Miss Candace
6/25/08 Insurer Info:
Talk about a never ending story!
WL truely is a never ending daily battle.
I LOL @ myself now at my naiveite in how I previously thought the GBS would be the "magic answer" to my battle w/ obesity.
But it wasnt, & thats gotta be my biggest piece of advice to newbies & those who are in the beginning stages of approval. Dont think this is a perminent fix. If you neglect it - dont pay attention to it - dont care for it - dont make that "life style change" it WILL & CAN come back to haunt you.
Obesity
Which brings me to today... well - last week actually...
6/18/08
My my it's been quite a while hasnt it. With everything going on in theis lady's life, i have completely neglected my journaling. I suppose that has something to contribute to my backslide...
Well, lets start where I left off, in 2006.
In short, i moved the fam. back to the bay area (though we've recently moved yet again - just in the same area). Ive been in the same position career wise (glad that hasnt changed) & Im still plugging away on my BSB/M degree.
After 2 years of not seeing Dr. Curet, I had all the blood work done & went to see her today. The good news - everything is absolutley perfect w/ my bloods. All levels are great! No diabeties, no high blood pressure, no cholesterol, no thyroid issues, no nada.
So whats the problem!?!??!?!??
ok 1) i know im an emotional eater & we all know ive got a lot going on w/ my dad (just had a partial amputation of his big toe b/c of his diabeties), 2) issues w/ a coworker at work (LORD i cant stand that woman!!),
3) moving (man, i was paying way too much at that other place & then they raised the rent! it was time to go!!), ....
4)..... well - i guess just life in general.
School is OK - its not stressing me out right now - but i am depressed & thats feeding my emotional eating (for the lack of a better phrase).
Im biking at about 9 miles a day to work & doing lots of activities on the weekends - so im keeping active.
So again, whats the problem?!?!?!?!?
Not eating too many heavily fried foods (i can tolerate anything at this stage), getting a good amount of exercise (especially compared to pre-surg.) but im still gaining weight.
Dr. Curet says there is a SLIGHT chance of some kind of anotomical reversal where the stoma has enlarged too much or is seeping into the other stomach (dont quote me on that). So we'll get some xRays & have a look. If thats the case, it can easily be corrected via surgery. If not, the road before me is much harder....
What the heck happened in 2007?!?!? lol
8/4/06
Alot has happened over the past two years. Dumped the boy friend, sold the home, got (another) new job & moved the fam. back to CA all in 6 months. A tremendous amount of stress for one person, but i think i have made it through okay. At least i managed not to eat myself back up to 300 lbs. To date, I've gained back just 18 lbs. & now that I'm back home, I am more determined & focused to get that back off.
We're doing more things as a family & I love it! We have become very active ("hard core" lol) going Kayaking & on 1 day safari vacations w/ LOTS & LOTS of walking & running. My son is a great inspiration & I appreciate him keeping up w/ me (HAHAHHAHA He's just 8 and a 1/2 & he has trouble keeping up w/ mommy!). But he keeps me focused & reminds me not to eat when I'm full or I'll get sick.
So we are "back to basics" for the rest of the year. Thats a good goal!! I have 4 months left in 2006 & Im setting a goal to loose 20 lbs. by Dec. 2006. I will do this in conjunction with taking courses to achieve my BSB/M.
9/22/05
A year + out & holding at 160 & doing GREAT! Just have to (want to) loose that last 20lbs. Also thinking about plastic surgery to tighten up things (just have to pay for it. I wish insurence companies covered it!! Dr 90210 HERE I COME lol).
4/22/05
OK so during the 1st 6 months post-op i did everything they said to do. I took all my vits. (k, well except the iron & calcium b/c i just couldnt see trying to choke down those huge horse pills) & protein as directed, ate the proper foods & such & Ive not had any issues since the surgery (didnt have any during the surgery either). Conciquently, my blood work came out just great & they were very happy w/ my progress.
But this time I decided to do a little scientific experiment of my own. So during the last 6 months I DIDNT do everything they wanted. That means i DIDNT take any of the vits. or protein (still have taken the calcium or iron lol), ate anything & EVERYTHING i wanted (including Taco Bell, McDonalds, candy, chocolate, SODA!!!!, you name it & basically i ate it.
The result - I STILL LOST 17.1lbs. *k, just realized thats only 17lbs in SIX MONTHS!!! hmm, better watch that...** & my blood work came out EVEN BETTER! They are still happy w/ my progress & dont think i need to loose any more weight. They still caution to watch the intake b/c it could turn around on me & Lord knows we dont want that to happen. But all in all things are great!!
Currently Im wearing a 12/14 down from a 24/26!! and GET THIS!!!! i was wearing a size 10-11 shoe & im now in a 9.5!
10/27/04
Everything went great at my 6month check up. They are very happy with my blood test results & cautioned not to be derailed or discouraged statign that "most ppl loose the majority of their weight in the first 6 months & then begin to taper off or hit a plateau." If/ when this happens, they recommend to step up the exercise routine & to make sure that it is currently in full swing (which it is not - infact, i have BARELY worked out at all). With this in mind, I should bring up that I havent really had much of the "hanging skin syndrome" but i am noticing that it is getting more & more noticible. Also, i have lost A BUNCH OF FRIGGIN HAIR!!! i cant believe how much has come out. I am up on all my protein & STILL the stuff falls out in mounds after washing! I can see a tremendous change in my body & its shape. Im currently wearing a 14/16 pant & 12/14 top (thats a huge difference from when i started out). On a happier note - I HAVE BEEN RELEASE TO DRINK!!!
**singing ITS ON BABY!!**
10/22/04
Where do i start?
This year has been absolutely phenomenal to say the least.
You know, in July i thought about making another entry in my "journal" but the time escaped me. I thought about all the wonderful things i'd have to report on.... just havent found the time to before now. I suppose it was less of a priority b/c i figured ppl here didnt really care anyway - so why bother blabbing on & on about things im going through. But i forgot this isnt about other ppl. Its mine & is about ME!
So this year: I went to Savannah GA (in March i believe) & met the love of my life who turn out to be a total PUNK A$$!!! (but what a great weekend lol).
Quit my old job & Got a new job in June.
Went to NYC!! (in July) w/ a friend who i will NEVER travel or do anything else with ever again (ooohhhhh what a HATER shes turned out to be!! according to her my new nicname is 'Skinny Beyatch' which is fine once or twice - NOT FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND & EVERY TIME YO USEE ME HEFFA!) & im not sure I even still wanna be her friend.<<--- LOL THATS A LIE!! Actually, shes been reduced to "an acquaintance" status. just someone i know & use to be tight with.
Bought a new home & closed on it in July.
Moved my parents, myself & my son INTO this grand new home, which is in a different state along w/ the new job (in July).
And..... lost my mother in August 18, 2004.
I have to admit for a while i didnt want this damn operation anymore. I wanted to go back to stanford & have Dr. Curet reverse it completely b/c it hurt my mother so bad & she thought i didnt want to be "like her" (since i am built just like her). When that wasnt it at all.
Since her passing i have been busier then ever w/ the arrangements, making sure things went as smoothly as possible at the services, handling things w/ the estate (life insurances, credit cards & such), taking care of "my guys" (my father & son), trying to make sure my sister & brother are holding up ok w/ things, throwing myself into work, taking care of the house & just in general seeing that everything else under the sun is running smoothly & is take care of.
Wheres my time? Wheres the time for me to take care of me?? Non-existant. I dont make time for me b/c i cant afford to do so right now. I am affraid of what will come of it if I do make time for me. And i cant loose control like that (yes, i am a control freak!), i have too many things to attend to.
I took my 6 month bloods on 10/5/04 & the results are great. I felt really good about that. Everything is absorbing prroperly & the 6 month check up next week should go just fine.
My sister is worried about me loosing too much & looking "crackish"!! LOL But I want to go until Im 140ish. We'll see how that looks.
The other night, i tried on a top ive had in the back of the closet for 10 years!!!! I wore it for NYE 1994. I just couldnt throw it out - it was too nice. Now, its too big & i have to have it altered b/c I will wear it this NYE fasho!! I am smaller then i was TEN YEARS ago!! ive gone from a 24-26 to a 14-16 in less than a year total & 6 months from surgery!!
I have to say its a bitter sweet accompliment though - a bitter sweet victory. Im making all this great progress & im healthy & my mother isnt here for me to go home to & tell, or call & tell. She isnt here to see it (even though i know she is with our Lord & sees everything now) - she just isnt HERE! and thats been really hard (understatement of the century).
But im ok ma. I've made it thus far & Ive gotten everything you've ever wanted for me.
Okay - thats about all i can handle at the moment. Maybe next month things will be easier.... or at least lighter.
6/2/04
2nd POstOp & things are still going great! The official count is down 12lbs since my last Dr. visit, 29lbs. since the surgery & 57lbs. total since i started w/ ww.com.
While trying new things & finding out what i can tolerate (which is just about everything/ anything); Ive come across the water based WHEY PROTEIN drinks by IsoPure Zero Carb. They come in many flavors **apple melon, blue raspberry to name a few** and kinda taste like KoolAid. They are the best & i totally recommend them **can be found at your local GNC store. they come pre made in glass bottles or in powder form in jugs**! Another Zero Carb beverage I came across is the SoBe LEAN line of drinks (currently avail. in just 3 flavors). Although they have no nutritional value, they are Zero Carbs (much like Diet Snapple & Crystal Light) & taste great!!
This part of the experience in general is almost too easy (its really a breeze!). There isnt anything that I dont have a bite of **if i want**. I can eat 2 chicken strips from Coco's (Dennys) & i am STUFFED!!!! The only things I really worry about is not chewing the helium out of something, swollowing it & it getting stuck - & over eating (which is VERY PAINFUL but sometimes i cant help it!).
I usually need to sleep or lay down right after I eat (which can be difficult if i eat at the office). Other then that, the energy level is great. Just a normal amount of hair has fallen out (no biggie).
So, still on track & doing great! Think I should start making some serious WL goals - like what weight I want to be Next PostOp is in about 6 weeks.
5/19/04
Well, its been 4 weeks (tomorrow) & i am feelin pretty dang good!! I am so Blessed to have come through this with no complications & minimal side effects **THANK YOU JESUS!!**.
I am back at work functioning w/in normal means - RUNNIN THANGS MAN!!, back on regular foods (mostly), pumped & ready to get back into the swing of things **but still taking it slow**. My energy level is really good, but I do still crash & burn kinda in the afternoons (especially w/ no nap). I have another 2 weeks before any "extra curricular activities" can take place & no alchohol unitl NYE05 :(( **the new tummy is nothing less than an "ulcer" after surgery...a stomach sore. Alcohol makes this "ulcer" worse and can cause bleeding and/or death. The pouch is completely healed after 6-8 months**.
All in all i am doing extremely well. So well infact that I almost had myself convinced that they DIDNT do the procedure or that they had done it incorrectly or something b/c i havent felt ANY of the side effects. No barfing, no spins, no cold sweats, no symptoms of the dumping syndrom at all. Minimal hair loss (actually my hair feels thinker & stronger since ive been doing the Protein shakes), not really all that sick (taking into consideration that i had just had surgery).
Basically NONE of what I expected to happen happened! But at my 1st post op, I had lost 21 lbs. REAL LIVE HONEST TO GOD PROOF that they DID do it & that it WAS working **phew**. Learning to live my social life in the slow lane & no thanks, I'll just have water **LAWD do i miss the appletini's, etc.** I really wish restaurants served crystal light b/c im so tired of ICE TEA! So, to date i have lost approx. 32 lbs & im down approx. 6 sizes!!! I have NO DANG CLOTHES & im really not trying to buy any since i'll be loosing more as the days/weeks/months go by.
**A word to the PRE OPs - dont trip! This aint nothin but a thang, namean!! Depending on your comorbities - it really aint nothin but a thang!! I tripped SOOOOOO HARD in the days before hand & it was all for NADA! TRUST ME!!! In the end I have to look back & say WHY THE HELIUM DIDNT I HAVE THIS DONE 10 YEARS AGO!!
5/5/04
First PostOp & all is GREAT!! The official count is -21lbs. I am healing extremely well. They took the lil patches off my incisions. The stitches are absorbing nicely. I can start working out SLOWLY (at 5-10 mins. every other day). I can start swimming again!!! I have no physical limitaions (keeping in mind that i am still healing on the inside) & i should be able to start handling 2oz of food (REAL FOOD) now. Dont chu know I tossed the PR beans ion the blender & went to TOWN BABY!! Well, as much as i could anyway. :) I have also been cleared to travel (drive or fly) & will be able to go back to work on the 17th **greaaaat**!! lol
4/29/04
I had the surgery on 4/22 & im home now - 1 week POST OP!! Everything is cool. This first week has been difficult only b/c i dont know what i CAN actually tolerate & i'm somewhat affraid of eating anything! I can only take 1oz. at a time & im on a FULL LIQUID diet. So im pretty much sticking to water & just getting starting on the protein shakes, yogurts, jellos & freezer pops. Water & trying to keep up w/ the pain med & other lil pills & viatamins you have to take has me pretty full anyway. I have to remind myself that its time to drink something. I had a soft boiled egg (needed a shot of protein) & it musta been the best thing i'd ever had in my entire life!! LOL My ma made some Puerto Rican beans & I am able to drink the juice (WOOOOHOOOOO THANKS MA!!). My sister is staying w/ me & helping out w/ my son (since he is on spring break). For the first two weeks, my family hasnt allowed anyone to eat around me (getchur drink & eat on B4 you come over to see her!!) & hasnt been cooking around me (affraid the smell of the food cooking will adversly effect me & make me wanna eat it). My sister takes my son to my parents place & they have their meals together while i stay upstairs. I think all of that has helped in a way b/c i dont have to front on it & really havent been trippin off food (or the lack there of) - which is a good thing.
More details to follow...:D
4/5/04
Aiight chay'all, we fixin to do this up right hea!! heehheehhehe
So I got the "final final final" date of 4/22/04. My sister is aiight w/ me going in on her B-day & hopefully TicketMaster will let me choose another date to see the play. So Im a little nervous (way more then just a little avtually), but I really gotta send shouts out to my BAF sistahs & bruhthas b/c **once again** they have managed to keep me calm, focused and positive. Thank you so much!! I gots mad love for you all!!
On the inside, my family & close friends are going nuts about the "WHAT IFs" **at least i think they are** but they are also not showing me taht & are keeping me focused, grounded, calm & reassured that everything will be fine **not going to cry**. So today is the 5th of Apr. & I have 15 days to get in all the things that I will miss. LOL!!! I have already put in for the 3 weeks medical leave from work.
4/2/04
Well - I finally got the from the Insu. & Stanford gave me a tentative date of 5/25 & put me on a waiting list for sooner.
Well, at the beginning of this week they called & asked if I wanted to go sooner **how soon we talkin??** oh say like the end of april.
OKAY!! so i was aiight w/ that. THEN they call up & say well how about APRIL 8!! So now im waiting to hear back from them to see if I REALLY DO get to go on the 8th or not **should know in about 15 mins.**.
GREAT!!! THEY JUST SAID I COULD NOT GO ON THE 8TH LIKE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT.
They wanna book me for Apr. 22nd WHICH happens to be my sisters
b-day & we have plans to go see The Lion King on stage that day!!!!!
Everything is happening all at the same time...
3/8/04
GBS & 3 Days stays in the Hosp. has been approved by my insurance (Blue Cross PPO). I received the letter in the mail today!!! Now to get the Hosp. to up my date (or put me on the waiting list for a sooner date).
So, roughly 1 month after the final OKAY from the Bariatric Surgery Dept (plus a couple of misc. delays from the patient coordinator) & I have my approval!!
Things are REALLY MOVING now!
2/4/04
Consult w/ the surgeon today. Dr. Curet herself wasnt able to actually see me (had to run into a meeting or something), but I was able to speak w/ the Internist & she looked over my file & stated everything looks great! She was really impressed by all the background work i've done on WLS & how educated & prepared I was ((((((thanks in large part to my BAF here on OH.com)))))), yada yada yada. They gave me a temp date of 5/24/04.
1/5/04
So i guess this is catch up time (since I havent been on here since I joined WW.com). You know, honestly I have to say that joining WW.com was the best thing for me!! I've lost 22 lbs thus far, which has put me past the 5% mark required to schedule the procedure.
10% loss prior to surgery, required by Stanford.
The points system: on line weight tracker, meal planning & suggestions, grocery lists, progress chart, receipts, resources & more! WW.com has it all (less the cyber THINNER you). I havent been to 1 meeting (personally, I hate going to those meetings), i've dont it all online & it's great!
The visit w/ the interist was strange at best. I have my concerns & will deal with them, but thats not going to stop me from getting this done. The procedure is scheduled for May 04.
Hopefully it can be pushed up some :)
10/16/03
Joined WeightWatchers.com & I'm loving the points system. The online points tracking & other etools available. I think this is really going to help me keep track of stuff & stay focused (who knows... maybe even a motivational tool b/c I can track my progress).
Check List:
EKG done 9/25/03
Bloodwork done 9/29/03
Nutrionist done 10/15/03
Xrays done 10/15/03
Psychologist: 10/27/03
First Consult w/ the Bariatric Internist: 12/17/03
EGD (Upper Edoscopy): 12/18/03
First consult w/ Surgeon: 2/4/04
Approved by Insurance: 3/8/04
Surgery Scheduled for 5/24/04
**FYI ~ THE SCHEDULE WAS PUSHED UP & I HAD THE SURGERY ON 4/22/04!!!**
10/15/03
Went to see the Nutritionist today. I dont want to put anything on here too bad b/c I know shes on this site & uses it for reference.
But I will say that I wasnt really satisfied w/ the visit in general.
I left feeling like I was out on my own & that basically I can do anything I want to loose the required (initial) 10% ("what ever work for me in the past"). She mostly concentrated on the PostOp diet & what to/ not to do.
Also took care of the Chest Xrays. So now psych eval. & Upper endoscopy.
Blue Cross, PPO<< LOVED IT!! They paid for EVERYTHING!!
I didn't need an "Approval Letter" because I have a PPO. My insurere said as long as the procedure is deemed medically necessary, then its covered. Thus far, the only thing that isnt covered is the Nutritionist visit/ evaluation.
