Carrie H.
5/07/08
I have slipped up and gained weight back. I am at 154. I am working at losing it again though.
My total weight loss as of June 9, 2004 is 110 pounds with 89.2 since surgery.
1/23/03
I don't think anyone will read this until I have a surgery date, or am post-op, but, I want to document everything so I don't forget and so anybody researching this will be able to see every step that I go through for their own research.
I am a 37 year old wife and mother of two grown children. I am 5’3-3/4" tall, I weigh 248 pounds, I wear a size 22W jeans. (Getting tight)My BMI is 42.6.
1/27/03 I asked my PCP if she would give me a referral to a bariatric surgeon for WLS. She said, "I assume you have tried all the diets and stuff, since most people do before they consider WLS?" I said, "Yes, I have tried all the diets out there." She said, "OK, which doctor do you want a referral to?" So, that was all it took and she gave me the referral. It took the office 10 days to get the referral turned it, but they finally did it. Now I have to wait for that to get approved.
2/27/03 My insurance approved my surgeon consult. The surgeon's office requires you to fill out all the paperwork for medical history, insurance, diets you have been on, a copy of your medical records for the last 5 years and any surgeries you have had before they will even make an appointment for a consult. So, I made copies of everything in case it got lost and then I sent it registered mail with a signature required to know when and if they got it. They received it 2/5/03. So, now I am waiting on the surgeon's office to call me to make an appointment for my consult. They have to go through all the paperwork to make sure it is completely filled out and there are no mistakes because they want the insurance to approve it on the first try. I was also approved to get my sleep study, so I am scheduled to do that on March 6. I was excited about that because I called today and got the appointment for one week later. I had heard it took a long time to get an appointment, so I was happy something happened quickly. I went to two support group meetings, one 2/19 and one 2/26, to hear what people had to say about their experiences. It is neat to meet people that have had WLS and that you have seen posting online. I'll post new information when I get it. But, I can tell you, I am not a patient person and this is killing me! :-)
March 8,2003
I went for my sleep study. I had a bad night and didn’t get the chance to try the C-Pap machine. It turns out that I have apnea during my rem cycle. Now I have to go to an ENT for a consult to see what to do about it.
March 11, 2003
I called yesterday and the surgeon's assistant was out sick, so I called again today. She was with a patient, so I had to leave a message on her voice mail. I told her that I had the sleep study and had apnea and needed the C-Pap machine. Shocker of all shockers, she called back. I think this is the first time. Anyway, she said it looked like I could get my consult appointment set up. I was soooo excited. I waited and then the appointment lady came on, she said I can get you in July 7th. I was so disappointed. She said if anyone cancels, they might get me in sooner, so I guess I am praying that someone cancels so I can get in, if not, I will have a longer wait than I wanted. :( Also, my insurance for the consult was only good through April 26th, so I called them and told them I couldn't get an appointment in that amount of time, unless someone canceled. So she asked me if I would like to make it effective today and it would be good for 6 months. I said that was good, so she did it. No problems at all. She was very helpful. Well, I'll update if someone cancels their appointment or anything new happens!
March 13,2003
Today I had a doctor from a prior surgery fax lab results to the bariatric surgeon. Nothing new or exciting to report. Still waiting. :-(
May 8, 2003
I went to Dr.Bakos for an ENT consult about my sleep study. He wanted to do a surgery to make my nasal openings bigger. I said I would try the 3 week test on the c-pap machine. I think he would rather I have the surgery and was rather dismissive when I didn't want it. He just said, Ok, you can try the machine, have a good day and walked out. He didn't tell me what to do or anything, so I went to the desk a little confused and asked the secretary what I needed to do. She was a lot better than her doctor. I guess he only gets the big bucks if he does surgery.
June 16, 2003
I sent in the card from the c-pap machine so they could get the results.
July 3, 2003
I still haven't received the results from the 3 week sleep study, so I called Dr.Bakos office. She said it had finally come in, but the doctor is out until Monday, so he can't give me the results until then. I called the hospital that did the original study and had them fax the results to my surgeon. They received them today. I guess everyone will know my results before I do. At least I have been using the c-pap machine this whole time, so that won't slow down my appointment. They said I don't need anything else before my appointment. I am getting excited.
July 6, 2003
Tomorrow I finally have my appointment to see the surgeon for my consult! It has been over 5 months, I can't believe it is finally here. I am hoping I will get a surgery date tomorrow, I will update when I get back.
July 7, 2003
I did not get a date yet. The doctor has to write the letter for insurance and wait for it to be approved. He said it will take around 2 weeks with all the work he has to do, then after they get the approval it should be really soon. I also found out, he does NOT do lap surgery, he only does open RNY. His staff was all really friendly. He went through my history and checked me out and said I need to lose 15-20 pounds. So, I am starting on that tomorrow. It is finally in the last stages, I can’t wait to get a date!
August 26, 2003
The letter was finally sent to my insurance and they received it on the 21st and I was notified today that I was approved! So, I called the doctor's office and was told the lady that schedules the appointments took today off. Argggg. Will post when I get an appointment.
October 13, 2003
Well, I didn't post until now, after my surgery and that seems to be what everyone wants to read anyway, hehe. I had my surgery Wednesday, October 8. I had lost down to 227.2 before my surgery and weighed 222 yesterday. Because of family history, we had decided my doctor would take the gallbladder out also and when he did, he found 2 stones between a dime and marble sized, so glad I had made that decision, otherwise I would have had to have another surgery! Everything went well and according to schedule. I tried to do everything I was told and got out on Saturday the 11th of October. It was really nice to get home. I couldn't get any sleep at the hospital because I was supposed to walk every hour and then when I wasn't out walking they were in there giving me shots, taking stats, etc. As far as how I feel physically, I am really tired and my stomach is sore and it is hard to get all the fluids in I am supposed to. I had to make myself a serious schedule to stick to, to make sure I get it all in. I don't like the feeling of putting water into my intestines. (doctor's cure for hydration so you don't end up back in the hospital for dehydration.)I was not one of the people who thought I would care about food at all, because I never really have before, now when I smell it I think, I want to be able to eat! But alas, I can't. Yesterday I chewed gum, I think the chewing sensation made me feel better. I have even been dreaming about eating, which is nice, because then I can do it! Well, not much to report yet so I will sign off. I will check back periodically to report weight loss. :-)
November 4, 2004
I had my three week appointment on Oct 27 and weighed 202 pounds. So I have officially lost a total of 46 pounds! I have weighed at home though and am down to 196 now. I have my 6 week appointment on the 17th of November and will post my weight then. I haven't been coming to the site because I have been extremely tired! My doctor says heavier people don't get that tired out, but since I was a lightweight (Yeah, right!) I may react like a thin person to abdominal surgery. That means I could be really tired for up to 6 months. I hope not, I am anxious to get busy and get things done and I feel like an invalid now since I get tired out so easily. It also makes it harder to get myself to exercise. I am looking forward to feeling normal. I am eating 1 oz portions of pureed foods 5 times a day. I have a tube for water but have to get my intake up to 50 oz before my six week appointment if I want that tube out! I just finally made it to 32 oz yesterday. I feel like all I do is drink and eat and time! Well, enough complaining, I am losing weight! Yay! I am not regretting the surgery, just want to get on with life!
November 17,2003
I had my 6 week appointment today. My weight is 194.2. They gave me my gallstones in a jar, lovely. They are big and yucky. Not much else to write, I got my tube out, I am still tired, but can do more before I tire out, but I still feel tired. I am checking into water aerobics tomorrow since I got the tube out. I will update on my 3 month appointment in January on the 9th.
January 10,2004
I had my 3 month appointment yesterday. I weighed in at 174.5 pounds. My BMI is now at 29.9, I am no longer obese, just overweight! The nurse says I have lost 52% of what I'm supposed to lose already. Since I first went to the doctor, I have lost 73.5 pounds, since surgery I have lost 52.5 pounds! That is amazing to me! I am wearing size 14 jeans and size large shirts. My blood pressure is 124/72 and my labs all came back good. I actually have more protein now than I did before the surgery. I do have a couple of things going on. My hair is falling out. The nurse told me it will stop when my fast weight loss stops and that it will all be back by 1 year post op. Fortunately, my hair started out thick, so it is thin compared to usual, but thick compared to most people. My incision has become kind of rope like and is red, sensitive and raised. I have a sore area on the side of my incision that may be a hernia developing, but no one knows for sure what it is yet. I also found a lump in my left breast about 5 days ago, the doctor looked at it, but he doesn't think it is anything to worry about. He will check it again at my 6 month appointment. I haven't been doing scheduled exercising, but I bought a farm right before surgery and have been doing chores I didn't do before, so that has helped keep me active. I am starting to get more energy, finally. I am feeling more normal and starting to really appreciate the results. I eat with my family and try to eat the same things they are eating, but I always eat more meat than anything else. My daughter is getting married in a couple of months, so I have been busy working on that also. Not much else to write, so I will write again after my 6 month appointment.
April 6,2004
I had my 6 month check-up last Friday. The lump in my breast was gone. Yay! The pain on the side of my incision is gone. There was no hernia. I weighed 153 pounds. That is a total weight loss of 95 pounds from my highest weight and 74 pounds since surgery. They told me I was 13 pounds from my goal. I disagree. I still have lots of fat to lose. I showed the nurse the fat on my arms, stomach and thighs, she said we will discuss my weight goal at the next appointment, hehe. I am wearing a size 10 now. My BMI is 26.3, I am still overweight, but when I lose 8 more pounds I will be at the highest end of normal. I have a lot more energy. Everyone says I look good and they don't recognize me if they haven't seen me in a while. That is a nice feeling to get all the compliments. I haven't had anyone act jealous of me in a serious way, so I am happy to find I have loyal friends that are happy for me. I can eat anything I want. I haven't had any serious problems. I am eating around 5 to 5-1/2 oz per meal. This has definately been worth it for me. I would do it again if I had to.
July 9, 2004
I went to my 9 month check-up today. I weighed in at 138 pounds! That is a total weight loss of 110 pounds from my highest weight! Amazing! 89 pounds gone since surgery. I have lost 92% of my excess weight over ideal. I was off the scale for measuring the weight loss, meaning I have lost more than they want by this time. The nurse said they start worrying when people get over 90%. My BMI is now 23.7 so I am finally normal, hehe. I am in a size small shirt and size 8 pants I can zip up size 6 but they are a little too tight. My pouch is 6.5 ounces big now. The nurse said that will probably be the size it stays now, I might still gain 1/4 of an ounce but that will probably be all. She also said I could stop losing, I said I still had some weight to lose. She checked out my goals and asked if I had a better quality of life, if my joints hurt, had I gotten rid of high blood pressure, gerd, and apnea? I said yes. So she thinks I should stop losing weight. Everything is going good now. I do have a problem with getting a head rush when I stand up too fast. The nurse said that is because my body hasn't adjusted to the new lower blood pressure yet. My blood pressure by the way is 100/68. The doctor says I can lose more weight if I want, he sees some extra fat around my stomach. He also said I can eat a wider variety and not worry about it so much. He said I should eat 5 times a day instead of 3. If I start to gain weight, just cut back to how I am supposed to eat. I feel really good. I can do work without getting winded. I live on a farm on a hill and it used to be that I would have to stop and take breaks on the way up, now I can walk back and forth and don't even think about it. My hair is growing back. I do get really tired some days and let myself sleep extra and I tend to lose more weight when that happens. I am happy with the way things are turning out. I am glad that I had the surgery. I will update at my 1 year anniversary. I will have blood tests then too and will let you know if I get to my goal weight which is 125.
