ObesityHelp

4-19-02 I have called my insurance company to see if they received my paperwork from Dr. Quinlan yet, and she said "we have not", and
so I called his office and left a message for his insurance girl to call me back, and she hasn't so far. So, I don't want to be a pest, but I want to know if I need to do anything else. I don't
know what to do now. Just wait I guess. My date is june 13th.
I just want a confirmation for many reasons as I'm sure you all know this. There are things I need to take care of in advance.

5-08-02 I am trying to update my personal account with a "running" timline, but it's not working out that way.
HELP me please!

5/8/02 UPDATE*** Maria called me from DR.Q's office, and she is the only one doing insurance work, she said my p/w will be sent in by the end of this week. So, at least now I know what's going on! I feel much better now!

5/8/02 I finally figured out this comment page! DUH! It is a running comment page! I'm ok now

5/10/02 My e-mail address is changing as of today. If anyone would like to contact me please do so at: broffie@libcom.com,
and I would love to hear from you. Only 33 more days to go!
I'm so excited!

05-13-02 Maria form Dr.Q's office called to say that H.A. has a few more questions they need me to answer, I answered, and then I said; "Maria, what's wrong, is something wrong, are they going to deny me"? She said very calmly that she didn't know for sure, just that they needed more info. I called today just to ask the girls in the office how they would let me know if I am approved or not. She said Maria will telephone me. I'm wiggin out here!
Every time the phone rings in my office I think it's her. I
think I need some sedatives!!! LOL




05-14-02 I am so excited!!! I AM APPROVED!!!!! My surgeons
office just called, and told me!! WOW!! I just called over there yesterday to find out how they would let me know, and she said she will call me!! NEVER DREAMED IT WOULD BE TODAY!!!!!
Thank You Jesus!!! Praise the Lord!!! I am so happy!!!!
One disappointment is that my date was changed because of the hospital they are operating out of (West Penn in Pittsburgh)
from June 13th to July 11th. I can wait though, it's only 30 more days!!!

05-14-01 I'm home now and I STILL can't believe I am APPROVED!!
The Lord has truly blessed me! I will do everything my doc tells me to, because I never, ever thought this would happen. My husband isn't thrilled, but he'll be ok!!

5-16-02 I am just checking my profile to see if mt picture is on it yet. I sent it in to photos@obesityhelp.com on Wed. evening and this might be to early for my picture to appear.
I am sooooo looking forward to this surgery!

05-20-02 Well today is Tues. the 20th, and I just tried to change my background color with the help of Jacki, thanks so much to her! I am still in the excited stage, and this is probably because it is still "51" days away!! Keith is still not happy, but, he is supporting me, because he put my pic on jpg I sent in!! There's hope for him yet!!!!

05-22-02 I just love this site, I found new unexplored area's that I had never visited before like the "faces of WLS", "the library",. I spent three hours on this site last night. My DH
said "hey baby don't you love me any more" My poor baby!!!
Ah isn't life grand!

05-28-02 Well, it's been a few days since I have updated, and I have been very busy, at work, and at home, but I am still very positive about my surgery! I want to FEEL GOOD!! I feel like crapola everyday!! Not Good. I am going through a funk about how terrible it is to be so fat that I don't even care to leave the house! I haven't felt this bad for a long time. Well, I just felt like whining just a little bit!

06-07-02 Well, I have ONLY "33" more days of suffering left!
I am soooo excited, and can hardly wait!!! I went to Dr. Shauer's support group meeting on Wed. night, and it was so inspiring! Just looking and hearing what the post-ops have done since their surgery was so awesome. One lady had a very sad story to share with us, and it was about how crazy she got after loosing so much weight, and how she starting drinking, and running around, and she said she almost lost her husband through
a divorce, and she really was crying so hard telling us what she has been through since her "loss". I think it helped her to talk to us about it.

06-14-02 I had a long talk to my mother and father about this surgery tonight, and I finally think they realize this is it, and I am having it done on July 11th. They were very, very supportive which really blew my mind! I love them both dearly and this means so very much to me. I think my sisters, and husband is ok with it now too! I just have this feeling that this really sin't going to happen to me, I can't help my feelings and it just seems to good to be true that I will get a second chance to be healthy for life. I praise my Lord for this chance that he has given to me, and I will treat my body as a temple from that day forward. My sweet hubby is a musician, and his band is downstairs practicing, and I have my own personal concert goin'on! It's a blast!! THE NEW COUNTDOWN NUMBER IS...........26 MORE DAYS !!!!!! i JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN!

06-17-02 Well, I was supposed to have my pre-op physical today by my PCP, but "she called in sick", but they re-scheduled it for tomorrow afternoon, WHEW....I'm relieved! I want to have everything in order by my BLAST-OFF DAY.....July 11th
I guess she will schedule my per-op testing I need to have.
I need a chest x-ray, EKG, CBC, comprehensive metabolic panel(??)
a complete medical history for the hospital, and I think that's it! I am getting a little more nervous as the days get closer, and closer!! It's not the surgery, it's the thoughts of being in a hospital!!

06-25-02 Well, lets see.....I have another physical scheduled for July 8th, as there is a 7 day rule prior to surgery date.
Got my meds that I will take on July 10th,,,,Golitely (pineapple) Erthromyacin, and Neomycain 500 MG each! My frined said this is the absolute worst thing, even worse than the surgery!
ONLY 15 days to go!!! Wow, it will be here before I know it!
Yipee~~~~~~
My husband and I went to Presque Isle for few days to celebrate our #1 anniversary!!! It was simply wonderful! So relaxing, and we both never mentioned a word about our jobs!!!
We took our boat out on the big Lake, and it was Great!!!
We both got quite a sunburn though! I kept telling Keith, "take off your shirt"!! He got so burned! OUCH!!
He is so wonferful, and we are both so very happy!

6-30-02 Well, it's my happy birthday today, and my family had a very nice picnic for me that really meant alot to me! I love each and every one of them dearly! I don't think they are happy about the WLS, but they know me well, and I will not change my mind about anything. That's my stubborn Irish coming out!
My DH still is saying, "you're not having the surgery", and I'm quite sure he is so scared too, because he supports me in everything I do otherwise! I love my hubby so much, and he is going with me to the hospital, along with my Mom and Dad, and my sister Patti Sue. I am thrilled that they are all coming with me, and I will be thinking about how much I love them as they prepare me for the WLS that day!
My sweet little hubby bought me a new computer for my birthday, and I lov it sooooo much! It's so nice not having to " go to the bathroom" while you are waiting for the site to come up!
THE BIG DAY is only 10 days away now!!! I can say that I'm a little nervous, but, I want this to happen so bad, that I will deal with the emotions!

7-04-02 Happy Independence Day to everyone living in this GREAT country! OK....ONLY 6 MORE DAYS TO GO!!!!!!!!
I am having so many different emotions today, and I seem to burst into tears quite often! Go figure! I'm only a 49 year old women on the fringes of menapause!! LOL Men do not know how lucky the really are!! I'm still psyched!!! One thing that is still on my mind is that I have very little support from my family. I have a lot of good friends that are totally supporting me, and I guess that's what counts. Oh well.....it isn't going to change these last few days, and I am a very strong willed person, as anyone who knows me will tell you.
I've been talking to my ONE TRUE SUPPORT....My Heavenly Father, and he is more comfort than anyone can imagine! Thank goodness for my faith! Till next time!

7-8-02 Well....It's only 3 days away now, not counting today!!! I am pretty much ready to go, I just have to pick up a few things tomorrow, and I'll be done. I had prayer with my good friend Kathy from our church, and our Pastor Tom prayed with me this morning. I stopped everyone, and said "please say a prayer for me on Thurs. moring", although I still don't know what time my surgery will be. I'll be in West Penn Hospital in Bloomfield is all I know right now! I am just praying that everything goes smooth!! I go tomorrow for my physical, and I sure am hoping that everybody that I have seen has faxed the results over to the hospital!! That's what I'm nervous about!! I'd like to do everything myself, then I wouldn't have to worry!! LOL
Keith is very quiet about this! I just pray that everything goes alright for his sake too! My little peapod!!
well....it's off to sign some more surgery pages!!

7-9-02 Only 1 more day to go.......I am trying to post my hospital information below my surgery date, and I can't figure out how to do it! sooo.....I will be at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh, and the number is 412-578-5000. I don't have the time of my surgery yet, but, they will call me tomorrow between 1:00 and 3:00 to let me know when!!! I am pretty calm as I know that my Heavenly Father has given me this peace because I am usually the "Queen of Nervous". I'll post the time tomorrow.

7-10-02 This is my LAST POST till after the surgery!! My date is tomorrow, and I am preping today! My Heavenly Father who granted me this wish is right by my side today!! HE is keeping me calm, and giving me great peace over this decision. I am truly thankful and grateful to everyone on this site! What a strong and corageous bunch of people!! I can't wait till it's OVER!!! Love to all of my family, and also to my wonderful Husband, I love them ALL SO VERY MUCH!!
I am so ready to start my new "life", and I WILL BE A SUCCESS!!!
Bye, Bye for now!

07-13-02 I'm home now!! Praise the Lord!! I had a coomplication -free surgery!! Dr. Quinlan was absolutely wonderful! I went in at precisely 7:30, and my family said I was back in my room at 11:30. 2 hours for op,& 2 hrs recovery!!
Thank you Jesu, lover of my soul!!! I am praising HIM for giving me this opportunity to "let me have this tool" for which I am so grateful! My incisions are pretty sore, and thank goodness for Roxicet!! My good friend Pam Johnson was at West Penn for my surgery she is almost 2 years post op, and she lost around 150 lbs, and has stayed at her goal weight for well over a year now, and LOOKS absolutely terrific, and feels even better! I am so glad she came over, she was a comfort to my family! Also while I was in my "new friend" Connie Scott who is "hoping to have surgery" came over, and brought me a beauiful little Teddy Bear, and baloon!! I was soooo glad to see her, and we talked for a good while about how things went.
She is such a sweet person! I'm pretty sore on my five little incisions, but, other than being very tired, I am doing just wonderful! The broth that they gave me in the hospital tasted like a "steak dinner", it was sooo good! Well, I'm going back to my recliner to rest some more so I'll check in later! To all pre-ops hang in there! It isn't as bad as you think!!!
Praise God, He is so AWESOME!!!!! see ya later!


07-21-02 Well, it hasn't been easy for me thus far, nothing major, just ALL of the emotional changes I am going through, and WOW there are so many! I'll deal with them though!
One problem is that I cannot take any of my meds post-op, and no matter how I try to take them, it just doesn't work at all!!
I go see my doc on Tuesday, so hopefully he can help me with this problem.
Another one of the problems is that I AM HUNGRY! It's not head hunger, it's definately hunger! My pouch is empty all the time because all I drink is liquids,and it goes right straight through, so this is another issue that I will bring to his attention. Also, my chest hurts, don't quite know why, but that is another thing I'm concerned about.
The weakness I feel now, is like no other weakness I have EVER experienced before! I know it is stemming from "lack of nutrition", and I will be sooooo much happier when I gain some strenth, and energy, it's just not happening right now!
till later!

7-24-02 Well, my first post-op exam was yesterday, and it went well. Dr. Q was very happy with my progress, and that made me happy! I have lost 17lbs. in only 12 days!!! That was so awesome finding that little fact out! I didn't weigh myself prior to my first appt., I wanted to be surprised, and I was!
You just have to take it one day at a time! It is a slow recovery, and I am definately GLAD I made this critical life change, and I Praise my Lord everyday for giving me this opportunity! HE IS SO AWESOME!!!!

7-30-02 Feeling Pretty Good!! I am so glad that I am healing so wonderfully! Praise the Lord! I am pretty bored at home however, because I am so limited in what I can do physically, so that's a bummer, but, I'll be back to work soon, and I will not be bored at all, I'm quite sure! If you pre-ops have the opportunity to get this done, I have two words for you...DO IT!!

8-19-02 Well......it's been a while since my last update, and I am doing just fine, I must say! I have had a couple of "bad episodes", and I don't know what is causing them! It is baffling me! I get REALLY BAD STOMACH PAINS which last for hours, and hours. I am going to see my surgeon soon, so I will ask for his input. I have read on the site, that it could be anything from a possible hernia, to adhesions, to stapleline rupture, to just muscles that are healing! So who knows!
I am ready to GO BACK TO WORK!!!!!! I hope he releases me soon!
This has been nice, but, I can only take so much peace and quiet!!! I need my noisy department back!!!!!! Well I have now lost 30 pounds! So I hope the loss continues to go well for me!
I do admit though, I do cheat once in awhile, so that's me!!!
I have had such a good recovery process, and My Lord has truly Blessed Me!!! HE is sooooo awesome! He will get you through this guys, believe me HE will! PRAISE GOD!

08-26-02 Went to see Dr. Quinlan and I have now lost a total of 35 pounds!! I am so happy, and I feel so Blessed to be feeling so good, and the fact that I have absolutely no "trouble" eating anything at all! I never thought I would be so fortunate!
I go back to work on the Tuesday after labor day, Sept. 3, 2002.
I am so glad, it will be good getting back into my routine at long last. If there are any pre-ops reading this, I would encourage you to hang in there, and go for it!! I am feeling better, and better each day! I want to thank everyone on the site who has e-mailed me, and given me encouragement, both pre surgery and post surgery! God Bless you all!! Praise the Lord for what HE has allowed me to do!!


9-9-02 Hello....I'm back at work and lovin' it! I feel normal again!
I have been with Black Box for 19 years and I had never been away except for vacations so it was pretty wild!
As far as the weight loss goes, it is slow because they said I was a "lightweight"!! Funny....I didn't feel like a lightweight!!
I am not exactly eating everything that is good for me, you know what I mean, but, I need to feed my craving sometimes, even if it's just a bite or two! I have gotten so much of my energy back now, and that is a real plus!! I say to all the pre-ops, hang in there and go for it! This was one of the best decisions I have ever made for me in my life.

11-06-02 It's been a long time since I updated my profile, but, I am feeling VERY GOOD, and just wanted to let everyone know that I am not having any problems at all. Praise the Lord!!
I have lost a little over 60 lbs so far, and I am so happy that I had the chance to do this. My eating habits have changed dramatically! That's a good thing too! I can tolerate refined sugar, but, only in very small quantities, and that is a very good thing, as that was my "downfall" before surgery. I loved sweets!! Now....if I am "craving" sweets, all it take to satisfy me is one little bite, not a whole pie!! LOL
For those of you out there that are just not having any longterm siccess with ALL of the diets....this is the way to go!
But, always remember....this is just a tool! You got to do what you are supposed to do....period.
God Bless everyone!!

12-20-02 Hello everyone, and Happy Holidays to all who have taken the journey, and to those who have just begun their journey

I am doing very very well, and I am still loosing weight, I am 6 months out at this point, and I am very happy with my weight loss. I see where people on the site compare their weight loss to others, and that IS NOT a good thing to do, everyone is different. I have lost 80 pounds so far, but, more important is that I have a very good quality of life now, no more aches and pains in my joints, and a very high energy level!!
If you are contemplating surgery, I say DO IT! What a simply wonderful tool this is, and you deserve it!
If anyone would like to contact me via email, I would love to talk with you!
God Bless everyone this special Christmas Season!
God is so awesome!!!
3-31-03

5-01-03 Happy, Happy, Happy! That's what I am! This surgery is so worth the risks. I am now 9 months out and down 95 lbs!
I am currently at 170lbs. and I am 5'5" tall. I am still considered "moderately overweight" but the BMI chart says I don't qualify for surgery!! Ha Ha, already had it!
I haven't weighed this, or felt this good (lots of energy now) since I was in HIGH SCHOOL! Wow...that's a long time!
Praise God.....He is sooo awesome!
My prayers are with all the pre-ops as you take your journey,
and remember, it's all worth it! I have to get my husband to take a pic of me now, even though I am not at my goal weight yet!
I still feel so much better, it's amazing, and my hubby just LOVES my new look!!


9-18-03 Hello everyone! Wow...it's been awhile since I last updated my profile! One word is.........TERRIFIC! I feel so terrific! I am so happy I chose WLS and Dr. Quinlan!
I am 5 pounds from my goal weight, and I can hardly believe it's only been 14 months since my surgery!I encourage all of you pre-ops to "just do it" as they say......I am truly blessed.
My prayers are with everyone each and every day for those on this journey!
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to chat about anything relating to this wonderful gift!

12-30-03 Well it's been sometime now since my last update, and I just thought I ought to post something, I don't have very much opportunity anymore, as I am so busy at home and at work.
The energy I have now is thanks to this wonderful surgery! I have never felt better in my life! What a blessing it has been to me. For those of you considering WLS, I say go for it, especially if you have a wonderful surgeon like Dr. Quinlin!
I have stopped loosing weight now, and it is steady for once in my life, and I am thrilled to be granted this gift of life!
Your magazine is really awesome! Thank goodness for this website, it has truly been so very helpful to me, and there are so many wonderful people on this site to help, and advise anyone at anytime!