gel2mat
I really believe that in order to tell a story people need to understand why a story needs to be shared. I have for the last five years been on a journey of finding myself, my art and the person who will be around my family for years to come. When I decided to have WLS I had done a lot of research and I felt I made the best choice for me.My story starts like many I was always obese as a child as an adolecent and as an adult in the year 1989 I became Morbidly Obese, and I have tried for years under medical supervision to loose the weight and my body would go into squirel mode and would not bulge after 50 pounds give or take. I tried really hard to loose and nothing happened. Three years ago I had an accident that crushed my knee at work and the quality of my life went from living to not being able to move. I underwent a scope surgery to clean my knee but nothing worked I was in constant pain due to the deterioration of both knees. I walk around with bone on bone action on both knees. The surgeon says I am the poster child for double knee replacement. This is when I really stated talking to my PCP Dr Keil about WLS. I have the worlds best PCP and I am blessed that he takes care of me and my whole family without judgement always listening to what we have to say and that he is my biggest supporter in this journey. I decided in August of this year to start the journey by joining a support group for Dean Care Hospital and this was the beggining of something wonderful. I met the staff at the WLC and was impressed by their genuine care of me the person. They wanted to know if I was committed to being educated about this and because insurance requires people to go through so many hops was I willing to do the things they needed in order to get approved. I think things that worked in my favor was that I always was under my PCP when I was trying to loose weight and I had a history of documented things that told the story of my battle with weight. I went to my appointments with the NUT and follwed all the directives she gave me. I was committed to make this work. I started this journey at 409 pounds and I knew I was never going to look back at this number if I did the work that was requiered of me. In October I had an appointment with Theresa the RN in cahrge of talking to patients about their updates weight managment labs, I call he the heart of the operation. I asked her if she could submit my paperwork since I had all the letters I needed in place from my Knee Surgeon to my PCP all the other paperwork was done. I really was desperate that day my pain level was killing me and a double knee replacement was nto something I really wanted( I know it can be a posibility even after the WLS but I can dream right). I had another appointment in November and she submitted my paperwork and in less than a week I was approved for the surgery. I was dancing, crying and praying when I received the news. Then the appointments started to pile up to make sure all was a go and I had my surgery on 12-12-06 and so far so good. I had no complications and I am walking 45 minutes a day on the treadmill at 15 minutes intervals and I am proud of what I can see changed in me. I love my family and I hope this surgery allows me to be around for a long long time. My staples are coming out on 12-27-06 and then I will know what my official weight loss has been. I think my pani is retaining water so I am worried about that. I will try to continue to update my story and Journey. My blog http://wandaartandstuff.blogspot.com/ Hugs Wanda 
