Weight Loss Surgery Directory

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Lynita C.
Indianapolis, IN, USA
Post Op - BMI: 45.9
Surgery Type: RNY
Member ID: C1054437392
Surgeon: Steven M. Clark, MD

Click here for Lynita's surgery support page
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<--"Angels Among Us"




JANUARY 15,2003
I AM 25 YEAR OLD FEMALE WITH NO KIDS, 5'3" 260 POUNDS AND MISERABLE. I AM CONSIDERING THE WEIGHTLOSS SURGERY AT THIS POINT. THE LAST DIET I TRIED CAUSED ME TO GAIN 30 POUNDS. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF SUCH? THIS IS REALLY FUSTRATING FOR ME. I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH WEIGHTLOSS ALL BUT 4 YEARS OF MY LIFE. FOR SOME STRANGE REASON IN HIGH SCHOOL I BECAME THIN. THEN 1 YEAR AFTER GRADUATION I STARTED BLOWING UP. NEEDLESS TO SAY AT THAT POINT IT DIDN'T REALLY BOTHER ME I WAS STILL HEALTHY, AND ABLE TO DO WHAT I WANTED WHEN I WANTED. IT DIDN'T BOTHER ME UNTIL 1998 WHEN MY WEIGHT KEPT CLIMBING FOR UNKNOWN REASON. I WAS THEN DIAGNOSED WITH HYPOTHYROIDISM. I WAS IN DENIAL ABOUT THAT BEING SO YOUNG AND HAVING TO TAKE MEDICINE. I THOUGHT THAT WAS AWFUL SO THEN I STARTED THE DIETING WITH DIET PILLS (ADIPEX) AND WEIGH INS WELL I ONLY LOST 20 POUNDS IN A 3 MONTH PERIOD. ABOUT A YEAR LATER THAT 20 POUNDS CAME BACK WITH A LITTLE MORE. WELL TRHE DIETING STORY WENT ON AND ON UTNIL 2002 I THEN GAVE UP BY THIS TIME I WENT FROM 190 PUONDS TO 229 AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A GIRL WHO WITHIN 4 YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL GAINED 7 POUNDS. BY OCTOBER OF 2002 I WAS 229. AT THIS POINT I BEGAN TO BE TIRED ALL THE TIME, AND FOR UNKNOWN REASONS I WAS JUST PLAIN SICK. I EVEN STARTED LOOSING MY HAIR SO IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO START DEMANDING ANSWERS FROM THE DOCTORS. WELL I FOUND OUT THE COMORBIDITIES OF OBESITY WAS SETTIN IN. I NOT ONLY HAD HYPOTHRYOIDISM THAT WAS ADEQUATELY REPLACED WITH SYNTHROID BUT I HAVE DIEABETES TYPE 2 AS WELL. THEN THEY PUT ME ON BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION AND GLUCOPHAGE WELL THIS HELPED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE TIREDNESS RETURNS, THAT EVIL DEMON!! ANOTHER 8 MONTHS GO BY AND I HAVE GAINED ANOTHER 21 POUNDS BY THIS TIME DEPRESSION HAS FOUND ME. SO I GO TO HAVE A SLEEP STUDY DUE TO THE TIREDNESS AND I THE FIRST SLEEP STUDY FOUND THAT I HAVE ASTHMA AND SOMETYPE OF SLEEPING DISORDER BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT BECAUSE I WOKE UP SO MUCH THE TEST WAS INCONCLUSIVE. I LET THAT BE FOR A WHILE BECAUSE MY LEGS LOOK LIKE THE END OF A BASEBALL BAT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND THEY WERE VERY PAINFUL SO I HAD TO HAVE THAT ADDRESSED AND I WAS THEN DIAGNOSED WITH VENOUS STASIS WITH LOWER SWELLING BY THIS TIME I HAVE MADE UP MY MIND I AM GOING TO PURSUE WLS. MEANWHILE AS WE MOVE AHEAD TO CURRENT I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE A CONSULTATION WITH ST. VINNCENT BARIATRIC CENTER ON FEBRUARY 10. THIS IS ENOUGH HISTORY FOR NOW I DON'T WANT TO BORE YOU GUYS SO WE WILL START WITH THE UPDATES FROM THE CONSULTATION TILL CURRENT.



FEBRUARY 10TH
I AM SO EXCITED I HAD MY CONSULTATION TODAY. I HAVE DECIDED THAT I AM GOING TO HAVE THE RNY PROCEDURE. THE DR. WAS GREAT WITH HER PRESENTATION. I FILLED OUT ALL THE PAPERWORK AND THEY WILL SUBMIT THE PAPERWORK TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY WITHIN TWO WEEKS. I WAS WARNED THAT THIS CAN BE A LONG PROCESS. LETS HOPE I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES AND IT IS NOT LONG. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT MY INSURANCE COMPANY DENIES MOST OF THE FIRST GO AROUND, BUT APPEALS HAVE A HIGH SUCCESS RATE. SO NOW I JUST HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT. THEY SAID GIVE ABOUT 3 WKS BEFORE I CALL AND CHECK ON THE STATUS OF MY PAPERWORK.



MARCH 4TH
I CALLED CIGNA TODAY AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING ON FILE AND TO CALL BACK NEXT WK. I AM A BIT DISAPPOINTED I FIGURED THEY WOULD HAVE THE INFORMATION BY NOW.



MARCH 14TH
I CALLED CIGNA AGAIN TODAY AND THEY FINALLY HAVE MY PAPERWORK BUT IT IS IN REVIEW AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE AT LEAST 4 WEEKS BEFORE I WOULD HAVE AN ANSWER. ARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGG!!!
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO TAKE SO LONG??????????



APRIL 14TH
I GOT MY DENIAL LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM CIGNA. I AM A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED BUT I EXPECTED IT. THEY SAID I DON'T HAVE A MEDICAL REASON FOR WANTING THE SURGERY AND THEY NEED PROOF THAT MY BMI HAS BEEN OVER 40 FOR MORE 1 YEAR OR MORE, A PSYCH EVALUATION, AND 2 26 WEEKS DIETS ONE BEING WITHIN THE LAST YEAR.
THEY ARE SO STUPID THEY ALREADY HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION EXCEPT FOR THE DIET PART. I THOUGHT WHAT THE DR WROTE DOWN WOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH. I GUESS IT IS TIME TO RESEARCH AND WRITE MY FIRST APPEAL.



MAY 9TH
I FAXED MY APPEAL IN TODAY WITH A LETTER FROM MY DR. HOPEFULLY
THIS WILL DO IT. WHEN I CALLED CIGNA TO VERIFY THE FAX THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE AN ASWER WITHIN 15 DAYS MEANWHILE I WILL KEEP DIGGING UP THINGS JUST IN CASE THEY DENY ME AGAIN. THIS IS FUSTRATING I REALLY HAD MY MIND SET UP THAT THIS WOULD BE A QUICK PROCESS BUT ITS NOT. I REALLY WANTED TO HAVE MY SURGERY BY TIME THE SUMMER CAME SEEING THAT I AM A STUDENT IN ALL.



MAY 30TH
DANG IT!!!!!!! I HATE CIGNA AND WHO ARE THEY TO PLAY GOD WITH SOMEONES LIFE. THE ARE UPHOLDING THE FIRST DECISION DUE TO NOT HAVE REGUALR WEIGH- IN DIETS. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I HAVE A METABOLIC DISORDER WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO LOOSE WEIGHT. TIME TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.



JULY 1ST
SORRY I HAVE POSTED FOR A WHILE I HAD TO GET MYSLELF TOGETHER HERE. I WENT TO MY ENDOCRONOLOGIST TO FIND OUT THAT I HAVE PCOS AND CAN BE CURED WITH WEIGHTLOSS. CIGNA DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT BEING OBESE CAUSE MORE HEALTH ISSUES AND COST THEM MORE. MY ENDO IS GOING TO WRITE A LETTER FOR ME.



JULY 17TH
I JUST RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CIGNA TODAY AND I HAVE A 2ND LEVEL TELECONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR JULY 31 YIPPEE, NOW MAYBE THEY WILL HERE MY SIDE OF THE STORY. THIS IS SOME GOOD NEWS.



JULY 31ST
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY I AM APPROVED!!!! I AM DOING ONE BIG HAPPY DANCE RIGHT ABOUT NOW. CIGNA CALLED ME AT THE TIME I WAS SCHEDULED TO BE CALLED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD REVIEWD ALL OF MY NEWLY SUBMITTED PAPERWORK AND I WAS APPROVED!! NOW ALL I HAVE TO DO IS GET A SURGERY DATE AND DECIDE WHERE I AM GOING TO HAVE THIS SURGERY DONE.



AUGUST 28TH
I HAVE A SURGERY DATE FOR OCTOBER 1ST THAT IS NOT FAR AWAY AT ALL. NOW I HAVE TO PREPARE TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE. WHEW THIS HAS BEEN ONE LONG FIGHT.




SEPTEMBER 12TH
TODAY I HAD MY PRE-OP CLASS. THIS IS SURE A LOT OF INFORMATION TO TAKE IN. I AM SURE IT WILL GET BETTER AS I GO ALONG. IT IS NOT TIME FOR MY 2 WK PRE-OP DIET WHICH CONSIST OF 2 PROTEIN SHAKES AND ONE FULL COURSE MEAL. AT THIS POINT I DO NOT LIKE THE PROTEIN DRINKS. WHICH I HAVE ONLY TRIED 2 SO HOPEFULLY I WILL FIND ONE I LIKE OR MAKE MYSELF LIKE THEM. THE TIME IS GETTING CLOSER AND I HAVING SUCH MIXED THOUGHTS! I AM EXCITED BUT THEN I AM OVERWHELMED WITH ALL THIS NEW STUFF I HAVE TO LEARN. WELL I HAVE 2 WKS 4 DAYS AND 1 WAKE UP LEFT UNTIL I WILL BE A LOOSER!!!!!!!!

SIDE NOTE~ THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE AMOS FAMILY FOR THEIR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT. YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!!
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY ANGEL~ ANGIE FOR ALL OF HER SUPPORT



SEPTEMBER 23RD
HELLO FAMILY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS. MY SURGERY DATE HAS MOVED UP AT THE LAST MINUTE WHICH THIS IS A GOOD THING. I AM HAVING SURGERY TOMORROW!!! THIS IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. YIPPEEEEE! I WILL POST AGAIN AFTER I HAVE THE OFFICIAL LOOSER STATUS.



OCTOBER 5TH
WELL AMOS FAMILY I AM OFFICIALY A LOOSER!! MY SURGERY DATE WAS MOVED UP TO THE 23TH OF SEPTEMBER SO I DIDN'T GET ANY LAST MEALS OR ANYTHING. BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING ELSE, I NEED TO SEND A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO SENT OUT PRAYERS FOR ME DURING MY STAY IN THE HOSPITAL SEEING AS I ENDED UP WITH A COLLAPSED LUNG. MY ADVICE TO THOSE WHO HAVENT CROSSED OVER YET IS MAKE SURE YOU DO YOUR BREATHING EXCERCISES AND MAKE SURE YOU TAKE DEEP BREATHES WITH THE PAIN THIS WILL HELP AVOID THE ISSUES OF THE LUNGS COLLAPSING.

I AM 1 WEEK POST OP AND I STILL HAVE LOTS OF SWELLING IN MY TUMMY AREA. AFTER HAVING THIS SURGERY AS SO MANY OTHERS I DON'T CRAVE FOODS AND IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME TO WATCH PEOPLE EAT. I AM EATING 2OZ OF FULL LIQUIDS 3X'S A DAY. I AM STILL VERY WEAK FROM THE SURGERY, WHATEVER ONE THING I DO TAKES ALL OF MY ENERGY AWAY. AT THIS POINT OF THE GAME I DON'T HAVE ANY FEELINGS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IF I AM HAPPY WITH THE DECISION THAT I MADE. I AM ONLY TRYING TO FOUCS ON HEALING. WELL I WILL POST AGAIN SOON.



OCTOBER 10TH, 2004
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT KEEPING UP ON MY SITE FOR ALL OF YOU WHO DEPEND ON OTHERS FEEDBACK TO HELP GET THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST EXCITING BUT TRYING TIMES.

I AM CURRENTLY 1 YEAR POST OP. I HAVE HAD NOT HAD MANY COMPLICATIONS. AT SIX MONTHS I HAD TO HAVE MY GALLBLADDER REMOVED AND THOSE STONES WERE A PAIN THAT I NEVER WANTED TO EXPERIENCE EVER AGAIN IN LIFE. ALSO FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS I HAD TO HAVE ENDOSCOPYS ONCE EVERY MONTH DUE TO THE SCAR TISSUE BUILD UP AROUND MY STOMA. SO NOW HERE I AM AT ONE YEAR AND THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS THAT I AM VERY TIRED ALL THE TIME, SOMETIMES IT ALMOST INTERFERES WTIH MY DAILY ACTIVITIES AND YES I TAKE MY VITAMINS AND I DRINK MY PROTEIN. ALL OF MY BLOOD WORK IS NORMAL AND HIGH NORMAL. I KNOW I HAVEN'T SAID MUCH BUT IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME AT MZLCHAVIS@AOL.COM I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU.































DAY OF SURGERY-----258
10-1-03----255---03
10-13-03---238---19
11-03-03---227---31
11-10-03---224---35
3 MOS 12-15-03---207---50
02-12-04---189---68
6 MOS 03-29-04---176---81
06-21-04---160---98
09-20-04---145---113

MY MEASURMENTS
THE DAY OF SURGERY---LEFT ARM--14.5
RIGHT ARM-14.5
CHEST-----52
WAIST-----52.5
HIPS------52
3 MOS 12-15-03-------LEFT ARM--13.5
RIGHT ARM-13 3/4
CHEST-----45.5
WAIST-----41.5
HIPS------45.5
6 MOS 3-29-04--------LEFT ARM--12
RIGHT ARM-11.5
CHEST-----42.25
WAIST-----36
HIPS-----42
1 YEAR 9-20-04-------LEFT ARM--10.5
RIGHT ARM-10.5
CHEST-----37
WAIST-----32.5
HIPS------37


ObesityHelp Magazine

Sleep apnea is a common health condition of the obese.
  • What is Sleep Apnea? Who gets sleep apnea? What causes sleep apnea? Sleep Foundation

    What are the effects on sleep apnea following gastric bypass?

    Barbara Thompson "Finding the Thin Person Within"


    Mayo Clinic
    • Information about the different types of weight-reduction surgery, including vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), gastric partitioning (laparoscopic banding), and gastric bypass.


    • PACIFIC BARIATRICS WEIGHT LOSS PLANNER
    • It's important to have realistic expectations of your weight loss.

    • Here's a web site which gives you a chart of what kind of weight loss you can expect after WLS. You put in your height & weight and goal and it gives you a 18 month weight chart.


    American Diabetes Association









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    Hospital Reviews
  • (Indianapolis, IN) - St Francis
  • (Indianapolis, IN) - St Francis

    • Surgeon Info:
    Surgeon: Steven M. Clark, MD
    WHEN I FIRST STARTED THIS JOURNEY BACK IN FEBRUARY OF 2003 I HAD A CONSULT WITH DR. INMAN. SHE APPEARED TO BE VERY KNOWLEDGABLE ABOUT THE RNY. SHE TOOK THE TIME TO EXPLAIN THE PROCEDURE THROUGHLY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE HAD. I THINK SHE IS CAPABLE OF GETTING THE JOB DONE.DR. INMAN EMPHASIZED THAT THIS SURGERY IS A MERE TOOL AND THAT STICKING TO THE AFTERCARE PROGRAM WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT. I WAS CONCERNED WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT SHE SPENT WITH ME AFTER THE CONSULTATION ONE ON ONE. IT SEEMED KIND OF RUSHED. THE ONLY REASON I AM NOT SURE THAT I WILL BE USING HER IS BECAUSE ST. V IS REALLY BOOKED AND I DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR ALMOST 6 MOS OUT TO HAVE MY SUREGERY. ALSO I HAD TO DO ALL OF MY FOOTWORK FOR GETTING APPPROVED. I DIDN'T LIKE NOT HAVING TO MUCH SUPPORT. I HAVE DECIDED TO GO WITH DR. CLARK AT ST. FRANCIS WEIGHTLOSS CENTER. HE IS A WONDERFUL DR. HE SEEMED TO BE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE SURGERY AND DIDN'T MIND ANSWERING QUESTIONS. HE HAD AN EMERGENCY AND STILL DIDN'T MIND SEEING ME AS WELL AS OTHERS BEFORE HE ATTENDED HIS EMERGENCY. DR. CLARKS OFFICE STAFF WAS WONDERFUL THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL AND FRIENDLY AS WELL. THEY HAVE A VERY STRUCTURED AFTERCARE PROGRAM THAT CONSIST OF A PERSONAL TRAINER, CASE MANAGER, DIETICIAN,AND A BEHAVIORAL COUNSELOR.
    Insurer Info:
    Cigna, PPO
    Cigna is very unorganized. In order to get anyting done with them you have to be presistant. You also better have all of your paperwork in order before hand. if not they will not budge.