stephanieb
Stephanies Honest Journey with Food and Surgery.
Sep 04, 2007
11/11/05 Hi all! Finally got some stuff done. It is sooo hard to get your act together when you move to a new state! Well lets see so far I did get my PCP done and found a wonderful doctor here in College Park she is great and WLS friendly. She actually told me to go to Dr. Duncand and she put in a referal to the insurance company to go see him. I was so excited! So they contacted me and said that first I had to go to his big meeting first then go see him one on one. I can do that. So now I wait till November 15 for the meeting.. I have all my paperwork done and stuff so I will just hand it in there.2/3/06 Well it has been awhile since I have updated...I took a couple months off because my husband was out of state for his job and that is my RIDE!! So now Im back on track! Anyways..I did send out my packet to Dr. Duncan office on 1/30/06 and they called me back today! yahooooooo!!! So now they said that they will call me back in a few days after they check with my insurance company and schedule my first meeting. IM SOOO EXCITED! I will keep all in form....till then
2/14/06 Happy Valentines Day to everyone...and to ME TOO!! Today I was soooo excited, Dr. Duncans office called around 11 am this morning and booked me in this Thursday 2/16 to meet with Dr. Fields and discuss surgery!! Yahooo Yahooooo! I cant wait...Im finally getting somewhere. Never been into Atlanta so Im nervous about the drive and getting lost. I will update after my appt.!!...till then
2/16/06 Went to my appt. with Dr Fields. Was weighed, had to breathe in this machine for 10 mins. for something taken back to room waited till DR came in. Was informed after she listen to my lungs and heart that DR. Duncan doesnt do open RNY didnt know that..and doesnt do LAP with BMIs over 50ish. Was told that I would have to lose over 100 pounds to even qualify for this......Then she asked what I wanted to do????? I dont know I was still in shock!!! Maybe they should inform before some come in for consiltations. That is my only gripe with this DR. Was refered to Dr. Burrowes next door. I didnt want to deal with anyone at this time........ Went home depressed and deflated off my cloud actually clipped of wings and pushed off the cloud. Went home and took a nap and recharge my batteries and got up and called this Dr. Talk to the nurse and explained my issues and told her my weight (496) BMI of 86. I told her about my day and she said this Dr. has no weight restrictions and does open RNY. Has preformed surgery on 700 pounds. Ok feeling better now....
2/17/06 Called in AM at Dr. B's office and given a date to see him on March 2. Then it happened.....Called back and informed that my insurance policy dropped that from it??!!WTF???!! Called the insurance and sure as the sky is blue its no longer covered as of the first of the year! WoW I was never informed. WHat now???
2/18/06 VERY depressed I cant talk about it dont know what to do. My options are very limited my husband and I are just starting out so no available funds for this...been trying to presue this for over 3 years with only dissappointment with layoffs, no insurance, ect. I dont think my time will ever come.......
2/19/06 I am writting to inform everyone that my parents are paying for my surgery! Im so lucky to have such a supportive family and I love them to dealth. I will never forget that my mom and dad saved my life! I owe them everything. Appt. with Dr B. still stands march 2nd. TTFN...
3/1/2006 Hi All! Well tommorrow is my big day with the Dr. Burrowes. I hope this time I have a better run then with the last Dr. I just wanna get this going! TTFN....
3/4/06 Hey all! I had a great meeting with the Dr. Thursday. I was so nervous that yet again I would be dissapointed....but we got there and BOY it was a long walk to the DR.s office!! HOLY COW!! I didnt think I could make it and was even crying when I found out it was still down the door down the hall! But my husband stood by me and got me down there with some encouragement. I cant wait till this is all over and I can walk long distances and be normal, and keep up with him! Anyways..we got there filled out paperwork, payed my fee, watched a movie. Then some lady with no personallity took my pictures and weighed me and measured me. Then I took a test and waitted for the Dr. He was very nice and explained everything to us and answered all of our questions. I definatly want him to do the surgery, he is very expienced in doing surgery on higher BMIs. So now I have to go get my preop labs and UGI, and EKG, ECG done and I get a date! Im SOOOOOO EXCITED!! TTFN
3/19/06 All is well, I got my date for my pre-op stuff it was on 3/16/06 but my husband is very sick with something going around so he is my only ride to AMC....sooo Now I go on 3/23rd for UGI and blood work and blood gas (nervous about that one). and I go again the next day for chest x-ray and Echo, and EKG. So until then I will keep you where I am in the dark and waiting!!!!LOL I HATE all this WAITING!!!! TTFN
3/20/06 Hey all I am still waiting to go to my pre-op appt. at the hospital this week. But in the mean time BOY....I feel like "dead man walking" all I wanna do is have a last supper. I feel like Im in food mourning and being put to death shortly and need to have that one LAST supper! LOL This waiting is killing me! TTFN
3/23/06 Well its Thursday and I was up and at'em at 5:45 am (STRESSING) didnt sleep a wink worring about the blood gas test! So off I went to atlanta Med. Center checked in went up to the first floor and waited...waited....waited for an hour before they called my name went in to xray to have the UGI done. Was then asked quietly how much I weighed....hmmmmmm why because our table only holds 350...oh well thats my life right now...I cant wait till Im skinny and can get great medical care! Anyway they ask the DR. what to do cause I need this done...and they do it the old fashion way I get to drink this really gross stuff but do-able and then stand instead of laying down and they get it done! THank the lord! They do my chest x-ray no big deal then head off to lab...Met a lovely woman who drew my blood no problem and was telling me to think victoria secrets shopping when getting my Blood gas done! So then the big time arrivies...I go upstairs for the last test of the day and the man calls me in. I was very nervous and told him so...He did a good job as in he did it only once but he kinda got rough and told me to " come on you got to do it for surgery..stop clenching your fist" then he stuck it in my wrist and BOY DID IT HURT!!! Lord it burned once he got the blood...pheeew it was over, then I had just a breathing test that made my soo dizzy that I want to fall asleep everytime he talked to me! LOL
3/24/06 Next day (today) Well I get there today and the traffic is so bad this morning going into Atl. that Im climbing in my seat in the car while my husband drives and curses the drivers!LOL I get check in ...blah blah... They take me down for my last 2 test echo and ekg. THey put us in the basement near the morgue it looks like in this LITTLE room with no windows and it stinks like 1974 in there and tell me that if no one comes in like 10 minutes call this number and remind them Im here...WHAT???? So finally this young woman comes in and says "like we cant do you today till like maybe..1pm. If I want to go to the cafe and wait??? uhhhmmmm its like 8am. So she says" well you can reschedule for Monday and we will get you in no problem". Well its a problem people gotta work I have taken my Hubby out of work 2 days just to get this shit done. So I say whatever I will do it next week. She says "well when is your surgery?" So I tell her as soon as I get all these tests in the DR will tell me...her responce.."Well its just surgery whats another week"? Gee maybe she cant understand what another week means for people who have waited years for this surgery, and are almost to the end! SO they do my EKG might as well do that she says your here...so I go in this other TINY room on a strecher I cant understand this girl because it sounds like she hates her job or has a sock in her mouth! SO MUMMBLES pushes my shirt up puts the stickeys on hooks me up and tells me that there is so much artafact in the reading...it means for people who dont know..interference takes the picture and says "oh well hope its good enough" SO THEN this guy is like banging on the door trying to get in...I know that it is a medical perfessional but come on I need some privacy! He comes right on in..Im shirtless and says" Hey where is..so-and-so?" MUMMBLES says "she left" and they procede to have a conversation while Im open to the public to see...good thing I wore my good bra~! SO anyway not a good day...I will see how it goes next THursday my NEW aPPt. for the Echo..TTFN
3/30/06 Ok so I went back to AMC for my last pre-op test the echo... after waiting 1 hour in addmitting(waiting for a wheelchair) mostly, the ladies in addmitting at AMC are wonderful they are sooo nice and friendly. I was pushed down to echo and waited again for 45 minutes till the gal came down to get me. My husband was freaking out with all the waiting and "they never keep there appts." So thank god she was such a pleasant woman! She was wonderful, she took me in the room where I had my EKG and took off the top clothes put on a johnie and up on the stretcher. She shut off the lights and the screen came on LOL! It was pretty easy test took about 25-30 minutes it was a little uncomfortable with all the "pressing" they do on your chest trying to get a good pic of your heart. She said everything looked good and told me "good luck" with my surgery "its a wonderful thing" and then off we went back home! SO I get home and I want to call Monica at Dr. Burrowes office and get my next appt to see when my surgery will be...I know iM SO IMPATIENT!!! So I call and say that Im done with all my pre-op testing whats next and she told me " well ok when we get that last test report I will be calling you!" DAMN! Im SOOO BAD! Cant blame a girl for trying! TTFN......
4/1/06 Hey all! I hate all this waiting!!!! Im still waiting for DR. B's nurse (monica) to call me and schedule me for my surgery and to sign my life away to the DR.
4/2/06 Waiting.....Waiting....Waiting........
4/3/06 Waiting....Waiting.....Waiting..god help me!!...Waiting...
4/4/06 YAHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! April 17th, 2006 Is my new Birthday!!!!! OMG IM sooo excited and I have soooo much to do!!!!
4/8/06 Well the waiting is killing me...feeling kinda relaxed and calm effect I have going on lately. I cant wait and everything is moving slowly,,,,its weird. I do have new news... the Dr. changed my date to May 1 st now. Its okay I know Im finally here Patience is a virtue! I am prepairing for stuff... cleaning so its easier on my husband to keep up with the house cleaning, buying all my post-op liquids...buying my going home outfit! (feel like a newborn!) Just getting my ducks in a row. Now Im just waiting for Monica to call so I can come in and pay my bill to the Dr. and sign to put my life in the surgeans hands. She tells me she will call....and like a needy girlfriend I hang by the phone waiting. She nevers calls!!! TTFN
4/11/06 Well Monica finally called and now my last steps are just around the bend. I cant believe Im finally here! It has been a LONG stressful trip. ANyway Im going to Dr. Borrowes office on 4/26 to sign my papers, any last questions, and pay ($7000) Then down stairs to visit with the ANasteselogist and have more bloodwork for blood type ect. Then I head over to AMC (hospital) and pay for my stay (13,500) and I will be good to go! I feel like I should be doing something while I wait out my time, like I dont know DIET? but it is not required. IM still having some "last Supper" days, and trying not to gain any weight. Oh well...... I did get my mom her tickets to get down here (she lives in NH) so she will be coming down to help my hubby and I for two weeks! Good because I miss my mom....I cant wait till Im skinny and can fly home and see my family more, I only get to see them when they come down to me.! TTFN 19 DAYS!!!!!!
4/14/06 Well not much going on just waiting till my date to arrive....Easter is coming this weekend but my hubby has to work so we are having dinner tomorrow...Turkey, stuffing, ect. then you know..sleep it off and then we rented some DVDS to watch! I got some Tyl. PM to calm me down at night so I can get some sleep eye. It seems to be doing the trick! I think now I have..........16 days left!!
4/17/06 Well today is Monday and if they didnt canceall my surgery today would have been my day! But that is alright my day is coming up very quick. Made it through Easter with no "peeps" meltdown. I do have a Cadberry cream egg next to my bed that will have a demise in a short while tonight! My mom is packing her stuff she will be here in a week. Im not sleeping at all staying up just thinking about my husbands ablitity to clean the house,, I dont think he even knows how to cook scrambled eggs!! IM doomed! RELAX STEPH,....I know! I cant wait for this day to come and go...13 more days left....................
4/24/06 Hey All! Well its Monday night and I have just 1 WEEK till surgery!!! Im sooo scared! and excited! I dont know if I should attempt to do a cartwheel or throwup! LOL Anyways My mom is flying in tomorrow morning and help me clean this pig sty house and shop and get the extras that I need. She is staying for 2 weeks to help us out! Im so happy that she is here. Then Wed. I go to Dr. Burrowes office to sign and meet the gas doctor that puts you to sleep and get my blood drawn for transfusion if needed. I will update Wednesday night! 6 DAYS!!!!!!!
TTFN
4/28/06 Well all my day is creeping up on me fast! The office did call and once again move my date again! Monica said this was the last time! So now I go just 1 day later..no problem! So now Im on for May 2, 06! Just 3 days away. I did get all my pre-op Rx and waiting till Monday to do the bowel prep, and the antibotics, and the shower. Most of my stuff is bought but my bags are still NOT packed! Iknow I have to get on the ball. My mom is here and she has been cleaning my house and buying stuff that I dont have in the house! I love MOMS! I still very nervous but I know that this has to be done to maintain my life. When you go to sign those surgery concent papers BOY they kinda scare you alittle! And then when I got done I had to go downstairs and get more blood done and the lady was not a good blood drawer she stuck my 3 times before she got help! When I got home yesterday I was wiped after all that! IM so ready for this surgery that I cant stand this waiting..I think this is the hard part! I will update one more time before surgery...TTFN
OMG its now 9/3/2007 My life has changed sooo much since surgery. Not only have I gotten my life back and Im no longer just laying around slowly killing myself with food and depression. Im now out and running about like a normal person. I went to nursing school shortly after surgery when I was feeling better and just graduated with a 4.0! I cant wait to go back to work! We just moved to Fayetteville from College Park , thank god! Im able now to walk, shop, stand, drive, work, everything.. I would recommende this to anyone and would do it again in a heartbeat. OH Im down 185 pounds since May 4 2006. I stil have much more to go but damn I look good!
December 17, 2008 I feel so good right now with all the weight I have lost. I have got sooo much back in my life. I can walk, shop, drive, and work!.. Yes! Im finally able to go back to work and back to nursing. I would do all this again, it has been such a blessing in my life. BUT now I have to get back to taking my vitamins, and exercizing, and back to eating better. Yes I havent gained any weight but I havent gone down either. So the HONEYMOON is over and Jan. 2009 Im comittied to writting in my blog and to lose the rest of the weight. I dont eat much but I love to snack at night. It dont work no eating during the day and snack at night. BAD habits! And I have found that Im bursing much more than usual. Oh well.... I have it figured 18 pounds a month I need to lose, that is 4.5 a week. I can do this! I still have about 200 to lose. I have already lost 200. God what a long journey.
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About Me
Fayetteville, GA
Location
61.9
BMI
Surgery
05/02/2006
Surgery Date
Jun 20, 2005
Member Since