Michelle L.
I have been obese all my life. I remember being put on a very low calorie diet at age 8. I was always teased for being fat and for being smart. I am married and have two children. My husband met me at my very lowest adult weight (200lbs). He loved me anyway and still loves me despite my signifigant gains/losses/gains. I have been interested in this surgery for years and years but never had the insurance or money to pay for it. While I don't have the severe comorbidities like CHF/HTN/DM I do have chronic foot/knee/hip/back pain and chronic yeast infections under my skin folds. Along with the logistical problems like fitting into seats, clothes, cars etc. Activity intolerance, inability to do all the things I would like to do. I would love to hear from anyone who is interested and would like to email back and forth. 06/04/2001 06/17/01 6/18/01 6/23/01 7/11/01 7/18/01 7/20/01 7/30/01 8/1/01 8/6/01 8/7/01 8/9/01 8/19/01 Tomorrow afternoon I call the preop dept at Arrowhead to confirm what time I have to be at the hospital Tuesday morning. 8/28/01 So a quick call to Dr Sanderfers office, they said as long as I don't get a fever or the wound doesn't look all red and angry looking, I'm OK. It's amazing how all my years or nursing fly out the window when it's ME doing the strange stuff. 10/6/01 My husband has been a gem thru all of this. He's done my wound care, all the shopping,washing, etc. and even shaved my legs twice! My wound is shrinking daily, and I've now lost 38lbs and 37 inches!!!!! Doc wants me off for 3 more weeks, then I get to go back to work. I miss my co-workers alot. Learning how to eat has been the biggest challenge. This whole thing has been way harder than I expected. I must have had my rose colored glasses on pre-op. I heard all the post op info, but didn't think it would happen to me? Maybe I did that to avoid chickening out. This way, I've had the surgery, and now I HAVE to change to fit my new circumstances. 10/13/01 10/25/01 11/28/01 12/9/01 12/21/01 1/20/02 2/15/02 2/22/02 2/28/02 4/15/02 5/20/02 6/15/02 7/10/02 I am no longer the biggest person in any group, a very strange realization for me. I see my weight loss, but still "see" myself as a huge person. Reality, what a concept! August 21,2002 My family went on vacation last week, and the differences from last year's vacation are incredible. I fit on the plane. I could walk down the aisle facing forward, not trying to suck up sideways. I fit in the shower in our room, and the toilet wasn't an issue. I could easily track up and down the stairs, and up the hills all over the town without getting short of breath. AMAZING. The best part was our 3 days at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. I fit on all of the rides, walked a million miles, and the best part? I walked right through a turnstile. Didn't have to go in sideways, and fit in one turn of those arms, didn't even have to straddle it and get goosed by it. AMAZING. I was able to by a regular cuff sterling and stone bracelet for the first time in my life. This has been one incredible experience. Next stop: PLASTIC SURGEONS OFFICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 11/11/02 I actually RAN across a parking lot yesterday, and it startled me to realize that I COULD run! Me? WOW! 12/06/02 1/2/2003###### To any of you thinking about this surgery, please contact me and let me tell you how it has been for me. Just reading the profile, I wonder if you can understand how GOOD I feel, the wonder of walking pain free, buying clothes and finally SHOES off the rack. I went from an 11WW to a 10 medium. WOW. Just call me HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!!! Oh, and I'm down to 188, which I havent weighed SINCE HIGH SCHOOL!!!!! 5/2/03 I only need to lose 5 more pounds and I will be HALF the woman I was when I had my surgery! WOW. 8/3/03 FRIDAY AUGUST 22, 2003 Sept 15, 2003 10-12-03 12/14/03 I went home with the drains. They put out quite a bit, and one srm was VERY swollen and BRUISED big time. Aparently, my nerve was wrapped around a vein so the doc couldn't tie it off, which led to the severe swelling and bruising. BUT.....I was home 2 days after, and back to work 4 weeks later. Despite the scars, my arms look AWESOME. I will have pictures soon. My stomach still has a lot of fluid to reabsorb, but doc is happy with my progress. I think that once the swelling goes away, I will be very happy with the results. March 11, 2004 I guess that we do sorta get used to the new us, but I wonder if we really realize the INCREDIBLE difference? I was blushing! I have gained about 10 lbs lately, but am still under 200. Guess it's time to cut down the Starbucks!!! Insurer Info:
I received my info packet from Dr.Sanderfer's office this weekend. Sheesh! I don't know if I'll be able to come up with all the info they want. It'll be guestimates at best. With all the weight loss methods I've tried for all these years, who can remember all the gory details? I'll try my best tho, 'cause I want this surgery approved!!!!!
Well, I filled out my info packet and I can't complete all the info, there've been too many diets,weight changes,gains and losses to keep track of. I was surprised to see how little I actually lost on optifast and phen fen. I thought each one took off at least 60-80 lbs each and it was only 45 for optifast and barely 50 for phen fen. Sheesh! I go see Dr.Sanderfer in the morning!! I'm so excited! A friend I met here just got her surg date with Dr.Sanderfer. Wish me luck!!!!!!!
Major disappointment here. I wasn't able to see the Dr. today.
I did speak with Susie in his office who had her surgery 2 years ago by Dr.Sanderfer. The girls in the office are going to try and have him stay late one day to try and fit in all of us he's been too busy to see. He was in surgery this morning, popped in the office and had to get right back to surg again. Oh well! wait some more.
I finally got to see the Dr! He was very nice and everyone there apologised for making me wait. They will process the insurance papers, mail a copy, fax a copy and give them 10 days to reply, then they will call every week until they get an answer. SOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!
I heard from the insurance finally. I need to start jumping thru hoops! I need an internal medicine evaluation, a history and physical from my regular doctor, and a psychiatric eval.
Once I've done that, we'll see what new hoops I have to jump thru!!!
Well, I got my psych eval out of the way tonight. The insurance said it could be a psychologist, so I went to the therapist we've known for years. He thinks I'm a great candidate for the surgery. I'll try to see my regular dr friday for the history and physical. I'm still waiting for the internist's office to call me back with an appointment.
WOWZERS!!! I got a date! I had my pre-op history and physical today with my reg Dr, and found out that we have been dealing with the wrong people at the insurance company! The Southwest Administrators part doesn't approve any inpatient procedures. For that we have to deal with Beech Street instead. Of course, no one bothered to tell us that until today, and then we also got a letter today stating just that! Great timing. The upside is that barring any unforseen complications my date is August 20, 2001! Whoo Hoooo! I go for lab work, an EKG and a chest X-ray Monday.
Another day closer. Dr Sanderfer's office still hasn't heard from the hospital about my specific date. Today I called the hospital myself to see what the hold up might be. The hospital was waiting to hear from the insurance to confirm approval. I got my approval letter last week, so I gave all the info to the hospital and they should be scheduling me within the week for August 17,21,or 28th. I should know soon!!!
I went to Kaiser hospitals bariatric support group tonite. It was nice meeting more people who are going thru this too. Plus I got to meet 2 people from this sites chat room. That was especially nice. My doctor has a support group too, so I'll try that one too.
WHOO HOO!!!! I have a real-live carved in stone surgery date!!!
On Friday August 17 I will start my journey to the "other side"
Well, I spoke too soon. ARMC called me back the next day to say hold on there, Dr. Sanderfer has to have one of 2 doctors there to assist him and neither one will be there on that day! ARGH!!!
Then I played phone tag between his office and ARMC! I am SO frustrated I could just scream. I STILL don't know the exact date of my surgery. I'm guessing it will be the 21st, but I don't know cuz NO ONE WILL CALL ME BACK!!! I will leave another message at Dr. Sanderfer's office and hopefully someone will get back to me.
OK, I FINALLY have an official date. The powers that be on both sides have agreed that I will have my surgery on Tuesday August 21st. I should find out tomorrow about time and pre-visit stuff.
THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY!
Finally heard back from the office. My surgery is scheduled for 9am, I need to be there at 645am. 12 days away!!! I see Dr Sanderfer on Monday for my pre-op appt. I see the anesthesia people on the 15th WHOO HOO!!! It's really gonna happen!
I am 36 hours away from surgery!!!! I am SO excited. I saw Dr Sanderfer last monday. He enlightened me about a few things. I thought I would have drains post op, he said no. I thought I would have a post op upper GI the day after, he says NO!
Cool, hurt me some more. I get to have any liquids for the week post op and then soft foods. I figured I'd be on clears only for a while. That's OK by me!
My visit Wednesday was good too. They drew more blood for a type and screen, and I signed my consent. All ready!!!!!
The next time I post I will be ON THE OTHER SIDE!!!!!
Well, as you all know, I am now post op. I had my staples out today. I have lost 11 lbs and not sure how many inches in 6 days. I had a slight scare after I got home. I sat down to pee and suddenly my shirt front was soaked, I was gushing yukko fluid from my incision! It didn't seem to want to stop either.
To all of you who posted to my site, THANK YOU!!!!!
To my WONDERFUL ANGEL MEMORY.....THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess I just plain forgot to update my site! I am now 6 weeks post op. It has not been fun, but I am starting to learn to eat again. The day after my staples came out, my wound opened up. Of course that was the exact time my doc was on vacation! I had home health in to pack the wound daily after seeing an on-call doc in Moreno Valley. She came everyday for a week, then twicw a week and then she taught my husband to do it.
It's been a learning experience!
well, I have now lost 38 pounds and 45 inches!!!
I am now 310lbs. Thats 45 pounds so far in 9 weeks. I get measured this weekend.
Well, I finally cleared 300!! 298 last week. And I have lost 64 inches so far. 57 pounds gone forever. Still find myself wanting to eat MORE, even tho I am full. Salads fill that need because I can eat a large volume and I don't forget to chew.
SEVENTY POUNDS GONE!!! I am down to 285 at 3 1/2 months. Dr Sanderfer was thrilled that I have lost so much, and my labs are still good. My albumin and protein levels are normal. I am shopping in my closet to get smaller clothes. I put on some stuff today I haven't worn for at least 6 years. This is SUCH a wonderful feeling.
Make that 75 pounds!! 280 as of today!! I found some very old uniforms to wear, that make me look very svelt! This is going very well.
Well, things are going wonderfully. I have lost an astonishing 90 pounds in 5 months! WOW. 86 inches are gone forever. My labs are still looking good, I am handling food much better, and I got to buy some new clothes. New uniforms too, because the old ones are just TOO huge. All other weight lost will be new territory for me. I havent been under this weight since the year I met my husband. I weighed 200 then and just blew up past 350, up and down 100 pounds in all these years. My wedding band is getting dangerously loose, so I think it is time to get it sized! if you are reading this to decide if you want to have the surgery, I will say, GO FOR IT!!! It isn't the easy way, and many parts aren't pleasant, but how else does a person lose NINETY POUNDS IN 5 MONTHS? Consider me a happy client!
100 pounds!!! And I haven't evn hit 6 months yet!!!!
I am so jazzed. My labs are still good, and Dr. Sanderfer is thrilled with my progress.
My six month anniversary! WOW! It has been an interesting trip so far. 104 pounds lost forever!! Down 4 clothing sizes, a width in shoes, and a million miles in feelings of wonderfulness!!!!!
I finally broke 250. Just 3 months since I broke 300! Wow, this surgery has been such an amazing thing. I don't think I've been this low (249) since a few months after I met my husband. That's been over 15 years. I went out and bought a bunch of new uniforms, and have been getting many compliments. I need to post some new photos here!
2 more months and 20 more pounds. 230 pounds just seems impossible considering just last summer I was 355! I still am in a learning curve with food tho. My intake varies by the day. Diarrhea is still an issue, but overall, I really can't complain. I just got into a pair of shorts I wore before I met my husband! It pays to save stuff! I have a mountain of discarded clothes in my closet. I am waiting before I get rid of it, why? I'm not sure. I guess part of me feels like Cinderella, and I'm waiting for the clock to strike midnight and gain all of that weight back! I can safely say that THAT will NEVER happen!
Nine months and 136 pounds gone from my body forever!!!!!
I am 219 pounds now. Amazing. At my last doctor appointment, my labs were PERFECT. My cholesterol is 128. My protein and albumin are normal, hemoglobin is the highest it has ever been. My liver enzymes that have always been elevated are normal.
I have hit my first plateau. No weight loss this week. Oh well, it was bound to happen eventually and I knew I could not maintain the incredible rate of loss forever (I wish!).
144 pounds gone. I am wearing a size large uniform, a size XL top(thats from the misses dept mind you)size 18 shorts, and still able to eat AND breathe! Amazing!
150 pounds off forever. I am at 205, the smallest I've been since 1986. I bought a 16 dress, a size lg scrub top. The weight loss has dramatically slowed, but it does keep coming off. My capacity has increased, which is another mixed blessing, like needing a new wardrobe! I still have the fear that the weight will creep back on and I will suddenly be eating like I used to.
Tomorrow is my one year anniversary. I am still hovering around 205 give or take, but my total inches lost is 133inches. My clothes still fit different even tho the scale hasn't moved. That is frustrating, but Dr.S says not to worry, I could still lose for another year. Still, 150 pounds is no small thing.
Well, it took me another 3 months to lose another 13 pounds, but thats ok! The PA in my surgeon's office thinks I may be done losing, but I want to see just how far I can go in the 2 years the surgeon said I could lose. I haven't actually seen any plastic sureons yet, but I will start doing more research soon.
190!!!!!Down by 165 pounds in 15 and a half months. I guess I'm NOT done losing yet!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
I want everyone to know about this surgery!!! I have this incredible urge to go up to the very large and share that I too was a biggie. But if someone had done that to me when I was 355, I would have been massively offended. I look like a "normal person" now, so I figure most large people consider me to have always been that way. What a strange circumstance.
Well, it has taken me 5 months to lose another 6 lbs. Oh well!
I am down to 182. I was recently in the hospital for a kidney infection. Not a fun situation, but oh so wonderful compared to my last hospitalization, when I had my WLS. This time, I fit in the regular gown, and was able to tie it shut easily. I fit into the bathroom, I fit into the teensy weensy shower, easily! The bed was plenty big, and getting in and out wasn't a problem. JUST AMAZING. SHAZAM!!!
Gaining? ME? Ugh. I am up to 196 this morning, but I am on prednisone for a sinus infection, and that can make you gain weight without even eating! I have had a problem lately with getting too much junk food, and sugar is the big baddie for me. I know that if I put my effort back into more protein and more water, and just a little more movement, this little speedbump will be on the way out.
To the people who are reading my profile because of meeting my husband Mark, yes, he is just as wonderful as you think! He has been my personal cheerleader all along, and he LOVES working on this site, and helping all of the new people who come here looking for help. I can't believe that this will be the 2 year anniversary of my surgery. I have started making appointments with some different plastic surgeons now, to see what my options are. Some say abdominoplasty, some say body lift, some say combo, some say one at a time. All will depend on insurance, and perhaps a new home equity loan! I don't know, but we shall see. Eventually I really want to do the ENTIRE BODY OVER! My arms, legs, boobs, belly. It all needs trimming.
Again, anyone wanting info about this wonderful surgery, feelfree to contact me about it and I will gladly share my info with you!
WOW! MY 2ND ANNIVERSARY.
I can hardly believe that 2 whole years have gone by since I did this wonderful thing for my self. I am sure that had I not chosen to do this I would be up to 400 pounds, miserable, and getting unhealthier by the day.
To anyone reading my profile, GO FOR IT. Of course no one can make up your mind for you, and this is SUCH a life altering thing, that I encourage everyone to get on the web and RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH. Personally, this has been the best thing to ever happen to me (besides meeting and marrying my husband and having my son).
I would love to hear from anyone thinking of taking these steps, if I can help you sort out any information, feel free to email me.
I have a date for plastic surgery! On October 13 I will have my hernia repaired, and my belly tightened, trimmed and toned! My bellybotton will come out of hiding from under one of my aprons.
Am I scared? Sorta. Part of me is afraid that I have used up my good luck, and am being greedy going for the plastic surgery. The rest of me says, well why not? Why go halfway? I had this surgery to lose weight, and part of that weight is extra skin. Plus, I have to have the hernia repaired anyway, and if I'm gonna go "under" they might as well fix all that they can!
Well, Hours from now I will be having my first of hopefully several plastic surgery procedures. My hernia will be repaired with mesh first, then my plastic surgeon will do an abdominoplasty, then he will do a brachioplasty. Simply said, I get my tummy tucked and my batwings clipped!!!!!!!!! Everyone is amazed that I am more excited about my arms than anything else. Doctor understands, he says that because we can hide body problems, but your arms are out there to be seen all of the time. I feel SO self concious about them and am constantly squishing and squeezing them and holding the flab away from me to see what it'll be like. I want to show off the shoulders that I gained! I have a body now, and I am tired of keeping it all under wraps all of the time. Wish me luck, everyone, HERE I GO!!!!!
Boy, time does fly! I had my plastic surgery 2 months ago.As with the WLS, the first few weeks are not nice. The pre op experience was very traumatic. I had the procedures done at Arcadia Methodist Hospital. A beautiful place, but the morning didn't go well. first of all, I was freezing, and they made my husband go wait somewhere til they could get me changed and start my IV. Well, of course my veins wouldn't cooperate. And no one told him why it was all taking so long. I got stuck 5 times, including twice in my feet. Plus they hadn't done an EKG or chest xray the week before (WHY??? Who knows) when they did my pre op labs and interview. Go figure. They couldn't decide what to do about where to put the IV they couldn't get because he was going to operate on both arms. I told the anesthesiologist that I needed a central line in my neck for my bypass, so they decided to do it after I was asleep. By now the doctor had come in to mark me up for the surgery, my hubby STILL didn't know waht was delaying everything, and the surgeons wanted to know what the holdup was because I was due in at 11:00, and it was now 11:30. ARGH I was in tears, still freezing despite several warmed blankets. I finally got to have hubby come back for a few seconds and we were off. My first thoughts coming out of anesthesia were that my heels hurt. Despite a pad under them, I got a pressure sore on both heels. AND they hadn't gotten the xray to check my central line, and the IV in my foot was bad, so I sat for 45 minutes with out pain meds waiting for a radiologist to read my flippin xray! Plus i had chills to kill. My poor nurse was trying so hard for me. She finally got an order for an old fashioned shot, which helped alot, and they finally got my IV okd for use. Ahhhh relief.....
My incisions drained alot, my drains drained alot, and I needed to have my gown changed and dressings reinforced quite often that first night. But, I was a good patient, and sat up soon, and was out of bed the next morning. walking by afternoon. The room was very nice, and they work the meals like room service!! Very cool.
The pain was not nice the first 24 hours, but I did ok. I went home with vicodin, and I took motrin around the clock, plus some muscle realxers for break thru pain. The surgeon says that the muscle gets irritated and spasms after mesh placement, so that is pretty common to need muscle relaxers.
Hello all, it's been awhile. I had the nicest experience today, and I just want to share it with you. I have been a nurse for just about 20 years now, and today I ran into a patient that I have taken care of off and on for almost that entire 20 years. I haven't seen him in a few years, so today he didn't recognize me! I heard his voice, turned and looked at him and he at me, and I asked him if he didn't remember me. The look of incredble shock was worth a mint to me. Being almost 3 years out, I kinda forget just what a difference there is between then and now. He was blown away. He and his partner both said that they had wondered if it was me, but didn't think so because of the weight difference. They thought it looked like me, but were sure it couldn't be!
Beech street, PPO
My doctors office had to contact them, and they have several prerequisites. I need to have an internal medicine evaluation, along with a history and physical from my own doctor, and a psych eval. No one could tell me why I need to see an internist along with my own doctor. That part is frustrating. So far they have called me back when they said they would, so we'll see. 7/20/01 Found out that we've been dealing with the wrong department in the insurance company! The dept we we're dealing with doesn't process inpatient procedures, we need to talk to a different department. But no one told us this til now, one month after we started proceedings! We got a letter today stating this. Oh well. The new department is nicer to us anyway and seems to have a brain!
