A good friend of mine from Louisiana once asked me why I am having this surgery.  Was it because of personal or medical reasons?  You know if I answered that question, it would be a little of both.  Personally, I guess it is a little selfish…I would like to be around to watch my son grow!  Now I know the next breath I take may be my last!  But, I honestly feel this extra weight I am carrying around is definitely hindering my health.

 
Health wise, I am not in bad shape, but I am not in the best either.  It seems I have several co-morbidities that have been known to improve with weight loss.  I have the following co-morbidities:

v     GERD: Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease
v     Acute Hypertension
v     Osteoarthritis: Caused by aging and additional weight on weight bearing joints
v     Sleep Apnea
v     Depression

So, the majority of the problems can be corrected with weight loss.  Now, I have been able to lose a little weight on my own, and things seem to be better. The main reason I have lost some weight is not drinking soda.  We have replaced the 2-3 cases of soda we were drinking, with 2 cases of water.  So, if I am losing weight on my on, why am I going through this surgery?  I need help!  I need help with the ingestion of sweets.  I read a great article yesterday from “Bariatric Brat” that dealt with Gastirc Bypass Surgery.  Below is part of the article that speaks to my decision”

“Okay, no sugar-coating the truth here (pun intended) - I was a heavy-duty sweet eater before weight loss surgery. That is the primary reason I chose the gastric bypass. I knew that, with my personality, I would search out ways to get my sugar fix whilst defeating the LAP-BAND. I knew that I actually needed the surgery that would make me violently ill if I ingested too much sugar and/or fat. As I have stated before in this space, I love dumping. It keeps me honest. That being said, I have an occasional sweet - and I enjoy it. I can have a few M&Ms and be completely satisfied with the taste and texture, whereas in the old days, I would inhale the 2-pound bag faster than you could say "Jerry Springer" and not even taste it. These days, I can even have a candy dish in my office and it doesn't bother me whatsoever (of course, I keep my pre-op picture near it, but I digress.) I once heard a post-op put it this way: it's not as though you'll never have chocolate cake again. You aren't going to score the corner piece with the double-frosting and sugared roses, but you will have and even enjoy a small piece of, say, your daughter's wedding cake.”

I thought about Lab Band Surgery, but I knew I could cheat.  For me I would survive on the Mickey D’s Milkshake Diet.  At lunch, I would have a 32oz. milkshake.  That would be 1160 calories and 240 carbohydrates.  Not to healthy if you ask me!. Compare that to what I will be having…600 calories and 15 carbs per day!  

To say I’m excited and scared and at the same time is an understatement!  If you have not figured out by now, my surgery has been approved for December 18 of this year.  So for Christmas, I will be getting a new lease on life.  My request of you, my family and friends, is to say a prayer.  And get ready for a new, skinnier me!

Have a great day!

When I started the WLS process, I knew there would be road blocks.  I knew there would be rivers to forge, mountains to climb, and heights to soar!  OK, enough with the poetic waxing!  I have been trying to put together a time line from when I made up my mind to now.  I realize that this might not be totally accurate, but it is very close what is happening.  So, with out further ado:

4/20/07            Weight loss consultation with PCP

4/21/07            WLS Seminar at Centennial

5/21/07            2^nd month of 6 month diet

6/22/07            3^rd month of 6 month diet

7/24/07            4^th month of 6 month diet

8/21/07            5^th month of 6 month diet

9/17/07            6^th month of 6 month diet

At this point, I thought all my paperwork would be turned in.  Unfortunately no, and if I had not followed up with insurance, I never would have known.  At this point I found out that my Nutrition appointment and Surgical Consult needed to be scheduled.  Now back to the regularly scheduled program:

9/24/07            Scheduled Nut appointment and surgical consult

10/3/07            Nutrition appointment

10/8/07            Surgical appointment    

10/9/07            Upper GI Scheduled

10/17/07          Checked to see if my paperwork to insurance has been turned in.  My insurance rep at the Dr.’s office told me I was missing my 6^th month weight consultation.  After an evening of anger, the situation took care of itself.

10/18/07          Weight loss packet faxed to Cigna

10/22/07          Weight loss packer returned unreadable

10/23/07          Weight loss packet mailed to CIGNA  

10/26/07          Information entered into CIGNA computer.  Calling daily to check on progress.

11/2/07            CIGNA reports that packet is in out-patient approval dept. After numerous calls to Drs Office, situation seems to be corrected.  Once again the waiting game has started once again!

11/4/07            Created time line

Where are we?  That seems to be the Million Dollar question.  Once again I will start calling on Monday to check on progress!

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”    ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes ~

Have a great week!

I saw the Dr. on Monday, drank a strawberry flavored barium milkshake on Tuesday, and am now waiting for the insurance to give me the go ahead!  YEAH, I guess? 

The Dr.’s visit was a breeze!  Dr. Dyer’s only concern stemmed from my Hiatel Hernia and how big it was.  You see, I have had 8 esophageal dilatation’s over the years.  So, the good Dr. sent me to have a Upper GI.  Now, this was an experience in itself.  The radiologist was a hoot.  When he first showed me the barium going into my stomach, he popped out with his best Al Pacino imitation and said, “Say hello to your little friend”.  Other than the fact the strawberry flavored milkshake was nasty, no problems!

Anyway, it seems I have finally fulfilled that laundry list of do’s for the insurance company.  I can’t believe that 6 months has flown by so fast!  It seems like yesterday I was reading over the insurance requirement, and thinking, “this could take forever”.  Who knows, it might still take forever!  You hear all kind of stories.  From the ones who took 2-3 years to finally get approved, to the ones who were approved within a week. 

Well no matter what happens I am on the right track!  I’ve made changes in my lifestyle that are going to make me a healthier person.  I have surrounded myself with a great support system of family and friends.  And I believe in a God that reigns upon high!  Who could ask for anything else!

So, there you go!  My request is this…For my friends and family on this board and elsewhere to keep me in your thoughts and prayers.  And as soon as I hear something, you will know it!  In fact you will probably hear me screaming, feel me jumping up and down, and then you will remember…”It’s just Scott in Tennessee , he must have gotten approval!”

On yeah, the hospital let me bring home some of the strawberry flavored barium…I’m willing to share if anyone is interested?

Have a great week!

 

 

 

 

Well, several months ago, when I started this journey I am on, I posted the words to a song. The song was from the movie Dreamgirls. It was one that was sung by Jennifer Hudson called "I Am Changing". The words of this song spoke loudly to me! Yes, I am changing! Changing the way I eat, changing the way I do things in my life, changing for my family. I believe these changes are for the better. Whether to make me a better person, or allow me to do things I have never done before. changes are happening!

Well, day before yesterday, I heard one of my favorite songs on the radio. Tim McGraw's Live Like You were Dying. And yes, before you commit assumicide...the words spoke to me!

Before I started making changes,in my life, I was living like I was dying! Matter of fact, I probably was dying. My weight was killing me! I was tired, breathing was a problem, walking was the worse. My life consisted of working and eating, watching TV and sleeping. Going to the basement was tortuous, climbing stairs was a nightmare. I think you get the picture.

The words from this song really mean a lot to me! Not only the sentiment involved, but the mere thought of taking advantage of every waking minute. Yes, I still love my TV! But walking means a lot also. In fact last week at the Walk From Obesity, I walked 4 miles! Being able to do things like hiking, climbing stairs, watching my son play football means so much!

You know, we are not promised anything in life. We are not promised tomorrow, a week from now, or even our next breath! So my challenge to my friends and family this week is simple...Live like you were dying!

For those who have not seen or heard the video, I have placed it here, along with the lyrics, for your convenience. Listen and enjoy! Oh yeah, Have a great week!

He said I was in my early forties
With a lot of life before me
When a moment came that stopped me on a dime
And I spent most of the next days
Looking at the x-rays
Talking bout the options
And talking bout sweet time
I asked him when it sank in
That this might really be the real end
How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?
Man what’d you do?

And he said
I went sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu-Manchu
And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying
And he said someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying.

He said I was finally the husband
That most the time I wasn’t
And I became a friend a friend would like to have
And all the sudden going fishing
Wasn’t such an imposition
And I went three times that year I lost my dad
Well I finally read the good book
And I took a good long hard look
At what I’d do if I could do it all again

And then
I went sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu-Manchu
And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying
And he said someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying.

Like tomorrow was a gift and you got eternity to think about
What’d you do with it
What did you do with it?
What did I do with it?
What would I do with it?

Sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu-Manchu
And then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
And I watched an eagle as it was flying
And he said someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying.
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying