Scarlette V.

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I am in the process of getting approved for weight loss surgery right now. I have my first appointment scheduled with the surgeon on Nov. 11th. I have been on a doctor supervised weightloss program for almost 6 months because it is required by both the surgeon and my insurance for approval. So I am crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.
My paperwork was finally submitted to my insurance December 23rd for approval. I am really scared of getting denied. I shouldn't be because I meet all the qualifications for wls, but it is Cigna. I did my 6 month supervised diet, had my psych exam, and have a bmi of 52.....OMG. I also have high blood pressure, gastric reflux disease, arthritis and chronic foot, knee, and back pain. I had to have knee surgery last year and still have problems with it due to my weight. I also have lupus, which wouldn't be cured by wls, but losing weight would greatly help my symtoms. So now I am trying to be patient and positive.
January 4, 2005
I got a call from the insurance coordinator telling me Cigna approved my surgery and I should get a letter this week. It only took a week and a half. I am so grateful and excited. I had seen so many negative things about Cigna on the boards I was really scared I would be denied. I think the thing that helped me get approved was that I really researched what Cigna required and I didn't submitt anything until I had everything they required. I did the 6 month Dr supervised diet and honestly at first I was kind thinking it was stupid because obviously I wouldn't be getting the surgery if I could lose weight. But then my nutritionist told me they want to see that you can follow direction and change your eating habits and it weren't really about how much weight I lost. That made it easier to deal with. I lost 18 lbs in 6 monthes and I did learn alot about how to eat right, so I'm actually glad Cigna required the diet because now I know I am capable of changing my eating habits after surgery and will be successful. I also got letters from all my doctors saying it is medically necessary and had my psych exam done. So I hope my approval gives others with Cigna hope.
January 7,2005
I got two appointments from my surgeon today. I have to have an endoscopy on Feb. 8th and I have my pre-surgery appointment and meet with pre-admissions and the anestesiologist (sp?) on Feb. 10th. I am so psyched, but nervous too. The secretary at Dr Schirmers told me my surgery would be a few weeks after that. It seems like it took forever to get everything done for my insurance to approve me and now everything is happening so fast.
It was really funny today I got my mail and I got a bunch of spring clothing magazines like Roamans, Lane Bryant, etc.... and my friend stopped by and shes like what are you doing? I told her I was just looking at the new clothes for spring and trying to decide what I wanted to order.... she's like you can't order clothes now they won't fit you in the spring. It was really weird because it hadn't even occurred to me that by summer I would probably be able to wear regular sizes. Whoohooo..... no more plus size catalog ordering. :)
I had my pre-op appointment today (Feb. 10th) and I got my surgery date. March 23rd! I am so psyched. I was a little disappointed it wasn't sooner, but I'm grateful that my insurance even approved me so I can wait. I am a little nervous because there is a test I have to have March 11th. I was in the hospital last month for a stomach blockage from intestinal swelling, so they want to do this test as a precaution. I can't remember what its called, but it is to see if I digest my food fast enough. The nurse said not to worry it would probably be fine. I am just going to be soooo upset if it shows I can't have surgery. I'm trying to think positve because I doubt my surgeon would have scheduled my surgery if he thought there was a problem, but I will feel much better after the test and I know its okay.

3-22-05
Tomorrow is the big day! I am so excited.... nervous.... scared... but I am so thankful to be getting this surgery. My doctor does a 2 day liquid diet and purge before the surgery. I have to admit its not as bad as I thought it would be. I haven't been too hungry and the Fleet stuff didn't make me feel too bad. I had an extremely stressful last week at work. I have lupus and I had to go off all my meds except prednisone and my blood pressure meds. I was in so much pain. I manage a mens clothing store and had a huge floor move, recalls, tons of stock, and a new 1st assistant whose not fully trained yet. I thought I would have a nervous breakdown... its pretty bad when you are looking forward to major surgery just to get some time off of work...lol. I'm a little scared about my store falling apart while I'm gone, but I need to focus on my recovery. Its hard to let it go. I met and started dating a great guy a few weeks ago. Its a weird time to meet someone, but he is really a great guy and very supportive so I'm gonna give it a go. Anyway I need to pack my stuff for the hospital. I am so grateful to God and everyone on this site for being so informative and supportive throughout this process. Pray for me!
3-29-05
I am 6 days post op now and so thankful everything went well for me. I really appreciate all the support I got from everyone on this site. My surgery went well. Dr Schimer is an awesome doctor. I had lap and its amazing I have no stitches.... I 'm super glued together. I have a g-tube in for a couple weeks as a precaution due to my previous stomach problems, but have not used it at all. My hospital stay was fairly good the first 2 days. Nice nurses and I walked my butt off. The day I was discharged was a nightmare of mis-communication between nurses and residents. I'm still too mad to talk about it. The good news is I am handling all my liquids and pureed foods very well. I was surprised my doctor sends us home on stage 2 liquid/pureed diet. But so happy about it. I am still struggling to get enough in, but I am so thankful not to be hurling. I have alot of pain on my left side. I think the g-tube is causing alot of the irritation. But overall I am happy I did it and I feel way better than I anticipated I would at this point. My boyfriend has been super supportive. We met just 4 weeks before my surgery. I waited to tell him for a week because it was like the worst time to get involved with some one, but he has been super.

04-04-05
I went to the doctors today and they took the "bumpers" out that were reinforcing my g-tube. I can't wait til the g-tube comes out but it feels way better without the bumpers because they made ulcers in my skin and they smelled so foul. The best part is I lost 16 lbs (12 days out). I am so happy. I still can't eat as much as my doctor wants, but I am getting most of my protein in and I think it will get easier. William has officially seen and smelled me at my worst and he's still hanging around so he must be a keeper....lol.
4-11-05
I got my g-tube out last Thursday. It was so good to get rid of that. I am still pretty sore, but healing fairly well. Dr. Schirmer told me I can't go back to work til May 2nd. I'm going to go crazy with boredom, but I know I'm not ready to go back yet. I am down 24 lbs in less than 3 weeks. I am so happy with that. Dr Schirmer told me to start solid foods last Thursday. I had no problems with food until I started solids. Food get stuck alot even though its moist and I chew like crazy. His PA said to try for another week and if it keeps up to call and he might have to dilate it. Doesn't sound too fun.

06-08-05
Its been 2 1/2 months now and I'm down 50 lbs. I feel like I am sort of a slow loser, but I'm trying not to get too discouraged. I am not able to exercise right now because my pancreas is inflamed (not related to surgery) and it is too painful... even walking any distance at all is painful. I have an MRI the 21st and hopefully the Dr can figure out whats wrong, so I can get back on track.
I haven't posted in awhile because I've been going through a serious depression. Last month my Dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer and he only has 4-12 monthes to live. It has been a very sad time in my life. I thought this was going to be a good year because I was getting the surgery and I have an awesome new boyfriend, but between my Dad and my pancreas its been the worst year of my life so far. I'm having a hard time enjoying the weight loss because it seems sort of insignifigant (sp?) compared to my Dads losing his life.
Anyway.... I am glad I had the surgery and haven't had many problems with food. Food seems so unimportant to me now and I used to love to eat! I am very proud that I haven't tried any sugary sweets at all. I think I'm more afraid that I won't dump than if I did. If I don't dump then I would be tempted, so I am not going to try them. Til next time.....

7-25-05
Just a quick update. I am 4 monthes out and down 69lbs. Sometimes I feel like my weight loss is slower than others, but I'm still pretty happy about it. I am having problems with not wanting to eat. All of a sudden I am having a real aversion to meat, cheese and I used to love Power Crunch bars, but now they seem sickly sweet and make me want to gag. I am trying to force myself to eat. I never get hungry, so I sometimes get busy and forget to eat all day..... I never thought it would be so hard to get 60 grams of protein in a day. I don't recognize myself in the mirror. I still feel like the same fat person I was... its really weird. I still get nervous when I go to restaurants because I'm worried I won't fit in the booths and I'm always amazed that not only do I fit, but I have extra room. My life is so much easier now. I have so much more energy and my joints hardly ever hurt anymore. My boyfriend has been awesome through this whole thing and I feel very lucky right now. I haven't had many complications. I am being treated for colitis right now, but I'm not sure if its WLS related. I still don't know whats going on with my pancreas....but life is pretty good right now.
08-22-05
This month has been a roller coaster of ups and downs. The good news is my stomach problems seem to be better, so that is awesome. I also got into a pair of size 16 jeans.... the first time in 20 years......OMG! The down side is I've been really depressed because my weight loss this month is only 4 lbs so far and I can't figure out why. Its so discouraging. I am also having a hard time dealing with my Dads terminal cancer. He only has a few months to live so I try to spend all my free time with him, but its so emotionally draining and I feel so sad that I'm going to lose him soon. I can't even imagine what that is going to be like. It doesn't make sense, but the more I lose the more insecure I feel. I don't feel comfortable in my own skin right now. I wasn't expecting this. I feel so much better physically and I am very happy with the 77 lbs I've lost, so I guess my mind will catch up eventually. Sorry to whine so much. I am lucky because I have an awesome boyfriend and he supports me through all this drama. A funny thing happened when I went to the mall today. I was walking towards the glass doors and when I got to the door I saw this lady right in front of me and I jumped back because I didn't want to run into her..... then I realized that there wasn't a lady there at all... it was my reflection. I didn't recognize myself. It was pretty funny.

9-26-05
I had my 6 month appointment on Thursday. I was worried I was losing too slow, but Dr Schirmer told me I was right on track, which made me feel much better. I have lost 85lbs. If I count the 15 I lost pre-op then I have lost 100lbs. WOW! My nutritionist told me to eat more, but that I am eating a really good diet.....phew! I never thought I'd hear anyone tell me I should eat more. I had heard Tooter telling someone that last week and I upped my calories closer to 1000 a day like she said and I have lost 4 lbs in the last three days.....for a total of 89lbs. Its hard to eat that much, but I'm liking the faster weight loss. I am working out 3-4 times a week at the gym and have discovered that I love to exercise..... shocking even to me....lol.
I have been fighting depression lately. My Dad's cancer is not getting worse yet, but there is no chance of it getting better either.... so its very sad for me. I also have 2 sons. My oldest son weighs 470lbs and it just breaks my heart to see him suffer everyday. He is 23 and doesn't have insurance, so he can't get the surgery. Its hard for me to enjoy losing weight when I see him. I would have traded places with him if I could, but insurance doesn't work that way. I have tried to help him to lose weight, but it doesn't work. I'm so scared for him and wish I could find a way to help him before its too late. I am not able to afford paying for it. Its just really heartbreaking to see. If anyone knows of a way I can help him any advice would be greatly appreciated.
11-02-05

I am feeling really good physically. I'm a little anemic, but otherwise healthy. I am down 98 lbs. Two more pounds to the century club. I've lost 113 lbs if I count my 15 lbs I lost pre-op. I was very excited to get into size 14 jeans a few weeks ago. This surgery has changed my life so much. I am so grateful I got to have it. I am very proud that I have stuck with the gym for over 2 months now. The weight training is really changing the shape of my body and helps the sagging skin not to look so bad. Plus I feel stronger. I finally had the confidence to go out and find a new job. I been in retail management for years and I just got a job at State Farm. I am so excited to have weekends off and a regular 9-5. I can have a life now. i start in a few weeks! Here is an updated pic of me -98 lbs.

11-18-05
After being tortured by my scale for weeks it finally budged! I am down 100.5 lbs since my surgery. I started the plateau buster diet 3 days ago and have dropped 2 lbs. Thats encouraging. I am also starting a new job on the 28th. I am so happy to be out of retail management. I won't know what to do with myself working 8-4 M-F. I am so happy and sooooo nervous.

11-20-05
Just a quick note that I lost 2 more pounds for a total of 4 lbs in the last 5 days. the plateau buster diet has to be it because my scale didn't budge for 3 weeks before I started it. It will be hard to stay on it this week though with Thanksgiving. So I now weigh 191.5. yeah!

11-30-05
Didn't eat a lot over Thanksgiving, but I didn't watch my carbs so I lost nothing last week. But Sunday I hopped back on and I weighed 189 this morning. I haven't weighed less than 190 in 22 years. How scarey is that?

New Picture. 9Months -109 since surgery and -124 including 15 lb pre-op wt loss. SIZE 12 JEANS!!!!!!!