Angela M.

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5-19= 211 lbs
5-20= 210 lbs
6-04= 204 lbs

4-18-08 Day of surgery                          5-10 = 214.2
4-18 = 238.2 (Friday)                              5-11 = 214.2 (week 3 -2.4 lbs)
4-19 = 238.2                                            5-12 = 214.2
4-20 = 239.9 (Home from surgery)     5-13 = 214.2
4-21 = 238.8                                            5-14 = 212.4
4-22 = 234.4                                            5-15 = 212.4
4-23 = 230.2                                            5-16 = 212.4
4-24 = 227.0                                            5-17 = 212.0
4-25 = 226.2 (week 1 = -12 lbs lost)  5-18 = 212.0 (week 4-2.2 lbs)
4-26 = 224.6                                                         
4-27 = 223.6                                      1 Month Total loss = -26.2 lbs
4-28 = 221.8
4-29 = 219.4
4-30 = 218.2

5-1 = 217.4
5-2 = 216.6
5-3 = 216.6
5-4 = 216.6 (Week 2 = -9.6 lbs lost)
5-5 = 216.4
5-6 = 216.4
5-7 = 216.4
5-8 = 215.8
5-9 = 215.8

Are you scared of this hair loss thing I have been reading about... OMG !!!! I love my hair.. It is something I really love about myself...Please don't take that away from me.. Hope it's not to bad.... I will be maxed out on protein and vitms if I can help it... Does it stop or will their always be loss throughout ur life?  So Many Q's about this..... I have decided on the RNY and I hate to think of the future hair loss thing... OMG OMG! I decided against the lap band due to I was scared of the needle injections (call me a baby but I HATE needles), and the possible errosions and port changes, #'s of Dr. appts for fills, port malfunctions and changes, etc, I just wanted to have to consaquences of eating sugar and to go about my happy weight loss life at home. I went to a support group where all the people had RNY, I asked alot of Q's and decided that was right for me. The hair loss thing still has me FREAKED out!!

254 lbs LWLS weigh in / 234 lbs pre-op diet

goal 137 lbs


July 2007: went to PCP refered by a friend about my weight loss.  I had really given up on Dr.'s but I thought I'd give it another try.  At 5 ft 6.6 inches and 254 lbs He prescribed Phenteramine (pro-fast) for me and refered me to the Lap. Weight Loss Ctr in Jax, Fl.

Aug 2, 2007 : Went to a seminar for general Info at Mem Hosp.  From there My friend K. and I scheduled our next appt.

Aug 9, 2007 : Went to Lap Weight Loss Ctr and weighed in. Went over details of surgerys with the very helpful very funny staff.  From here we went to the Doc.'s seminar at Memorial Hospital.  The rm was packed.  My friend K. asked a lot of good questions.  She has been with me from the start and has been a blessing.  We are each others support and have done alot of research together.  Next Appt is Aug 20 th with the surgeon.

Our process is going to be long with all the appts but the Coor. at the Ctr. said everything should be done in 2 to 3 months. Cross UR fingers XXX

The List goes: 

1. Attend pre-op seminar at Memorial Hospital,
2. Complete Education Seminar at LWLSC,
 3. Call Insurance Provider 
4. get records from pcp,
 5. Pre op orientation , 
6. Complete diet history,
 7. Get Letter of Med Necessity from PCP, 
8.   Dietary conslt,
9.   Psychological eval, 
10.  Get 1st appt w/ Surgeon, 
11.   Get upper GI, 
12.  blood test and follow up, 
13.  signed med. clearance from PCP,
14.  submitt insc papers to insurance, 
15.  Obtain surgery date,  
16.  pre-op workup at hospital, 
17.  Surgery! Last but not least! 
this, I believe, is just the begining of our journey.

Wish us LUCK and I'll Keep U posted as time goes on!

8-20-07
Went to LWLS in Jacksonville.  I was a strong ally to the G. Sleeve but I talked myself out of it at the last min.  I just kept looking at my son's cute little 6 yr old face this morning and decided to go with the less evasive.  I know Dr. Webb will be great at anything I choose so that I am glad of.  I filled out a lot of paperwk today and found out what else I need to bring.  I also got my dietary conslt scheduled as well as with the Psyco. LOL.  We went over all of our foods and vitms. We talked about everything.  It was a good day.  .  I will never regret coming here.  I am doing this for my health and my family and I feel like the LWLS ctr is a part of that family.  They care and they help and they work with you... I know in my heart they will send me home to my family with a smile on my face and be glad they put it there.  If you would like to know more about the LWLS ctr  visit their web page at: www.LAPWLS.com hopefully you will be as happy as me and I havent even had surgery YET!

MARCH 24, 2008
I HAVE BEEN APPROVED!!!!!!!!!! by my insurance United Healthcare Plus for the RNY!!!! Took about 10 to 14 days for them to approve it after the LWLSC sent them my paperwork. YEA! I AM SOOOO Excited! OMG OMG OMG!!!! I was depressed about BCBS of Ill due to they were stalling and wanting more and more paperwork but then my company went with United and it has been a great experence. Everything has been going very smoothly too.  They are expecting my surgery to be the 2nd week of April but I wont get my exact date til next week due to Dr. Webb is out of the office till next week. I am just sooooo happy though! Donna at LWLC in Jax is the greatest.  She called my insurance I think more then I did.  :-) and then she called me this morning to give me the great news! THANK YOU DONNA!!!! I have to admit that everytime I saw her number come up on my phone that my heart  went to my stomach and did springs but this morning it was the best!!!! I'll keep you all posted. I have to go over my paperwork and make sure my shopping list is finished, all my vits are here and to start my pre-surgery diet.... YEA!!!!! SOOO HAPPY!

December 2007,
Bumpy road with BCBS PPO of ILL. They are stalling and wanting 5 years of paperwork now. I only have 3 years of Dr. Paperwork. My company goes to United healthcare in Jan 2008 so I think that is why the stall. My friend was told to get another month of Dr. paperwk and she has over 5 years of paperwk. O'well, better luck with United Healthcare. Although I dont know that much about them.

MARCH 31, 2008 Monday
Well, Dr. Webb's office called me and gave me a date! A DATE!!! FINALLY!!! A SURGERY DATE!!!!! It is for APRIL 18, 2008. I am SOOOOO Happy! I started this journey in August 2007 (7 months ago) and had a bump in the road with having my company change insurance companies which turned out to be the best thing ever. AnyWhoo, Had to get my medical clearence from my PCP redone due to the other one expired. I have an appt with Dr. Webb and then the hospital for pre-op paperwork etc on April 15, 2008.  I can't wait.  It really hit me hard getting my date. I know it was coming but when you get it then it's so different, it all becomes so real and my excitment has gone up, my obsession to my OH family has gone up and I am fixated on the 18th..... I'll write more after the Dr. appt on the 15th. 

April 2, 2008
This sucks, first I'm told that my insurance covers 100% of my surgen and80% of the hospital. now I'm told it's 80%-80%, yea me (sarcasim)! Anywhoo, Now my surgens office says I have to bring in my deductible and my 20% next week, thanks soo much for the advanced notice.  My money doesnt grow on trees so I will have it but it will be tight, esp since I wont be working for a bit after surgery. I'll have to go back as soon as I start feeling like I can make it through the day or my bills will get way behind. Well, I'm just venting, hope you don't mind. Jus make sure you call the insurance and the Dr. asap to make sure of what you have to pay up front. That way UR not suprised like I was. I paid $1500.00 for the Weight loss center that I went through and now a $500.00 deductable then a $500.00 20% and then I have a $2000.00 out of pocket for the hospital's 20% so I'll be paying more then I originally thought= 1500+500+500+2000=4500. Yes the insurance is helping me with the bulk and I can't complain as there are so many out there that are self pay but when I started this journey I was told it wouldn't be near that much, Find out for sure ahead of time so you are not suprised like I was.  Oh well, I'll figure it out, my health is worth it. Love to you all and hope your finances are better then mine! Cross my fingers and just let the 18th get here so I can get this over with.  I would have gotten a sooner date but I had to wait for my next check to come up with the money. So now the waiting game and the stress and the constant surgery on my mind.  Well, I'll have to get paperwork from work and go on sick leave and get some FMLA paperwork filed with my DR. so still a few things to do. I'll keep you posted. Keep your fingers crosses, hope in your heart and sanity in your head-this journey is just begining and it's a long begining. Good luck on your journey and I'll keep you posted as time goes on.

April 6, 2008,
I'm obessesed with OH. I have to be on here everyday and read the message boards. I scan people's profiles and I read, read, read. My surgery is so close and I am getting so nerveous waiting. I read about what vitms r working best for others, what to take to help ur hair, all post ops coming home andd RNY vets with good advice. I'll be obessesed for awhile I know that. I'll update more soon. OH, and if you need good receipes-see EGGFACE! She is a G*d send when it comes to food. Thanks eggface! PS... My laptop was stolen-go figure- so it will take me a few weeks to get you some new photos on here. I have gone down from 254 lbs to 235 lbs on the pre-op diet. I am hungery though and when the liguid diet starts next week-look out , I WILL BE GRUMPY!


DRUGS THAT CAN DAMAGE THE POUCH:
Advil
Aleve
Amigesic
Anacin
Anaprox
Ansald
Anthra-G
Arthropan
Ascriptin
Aspirin
Asproject
Azolid
Bextra
Bufferin
Butazolidin
Celebrex
Clinorial
Darvon compounds
Disalcid
Dolobid
Erythromycin
Equagesic
Feldene
Fiorinal
Ibuprofin
Indocin
Ketoprofen
Lodine
Meclomen
Midol
Motrin
Nalfon
Naprosyn
Nayer
Orudis
Oruval
Pamprin-IB
Percodan
Ponstel
Rexolate
Tandearil
Tetracycline
Tolecin
Uracel
Vioxx (off market...not safe for anyone)
Voltaren
ALL "NSAIDS" (*see below for the Cox 2 Inhibitors)

DRUGS THAT ARE CONSIDERED SAFE:
Bendaryl
Tylenol
Dimetap
Robitussin
Safetussin
Sudafed
Triaminics (All)
Tylenol (cold products)
Tylenol Ex Strength
Gas-X
Phazyme
Imodium Ad
Colace
Dulcolax-Suppositories
Fleet Enema
Glycerin-Suppositories
Milk of Magnesia
Peri-Colace



April 15, 2008
Just got back from the Dr and hospital pre-op visits.  Dr. Webb was cool and answered all my Q's. I had to pay my deductable $500 + his 20% 404.00 yesterday-OUCH! Then went to the hospital did my admin, my bloodwork, my ekg, my chest x-ray. long and boring but the people were nice.  

April 16,2008
Dr. Webb's office called, I have to go and get a CT scan tomorrow before surgery.  They found a small mass in my lungs from the x-ray yesterday and want to get me a CT scan tomorrow to see what it is.  YEA me... Crap! I hate this-well, better to find out if I have something there or nt now then later-hope it's nothing and doesn't hurt surgery!!! Let you know tomorrow....


April 21, 2008
Got home from surgery last night. Not fun. Forgit to sip, sip, sip water so I got sick on my beef broth and threw-up-YUCK. felt better after. Was feeling bad ever since I ate it. Today i'm doing good. Still feel a littel dizzy at time. taking myself off my pain meds today.  I took then at 3am this morning and fell asleep with a popscicle and woke up with it melted to my shorts and running down between my legs and my white shoerts looked like an orange swirl popscicle. needless to say-i dont want anymore drugs.  My gas release from burping started 2ed night in hospital. My gas release from my tooshie started at 3:30am this morning and has been on a roll ever since.  Tummy feels better because of it though. I have to sip water all the time or I start feeling dizzy and sickly. Hope it wears off soon.

MY HOSPITAL STAY:

April 18, 2008

Check in Hospital at 7am.
Prep for surgery til 9am which consisted of changing my clothes to gown, nurse put me in bed and put white stockings on my legs andthen non-slip socks over them, then she wrapped my legs in these felt white velcro snap things and hooked tubes to them which turned on started to massage my legs one after the other as they filled with air and then decompressed.  Next she asked me about my jewlery and I had forgotten to take out my belly button ring so I started to take it out and she said good, while you have ur tummy exposed I'll give u the blood thinner shot-I frooze-needle wimp here-I said-in my tummy and she said-yep!! great! So after that unpleasent shot, she gave me a numbing shot in my left hard before she preceeded to stick me again with my IV. YEA! 3 needles and not even in the OR yet! OK, so the anastisioligist (sp) comes in and tells me he is going to tkae good care of me, hime and a nurse ask me tons of q's and inform me I'm Dr. Webb's 2ed surgery for the day. Good Gosh-this guy likes to start cutting on people early. So off to the OR I go. I see a few people in masks and they start putting my arms to my sides then I'm O-U-T! I wake up Shivering COLD, teeth chattering a mile a min and then it hits me-THE PAIN! OMG- I start blubering out where's the pain meds over and over- some one gives me my morphine button and away i start pushing.. Hear someone say it only works every 6 mins, I'm 1/2 in & out so I just keep puhing it for good measure. Sure 6  mins is in there somewhere. FINALLY got a room several hrs later-Private YEA! Who wants to hear a grown woman cry? So I'm in and out, friends and family come by and of course I'm still pushing that morphine button non-stop. Nurse comes in to hook up my antibiotics, and other meds to my IV-which is now hurting like someone stuck a whole tree into my hand and not just the toothpick, then the nurse proceeds to inform me of the heprin (blood thinner ) shot- I said TUMMY SHOT! GREAT, I thought that was over she says Nope- u get that one 2x's a day... There is a hell !!! My mom stayed the entire weekend there with me- Thank G*D! She helped me do everything.  Sunday wasnt that bad-Waited on DR all day so I could go home-thought worst was over- Dr. came in around 1pm and was happy to hear him say I could leave. He asked if I was ready to get the Drain tube out-which looked like a clear granade filled with blood at my right side-I was all for not going home with that thing so he says take a deep breath- OMG OMG OMG-some say- o big deal-other say OMG--I, of course say-OMG! He pulls this foot and a half tube out of my tummy/chest area and I swore it was not a tube- It was my ENTRAILS! He just ripped my guts out! OMG- How dare he rip my guts out before I go home-I was almost there! How could he do such a thing. So I finally caught my breath and the only thing I could scream was OOOUUUUCCCHHHHH! He's happy and leaves me to the nurse-He still never gave my guts back to me, so when I get scared of something and someone calls me gutless-I can agree with them and be fully telling the truth.  I am glad I am home.  Of Course, the adventure at home is the begining of another great story...



April 22, 2008 EARTH DAY !!!!
Well, today was very eventful for me. I tought that yesterday I was caring twins due to my stomach was SO bloated and I didn't walk-I waddled.  So I looked up some SF gas/laxitive that the dr might have written down, sent my mom to the stare and she brought back the ONLY SF thing they had SF metamucel (sp) and way 3 sips later I hit the floor trrowing it up. Oh my Gosh! I made some horrable noises from my mouth and I know my 7 yr old thought I was dying. Mom rushed over and helped me, tummy muscles tighened so much I peed on myself too-gross!! TMI ! Anywho, last night it started, the loudest-stinkest farts that you could ever imagin. They came out of me--OMGS again, I ran my family out of the HOUSE. They returened armed with lysol and perfume spraying the way. I had that all night, then today can my first bowel movements. OHHHHH, feels good to get ride of it but I have had to stay next to the potty all day. It has been a run back and forth type of thing and my tummy is in a little pain from the straining my poopy is making it do. Other then that GREAT! I woke up this morning with only 1/2 the pain in my tummy that I had yeasterday. WOOHOOO, that was great. hopefully tomorrow will be even better.  Day by day. Update more tomorrow!!!


April 25, 2008
Hello all! I am feeling much better today.  I walked and went to the store and picked my son up from school. All in all it was a good day. I am having a little gas pain today but am doing good.  I am not hungry but I make myself eat. I have not been getting all my liquids in. It is SO hard.  I weighd 238 day of surgery. I got home after surgery and I weighed 239lbs. Today-1 Week out- I weigh 226 lbs.  YEA!!!!  I love it. I can't tell but my hubby said I look skinner-that made me happy.  I have eaten grits, baked potato, refried beens, SF jello, pudding, water.  Not to bad.  Well, I'll post on Monday after my 1st official Dr. appt after surgery and see what Dr.'s scale says. Until then...



May 2, 2008
Feeling pretty good. Eating soft foods now. So far can handle lots of things, turkey/cheese wrap, eggs, egg face's chili-YUM. Anywhooo, I am down to 216 Lbs today. YEA! My friend is still in the hospital, she is having complications-Bummer! I miss her.  I am feeling tired today and my tummy feels like I ran a marathon so this is short today. Just wanted to say-PRAY for my Friend Kathy! Thanks!!!


May 4, 2008
Still 216 lbs- SUCKS !! but I think it's because I went on soft foods this week and I am allowed to try new foods daily to see if I can handle regular foods and so far I can eat anything. Dont know if thaat is good or bad... Prob Bad since the scale hasn't moved in a few days--Evil scale. I know I should stay away from it but I can't just yet.  Been through so much to watch it go down that it is really hard not to look at it daily. I know when I get back to work it will be a little easier to keep away from it but as of right now--No way. I go back to work on May 14th.  I got to stay out for a month. Dr. webb wanted me to go back after 2 weeks but I wasn't ready. I have a hematoma on my left side insicion. It started out as a baseball shape, after hot compresses in the shower it went down to a golf ball size, now it's the size of a marble but it gives me shooting pains if I walk to much so I am waiting for it to go away before I really dig my heals into exersizing.  Dr. says hematomas r just blood caught in the muscle that was trapped in there after surgery. He said he could cut it open and drain it but it wasn't life threating and would go away on it's own like a blood blister- I opted 4 him to leave it alone-I hate needles, knives, and most of all PAIN. I'll wait it out. My friend Kathy is going back in for more testing this morning. I am so worried about her.  Her blood count keeps going down and they have to find out where the blood is going.  I'm waiting and waiting..to hear something.  My tummy is heaaling up nicely. Still slightly bruised and tummy still a little on the swollen side as the hem of my pants aggervates my tummy if they're on for a bit so I try to keep them pulled down my hips, under my hurt tummy.  Had to get all my water in.  Will try hard to get that done today..  Protein shakes _ YUCK. trying all kinds to try and get them down but no go. Had to buy some protein bars to help out the protein dept.  Before surgery Protein shake were no prob but after- I cant stand them-I put strawberry's, bananas, ect in them but no go.  Will have to work someting out with this.  OK, I will write more later when I have more news. Later.


May 10, 2008
I am so in pain. I knew my stall was due to PMS but GOSH, my cramps R bad... Liquid tylonol is helping just a BIT, wish I could take something else. My 1st one since RNY so I guess I will have to get use to the pain. 1st day of cycle and I went down to 214 lbs, that's good news!!! that's 25 lbs lost in 22 days!!! wish it was more but I can't complain due to I have NEVER lost 25 lbs in 22 days before. Just 15 more lbs to go to ONEDERLAND. I can't wait. I cant remember when I was in the 100s. Prob back in highschool. Well, main reason I'm writing is to tell u I tried to eat out with family the last 2 days and the last 2 days I have thrown it all up.  I eat chili at home so lean burger is OK with me as well as steak. took 3=4 bites of son's burger at the beach yesterday-ran to restroom to throw it up, went swimming at springs today, family went to Taco Bell after for dinner-NUT says I can have bean burrito from there- yea right, threw that up with alot of SLIM. YUCK< GROSS, SLIM!! WTHeck!! Why did I throw up SLIM. I felt yucky and it felt like something like a brick was stuck in my chest all the way home. We had planned to go shopping but I spoiled the Mother's Day plans my Kids had because hubby had to take me home because I felt so bad. I told kids I would make it up to them. Will I ever be able to eat a normal meal with my family outside of the home. Gosh I hope so. Gotta get some more jokes on here too as well as some updated pics. I think I'll do that on Monday when hubby is at work and kids in school. Lots of love to u all. Until the next crazy event!!!

May 14, 2008
Just wanted to update..FINALLY the scale moved-it says 212.4 lbs this morning. I cant wait to be under 200 lbs.  I wish for it everyday. That will be my major goal till then. I ate Taco bell's pintos and cheese for b-fast and lunch. I ate 2 oz cubed steak (blended in food processor w/ A1) and 1 oz peas for dinner. STILL not getting all my water in.  It is SO sad, but I cant do it. It is a work in progress but I dont know if I will ever make it. Ive been really tired throughout the day. I cant sleep at night, having a real hard time and just toss and turn. Keep forgetting to take my vitmns too. Bad me! Might have to put them suckers on the tolit to remember them every morning. Pooping very small poopies in the toliet. Pooping daily though and w/o any fiber meds-just fiber food. Not pooping a lot-have to ask the Dr what is normal. I only poopie an oz -2 oz's.  LOL-sounds like my dinner now. O'well.  Not throwing up anymore. I am chewing like crazzzy, putting nothing bigger then eraser size bites in my mouth and not drinking with my meal and not going fast-I think that now I have learned that-it was a hard lesson because I thought I was doing all that but it wasnt enough. I had to really CHEW and really WAIT and not eat fast. I am doing good with it now.  Get some pains in my left shoulder when I eat sometimes. Will ask Dr about that too.. Until later....

May 15, 2008
Well, Last night I thought I would have to go to the ER. I was having a BAD pain right under my ribs but about 3 inches above my belly button. It was awful.  I took some Tylonol and I finally fell asleep late and then I had it on and off today.  It finally went completely away by evening time but it scared me.  I just knew that I was dying from some obstructed bowel or something but my hospital is 2 hrs away so I elected to see it through til morning then go. Happly it was doing well by then.  I still have a sharp pain here or there but I can Fart, burp, poopie and all so I will wait til my Dr appt next week (4 more days) and see what Dr says.  The pain made my back hurt really bad too and since I have no gallbladder I wasnt worried about that. Something funny, I typed my hospital stay on here when I cam home from the hospital and I was on pain meds-It so reads that way to. I know typo's r a norm but it is really funny to reread now. It sounds like a drunk typed it. LOL! Love the pain meds yea!! Well, I go to work next week. 12 hr days that I am not looking forword too. I wonder how I will hold up since the whole 12 hrs I will be busy driving supplies around at work and it is bumpy and hot and misrable. O'well, life throws u lemons-Make lemonade!  Oh, and that EVIL scale will not move from 212 lbs. It hates me as much as I hate it. Until the next adventure...

July, 17, 2008

I haven't been on here in awhile. Laptop was stolen a bit back and I just got a new one-Expensive! That and gas will break me... Anywho.. I am 190 lbs today... Feeling good. still a little trouble eating meat and dense foods. slider foods r great. water is still a prob.. mile is great... unsweet tea is my new best friend too.  Just wanted to updat a bit.. Will do more tomorrow...