Sharekia W.
 Seriously considered WLS and now @ the point of going ahead with gathering info and researching the possibilities of thi proceedure. Was already told by my ins. provider (BCBS of SC) that this was a cosmetic surgery and that my policy clearly states no cosmetic coverage. Confused and wondering what step to take next. I welcome suggestions. Bombard me if you will;-)!  6/27/03 I have been fiercely researching WLS since I last posted anything here and have decided to go ahead with the proceedure. Problem # 1, My pcp does not agree with WLS and feels I should try the atkins diet. She was pleased to announce that she lost 15 whole pounds on it and went from a size 12 waist to a size 8. WHOOPTY DOO!When I first started this page I weighed 347. today I weighed in at a horrble 350+ and was hit with this kind of response from a size 8 person. I want all of you to know it was so degrading for me to walk my 28 year old self in there and ask someone who is 20+ my senior for this referral and be looked at and groaned at the way she did today. I think I am looking for a new pcp. Pray with me as I ask the lord to help me climb yet another mountain.  7/2/03 I think I am having a breakthrough. I last posted when I came home from the Dr's office and with what I consider to be some terrible news. Any way I came home today and a message was waiting for me on my answering machine from the same doctors office. I called back and was told me that my hemoglobin was low so I was boarderline diabetic, My iron was low, my cholesterol was boarderline high, and my blood pressure was slightly high. Now, normally I wouldnt be happy for such news but, I looked in that woman's face and humbled myself to her to ask for a referral to a barriatric surgeon and she referred me to a Atkins diet book. These are more things that will help me to approach my insurance company to get approval for the surgery that I need. Keep me in your prayers and pray along with me that these situations don't get any worse and for them to help me in my battle.  7/04/03 O k People, today I was reading my policy and it sid " we will not pay for weight loss surgery, obesity, nor will it pay for any type of surgery if there was a previous wls and it needed to be corrected or any type of repairs. SO woe is me. I keep reading about the morbid clause. I wonder if that will help me any. Any type of help is appreciated. I am stil searching for a new pcp and I have narrowed the search to four candidates. will update soon. I am so addictedto this site I have to put myself on a schedule. Maybe every week i make a new post. That is if nothing major happens and I just must share with you. LOL :-)  8/09/03 Well hello again. I am so very glad to be able to write to this site again. It has been a while and a lot has happened. I have gained 18 pounds since my last post. I was in a severe state of depression. No joke yall, this had me devastated. I can no longer be weighed on a regular doctors office scale. whoo. That was a powerful thing for me to admit. Any who, my NEW PCP did refer me to a surgeon and I made my appointment and it was less than a month away. I was/am so scared that my Ins. is not going to pay. I got pass one hurdle only to find 100 more in my path. Woe is me right? Exactly. My Ins. has made it very clear to me that they will NOT pay for any obesity surgery. and this is clearly stated in my policy. I feel like I am setting myself up to fail. I know I am having a pity party but there are a million different things running through my mind and it is all negative. any ways I am also so scared as to how this surgery may not even help me to lose weight. any way I will try to post more often and keep yall updated. be safe  08/26/03 I have met with Dr. Sabaak and he was very surprised with my mobilty at this weight. He sees to think it is because I am so young. Anyways he was great!! he answered EVERY question that I had,and for those who know me knows I had a lot!!! His staff was pleasant ad I met some of his post op patiens. One was 3 weeks out and already lost 42lbs. I also did some of mylab work today. UGGGH!!!! Now I know what all of you meant when you said RUN when you hear the word upper followed by the letters G I. It was horrible thick gunk and if that wasnt enough The put me on ths table and flipped me nearly upide down and the told me to turn in a thousand directions and oh yeah, DONT BURP. I am very exited about the accomplishments that has been made. Each appointment is a small victory for me. My husbnd is even geting exited. I have a psych appt on 10/02/03and then its on to the insurance wars. I have already talked to a lawyer and I know thi is going to happen. I can just feel it. Also please send as much support as we can to Mrs. Codie Stricltland who is having her procedure in about a week from now. She has helped me sooooo much in this journey, so please lets encourage her o a speedy recovery. I will try to post soon. Be safe 10/12/03 Hello again. I have been posting here for the last hour and my connnection was lost. This aint easy. Any ways, lets see whats been going on with me lately. I was approved for medicaid THAT IS GREAT NEWS! I had an appointment with my psyche on 10/2/02 and I took the day off, borrowed a car w/ A/C :-> and drove nearly 50 miles and when I got there I was told my appointment was cancelled I WAS PISSED. I cant tell you how hard it was to wait the 2 months for this appt. and then it was cancelled. My aunt (who is like a mother to me) decided she was against this proceedure. This is crazy b/c she was my biggest supporter. My DH didnt even go with me to the initial visit because he didnt want to be bothered with the process just do it if thats what I wanna do. My mother and sister are very supportive but they are in Miami, Fl. and my other 2 sisters who are here with me are trying their damndest to talk me out of it with millions of horror stories and the worst part is my best friend is in alliance with them. I have a million things going through my mind now. I have 3 children and I dont know how to even think about the fact that I may not come home again or that i may never be able to care for myself should something go wrong. God forbid any of this should happen but now I find myself thinking about a will. I do need some support. I thought that I could do this by myself but now I see it aint possible. However, I must do something. I went shopping for clothes and I went to Cato and found that I could no longer fit their clothes. That was horrifying!! I look more pregnant now than I did when i was 9 months pregnant with all of my children. I know I want and need this surgery, but I need to know I'm gonna be fine. I know that isnt possible. Right now words exscape me. I hate to go to my psyche evaluation with this mentallity b/c I know it is gonna show. any ways, I'm going to pray for some spiritual guidance from heaven and post later. Pray with me. 10/14/03 Well it is done. I had my psyche eval today and I am more assured now than ever that I want to do this. I go to my surgeon on Thurs. and I am getting jitters b/c I know that this is the last step before ins. approval. I feel like I am about to ak my mom can I go to the prom. I will post when I get home Thurs. 11/02/03 I have had all of my pre- op stuff done. I went to the pulmonary dr. and she said she will recommend that I have this surgery as well as my pcp. I have been bombarded with information about this proceedure from people who are not overweight and well to be nice ......PHOEY to them I am so ready to have this done that I think about it constantly. I finally got my husband to go along with my decision but he is still skeptical about it. He will come around though I know it. chat later buh-bye. 11/02/03 Hello all, well there very few things to talk about in this post. I have been waiting forever for a response from my ins. but they have not even been notified from dr.sabbacks office. when I called them about it they said they were waiting on a letter from my pcp. well that coulldnt be the case b/c i faxed that top them myself so then I was told that they were waiting on some papers from my pulmonary dr. They are tsaking too long!!!! I need to know that they are doing the paperwork b/c I will drop my ins. to have medicaid pay for them to do surgery.I AM ON A SCHEDULE PEOPLE. I need this done before Dec 29 so i can be back in class by jan 20. Not with bells on but at least be able to sit there and be present. any ways let me know if there is something that I can do to expedite this process. Thanx 11/14/03 I was denied today what now?I want to file medicaid only please tell me what to do 11/22/03 Nothing major to post today. still waiting on the appeal letter to go through. I cant be dropped off of my BCBS policy until December so I figured might as well appeal and keep the iron hot. but then my window of time will be gone and I cant have the surgery until possibly may. It will be just my luck everything will go through like butter just b/c I dont have the extra time. I will post with an update soon as I hear something. God Bless!! 02/17/04 Hello Amos People, I am soooooooo weary of this journey. I can drop right now fromt this. I Have been dropped from my health insurance and now have full medicaid. I have been to the surgeons office again and all of my pre-ops are done so they are just sending in everything to the medicaid office for approval. I am so nervous. Everyone tells me that this one will be approved but I have so many fears about this. I have been told by my pastor if I'm gonna worry about things I dont need to pray but its human nature to pray and pray and pray and still worry and worry and worry. I have been through so many ups and downs with this surgery. I know because I have been through so much I will appreciate it so much more when it finally does happen. I feel like I have been down so many avenues with this that I am running out of options. I have gained another 10 pounds and my knees are starting to buckle under me, my chest is hurting , and I am seriously thinking about just staying in my house and becoming one of those people who are confined to home. I am so ready for this surgery words cant explain to you how I feel. Post again when I get some info. 02/22/04 Hello again, I am still waiting the other window of opertunity has closed on me so it definitly looks like n=may before I can have this thing done. I am just going to start concentrating on my work and getting everything done and in order before then. I have had a problem with medicaid not being listed as my primary ins. They still had BCBS as that and that is what the hold up is about. I hope I have the discipline to wait until Maay because I will have to be out for @ least 3 or 4 weeks and that is pushing it with open RNY. If I wait until may I would have @ least 9 weeks to recouperate from this procedure. My husband has bought a treadmill and it was a nice gesture but the max weight is 250# and I wegh 125#'s more than that I dont want to break it and my knees hurt so bad that I can barely walk around in the house. Please give some info on what I should be doing to relieve some of this pain that I am in. I am 29 years old and I feel like an 80 year old person with all of these aches and pains. any info will do. Thanks!!! 04/13/04 Hello AMOS people. I really dnt think that people are actually reading this so I do this as a way to keep a journal of whats going on. I have pleaded for responses from people and they just dont happen. Any hoo I was finally removed from BCBS as a member and medicaid has finally made the changes necessary to have them as the main ins. As of April 5th, my paperwork has been submitted for approval from them. I havent heard anything from them yet but I check my messages everyday all day. I have this feeling of victory now I am so exited about this happening. I still dont have the support that I think I should but my husband is trying to be more understanding of my decision. I have a few friends who dont understand but will support me in thier own way. Till next time 04/28/04 Still waiting. It has been 3 weeks since my submision to medicaid. Called Dr. Sabbacks office today and they in turn called medicaid. Medicaid said its still in medical review. I am so nervous. Prayng and worrying @ the same time. I know better but can't help it. I went to the nutrition class on 04/26/04 and it was very informative for me. I had no idea that this surgery is as complicated or as serious I should say as an open heart surgery. learned a lot of new things there I just pray that I can put them to use soon. LIKE MAY (hahhh Ha haaa) 05/03/04 Well, Amos family today is a beautiful day. The rain has finally stopped, the sun is shinning, but the heat is controlled by the sweet gentle breeze of spring. Yep today is a great day. Oh yeah, I GOT APPROVED!!! I SAID AAAAAAAAAAAPROOOOOOO 5/19/04. Sooo many trials and obstructions are finally behind me. 05/04/04 Hello people, I first want to thank the whole group of people who have been sending me well wishes all day. I am still on cloud nine and in some aspects I am still in disbelief. However, I know it is really happening for me. I know I serve an awsome God. I was looking back over my past posts and I realized that I claimed May to be the surgery month ever since Feb. or March. Believe me that's not what I wanted but I knew that was/is what I needed. I was in the hospital's waiting room waiting to get my pre-admission stuff done and I was in there praying my heart out (quietly to myself) and I was asking the lord to please guide me in the decisions that I was making. I knew he had taken me through all of the trials dealing with this but I still doubted if I was making a wise decision; then out of nowhere, a woman asked me if I was there for the gastric surgery. I was in awe of how she could have possibly picked that up from me in the room with @ least 10 other people and some of them were pretty thick as well. Anyways, she gave me assurance that her daughter had just had it and another daughter was going to have it on the 18th of May by the same Dr. as me. I was so relieved to hear from someone who had recently had the procedure and their ups and downs. Needless to say it seemed like hours passed with all of us talking and I was definitely assured that the Lord used her as a confirmation on this decision. I am just so glad that this is happening. Will keep you'll posted. 05/08/04 Heloo, I am just posting a short post todday. I am just counting down the days and getting more and more exited. 11 days left before I cross over.Any hoo I was sitting here looking @ the before and after pics and in disbelief. I'm ready!! May 11, 2004, Hello all.Today I'm just posting all of my feelings about this. I have been through so much trying to have this surgery;I went through 2 ins. companies and waited almost a year. But I am blessed!! I know I could have still been waiting for some response but here I am waiting on my date to arrive. I am so wondderously calm about the whole thing and I have no fears about the actual procedure I just fret a little about the afercare of my wounds. My older two children will be out for the summer a week after my surgery and I dont know if I am going to be ready for them yet but I am sure that I will manage. My mother-in-law lives 5 min. away from me if she has to come I am sure she will. I just dont want to be a bother. I also want to mention that I saw a before and after pic of a young lady by the name of Daphne Mahotiere. she was 390 and now she is 160 and a size 8. I am in awe of her because she is/was very close to my size (375) and I kept thinking to myself that I wouldnt lose any significant weight. I began to think if I get to a size 18 I wouldnt care if I lost another pound. I was deep in obese mentality. I do want to wear a size 10. I do want to be sexy again. ther are so many things that I have done without for so long I forgot to want them. My husband let it out that he is very exited aout this surgery. MY HUSBAND??? That's right. He insist that he thought I was stting myself up to fail and that is why he didn't get into this as much as me. I know he is genuine in his feelings now because he sat here for almst 2 hours looking at before and after pics. Let me tell ya he is not the type to look at (or do) anything he isnt interested in. I am just happy to be in the situation I am in. I hopoe that I can be one o those post ops who can come home and be allright from the jump. I had 3 children naturally and a tubaligation but I always hada crowd of people around me for those events. My side of the family lives in Miami so all of that will definitely be missed. My oldest son will try to do so much to help me. I allready know hhe will turn into man of the house when his father goes to work. he is almost 10 and I am starting to how him how to cook some small things like eggs, boil hot dogs,etc.. I have already told him only to do this with my consent so I am looking forward to seeing how that plays out. I will spare you the family rantings (fr now) and post again later. 05/17/04 Well there is only one day seperating me from my surgery. I am nervous but I am ready. This site has been very instrumental in my being able to handle the fears and jitters. Thank you amos. I have been praying costantly for peace in this decision. Also, I have finally told my mother in law the real reason for the surgery. That was hardfor me to do. She is very vocal in her opinions but she was understanding, @ least to me. I basically gave her the foundation information needed to try to understand my decision. She did question my husband more extinsively(sp) the next day. I feel like he really explained the basics of the procedure to her more fully. I guess she was more comfortable asking him questions instead of me. As long as there is no form of deceit on my part before I go under. Well I guess I wil post one more time before becoming a loser. A happy loser! She did allow us to have a BBQ party for me before my surgery. I really did enjoy that. My husbands idea but I was loving it. I just want a piece of cream cheese pound cake and I will be good until cn have them again. Will post soon. God Bless!!! 06/01/04 Hello all, I am home from surgery and all is well. I was/am soooo tired and weak still. I am 2 weeks post op and down 28 pounds. I have not figured out my pouch yet so I am still having a hard time transitionong to more solid foods. I a way too hungry all of the time but I know what is in store for me. Dr. Sabback was/is wonderful. He practically held my hand throughout te whole ordeal. ICU was an experiance. My first nurse was very rude to me. He made me feel like I was wasting his time by being there. But once he was replaced I was in paradise. The next two nurses were great. I was treated as well as any other patient in the unit. No one prepared me for the pain I endured on day one. But that was the worst part of it. I have already been asked had I kown it was going to be so painful would I do it again. The answer is yes!! I have people looking @ me and staring @ me like I'm some sort of freak. But I will get through that too. Any ways just trying to keep everyone posted. Will post again soon. God Bless 06/17/04 Hello Amos Family, I am sitting here looking @ my profile and it is unbelievably beautiful. I didnt think I would want all of the frills until I asked for it then I got more than I ever thought about, Hats off to Shannon for her work of art! Well I have a little to post tonight I am concerned that this surgery isnt for me. I know I already done it but I dont think that it works for me. I seemed to hae stopped losng weight and also it seems like I can eat whatever I want. I am constantly hungry and I know I can eat way too much for a person barely a month out. Is it possible that I broke my band that he placed on my pouch and stretched it already??? Somebody help me. I know I sound ungratful for the progess that I have already made I am down to 340,that's 32 pounds in less than a month but I truly think that it has stopped. I have been trying to eat right and exercise but sometimes it is hard and now I feel like I am going to be the only person on O-H to stop weight loss so soon. I can walk on my treadmill now for 15 minutes. I know that is a small miracle in itself. I guess it balls down to this, I have tried so many things and failed @ them all, I am scared this is going to be the same results as before. I guess I am finished whinning for now. I will keep yall posted. 06/17/04 Hello again. Nope I didnt enter the wrong date, I am still up. I have been having problems sleeping for the past 2 weeks and I guess tonight is no exception. I did have some time to look over some profiles and I think Im not exersizing enough. The problem is I am always tired. I know I am being whiney but I am worried. Any post will be helpful. Thanks 6/24/04 Hello people of amos, I am here for a small update, I have lost 48 pounds since the surgery and I am getting very exited about the way this has been working for me. I definitely want to give a VERY BIG THANK YOU TO MR. EDEN. He is in our support group and I was not doing as well as I thought I should and he gave me some very sound advice. Advice that I know is making the difference in this weight loss journey. May God smile upon he and his beautiful wife. I have started summer school and that has been a big help as well. I am not in the house all day and I am moving about very well. However, I did try the stairs and I did make it to the third floor but had to stop and take the elevater from there. I know, I know but I just couldnt breathe anymore. I will be working on it. Thnk all of you who are out there. God Bless!! 07/26/04 Hello Amos family, I am sorry for not being able to update like I should but I am living w/ my mother in law for a while and a computer is not in the house and I have mine in storage.Anyways everything is good and I am doing well. I am still @ about the same weight I was the last time I updated. I have been on this platau for a long time. I feel like its been a whole month now but its only been three weeks. I am doing fine otherwise. Update when I can God Bless 07/27/04 Hello again, I am at my sister in laws house again and using her computer. I am finally finished summer school with a 2.5 considering how I was trying to take classes over the internet the day after surgery I am pleased with the outcome. I must say I dont know how to measure the total calorie intake for the day. so many little calories I guess really add up to what is about 1200 a day. this was toaadys intake and I was surprised @ the number. Proteins are off the chart though; carbs are alright but could be better.thanks to everyone for the responses to my questions on the boards. post soon. God Bless 01/24/05 OMG!! I cant believe it has been so long since I ;ast posted. NOT MY FAULT! I know there is so much to tell my AMOS family. BIG news first, I FINALLY GRADUATED!!!!!!! Yes I have finished school in Dec. I am now working as a teacher in a program for remedial students @ night in Holly Hill. I also have OFFICIALLY lost 101 pounds!!! I am so exited @ this point in my life, everything is moving right along. We are finally out of my mother in laws house but I still dont have my computer hooked up yet for internet. I am using my comp. @ work to update. I have so much more to say but I just cant @ this time. BUT!!! remember my aunt who told me not to do this? well she is scheduled for 2/7 thats right and you wouldnt believe how many others who have been a thorn in my side about this is running to the surgeon for help. I just had to put that. I have to go my time is limited. God Bless 05/03/2005 I am here looking over my profile and I realize that today is the day that I was approved for sugery. I have lost 148 pounds and I have a whole new life. I am so much more confident than I have ever been in my entire life. I am so sorry for not keeping up this profile but new house new job new surroundings have really taken a toll on me. I cant replace the support that this site has given me. I know I have cried and leaned on you for so much and I thank you. I wish everyone in their journey makes it to their destination. 07/19/2005 Hello AMOS family, I know I have been gone for a long time now but I have just gotton my computer and internet back up. This has been a hard year for me and my family. The only good thing about it is the surgery and that too has stopped working for me. I wish I had some more to tell you but I dont now. I have been at my witts end about this and I know that I have not been doing what I need to. I have been at the same weight for 3 months and I am so not pleased with myself for that. I promised reka that I was gonna usee this tool to the fullest and I have not done that. But looking @ my profile has helped me to see that I need to go back to basics. I have actually gained weight and I cant help but to feel like a failure. I have so many people telling me that I have lost sooo much weight and that I look great and so on but I have this mental block that makes me feel like I am 375 # again. I dont know whats going on. I went from a size 34 to a 16w. I just want to lose 50 more #'s and I know I will be good. Any suggestions? Todays date is November 23, 2009
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Name / Username: Name Acronym Generator From Go-Quiz.com 07/23/2005 Hello AMOS family, And a special hello to my BAF brothers and sisters ( My newly found bariatric family) I am so happy to have found that site. Now on to business, I have been to the Dr. on Friday and I was right; I need to go back to basics. He suggested that I go back on a liquid diet for 2 weeks and then work my way up to a more sensible diet. I am one of those who doesnt dump or even have the full sensation for a while when I am eating. I am doing the morning sit ups and leg lifts but thats as far as I have been able to go (and thats 10 each) hopefully I will get a hernia and I could get a TT from my ins. I am back on BC/BS again. So anyways Pray with me as I try to go back basics with this and try to make it with a pouch thats not so new. I'll holla!! Be safe!!! Click Here to visit the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Click Here to visit AmpleStuff.com
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