a real jerk eluded to my weight several times during the interview. When my friends heard this they couldn't believe it.
I couldn't believe it because it WAS NBC!!!! They told me that when they interviewed me for my internship that hadn't even
crossed their mind because they were taken back with my personality and what a wonderful person I was. It was refreshing to
hear this. I should have
talked to them sooner!
It looks like things are starting to turn around. I am very thankful
for this trip to NYC not only did I get an interview for NYC Teaching Fellows but I also received a lead for a job at MTV.
But the thing I am most appreciative to is having found out I actually am changing. I know I have been beating myself up and
have been convincing myself
that the surgery is not working for me. These events have made me take a step back and ask
myself "What am I doing to myself?" I know that I will continue to have the doubts but I am glad I had this reminder to stop
and be thankful for what I have acheived so far.
P.S. You haven't really lived until you have been in NYC when they
have 2 feet of snow and have no idea what to do with it. It was warmer down there and the slush on the streets and sidewalks
was definately a treat to walk in! LOL! Blizzard 2003!
March 5, 2003
Today I went for my 2 month check-up at Dr. O'Malley's office. I met with his nurse practitioner Kim. I am not a big fan
by any means. I stepped on the scale again and I have officially lost 63 pounds now. I am so excited. I feel like I am losing
slow though. I know most people are like "WHOA 63 Pounds!" Well when you have as much as I do to lose 63 pounds is like 5
pounds to the average person. Anyways the nurse practitioner was really kind of negative when I asked her if what else I could
do to improve my weight loss. She told me nothing. I was expecting to hear something along the lines of "Exercise more,
eat more protein." She said nothing. Then she asked me if I had noticed a difference in my clothes and I said no. She said
" Well when you wear stretchy clothes all the time what do you expect." My response was "That's all they make for fat people."
Then I asked if I was on track as far as weight loss. She told me I was doing great but don't expect to lose all of my excess
weight. She told me that would be impossible. Basically she shattered my dreams. Later in the day I visited my friends Nicole
and Stefano and they reassured me. I felt much better. Tonight I went to a WLS Support Meeting in Rochester. Everyone there
is amazing and also reassured me. I am so glad to have made such wonderful friends. After dinner a bunch of us went out
to dinner at Bogey's, a restaurant in Rochester. It ws debatable as to where we were going because the service there has been
awful, but we figured we would try it one more time. All of us ordered and it seemed like we were waiting forver for
our food. Mom and I had ordered a mini pizza to share. Everyone else got their food and we still had not received out food.
Everyone else finished there food and we still did not have our pizza. A woman with group, Phyllis, stood up and yelled across
the restaurant "HEY IS ANYONE GOING TO BRING THEM THEIR FOOD!!!!" Finally they brought us our pizza. It was really good. We
DIDN'T receive an apology or anything. Another woman Diane, got up and went to the bathroom. She said she overheard the waitress
talking about our group and what a pain we were. Diane shared this information with the rest of the table. Stefano got up
and went to talk to the manager. She basically laughed and didn't care. He came back to the table and convinced everyone not
to leave a tip. It was awful I couldn't believe it. Since mom and I don't eat much we wanted a box for out pizza we didn't
finish. We asked the waitress twice and no box. Finally everyone else was leaving and I picked up the plate and took it to
the kitchen myself and demanded a box. I almost walked out with the plate!!!!!! That would have been funny. ANYWAYS! I am
just venting. WHAT A DAY!!!!
March 6, 2003
Two big pieces of news today. I am so excited. I got an email notification that I was accepted to be a NYC Teaching Fellow.
This is my ticket back to NYC!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!! I am psyched. I was approved to teach Special Education in and Inner City School.
WOO HOO!!!!!!! 15,000+ people applied and I got accepted!!! I also got another email confirming that I was selected for an
interview for Teach for America, a part of Americorp that places uncertified teachers in school districts around the country.
They put them through intensive training and place them in an area of high need. I am so excited. My interview in on
March 28th in Syracuse. Ok that's all for now. Life is really starting to look up. :)
March 20, 2003
Phew! I am tired. I just got back from NYC. I had to go to a meeting in Brooklyn for the fellowship I received. I had to
go down and back really quick because I have to work tonight. I weighed myself on Tuesday night and I am officially down 66
pounds! YEAH!!!! I just wish it was coming off faster. :( I find myself starting to get frustrated at times but it makes
me work harder at trying to lose the weight. I am eating pretty much anything I want. I have only gotten sick a couple of
times. Some things that made me not feel so good were string cheese( I think it plugged my stoma) and Chinese, chicken and
broccoli. I would still do this again though.
March 22, 2003
Today I started to clean out some of my clothes. It was really neat. I have alot of things that are kind of iffy to wear
but somethings are actually HUGE!!!! I have decided to get rid of them. YEAH!!!! I am patiently waiting to get my NYC Teaching
Fellows packet about what to do next. I am getting very impatient. AH!!!!! But then again that is me.
March 25, 2003
I was in Rochester today and stopped by the hospital to weigh myself. I was so excited. I was down another 10 pounds. That
makes my total loss to date 76 POUNDS!!!!!! YEAH!!!! I went shopping today and found some clothes in smaller sizes. Some of
my clothes feel like they are really hanging.
April 4, 2003
On Wednesday, April 2, I stopped by Highland to weigh myself and I lost another 3 pounds. I feel like it is coming off
really slow. Three pounds is three pounds though. If I didn't have this surgery I would probably have gained alot more than
three pounds.
I had an interview last Friday, March 28, for Teach for America. I thought it went ok. I had alot of stuff on my mind that
day. My Grandpa was really sick and wasn't expected to last through the day. Also, on my way into the interview (at
Syracuse University), I caught my foot on one of the bricks in the sidewalk. I twisted my ankle and fell flat on my face.
Talk about embarrassing!!!! I stood up and my nice new navy blue suit that I was wearing was covered in salt, dust and dirt.
I started to brush off the dirt but it wouldn't come off. So I found a restroom and was going to use a paper towel to dab
the dirt off. WELL, the bathroom had NO PAPER TOWELS! Just those air dryer things. SO I stood over the sink splashing water
on to me the best I could. I got most of the dirt off but I still felt discombobulated. It was awful. I made it to the interview
right on time. I am usually 1/2 hour early. So needless to say I was shaken up. During the entire day long interview
I felt that I couldn't get any words out. It was not me at all. Anyways, I find out about this on April 18 or shortly
there after. I can't wait. We'll see how it went anyways. Ok that's all for now!
April 24, 2003
I know it has been a little while since I have updated my journal. Things have been a little wild. First things first.
I am down 84 pounds. I weighed myself 2 weeks ago and that is what it was at. So probably it's more now. I still feel like
it is coming off slow. I know I am impatient.
I heard from my interview regarding Teach for America. I didn't get it. OH WELL! Their loss. I know I will be a good teacher.
SOoooooooooooooooo.... Starting in June I will begin training for the teaching fellowship I received in NYC. I am very happy
finally to be going back to where I belong. :) I am putting up pictures today on my website. I am officially
4 months post-op today! How things have changed! So the pictures are under the after section. I will label them too. I need
to get up the ones the day of my surgery too.
On a not so good note, due to my weight loss, my doctor was able to hear that I have a heart murmur. She said that I have
probably had it for a while and that they couldn't hear it before due to my extra weight. She thinks it is
just a little one that will cause no harm but today I went for an echocardiogram. That was interesting. I am sure I am ok,
but it is just a precaution. Keep checking back!
May 1, 2003
I am officially down 95 pounds. This is awesome. I actually hope I start to feel it soon. Like my friend Linnea says I
have lost a person! I am actually heading out of town tomorrow for the week. I will update when I return.
May 10, 2003
It's May 10. I had to take my NYS teacher certification tests today.Talk about a good time. NOT!!! Anyways I was couped
up all day at Brockport High School taking the LAST and the CST in Elementary Education. On my way back home today I stopped
by Highland to weigh in. Drum roll please...... My official total of pounds lost is now 103 pounds. Traveling must have done
it for me. I left last Friday to visit my friend Rose-Marie just outside Philadelphia. I haven't seen her in over a year so
this was really a treat! While I was there we had a blast. We also visited my friend Lenee in Philly. Another day we went
to my friend Renee's senior voice recital at Westminster Choir College. She was amazing! On Monday May 5, I returned to New
York but not home, to the city. I stayed with my friends Jeff and Tanya. Thanks Guys! While I was visiting I also did my formal
structured observation at P.S. 146 in the Bronx. I observed a 5th grade class and a 5th grade self contained special
education class. It was awesome. I am even more excited about the Teaching Fellows now. I can't wait to get my own classroom.
I also attended a placement fair in the Bronx to find a school to teach in. I have two visitations set up for next week..
One is at The Cresent School C.S. 57 and the other is at P.S. 198. I can't wait! Hopefully this week I will know where I will
be teaching. As you can see things are looking up. My only worry now is "Where am I going to live?" Time will tell. See ya
later! I will update again after I return from NYC again! :)
May 26, 2003
Wow, It's been a little while since I have updated. Sorry! :( I am now down 106 pounds as of May 20. Woo Hoo! I have also
officially been hired by P.S. 198 in the Bronx. I will have my own classroom. I am teaching 1st and 2nd Grade self contained
special education. One again my worry is "Where am I going to live?" I did find a roommate! YEAH! I am going to look
with her June 6,7,8, & 9. We're looking on the Upper East Side in Manhattan. Well actually everywhere in Manhattan but
that seems to be where most of the apartments we have found are. Any ideas or suggestions drop me a line.
On another note, I was working at Tops the other night and a total stranger came up to me, who doesn't know that I had
the surgery, and told me "You're looking good, girl." It was wierd but kind of cool. I guess some people are starting to notice.
I still don't feel any different. I don't see a change in me at all. My clothing hasn't even changed. Along the same lines,
I went to a bridal shower last weekend (for a friend form high school) and not one person (mind you, I haven't seen these
people in months or years) had noticed a change at all. Hmmm.... Confusing to me. 100 pounds seems like a lot but look how
much I have ot lose. It's like the average person losing 10 pounds.
June 4, 2003
Well It's official. I have had my five month meltdown. I went psycho the other night. Yesterday I went for my yearly physical
with my PCP. When they weighed me in I weighed 28 pounds more than the last time I weighed myself at Dr. O'Malley's office.
I was flipping out. I told them that there is no way that I could have gained that much in to weeks. They tried to tell me
other wise. Well come to find out, I weighed myself tonight at Dr. O'Malley's office and I am down another 10 pounds. That
is a grand total of 116 pounds gone forever! YEAH! I am so freakin psyched. This means my PCP's scale was off a total of 38
POUNDS!! WHAT THE HELL!
So anyways before I weighed myself tonight I was flipping out. I couldn't believe it I was really upset. I sat at
the end of my mom's bed last night and cried and cried about everything. I was totally stressed. I realized I can eat more
now and it scares me. I had 9 String Cheese Sticks yesterday.I was flipping. I didn't eat them all at once but still.
I mean at least they were protein but honestly. Today I got myself back on track and I feel much better after knowing
the truth now. I am fragile. I went back to the Dr. today and told them that indeed the scale was off 38 pounds
actually. I could not believe it!!! My Dr. couldn't believe it when I saw her. Oh my! Well I am off to
NYC with my roommate Kelly this weekend. We are looking for apartments and staying with Jeff and Tanya again ( You guys are
the greatest! Thank you!)
June 11, 2003
I am running out of time. I am moving in three days! AHH! I don't have anything packed yet. Over the weekend I did a hella
lot of excerising. I was running all over the city! Up and down flights of chairs. I finally found an apartment
on the Upper East Side of Manhattan! YEAH! I am so excited. It is in the cutest building. When I get a chance I will post
pictures so all can see! That's all for now. I have to pack!
June 16, 2003
PHEW!!!! The last few days have been incredible busy. Let me start with Saturday June 14. I left my home in Phelps at 6
am to travel to my new home on the upper east side in Manhattan. We (Mom, Dad and I) each drove a car with my belongings.
To quote my mom they were taking me to my new "habitat." They made me feel like an animal or a science experiment. I
guess to them I was both. LOL!!!!! We arrived in Manhattan at around 12:30pm. It was a long drive but it went really fast
for me because I was so excited.
My friend Jeff met me at the apartment and helped my family and I move in to the new apartment. It is a really cute place.
Small, but cute! :) My roommate, Kelly, was moving in at the same time too. She was almost finished by the time we got there.
I spent all day unpacking and putting stuff together. Mom and Dad took the terrible task of putting my computer desk together.
It was difficult and frustrating. Kudos to them! Thanks Mom and Dad! Jeff was my decorating consultant. It was a very long
day. When my parents left I gave them directions to get back on I-95. Well inevitably, my father missed turns and ended up
taking his own way and he left my mom in the dust. She was lost in the Bronx. Dad didn't have a cell phone so she didn't know
where he was (she assumed the worst that he was in a bad neighborhood and was in a not so good situation.) She called me in
a panic and got me panicked. It was crazy. Eventually my dad called me at around 10:30 and he was in Rockland County! My mom
was about a half an hour away ( I was able to redirect her to my alma mater.)
Anyways, everyone is safe and sound. Early Sunday morning brought an unexpected visitor at 4:30 am. Well, he
was expected, hee hee. My friend Jeff went out after helping me move in on Saturday. (Thank you Jeffy for helping me! You
are the best!) He crashed at our new place due to not so good circumstances from his evening out. Enough said.
Kelly and I went shopping yesterday for misc. apartment stuff and groceries after we dropped Jeff off in Westchester. We
came home and then eventually got the kitchen straightened around. All of my stuff is out of boxes now. YAY!!!!!
If anyone knows of a cheap/free love seat and chair set let me know. I had to give up my couch because it wouldn't fit
throught the door to my apartment. Aparrently it was supersized and we didn't know it.
Today, Monday was my first day of NYC Teaching Fellows. We went to the opening ceremony at Lincoln Center this morning
and then we caught a "special" metro north train to Dobbs Ferry to go to Mercy College (where I will be completing my grad
work). It was crazy. I definately got my exercise in today. I must have walked at least a good five miles uphill at a fasty
pace. It was crazy. I had to take a nature walk through the woods from the train to Mercy College. It was all uphill and was
not pleasant. This program/school seems to be so disorganized. We'll see what the future brings. I will be home this weekend.
I am definately making a trip to Highland to weigh myself. I better see progress. Hee Hee! Later all!
June 23, 2003
Hi All! WOW! It's been quite a week. New York is great! I just am having issues dealing with the disorganization of the
Teaching Fellows Program. It is getting a little bit ridiculous. Anyways, enough about that. I went home to Phelps this past
weekend. I had to work a couple days at Tops in order to get my vacation pay. While I was home I made a trip to Rochester
to weigh myself. I have now lost 122 POUNDS!!!!!!!! WOW!!! I have lost a person. Too bad I still have so far to go.
OH MY! Anyways, my time is limited now but I will try to update every couple of days!
July 6, 2003
Wow, I have been slacking lately and not updating like I should be. The last couple weeks are kind of hectic. I have been
teaching summer school in the Bronx. I am "student teaching" in a 3rd grade class. Most students are special ed. We are working
with them so they can pass the city tests. I get to take over the math lesson tomorrow. YAY! My computer died last
week and I had to get a new one! Thanks JEAN! YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!! Jean built me a new computer and it is all good!
Well that's all for now! Oh in other weight loss news, I got into my first pair of regular jeans, not stretchy ones! I am
so excited. I haven't worn jeans since 7th grade! GO ME!!!!! YEAH!!!!!
July 12, 2003
Friday, July 10(my brother's birthday, I wore those jeans in public for the first time. It was really neat. It was
nice to be able to wear what other people wear. My roommate took pictures of me in them. They are now up on the website as
my 6 1/2 month pictures! :) I am starting to notice a difference just a little bit. That's all for now! NYC is treating
me great! :) I am loving it!
July 26, 2003
Yesterday a group of friends and I went to Jones Beach on Long Island for the day.
It was blast! Here's the "Oh No" moment: I decided not to pack my beach bag until that morning.I packed the bag and then I
decided to get dressed for the day in my swimsuit and some shorts. I put my swimsuit on and it was absolutely HUMUNGOUS! I
really pissed, and then I started laughing. I never thought there would ever be a swimsuit that would ever be too big. I immediately
called Mom(good thing she has summer school and was up, it was 7 am.). We shared my joy but then I asked her what I should
do. I was leaving in 15 minutes and I needed a suit. Luckily I had some safety pins. I am not kidding when I say that I pinned
in at least 6 inches of material on each side of the suit under my arms.(Later, when I was at the beach, I pinned up the straps
too, after I
had flashed the entire beach.)
Needless to say my next mission is to find a new swimsuit. Any suggestions?
I just had to share!
August 8, 2003
I have returned for a visit upstate. I arrived in Phelps last night. What a trip
it's been already! I have already spent 900 dollars (car repairs today)! I can't believe it. We took my"little sisters" to
Chuck E. Cheese's tonight in Rochester. Afterward Mom, Bill and I headed toward Highland so I could weigh myself (it has been
7 long weeks). I weighed myself and I have only lost 7 pounds in those 7 weeks. I couldn't believe it. I am so disappointed.
Here I am thinking I am doing everything right when really I can't be because I have stopped losing. It's really not a good
night tonight.
Update on the Swimsuit situation: I went to the Avenue on 44th Street and 3rd Avenue.
Everything was 60% off. I got a new swimsuit that fits for 30 dollars.Woo Hoo!!!!!
August 11, 2003
I had my 6 month check up with Dr. O'Malley today. I actually got to see him and
I am so glad! He is the best. After my time on Friday I was really depressed. He brought me up dramatically, not to mention
that I started to lose again over the weekend. Apparently the weight they had down for me in the office was 3 pounds higher
than what I thought I was. Plus I lost weight over the weekend! So I am now down 140 POUNDS!!!!! I am so excited!!! This is
something else!
August 13, 2003
I went to my gyno today. Fun as always! I went into the room and the nurses were
talking to me asking why I was there. The one goes, "Oh I spoke to you earlier in the week, you're here for the
pregnancy test right?" My reply " Um no, call me Mary. I spoke with you earlier this week but nothing
to do with that!" Then I told them about my cramping and stuff. The one nurse was training a new
one and the new one was asking all kinds of questions about vocabulary. I being the smart ass I am asked if there was
a special kind of dictionary just for gynos. They laughed and the one says well, "Ya know what would solve those cramps. SEX!
You should just have sex. She made me laugh and then we were all laughing! Dr. Fraser is my new doctor.
She took over for Dr. Chin. She was so helpful and she was so impressed with everything! She also prescribed Yasmin,
a birth control pill, to help me control my periods and the cramping. I went up
to Highland after this lovely visit, to visit my friend Pam in the hospital! She has the surgery yesterday and everything
went smoothly! YAY PAM!!!! She is a little sore but should be going home tomorrow! For having major surgery she looked great!
I also weighed myself today and I am down another 4 pounds. This is a grand total of 144 POUNDS!!!!! YIPPEE!!!!!
August 14, 2003
I went shopping today with my friend Heather. I am so excited. I bought my first
18/20 shirt! The sales woman said it was too big on me. I adjusted it and proved her wrong. I was so excited. It fit just
right. I guess she was trying to get me into a 14/16 but I am not ready for that yet. I also bought my first pair of Woman's
sneakers. I have always had to buy men's because my foot is humungous! I got cute little Reebok sneakers with purple on them!
It was so cute! I also bought my first pair of 28 pants! Things are looking good! I love having more options!
New Pictures are being put up today! Check them out!
September 16, 2003
Wow I can't believe I have not updated in a month! Well actually I can. Things have been crazy in my life.
I finished up my summer training with the NYC Teaching Fellows and now I am actually teaching in a real live classroom. I
have 8 students in my class. It is a self contained special education class. The abilities in the class vary greatly. I have
one student who is ready to multiply and I have another student who can not recognize their name! I definately have my work
cut out for me. I also started grad classes last week. That should be fun. WHOA! I am in overload right now. The good thing
about this is that I have to structure my life and my eating habits are great! I am going to be really disappointed if I haven't
lost any weight. I have been eating so HEALTHY! It's even rubbing off on my roommate Kelly! This new job is definately
more of a challenge than I thought. The children are wonderful! It's the administration that isn't too hot. Everyone is more
concerned with how things look and to quote one of my colleagues "they could give two shits if the kids actually learn anything."
I find this to be extremely sad. I am just trying to do my part and take care of what I need to take care of. These kids
definately need me! Back to the weight for a minute. The funniest thing happened in my class the other day. As I was reading
a book for shared reading to the students my bat wing (the gross flappy skin hanging off my arm) fell out of my shirt. As
I usually do I tucked it back in and didn't think of it. My students could not stop laughing. One of my students came over
and touched my arm and made it fall out again. This is when we had our first conversation about being different. We
all laughed at my gross skin because I think it is gross too. I just can't believe that the one kid actually like feeling
it and playing with it. Well, actually I can because I do that sometimes, but still GROSS!!!!!! I just had to share that quick!
Also another embarrassing moment happened today. Again I was reading a story to the students all of a sudden 3 students start
laughing hysterically and pointing in my general direction. I looked down and the seem of my pants right under the zipper
had come undone. I quickly tried to cover it up with my shirt. It worked for a little bit but it was definately not a solution
to my problem. One of the paras in my room went down the hall to Pre-K and found some needle and thread for me. Luckily it
was close to lunch time and as I walked the class to the lunch room I snuck into the bathroom and fixed it. It was the worst
sewing job I had ever done but at least it was closed. I couldn't believe it!
October 11, 2003
Well, I am upstate for the weekend. Today I stopped by Dr. O'Malley's office
to weigh myself. Drum roll please..... I am now down 160 POUNDS!!!!! Things are good. I went shopping today and
for the first time I bought a sweater and two shirts fromt he GAP. I also bought some shirts from Eddie Bauer. Last week
I went shopping at Macy's in Herald Square and I bought my first pair of size 24 jeans. I couldn't believe
that I bought them. They were 55 dollars. I quickly justified it though. A. I looked damn good. AND B. They
were Liz Claiborne. I am so excited. Things are going well at school. I am still trying to lose a lot more weight
but little by little I am getting there. My job in the city is going ok.The biggest complaint I have is that I have kindergarteners, 1st
grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, and 4th Grade in one classroom. It stinks and it is illegal, but no one cares. The
administrators in the school are more concerned with making things look good than actually having the students learn anything.
Well that's enough for now. I will try to update more often.
November 15, 2003
I went to Highland tonight and weighed in. I am only down 3 more pounds. What is the deal? 3 Pounds in
a month. I hope I am not stopping already! I have so far to go still. I went to a meeting in Rochester and was talking to
a few people. I think I am going to start looking into having a pannilectomy to remove my stomach skin. I am only researching
it now but I will have to see!
December 4, 2003
It's the Holiday Season! YAY! I love the Christmas Season! This past weekend was so much fun! Nicole came
to visit and we rocked NYC like never before! My first thanksgiving post-op was great! Basically all I ate was turkey. I was
so good! Well i did have some of my sugar free frozen pumpkin ice cream pie. It was so yummy! Thanks Barb for having us over
for dinner! I will not be in NYC the next couple of weekends. This weekend I am heading up to the mountains to see my little
bro graduate from Paul Smith's College. Next weekend I am going to Rochester for the WLS Party. I am so excited! When Nicole
was here we went shopping for a dress. I found one at Macy's. It is beautiful! It is also a size 14! I very liberal 14 but
it is still a 14! I was psyched. During the same visit to Macy's I also tried on pants. NO LUCK! I tried on 22's and they
didn't fit! I haven't even lost any sizes. :( Hmmmm...... Stay tuned. I will add pics from Nicole's visit and current
pics from the month of me!
December 24, 2003
It's been one year today that my life began to change. I have now lost 169 pounds. I am able to do
things now that I either didn't have the confidence to do or physically could not do before. I feel like more doors are opening
for me. I am getting very impatient though, I really wish that I could be losing alot faster. Now things have started to slow
down. It is very difficult for me to excercise because of the extra skin hanging off of my stomach. I am looking into a pannilectomy.
I have an appointment with Dr. Sterry at Mt. Sinai on January 6th. I can't believe that it is that close. I want to have the
surgery over the summer. My back kills me after only walking short distances. I continue to get the rashes under my stomach
too. It seems like my insurance approval should be hands down. We'll see though. I will update after my first consult on Jan
6th.
May 25, 2004
OH MY GOD!!! I can't believe it has been 5 months since I last updated this site! What was I thinking?
Oh, I know! I have been extremely busy with everything. Things are crazy. I was approved for an abdominoplasty and I will
be having a lower body lift on June 30th with Dr. Thomas Sterry, at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. My mom had surgery
on May 6th. It was the first of 3 surgeries to complete a lower body lift on her. She used Dr. Pennino in Rochester. He took
off 25.8 pounds from her abdomen. Mom said that she thinks that is a personal record for him. She said he was so proud of
it. I have yet to see her in person but she showed me on her web cam and she looks amazing. I can't wait for mine. I found
out yesterday that I will be moving to Astoria, Queens starting on June 1st. The current living arrangements are not working
out, plus I can't afford it.It is too expensive! Sticking to my diet has been really difficult lately. I do completely fine
with breakfast and lunch and then once I get home from school I am a complete pig! It is disgusting. I am so glad that the
weather is getting better. Hopefully it will encourage me to et out more now. We'll see though. I will update sooner next
time I hope. Hopefully next time I can put up plastic surgery pics! Maybe I will get to update before then though! Feel free
to give me a call and we can chat!
June 29, 2004
I am so excited. Tomorrow morning at 7:00 I report to Mt. Sinai for my lower body lift with Dr.
Sterry. I am so excited. I can't wait to see the transformation and feel it! I have a roadmap drawn all over my stomach, legs,
and bottom. It is so funny. He used different color sharpies for everything. I look like a rainbow! I think it looks
funny. My before pics show all of the marker lines. I need to get some sleep. I have to be up in a couple hours so I
can go to sleep again. LOL!
Mom is staying with me this week. She is the best. I love her. Dad was going to but he has to keep mom's
spending habits alive somehow! LOL! He is the best too! I should be in the hospital til friday if all goes well. Come and
visit me! I need visitors!
July 4, 2004
I want to thank everyone for their well wishes. I had my lower body lift with Dr. Sterry at Mt. Sinai Hospital on
Wednesday, June 30. I was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. My surgery was a whopping 14 hours long. Once they
started the body lift they discovered a hernia under my rny scar that was not able to be found before this time. Since it
was a complicated hernia, something about two little ones together in a figure 8, they called in another Dr. I ended up losing
a lot of blood and was actually given a transfusion too. I finally made it to my room early Thursday morning at about 2:30
am. The surgeon told me that I now hold the record at Mt. Sinai for having the most taken off during a lower body lift. I
had 47 pounds taken off. I couldn't believe it. My comment to him was "Couldn't you find 3 more pounds to make it even?" LOL!
My mom thought I was being greedy. He just laughed and said well, we could have but we thought 14 hours was long enough to
under anesthesia. I am home now resting My big belly is gone and so is my butt. My legs look huge now. I guess that's the
price I have to pay. They actually kept my belly button too which was a pleasant surprise. THey didn't know if it was going
to make it. My comment was "If it doesn't, I can say I was hatched!" I got a good laugh out of the Dr. on that one.
The first night I came to my room I had a wretched nurse other than that I can say nothing but wonderful things about Mt.
Sinai and their staff. Needless to say I spoke up about the wretched nurse and I think she is in massive trouble. She actually
yelled at me and also yelled at my mom and told her she needed to give me a break because she was planting things in my head.
She told her she needed to leave! My mom stood her ground and said "Not until you do your job!" Needless to say Mom prevailed
and stayed the whole night! YAY MOM!!!!
Dr. Sterry came to check on me every morning. A plastic surgeon team on residents and interns, about 6 people, checked
on me about twice a day too.
I believe that the hospital's dietary unit does not understand what gastric bypass patients past the first stage
can eat.Once I got off of clears for the first 2 meals I was doomed. For almost every meal I got nothing but carbohydrates
or things that were filled with concentrated sugar (even if they were marked diabetic). I finally had my mom start sneaking
in some protein, other wise I would have starved. There was no way I was eating dinner rolls, biscuits, sugared cereal, orange
juice and gaterade, real sugar for coffee. (Those are just a couple of examples of the foolish things put on my tray.) I told
everyone I came in contact that they needed to revise my diet. I believe the only thing that got revised was how much more
sugar and carbs they brought me. I had to laugh when I left the hospital though.They told me that my diet was high protein
low fat for when I left. I said "You mean what I have been asking for this whole time and was not able to get." The nurse
laughed because she knew my situation.
Anyways. I am home and recouperating just fine. My mom is staying with my until Wednesday because she is the best! Thanks
again for all of your well wishes. Pictures are soon to come. I am very very sore so I am taking it one day at a time.
Love,
Jen
July 9, 2004
Things have been wicked! I went to see Dr. Sterry today because I couldn't take it anymore. I was
itching all over the place. Come to find out I had an allergic reaction the the Steri-strips and the tape that they used on
my skin. I had broken out all over my incision and it was not pretty. He removed all of the strips and tape and told me to
take Benedryl and told me to hang in there. Well, I am hanging and trying not to itch or bitch for that matter. LOL! I am
gonna go take a nap now. I am very sleepy!
July 14, 2004
WHAT WAS I THINKING???? Is the thought I was having as
I was laying in the hospital the last two days. Last Saturday night I decided, out of boredom, to go with my friends Jeff
and Joe to Atlantic City. We walked up and down the boardwalk and probably walked about six miles! We stayed out all night
and I got home at about 8 am. I felt fine on Sunday. I woke up Monday and I felt like death on a stick. I felt horrible. Probably
the sickest I had ever felt. I was nauseated and tried to vomit but nothing would come up. I tried to eat a couple crackers
but they did come up immediately. I tried to sip water but that came up too. I was breaking out in sweats but yet I was
freezing. I had this wretched pain on my lower right hand side. I was on the phone with Alex at Dr. Sterry's office,
I mean I was playing phone tag with her all morning. Finally she got ahold of Dr. Sterry and he told me to come in immediately.
So I did. When I got there he took one look at me and was like, oh my. The took blood and hooked me up IV Fluids. Next thing
I knew the blood test showed nothing and they sent me for a Cat Scan. That was pleasant. NOT!!!!!! I had to drink this gross
Berry fluid stuff that wanted to be thrown up too but it wasn't it stayed down. After 2 hours of waiting I finally got in
for a cat scan and they concluded that there was nothing on the cat scan that showed anything of concern. I still felt horrible.
Dr. Sterry admitted me to the hospital and kept me on IV Fluids and Mophine for the night. The next day I was feeling a little
better. He had me try clear liquids and they stayed down and then he had me try a little solid food for dinner and that was
fine too. He said I was a puzzle and that I must have over done it and/or had some sort of whacky viral infection. Well I
fessed up about Atlantic City and he started shaking his head. I said "Well you told me to walk!" His response "I meant
around the block, not six miles!" We both just busted out laughing! Anyways I am home now and have to do some crappy work
for my grad classes. Gotta go!
July 20, 2004
Hi! Today has been a wonderful day! I got all of my drains out today. You know what that means? SHOWER
DAY!!!! YEAH!!!!! It has been three whole weeks and I can't wait to shower. I also posted some pictures today. Check the After
Plastic Surgery Page. I am coming along. Pretty soon I will start looking HOT! LOL!!! Time to Shower! More to come later!
Keep Checking Back!
