ObesityHelp

4/7/08

See how people are when they lose weight! They get so full of themselves that they lose touch. :-) I promised that I would not get that way but as we all see it's been 3 years. Damn! I'm so sorry evryone. I checked my messages and there have been so many wonderul people contacting me and I am just getting back to them. I do apologize.

Well for those who still care :-) heres an update...
In Nvember 2005, I had an appendectomy. I was hospitalized for a few days. I lost about 10 pounds from that. Then in September 2006, I had intestinal blockage and had to get 3 feet of my intestines removed. I lost like 25 lbs in 10 days. That was the worst time I have every had in my life! After that I vowed never to go to the hospital again which included getting a tummy tuck. Needless to say, the summer is coming and I have now gotten over that! As a matter of fact, I went for a consult today. :-) Didn't too much care for the surgeon. I'ma go back and see Dr. DiNick. I'd seen him before but lost his info until I decided to come back home (to obesity help).

I am currently a wonderful 175 lbs. and I thought I'd never say this but I don't wanna lose anymore weight. I'm good where I am. I think I'm as cute as a button (after dropping 200 lbs. I've earned the right to be vain). I am enjoying life and all the life changes my
weight loss has afforded me. I have dated more in the past 3 years than I ever have in my entire life (though I'm still looking for a husband). I have become the "party girl". I always liked to "go" and "do" before but now its worse. LOL! When people wanna know what's happening they call me (even though I don't always know...I make stuff up so I won't disappoint). :-) RIght now I am just enjoying being me!! Something that I hadn't done @ 370+ pounds.

I promise I'll post again soon. Please dont stop contacting me. I am so open to swap stories, answer questions or just be supportive because contrary to popular belief that surgery is the easy way out, it's very hard and the more support the merrier.

Good luck to all that are considering surgery and congrats to all that have.

1/15/05
HELLO EVERYONE! I HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN MY PICS POSTED. I HAVE ABOUT A MILLION PICTURES SINCE I AM NO LONGER CAMERA SHY! I JUST WANT TO SAY WHAT A BLESSING IT HAS BEEN TO HAVE HAD THIS SURGERY. I HAVE GOTTEN A FEW EMAILS FROM PEOPLE CONSIDERING THE SURGERY AND I SAY DO IT. IT HAS TREMENDOUSLY CHANGED MY LIFE AND I KNOW IT HAS AND WILL FOR SO MANY OTHERS. SINCE MY WEIGHT LOSS, I HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING, I COMPLETED A MARATHON JUNE '04, BEEN HAVING A BALL DATING AND HAVE JSUT BEEN ENJOYING BEING ME. LAST AUGUST I TURNED 30. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT 30 WAS A MILE STONE SO YOU BETTA BELIEVE, I CELEBRATED TIL THE WHEELS FELL OFF! I PARTIED FOR 4 DAYS STRAIGHT. MY BIRTHDAY WAS ON A FRIDAY BUT I PARTIED THURS, FRI, SAT AND SUNDAY! I WENT CLUBBING THURS, HAD A GHETTO FAB PARTY FRIDAY, A GROWN AND SEXY PARTY SATURDAY AND CLUBBED AGAIN ON SUNDAY. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS A BIRTHDAY TO REMEMBER. I HAD TWO CAKES (EVEN THOUGH I DON'T REALLY EAT CAKE ANYMORE) BUT I DIDNT CARE BECAUSE IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY. I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL THE WAY I HAVE BEEN FEELING! I HAVENT BEEN UPDATING MY PROFILE BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN SO BUSY ENJOYING LIFE, FINALLY! LAST YEAR (2004) I TOOK A TRIP EVERY MONTH WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MARCH B/C I HAD TO GET MY CAR FIXED AND OCTOBER B/C WE HAD A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR MY MOTHER. OTHER THAN THAT I LEFT DETROIT. I HAVE BEEN DOING THINGS THAT I PROBABLY WOULD'VE NEVER DONE WHEN I WAS MUCH HEAVIER. NOT BECAUSEE I DIDNT WANT TO BUT BECASUE I DIDNT HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OR EVEN THE ENERGY TO DO THEM. SO I SAY TO ANYONE WHO IS READING MY PROFILE AND CONSIDERING THE SURGERY, TO MOVE AHEAD BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT THINGS TO COME FROM IT. IF YOU EVER NEED TO ASK ME ANYTHING OR NEED SOME ENCOURAGEMENT JUST EMAIL ME. I WILL GET BACK WITH YOU AS SOON AS I CAN!


4/28/04
IT HAS BEEN 1 YEAR AND 20 DAYS SINCE MY SURGERY AND I HAVE LOST 116LBS. I CELEBRATED MY (RE)BIRTHDAY AT THE CASINO AND WON $250. IT WAS TRULY A WONDERFUL DAY! LIFE HAS BEEN SO WONDERFUL SINCE MY SURGERY. I HAVE HAD SO MANY EXPERIENCES THAT I KNOW I WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IF I HAD NOT MADE THIS DECISION. I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING DATING. MY CONFIDENCE HAS SOARED. I FEEL LIKE I CAN BE THE REAL ME. WHICH IS FUNNY BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT KNOW ME BEFORE I WEIGHED 350LBS THINK I'M DIFFERENT. THEY JUST DON'T KNOW I WAS ALWAYS ENERGETIC AND SILLY AND FRIENDLY JUST WAS A LITTLE TOO AFRAID TO SHOW IT OR JUST DIDN'T WANNA BE NOTICED. NOT ANYMORE!! I AM HAVING A BALL!

SINCE MY SURGERY I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME WONDERFUL THINGS. I HAVE WALKED IN SEVERAL WALKATHONS, SPOKE IN FRONT OF LARGE AUDIENCES (EVEN THOUGH IT STILL TERRFIES ME A LITTLE) AND I AM CURRENTLY TRAINING FOR A MARATHON. YES A MARATHON! I AM SO EXCITED. I HAVE GOTTEN UP TO WALKING 12 MILES! HELL BEFORE I COULDN'T TAKE 12 STEPS WITHOUT BEING OUT OF BREATH I AM SO VERY PROUD OF MYSELF. MY SISTER ALWAYS TELLS ME I'M "DOING THE DAMN THANG!" JUST A LITTLE PLUG...I AM WALKING FOR THE AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A DONATION TO SUPPORT ME VISIT WWW.TEAMDETROIT.KINTERA.ORG, CLICK SPONSOR PARTICIPANT, PUT IN MY NAME "JOI GREENE" AND MAKE A DONATION. YOUR SUOORT IS TREMENDOUSLY APPRECIATED.

ANYHOO, I HAVE BEEN SHOPPING AND SHOPPING AND SHOPPING. IN FACT, I AM TAKING A TRIP TOMORRW TO NEW YORK TO DO SOME SHOPPING! I AM SO EXCITED. I AM 229 AND IN A SIZE 14 NOW! WHO'DA THUNK IT! I'M KINDA NERVOUS THOUGH BECAUSE I'M BROKE AND I DONT WANNA OVERSPEND. OH YEAH AND MY SHOE SIZE WENT DOWN! THIS IS AMAZING.

I FEEL REALLY GOOD BECAUSE I HAVE SHARED INFO ABOUT MY SURGERY WITH A FRIEND AT WORK. I'M A LITTLE HESITANT ABOUT TELLING A LOT OF PEOPLE. NOT BECAUSE I AM ASHAMED BECAUSE I AM VERY RPOUD OF WHAT I DID BUT BECAUSE #1 ITS NOT EVERYONE'S BUSINESS AND #2 IT'S NOT EVERYONE'S BUSINESS. ANYHOO, I SHARED INFO ON MY SURGERY AND GETTING THE SURGERY WITH A FRIEND AT WORK AND SHE IS CURRENTLY IN THE STAGES OF GETTING SURGERY. SHE STATES SHE HAD HAD HER PHYSICAL AND EVERYTHING IS PROGRESSING. I AM TOTALLY PROUD OF HER AND I WILL TRY TO SUPPORT HER IN EVERYWAY.

WELL JUST DOING AN UPDATE SINCE IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE I HAVE POSTED. I PROMISED MYSELF THAT I WAS GOING TO POST OFTEN WHEN I FIRST JOINED BUT I HAVE BEEN ENJOYING MY NEW BODY SO MUCH THAT I HAVEN'T MADE TIME!! I PROMISE I WILL THOUGH.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY PROFILE AND PRAY FOR ME AS I WALK THE 26.2 MILE IN JUNE!!

LOVE YA ALL!!


6/6/03
I WENT TO THE DR. ON THE 2ND. I LOST ONLY 4 MORE LBS. IT'LL BE 2 MONTHS TOMORROW. I REALLY NEED TO GET TO THE GYM. PLUS I HAVE BEEN EATING SHIT I KNOW I SHOULDN'T. I'VE BEEN REALLY ENJOYING THE COMPLIMENTS, THOUGH! WHO'DA THOUGHT 38LBS WOULD MAKE SUCH A DIFF!

TODAY I WORE A SHIRT THAT WAS TOO SMALL WHEN I BOUGHT IT (THOUGH I ALWAYS WORE IT ANYWAY). AND YESTERDAY, I GOT INTO A BLOUSE THAT I HAD NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIT SINCE I BOUGHT IT 2 YRS AGO!

JUST SHARING! SEE YA!

5/26/03
I THINK THE DATE IS RIGHT. IT'S MEMORIAL DAY! ANYWAY, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT POSTING IN 3 MONTHS! I HAVE BEEN REALLY LAZY. ANYHOO, I HAD SURGERY ON 4/8/03. IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME THE FIRST 2 DAYS BUT AFTER THAT IT GOT MUCH BETTER PHYSICALLY. MENTALLY IS ANOTHER STORY. I'M NOT GOING TO LIE THOUGH. I WAS REGRETTING GETTING THE SURGERY TILL LIKE THE PAST WEEK. I HAVE BEEN GETTING SO MANY COMPLIMENTS ITS A SHAME.

I WENT BACK TO WORK ON 5/20/03. WAIT BEFORE I GET INTO THAT I JUST WANNA VENT. I WAS OUT OF WORK FOR 6 WEEKS. CAN YOU BELIEVE NO ONE IN THE ENTIRE OFFICE CALLED ME TO SEE HOW I WAS DOING? EVERYONE THOUGH I WAS HAVING GALL BLADDER SURGERY SO THEY KNEW I WAS GOING UNDER THE KNIFE. HOWEVER, NOT ONE PERSON, NOT EVEN MY SUPERVISOR CALLED TO ASK ME HOW I WAS DOING. SHE CALLED TO ASK ME ABOUT A CASE (I AM A SOICAL WOKER) BUT SHE NEVER CALLED TO ASK HOW I WAS DOING. I GET PISSED EVERYTIME I THINK ABOUT IT. WHAT REALLY GETS ME IS THAT I AM ALWAYS THE ONE GOING AROUND WITH A CARD OR SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE. I SWEAR I DIDNT EXPECT A TICKER TAPE PARADE BUT A PHONE CALL OR A CARD WOULD'VE BEEN NICE. I FELT IT WAS REALLY TACKY AND PLEASE BELIEVE I WILL NEVER CONTRIBUTE TO ANOTHER DAMN GET WELL CARD AS LONG AS I AM IN THAT OFFICE!! SO LIKE I WAS SAYING, DESPITE ME BEING REALLY HUSH HUSH, I KNOW THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT MY SURGERY. IT SEEMED AS IF THEY WERE WAITING TO TELL ME I LOOKED SMALLER. MAYBE IT WAS JUST MY PARANOIA. I DONT KNOW IF THEY KNEW THAT DAY BUT THEY'LL KNOW PRETTY SOON! YOU SEE BTC IS GETTING REALLY CARELAESS! WHEN THEY FAXED OVER MY RELEASE TO RETURN TO WORK, THEY FAXED IT OVER ON BTC LETTERHEAD EVEN THOUGH I PURPOSELY ASKED THEM TO BE DISCREET AND FAX IT ON FOREST HEALTH LETTERHEAD. THE NOSIEST BITCH IN THE OFFICE GOT A HOLD TO IT. I WAS SO PISSED. NO ONE HAS THE BALLS TO ASK ME ABOUT IT THOUGH. DONT GET ME WRONG, I AM NOT ASHAMED OF MY SURGERY, I JUST DONT LIKE NOSY HEFFAS! AGHHHH!

SINCE I HAD THE SURGERY, I KNOW I LOST 34 LBS IN THE FIRST 3 WEEKS. NOW ITS BEEN LIKE 7 WEEKS AND I DONT FEEL AS IF I LOST ANYMORE. PEOPLE TELL ME I LOOK LIKE I LOST LIKE 50 LBS BUT I'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL DR'S THAT HAVE WEIGHED ME AND MY WEIGHT APPEARS TO BE GOING UP. I KNOW I AM NOT EATING A LOT SO I DONT THINK IT IS POSSIBLE. MAYBE I'M PARANOID AGAIN!

IT'S FUNNY, WHEN YOU LOSE WEIGHT PEOPLE TELL YOU HOW BAD YOU LOOKED WHEN U WERE BIGGER. IN THE PAST WEEK, I HAVE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE TELL ME HOW I LOOKED. A FRIEND OF MINE WHO KNOWS I GOT THE SURGERY CONFIDED IN ME THAT HER GRANDMOTHER THOUGHT I WAS PREGNANT AT ONE TIME. ANOTHER FRIEND SAID SHE WANTED TO CRY WHEN SHE SAW ME BECAUSE BEFORE I WAS SO FAT I LOOKED AS IF I WAS GOING TO POP. I WAS ALSO TOLD ABOUT DIFFERENT OUTFITS THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN WEARING. PEOPLE TELLING ME THIS REALLY DOESN'T BOTHER ME THOUGH. IN FACT, I FIND IT REALLY HILARIOUS. HELL, I LIE TO PEOPLE ABOUT HOW THEY LOOK EVERYDAY. HELL I PROBABLY DID LOOK SWOLLEN AND PREGNANT AND MOST OF MY CLOTHES WERE TIGHT. IT'S ALL VERY FUNNY TO ME BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT LIES AHEAD AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS SURGERY. IN FACT, IT MAY SOUND CRAZY BUT HEARING THESE THINGS MADE ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT HAVING THE SURGERY.

I HAD BEEN SO DEPRESSED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO DRINK A BIG GLASS OF WATER(I LOOVE ICE WATER) AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TOLERATE DAIRY(WHICH STILL BUGS THE HELL OUTTA ME) THAT I NEVER NOTICED THAT MY APPEARANCE WAS CHANGING FOR THE GOOD. IT MAY NOT BE A WHOLE LOT OF WEIGHT BUT BELIEVE ME IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. IT'S ALSO COMFORTING IN KNOWING THAT THIS WEIGHT WILL BE OFF FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THE THINGS TO COME THAT I JUST CANNOT EXPLAIN IT.

ONE LAST THING B4 THIS POSTING TURNS INTO A BOOK. ALTHOUGH MY SISTER AND I HAD SOME ISSUES WITH HER HAVING THE SURGERY AT THE TIME SHE DID, I AM SO GLAD THAT I AM NOT GOING THROUGH THIS ALONE. AS WE KNOW, THIS IS HARD! I WENT FROM EATING WHATEVER THE HELL I WANTED TO NOT BEING ABLE TO EAT HARDLY ANYTHING. SOME DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WAY I FEEL WHEN I EAT TOO MUCH (BELIEVE ME ITS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT FEELING NOW). PEOPLE DON'T REALLY CARE THAT I HAD A BM ;-) EXPLAINING ACHES AND PAINS AND COMPLAINING IS SO MUCH BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE THERE TO FEEL IT WITH YOU. IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE, I HAD MY SURGERY 3 WEEKS B4 SHE HAD HERS AND BECAUSE WE WERE IN SUCH DISAGREEMENT OF THE TIME SHE HAD HER SURGERY, IT SEEMED AS IF SHE THOUGHT I WAS EXAGGERATING MY PAIN AND FRUSTRATION JUST TO DISCOURAGE HER. AFTER SHE HAD SURGERY, SHE KNEW HOW I FELT. SHE MIGHT'VE EVEN COMPLAINED MORE THAN ME. (HEE HEE) IN ADDITION TO HAVING HER TO TALK TO, MY SISTER HAS ALSO HELPED ME WITH AND UNDERSTOOD MY LITTLE BOUT WITH DEPRESSION. EVERYONE TAKES THIS SURGERY DIFFERENTLY, BUT MY MIND DIDNT CATCH UP WITH MY BODY AND I JUST BECAME DEPRESSED AND REGRETFUL. SHE WAS A TREMENDOUS HELP. EVEN THOUGH SHE MAY HAVE BEEN FEELING THE SAME SHE ALWAYS MADE ME FEEL BETTER. THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS WHY I LOVE HER AND THAT JUST ADDED TO THE LIST.
OK LASTLY(FOR REAL THIS TIME) I JUST WANT TO SAY MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE BEEN SUPER DUPER SUPPORTIVE. MY MOTHER WASHED MY CLOTHES AND CLEANED MY HOUSE. MY LITTLE SISTER TOOK CARE OF ME DURING THE TIMES I COULDNT CARE FOR MYSELF. MY OLDEST SISTER WAS BY MY SIDE AND CARED FOR ME UP UNTIL SHE HAD SURGERY. TRUE FRIENDS CALLED AND VISITED. THEY HAVE MADE THIS JOURNEY A MUCH EASIER ONE. I PRAY THAT ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS SURGERY HAVE A FAMILY A WONDERFUL AS MINE.(IF IT'S POSSIBLE)

I MAY NOT POST VERY OFTEN BUT I'LL POST MILESTONES OR FUNNY INCIDENTS. AND IF ANYONE READS THIS, PLEASE DONT HESITATE TO EMAIL ME WITH COMMENTS (GOOD OR BAD) OR QUESTIONS. IF YOU ARE PRE-OP I WILL BE VERY TRUTHFUL WITH YOU BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE WERE TELLING ME HOW WONDERFUL EVERYTHING WAS AND NOT BEING TRUTHFUL. I WILL TELL YOU WHATEVER YOU WANNA KNOW, LIKE THE TRUTH.

TILL LATER- LOVE U ALL

2/19/03
NOT REALLY IN THE MOOD TO POST BUT JUST WANTED TO GIVE SOME OF YOU OUT THERE SOME INFO. IF YOU HAVE A THYROID CONDITION PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE YOUR MEDS. MY SURGERY DATE HAS BEEN POSTPONED BECAUSE MY THYROID LEVEL WAS TOO LOW. I WAS 2 WEEKS AWAY!!! I DON'T HAVE A NEW DATE. I REALLY DON'T FEEL LIKE TALKING ABOUT IT. OH YEAH TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE I GAINED 15 LBS. BLAH!!

1/22/03
I KNEW ONCE I GOT BACK FROM MY TRIP I'D BE ANXIOUS TO HAVE THIS SURGERY(FOR OH SO MANY REASONS!). WELL, I CALLED ON FRIDAY BEFORE I WENT ON MY TRIP. I COULDN'T WAIT. THE LADIES IN INSURANCE TOLD ME THAT I WAS APPROVED! I WAS SO EXCITED! I TOLD MY SISTER AND SHE BEGAN TO CRY. I ASKED WHAT WAS NEXT SO SHE TOLD ME TO CALL THE DR.'S OFFICE ON TUESDAY(DUE TO THE HOLIDAY)AND SPEAK WITH SOMEONE IN SCHEDULING. NEDLESS TO SAY THAT MADE MY TRIP A WHOLE LOT NICER!

ON TUESDAY, I WAS DOG TIRED SO I STAYED HOME FROM WORK. I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF MY DAY OFF SO I CALLED THE HELL OUT OF THE GIRL IN SCHEDULING. I THINK I LEFT HER LIKE 3 OR 4 MESSAGES. WHEN I COULDN'T GET IN TOUCH WITH HER I CALLED BACK TO INSURANCE. MARY (I THINK THAT'S WHO IT WAS) TOLD ME THAT SCHEDULING TRIED TO CALL ME THURSDAY TO MAKE SURE I'D BEEN ON MY CPAP MACHINE FOR AT LEAST 6 WEEKS. I'D BEEN ON IT FOR OVER A YEAR!!!! SO OF COURSE I WAS REALLY FRANTIC TRYING TO GET MY SHIT TOGETHER AND SCHEDULE A DATE. I NEVER DID REACH ANISHA, THE SCHEDULER...AT LEAST THAT DAY I DIDN'T ;-)

TODAY! OH JESUS TODAY! MY YOUNGER SISTER WAS AT MY HOUSE SO I KEPT CALLING HOME ASKING IF ANYONE FROM BTC HAD CALLED. SHE OF COURSE KEPT SAYING NO. I WANTED TO CRY. I FELT SO CLOSE BUT SO FAR. IN THE MEAN TIME I HAD ANISHA'S PHONE # ON AUTOMATIC REDIAL AT WORK. I CALLED HER FROM 8:01 TIL ABOUT 1. I GOT NO RESPONSE. I DECIDED TO TRY ONE LAST TIME AND "VOILA" SHE ANSWERED HER PHONE. IT WAS KINDA STRANGE CAUSE SHE ANSWERED, "HI JOI". SHE SAID SHE KNEW IT WAS ME BECAUSE SHE WAS JUST TALKING TO MY LITTLE SISTER ON THE OTHER LINE. MY LITTLE SISTER HAD CALLED BTC AND TRIED TO PRETEND SHE WAS ME. IT WORKED! IT GOT ME THROUGH TO ANISHA. I GOT MY SURGERY DATE! THE FIRST PERSON I CALLED WAS MY SISTER INDIA! SHE CRIED AGAIN (OF COURSE). ITS 3/3/03. THAT IS SO DEEP ISN'T IT!!!

PRAY FOR ME Y'ALL! I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED!!!

1/16/03
ON MONDAY(1/13), I SPOKE WITH MY MEDICAL WORKER(MARY) AT BTC AND SHE SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED REALLY GOOD. SHE TOLD ME TO CALL BACK FRIDAY. I COULDNT WAIT SO I CALLED TODAY. I SPOKE WITH A REP WHO TOLD ME MY APPROVAL REQUEST WAS FAXED OVER. I DON'T BELIEVE SHIT STINKS SO I'M CALLING MARY TOMORROW LIKE SHE TOLD ME TO (HEE HEE). I'M GETTING REALLY EXCITED. I AM GOING SKIING TOMORROW AND I PLAN TO RELAX AND TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT!! I KNOW I WON'T BE ABLE TO! I'M TAKING A MILLION PIX! I HATE THE CAMERA BUT I KNOW WHAT'S TO COME SO RIGHT NOW I DON'T CARE. HOPEFULLY I'LL HAVE A DATE BY THE TIME I GET BACK! WISH ME LUCK, FAM! I GOTTA GO FIND A COAT THAT FITS ME. LOL!! LONG STORY!

1/8/03
HAPPY NEW YEAR! WELL, I HAD MY PHYSICAL DONE ON THE 2ND. IT WAS KINDA FUNNY BECAUSE MY DOCTOR ASKED ME IF A SURGUERY DATE HAD BEEN SET. I TOLD HIM NO I WAS WAITING FOR MY PHYSICAL FROM HIM AND MY SLEEP STUDY RESULTS FROM BOTSFORD. HE TOLD ME HE WANTED ME TO WAIT UNTIL MARCH BEFORE HE SENT ANY RECORDS TO BTC. I WAS DAMN NEAR IN TEARS. I GUESS HE MUST'VE SAW IT BECAUSE HE FINALLY SAID HE'D SEND MY PHYSICAL RESULTS ASAP. I TALKED TO HIM MONDAY (1/6) AND HE SAID HE'D SENT THEM AND THE NURSE ASSURED ME THAT SHE HAD DEALT W/ BTC BEFORE WITH ANOTHER PATIENT. I WAS QUITE PLEASED. ALSO ON MONDAY, I GOT THE RESULTS FROM MY SLEEP STUDY. THEY WERE PRETTY SEVERE AND THE DOCTOR WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEE ME CONSIDERING SURGERY. HE SAID HE'D SEND MY RESULTS THAT DAY TOO I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYONE ELSE BUT I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT MY COMORBITITIES ARE GETTING WORSE. NOT BECAUSE I LIKE BEING SICK BUT BECAUSE IT ADDS MORE AMMUNITION FOR MY BATTLE WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

I AM GONG TO CALL BTC TOMORROW TO SEE WHAT I NEED TO DO NEXT. I'M SHOOTING FOR A SURGERY DATE SOON! I AM GETTING A LITTLE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE TAKING FOR EVER BUT IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT IT, IT IS GOING IN STRIDE. I BELIEVE EVERYTHING IS IN DEVINE ORDER!

MY SISTER HAS STARTED WITH HER JOURNEY TOO. I AM SO EXCITED FOR HER TOO. WE ARE GOING TO BE SOME BAD BYTCHES(EXCUSE THE TERM)! I CAN'T WAIT!

I'LL UPDATE YOU ALL ON MY PHONE CALL!

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MZMISTYDEW AND GY-NEA FOR EMAILING ME! I DIDN'T THINK ANYONE REALLY READ MY PROFILE! IT'S NICE TO KNOW PEOPLE ARE SO SUPPORTIVE!

I'LL HOLLA BACK SOON!

12/29/02
I REALLY HAVE NOTHING TO UPDATE EXCEPT THAT MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE SO VERY SUPPORTIVE, ESPECIALLY MY SISTER. SHE INTRODUCED ME TO THIS SITE AND KEEPS ME POSTED WHEN I DON'T REALLY VISIT. I AM STILL IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING APPROVED. I WAS TOLD BLUE CROSS WASN'T REALLY A HASSLE. I JUST CHANGED TO THEM IN OCTOBER FOR THE SURGERY. BEFORE I HAD HAP. THEY WERE A JOKE. I HAD MY C0NSULTATION AND PSYCH EVAL. BECAUSE I HAVE SLEEP APNEA, I GOT AN UPDATED SLEEP STUDY DONE EARLIER THIS MONTH. I HAVE A PHYSICAL SCHEDULED WITH MY PCP ON 1/2/03. I WANT EVERYTHING TO BE READY FOR APPROVAL! I WANT TO HAVE A SURGERY DATE BY LATE JANUARY/EARLY FEBRUARY. I HAVE NO TIME AT WORK TO TAKE OFF BUT I DON'T GIVE A DAMN! I'LL TAKE THE LOST TIME. I'LL BE BROKE BUT HELL I'LL BE SKINNY!! I'M REALLY PRAYING FOR THE LAST WEEK IN JANUARY. IT'LL BE AFTER MY SKI TRIP AND I CAN GET SOME OF MY STUFF TOGETHER AT WORK.

THIS SITE IS LIKE A RELIEF FOR ME. I CAN SHARE MY FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS WITH OTHERS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THINGS. I LOVE THIS SITE AND CAN'T WAIT TO CONTINUE TO SHARE MY JOURNEY WITH ALL OF YOU WHO I DO NOT KNOW BUT STILL HAVE A BOND WITH!

12/21/02
I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THE SURGERY. I AM FEARFUL, HOWEVER, THAT I MAY NOT BE APPROVED. I'M REALLY NERVOUS BECAUSE MY GENERAL DOCTOR DOES NOT APPROVE OF IT BUT MY SLEEP APNEA DOCOTOR DOES. I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO KEEP ME FROM BECOMING HAPPY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I AM NOT!