Stacey W.

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It is 2007!  I still think this was the best thing I've ever done.  As far as complications, they are all quite trivial and well worth the weight loss results I've experienced.  I have maintained the weight loss, actually I guess it has just "maintained itself" I really don't do anything.  I have had some problems w/ anemia.  I have had to have iron IV therapy twice.  My doctor thinks my Gastric Bypass and my menstrual cycles have created the problem.  I am now almost 40 years old and have no intention of having more children so I am expecting to have a hysterectomy in the near future. 

MY PICTUREs ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE!

(MY LIST FOR THE COST OF MY SURGERY IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS)

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June 2001: Just started looking at surgery...My Insurance benefits book clearly says "NO Surgery for Weight loss regardless of medical or psycological conditions." Guess I'll look for new insurance.

August 2001: :I am currently seeking a new group insurance carrier. Looking at United HealthCare....they are quite expensive for small groups....but they cover the surgery....and I can always change next year.

September 2001: New insurance started 9/1/2001....had to pay much higher rates because of weight....67% higher than orig. quote based on age alone!

9/25/01: Drove 200 miles for Consult....Dr was called away for emergency surgery....NO CONSULT!

10/3/01 Dr. Warnock agreed to do a phone consult! I will meet him the day before surg and we agree we will post-pone surg if there are any unforseen last minute problems when we meet! He explained risk associated w/ any surg....importance of following orders and working hard while in hospital so I can have a good start. He said he EXPECTS a lot out of his patients!
He looks forward to meeting me in person and this is a wonderful rewarding experience for people who are obese!

10/10/01: Called the Ins. today, they had not rec'd the info from Dr. Warnock's office....so I gave them most of it! The lady at United Healthcare (Shemeka) was so nice. Said it will be a few days and a letter will be sent to the Dr. Hosp. and Me!

Just a few minutes after I talked w/ my ins. Debby called from Dr. Warnocks office...we must have been on the phone w/ the insurance within minutes of each other....she gave them some additional info and said she did not anticipate any problems. I need to go and see a Pulmonogist? and have a chest x-ray to bring w/me. The heart doc appt. is the day before my surg @ 4:00 she said after my appt w/ him go straight to Dr. Warnock's office...he'll be waiting for me!

10/13/01: My policy clearly states surg is allowed w/ diagnoses of MORBID OBESITY....but our Company is new to the insurance group and we are a small group! I have not ever talked to a doctor about surg or any of the "Health concerns" we listed as reasons to undergo surg. I just hope it all goes well.

10/17/01: I need a "regular" doctor on my new insurance....so I called a few and was told they are booking for Jan and Feb...that wont do! My friend Kelly told me about a doctor ...they said no appt's till Jan so I gave my phone #'s and asked them to call me if there was any cancellation between now and then.....THEY CALLED ME THE SAME DAY....My appt went great. I told the doctor what I was having done and that I needed a doctor locally. He said he wanted me to do some lab work and have me come back for a physical BEFORE surgery so he could have some "Before and after" comparisons! He's great!


10/18/01: I called the insurance company today just to see if they needed any additional info....they could not tell me specific details but the "computer screen shows approval for procedure on Nov. 6, 2001" Yeah, I think that means YES! I did not request any other procedure for that date! They said my letter was mailed on 10/17/01.

10/23/01: : Got my letter from the insurance company....it was so UNCLEAR! It reads....We rec'd notification regarding hospital admission for "me"...While patient is hospitalized we may contact the physician.....the decision to pursue any identified alternative treatment remains with you and your physician.....THIS LETTER IS NOT A STATEMENT OF BENEFIT COVERAGE OR A GUARANTEE OF YOUR ELIGIBILITY. IF YOU NEED ELIGIBILITY OR BENEFIT COVERAGE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL.....IF BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THESE SERVICES, THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF YOUR COVERAGE.

Well, that doesn't say anything to me, SO I CALLED!!!! The Care Coordinator assigned to me said 1.) The letter is computer generated. 2.) The information given by the Physician met the criteria. 3.) The Gastric Bypass IS appropriate. 4.)My Ins. policy has no exclusions for this procedure. I said I just did not want to have surg and rec'v the bill myself. She said she understands. She asked if I was comfortable and satisfied with the information my dr. provided about the surg. and procedure. She asked if I would have family or friends to help me in the days following surgery. She said YOU DO HAVE HOME HEALTH CARE available as a part of your policy, should you need it a nurse could come to your house 2 times a day....just call us if you decide it is something you need. OH MY GOSH...SHE IS GREAT!

10/24/01: : SO I've decided I need to start exercising so I can recover quicker!!!! I walked, not good....my feet hurt so bad the next morning I walked like an old lady! I tried riding my bike....much better, just gotta pay attention to "gradual slopes....uphill is a real chore, thought my thighs were gonna "spasm right off". So, I'll stick to the bike, and ride where it's flat! HA


11/5/01: : Leaving at 11am to go to Wichita Falls....2 1/2 hour trip. Have to pre register at the hospital, see the pulmonologist, then see Dr. Warnock.


11/6/01: Surgery is at 9:30 am.....



11/7/01: EVERYTHING WENT GREAT!!


11/09/01:
Released from the hospital but Dr. requires all patients to stay in town until follow up.

11/12/01:
HOME SWEET HOME.....Had follow up at 3pm....and 16 pounds gone! I go back on 11/20 to have my "65" staples removed!

11/20/01:
Got my staples out today....kinda hurts, no it DOES hurt...but I've had worse pain! Lost 3 more pounds...total of 19 pounds gone! Dr. Warnock made me PROMISE NOT TO WEIGH until I go back on 1/15/02....yeah right!


12/3/01:
Well I have not weighed....but I am starting to notice my clothes are bigger and I can wear things I have not worn in a couple of years.....A ONE SIZE FITS ALL (ummm, sure) t-shirt, it has not fit me for about 3 1/2 years! My husband has noticed,too... he said my "back boobs" are melting away! And I also have had to tighten my bra and adjust the straps. I think I can see some change in my face....my double chin is not ALWAYS double....and I have BONES I can feel in my jaw line!

As far as eating, well I have eaten everything I want, just not very much of it. I have had no dumping or sick feelings. I had my MONTHLY chocolate craving and I ate 1 of those new Celebrations Snickers...about the size of a Tootsie Roll. A few weeks ago I had a sip of Dr. Pepper, it was really a little sip! And I also have eaten the cheese and pepperoni off of a "Tiny" slice of pizza.

Remember when you were a kid and you were told to take a little bite of something, it was like, MAYBE a third of a spoonful....I ate about that much of everthing at Thanksgiving. Turkey, green bean casserole, dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberries, carrots, and marshmellow/coconut/pineapple/manderin orange stuff with sour cream...I LOVE THAT STUFF! Anyway, it was fine!

I have noticed the importance of eating SLOW and SMALL bites....big bites feel like well, when you swallow too big of a bite, it feels like you need a drink to "wash it down"...BUT DO NOT DRINK!!!! That HURTS, like when you add milk to ceral, feels like the food is rising, and there is NO ROOM!

12/20/01: Today is Thursday December 20th....7 weeks an 2 days since my surgery....the last outfit I bought was in August, size 26/28....today I went to the hall closet to find a jacket, I had some clothes I had forgotten about, so just for grins I tried them on to see how much longer till they would fit.....NOW, THEY FIT NOW, SIZE 22....the last time I could wear them was in 1996!

Last night my little boy hugged me, he opened his eyes really big and said, "I can touch my fingers!" He can reach all the way around me....HE HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT!

THIS IS THE MOST AWESOME EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD!

1/3/02: Well, it has been almost 2 months since surgery...I have measured and weighed....not supposed to weigh until the 15th but I just had to! DDDDDRRRRUUUUMMMMM ROLL....42 pounds gone!!!!! I've lost 42 pounds in 58 days...and I feel great, don't feel like I'm missing out or deprived of anything!

THIS SURGERY IS AWESOME!!!!

1/25/02:
BIG NEWS!!!! I DON'T SNORE! And, Oh my gosh! 55 pounds! I have gone from 285 down to 230! It has been 80 days since surgery! That is soooo cool! I bought a new pair of pants today, SIZE 20!!! I feel great. My feet are not killing me! I have been walking in the evening and I'm not limping around after I sit down a while! MY HAIR IS FALLING OUT! But I have thick hair, so other than it being a little scarry when you look at the brush, no problem!
I go back to the doctor on July 19th!

2/10/02:
I have lost 62 pounds since my surgery November 6! I weighed 285 now I weigh 223! I go back to the doctor on July 19th! I FEEL GREAT! My feet have STOPPED HURTING. I bought a pair of stretch jeans in a size 16, today!

I really don't have a real GOAL, I said if my feet wouldn't hurt I'd be happy! I'M HAPPY!

I can sit with my legs crossed, or one foot under me, the seat belts are not "stretched to the max", I even fit in folding chairs! I would love to see a size 12! When I wore a size 12, 12 years ago....I weighed about 150! I am not sure I will go that low....but my IDEAL weight is supposed to be between 142 and 160.

This surgery is the most wonderful thing! I am NEVER hungry. I eat what I want! Crazy, but I want HEALTHY stuff! I still don't eat much...maybe 1/4 or less of what is on a plate when you go out to eat.

I can NOT even eat a whole kids portion of anything! My daughter is eating really good food these days! We go out and I order what I want and we share...she's getting shrimp, Salmon, chicken and steak rather than burgers, nuggets, dogs, and grilled cheese! (She'll NEVER be a cheap date)

My husband said he would start a diet as soon as I got down to where he was.... he has since said he doesn't diet well in the winter, so go on ahead....I laughed! He walks with me in the evening and we ride our bikes (maybe once a week)...then he eats his lunch and mine....as well as any thing left after our daughter and I share a dinner...he'll eat our sons too, if it hasn't been picked apart!

NEEDLESS to say, hubby is gaining....probably 10 pounds since Christmas!

We are going to Nashville this month. This will be the first plane trip in 10 years where I can possibly be comfortable on an airplane!


3/10/02:
Well, I've hit my first Plateau! I am at 215, that is a 70 pound loss.....but I haven't lost any weight since Feb 19th...I did not walk a lot in Feb....but I am now! I've been walking 2.25 miles at least 3 nights a week. I need to increase my water intake as well! This profile thing is like therapy...my head knows it but when I write it down and read it, suddenly things are clearer!

4/23/02:
Things have REALLY S-L-O-W-E-D down! I can't seem to get under 200! I am at 203! I need to drink more WATER!!

5/6/02:
UNDER 200!!! Today I weighed 199 on my scale at home! I bought a new outfit in a size 14 and I feel great!

6/18/02:
I'm down 95 pounds....I weigh 190! I'm hoping to loose another 5 pounds to get to that -100 before 7/22 when I go for my check up!

I think one of the oddest things is how COLD I am now! I am NEVER hot! Can't even say that I've been uncomfortable in the heat! I used to have a fan in the bathroom so I could get ready w/out breaking a sweat! I even took cold showers in the summer so I wouldn't be so hot! Now I feel like I can't get the water hot enough to stay warm! I actually look foward to getting in a hot car 'cause I feel like I thaw!

I did have a really unplesant experience....doughy breadsticks! Oh my gosh, it was miserable! I wished I could throw up but I was afraid I'd choke! I think they turned to dough and just sat in my tummy for almost 48 hours! I tried Hot tea, water, and eating was out of the question....so from now on....crunchy breadsticks and crispy pizza crust!



7/04/02: WooooooHooooo I have lost 100 pounds! I'm wearing mostly 14's and some 16's....a size Large fits but after wearing BAGGY clothes for so long, I am more comfortable in an XL! People have teased me that I need to get "in style" clingy is in! Well, so are hip huggers and belly button rings but there are some things I will not wear no matter how stylish! I have my check up on the 22nd....and most of all I am looking foward to seeing thoses people who had surgery in the days just before and after me....some I have not seen since November!

9/15/02: I am sooo glad I had this done! I feel better than I ever dreamed. I am wearing things in sizes Large and Medium. Most 14's fit well and some 12's. If I meet someone I haven't seen in a while, they don't recognize me! I have more energy than ever! I rode my 8 year old sons bike! I go to football games and I'm not out of breath at the top of the stands. LIFE IS WONDERFUL!!!! And GOD IS GREAT!!!!

12/11/02: Well, everything is great here! I am hanging around between 165 and 170 (depending on the scale). I like to use the scale at the Mall, it gives you a print out that tells your "ideal weight". It says I am still 5 pounds overweight, whatever! I can wear most size 12's, some look better than others. I had my wedding ring sized down to a 6 1/2 from a 9. My family and I are going sking for Christmas....can't wait!

I started a new job October 1, I'm not sure I would have even been considered if I was still heavy! LIFE IS GREAT!

Feb 2003: I am doing great! My husband had the surgery in August and is down to 190. His diabetes is not an issue anymore! My Mom is having surgery in June! I have a friend having surgery in March!

August 2003: My weight stays around 160 to 163! I eat anything I want and I feel great. I still want sweets and I can tolerate them just fine, I just don't eat them real often. My Mom did have her surgery, in July!!! She just turned "60", and she is on her way to loosing all the weight. I have had LOTS of people who have gone to have surgery.

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United Regional Health Care
room and board
billed $927.00 insur max allowed $695.25

in patient misc.
billed $7,885.05 insur max allowed $5,913.78

TOTAL HOSPITAL
billed $8,812.05 insur max allowed $6,609.03

Dr. Warnock

billed $4,458.00 insur max allowed $2,162.18

Anestiologist

billed $1,088.00 insur max allowed $1,088.00



Photos

285 Summer 2001, I could not believe it was me!

185 Summer 2002 I've lost 100 pounds in 8 months!

About Me

Before & After
rollover to see after photo

Summer 2001, I could not believe it was me!

285lbs

Summer 2002 I've lost 100 pounds in 8 months!

185lbs