ObesityHelp

1/14/03....Hi everyone! I am a 24 yr old married, mother of 1. I reached my peak weight recently (293 at 5'7")and decided it was time to do something. Like most of you I have tried every diet under the sun and got no where fast. Even if I did happen to lose some weight, it always came back plus some. I think I've finally reached the end of my rope. My daughter is 10 mos old and getting to the point where she wants to go go go. And I know when she gets a little older she'll be walking and running and I won't be able to keep up. That makes me sad. I am collecting as much info on WLS as possible before making any solid decisions, but from what I have read so far I think I would like to go with the LAP procedure. Seems the best for me given that I have a young child to care for. If anyone has any comments or info they'd like to share with me, please feel free to email me. Thanks for this wonderful support site!!!

4/9/03...Hi everyone. I was considering changing surgeons from Dr. Roye to Dr. Harrington. If anyone knows anything about Dr. Harrington could you please email me. I was told I could get in to see him quicker than Dr. Roye, but I'm afraid that if I do that I might be exchanging quality for expediance. Any information you guys can give me would be great!! Thanks!!!

4/24/03...Finally some good news!! I went to my PCP yesterday because I still needed a referral to see Dr. Roye. I went in with very low expectations. I didn't think she would agree to my decision to have this surgery. I braced myself for a barrage of alternative solutions and a new list of great diet plans she had heard of. However I was pleasantly surprised when she said that she would send the referral provided I meet my insurance companies requirements for surgery. I was so happy! I had already done my homework with the insurance company and had the criteria with me!! She was somewhat surprised when I brought out my folder with all of my research and paperwork. Although I had told her I'd done my homework about the surgery and pretty much knew what to expect, I don't think she took me seriously until that moment when I handed her the sheet with the insurance criteria on it. At that point she said that she would put in the paperwork and that I should call on Monday to make sure it had been sent. Finally!!! Something has gone right for me!!! As for switching surgeons, I decided to stick with Dr. Roye. My consult with him is in October, and it's a long wait, however I need my family to help me after the surgery because I have a young daughter to care for. Since everyone has already booked their vacations for this year, I figure if I wait until October I probably will get a surgery date in January. Hopefully. And if not I suppose I can always request it right? Anyway...I think I've rambled on long enough. I'll probably update closer to October! Thanks!!!

7/16/03
Hello everyone. I have received a few supportive emails and would like to say thanks. I have recently hit somewhat of an emotional brick wall and feel really down. This year I am the heaviest I have ever been. And I am usually a very active person, so when it came time for summer activities I found myself not being able to keep up with my husband, daughter and family. This is very depressing for me. Also my father in law started a diet about two months ago through Miriam Hospital. Its a fasting diet in which he is not allowed to eat anything. He drinks shakes and water and thats it. So far he has lost 60lbs. He gave me the paperwork for this diet, and unfortunatly even if my insurance were to cover it, I would still have to come up with a very large sum of money that I dont have. I dont understand why if it is a plan to help you, why they have to charge out the nose for it. So anyway, thats my current situation. Time is going by way too slow for my taste. My birthday was a bore, I dont feel rested, and I just feel depressed and overwhelmed. Anyone who can relate or anyone with some kind words, please email me. I just feel lost.

10/15/03
Yikes!! I had no idea I hadn't updated in so long!!! Oh well nothing interesting happened in the last few months anyway! I had my consultation with Dr. Roye on Oct. 6th. It was not nearly as traumatic as I thought it was going to be. I spoke with Helen first. She was very nice and thorough. She answered all of our questions very accurately and then we met with Dr. Roye. After meeting with Helen we had nothing to ask him! lol He was very nice and not nearly as intimidating as I thought he would be. He said I am definitly a candidate for the LAP procedure and that he would put through the paperwork for the insurance company. Now I am just playing the waiting game until the insurance approves me. Then we schedule all the testing. I am hoping that I won't need the sleep apnea test because I already had sleep apnea surgery a few years ago and cured my apnea. Has anyone else gone through that? If so did you still need the testing anyway? Let me know! Other than that its the waiting game for me! As soon as I find out about the insurance I will update! Keep Smiling!

11/8/03
Ok first of all let me state for the record...the waiting game sucks! I'm already into November and I am no closer to hearing anything from the insurance company than I was the day I had my consultation. I called Dr. Roye's office about 2 weeks after my appointment and was told that my particular insurance coverage takes a while to get back with its answer, but over a month is a bit much I think! Well...I will update when I know more.


1/1/04
Alrighty, its been a few weeks since I have updated. In the time that has passed, I was approved by the insurance company...(FINALLY) and received my testing dates. All I can say about insurance companies is that they will not do anything until you bug them enough!
So far my testing has gone well. For the most part, they are just long. Anyone who has the HIDA Scan, bring a blanket, you'll be sleeping for about an hour! I have completed 4 tests already and have about 5 left. The only one I am not looking forward to is the sleep test. I have already done 2 sleep tests and had apnea surgery, however I never went back for a follow up sleep test and so I have to do that for the surgery. I personally know the apnea surgery worked, however the doctors office wants numbers, not how you feel. But thats ok...not a big deal when you look at the big picture and the eventual end result! Wish me luck!!

3/3/04

Okay, so I have finished and passed all of my pre-op tests. However I do need to go back and have an ABG retest. This sucks and I think it was the worst test out of all of them. They numb your wrist and get blood from an artery. However when they did mine they hit the vein too and got a mixed sample. So they need to do it again. Oh well. I also have to attend a class on after care and diet. I have that scheduled. And I finally have my surgery date!!! Its going to be March 25th. I have to call the day before to get the time. So here I am a year and two months after starting my WLS journey and I am finally going to do it! I can't wait to be on the losing side!!! I will update more as the date gets closer. Im not really nervous yet, but Im sure that will change!! TTFN

3/22/04

Well its monday morning and my surgery is thursday. I'm really starting to get nervous now. I know everything will go fine. Dr. Roye is extremely professional and doesn't take any chances. I have to go shopping and get my vitamins and protein shakes and broths and liquids. I'm not looking forward to 2 weeks of liquids, but I know that it is the jump start my body is going to need for this to work. Well wish me luck, I'll update on the losing side!

5/19/04
Ok so I am about 6 weeks post op and I am officially as of this morning 45lbs less! Wahoo!! 45lbs gone forever!!! I already have had to buy myself a belt because my pants were just slipping right off my butt! I have 8lbs to go to reach my first benchmark goal of weighing a slim and trim 250lbs! And then I have a mere 25lbs to lose after that to reach my second benchmark goal of weighing 225lbs (the weight that is listed on my drivers license). I am already feeling absolutly great! I have so much more energy and I dont feel like I am in constant pain anymore. I would like to put out this question though. Has anyone out there in the post op world found a protein shake they enjoy that doesnt cost an arm and a leg? Please email me if you have! Also, anyone who is on this website and is in the CT, MASS, RI area who would like a free Mary Kay facial and hand pampering, feel free to email me! I will update more on my weight loss in a couple of weeks!!

12/16/05

WOWOWOWOW...I can't believe I lapsed this long in updating, please forgive me. Well ALOT has happened in the last year, almost 2. I have lost 125lbs and feel GREAT! I have amazing energy and am finally comfortable. I found out in October of 2004 that I was pregnant. After being only 8 months post op. I was a little worried, but Dr. Roye was great. He monitored my protein levels extra closely and scheduled more follow ups than are typical for a post op patient. I felt very taken care of. I didnt actually start gaining weight in my pregnancy until the last month and a half. And then I only "gained" 6 lbs. By the time I had my son in July I was down to 185lbs and still losing. I plateaued at 178lbs and unfortunatly over the last few months I have gained 10 lbs. But again I have plateaued. Its fairly difficult to make healthy choices now with an infant and a toddler to care for. Exercise is easy however. We walk ALOT! To the park, to the store...etc etc. Out comes the stroller and we're off! I would like to put out to the community though, I am looking for recipes that utilize more protein and less junk. Actual recipes that a stay at home mom has the resources and time to prepare, and that my 3 yr old wont turn her nose up at. I have checked out different cook books for the gastric patient and for the diabetic, but the recipes they offer are very "gourmet". Not stuff I would typically be able to get the ingredients for. Any suggestions??? HELP!