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Surgeon TestimonialCharles Bollman, M.D.*Note Dr. Bollman and Dr. Stevens did the surgery together. Dr. Stevens was my primary surgeon for aftercare.*rnrn Dr. Stevens is small in stature. Not intimidating. Dr. Stevens was very up front about the risks of the surgery and that this has to be a life style change. Also stressing that this shouldn't be a decision that one should consider lightly.The two doctors (Dr. Charles Bollman and Dr. Scott Stevens) that do this surgery at Geary County Community Hospital in Junction City KS; are truly dedicated to making the morbid obese person's life longer and more productive. These two doctors were doing this long before others jumped on the money making band wagon. They both show the precise amount of knowledge, care and compassion to make every patient feel like their only patient. I would rate these doctors 20 on a scale of 1-10. I would not intrust my life in the hands of any other doctor('s) for this procedure. I also have to note that Eileen (Dr. Boleman's nurse) and Karla (Dr. Steven's nurse) are awesome as well. I call Karla my angel, she is the earthiest, kindest, most soft spoken, gentlest, giving, beautiful, loving spirit I have ever known. There is nothing she would not do for her patients. I am confident that all will go well with my surgery, because I could not, in my opinion; be in better care anywhere else with anyone else. I know we aren't suppose to rate excellent on everything. But honestly I cannot think of anything negative to say about the doctors or their staff.rnrnrn**This is my insurance info**rnrnAetna, PPOrnI actually changed insurance from Coventry Health (HMO) to Aetna PPO in January 2003. Coventry would not pay for this surgery, they deem it \"cosmetic surgery\". It is amazing to me how many insurance companies are so ignorant still of the plight of the morbidly obese. Or maybe they just don't care. Probably they just don't care. Well, I switched to Aetna PPO as soon as possible, which was the beginning of the year, because they do pay for this surgery. I had a co worker that had the surgery in 2000 and she had Aetna PPO. So, I knew I would be okay with this insurance. I couldn't believe they turned me down on my first application. They had a new clause in the plan. Not only did you have to be 100 pounds overweight and have a doctor deem this medically neccesary; but you have to within the previous 2 years have 6 months of doctor supervised weight loss and excercise program. So, even though I had been fighting my weight my entire life, and had tried every diet and excercise program under the sun. I still had not had what they wanted. So, they denied me. Well, long story short. I got them on appeal with a technicality. Since I switched insurance at the beginning of the year there was a delay getting authorized for surgery. This new clause went into effect January 17th, so on appeal we contested that I had tried to get authorization prior to the new clause. I guess they felt that was the case because shortly after my appeal I got approval. So, for anyone else that has Aetna PPO bottom line is YOU MUST BE 100 POUNDS OVERWEIGHT, HAVE A DOCTOR DEEM SURGERY A MEDICAL NECCESSITY, AND HAVE 6 MONTHS OF DOCTOR OVERSEEN DIET AND EXCERCISE IN THE PREVIOUS 2 YEARS BEFORE SUBMITTING FOR SURGERY. Hope this helps someone else. Actually, I am glad that in the end they are paying.~ rn Member Interests
- Books & Literature - I love reading! I like just about any kind of books (except sports..lol).
- Computers & Internet - I'm on the computer a lot, but I'm not very literate. I'm learning constantly.
- Travel - I haven't traveled much in the past. But that's going to change!! :-D
- Theater - I love our community theater and try to catch every show with my sis.
- Meeting People - I always enjoy meeting new people with common interests.
- Parenting - I have two boys 7 & 9 and I can always use parental feedback raising them.
- Walking - I try to walk as much as I can. It's a great feeling to be able to walk again.
- Spanish - My family is from Spain, so I'm trying to learn the language.
- BMI over 50 - Mine was much higher before WLS, would like to meet others with the same.
- WLS Grads - I am now 3 1/2 years out and it's a struggle. I like the commraderie of grads.
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Weight Plummeting!! June 22nd, 2003 on June 22, 2003 12:00 am
June 22,2003....Weight 354
WOW, sorry guys! I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted. I'll try to catch up as best I can. I went to the Dr. for my 2 week check up on June 12th. I had lost 23 pounds from my pre op weight, but to be fair actually only 5 from post op date. Because the day I left the hospital I weighed 18 pounds more then my pre op weight. So aside from losing the fluid I gained in the hospital; I lost 5 pounds. I am not upset about it though. I realize that I will lose soon enough. The doctor took my stitches and my g-tube out. Boy, did it feel good to get the g-tube out. It was starting to be a bother. My scar was starting to heal right over my stitches. The Dr. said if we had waited a day or two more he would have had trouble finding them. So, it stung a little taking those out. My scar is healing pretty nice now. I still have a few spots that are not fully healed. As soon as everything looks good and closed I'm going to start using Mederma on it. My back is still hurting today. I went to see my PCP about a week ago about it. Because I had an open sore on my lower back. My doctor said it was a pressure sore and gave me some cream to dry it out and get it to heal. It is healing slowly, but I am able to lie on my sides for awhile now. After a bit it just gets too uncomfortable, so I turn over and lie on my back again and bear the pain. I know it will get better, I just bide my time.
I haven't had any problems with food. The only thing I crave is my diet pepsi. I didn't even drink that much pop before surgery, but I do miss it. There are some things I haven't tried yet. One thing I seem to do well with is toast with peanut butter. I sometimes will just eat this for dinner. I have been trying to make myself eat the 3 or 4 times a day that I know I should. But honestly somedays I have trouble with 2 times a day. I also know this will get better with time. I have absolutely no appetite. Every once in a while something will sound good and I will have a bite or two and then I've had enough. I just have to keep reminding myself that I am not quite 4 weeks out. Everything will be fine when I am fully adjusted to my new stomach and I have my energy back. I have my 6 week appointment set for July 8th. That is two days before I am supposed to return to work. I am really excited to see how much weight I have lost at 6 weeks. I haven't weighed at home at all. I know I'm losing because I can wear jeans that were too tight on me before surgery. Well, I have rambled long enough for one day. I will try to post more often so I don't sound like a windbag when I do post. Thanks! See ya later.
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Support Group Meeting Post Op-June 10th, 2003 on June 10, 2003 12:00 am
June 10th, 2003....
I went to a support group meeting tonight. I thought that it was the day after I got out of the hospital, but I was off a week. Which was fine. This way I felt well enough to go and not be too uncomfortable. It was so nice being with the "post-op" group for the first time. These meetings are such a lift. I had been waiting excitedly for this meeting for a couple weeks now. You'd think I was going to my prom or something. But, when you're cooped up convalesing it's surprising how excited you get over the simple things in life. Seriously though, it was so good to see the staff, and people that have been so supportive. It always feels a little like "going home" when I'm back at the hospital. This may sound a little kooky, but I do feel like I am always going to be welcome there. And I feel like the staff and the doctors will always be a fixture in my life. Everyone is really tightly knit in this program. I had another good day. Still the only problem that I'm having is my back hurting. I'm sure this will be alleiveated when I can lie on my side once again. So, if I lay down and it gets uncomfortable I just get up and come update my profile or sit on the edge of the bed and watch tv for a little while. Then I try to lie down again. Usually, I can get comfortable then. But no complaints, none, nada, zilch. I visited with a lady that was in the hospital the same time I was. She had her surgery the day before mine. I guess she has been in the hospital a couple times since then. She hasn't been able to keep much down. I felt bad for her. I just gave her some words of encourgement. She thanked me for the visit. I don't know how much longer she will be in the hospital, but I hope all goes well with her when she gets out again. Thank God! I haven't had any problems. Well, I'm off. Take Care and God Bless.~
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Humdrum-June 9th, 2003 on June 9, 2003 12:00 am
June 9th, 2003....
It's official. I am tired of mashed potatoes and gravy. This was just about my favorite food. But, now I really don't want to see any for awhile. I could be eating more variety of things, but I guess I just don't want to be that imaginative. I ate soup today. I have eaten some soup in the past few days. I can't eat too much. I can't wait until my 2wk check -up in a couple days. I get my stitches and my g-tube out. I cannot wait. The g-tube hasn't really been that bothersome. I have read where people are just miserable until it comes out. I want it out, but it really hasn't bothered me that much. It is just too much of a reminder of surgery. I want to start getting further down the road of recovery. I have been a little depressed the last couple of days. My sister said that I was being so positive that she thought the depression may skip me. But, I don't think anyone probably doesn't get depressed a time or two after this surgery. I don't even know why I'm depressed at times. It is just a bad feeling. I know this is common after surgery. So, I'm not worried. I just try to stay positive. And, think tomorrow is another day. Another notch on my post-op progress. Bye for now.~
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A little miserable-June 7th, 2003 on June 7, 2003 12:00 am
June 7th, 2003...
Good morning everyone. It is almost 2am and I can't sleep. Well to be accurate, I can sleep but my back hurts too much. I laid down for a bit, but when my back started hurting too bad. I had to get up. Thank God for this site. I can come here and read and update. It's great. I feel very good. I haven't been eating as much as I should I'm sure, but I know I'll get there. When I do eat I try to get my protein in. I just don't have an appetite. I'm sure that is not unusual. I've been moving around a lot. My worst fear is going through all this then getting a blood clot. But, I trust in the Lord that this too shall pass. And, I keep moving. My doctor gives each patient with this surgery a prescription for 10 days post-op 40mg of Lovenox. A blood thinner. It comes in a prefilled shot form. You just give it to yourself in the tummy. Doesn't hurt. So the 6 days (min) that I was in the hospital they gave me shots of Lovenox each day. Then for 10 days after I get home. I give them to myself. They really want to be as preventive as possible with any post op problems. So far nothing negative to say about surgery. I haven't even seen results yet. Well, I don't know anyway. I don't own a scale. My two week check up to get my stitches and my g-tube out is June 12th, so I will find out then if I have lost any weight. I will track my weight here. And for clothes fitting, I don't know about that either. I can't wear jeans yet because can't pull all that fat together..lol. I do feel swollen still. I'm sure that will take a couple weeks to go down. I just need to be patient and realize that I am only 10 days post-op and to let time pass. I really am not that inpatient. I'm just tired of not being able to get back to my normal routine. I may try to drive today. I'll have to see how I feel. But, that would help tremendously with the stir crazy feeling. Well, I will update again later. Bye for now.~
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Getting Better-June 6th, 2003 on June 6, 2003 12:00 am
June 6th, 2003...
Good morning Everyone. I am feeling good today again. Each day just seems to get better. I have only one complaint. My lower back is hurting pretty bad. I wish I could turn over in bed. But, I'll live. Everything else is going well. My scar is starting to itch. I know this is a good sign to show healing. But, I try to put it out of my mind. I haven't been eating much. Trying to get my water in. I really just don't have an appetite yet. But, I do make myself eat mashed potatoes or soup when I know I should. I am not dealing with any food issues like I thought I would be. Of course these may come later on when I'm back to normal eating. But, I truly believe that my losing weight prior to surgery, and dealing with a lot of my food issues in the preceding months that now I am not having that hard a time with it. Well, just wanted to keep you all updated. I will update more later. I'm going to try to lie back down. Take Care~
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