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01-20-06

Well I started my journey to WLS in October of 2005. My final 5 year history information came in last Friday and I dropped off my packet to the PBC office today at 11:45am...after a review then they said they will contact me to schedule my first meeting with the Surgeon....I feel very excited but I know I must be patient because there is still a ways to go to...but I trust in my Lord and Savior and feel a peace that all will go smoothly....so please keep me in your prayers and I will update when something new happens...peace be unto you all.....:)

01-23-06

Well I just received a call from Angela at PBC and I am meeting with Dr. Melkonian on Feb 3, which interestingly enough is my birthday....I feel excited and a little anxious all at the same time...last night I watched Jackie's story on TLC along with the Half Ton Man story.....looking at their struggle it just made the necessity of this surgery for me even more real....I could see my self esteem dwindling to the place where I didn't want to be seen...it is when you get to that place that you lose all hope and just give up....I am glad that in the end they both got a second chance at life and that is how I view this opportunity...please keep me in your prayers and I will give another update after I visit with Dr. Melkonian.....be blessed!!!

02-07-06

Well I went to see Dr. Melkonian on my birthday last Friday 02-03-06. We had an informative session and I like the way he doesn't BS u about the outcome of the surgery. he told me I only have to get my psych evaluation, meet with the nutritionist and get some blood work from my primary...I have already made the appointment for my blood work and with the nutritionist but I am waiting to hear back from the Psychologist about an appointment...I left a message and if I don't hear back by tomorrow afternoon I will try again...it is so amazing to think that if I get all this in by the first of March I could have my surgery date no later than March....this is really becoming real and I am trying not to get ahead of myself or the process....anyway I just want to send a prayer out for Sandi I think her surgery was today and I know that the Lord will take care of her and everything will go excellent....:)

02-14-06

Happy Valentines day everyone....only have one small update I had to move my PCP appointment to next week but I do have my nutritionist appointment this Thursday. I also have my Psych eval with Presbyterian Psychiatric associates but they couldn't get me in until March 14th....but I am just thankful to God for the patience he is giving me.....I want to send another thanks out to Angela for the email and prayers of support....well until the next update....:)

02-16-06

Ok so I met with the nutritionist today Allison Rutledge...who I might add is absolutely wonderful....she made me feel comfortable as well as responsible about this entire process....after the hour session I had with her she informed me that she will be writing a letter to Dr. Melkonian approving my candacy for WLS....yeah...anyway my next step on this journey is to have my blood work done which I am doing next Tuesday 02-21 with my PCP...so I will update after that appointment regarding how that goes...until then...ttfn...:)

02-20-06

Ok so I went to my PCP to get all my blood work done. She did an EKG, and they are checking my thyroid, blood count...etc...etc...Dr. Swaim said she would make sure that it all gets faxed to Dr. Melkonian...so that's two appointments down and one more to go the psych eval on March 14....I am going to check in with PBC in about two weeks to make sure that they have the letter from Allison and have received the results from Dr. Swaim....well that is one step closer to the surgery....right now I feel very calm surprisingly but I am happy and I thank God for giving me the patience I need to endure this journey...:) Anyway I'll update after the psych eval...I wish everyone a blessed day....

03-14-06

Well I went for my psych eval with Dr. Logan who is absolutely GREAT and if he hadn't told me I was sane I would opt to have him as my psychiatrist...anyway her said that he will send my letter recommending me for the surgery within this week...yeah!!! anyway, I called Dr. Melkonians office and left a message because I wanted to make sure that they have already recieved my info from Allison and from my PCP....if so and if they have no other pre requisite tests I could be submitted for approval to my insurance company by the end of this month.....wow.....I am so happy...but don't worry all I am still walking in patience to God be the glory...so I hope to be telling you all something real soon...please keep me in your prayers and thoughts...thanks!!

03-20-06

Called Dr. Melkonian's office and they have received everything!!! There was a question regarding missing 1 yrs consecutive documentation but I put this in the hands of my Lord and savior that they will have all that they need. So I sit in total peace and in complete faith that I will be approved and i will welcome any additional prayer from anyone else...:) So I hope to be updating my profile real soon with a YES and a surgery date.....:)

03-21-06

To God be all the glory!!!! I received a call from Dr. Melkonian's office and I AM APPROVED!!!!! My surgery is scheduled for June 6, 2006....I sit in stunned amazement at the faithfulness of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.....Mel at the office said she received the approval in less than 24hrs...she was more stunned and amazed than I...all I could do was cry at first I was so happy....anyway I have my 2 week pre op appointment on May 19th....I just once again thank the Lord for continuing to give me patience even now...please keep me in your prayers and I can't wait to be on the losing side of life.....:) I'll update again soon.....

03-28-06

Nothing new really...still just getting through each day....66 days to surgery thought I would post my list of reasons I want this surgery. I've seen so many do this and just wanted to list mine...

1. To be able to run (some of my best dreams are of me being able to run freely)
2. To for the first time be able to cross my legs
3. To sit indian style in a movie seat like my thin friends.
4. To be healthy
5. To wear clothing from stylish stores for the first time
6. To be able to have children (after finding a husband of course)
7. To be able to bend over, get up, sit in chairs with arms and not worry about how...
8. To be able to dance all night like I use to (I love to dance)
9. To feel comfortable about going to Carowinds ( I haven't been in 15yrs because I haven't been able to fit in the rides)

well I'll stop here...I'll add more as they come........:)

04-03-06

Hello my friends was just checking the calendar and I have 65 days until my surgery...yeah...to God be the glory...I continue in patience only supplied by Jesus because I don't have any of my own...:)...anyway, just checking in I hope all are doing well and I'll add more later....ps: I have been trying to follow the nutritionists menu and have actually lost 8lbs.....once again to God be the glory...well chat u all later...

04-04-06

I just want to thank Sandi E. for volunteering to be my angel...:D Thanks for the support Sandi......

64 day countdown....:)

04-05-06

65 day countdown....:)

Well just needed to vent....we have an elderly maintenance man who works at my building...I have known him now for about 2.5 years...he is a sweetie for the most part but lately it's like he can't stop mentioning my weight...to him he feels like he is complimenting me but to me particularly being this close to dealing with my weight issue it is getting on my nerves...he never used to mention my size before so I'm not sure what his deal is....anyway I just wanted to type it out so i could release it so I wouldn't have to hit him to release...lol..anyway...back to my happy place...please keep me in your prayers as you are all in mine...:)

04-06-06

Two months to surgery......God grant me the patience and the thankfulness between this day and that and each additional one afterwards.....:)

04-10-06

56 days til surgery....and the count down continues....

04-12-06

54 days til surgery.....and the count down continues...

04-18-06

48 days til surgery......and the count down continues...be blessed everyone...:)

04-25-06

Well I got a call from Mel this afternoon from Dr. Melkonian's office. It was a reminder call regarding my appointments...I said to her Mel I know about the 2 week pre-op appointment but what other appointment do you mean? She said the BIG day appointment June 6th......(me smacking my forhead in embarrassment)....see I thought she was talking about some other appointment or lab work I would need to do before the surgery...LOLOLOLOLOLOL...anyway, she didn't make me feel too bad about my folly....Mel also let me know about my fees I would have to pay...she said that I would need to bring $882....I thought it would be soooooo much more so I just give God the praise....I admit I was thinking hard about what that amount might be when she mentioned it a couple of months ago.....so I am 41 days away from surgery and 3.75 weeks away from my 2 week pre op.......all I can say is that I am thankful to my Lord and savior for the wisdom He is and has been giving me on this journey.....anyway please continue to lift me up to the Lord in your prayers as I will do all of you.....oh by the way I'm down another pound....YEAH!!!!

04-29-06

Well I received my letter from Dr. Melkonian's office regarding my surgery fees and upfront costs in writing...I have to sign the consent to pay form and bring it with me on my pre-op appointment on May 19th....wow....less than 37 days until the surgery...I can't believe it is almost here....I've been going through this array of emotions these last few days....when you want a thing for so long and you see that the Lord sees fit to give you that thing.....all I can say is wow and praise the Lord for being with me through this journey....my emotions are all stirred up and I am reconciling the dreams in my head of how to live life with a thinner healthier body with the reality of living life as a thin healthy person.......I can't say that it isn't a little over welming sometimes but I can say that each day that I get closer to being on the losing side I just want to cry with happiness and joy....to have one thing rule your life for so long...and to see the resolution to that thing just makes me happy because then I can move on to the other important goals and issues of my life.......I don't know if I am making any sense.....I guess I just want to say that I thank my Lord and Savior and commit myself to His keeping through the rest of this journey....well keep in your prayers as I will keep all of you in my own.....

05-08-06

Hello just a quick drop in...well it is less than a month to S-Day so 28 days until surgery....yeah!!!

05-12-06

T-3 weeks.....T-25 days to surgery day..........praise be to my Lord and Savior for His love and protection...His guidance and grace....Please keep me in your prayers as I will keep all of you in mine...until next time.......:)

05-17-06

Well I got a call from Presbyterian hospital and I have pre registered for my June 6th surgery date.....also received a call from Mel at Dr. M's office changing my 2 week pre op from Friday to TOMORROW....OMGoodness.....it's happening....two weeks from next Tuesday I will be on the losing side...........WOW.....to God be the glory..........please keep me in your prayers everyone.....

05-19-06

Well I met with Dr. Melkonian yesterday for my two week pre op...my surgery is 7:30am June 6th and I have to be there at 5am....WOW....that's really all I can say right now...I am officially 16 days away from starting the second portion of my life....to God be the praise........I start my liquid diet on next Tuesday so please keep me in your prayers and thank you so much for your support....

06-02-06

Well I know it has been a while but I am now 4 days away from surgery...I went to meet my anestisiologist today and he gave me a run down of the pre op dos and don'ts and what he will give me to knock me out....I am wearing my blood transfusion bracelet which I will have to have on when I arrive Tuesday morning or they will delay my surgery...so surfice it to say that I will have this on....I am anxious and excited all at the same time and I will spend this weekend cleaning up my house....I had enough vacation time to be able to take 3 straight weeks off so my office is now clean and all my projects are concluded as much as possible...so please everyone who knows a word of prayer keep me in your prayers and I will see you all on the losing side.....:)

06-05-06

Well in 10 hours I will be on the losing side and I just give God the praise...I would like to thank all my wonderful OH family who sent me messages of good wishes and for your prayers...I am smiling so BIG right now.....also I would like to thank my best friend Jennifer Nix for staying with me and taking such good care of me through this process....Continue to keep me in your prayers and well wishes and I will see you guys in a few days........

06-09-06

Home from Surgery Everything Going Well
Good morning my OH family...I just wanted to let you all know that my surgery went flawless and I was able to come home yesterday after only 2 days.... To God be the glory!! I just want to thank you all for your words of support....thank you Roberta for calling and checking on me, it meant so much... Also I just want to say that Dr. Melkonian is FANTASTIC and thanks to the staff at Presbyterian Hospital who were so incredible....special thanks to my nurses Jill, Katie, Pat (thanks for watching over me), Ashley and Mitsy (thanks for being so gentle taking out my drain ladies). I am now 3 days post op and at home trying to get into my schedule of vitamins, drinking all my needed fluids and walking....well I will update again a little later but thanks again to all of you for your prayers of support......

PS a special thanks to my and best friend Jennifer who stayed with me the entire time at the hospital and who is taking care of my for the next 2 weeks...God couldn't have blessed me with a better Friend thank you.....

06-21-06

Just wanted to update a little today...everything is going very well I am just learning how much my stomache can tolerate..I don't feel hungry most of the time and the smell of some foods make me nausious but I figure that's a good thing...LOL...I have not had an offical weigh in but I go for my post op follow up appointment on Friday with Dr. Melkonian so I am excited to see....I've been constipated for over a week and called his office yesterday and his nurse suggested a product that help in a major way...LOL..anyway, my aim is to start my walking program and to get in more protein and water which I have not been doing my best about.....anyway just continue to pray for me as I am for all of you....and I would like to add for those who are considering WLS I TOO WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN......:)

06-23-06

Well I went for my post op visit and I am officially down 22lbs since surgery and a total of 31lbs from my highest....to God be the glory!! Dr. Melkonian said I am right where he expects me to be since most of his patients are down 20lbs after surgery...his expectation is that I will be down to about 280lbs or more by my 3 month check up....my plan is to make the most of the first 6 mos since that is the best and easiest time to lose...I place this plan in the hands of my Lord and just continue in faith towards my new life.....

09-07-06

Well I just wanted to pop in and say hello to you all and give you an update. I was three months out from my surgery as of yesterday and I am unofficially 293lbs....65lbs from my highest yeah....I go for my 3 month FU with Dr. M on 09-11 and I will get my official weight then....A lot has happened since the surgery and I feel like that with each pound I am trying to re figure out who I am....and let me tell you that's not an easy thing.......but I thank my OH family for all your support and well wishes....and I will update with more detail after my visit next Monday......

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