jstbear01
I've been married for 19 years, we have three sons and a dog. I've been overweight since my late teens. A few years ago, I thought about wls. My doctor prescribe diet pills. Guess what, it didn't work. For the last two years, I've research wls. Last year a reach my highest weight, 272ilbs. So the last six months, I reached the decision, I must have wls. I suffer back pain (bulging disk), knee pain, and hypertension.
MY JOURNEY
1/2004 I'm the heaviest I've ever been! 272. This year I've tried Atkins, slim fast, low fat, and some crash diets.
November 2004 To my surprise my mother was thinking about WLS. We attended a seminar.
November 2004 Meet with Dr. Joseph Reagan 259.00 BMI 47.4
December 2004 Meet with Dr Ammon (I suffer with IBS). Had the colonscopy and edg. All was well!
January 2005 Psych appt- Dr. Susan Kaehler- I'm set.
March 2005 Paperwork submitted to Wausau Benefits- A week later I called to check. Found out Aurora manages all benefits. They must give approval. So Wausau faxed the papers over. Guess what. Aurora never got them. I call Dr. Reagan's office-they faxed paperwork to Aurora. Within two days, I was approved! The entire process took little over a week.
April 1st Pre-opt appointment with Dr. Reagan's office (Mari). 253.3 BMI 46.3
Upcoming events
April 18th Pre-opt appointment with my primary physician
April 25th Surgery!
April 6 Here’s a little more information about me. Dieting began my junior year of high school and on and off to the present. In high school I wore a size 14, after dieting a was a size 7-9. A little over a year after graduation, I had my first child. I weighed 130lbs, at six months I was 160 +. I had to be induced. My weight at delivery was 193. Thirty pounds stayed at the hospital. The scale slowly crept up, before I knew it, I was 170 pounds. Fall of 1987, I was very ill. I lost a lot of weight. We moved to California, for awhile we were pretty active. From 1987 - 1990 my weight was up and down like a rollercoaster. After the birth of our second child, I weighed 230lbs. From then on, I was up and down. In my head, I kept thinking, "just keep it at 220". Before you knew, I was 250. I knew I had to do something! I got real comfortable with my weight. It didn't matter to me that the weight was unhealthy! Every time I went to the doctor, there was something wrong due to my weight. I'm hypothyroid (I'm aware this in directly affects my weight), my blood pressure is high, my back and knees ache!! I can't do much walking. My feet hurt. I've tried Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, diet pills (prescribe and over the counter), Atkins, cabbage (all types of fad diets), I could go on. So here I am, 19 days away from surgery, wondering if I did all I could. Yes, I'm nervous. Yes, I am wondering if I made the right decision. What will be the reaction from my friends and co-workers? I guess I'm abit concern. You know we spend most of the day at work. Will I have support? If not, will I be strong enought to handle the situation. My husband, children, brother, aunt, and cousins are in my corner. Most of all there's my mother; I think if she could, she would take another 4 weeks off to help me after surgery. Then there's Obesity help. I've already received some words of comfort. Thanks
April 11th 13 days to go!! Nothing new. I've cleaned our bedroom, made a list of things for my husband to do, and CLEANED MY CLOSET!!
April 21st - 3 days to go!!! I sent an e-mail to my co-workers letting them know I would be on medical leave for 4-6 weeks. Tomorrow is my last day. Quiet a bit of them showered me with support and concern. No one knows what type of surgery I'm having. I had my pre opt appointment on Monday. I'm fine. Thanks to all of you for your support.
May 15th Sorry I haven't updated!!! Surgery went well. Unrelated to surgery, I developed a high fever and had some problems with my heart rate (I'm currently on medication for this). My pain really wasn't bad at all! I'm having trouble with the intake on fluids. I have gas all of the time, it hurts to drink and eat. My three week appointment is on Tuesday, May 17th. Otherwise, I feel okay. I haven't weighed my self, I'll wait until I see the doctor. Oh yeah, the day of surgery I weigh 243.1 (at my pre opt appt. 248 4/18).
June 27, 2005 - Two months and two days since surgery. Down 31 pounds, from a size 24 to 18!!! (I wished I measured myself before surgery)
Energy - It’s getting better. I wasn’t prepared for the lack of energy. Surgery was April 24th, I returned to work on May 30th. The first two weeks were tough!! My husband’s reunion was the week, we had lots of work! I felt pretty good.
Food – I’m taking Lidocaine. The doctor believes I have a “sensitive pouch”. I hurt every time I eat or drink. It helps some. Mornings are tough. Every other day I manage to drink enough fluids and my intake of food is okay (I’m not good w/protein). I pray my hair doesn’t fall out. Here’s a list (at least what I can remember) of food:
(I baked, grilled, and broiled)
Eggs (scrambled and boiled)
Turkey (cold and hot)
Lean gr. Beef
Steak
Tuna
Fish
Toast
Crackers
Lt. Mayo
Ketchup
Salad (turkey, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, turkey, eggs, and lt. dressing)
Green. Beans
Greens
Cereal (hot and cold)
Turkey bacon
Potatoes (boiled and mashed)
Yogurt
Fruit (fresh and unsweetened can)
Mental Health - Well to tell the truth, I broke down twice. I felt like I was “wired” wrong. Does that make sense? I know the surgery has added years to my life, but I don’t feel like June anymore. I know it will get better.
Support - I plan on attending a support meeting tomorrow. I’m online all of the time. My family is wonderful and the comments from those who don’t know are soooooooooo good.
I don’t regret having the surgery. I’ll get the protein in one or another. I’m looking into a hip hop exercise class, I want to dance!!!!!
11/30/2005
I’m sooooooooooo bad at updating.
Well October 2005 (10/25) was six month since the surgery. I meet w/ Dr. Regan and all was well. All my lab work was fine. My meeting w/ Peggy wasn’t bad. I need to add some variety and TAKE MY Calcium!!
My pouch is still sensitive. A normal cold is a bit more to handle now. Other than that, health wise I’m feeling WONDERFUL. I’m joining a gym soon (I participated in the exercise program offered at Columbia-St.Mary for six weeks). I love to shop!!! Can’t afford to, but I haven’t stopped. I can eat almost everything, except salad and occasionally ground beef. I bake, broil, grill, and some pan fry my meals. My sense of taste has finally returned.
How much do I weigh? In October I was 183, 60lbs since the surgery. Yesterday I weighed 175!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m wearing a belt again; it’s been 20 years since I needed one. No one at work knows I had surgery. I chosed not to share this information. A few have figure it out. Everyone is pretty happy for me. For awhile my head was getting big from all the compliments. Sometimes I must admit , feel bad; I must’ve looked like a hippo!!
Anyway, I’m doing great! Thanksgiving was wonderful, I ate a little of everything. We had sweet potato pie (made w/Splenda) it was delicious!!!
Good luck to all of you. I don't have any regrets.
MARCH 22, 2007!! Almost two years!!! I'm exercising again. Trying to do better. I've only lost a few pounds this year! My doctor said I would loss 90 and I lost 100. I would like to take off another 10 pounds, but it hasn't happen. I'll meet my doctor next month for the 2 year appointment, hope he can help me. I'm somewhat scared to see him again because of the weight loss. I've develope a bad happen. I haven't be eatting well during the day (dinner time) so in the middle of the night I eat!!
I would like to have some plastic surgery. A breast lift and my arms. I'm scared of a tummy tuck and thigh reduction.
Photos
 248lbs One week before surgery. Pictured w/my co-worker Carol |  |  Size 16!! My husband and me on my birthday |
Member Interests:
Click here to see interests of other ObesityHelp members.
Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Joseph Regan M.D.
Dr. Regan came highly recommended. He was very personable. My first offical meeting was my consult appointment in November 2004. He was concern about me having IBS. He recommened I consult with Dr. Helmut Ammon. My second meeting was on 3/17/05. I very worried about my painful menstraul cycle. He was very reasurring. He answered all my questions. A little background information - my mother had the surgery on 2/14/05. So, I had the opportunity to meet him on the "other side". You know, as a concern daughter waiting for those words "everything went well". He spent a good amount of time speaking with me. I know everything will be okay.
Insurer Info:
Wausau Benefits, EPO
Aurora manages all benefits. Arlene from Aurora was wonderful.
