ObesityHelp

2/15/02
I went to my seminar and have learned more about the surgery and I look forward to my consultation. It was wonderful to meet people that have had surgery and too see the changes, not only the bodily changes, but their personality's were absolutely glowing! I was amazed. The seminar also set my husband more at ease as he now better understands the surgery itself and also sees from another viewpoint what I am going through.

2/19/02
I saw Dr. Maxwell today for my psych evaluation. She really put me at ease and was wonderful. I did not really understand all the testing, but I suppose there was a purpose. She has referred me for counseling on binge eating. She said that I eat too much, too fast and too often. DUH!! I was shocked. I mean is that not why people are looking into this surgery??? Anyways, I suppose it is a good thing. She says that I am a good candidate for surgery and I guess this additional counseling will make me a better one right?? I need to keep positive!

2/19/02
I went right after the visit with Dr. Maxwell to my first support group. It was great. I was able to meet some people that I met through Yahoogroups.com They are fantastic! Lots of support and tons of info. I love the fact that everything is all together. The hospital, Dr's office and the support groups meeting there. Everyone says the support is wonderful!

5/15/02
Well I did the Behavior modification for the binge counseling. It was very helpful! I was shocked to find out how bad I was truly eating. I knew that it was bad, but wow, I was shocked. I went to Dr. Richard Block. He was wonderful and I was able to accomplish it quickly by taking cancellations. I was approved less than 1 week later for RNY. My date was set for August 1st. I was really happy....Until...I found out about DS. The Duodenal Switch. I am in my early 30's and was not looking forward to such a restrictive diet for the rest of my life. Also eating such small amounts forever. I have decided that I want the DS. I have looked into Dr Keshikian in Delano, California. It is quite a bit more costly though with the extended stay and traveling, plus a $2,000 up front fee for lifetime care. I also went to Dr Simpson's seminar in Phoenix. I am unsure about using him though as I do not know anyone personally that has had surgery by him. I was really wishing Dr Juarez did it! I called Emile, Dr J's assistant, and I let him know what I was thinking. I told him of all the research that I have done and this is what I want. He suggested that I come in and have a second consult and see Dr J. That was yesterday. I am happy (and maybe a little crazy) to say that I am scheduled for DS with Dr J on 8/01/02. I will be his first! Dr J is a bariatric surgeon and was a trauma surgeon before that. I know MANY people personally that had their surgeries through him. He is a very talented surgeon and I have complete faith in him. He has performed the duodenal end of the surgery for reasons other than weight loss many times (it is performed for ulcers) and is very comfortable with this. I am very excited. I get my choice of surgery, surgeon and the aftercare with St Lukes hospital which is fantastic. (I have heard horror stories about the hospital stay and am making someone go with me.)Now all I have to do is wait....

6/7/02
Friday evening I got a call for Angelina, My Duodenal Switch was denied. I can still have the RNY, but that is not what I want. My Dr. had written that the DS would allow me to eat more. The insurance company did not go for that at all. There are several more reasons for me wanting the DS over the RNY. I feel very strongly that it is the right surgery for me! I am willing to wait, go through the appeals and do what it takes to get it. If that means a five year wait, I am willing. I will start the process first thing Monday morning...

6/17/02
I have finally decided to switch Dr's. This is a hard thing to do as I know so many people that have gone to Dr J. I had a consult with Dr. Simpson last week and he is going to help me fight my appeal. He tells me that I have a very good chance of winning my appeal. Now starts my appeal and I need to get in with a nutritionist. I am also required to lose 10 lbs before I will be scheduled.

6/23/02
I attended Dr Simpson's support meeting and it was great. A nutritionist was on hand and it gave me some more insight as to the diet after surgery and what I need to pay close attention to. Also how important it is to exercise. The body will lose much better and healthier with exercise. I now have 3 weeks till my personal appointment with Nancy, the nutritionist and I also need to lose 10 lbs before Dr Simpson will schedule surgery. I am also praying that we will win the appeal with the insurance company.

7/10/2002
I had my appointment with Nancy and I am happy to say that she is wonderful! She has gave me more hope. I was so frustrated after my denial and now almost two weeks later, I have lost a few lbs again. We have the support meeting on Wednesday, and I look forward to seeing her again and going in for my weight check. Debbie has also turned in all the paperwork to the insurance company for my appeal.

7/19/2002
I went to a support meeting the other night. I am a little bummed as I have gained a few lbs back that I had lost after the binge eating counseling. I have to be honest I am more than bummed, upset is more like it. Debbie and Nancy both pointed out, that I am exercising more and muscle weighs more than fat, that could be part of it. I just returned from a vacation and could be a little dehydrated. I am unsure. I am not really on a diet, but I have been making better food choices and I am also off soda! YEAH That is a tough one!! I am now working on eating without a drink in front of me. That is another tough goal. Little by little, I WILL make it! The group was a large turnout and was an awesome meeting. Debbie and Nancy are great!!

I have gotten word that I have won my appeal!!!! My work was very supportive and had contacted the insurance company and within 3 days I had been approved. I am so happy and so excited. I was really frustrated after being denied. I have gotten in with a great practice and they have a wonderful support group and now I even get the surgery of my choice!!!!

Drum roll please......I have a date!!! My grand opening is September 23, 2002. WHOOO HOOO!!! I am the star attraction, of course! Dr Simpson, had better be the best actor. Hehe

8/19/02
Tomorrow I get to go with my angel Kathy and see the whole pre op procedure done. I am so excited for her. I feel like I have gotten to know her very well since we have kinda went through the whole process together. I feel like that is really when my wait will begin, after she is switched!! God Luck Kathy!

9/7/02
I logged onto the message board the other day to find out that Dr Simpson has some meetings going on and some days had to be pushed up. This was on Sunday, "Am I one" went through my mind all day. First thing Monday morning I got through to Debbie who laughed, "do you want to be one??" YES!!! Mary called back after a little while to let me know I am now scheduled for the 18th!! Here I am now less than 2 weeks away... I am very excited!! More than a little nervous too! My angel had her WLS 3 weeks ago. She is in the hospital again. I am very worried for her and do not know what is going on with her. I have sent an email off to my Dr. with some of my concerns and will pray for Kathy in the meantime.

9/18/02
Today I give myself the best birthday present ever. I am going in for a duodenal switch. It is my day to break on through to the other side. I have waited so long for this day to happen and it is FINALLY here. I am very calm. I went to sleep and got a full night's sleep even, (until a 3 am call) I am very well rested an excited to start my journey. I am also very relieved that my angel Kathy got out of the hospital yesterday and is doing much better.

9/24/02
I am now 6 days post op. I came home from the hospital on Saturday, my 33rd birthday! I thought a 3 night stay was great. OK, a little about the experience. I went in and they got me into post op and blew a vein immediately. They said this happens after the bowel prep, we become dehydrated. So they just moved me on into surgery prep and would start an IV and draw the blood from there directly. Got that IV in on the first shot, no pain. The gal's name was Linda and I will never forget her cause she did such a great job. The next step was to give me a cocktail that Dr Simpson likes his patients to have before surgery. Linda told me, something to calm you down and a few antibiotics. I asked for more info (I am allergic to 3 antibiotics) She tells me as she shot's them into my IV! I tell her immediately and she pulls it out and acts like she didn't put any in there. She checks my band and says, they aren't on here. They are in the same family I explain, so she calls pharmacy to verify. Sure enough she comes back with something else. She is saying "I am glad I did not give that to you. By this time, I am not feeling to well at all. I have dry heaves and nothing to heave. Horrible felling, I get up with my hubby and walk to the bathroom, he goes to fix my gown and sees my chest, covered in hives...Hmmm Think she slipped me some. By the time I get back I feel like shit and am crying between heaves to throw up nothing that is in my stomach. By this time, in walks the surgeon to see what a mess I am and tell me we can call the whole thing off, I start crying harder, telling him what happened, with the nurse saying that I never got any. Go figure??? They give me Benadryl and as soon as he got the ok from me that this is what I want, they gave me something and I don't remember anything till I woke up. That is how I broke through the other side!! WaHoooo

10/21/02
I am one month post op!! I was at 325 before I started my journey and 306 the morning of surgery. I got on the scale to 275 this morning!! I just checked my BMI and it has dropped from extremely obese to just obese! Who would have ever thought I would be happy to be obese??? Lol. Life is great!! I have some mornings when I have a harder time than usual, but I think that is controlled more by what I eat. The carbs can really cramp me up and make me stick close to a toilet. I also got milk intolerant. All in all it has been wonderful and I would do it again today if I had to! I am completely healed and had zero complications!!! Life is back to normal, albeit thinner for me!!

10/28/02
I had met a friend named Linda through a support group with my Dr's office. She was going in Wednesday for her surgery. Also at the same time she was having her ovaries out, they were thought to have been cancerous. Linda threw a clot to her lungs and passed away yesterday. Pulmonary embolism is a risk albeit small that we all take. We never think something like that can happen to us or someone that we know. Linda was at a higher risk I later found out due to a blood disorder. She had no regrets at all, Right up until the end. I am grateful that I came through this surgery with no complications. My heart aches for Linda's family. Know your health, research and know the risks. I am thankful for the Dr that sat with her till the end. Dr Simpson is a wonderful Dr. We have a very close support group and Linda's passing has hit us all hard, most of all Dr Simpson. I would not change it for the world. I think that they are the greatest group of people to take this journey with.

11/18/02
Two months today!!! I can not believe it! I feel great! I need to dig and find my measurements from a month ago and retake them today. I do know that my 2X sweats are baggy and I have a 2X T-shirt on. I started at size 28 pants and 4X shirts!! Just got off my exercise bike and am totally loving life!

3/18/03
WOW!! Today is my six month anniversary! I weighed in at 210, (that would be 218 on Dr Simpson's scale, Grin!) I bought some size 16 Capri pants yesterday and fit into a 1X shirt. (I bought 1X mens lounge pants and have to take them back, way too big!!)Life is great and I am feeling great. People don't even recognize me at times. It is just truly amazing! I go for y blood test this week for my 6 month check. They have to draw 18 tubes! Yikes. Oh yeah, I also have to go in nd have a hernia repair done. I have one getting bigger by the day, right by my belly button! It does not hurt, but that bulge will be nice to get rid of. This one can be done laproscopic too! That is all for now. I will try to update more often...

4/17/03 7 months post op!!
I am now to 202! That is within 5 lbs of hubby! ;o)Ear to ear grin!!! My BMI is in the overweight range and I am only 15-20 lbs from normal!!! Hehe, like I will EVER be normal. I am also starting to look into plastic surgery. I had hernia surgery 2 weeks ago. I am fine now and moving on! Life is just great. I am in a size 14/16 pants and a 18-20 shirt. I have had so many people that haven't even recognized me. I just want to cry sometimes when they realize who I am. When I catch sight of myself in the mirror, it is still a shock, IS THAT REALLY ME????

5/27/03
I am just over 8 months post now! Can I tell you life is wonderful. Went to a church dinner the other night and people I have known for years, but have not seen recently were not to friendly towards me. Turned out, they did not know that it was me!! They thought hubby was with someone else! Dan and I were hysterical! At the family reunion there were two distant family members also asking who I was. It does not fail to amaze me on a daily basis how my life has changed for the better! I am now down 135 lbs! I am at 195. I have not been under 200 lbs since being pregnant with my 16 year old! I feel great! I had my 6 month check and everything showed fine with my blood draws. I am doing great with my calcium and vitamins, but am working on getting more protein in. I could solve that with a protein shake, but ugh! Bring on the steak!!!

8/5/03
Almost 11 months out and I am down 148 lbs!! I can not tell you how AWESOME that life has become! I feel so much better than I ever have before. I have had to work a little more at getting in my protein, I started getting some dizzy spells, but the protein seems to have taken care of that. I have had no other problems at all!

9/18/03
I am now one year post op and down 150 lbs! I feel great and I continue to to take my vitamins and make sure I get in plenty of protein. I have also discovered exercise and it feels great to work out! I am just starting my journey through plastic surgery now. I am 31 years old and a mother of 4. I have fought my weight all of my life. Most of this time unsuccessfully. I started looking into WLS 3 years ago in 1999, then I had a surprise pregnancy. I have a BMI of 41 and am scheduled for a seminar and appointment by Dr. Juarez. He has came highly recommended by everyone I have spoken to so far. My personal Doctor and also friends that have had surgery

Future Update!

Future Update!

Future Update!

Future Update!

Future Update!

Future Update!

Future Update!

Future Update!

Future Update!

Future Update!