Kate, congratulations on your weight loss and on finding this place! I've only been around a month, but it's been a very supportive and welcoming place. I think your calorie count sounds very reasonable and slow weight is the way to go for maintenance. In my opinion, the most important thing to do is pick something that doesn't feel like a diet but is something you can stick with for life; something that becomes the new "normal".
Colelady, of course you want to follow your doctor's advice.
You may have some underlying health conditions the rest don't have to contend with. But generally speaking, the body tends to drop a lot of weight within the first week and then evens itself off to a slower loss. I lost about 12 pounds my first week and then 2 pounds every week thereafter.
Good luck to you both!