fypcdqt

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

As I type this, I am reflecting on my weigh in Friday.  257 lbs.  Down from 333 lbs.  What does this mean to me?

Well, here are some goals of mine and how close I am!
255 lbs - leave the morbid obesity category FOREVER
86.5 lbs lost - 50% of my excess weight gone per my current weight goal (I am currently at 44% excess weight lost!!!)
Fit into size 18 - My 22's are currently falling off and I am shopping for some 18/20s today!!!!
Fit into my Christmas present from my bff - a size 16 black party dress.  It almost zips all the way!!!

Goal already met - I am now smaller than my little sister!  I know I shouldn't advertise this to her, but every one at our Christmas open house figured it out and mentioned it to me.  How insane is that?  It has also helped shift my mental picture of myself because I can look at her and have affirmation that I look similar to her build.  Such a mental shift!!!

I also received a watch for Christmas that I had tried on at the Black Friday sale.  When I tried it on, the watch fit, but just barely without pinching my wrist.  I put it on yesterday morning, and it is now so big I need a link or two removed.  INSANE!  Love it, though. :)

I was happy when I got on the scale this morning and saw I am down another 7 lbs in 2 weeks.  I was even happier, however, when I did the math and realized that since I started this journey, I have lost 25% of my excess body weight!  Super excited!!!!!!!!!!

...I broke my arm.  So frustrating for me!

Waiting on an MRI tomorrow to see if I broke my radial head or just bruised it, and to rule out damage to my bicep.  If it's just a bruised radial head with no bicep damage I can keep my arm in a sling and be good to go.

Still trying to keep my focus on my future surgery, eating low carb, high protein and preparing for life after surgery.  I have to say my arm is a huge distraction, though!

More to come as results come in.

Oh my...I am SO excited...this is so real...wow!

I just got the call from my surgeon's office that insurance approved my surgery, and now I just need to get set up for pre-op clearances and then set up my surgery date!!!

SO HAPPY!!!!!  I might cry.  Seriously. Need to keep it together through the rest of the work day...right?  Maybe? 

My life has been a bit of a rollercoaster since December.  Here's a brief overview:
January - lost my job; my brother slipped on ice and shattered his elbow
February - took care of my brother through his surgery (to fix his elbow) and all the follow up appointments
March - found an amazing job that I absolutely love!
April - still trying to adjust to a positive work environment and team!
May - covered by insurance again and found out bariatric surgery is covered like any other medically necessary surgery! Met with the surgeon to refile my paperwork for pre-approval!
June - now I am waiting for the final word (should hear this week??)

I was devestated in January when I lost my job, but looking back, God has really put me in a much better place.  Great job, great boss, great insurance.

Now the waiting continues...again. Ha!

I am so excited, though, because the verbiage in the summary of benefits is much clearer. 

Here's to my second chance at the change I need in my life!

Just got the SPD from my HR rep.  Bariatric surgery is officially excluded as of 2007.  My coworker had her surgery in 2006, so I am wondering if she was covered under the old policy? 

Unless it was reinstated in 2008 or 2009, this is where it stands.  Self-pay here I come.  At least I know the direction I need to take.

Wish me luck!

I have been working 6 months for this.  Why am I suddenly exhausted and in need of a nap?  Now the waiting begins. 

My dream is for them to approve within the first week and somehow get on my surgeon's schedule for the week before Christmas.  I already have the last 2 weeks of December off for vacation with no plans, so it'd be nice spending that time recovering and adjusting to my new stomach. 

I am praying there are no appeals and everything is approved the first go round.  With my current BMI over 50, I can't imagine it would be denied according to the guidelines on the website.  The only hitch would be if my employer has a restriction against WLS in its rider, but my HR rep wasn't sure about.

Everything is in motion...I have done everything I can do.  *breathe in, breathe out*

Wow, I am SO excited, but it's still hard to believe.  I saw my surgeon on Thursday, and he told me "Next time I see you, it will be for pre-op!".

I see my PCP the week of Thanksgiving and then my surgeon will submit all documents for my insurance approval.  Reality that insurance should approve this and I could be sleeved THIS YEAR is just amazing to me.  I am so looking forward to life after surgery.  I told my surgeon if I was approved on a Monday, I'd be ready to hop on the table Tuesday. lol. 

My mom and I were window shopping yesterday and I started talking about the clothes I think I'll like after surgery.  It's definitely a mind shift when I think that I won't be restricted to the styles for plus size.  I have to admit Lane Bryant, CJ Banks and Torrid have made some strides in fashion for us plus sizers, but the choices seem SO limitless once I am in "normal" size clothes.  Right now I hide my stomach as much as possible, but once there's less to hide, who knows?

If I can just keep my focus this last month and not gain any weight before submitting to insurance, we'll be doing great.  *sigh* I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. :)

A few weeks ago, I had posted on one of the boards about discrimination by an airline employee who told me any one that needed a seatbelt extender was less capable of helping in an emergency than any one that could fit comfortably in an airline seatbelt. 

I have to say I was rather shocked at some...no, most, of the responses I received.  I know every one was being honest, but that was the shocking part.  I understand that people who are morbidly obese need to lose weight for their health and happiness.  This is why I am seeking weight loss surgery because I can't get there on my own.

However, discriminating against any one because of their size is simply unacceptable, regardless of who you are.  Just because some one is no longer overweight does not mean it's okay for them to be mean to some one who is.  This would be similar to some one who is no longer in poverty making fun of some one who still struggles in it.  No matter what your current status is, there is no reason for discrimination, teasing, name calling, etc.

It was extremely frustrating to me to hear my "skinny" friends get more upset about the discrimination I faced than those that had personally experienced it before.  I hope that when I shed this extra weight I don't discriminate against "people of size" (term used by Continental airlines) just because I'm no longer one of them.

I don't know.  My friends have always accepted me just as I am, and I also accept them as they are.  In fact, my best friend was reviewing the letter of medical necessity from my physician.  She was reading through it and kept saying "Amy, I can't believe you weight this much - you don't look that big to me!"  and it wasn't her being nice - she was truly shocked to see the number on the scale because she sees me differently.  Truth be told, I am almost exactly 3 times her weight, which is just insane!  Neither of us can wrap our heads around that one. lol.

I guess I will just have to work to keep positive people around me and not worry about the negative ones or the ones that will discriminate.

I keep meaning to update this and get distracted by the VSG forum!

I saw my primary doctor - I kept the 4 lbs off and lost an additional pound!  Woohoo! 

I have been walking at least 30 min each day at the instruction of my surgeon, and tracking my food surprised me a bit - I have averaged 1600 cal/day in the past 2 weeks.  Definitely under the 2000 calories the dr prescribed.

I meet with the dietician next Tuesday and my PCP's letter should be to my surgeon by the time her report gets there.  Then it's just the surgeon's letter and packaging it all up to submit for insurance approval.  I am nervous b/c in my mind I'm already preparing to fight a denial.  Does that make me pessimistic?  Hmm. 

I am excited, though.  I want this sleeve so my new life can start.  I know it's not a magic pill, and I am already preparing for the life changes I need, such as not drinking with my meals, reducing caffeine intake, drinking more water, making walking part of my day every day, watching portion sizes, etc.

My mom and I walked the mall earlier this week and we started looking at clothes through the window of "normal" clothing stores and talking about styles I think I like.  I haven't let myself walk into the stores yet, as if it's sacred ground until I am actually close enough that it would make sense for me to walk in.  Not sure if I'm the only one that feels that way?

The funniest moment in the mall was when my mom looked at me with a funny face and when I asked why she was looking at me, she said she was trying to figure out what I'm going to look like when I lose weight.  I teased her b/c the running joke is she likes round fat things (last time we were furniture shopping, every lamp she picked out was fat and round).  I asked her if she would still love me when I wasn't fat and round. haha. 

I guess overall, every step I take that brings me closer to surgery ups the excitement factor, and I can't wait to get on with the show!!!