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Stephanie C.
Agawam, MA, USA
Post Op - BMI: 23.0
Surgery Type: RNY
Member ID: C1073125173
Surgeon: Imtiaz Munshi, M.D.

Click here for Stephanie's surgery support page
Click here for Before & After pictures page
Click here for the 04/2004 Reunion Page
Click here to print Stephanie's cards
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2004

4-10-04
I dont know what happened to my profile...........but i will update everything later.
I have an angel her name is MEA A....I have had the oppurtunity to meet her a couple times...And have spoken with her numerous times........She is such a great person!I really cant say enough about her.
Well monday the 12th is the big day! im getting so nervous........But excited to........I just want to get in there and get it over with at this point........Cant wait to be a loser!

4-16-04
I had my surgery mon 4-12 at 7:30 am.was in recovery by 10.in my room by 1. i wanted to get up and walk ......they made me wait 20 mins and i walked........i was dizzy when i first got up.......by 3 the dr came in and said i could have the cathetor takin out after that i was up walking on my own..i rested for an hour and was up for a while walking then i rested.i couldnt sleep there.i was up all night monday night talking with the nurses and had to ask them did i really have the surgery? lol
Tues am the dr came in to see me and said they would take the morphine pump and iv out and heard i was a model patient. i asked to shower and they let me shower with my back against the water and not to let it hit my stomach.by 1 they came in and gave me liquid pain meds........and said i could go home...i was sooo shocked........so i was discharged at 5pm.....got my prescriptions filled at the hospital and came home .was told to start them at 8pm. i got home around 530 -6 and was in soooo much pain.......(gas pains)then realized i hadnt had pain meds since 1 and the prescription said every 4 hours.so i took some before 8 and was better.i couldnt sleep in my bed the recliner was comfortable....but could only sleep a couple hours at a time......wednesday am i passed gas and it was the best feeling ever! lol
OH and on tues i was on 1 ounce of liquid to drink in an hours time....and pocycles sugar-free of course.......wed i was on liquids and popcylces,broth
thursday was soft /pureed foods..........i was a lil scared to eat .i was affraid i would get sick or it would cause discomfort...and i really didnt want to eat because i wasnt even hungry! its an amazing feeling!
friday 4/16 i had to go get my staples out......they weighed me.....and i weighed 229! i lost 6 lbs in 4 days! it was and is such an amazing feeling.!
oh i was prescribed nexium capsules to open and add to one ounce liquid once a day for stomach acid......
and ic docusate sod 2 teas 2 times a day for stool softener.....i dont like taking that .makes me feel sick.tastes nasty and i taste it for hours after!
liquid oxycodone hcl 5 mg for pain once every 4 hours......that works great but dont like taking it unless i have to.......makes me out to lunch and i slure when i talk...it makes me wanna lay down and rest..and gives me a headache........
I had my first bowel movement today! yippie...so when i went to the dr for the removal of the staples she said i didnt have to take the ic docustae anymore! thank-god!!! also when i had the staples removed.....she told me to sit up and i said your going to take them out with me sitting up..she said im done! i didnt feel a thing! whew......enough for now. will update on 4/28 when i go for my first post-op appt with the nutrisionist and surgeon.

I want to thank everyone for there support! my angel MEA she has been great and i cant wait till it is her turn on july/12/04! Good luck ! :)

Also would like to thank a life long friend Crystal..she has been there for me through this hole ordeal from beginning .......she had to listen to me go on and on about me evreyday.......What a great friend and supporter she has been! :0)
My husband bill and sister michelle has been great supporters also ......thank-you:) I love you all!

2005

January 6th,2005
Well i havent updated in a long time.........i have to get out my journal and put all the info on here. I would like to thank Rene for helping me with my personal profile page.
I finally am in the century club! Feeling good. Wearing clothes sizes 6-10 depending on the maker and cut.

January 10th
Got a call from dr.brooks office today! I'm scheduled for breast reduction and pannelectomy for march 23rd! I'm so happy but so scared! I first seen dr.brooks on 1/7/05 for a consult and was approved for breast reduction within 1 week .wow i didnt think itd happen this fast!

January 20th
I was denied my abdominoplasty. but i am going to appeal.but im still going ahead and having the mammaplasty.i will fight tooth and nail for panniecelectomy/abdominalplasty

Future Update
March 23rd 05
well today is the day of my mammaplasty. scheduled for 1:45 have to be at baystate medicl center for 12:00 nothing to eat or drink and have to apply a transderm-scop patch 4 hours before surgery.im not nervous about the actual surgery itself.just the results.......and pain. they gave me my prescription to pick up ,they gave me percocet. i have never taken that before.hope it doesnt make me sick.im not a person who likes to take narcotics.......ugh i dreed it! Dr. Glenn Brooks with be perfoming my surgery. I will udate later

Also wanted to add my before and after picture albums to share
These photos are right after wls and 6 months post -op
Just copy and paste

http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?showSlide=true&Uc=rkrzhx1.6p8b9eox&Uy=-1djg9x&Ux=0

These photos were all taken 3 days pre-op mammaplasty and 11 months 1 week wls post-op
Just copy and paste

http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?showSlide=true&Uc=rkrzhx1.bcefer6l&Uy=-usj73n&Ux=0

I was denied my abdominal plasty.but appealed on 2-22 and got denied again. the appeals nurse was great to work with ....she told me if i could provide everything the medical reviewers wanted i would get approved...so im going to appeal again.....they want a personal appeal letter...pics of rashes......and progress notes from my pcp. which i dont understand that one...the last time pics went in,dr's note stating i was given a antibacterial and anti fungal prescription. and they say my pannis doesnt hang below the pubic area. but i am what they consider 1st, stage( pannis hangs to pubic hair line.) so i will appeal again.....hope to have it in the fall or the beginning of next year........i just want to avoid self pay.......i pay for health ins....for these reasons.

May 21,2005
I called bc/bs and appealed my case for abdominoplasty,on April 28th. They called me and had a appt for a phone conversation(as my in ins co is in pa) on may 16th. I sent in pic,a personal letter , and a letter from my pcp and asked my pcp Dr. Stulacci to speak on my appeal also.

On May 17th i got the call.........I'M APPROVED ! For abdominoplasty! im so happy! Surgery Date July 6th 2005

I'm Scheduled for july 6th 2005.

To let all you know i had told my pcp back in august 04'4 months post op i had lost 62 lbs at that time.about rashes he told me to try over the counter creams (bacitracin, gold bold medicated powder and controll top panties) My rashes werent bad but developed numerous boils.

As time went on and i had many dr's visits i always mentioned and was sure the dr documented my problems. as i told him i would need the reference from him for the ins co for the surgery.

As of january 05 i was put on bactroban and lotrimin.....and got lil or no relief. so all of this helped in my appeal. If you plan on getting any reconstructive surgery start documenting early !!! You will need this as proof of treatment for thr rins co.

Here is a copy of the letter i wrote

Dear Bc/Bs Appeals Dept,

I'm writting you today in regards to my second level appeal for abdominoplasty.

It is unfortinate that having surgery is the only option i have left to correct my reaccuring problems( rashes,boils,back pain,raw skin,body odor) Dye to hanging skin i have after losing 108 lbs from my gastric by-pass surgery april 04.

I have been using over the counter creams and powders(bacitracin and ichthamol, gold bong medicated powder as recommended by my pcp since aug 04.

I continue to use these products along with my prescription lotrimin cream and bactroban and get no relief.
I wear control top pantyhose and panty girdles on a daily basis to try and help with my ongoing health problems.

My pcp and myself feel this surgery is medically necessary due to the following reasons:
my rashes boils ect is not responding to treatments(pics enclosed)
i have middle and lower back pain
the hanging and excess skin interfers with daily activity/exercise/work
body odor(shower 3x's daily to help keep this at a minimun
interfers with sexualy activity

For my back pain i use heating pads and therma care heating wraps and tylenol and get lil or no relief. I was offered a narcotic but refused it.i dont need to go from having one problem to another(as narcotics become addictive from long period of use) and i personally dont like to take narcotics.
To put my back pain into perspective for you-its like strapping a 5-10lb bag potatoes onto my belly area and carrying it around all day.

I find that my health problems interfer with my job _ as i work in dietary(where it is hot all year round) as i frequently need to take time away from my job duties to go dry and medicate myself.

Due to my ongoing medical problems it has taken an emotional toll on me and have been put on wellbutrin

I'm dreading the hot summer months(which is fast approaching) knowing my agony will increase.

Thank-you for reviewing my case and understanding my medical reasons for needing the abdominoplasty surgery.

I will be looking forward to speaking with you on may 16th.
sincerly,
Stephanie c

My phone appeal was at 11:15 ,they called at 11:05 and introduced the panel....and then gave my dr and myslef 20 mins each to speak. my pcp went first and bascially just told them i was being treated and with what and how i would benefit from the surgery. He spoke for about 10 mins.

My conversation-
Good morning..First i would like to start by saying this surgery is far from cosmetic for me,It is to get rid of the medically problems rashes boils back pain . I really dont have alot to say as you have all my info i want to bring to your attention in my letter. However i would like to say I had a disease called morbid obesity, my treatment for that disease was gastric by-pass surgery, As a direct result of that treatment i have the extra skin causing me yet another medical problem,That i have been treating with no sucess.
And that is all i have to say. I hope you take the time to review all information provided to you before making your final decision. If you need to see more of my skin problems im willing to come ther in person.Thank-you for your time and have a good day.

Future Update

2006

Future Update

Page Spruced up by 1-29-05
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Photos

Hospital Reviews

(Springfield, MA) - Baystate Medical Center

Member Interests:

Travel - I love to travel,though i havent been many places.

Dogs - We have a 4 year old Miniature Pinscher his name is Cody

Scrapbooks - I love to scrap book!

Married - Been married since April 26th,02

Golf - My husband is a golfer and i'm learning summer 05

Click here to see interests of other ObesityHelp members.

Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Imtiaz Munshi, M.D.
Insurer Info:
Blue Cross Blue Shield, PPO
I think BC/BS PPO is an excellent insurance co. I never had to deal with them directly,my pre-approval took 1 day .I had my consult and then recieved a letter from the insurance co, dated the day after my first appt for the consult. I had an appt on dec 17,2004,The nurse submitted my paper work after i met all the guildlines, support group meetings ,all testings,and 6 months with a nutrishinist.She called me that same afternoon with my pre-op appt and surgery date.!!! Wow was i happy! I highly reccomend bc/bs ppo!!!!