Michael W. Blaney, MD

I am a mother of 7 wonderful children and do to some health issues I have struggled with my weight for some time. I am 5'1 and weigh 278lbs. Having children back to back has also made it difficult to keep the weight off as well as 2 of my pregnancies were with multiples. I am scheduled to have my surgery on the 25th of this month. I am nervous,excited, and scared all wrapped into one. I have chosen to only share my journey with a limited few because I feel as though not everyone will understand or respect your journey. This process should consist of people that have your best interest at heart and are truly supportive. My husband does not want me to have surgery due to my other pre existing health conditions, but he also understands that with this extra weight the chronic pain that I have to deal with daily is unbearable and affects my quality of life. I am so grateful to have found this site and I hope to find a great support system here thru this process and be able to pay it forward one day for some one else.

Updated on 26 Jan 2016:
So I had my surgery on Monday and everything went well. I woke up with some discomfort but after a while that eased up. I did find that the gas x strips does help, so if any of you are planning on surgery I would certainly recommend having those. I will be sure to keep you all posted on my progress.

Updated on 21 Mar 2016:
I'm so excited about my progress thus far.. During my6wk post op visit I had lost a total of40lbs since the start of this process,20 since the surgery. In the first few weeks things were a little difficult, but I knew I could get thru it. Trying to learn my new body, dealing with life stresses all things coming at once. I'm so glad I had muy supporters there for me to help me get thru it. I'm able to have more variety in my diet now but I still find it hard to eat, I'm not really hungry and I get full so quickly. I need to be under240 by my next doc visit so I have to be sure to step it up. Last doc visit I was259 so I'm excited to see what under240 would feel like, it's been at least8years since I was under our around240.

Hey Im interested in getting the gastric sleeve. I work out more than I eat but I still cant seem to loose any weight. SLOWED METABOLISM. Im 28 years old with my highest weight being 266 lbs and 5”7. My BMI was 41 at the start of my journey and I only suffer from PCOS. I currently weigh 244 with a BMI of 39 thanks to my doctors weight loss program. My insurance does cover the procedure and I have gone through the 3 month waiting period of doctor visits, psych evals, and medical clearances. My first Appt which they call Appt Zero was March 15, 2018. My last Appt was June 4th. My insurance took less than a week to approve me for surgery. Im scheduled for July 23 and I have to start my liquid diet July 9. In these pics I was at my highest weight???????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Updated on 4 Jul 2018:
So its July 4th and Im trying to enjoy my last few days of regular food but Ive been working and I dnt eat while Im at work but I m off For the weekend so I will enjoy those last 4 days of regular food. Ive been trying different protein drinks from my surgeons approved list and so far Premier Protein Peaches and Cream is the best. Starting July 9 I will be on my liquid diet and have to drink 5 shakes a day. Talk about expensive???????????????????????????????????????????? but hopefully It will all be worth it. Im going on vacation a fews days before my surgery day and will be returning the Sunday before surgery LOL I know I probably should rest but Im the type of person who has to move and do something when Im scared or nervous LOL I cant stay still????????????????????????????????????????????? One of my coworkers did the liquid diet just to encouragement me and also to loose a little weight and she lost 6 lbs in one week with no exercise. Im looking to loose another 20 lbs on the liquid diet hopefully. We will see.

Updated on 16 Jul 2018:
So Ive been on my liquid diet now for one whole weeks and Im doing terrible. I ate fruit this weekend and i hope that didn’t [RS bleep] up anything lol. I understand now why they say dnt pay attention to the scale because Ive lost so many inches and not a-lot of pounds. My pre-op appt is tomorrow so hopefully all that goes well. Ill keep updating as I move along in this process.

Updated on 26 Jul 2018:
Im home now. Spent 2 nights in the hospital. Wasn’t happy about that. I have 6 incision sites and I came home with a JP drain but he will take that out Friday at my first post-op appointment.The gas pain is awful so please make sure to walk walk walk. My stomach is sore a little but the site where my JP drain is hurts the most when I walk or sit still. Since my last weigh in last Tuesday at 248, I now weigh 236 as of this Thursday morning. Which brings my total weight-loss down by 30 lbs since March 2018. Ive noticed that when I drink I can feel the liquids trickle down my throat and get stuck a little but thats normal. Just have to slow down a little. Im trying to get my liquids down but I’m not hungry at all. Ive mostly been trying sugar free popsicles and broth. Right now I’m at one protein shake a day trying to get to 3 a day like he wants. Im still really weak. I was trying to do my hair (natural hair I might add) and wash off in my bathroom and I got really weak and became tachycardic which lets me know I need to slow it down. Ive been walking though. Doesn’t seem to help with the gas but I guess once i get more strength Ill be able to walk a lot faster. Haven’t taken any pain medications since I got home. Haven’t even gotten the prescription filled but I did buy OTC Simethicone for gas. Other than that I think im doing good.

Updated on 27 Jul 2018:
My drain came out this morning and I feel a lot better. Im able to walk further than before. I still get tired quickly now but thats probably from my poor po intake. Im trying to get these fluids down but my taste buds have changed drastically. I hate the protein shakes, Powerade zeros, chicken broth. The only thing I can stomach is plain water and coffee. I even hate the tastes of the flavored water packages I was drinking pre op. I dnt know I gotta find a better variety of items to drink now. Its hard. On the bright side I now weigh 233.

Updated on 30 Jul 2018:
So now Im walking 2 miles every morning trying to get up to 5. Im able to get down my fluids but only if I add lemon or lime. I cant stand the taste of Splenda or that sugar free taste that most fluids have foods have. I have to make myself drink a protein shake. But Im down to 230 and Ive lost almost 10 inches so far. I think its just water weight though Im gonna post pics. Im gonna go back to work in two more weeks. 3 weeks off is enough for me LOL So far no complaints or complications.

Updated on 24 Feb 2020:
I feel and look great. I weigh 184 now. My lowest weight was 166.