Gina Olson-Ferraro
| Gina Olson-Ferraro Plymouth, MA, USA Already had Weight Loss Surger - BMI: 32.3 Surgery Type: RNY Member ID: O1107305557 Contact: Click here to send a Personal Message Surgeon: Jefferson R. Vaughan, M.D., F.A.C.S. |
Click here for Gina's surgery support page Click here for Before & After pictures page Click here for the 11/2005 Reunion Page Click here to print Gina's cards (You can print your own cards, and if you're good at it, you can help print cards for your friends as well!) Click here to view your friends. |
  Early 2005 My name is Gina, IM 23 yrs old and I live in South Florida. Last year I decided to have Bariatric Surgery with Dr. Jefferson Vaughan in Jupiter Florida. I had fought a weight problem for over 15 years and I was over the fight. I was terrified of Diabetes, Heart Disease, Cancer, you name it. In the later part of 2004 I went to one of Dr. V's seminars and that night I knew Gastric Bypass was for me and Dr. V was THE ONLY surgeon to trust with my life. Im now writing 1 month Post op and Im so glad that I did this! I was denied twice by insurance, each time breaking my heart - but I was finally approved and I had an excellent Surgery on 11/2/05!!!  5/4/05 Well I thought Id update. I was told at some point last week that Aetna now wanted me to have a nutritional consult and the 6 mths doctors notes. My PCP already sent 2 letters so now they made me sign a release of my records for Aetna or for my surgeons office to pick 6 mths and Ive scheduled my consult for the 9th of May. Today I went to a support group in Martin County and had much support froom Carol the director (thank you) to just hang in there and keep fighting. So thats the plan!  5/11/05 Alright I got my "oh so wonderful news today" After my 5 page personal letter, all of the bariatric forms, my psych. eval., my nutiritional consult, my 2 letters of medical necessity, my PCP's release of my records, I was denied today. 5/12/05 There's hope. I was told today I can appeal in the first week in July with a 3 mth consecutive doctors note! 7/21/05 Well I sent my appeal letter in 9 days ago. It included a personal letter pleading with them and telling them of how Ive complied with all they've asked of me, friends/families letters, my doctors notes, and a note from my ENT recommending surgery for me...fingers are crossed I was advised to call the CEO - so IM hoping to find some courage to do so tomorrow!  Denied again on 6-27-05....  10-1-05 IM approved! Daddy got the letter today and called mom and I as we were in the car!!!!  10/25/05 Well today was the day I was scheduled...You'll never believe this...I got all the way to the hospital after the bowel prep - mind you I did the bowel prep with NO POWER AFTER A HURRICANE ALL YESTERDAY! I got down to the hospital - mom and I went into pre - op....got the IV after 3 tries (major bruises), the blood thinner shot (in the stomach) and 2 other needles (I hate needles so much :( ), The leg things were on, the heart monitors, the finger thing, and the blood preasure cuff....and I was 20 minutes from surgery when Dr. Vaughan comes in and tells me Cell Phones just went out, home phones just went out due to the Hurricane yesterday ( which is true - or Id be calling u right now)....so he found it too irresponsible for him to perform my surgery with no communication - god forbid something happened and he was at home or somewhere that they coudlnt reach him.....So I was unhooked and sent home - with no surgery - NOW we wait for the call to do the bowel prep again and a new date :( I am so depressed...I just want to cry and cry:( But its for the best and this just shows that Dr. V truly will not me his ptients in danger....it just sucks that as I sit here and wite - I should already be post op! IM HOME!!! 11-7-05 I got home 3 days ago...this experience was excellent. Surgery was wed (nov 2 ) and it was so positive. I came out of recovery and they told my family I was smiling in the recovery room. I got up to my room and wasnt in imense pain at all. The pain felt like a really bad pulled muscle. Getting out of bed was scary - but it wasnt bad at all. I only had two or three things of pain meds and then day 2 I had the barium...that stuff IS NOT AS BAD AS THEY SAY! Later that day I had some broth and jello - tiny bits of it. Still not sure what full feels like - but I think IM getting good signs. I was released the next day and DR. v took my drain out. I came home and wieghed in at 315 - as of this am (3 days later) I was 304 woohooo! My post op apt is this coming wed - Ill update later  11/30/05 I went for my 1 mth post op apt. Down 35 lbs!!! Im doing well everything has stayed down and now im starting Water Aerobics!!! Okay so let me tell you the story of the actual surgery!!! The night before I had my Pre Op Bowel Prep...YUCK!!! Well all I ate was a lil broth and a lil blue Jello. SO the next morning I woke up and took a prep shower with the soap I was asked to wash with. I went to the hospital for 8 am and mom and I went into the Pre Op room. I changed into my gown and Suzie the Pre op nurse came in. Suzie had the surgery 4 yrs ago so she was a nice person to have on staff. I was all hooked up, booties on, heart monitor on, blood preasure cuff, Iv after 2 tries, Lebonox in the stomache, and I FINALLY FREAKED OUT. The first time I got reall scared. Britt and Dad came in and I cried and cried - I asked if I was doing the right thing, if this was safe, if I was going t be okay....they all told me I was okay, this is what I wanted and worked so hard for - and Im so glad they did! Then Dr. V came in and cracked a joke about the generator being out and not being able to do my surgery again. HA HA HA not funny! Anyways I felt better after seeing his goofy self. Then the OR nurses came in and talked to me, then they slipped the "happy juice in" I knew I felt something so I asked if they did and she said she had. Next thing I know - I guess I told them they should paint the walls hot pink with black trim. I was out of it....They started to wheel me off and had to stop for something so I guess I swong my head back to my family and said "BYE!" After that, I remember being in the OR for a minute...I felt like lots of people were there and it was very bright and that was it. I then woke up in recovery feeling great. I had a little chest pain from when he lifted my breast bone but that was it. I kept asking to go up to my room and I was smiling at everyone that walked by. I dont remember any abdominal pain it was so great. I remember being sleepy b/c I watched the clock every five minuted when I woke up. After about an hour or so they came to get me and they really should be licensed to drive those bariatric beds b/c that was a bit painful...they bumped me into the walla a few times - the walls of the elevators and my room that is. And I remember a little pain they had to slide me up on the bed...The pain was more like a bad strained muscle in the upper left had side of my stomache though. That day I survivied on some ice chips and that was all. Brittany was the first one in my room and she went down to get mom and dad. I made sure to smile when I saw everyone to let them know I was okay..I was FINALLY POST OP!!! After a year of waiting, tears, fights, etc!!! Finally on my way to healthier Gina! Janine and Sandy came to see me that night - they fixed my bed for me and got me an ice pack/rubbed my back b/c earlier in the day they had me get up and sit in the chair...That was more scary then painful but I felt a pull when I tried getting out of bed. The neext day I got up and walked, I was doing so well. Danielle and Gabby met me in the morning, D was surprised to see how good I was doing! The cath was out and everything. I had my barium swallow next and it was NOTHING. That was so not what it was worked up to be! Oh that first day I guess a nurse went in to check on me in recovery and then reported to my family that I was smiling! I was in hardly any pain - I had the Marcane in. The surgery was from 10 - 11:30 and then I had one shot of Morphine at 2 and Delodin by IV at 9. So lets get back to day 2...The barium was nothing and then i was released to eat jello and broth....yippidy freaking doo dah...not interested..I had a few bites and was done. That night it was hard to get to sleep b/c I fet a lil pain and my nurse was dumb - she would only give the pain med at specific times. Whatever - I lived. I hated the blood being taken every 12 hours and the Lebonox every 12 hours... By Friday when I was released I was able to climb stairs and the only pain I complained of was a STRONG gas pain in my side or in my chest...All in ALL I had a fantastic experience!  2/22/06 Thought Id write in and say hello from 80 lbs less!!! Wow Im loving this. I have a new goal to run the Disney Half Marathon on Jan 6, 2007 and many 5k's, 10k's, and 15k's before hand. I have so much more energy now. Im at the gym 6 days a week for at least an hour a day!!! I can run up stairs, bend over, fit in seats - wow I cant wait to see what the next 90 brings!!! 5/7/06 WOW Guys IM down 123 lbs. That means I weigh 198.4! Holly crap - I really dont think Ive been under 200 lbs since MIDDLE SCHOOL! Life has changed SO much - I wrote a little something...and Ill add it in here ASAP!  7/24/06 - Well today was day 2 of my marathon training! I did it - I signed up and I also joined a training group using Jeff Galloways program! I feel great. Iw as at a plateau where I was weighing 176 for like 2 weeks and I wanted to die - but surprisingly enough after my first 6 mile run - I broke it and now Im down to 173 :) thats a loss of 148 lbs!!! Im LOVING LIFE!!! Oh and Im ALMOST done with my education to become a personal trainer...updates soon!!! 5/12/08 WOW I havent talked to you guys in almost 2 whole years! Heres a quick update. I got my Personal Training Certification with one of the toughest, most strict companies out there. NASM, its one of the only Nationally Recognized companies! Ig ot down to about 168 pounds and couldnt have asked for more! I still thought I needed to lost another 30 lbs and was on my way to working on that. Ir an my half marathon and it was an incredible chapter in my book! I finished in under 3 hours which was amazing considering just the year before I couldnt even walk up a HALF flight of stairs!! Well SHORTLY after that, my boss passed away. This man was so important to me. He was my best friend, my mentor, my other father, my inspiration....so much to me - and he passed away at 41 with a heart attack in his sleep. My world changed that day. I had to take a road trip to N.C. for his memorial and moved to MA (as planned) the following month. Upon my arrival here to MA - I FROZE - its SO SO SO COLD here, I made about 1/8th of the monmey I was used to making, I was grieving my loss, and I ended up gaining 40 lbs!!! I got as high as 215 again! Talk about another heart break. Its been such a struggle. I HAD ONE GREAT THING HAPPEN - I GOT MARRIED to the most wonderful woman I could ever imagine! She's incredible and is by my side for everything I can ask for and so much more. I got to a point so low that I creid every day and every night, I'm still not able to make the money I did in Florida - but Erica has commited to training for another marathon with me, she's doing a food journal with me (even though she doesnt need to lose a pound because she's one of those naturally thin girls we hate!) and she's eating the low carb low calorie lifestyle that I once thrived on! I've now taken off a bit of wieght (down to 200) and looking for my first goal to take off another 30 to 170 again...once I get there - hopefully I'll be able to take off that last 30 again...wish me luck!!! 
or browse bariatric surgeons | plastic surgeons | hospitals | professionals Report a technical problem here. Copyright © 2009 ObesityHelp.com. All Rights Reserved. About Us | OH Blog | Meet Our Staff | FAQ | Promote Our Site | Contact Us | Terms of Service | Press About Me
Stuart, FL
Location
34.7
BMI
Surgery
11/02/2005
Surgery Date
Feb 01, 2005
Member Since
Before & After
|
