HAILEY
My Journey
Oct 30, 2006
1/25/06
I've been viewing this site for some time and started my journey on 1/16/06 by going to the surgeon seminar. There I recieved a packet of information and tests I needed my PCP to order. I've already had all the bloodwork done my Psych Eval is scheduled for 2/1 my pulmonary function is scheduled for 2/6 and my EKG and nutritional seminar is on 2/7 after all those results are in I will schedule my appt with the surgeon to see if there's is any other tests he wants me to have and see if I can get approved through my insurance, which from what I understand is very easy it just needs to be medically nessecity. Several other women where I work have had it done mostly Lapband but a couple had RNY and thaat is what I want. I'll update after my tests are done.
2/1/06 Well today I had my psych eval and guess what? I am psychologically sound and okay'd for surgery! Theres just something about having to tell a complete stranger your life story, but it wasn't bad all in all, so for all of you who get stressed out as the day approaches, it wasn't bad as it sounds like it's gonna be! After the eval, I called the surgeons office and scheduled my consult. I already have a list of question's typed up, my surgeon requires a letter stating why I want surgery for himself which I am almost done with, my consult is 2/14/06 I can't wait! Well that all for know update later.
2/2/06 Went and got my chest x-ray today, Monday I go for my pulmonary test will check back then!
2/6/06 Had the Pulmonary function test today, took an hour and a half. Ok I just have to say I felt like a bit of an idiot, first you blow in to a tube as hard as you can and then after about a bazillion questions he put one of those things on my finger and led me around the office doing a couple laps, I felt like a dog on a leash but thats ok what ever I need to do to get this surgery is fine by me. He is making me do a OPO test which is where I sleep with the monitor on my finger and it lists my breathing, I guess its a way for them to check if they need to do the sleep apnea test but I get to do it at home there sending some guy over with the machine! Almost done with everything I need, tomorrow is the EKG and Nutritionist and then next week the surgeon ! I'm getting so exccited. Oh also today I found out I way more than I thought I am 29 (I'm not used to saying that yet, yesterday was my birthday) I am 5' 2" and weight, are you ready for this 242. woow is me. Well thats all for know check back when more to update!
2/13/06 Well it's been a hecktic few days I was supposed to have my ekg test on the 7th but got a call rescheduling it for the 8th, my husband found ut his father passed away on the 7th as well he was devostated, his father meant alot to him and he hadn't seen him in a really long time so he felt that much worse. Also on the 7th I had my nutritionist appointment which I pretty much new everything she told me from reading online here, I was hoping to find out more specific and exact measurments of things, Wednesday the 8th went to my ekg appt and all went well heart was fine but because my mom had a heart attack at age 45 he wanted a stress test so it was either be injected with something that would reswmble heart attack symtoms or run on the treadmill ,I ran on the treadmill. Are these people stupid or something though I run on this tread mill last 5 minutes they put it at this huge incline and I'm at a jog pace and when its over he says I've done well but I could stand to lose wieght. Daa I know that , hence the clearance for weight loss surgery right! Thursday morning we drove down to central CA for is dads funeral it was so hard for him, still is. oday I am gathering all my info for my surgical consult tomorrow here is a list of everything I need and have done
Blood test:
CBC
LIPIDS
CMP
TSH
Pulmonary function test
Oximetry Test
EKG
Stress Test
Chest X-ray
Psych Eval
Back X-ray
MRI
Letter from PCP
Diet History
Question's for Surgeon
Letter to Surgeon why I want surgery
I just need to finish my letter to the surgeon and I'm done Well I should go I'll update tomrrow after consult and see what he says, wish me luck!
2/14/06 Well I did it! went to my conslt met the surgeon he was fabulous said I was a perfect candidate for lap RNY he answer all me questions said thatsince I had completed everything that was needed already he would have the information transcribed today and sent to insurance for approval. Everyone please keep your fingers crossed for me! He said my insurance is very quick to approve and should hear within about a week and then can be schedule for surgery anywhere from 1 week to 3 weeks out! Yay me! Although I should not get ahead of myself, I should wait for the insurance, I can't help it though I'm so excited. I guess thats all for now, if I continue it's just gonna end up being crazy woman ramblings, so I'll update as soon as I hear something.
2/17/06 Hello all, I just had to come to this site to vent! I called my surgeons office to check if I was submitted to insurance and the office nurse told me that they didn't have my pulmonary function test I told them it was on a prescription pad note, she said they needed the actual report, which is fine but don't you think if they needed something they should have called I mean they all saw that I brought all my information in to try to be expediant and make this as smooth and painless as possible. So I called my Pulmonoligist and had them fax to ME the report and I faxed it over to the surgeon and then called to make sure they recieved it, she said they did get it but it's not what they usually get she said it did say that I was clear for surgery from a pulmonary position but she would have the doc review it if it was enough. I asked her to call me back and let me know what he say's, if it's what he needs or not, so I can get him what he needs if not and she told me he's not in the office today and it's a holiday weekend so that just annoyed me again that they didn't call sooner. Ya know I know a lot of girls here at work who have had the surgery and they all told me to keep up on the doctors call them everyday if neccesary, I thought that was a little much but now after this I will. Don't get me wrong I know I picked the right surgeon and still think he's great, it's just I'll have to keep up with the office staff to make sure they've got everything in order! Well I've vented now and I feel much better, I love this site you can come and type to your hearts content on your own profile and share with everyone who ever ends up reading this!
2/23/06 Hello all! I am frustrated and don't know what to do! May be I'll post a question? I called the surgeons office on Tuesday 2/21 (monday being a holiday and all) to check if the doctor was in today, she told me yes and she would have him review the pumonology report to see if they can submitt to insurance! I asked her to call and let me know if it was ok or not she said she would! Well no call all day tuesday and I waited until late afternoon yesterday to call and she told me no he hasn't reviewed it yet but she would put it on his desk with a big note "can we submit to insurance?" and would give me a call> Well I know it's still early in the day yet but no call and I don't want to annoy the surgeon or the office staff but I don't know what to do several of the women from my work have had this surgery and all have stated are insurance is one of the easiest to get approved through literally maybe 1 or 2 day turnaround it just has to be medically necesary(sp). How can they approve it if they don't get it, it has been 9 days since my consult and I turned everything in he told me he would submit it the next day cause everything was in order. One thing wasn't in the format that he's used to and no one called me to try and get it the way they needed. Urg, I don't want to be a pest but I wanted to try and have my surgery by 3/20/06 as my sister is having spinal surgery that day and I wanted to be on my road to recovery so I can help her with hers. what to do what to do?
2/24/06 Hi all, I called my surgeon's office this morning hoping that my test had been reviewed so they can submit to insurance but yet again no nt reviewed yet and he isn't in the office today! Won't be back until Tuesday the 28th that will be the 2 week mark from when he told me he would submit. I'm trying not to get to disappointed but I thought that it would have been easiest to deal with the surgeons office over the other doctor's because they know what it takes for some to gat approved and that once you start this journey you want to get it going! I know he's an excellent surgeon and I still want him to do my surgery but I don't know what to do to get this taken care of. I feel awful calling and being a pest I've called almost everyday for a week and it's still not done maybe. Maybe Tuesday I'll take in a copy of my new oximitry reading and wait until it's been done or try to talk to the surgeon or talk to his PA! Oh I'm so impatient, I just want to keep things moving! Ok I feel better know that I got that all out. I'll post next week hopefully with some good news!
3/1/06 Well my calling finally paid off I called the surgeon's office today and they have submitted me to insurance. They said I should know in ablout a week so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
I just wanted to thank everyne as well for al there advise it's been most helpful!
3/3/06 I am so excited I've been APPROVED the doctors office has already recieved the approval I just have to wait for the hospital to accept me in to the Bariatric Program. I'm gonna pee my pants I'm so excited. They said I should know about the hospital's acceptance by mid next week so keep your fingers crossed for me everyone! I'll update as soon as I hear!
3/8/06 Well I have a date! March 27th, the doctors office called yesterday with a list of datees and they wanted to schedule me for march 15th but that is only a week away and I wouldn't have time to get anything in order so I picked the 27th. Now that I have a date I am excited but I am really scared now, wondering if I'm making the right deccision. It probably doesn't help that I just recently found the memorial page and have read some scary things, not that happened years ago but some recent and makes me wonder if this is all worth it. I mean after all right now I may be overwieght but I am at least relatively healthy. If I don't have surgery I run the risk of so many problems, but if I have the surgery I run the risk of haveing so many problems. I'm not so much scared of death because if I die, I die, I won't be none the wiser but if I wake up and have complications and suffer and ruin my health that I have now, that is my fear. Alright I'm getting to serious now I'm gonna go and make my preperations.
3/15/06 Just thought I would come and update, trying to get all my liquid and protien and vitamins so I'm prepared for the big day, just 12 more days. I've been able to distract myself with my sister and her surgery, she' having a degenerated disk removed and replaced in her neck this friday te 17th. She's terrified, she's never had any type of surgery before but I keep telling her it will be ok. Went with her monday to register her at the hospital I showed her around so she's more comfotable, but she's still a basket case. Today I go and register myself at the hospital nothing much else is going on trying to get the surgeons office to fill out the short term disability form's but it's near imossible to get anything from them in a timely fashion, I gave them the papers almost a week ago. i guess I'll call later see if ther done yet. Well that's all for know, I'll update again before I go in! tata
3/16/06 Hi all Had a few moment's to drop by and say hello, I know it's kinda silly but when I write these letters I feel like I'm wriing to a friend insted of logging a journal ya know! Well my sister has her spine surgery tomorrow she's so nervous never even been admitted to a hospital before let alone surgery! She's thinking to morbidly though getting her Will in order a Power of Attorney all that which I know is just the responsible thing to do and I know my sister is responsible if nothing else. Well I will be back on Monday the 20th to update her status on my profile as I don't have a computer at home (I use the one at work). Monday will start my count down of 1 WEEK till the BIG DAY! I don't know what I'm gonna do after surgery at home without having a computer to chat with you all but maybe I'll go to my sisters to post questions or update she just lives a couple houses away from me! Hope everybody has a good weekend and please pray for my sister!
3/20/06 Hi all, my sister's good surgery went well. It was a good experiance for me to see the process the hospital has you go thru just before surgery. Well I have a really busy day just wanted to let anyone reading my profile know all is well! Oh ya can't forget as of today 1 WEEK!!!!!!!
3/23/06 Hello, nothing much to report just counting the days (3 1/2). I'm feeling so many emotions scared, excited, nervous, anxious, terrified but mst of all I feel .... ready, ready to have this surgery, ready to to have it over with, ready start living my new life. My husband is getting ready to he's so cute last night I got home from work and he had rearranged the whole house to be more comfortable for me, when we saw the surgeous he said that the most painful incision would be on my left side, well thats the side I sleep on and thats the side I lean on when I sit on the sofa, so he moved the furniture so if I sit on the sofa I'm resting on the right side and he flipped the bed around so I'll also be laying on my right side but still facing the same direction. He's so sweet, Ilove him! We'll I think I'm all ready got the vitamins got the sugar fee everything, got the protien drinks and the waters even got the nasty drink for "The Cleansing". Tomorrow is my last day of work so I'll update once more time. Everyone think happy thoughts!
3/24/06 Howdy folks, last day of work almost over! and just 2 more days till surgery I'm nervous and excited ready for this but still scared and wondering if I'm doing the thing, I know I am I just have concerns and don't want to be a failure at something that has worked for so many people. But with the help of my husband and my sister I should be able to get thru this fine! Well I hope to update after my surgery but I don't have a computer so I'll see what I can do. I wish everybody the best of luck on there journey's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5-01-06 My first day back to work, took 5 weeks off instead of four due to stitches but all is A.O.K. don't have time to update will do tomorrow just wanted everyone to know al is good and I'm back!
08/28/06 I know it's been forever since I updated my profile but things have been hextic. Surgery went well and I returned to work on 5/1/06 I had just started eating solid foods and was having a hard time with them, every time I would eat some thing I would get extremely naseaus thinking I was just trying to eat the wrong thing I didnt say anything to my doctor I ended up only working for 5 days in a 2 week period and finally I called the doctor on 5/17/06 told him I couldn't eat anything without wretching but nothing would come up all I could put n me was water! He saw me right away and said he wanted to do an ultrasound they couldn't get me in for that until 5/19 so I went in had it done, I didn't think it was my gallbladder bcause I wasn't having any pain in that area but I figured he's the doctor, Went back for my result on 5/23 said he was scheduleing me for surgery the next day but because I was so dehydrated he wanted me to go in that day and get some fluids, he said the ultra sound came back with "a few stones" so I went in that afternoon my poor husband was so worried by then I had been hardly eating anything for nearly 4 weeks and was starting to lose close to a pound and half a day. Needless to say had the gallbladder out and apparently it was full of stones my doctor decided to save the biggest one for me in a jar they showed it to me, made me want to puke it was the shape and size of a giant stuffed olive, so gross I know! I was so dehydrated when I went to the hospital that my veins kept blowing the IV's they had one in my hand but my hand looked like a softball so they tried the wrist and back of my other hand and up higher on my arm no such luck! the anastesiologist(sp) came just before my surgery and said they would just leave the blown one in the back of my hand and do there best, very scary I asked him don't I at least get some happy medicine to go back to the operating room he told me it's not gonna work unless it gets into your blood stream and it can't if your IV has blown your vien I told him I didn't care give it a try so he gave me a shot in my IV made me slightly woosey but I still remember going back to the operating room and being strapped down to that table something I never want to experience again, just a little freaky for me? So I was released from the hospital on Friday doctor said he looked the the pouch while he was in there and everything else looked good told me to go ahead and try eating what ever sounded good. I still gave it a couple days cause nothing sounded good tried having chicken noodle soup nope still wretched with in half an hour of eating it started eating a saltine I would have 1 for breakfast lunch and dinner! after about a week of still not being able to eat he scheduled me to have a scope said I would have to be awake and swallow the tube for this and if he went in there and my opening had closed some he would just go ahead and expand it while he was down there, I thought "excuse me your gonna do what and I have to help you with this?" but luckily the day or 2 before I was schedule for my scope I was able to have food without wretching very little food would only eat once a day about 2 oz for awhile at first but he said as long as I can get it in and it doesn't make me sick I was good and would just have to build up the frequency and amount per serving he said my pouch had probably just shrunk after not eating for nearly six weeks! so long story even longer I have been eating and doing much better I didn't go back to work until 7/5/06 after 12 weeks off luckily my job is wonderfully understanding! I am 5 mounths as of yesterday and weigh in at 174 so I've lost 71lbs to date I am more than half way there I only have 39 more pounds till my doctor goal of 135 but I don't know if that's something that will be attainable and maintanable for me I am shooting to stay aroun 141 to 143 I think I would be very comfortable there. I hae gone from a size 22/24 jeans to a 14/16 (I still have a big booty but at least know you can't rest a cup on it!) I went from a 2x to a large in the junior section for shirts. I am so losing my hair because of the normal hair loss do to the weight but I think maybe a little bit more than most due to being sick for so long and not having any nutrition going in to me for over 6weeks. I am very happy and have only been geting my excercise in for 1 1/2 weeks I didn't have much energy before that but the weight loss has slowed down now that I can eat. so my routine is a protien shake for breakfast a small lunch like 3 oz of tuna with some soy crisps or 2/3 of a small wrap wit a whole grain low carb tortilla or pinwheels with lite cream cheese and again whole grain low carb tortilla than afternoon around 3 I have a second protien shake and than I have dinner when I get home which usually consists of some chicken, I take 2 centrum chewable multi-vitamins 2 5000mcg biotin for hair skin and nails 1 2000mg b-12 lozenge per week, and I try to get my calcium in of 2 600mg chewbles chocolate candy like things but I have a hard time with those they taste awful but it'sthe only calcium citrate chewable I could find. I walk on my treadmil at least 5 time a week for at least an hour at a pace of about 3 to 3.5 and I go dancing every Friday night know for about 4 hours (great workout you really feel the burn the next day!)But all and all if I had to do it again and even if I had to have the scope I would still do it again this has given me a renewed slef confidence and self asteem that I never thought I would have again, the sex is great you los some of those inches around your belly and thighs and you'd be amazed at how liber you become(lol)! I am so happy and can't wait to see where I am in the next 5 mounths. There is only one thing I am disappointed about and that is at the end of June my surgeon relocated to Spokan WA due to disagreements with the hospital here we had a previous surgeon who did weight loss before my doctor came and he ended up killing some poor woman the hospital suspended all Weight loss surgeries and that doctor no longer practices in this area anymore, well my surgeon cam and had to work thru the red tape that was left behind he said he understood the red tape but he wanted to move forward alot quicker than the hospital was willing to in the year and a half that he was in the area he had only done about 60 new procedures! He had however done twice as many revisions from other surgeon mistakes, he is a wonderful surgeon hes even on Carney wilsons sight due to his revolutionary bariatric meal replacement powder its called metagenics. but I am sad to see him go but he does still stay in conduct my email and if we have question he said don't hesitate to call which I won't! BUt still life is good!
I just found this on another profile, I just wanted it for future reference and didnt want to lose it, lol.
#1 - Do this for 10 days to break a plateau
#2 - Drink 2 quarts of water a day
#3 - You must have 45 grams of protein supplement and all your vitamins/minerals supplements each day (some suggest at least 60 and up to 80 gr)
#4 - You may consume up to 3 oz of the following high protein foods, 5x a day
beef
pork
chicken
turkey
lamb
fish
eggs
low fat cheese
cottage cheese
plain yogurt or artificially sweetened (?)
peanut butter
beans/legumes
You may also have:
sugar free popsicles
tea or coffee
sugar free soda
sugar free jello
broths/bullion
crystal light drinks
#5 - If it's not on the list, you can't have it for 10 days!!!!
#6 - Keep a food diary and try to get up to 30 mins of exercise daily
9/28/06 Well yesterday was my 6 months since surgery I weigh 163lb thats a loss of 82 lbs since surgery and 28lbs away from my doctors goal of 135. I still do 2 protien drinks a day and eat 2 meals a day I take in about 800 calories a day and at least 60g of protien but closer to 70 or 80. I need to excercise more right now the only excercise I do is going dancing 2 nights a week so I need to get better at that. Really worried about all my hair loss I'm taking my vitamins religously but I have lost probably half my head of hair it is starting to slow down but I don't know if that's because there is so little left to fall out! I am so happy that I had this surgery I know if I didn't I would probably weigh more than 245 right now. Last week my sister got married and so I thought I would try on my wedding dress which hasn't ft me in 7years and it fit comfortably. I will probably need some type of tummy tuck or panni everythings drooping these days, the ladies are almost non exsistant any more. Well thats all for this month will update next month!
I've been viewing this site for some time and started my journey on 1/16/06 by going to the surgeon seminar. There I recieved a packet of information and tests I needed my PCP to order. I've already had all the bloodwork done my Psych Eval is scheduled for 2/1 my pulmonary function is scheduled for 2/6 and my EKG and nutritional seminar is on 2/7 after all those results are in I will schedule my appt with the surgeon to see if there's is any other tests he wants me to have and see if I can get approved through my insurance, which from what I understand is very easy it just needs to be medically nessecity. Several other women where I work have had it done mostly Lapband but a couple had RNY and thaat is what I want. I'll update after my tests are done.
2/1/06 Well today I had my psych eval and guess what? I am psychologically sound and okay'd for surgery! Theres just something about having to tell a complete stranger your life story, but it wasn't bad all in all, so for all of you who get stressed out as the day approaches, it wasn't bad as it sounds like it's gonna be! After the eval, I called the surgeons office and scheduled my consult. I already have a list of question's typed up, my surgeon requires a letter stating why I want surgery for himself which I am almost done with, my consult is 2/14/06 I can't wait! Well that all for know update later.
2/2/06 Went and got my chest x-ray today, Monday I go for my pulmonary test will check back then!
2/6/06 Had the Pulmonary function test today, took an hour and a half. Ok I just have to say I felt like a bit of an idiot, first you blow in to a tube as hard as you can and then after about a bazillion questions he put one of those things on my finger and led me around the office doing a couple laps, I felt like a dog on a leash but thats ok what ever I need to do to get this surgery is fine by me. He is making me do a OPO test which is where I sleep with the monitor on my finger and it lists my breathing, I guess its a way for them to check if they need to do the sleep apnea test but I get to do it at home there sending some guy over with the machine! Almost done with everything I need, tomorrow is the EKG and Nutritionist and then next week the surgeon ! I'm getting so exccited. Oh also today I found out I way more than I thought I am 29 (I'm not used to saying that yet, yesterday was my birthday) I am 5' 2" and weight, are you ready for this 242. woow is me. Well thats all for know check back when more to update!
2/13/06 Well it's been a hecktic few days I was supposed to have my ekg test on the 7th but got a call rescheduling it for the 8th, my husband found ut his father passed away on the 7th as well he was devostated, his father meant alot to him and he hadn't seen him in a really long time so he felt that much worse. Also on the 7th I had my nutritionist appointment which I pretty much new everything she told me from reading online here, I was hoping to find out more specific and exact measurments of things, Wednesday the 8th went to my ekg appt and all went well heart was fine but because my mom had a heart attack at age 45 he wanted a stress test so it was either be injected with something that would reswmble heart attack symtoms or run on the treadmill ,I ran on the treadmill. Are these people stupid or something though I run on this tread mill last 5 minutes they put it at this huge incline and I'm at a jog pace and when its over he says I've done well but I could stand to lose wieght. Daa I know that , hence the clearance for weight loss surgery right! Thursday morning we drove down to central CA for is dads funeral it was so hard for him, still is. oday I am gathering all my info for my surgical consult tomorrow here is a list of everything I need and have done
Blood test:
CBC
LIPIDS
CMP
TSH
Pulmonary function test
Oximetry Test
EKG
Stress Test
Chest X-ray
Psych Eval
Back X-ray
MRI
Letter from PCP
Diet History
Question's for Surgeon
Letter to Surgeon why I want surgery
I just need to finish my letter to the surgeon and I'm done Well I should go I'll update tomrrow after consult and see what he says, wish me luck!
2/14/06 Well I did it! went to my conslt met the surgeon he was fabulous said I was a perfect candidate for lap RNY he answer all me questions said thatsince I had completed everything that was needed already he would have the information transcribed today and sent to insurance for approval. Everyone please keep your fingers crossed for me! He said my insurance is very quick to approve and should hear within about a week and then can be schedule for surgery anywhere from 1 week to 3 weeks out! Yay me! Although I should not get ahead of myself, I should wait for the insurance, I can't help it though I'm so excited. I guess thats all for now, if I continue it's just gonna end up being crazy woman ramblings, so I'll update as soon as I hear something.
2/17/06 Hello all, I just had to come to this site to vent! I called my surgeons office to check if I was submitted to insurance and the office nurse told me that they didn't have my pulmonary function test I told them it was on a prescription pad note, she said they needed the actual report, which is fine but don't you think if they needed something they should have called I mean they all saw that I brought all my information in to try to be expediant and make this as smooth and painless as possible. So I called my Pulmonoligist and had them fax to ME the report and I faxed it over to the surgeon and then called to make sure they recieved it, she said they did get it but it's not what they usually get she said it did say that I was clear for surgery from a pulmonary position but she would have the doc review it if it was enough. I asked her to call me back and let me know what he say's, if it's what he needs or not, so I can get him what he needs if not and she told me he's not in the office today and it's a holiday weekend so that just annoyed me again that they didn't call sooner. Ya know I know a lot of girls here at work who have had the surgery and they all told me to keep up on the doctors call them everyday if neccesary, I thought that was a little much but now after this I will. Don't get me wrong I know I picked the right surgeon and still think he's great, it's just I'll have to keep up with the office staff to make sure they've got everything in order! Well I've vented now and I feel much better, I love this site you can come and type to your hearts content on your own profile and share with everyone who ever ends up reading this!
2/23/06 Hello all! I am frustrated and don't know what to do! May be I'll post a question? I called the surgeons office on Tuesday 2/21 (monday being a holiday and all) to check if the doctor was in today, she told me yes and she would have him review the pumonology report to see if they can submitt to insurance! I asked her to call and let me know if it was ok or not she said she would! Well no call all day tuesday and I waited until late afternoon yesterday to call and she told me no he hasn't reviewed it yet but she would put it on his desk with a big note "can we submit to insurance?" and would give me a call> Well I know it's still early in the day yet but no call and I don't want to annoy the surgeon or the office staff but I don't know what to do several of the women from my work have had this surgery and all have stated are insurance is one of the easiest to get approved through literally maybe 1 or 2 day turnaround it just has to be medically necesary(sp). How can they approve it if they don't get it, it has been 9 days since my consult and I turned everything in he told me he would submit it the next day cause everything was in order. One thing wasn't in the format that he's used to and no one called me to try and get it the way they needed. Urg, I don't want to be a pest but I wanted to try and have my surgery by 3/20/06 as my sister is having spinal surgery that day and I wanted to be on my road to recovery so I can help her with hers. what to do what to do?
2/24/06 Hi all, I called my surgeon's office this morning hoping that my test had been reviewed so they can submit to insurance but yet again no nt reviewed yet and he isn't in the office today! Won't be back until Tuesday the 28th that will be the 2 week mark from when he told me he would submit. I'm trying not to get to disappointed but I thought that it would have been easiest to deal with the surgeons office over the other doctor's because they know what it takes for some to gat approved and that once you start this journey you want to get it going! I know he's an excellent surgeon and I still want him to do my surgery but I don't know what to do to get this taken care of. I feel awful calling and being a pest I've called almost everyday for a week and it's still not done maybe. Maybe Tuesday I'll take in a copy of my new oximitry reading and wait until it's been done or try to talk to the surgeon or talk to his PA! Oh I'm so impatient, I just want to keep things moving! Ok I feel better know that I got that all out. I'll post next week hopefully with some good news!
3/1/06 Well my calling finally paid off I called the surgeon's office today and they have submitted me to insurance. They said I should know in ablout a week so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
I just wanted to thank everyne as well for al there advise it's been most helpful!
3/3/06 I am so excited I've been APPROVED the doctors office has already recieved the approval I just have to wait for the hospital to accept me in to the Bariatric Program. I'm gonna pee my pants I'm so excited. They said I should know about the hospital's acceptance by mid next week so keep your fingers crossed for me everyone! I'll update as soon as I hear!
3/8/06 Well I have a date! March 27th, the doctors office called yesterday with a list of datees and they wanted to schedule me for march 15th but that is only a week away and I wouldn't have time to get anything in order so I picked the 27th. Now that I have a date I am excited but I am really scared now, wondering if I'm making the right deccision. It probably doesn't help that I just recently found the memorial page and have read some scary things, not that happened years ago but some recent and makes me wonder if this is all worth it. I mean after all right now I may be overwieght but I am at least relatively healthy. If I don't have surgery I run the risk of so many problems, but if I have the surgery I run the risk of haveing so many problems. I'm not so much scared of death because if I die, I die, I won't be none the wiser but if I wake up and have complications and suffer and ruin my health that I have now, that is my fear. Alright I'm getting to serious now I'm gonna go and make my preperations.
3/15/06 Just thought I would come and update, trying to get all my liquid and protien and vitamins so I'm prepared for the big day, just 12 more days. I've been able to distract myself with my sister and her surgery, she' having a degenerated disk removed and replaced in her neck this friday te 17th. She's terrified, she's never had any type of surgery before but I keep telling her it will be ok. Went with her monday to register her at the hospital I showed her around so she's more comfotable, but she's still a basket case. Today I go and register myself at the hospital nothing much else is going on trying to get the surgeons office to fill out the short term disability form's but it's near imossible to get anything from them in a timely fashion, I gave them the papers almost a week ago. i guess I'll call later see if ther done yet. Well that's all for know, I'll update again before I go in! tata
3/16/06 Hi all Had a few moment's to drop by and say hello, I know it's kinda silly but when I write these letters I feel like I'm wriing to a friend insted of logging a journal ya know! Well my sister has her spine surgery tomorrow she's so nervous never even been admitted to a hospital before let alone surgery! She's thinking to morbidly though getting her Will in order a Power of Attorney all that which I know is just the responsible thing to do and I know my sister is responsible if nothing else. Well I will be back on Monday the 20th to update her status on my profile as I don't have a computer at home (I use the one at work). Monday will start my count down of 1 WEEK till the BIG DAY! I don't know what I'm gonna do after surgery at home without having a computer to chat with you all but maybe I'll go to my sisters to post questions or update she just lives a couple houses away from me! Hope everybody has a good weekend and please pray for my sister!
3/20/06 Hi all, my sister's good surgery went well. It was a good experiance for me to see the process the hospital has you go thru just before surgery. Well I have a really busy day just wanted to let anyone reading my profile know all is well! Oh ya can't forget as of today 1 WEEK!!!!!!!
3/23/06 Hello, nothing much to report just counting the days (3 1/2). I'm feeling so many emotions scared, excited, nervous, anxious, terrified but mst of all I feel .... ready, ready to have this surgery, ready to to have it over with, ready start living my new life. My husband is getting ready to he's so cute last night I got home from work and he had rearranged the whole house to be more comfortable for me, when we saw the surgeous he said that the most painful incision would be on my left side, well thats the side I sleep on and thats the side I lean on when I sit on the sofa, so he moved the furniture so if I sit on the sofa I'm resting on the right side and he flipped the bed around so I'll also be laying on my right side but still facing the same direction. He's so sweet, Ilove him! We'll I think I'm all ready got the vitamins got the sugar fee everything, got the protien drinks and the waters even got the nasty drink for "The Cleansing". Tomorrow is my last day of work so I'll update once more time. Everyone think happy thoughts!
3/24/06 Howdy folks, last day of work almost over! and just 2 more days till surgery I'm nervous and excited ready for this but still scared and wondering if I'm doing the thing, I know I am I just have concerns and don't want to be a failure at something that has worked for so many people. But with the help of my husband and my sister I should be able to get thru this fine! Well I hope to update after my surgery but I don't have a computer so I'll see what I can do. I wish everybody the best of luck on there journey's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5-01-06 My first day back to work, took 5 weeks off instead of four due to stitches but all is A.O.K. don't have time to update will do tomorrow just wanted everyone to know al is good and I'm back!
08/28/06 I know it's been forever since I updated my profile but things have been hextic. Surgery went well and I returned to work on 5/1/06 I had just started eating solid foods and was having a hard time with them, every time I would eat some thing I would get extremely naseaus thinking I was just trying to eat the wrong thing I didnt say anything to my doctor I ended up only working for 5 days in a 2 week period and finally I called the doctor on 5/17/06 told him I couldn't eat anything without wretching but nothing would come up all I could put n me was water! He saw me right away and said he wanted to do an ultrasound they couldn't get me in for that until 5/19 so I went in had it done, I didn't think it was my gallbladder bcause I wasn't having any pain in that area but I figured he's the doctor, Went back for my result on 5/23 said he was scheduleing me for surgery the next day but because I was so dehydrated he wanted me to go in that day and get some fluids, he said the ultra sound came back with "a few stones" so I went in that afternoon my poor husband was so worried by then I had been hardly eating anything for nearly 4 weeks and was starting to lose close to a pound and half a day. Needless to say had the gallbladder out and apparently it was full of stones my doctor decided to save the biggest one for me in a jar they showed it to me, made me want to puke it was the shape and size of a giant stuffed olive, so gross I know! I was so dehydrated when I went to the hospital that my veins kept blowing the IV's they had one in my hand but my hand looked like a softball so they tried the wrist and back of my other hand and up higher on my arm no such luck! the anastesiologist(sp) came just before my surgery and said they would just leave the blown one in the back of my hand and do there best, very scary I asked him don't I at least get some happy medicine to go back to the operating room he told me it's not gonna work unless it gets into your blood stream and it can't if your IV has blown your vien I told him I didn't care give it a try so he gave me a shot in my IV made me slightly woosey but I still remember going back to the operating room and being strapped down to that table something I never want to experience again, just a little freaky for me? So I was released from the hospital on Friday doctor said he looked the the pouch while he was in there and everything else looked good told me to go ahead and try eating what ever sounded good. I still gave it a couple days cause nothing sounded good tried having chicken noodle soup nope still wretched with in half an hour of eating it started eating a saltine I would have 1 for breakfast lunch and dinner! after about a week of still not being able to eat he scheduled me to have a scope said I would have to be awake and swallow the tube for this and if he went in there and my opening had closed some he would just go ahead and expand it while he was down there, I thought "excuse me your gonna do what and I have to help you with this?" but luckily the day or 2 before I was schedule for my scope I was able to have food without wretching very little food would only eat once a day about 2 oz for awhile at first but he said as long as I can get it in and it doesn't make me sick I was good and would just have to build up the frequency and amount per serving he said my pouch had probably just shrunk after not eating for nearly six weeks! so long story even longer I have been eating and doing much better I didn't go back to work until 7/5/06 after 12 weeks off luckily my job is wonderfully understanding! I am 5 mounths as of yesterday and weigh in at 174 so I've lost 71lbs to date I am more than half way there I only have 39 more pounds till my doctor goal of 135 but I don't know if that's something that will be attainable and maintanable for me I am shooting to stay aroun 141 to 143 I think I would be very comfortable there. I hae gone from a size 22/24 jeans to a 14/16 (I still have a big booty but at least know you can't rest a cup on it!) I went from a 2x to a large in the junior section for shirts. I am so losing my hair because of the normal hair loss do to the weight but I think maybe a little bit more than most due to being sick for so long and not having any nutrition going in to me for over 6weeks. I am very happy and have only been geting my excercise in for 1 1/2 weeks I didn't have much energy before that but the weight loss has slowed down now that I can eat. so my routine is a protien shake for breakfast a small lunch like 3 oz of tuna with some soy crisps or 2/3 of a small wrap wit a whole grain low carb tortilla or pinwheels with lite cream cheese and again whole grain low carb tortilla than afternoon around 3 I have a second protien shake and than I have dinner when I get home which usually consists of some chicken, I take 2 centrum chewable multi-vitamins 2 5000mcg biotin for hair skin and nails 1 2000mg b-12 lozenge per week, and I try to get my calcium in of 2 600mg chewbles chocolate candy like things but I have a hard time with those they taste awful but it'sthe only calcium citrate chewable I could find. I walk on my treadmil at least 5 time a week for at least an hour at a pace of about 3 to 3.5 and I go dancing every Friday night know for about 4 hours (great workout you really feel the burn the next day!)But all and all if I had to do it again and even if I had to have the scope I would still do it again this has given me a renewed slef confidence and self asteem that I never thought I would have again, the sex is great you los some of those inches around your belly and thighs and you'd be amazed at how liber you become(lol)! I am so happy and can't wait to see where I am in the next 5 mounths. There is only one thing I am disappointed about and that is at the end of June my surgeon relocated to Spokan WA due to disagreements with the hospital here we had a previous surgeon who did weight loss before my doctor came and he ended up killing some poor woman the hospital suspended all Weight loss surgeries and that doctor no longer practices in this area anymore, well my surgeon cam and had to work thru the red tape that was left behind he said he understood the red tape but he wanted to move forward alot quicker than the hospital was willing to in the year and a half that he was in the area he had only done about 60 new procedures! He had however done twice as many revisions from other surgeon mistakes, he is a wonderful surgeon hes even on Carney wilsons sight due to his revolutionary bariatric meal replacement powder its called metagenics. but I am sad to see him go but he does still stay in conduct my email and if we have question he said don't hesitate to call which I won't! BUt still life is good!
I just found this on another profile, I just wanted it for future reference and didnt want to lose it, lol.
#1 - Do this for 10 days to break a plateau
#2 - Drink 2 quarts of water a day
#3 - You must have 45 grams of protein supplement and all your vitamins/minerals supplements each day (some suggest at least 60 and up to 80 gr)
#4 - You may consume up to 3 oz of the following high protein foods, 5x a day
beef
pork
chicken
turkey
lamb
fish
eggs
low fat cheese
cottage cheese
plain yogurt or artificially sweetened (?)
peanut butter
beans/legumes
You may also have:
sugar free popsicles
tea or coffee
sugar free soda
sugar free jello
broths/bullion
crystal light drinks
#5 - If it's not on the list, you can't have it for 10 days!!!!
#6 - Keep a food diary and try to get up to 30 mins of exercise daily
9/28/06 Well yesterday was my 6 months since surgery I weigh 163lb thats a loss of 82 lbs since surgery and 28lbs away from my doctors goal of 135. I still do 2 protien drinks a day and eat 2 meals a day I take in about 800 calories a day and at least 60g of protien but closer to 70 or 80. I need to excercise more right now the only excercise I do is going dancing 2 nights a week so I need to get better at that. Really worried about all my hair loss I'm taking my vitamins religously but I have lost probably half my head of hair it is starting to slow down but I don't know if that's because there is so little left to fall out! I am so happy that I had this surgery I know if I didn't I would probably weigh more than 245 right now. Last week my sister got married and so I thought I would try on my wedding dress which hasn't ft me in 7years and it fit comfortably. I will probably need some type of tummy tuck or panni everythings drooping these days, the ladies are almost non exsistant any more. Well thats all for this month will update next month!
