*Hey! Look at my support page! Thank you so very much Reba! I think it's gorgeous. I'm going to gather my thoughts and the processes I went thru before I start journaling - but look for many updates over the next few weeks! Thanks again Reba - its perfect!

Hi!  My name is Tammi, I'm 42 years old, I live in central Ohio and I am sick to death of feeling like crap all the time.  So after reading about it and dreaming about it, I took the plunge and had lap-rny on 19 Sep 06.  I am now learning how to use my tool (and I'm struggling), but I am determined to get my life back.  I put my old profile in "my story" below, but will use the blog to make my updates.  I'm not very good at keeping up with my updates, but will do so whenever I have something significant to post!  I hope you enjoy my page, and feel free to email me...I'll do my best to answer!

Ok, so here is a list of things I want after surgery. I'm sure it will be a never ending list, which I will update as time goes by, but for right now - this minute - these are the things on my mind: --I want to go to Cedar Point Amusement Park and ride every roller coaster without fear of not fitting. --I want to go through the turnstiles at disneyworld without trouble fitting through. --I want to get into One-derland --I want to buy "normal" sized clothes (18 or under) --I want to wear size 12 jeans --I want there to be no X's in my tee-shirt size --I want to buckle the belt on an airplane, and have a little bit of a "tail" to pull to tighten it...not have to pull it and squeeze in. --I also want the tray table on an airplane to come all the way down so I don't have to set my drink on my daughters' tray. --I want to get my entire house clean - and have a party! --My biggest goal is to enter and finish the Danskin triathlon held at Disney World each May. This year, I am going to go and participate...and finish. So today is 29 September 2006. And I've decided to start making my profile page a place to record my journey. I didn't keep exact dates of when things happened so the "up to now" is pretty much from memory. I'll do my best to be accurate. January 2002 - I go see a surgeon at the Barix Center. I think this is my last hope. My insurance denies me and I let it go...I decide I will try again at another method of losing weight. Between January 2002 and January 2006 I join weight watchers, curves, and TOPS - and can't stick with any of them for any length of time. I lose and regain the same 10-20 pounds. January 2006 - I have specifically chosen a health insurance company that does NOT exclude GBS. It goes into effect on the 13th of January. I attend the first informational seminar at Ohio State in February with my girlfriend. She wants to do it so bad, but insurance won't cover her. I decide to try again and send in my application to the OSU program on 13 March. It took some time for things to happen from this point, but in April I was scheduled to meet with a psychologist for an eval, and a nutritionist. I went with hope. The results were that they felt I needed some nutritional education before moving forward (the programs requirement - not the insurance companies). So I started a 12-week class in May. Shortly after that was done, I received a letter from my insurance that I had been approved (the program at OSU submitted it once I had completed all their requirements). So I called and made an appointment with the surgeon, and scheduled another 4-week class of how to eat after surgery. The appt with the surgeon was in late September...and it bothered me that it was so far away...so I called back and asked if I could be put on a waiting list...so if anyone cancelled I could have their appt...and they moved my appt up to 21 August. Sweet. My 4-week class started the 23d of August. Upon arrival to Dr. Mikami's office, I met an intern named Tammi...my name is Tammi and we (both of us) were almost giddy because we had neither one met anyone with the name Tammi spelled the way we spell it. It felt like a positive omen to me. :-) After meeting Dr. Mikami, and talking ALOT, we scheduled my surgery day...19 September 2006. There it is. My day. I attended my 4-week classes, the last one was the Wednesday before my surgery. So I spent the next 6 days eating. I had pizza from 4 different pizza shops on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It was delish. On Monday, however, I decided I probably should give my stomach a break since surgery was right around the corner now. From my very first nutrionist class to the day I went in, I had lost 16 and regained about 4 pounds. So I'm entering surgery 12 pounds lighter than my very highest weight. And I'm too ashamed still to post that number. But trust me...its a huge number. SURGERY DAY!! I have to be at the hospital at 530am, we leave the house about 430...what a dang early morning. I was excited, and finally, for the first time - a little bit nervous. The time went quickly...they told me to change and if I needed a bathroom....so I did...to which they almost immediately followed with a request for urine to rule out pregnancy. Can't go down til we get some pee....why did they show me the bathroom and tell me I could, when in the next three minutes they'd want more?? ARG. So we wait until I can pee a little (and it was very little). Finally we go down to the OR....it was weird. I was nervously cracking jokes to the people preparing me and then next I knew I was awake...and not feeling so hot. I couldn't speak - tube in my throat which they promptly removed when they realized I was trying to talk. My mouth was dry dry dry. They gave me a sponge on a stick which was wet...MY GOD...it was wonderful. Then they moved me to my room, which kind of made me dizzy - laying on a rolling bed - ick. Most of the rest of the day is a blurr...I slept through most of it. So thats up to day one....and I can't sit at this computer any longer...so more later! :) Well, I saw my surgeon on 2 October for my 2-week check up. Everything looks good. I had an infection, but have taken almost all the anti-biotics, and its clearing up nicely. I'm still not getting around the greatest, but much better. Everyday gets better. I still tire out quickly, but other than that, and not being able to eat or drink as much as they want me to - I'm doing great. My weigh in today, was -24 pounds from my first surgical consultation. Not bad. :-) Monday, 10 October 2006. I'm still having trouble getting in my protein and water. I just seem to fill up too quickly, and still haven't found a protein powder I can tolerate. I'm trying "real" foods, and that seems to be going pretty well. Unless I overeat - and then I'm miserable for hours. I decided to go back to work 1/2 days starting next week on my doctors advice. He is the expert. I am sleeping better - tho I still have to turn over gently. At least I CAN turn over...those first few nights were killer. I'm hoping that by next week, when I go back to work, I am having ZERO pain regardless of my movements, and that I am able to eat mostly solid foods. My son, he's the first, told me yesterday thru awkward giggles, that he can't believe how much he can see a difference "visably smaller" he said....he's the first to say it. :-) He hasn't seen me since before the surgery, so I suppose it makes sense that he would notice more so than those who see me regularly. Future Updates

You Are Scooter

Brainy and knowledgable, you are the perfect sidekick. You're always willing to lend a helping hand. In any big event or party, you're the one who keeps things going. "15 seconds to showtime!"

which happy bunny are you?

you are the cute but psycho happy bunny. You adorable, but a little out there. It's alright, you might not have it all, but there are worse
Take this quiz!

Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

What Disney Cartoon Character are You?

You are Mickey...you'd much rather be happy than upset. You are in love with Minnie. And you have a pet named Pluto who seems to get along with you really well...
Take this quiz!

Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

A (Disney) quiz- which toon r u (mickey, minnie etc.) with cute pics!

you are Mickey, a brave character. He is a good friend and is always the leader or the happy one of the group, or both! There is nothing you can't do.
Take this quiz!

Quizilla | Join Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code |