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I am a travel agent, so I love to travel to wonderful places with my husband. We have been married a little over 1 year and have no children. I have been overweight my entire life, so I don't know how it is to be "normal". My health is being compromised, so I feel now is the time for me to do something. I have been on so many diets over the years. Nothing really worked. I did a low fat diet about 10 years ago and lost approx 75lbs. That was great, but I eventually gained it all back and then some. Then, in 2004, I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes and was put on a diabetic diet. This was 3 months away from my wedding, so that was something else to be stressed about. That too went ok, but I seem to have stopped losing. I just need a little extra help. I have the strength and motivation to do what I need to do get this weight off and keep it off!


2/20/06

I have completed my patient worksheet and I have begun working on my biography, which I think will be the hardest part for me. My mom and I will be attending the Obesity Surgery Seminar on February 28. I am very excited and looking forward to it.



2/27/06

I have completed my biography and I am ready to mail my packet off. Just waiting until after the Obesity Surgery Seminar in case I have any questions to ask.



03/01/2006

I went to the Obesity Surgery Seminar Monday night and it was wonderful! I completed my patient workbook and sent everything off in the mail today. I had previously completed the one that is on Dr. Duncan's website, but I was told that they were not using that anymore. This is much more comprehensive and personally, I like it better. My journey has officially begun!!! :)




03/8/2006

I am still waiting for Dr. Duncan's office to contact me for my initial consultation. It is killing me!!! I want to go forward on this so much and when I read everyone's profiles....it just makes me more impatient!! I have already made an appointment for the Pre-Op Nutrition and Excercise consult, but if I have not seen Dr. Duncan by the 18th, I will have to change it to April. I was able to go ahead and get a letter of medical necessity and failed diet history from my PCP.



03/09/2006

Shona from Dr. Duncan's office called and left a message regarding setting up my first consultation!!!! :) Of course, I was at work, so I left a message for her to call me back. I am so excited! Now, if she'll only call me back.......:)



03/10/2006

I have a date for my first consultation!!!! It's March 29 at 9:00am. I am so excited!!!!! :):):)



03/14/2006

Well...let's see. I have my PreOp Bariatric Nutrition and Exercise Consultation on March 18th, my first consultation with Dr. Duncan's office on March 29th and my psych evaluation on April 17th. I am well on my way!!!!



03/18/2006

My husband and I went to our first support group. It was great! Lots of people there, pre and post, a lot of questions. Afterwards was my nutrition and exercise consultation. I thought it was outstanding. There was about 18 people there. We learned about exercise and nutrition and I learned things that I never knew before. We even learned some really great exercises to do while sitting down....cardio and some resistance. I am so looking forward to whatever is next.

It was a long day and I had not had anything to eat since 7am (the class was over at 3p). We decided to go up to Landmark Diner off of Roswell Rd. It was a nice dinner...:)

Oh....had my first try at a protein drink. Stacy gave samples and I got a chocolate Unjury. It was probably one of the grossest things I have ever had. I am probably going to have to find a unflavored one that I like and then dr it up!

03/22/2006

I have already started to make some changes so that my new post-op life will be a little bit easier. I have completely cut out soft drinks, drink only water or Crystal Light. I have also tried to cut out sweets and now I am drinking Skim milk. That is a feat in and of itself because I hate milk...I can tolerate it in cereal. We have an exercise room at my office, so I have been walking on the treadmill. Started out at 5 minutes and now I am up to 10. I have been so sedentary, it's been unreal. I can't believe how much better I feel already. Not sure if I have lost any, though. March 29th can't get here soon enough!!! The nurse at my psycholigists office called and said they had a opening March 27 at Southern Regional. I was so excited, but I am unable to change it due to staffing in my office. She said that she would keep me in mind in case something else opened up.



03/29/2006

My consultation is complete! Everything went well. I was told that I had to lose some weight before surgery. I knew that going in, so it wasn't a shock to me. One thing that I never realized was that I need a letter of medical clearance from my PCP. For some reason, I never thought about it. It's not a big deal, I don't think. I have an appointment with my PCP tomorrow to talk about that. I saw a nurse who weighed me and took my measurements and then I saw one of the doctors. She was very nice. Explained to me the process and had me go across the hall for some blood work. That was it! Only thing left is my psych evaluation and then they can submit everything to Cigna.

I am just going to take one thing/day at a time and not get so worked up about things. I have lived with this for almost 31 of my 36 years, so I can wait a little longer.



03/30/2006

I went to my PCP today and everything went great. He ordered labs, chest xray and an EKG. I did the first 2 today and will go and have the EKG done tomorrow.



03/31/2006

I had my EKG today....fun, fun, fun!!!! :)




04/03/2006

I got my medical clearance!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):)



04/11/2006

I just got back from a wonderful cruise with my mom. She had never been on one before and I am so happy that I was able to take her.




04/30/2006

I am waiting on the results of my psychological evaluation. I called on Friday to see if Atlanta Medical had everything and was told that they were waiting on my psych eval (knew that) and my letter of medical necessity/failed diet history (didn't know that). I always thought they had it!!!! I gave it to Dr. Duncan's office at my initial consultation. I didn't know that I wasn't suppose to give it to them, but give it to the Wellness Center instead. Now, I am upset that it may not be what they need. I know that Cigna is very strict with what is required and here I have been sitting here thinking everything was fine. I am hoping Tracy will call and say that all of it is ok, but I am also preparing myself to go to my PCP and have them redo it. I mean...what if my diabetic diet that I have been on since September 2004 isn't good enough!! Will I have to start over with a 6 month diet. I am so upset and anxious. I want just to hear that everything is ok and that my insurance has approved me!!!!



05/04/2006

Well, like I thought, my diet history was not complete enough. That's fine. I made an appointment with my PCP and saw her yesterday. We went ahead and did my normal 3 month check up. Then she asked how was surgery coming along. I told her that we needed to redo my diet history. I showed her the example from the Wellness Center and she said that usually what the other doctors do is have the patient complete it and then they put it on their letterhead and sign it. I told her that was fine with me and I will prepare that for her.
I also found out today that I passed my psychological evaluation. I am so happy!! Tracy said that all she needed was some paperwork from the surgeon's office and my diet history. Once she has that, she will do what she needs to do and then send it to my insurance company. I am getting very excited now!!!



05/09/2006

I have just faxed my new and improved diet history to Atlanta Medical. As far as I know, everything is completed on my end. They should be submitting to Cigna once they have all of their information from Dr. Duncan's office. I will update as soon as I hear more!!




05/11/2006

I just spoke to Tracy at the Wellness Center and she said that my completed packet was sent over to Cigna today!!! I am so happy and excited, but I also have a sense of nervousness. She told me to check with them in 3-5 days to verify that they recieved my packet and to also to see if they can give me a timeline on how long it will take. Once I obtain approval, she wants me to fax it to her so that she can get the clearance and everything faxed to Dr. Duncan's office so they can set up a surgery date. I am so happy :)



05/15/2006

I am approved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy. I called Cigna while I was at work and when the nurse said that I was certified, I was does that mean I am approved. She said yes!!! I started crying and she was so happy for me!!!! :):):)



05/22/2006

Whooooohoooooo!!!! I have a date!!! July 31!!!! I have to go on July 6 for Pre-Op and a Complications Class. Then, on July 7, I have to have an Endoscopy done!!! I can't believe it!!! I am so excited!!!!!!!



07/01/2006

I know it has been a long time since I updated everyone. Well, this Thursday I go for my Pre-Op and then Friday I go for an Endoscopy. I am getting very excited. I have lost down to 342, which is probably about 10 lbs since all of this started back in February. I have such a hard time. I have started Slim Fast shakes for breakfast.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July!!!



07/08/2006

Well, I had pre-op and the complications class on the 6th. It went great and I finally got to meet Dr. Duncan. I was in awe!! Then, I had my endoscopy on Friday. All went well and it was a piece of cake!! I went in about 715a and got home about 4p. I even meet one of the lady's from the board. Her name is Valerie and she recognized me from my profile!! I thought that was too cool! I hope she is doing well!! I am starting to get very nervous and excited at the same time. It finally does seem real to me. I have 23 days until I will be on the losing side.



7/23/2006

Well, 1 week from today and I will be going to the hospital. I am decided that we will spend Sunday night in Atlanta, so that we won't have to get up so early to get to the hospital. I believe I have to be there at 5:30am. I am getting very nervous, anxious, excited....just full of emotions. I'll try and post more this week.



8/06/2006

Sorry it has taken my a while to update my profile. I had my surgery on July 31 and everything went great. I had little pain, just gas. It's been almost a week now and everything has been pretty darn good. I couldn't have imagined a more smoother ride. I have been able to tolerate everything I have put into my mouth and I have not felt hungry once this week.!! Since coming home, I have lost 10lbs. I will update more later!!



8/29/2006

Hi all!

I went today for my one month follow up. I got to meet Dr. Hobson, he is very nice. He told me that I was doing great and since surgery I have lost 39.5 pounds!! I am so happy!!!!! :jump:

He told me I could start semi soft foods and to take things slow. I wanted to celebrate, so I went to Applebee's and ordered grilled chicken, mashed potatoes and broccoli. I only could eat a few bites, but it felt so good and so far, it is agreeing with me. Funny, I now have lunch for the rest of the week!!! Before surgery, I would have eaten every bit of it, plus split an appetizer with my husband. I am so happy and proud of myself.

I have only had one major issue. I spent the entire day and evening at the emergency room here in Griffin on Sunday. I was having SEVERE pain in my lower back and around to my stomach. I just knew that my gall bladder was acting up!! Even the dr said that my labs indicated that, but after a CT scan and ultrasound, they found I just have a very, very serious kidney infection. Not fun!!! After a 2 hour drip of levaquin, I was sent home. I was out of work yesterday and today. I also have to take a week's worth of levaquin. I hope everything clears up before we leave for Seattle on Friday. Then a few days after we get back, we leave for Maine for a week!

Oh, by the way, while I was at Dr. Duncan's this morning I went by the 8th floor and visited Pam P. She had her sugery yesterday and looks like she is doing great!!!!

I just had to share my good news!!!!



9/19/2006

Sorry it has taken so long for me to post anything. It has been a crazy last 3 weeks. My husband and I went to Seattle over Labor Day weekend and then the following Saturday, we went to Maine for a week to visit the in-laws. We had a great time and I think I made good food choices. A few times I tested myself and felt sick, but for the most part, I haven't gotten sick at all. I weighed this morning and since surgery, I am down 53 pounds. But, if you count what I weighed when I started this journey, I have lost 59 pounds!! That is awesome!!!!!































 

 

About Me
Griffin, GA
Location
38.0
BMI
RNY
Surgery
07/31/2006
Surgery Date
Feb 17, 2006
Member Since

Friends 131

Latest Blog 3
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