ramlirobin
1/2000 I weigh 527 pounds. My insurance company has denied me twice (listed as an exclusion), and since they know they are being replaced at the end of the year, they are not interested in doing the surgery as a cost saver on future procedures. I have an appointment next week with the TX Rehabilitation Commission to see if they can help me by paying for the surgery. Wish me luck!
4/5/00 My appointment with the TX Rehab Commission went well. I did a psych evaluation and still need to see their doctor. Once I do that, they will submit a package to the powers that be for approval. Keep your fingers crossed!
6/18/00 The counselor at TRC was not returning my calls. When I finally got her on the phone, she told me she was too embarassed to return my calls because she lost my file! ARGH! We had to start all over getting my medical records from my doctors. I was hoping to get approved in time to have the surgery this summer since I would have plenty of time to recover (I'm a teacher). It looks like that won't happen now.
7/7/00 I saw TRC's endocrinologist today. He was very thorough! He gave me a physical, EKG, blood work, urinalysis, and even a chest x-ray. He told me he is making the recommendation to TRC that I have the surgery as soon as possible.
7/18/00 I decided to be proactive. I really want to have the surgery date of 12/11/00 so I called the doctor's office and told them that I expect to be approved by TRC soon and want to go ahead and reserve that date. I was told that they did not have the surgeon's schedule for December yet, but that she would "pencil me in" for that date. It sounds very iffy, but it's better than nothing!
8/8/00 I was told that my file went to Austin for final approval and that I should have a definite answer by Friday or Monday. I am so nervous!
8/17/00 Well, the "Friday or Monday" has turned into the NEXT "Friday or Monday" or whenever. I keep calling, but I get the same thing, "We haven't heard from Austin yet." I am trying not ot obsess over this, but it's difficult.
9/14/00 I AM FINALLY APPROVED!!! I can't believe it! After a year of trying, it is finally going to happen. I am crying tears of joy!
10/16/00 My surgeon's office says I am on the surgeon's schedule for December 11! They think there will be no problem getting the OR for that date. YIPEE!!!!!!!!
11/7/00 I am definitely confirmed for Dec. 11! Can't wait to get this show on the road!
12/17/00 I am post-op and home. Surgery went exceptionally well, only 2 hours! I am feeling great, and am ready to exercise and become the healthy, active woman I know I can be!
01/01/01 Happy New Year! I know this will be a wonderful year. It is the first one ever where I know I will be able to keep my resolution to lose weight!
1/11/01 As of today I am one month post-op, and I am down 62 pounds! I knew this surgery was good, but DAMN! :)
2/2/01 The last couple of weeks have been a rollercoaster. I experienced severe constipation and gained a pound. You would have thought my life was over! I blamed myself for eating the wrong things and not getting all my water in. I waited a week, did everything I was supposed to as far as diet and exercise go, and weighed again. I lost the pound I had gained plus 9 more! Moral of the story: DRINK YOUR WATER! and MOVE YOUR BODY! Some of us simply have to learn the hard way. Loss to date is 71 pounds.
3/2/01 Feeling great! I have too much energy to sit here for very long!! Weight loss as of last Wednesday was 92 pounds! 100 Club, here I come!
3/12/01 Three months post op and I have lost 103 pounds! What a wonderful feeling! I have not exactly been the model patient either. I take it one day at a time.
4/14/01 Four months post and I have lost 111 pounds. The loss has slowed considerably, but I think it will pick back up if I exercise more and make better food choices. I hate that I can eat ANYTHING and too much of it. I guess this is where the re-education of my brain is going to become very important.
5/1/01 Lost 8 more pounds! Total loss is 125 pounds! Thanks to my dog, who forces me to walk! I'm almost out of the 400's!
5/11/01 5 month anniversary: GOODBYE 500'S! GOODBYE 400'S! I now weigh 396! Total loss is 131 pounds!
6/11/01 6 month anniversary: I now weigh 376, for a total loss of 151 pounds. :)
7/11/01 7 month anniversary: Weight 370, for a total loss of 157 pounds. It sure is coming off S-L-O-W-L-Y now. I want to eat too much. I think I need to seek psychiatric help for my obsession with food and for why I keep wanting to eat so much! On a good note, I am really loving exercise now! What a surprise! I have always HATED exercise. I take brisk walks, and I swim daily. In fact, I feel yuckky if I don't get to exercise. I was having some issues with the hanging skin (which is quite excessive), but today I am OK with it. I have to realize it is all part of the process.
10/19/01 I am now 10+ months out and I have lost 200 pounds! I have been through a "hiatus" but maintained and then lost again when I was ready to get back on the program. I think I needed a mental break. I was obsessed with weight loss and was driving myself crazy. I feel more relaxed and ready to get on with it. This surgery is great. Before WLS when I would "fall off the wagon" I would gain back every pound I lost plus bonus pounds.
06/16/02 I am stuck in the 320's. I have been here since October. I guess you could say it's my fault because I do not follow the diet like I should. On an up note, even with poor eating habits I have not gained back any weight. I find this truly amazing. I want to get back on the program permanently, but just can't seem to stick with it. (Gee, I guess there was a reason I weighed over 500 pounds, eh?) Tomorrow is a new day and another chance to do the right thing. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
12/02/02 I had surgery for a bowel obstruction on 11/17/02. I was told that this was due to adhesions. Adhesions two years post op? Yes. A different doctor (Dr. Alexander) did my revision. He is nice, but very arrogant! He told me that he does his surgery differently and that I am not in danger of having adhesions again. He says I'm fixed now. lol The good thing about all of this is that since my second surgery I have not been able to eat much and have lost a little more weight. I'm still a stress eater who makes poor choices though.
07/04/2009 My weight has crept up to 344. It's not 530, but I am having health problems that would be much better with further weight loss. Argh! I need help!