Nancy Marquez, M.D. I really liked Dr. Marquez from our first meeting and am continually impressed with her. She's got a great bedside manner and very easy to talk to.
Her office staff is pretty good. Jerry is the nutritionist and is always available when I have questions. Joy is the nurse that I usually see when I'm there and she's great. She taught me how to do my B12 injections and has been great to work with. The only person I have issue with is Jenna. Jenna is the patient advocate, and I'm sure her job is not a fun one - dealing with all us anxious pre-ops and our insurance companies while trying to make sure the practice gets the operating income they need, but I found her to be unresponsive at times. She insisted that my insurance wasn't going to cover my surgery even after I received my approval letter and was a lot slower than I would have hoped in submitting all of my paperwork for approval. Because she didn't expect UHC to actually pay for my surgery, I had to put down a deposit of $2,000 for my surgery to cover whatever UHC didn't. The best part of that is I received a refund of $1,927 a few weeks ago.
Dr. Marquez places a great emphasis on after care. Seton Hospital provides a support group and all are encouraged to attend.
All risks were addressed up front with both myself and my husband.
I would rate Dr. Marquez a 10. I had no surgical or post-op complications and found her bedside manner to be excellent.
Jennnifer, I just
had to post a
comment after
reading your
profile. When I saw
you profile I
thought, I'll just
skim through it then
there were a lot
that hit home. 1.
your surgery date is
my father birthday
2. your birthday is
7 day away from my
sons birthday. I
really would like to
talk to you one on
one because you gave
a lot of good info.
You are the 1st
person that I have
talk to or read
there profile that
was positive. I
thank you! I haven't
had surgery yet my
surgery date is
8/29/06. I'm very
sorry about your
lost. Contiue to
stay strong and I
look forward to hear
from you. Thanks
again!
Three months have flown by without an update so it must be time. Nothing major or new to report. Pretty much just living life, working, traveling most weeks, and maintaining my weight.
I've been lucky. With all of the travel, I have not been very good about keeping up on my workouts this year but I'm still maintaining without much effort. My body has lost quite a bit of muscle tone, but my clothes are lose most days. I got to the gym this past Monday and had the best workout I'd had in months. I should be home for a few weeks starting 7/21 and that will give me time to get back into a schedule.
Nothing else major to report. I'm always available via PM to answer any questions.
49 people from the Texas Message Board invaded Sulphur, Louisiana this weekend to visit our beloved CajunGirl and ZydecoMan. While there, I was christened as "Cruise Director Julie" as I feel the need to make sure everyone knows where they're supposed to be and that there's always activities available.
We had a fabulous time. I had met a lot of the folks in attendance at previous events, but met Sara M. and her awesome daughter Katie, Nessa, Blane, Loralea, Russ and Kelly, Wendy, Adam and a bunch of others for the first time. It was so much fun.
The biggest thing I took away from this weekend is how much my "chosen family" cares for me. You born and bred southern girls are fiesty little spitfires! I'll be sure to never tick you off.
I love you all. Thanks for a great weekend. I love it when we sit around on Sunday going through the pictures to refresh our memory of all the fun we had.
I have no idea how this year is already 1/6th over. I spent more of February away from home than I was here.
London was great. It's easy to forget how important someone is in your life when they're not physically there every day, but having a week to spend with Karen was just the best. I can't even express how much I miss living on the same continent as her. When we said our good-byes on the train platform, after she left, I cried. I felt like a complete goober, but Michael told me it's OK to cry because you miss your best friend. (I swear, he really is the best, isn't he?!)
We got home from London late on Valentine's Day. I left for Los Angeles the following Monday morning. I do not recommend hopping 8 time zones in 4 days if you can avoid it. The jet lag was brutal and the lack of sleep created some stress for me which was a bit distracting, but everything come off without a hitch.
I was back in Los Angeles again this past week for a major product launch with one of our partner companies. It was a great launch and I was able to get together with some friends while I was there. I was pretty travel weary by the time I got home though, but with 11 nights in a row of sleeping in my own bed, I should be raring and ready to go for my next trip.
I'm not struggling with my weight as much this year with the travel as I did last year. I'm pretty much 130-133 all the time. At 28 months post-RNY, I have a limited list of foods that I must avoid because they're trouble (mainly anything made with peanuts, any dairy except cheese, and sweets), but as long as I don't eat those, I'm pretty sure I live my life like a person who has been thin all their life.
Which speaking of...there's a lot of people that I work with that I've only met in the last year. Those people saw me go from 144 to 130 and consider that an "amazing weight loss" It's so strange when someone will compliment and ask how much I lost to see their face when I say 123 lbs. I find it strange that people assume I've always looked like this.
That's all I have time for now. With all the travel, I'm behind on some projects at work, so I'll be spending a good chunk of my Sunday working. If you have any questions, PM me.
I just realized I haven't had time to update in over a month... Well, lets see, in that month, there's been a holiday and I've been to San Francisco, Houston, Dallas, Austin and New Orleans. Michael was in Chicago for 2 weeks. So, I guess that's where the time has gone. I know I should be used to it by now, but I still find it strange that we rarely go a full week without going to the airport.
I think I can whole-heartedly say that December 21, 2007 was my emotional rock bottom. At least I hope that will be the lowest I ever feel. Since then, I've really been working to find a healthier balance in my life so I can be a happier person. It's tiring to be so hard on yourself all the time. You know?
New Orleans was a great trip. We had 10 people - 4 we met through OH - go and it was a really good time. I've gotta start getting out the emails to plan for next year.
The travel schedule isn't letting up anytime soon. February will take me to London and then twice to LA. (I'm dreading the jet lag from going London to LA.) Phoenix and Boston are on deck for March. I am very blessed to truly love my job (and hanging out in airports ).
I had a really bad Friday last week. Some things happened at work that left me feeling less than appreciated by my team. Then at lunch, my car was hit while it was parked and I was in a store. Whomever did it didn't leave a note and the damage is probably $500-600. My deductible is $500, so I'll just have to live with it. The icing on the cake was one of Michael's Christmas gifts arrived incomplete. I spent 42 minutes on hold to find out the missing piece was on back order. Would've been nice if someone would have called, emailed or put a note in the package. But I guess as the consumer that was just too much to expect. I completely lost it and started crying at my office. I rarely cry, but crying at the office? Ugh! I'll never live it down.
I spent the weekend trying to shake off the crap. And did pretty good. Monday, I went into work for a little bit to get some things done. I came home just before noon, Michael and I went to lunch and decided to go look at cars for me. I can't buy anything until my PS is paid off in February or March, but I thought I'd start researching.
Christmas was perfectly low key. My mom and stepdad came over for presents and brunch and were gone by 1pm. The rest of the day, Michael and I spent hanging out, napping and watching favorite movies.
Today was back to work. I had a panic attack driving in because I knew today was the first time I may have to see some of the people that witnessed my meltdown over the botched Christmas gift on Friday. Fortunately, no one showed up, so I panicked for nothing. And will likely get to repeat the same panic tomorrow, Friday and Monday until everyone is back in the office next Wednesday.
Things were fine at the office. I worked until about 3:30 getting a head start on some projects for January and February. Then, I left to go home, change and go spend some of my Christmas gift cards. Driving home, I felt horrible. I was trembling and having heart palpitations. Even though I'd had a properly balanced lunch, I wrote it off as a blood sugar incident. When I got home I had some turkey pepperoni and cheese. Everything seemed to balance out. I changed clothes and headed for the mall.
I bought two pairs of Lucky jeans. One pair was included in the 1/2 off sale they have going on. I can't believe I can wear a size 2 Lucky jeans. It's so completely bizarre and foreign to me. I bought two fleece jackets to keep in the cars for when we go into a restaurant and it's cold. And I bought two pairs of shoes at the big DSW clearance. We had dinner while we were out and then stopped at the grocery store on the way home. And when we got home, I was trembling again. So, I don't know if this is a nutritional issue or if I'm just freaking out. It occurred to me earlier today that this Friday would have been my dad's 60th birthday.
I hate feeling like I don't have control over my body. It takes me back to the pre-op days when I'd gain weight at the drop of a hat and could never take it off. I hate being the person that wishes life away, but I just need to get past this week.
My name is Jennifer. I'm 33 years old, married to the most amazing man, Michael, and we have two furry children, Coco and Cosmo, our German Shorthaired Pointers.
Both of my parents were obese. My father drowned in Aruba in November 1994 at the age of 46. At the time of his death, he was about 275 lbs, diabetic, and had high cholesterol. His drowning was likely the result of a silent heart attack, however, the way a body is prepared in Aruba, we were unable to have an autopsy performed once he was returned to the US. My mother weighed anywhere between 255 and 310 throughout my life. She had a duodenal switch in July 1998 and now (after three plastic surgeries) weighs around 160. She's very happy with her DS, but based on her side effects, I had always vowed, I would never have that procedure. With both parents obese, I knew my weight was going to be a constant struggle.
I was able to keep it pretty well under control until just before my wedding in May 1997. In the six months before my wedding, I gained probably 20 lbs. I went on a Slim-Fast bender for the final two weeks before the wedding to get back into my dress. On my wedding day, I weighed 172.
In 2000, I realized I had put on some weight and decided to join Weight Watchers. I joined at 212 lbs. I was horrified that I'd put on 40 lbs. since my wedding. I did everything I was supposed to in terms of following the program and exercising and couldn't get below 191 lbs. After 8 months, I still didn't have my 10% award, and my self esteem couldn't handle another unsuccessful weigh-in, so I gave up.
In 2001, I tried Meridia. In four months, I lost only 13 lbs. I had a friend that lost 14 lbs. in her first two weeks. Yet another disappointment in my quest to be normal. Late in 2001, my husband was transferred from Dearborn, MI to San Antonio, TX.
In 2002, with the stress of leaving my job, not being able to land a new job in my field of expertise, leaving our friends and family, etc. I packed on the lbs. Plus, as they say, everything's bigger in Texas!
By the summer of 2003, I was up to 226 lbs. and again joined Weight Watchers. I joined with a new "friend" that I had met here. Her hubby and Michael worked together. She lost 47 lbs. in 5 months. I lost 23. Both her and her hubby stopped speaking to us because I was a failure. I kept going to WW for 8 months and couldn't get below 203 lbs. no matter how hard I worked out or what I ate. Frustration strikes again!
My weight continued to go up and down over the next year. Late in 2004, I was lamenting to my cousin my frustration with my weight and she asked if I'd considered WLS. I was caught off guard because I was not 100 lbs. overweight. At that point, I started thinking about it, but because of our experience with my mom's DS, I knew Michael was going to be VERY against it.
I started researching online in early 2005. I was terrified to say anything to anyone, so I kept it to myself. Every February, my mom comes to visit for President's Weekend. When she was here, I told her that I was interested in having RNY, but I didn't know how to approach Michael. I knew his immediate reaction would be "How will we pay for it?" I'm on his insurance and wasn't sure what they would cover for WLS. My mom offered to pay anything that insurance wouldn't cover. I'm an only child and her theory is that I'll inherit everything anyway and this way at least she could see me enjoy some of her money. LOL...
In March 2005, I finally talked to Michael about my desire for WLS. He had some objections, but I told him about all of my research. He said that he wanted me to meet with our PCP and if our PCP would recommend it, he'd be on board. On April 1, (no foolin!) we met with our PCP. He was very supportive having witnessed my WW struggle and referred me to Dr. Harold Gaskill.
I had my first appt w/ Dr. Gaskill in late April. I really liked him and we submitted my paperwork to UHC. I was approved within 3 business days of UHC receiving my pre-certification information. The week after I received my approval, I got a new job. I had been trying to get into this company since we moved to TX, so I couldn't let the opportunity go by. My approval was good for 90 days, so we scheduled my surgery for 7/26 - the 89th day of my approval.
In mid-June, I got a call from Dr. Gaskill's office. They had contacted UHC to start scheduling my pre-op testing and were told there had been a "change of coverage." Michael contacted UHC and was informed that effective 7/1, they would not cover WLS with any out of network surgeon or hospital. So, since Dr. Gaskill was out-of-network, I was no longer approved.
We spent the next month looking for a surgeon that was in-network and in mid-July found Southwest Bariatric Surgeons in Austin, TX. Drs. Marquez, Dillawn and Faulkenberry were all in-network with UHC as well as St. David's and Seton Hospital being in-network. Woo hoo! Finally some progress! We registered for the 8/16 patient seminar.
On 8/16, Michael and I attended the seminar at Seton Hospital. Michael hadn't met Dr. Gaskill when I was working with him, so this was his first real exposure to what I'd been talking about. We left the seminar and Michael was transformed into a "super hubby!" He was so on board and SO incredibly supportive, I didn't know what to do with him.
On 8/17, I submitted all of my patient information and my previous approval letter to SBS. I had my first appointment with Dr. Marquez on 9/21. On 10/12, all of my information was submitted to UHC and again within 3 business days, I had an approval! Once I had my approval with SBS, things went very quickly. I had my pre-op testing on 10/27 and my laproscopic RNY on 11/15.
At my pre-op testing, I weighed 253 lbs. My pre-op testing consisted of a barium swallow, a chest x-ray, blood tests, exercise physiology consult, an EKG, an anesthesia consult, and a nutritional consult.
All SBS surgeons require a very high protein, low carb diet for at least 2 weeks prior to surgery. I started my pre-op diet on Halloween and on the morning of surgery, I weighed 241 lbs.
I was admitted to Seton Hospital the morning of 11/15. It was the first time I'd ever be spending the night in the hospital since my mom brought me home as a newborn. I was really nervous of the unknown. Also, 11/15 is Michael's birthday. Ever since my father died, a few days after Michael's birthday, effectively taking a lot of the celebration away from his subsequent birthdays, I'm scared about actually dying on his birthday. I never got excited about my surgery pre-op because of this constant fear.
My surgery was scheduled for 12:30pm, but I didn't go into the OR until about 1:15pm. I was terrified going into surgery and laid on the OR table praying that the bright light above me would not be the last vision I saw on earth.
I woke up in recovery around 5:15pm and around 6:30pm, I was taken to my room on the 5th floor of Seton Hospital. I was so relieved to see Michael, my mom and stepdad. The first thing I said to them was "Why did they let elephants dance on my tummy all day?" The pain in my abdomen was reminiscent of the sore abdominal muscles from cheerleading tryouts my freshman year of high school.
I had a private room at Seton and my mom stayed with me the first night. Around 10pm, my nurse came in and we went for my first post-op walk. She told me I only had to make it to the door of my room, but wanting to have the most positive outcome, I walked all the way to the elevators where my nurse informed me that just because I made it to the elevators didn't mean I could go home. LOL...
At 8am on 11/16, I had my swallow test to ensure I didn't have any leaks. I was away from my room for about an hour and when I returned, I could have water! I've never been so happy to get some sips of water! Mid-day on 11/16, my nurse removed my catheter. That's the only time I've ever had a catheter, but I found it somewhat uncomfortable, so I was happy to see it go.
The only time I used my Dilaudin pump was when I had to get in or out of bed. I really didn't have much pain. I didn't have the shoulder pain that many describe, nor did I have gas pains. I did have one instance of dry heaves on the afternoon of 11/16. I thought I was going to pop every stitch open. That two minutes was the most painful part of my entire experience.
Michael stayed with me the night of 11/16. He's wonderful, but not the lightest sleeper and a big snorer. I love him dearly, but Mom was definitely a more attentive "roommate." He was great taking walks with me and adjusting my compression boots, etc.
I was expecting to be released the morning of 11/17, but Dr. Marquez felt I needed another day. Since I live about 90 miles from her office and Seton Hospital, I'd rather know I was ready to go home than to jump the gun and have a complication. That morning, my Dilaudin pump was removed. Michael stayed with me again so he could take me home on 11/18.
The morning of 11/18, Michael and I were on one of our walks when my nurse found us to let me know that Dr. Marquez was in my room. We walked in and she said that I looked great and could go home. I was being released from the hospital to start my new life on the 11th anniversary of my father's death.
Over the course of the next couple of hours, I got cleaned up - sponge bath only, no shower, yet, and fixed my hair. My nurse came in and removed my drainage tube. That was kind of gross! Once that was out, I could get dressed. I had brought a knit dress to wear home, but I didn't know I wouldn't be able to comfortably wear a bra, so I had to go home braless - always a good look when you're a 38DD. Around 10:30am, a hospital volunteer arrived with a wheelchair to take me to the truck.
We arrived home around 12:30pm and I was exhausted. Michael and I have a high bed which he didn't think I'd be able to get in or out of very easily with my tender abdomen, so he set me up in one of our guest rooms. I immediately went to sleep. When I woke up around 4:30 that afternoon, I grabbed my laptop and VPN'd into my office. I worked for 4 hours the day I was released from the hospital.
I had a very easy recovery. I never took a pain med once my Dilaudin pump was removed. The most annoying and long lasting discomfort I had was from my IV site. That ached for a full month.
I worked part-time from home starting the day I came home from the hospital and 5 days post-op went house hunting with my mom and stepdad. That being said, I would need a 2 hour nap in the middle of the day, but otherwise, I couldn't tell I'd had anything done (until the weight started falling off)!
I returned to work full-time 13 days post-op. At that point, I was already down 22 lbs. I felt good. When I would get sore from sitting upright, I would just go for a stroll around the office. Everything was very eventful until weeks 3-5. I don't know if it was introducing foods back into my diet or what my problem was, but from day 17 until day 27, I threw up 17 times. Pretty much everything I ate did not stay down. What did stay down was very noisy and uncomfortable. This was the worst "complication" I had from my surgery.
This photo is my Aunt Brenda, Aunt Linda and me. This was taken 6/12/2005 at my uncle's wedding in Anchorage, AK. Aunt Brenda was RNY post-op 3 months (-37 lbs.) in this photo. Aunt Linda and I were pre-op.
Fast forward to 2006! Aunt Linda had lap RNY on 8/30/2005. This was the first time we'd seen each other as post-ops and at this point in our journeys, we were down 179 lbs.
Add as a Friend
Send Message
Member Card
Block Member
It's so strange when someone will compliment and ask how much I lost to see their face when I say 123 lbs. I find it strange that people assume I've always looked like this. 
