jharrington8172

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Well today is 11/20 just 4 days away from my 9 month point.   Since I got serious about WLS in January and made the choice to have surgery - I can not even start to list all the WOW moments I have had.   First let me start off by saying on 01/06/09 went I went my my PCP to get my referal letter I weighed 480 pounds. I weighed myself several days ago and I now weigh 232 pounds just 2 pounds from my goal weight.   I never in a million years thought I would see 230 let alone the 190's (where I will be heading soon...LOL).   My rock through all of this has been my Dad - he wanted this for me so bad.  I think part of him felt responsible for me and my sister being overweight.  The day I had surgery my mom and aunt were here in TN with me and my dad called non-stop to get status updates.  When I finally came through I talked to him and I don't really remember what he said - but I remember hanging up and the phone ringing right back again.   It was my dad again - he then told me (I remember this)  John - I am so proud of you.  I could tell he was holding back tears - I knew this process would be emotional and hard on me but I never thought it would impact my family members but it has and I think it has in a good way.    My family is now getting concerned that I am loosing too much weight but Dr. Houston says I am fine - my BMI is still 29.8 so I am overweight not even in Normal yet.

I am so very thankful to all the DS vets that gave me info and answered my questions.  I can honestly say that the DS is the right choice for me and I  my DS.

It has been a while since I last posted a blog so I was sitting here at work and thought ' WTF' let's write a new blog about my journey so far.    When I stepped on the scale yesterday it said 292 pounds.   I really like seeing a 2 in front of my number it is really hard to believe that 6 months ago it was a 4 in front.    So my total weight loss since January is 188 pounds (I am still in shock everyday).    I live in TN and my whole family lives in MA and I am going home to see everyone for my birthday.   I had set a goal to be under 300 pounds by my birthday, but I passed that goal last week so now I want to be at 280.  That is 12 pounds 17 days.  I know that is a lot but that will put me at the 200 pounds lost mark and I want to cross that mark SO BAD.   I had set a goal of 230 pounds for my goal weight and I am going to stick with that number but I really don't know what I want to be at.    I mean I would LOVE to be in onderland, but I am tall and I am afraid if I get to onederland I will look sickly but we will wait and see.   If the weight wants to come off, who am I to say NO.  
So last weekend I went to Cookeville, TN to have lunch with some fellow losers.    It was a small get together but very nice.   Phil and Cheryl came up from Nashville and then K9, Ronda, Susan, and Lisa were there (Amy could not make it because she was not feeling well ) It was so nice to see everyone and enjoy a good meal (I had maple glazed pork chop.. YUMM) .   Well I guess I should stop rambling and get back to work.   I will post another blog (with pics) after I go home in August for my birthday (the BIG 37)

Well today it has been 10 weeks since my Duodenal Switch surgery.  I uploaded a new pic (saggy pants and all.. LOL).   I really can not believe what a change has happened to me this year with all the weight loss.   2009 is going to be the best year of my life.     So I was looking through my photos while I was sitting here at work and started to get all choked up.   I can not believe the changes.    Little things amaze me, like feeling a muscle in my arm (WTF.. where did that come from).  I am so happy with the way things fell into place for me.    Back in 2005 when I attended my seminar for WLS and was told I had an exclusion I was CRUSHED.  I mean, how can they do that.  I know now that it happened because I was meant to have the Duodenal Switch and I would not have known about it back then.  Hell I did not even know about OH back then.  I thought I would go in have my surgery and then be skinny (in my head that was how the gastric bypass worked).  
I now have a great support group I attend, walk the Green way on a regular basis (if anyone needs a walking partner, just let me know).   I know i am rambling but I am just so amazed that this is actually working for me.  

Well.. I guess that is enough for now.... 127 pounds down and loving my DS.  

I can not believe it I am down 75 pounds since Jan.  30 since surgery on 2/24.   I am having some issues eating lunch at work but other than that everything else is going great. 

Wow - It is Friday and I am sitting at work eating some sugar free Jello.   Today is my last day here for a while since my surgery is Tuesday the 24th.    I started my  liquid diet yesterday per Dr. Houston's orders and so far it is not that bad.   I am down 36 pounds since 01/06 so I am happy for that.    I went to a support group last night and as soon as I walked in one of the girls asked me "How much have you lost - I can see a big difference in your face" My first WOW moment.  
My mom and Aunt Diane arrive tomorrow from Boston and will be here for a week.  I am exicted to see them both - I just seen them at Christmas but I feel like a different person so I really want to see if they notice anything.   In my support group last night I met a woman who had the lapband in Jan. and has not lost anything.    OMG - my heart just aches for her, I would go out of my mind if don't loose anything after surgery.  I guess if that is what is in the cards for me - then that is what is in the cards, but I will not go down without a fight.   
I don't know if I mentioned this anywhere but the day I got my insurance approval 02/02 my ceiling in my living room fell in.   The whole thing.   I came home from work and was in shock.   Well - I ahve a contractor fixing it but he is behind schedule and I am stressing a little about not having it done before surgery.  I am also been so worried about work.  They do not seem to have a game plan and it scares me that things are going to fall on the floor when I am gone.   I told them I would be able to answer questions via the phone the week after surgery (at least I hope i can) and I think they are thinking that will be enough to get them through my time out of the office.     So many things and so little time left.   

Well... I guess I rambled on enough... Everyone please keep me in your thoughts and prayers on Tuesday.  Swing every barnyard animal possible.  

Well i just got off the phone with Brett at Blue Shield of CA and it looks like I am approved I really can not believe it.  This journey has been long I started it with my first WLS seminar on 11/12/2005 and over 3 year, 100 pounds, and a failed relationship it has arrived.   I am now just waiting for Holly at Dr. Houston's office to call me back so we can go over dates.   They said she will call either this afternoon or tomorrow morning.  I just want a date!!!!!!! I can not wait to be SWITCHED. 

Well, I ordered a scale off ebay that went up to 550 so i could weigh myself.  I went to my PCP on 01/06 and weighed in at 480.   I put myself on a diet on 01/18 and went to my surgeon's office on 01/21 and weighed 474.   So today I went back to my PCP just to weigh myself and i weighed 456.  24 pounds gone I am so excited.   I can see a difference in my face and my clothes are already big on me, how nuts.   I can usually get good results but it is keeping the weight off.   So today is day 3 that the insurance company has had my paperwork, when I talked to them on Friday they told me it usaully takes 5 business days to approve (i thought they had 30 but oh well) so I will try calling them at lunch today to see if they made a determination yet.    

So I have Blue Shield of CA and they require very little IMO but they do require a meeting with the nutritionist, the surgeon, and a psychological Evaluation.    I met with Dr. Houston on the 21st and that went really well.   I also met with the nutritionist that day as well and again everything went smoothly.    I had my psychological exam yesterday with Dr. Williams and she said everything was good and I was ready.   The only thing she told me was that she felt since my last relationship caused me a lot of stress and a major point in weight gain she suggested I stay single until I can achieve my goal weight as she does not want any added distractions during my weight loss and I agree 100%.   So she told me she would have the paperwork to my surgeons office in the next couple of days if not sooner.   I called my surgeon's office and the insurance counselor  (Heather) to told me they had not received the report from the nutritionist and the Psychological evaluation.   Heather asked for the phone number where I had my psychological evaluation and she was going to call and nudge them to send the report asap.  She was also going to get the nutrition report today as well.   She told me if she could get both today that she would send into the insurance company.   So hopefully I will be off to the insurance by the end of the week at the latest.    Now comes the waiting game... hopefully it will not be too long.... everyone keep your fingers crossed.   

Well I have been wanting this for a long time.   I sent to a seminar back in 2005 and got home and filled out all the paperwork, only to find out i had an exclusion on my policy.   I cried like a baby in my office.   So I got depressed and got bigger, my relationship got worse - so I ate more.   The I finally decided I was going to Mexico to have it done - plain and simple.   I began looking for finacing - my mom told me she would not support me going to Mexico - but I have not been one to be told what to do.   Well I found the money (at a very high interest rate) and before I signed for the loan, I got notice at work that our company was being SOLD.   My world just collapsed agin, am i going to have a job, can i afford the loan payment for WLS, my mind was racing.  So I decided not to sign the loan and see what panned out wit h the new company.   Our company was purchased on 11/01/2008 and we were informed that beginning on 01/01/09 we would be switching insurance plans.   This all seemed to good to be true, I was waiting (and still am) for that other shoe to fall.   Well my HR department told me the new coverage did not have an exclusion.   So I have been to my PCP and got a letter, and I have sceduled my consult with Dr. Houston, My Physcological Eval and a meeting with a NUT.   Those three things should give me everything I need to submit to my insurance.  

If anyone out there has experience with Blue Shield of CA please let me know if you have had any problem or what your experience has been with them.