Welcome To My Journey
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WEIRD NAME
When I started on the Obesity Helps Board for Mississippi.
I used my real name, but then it was shown to me by a friend how much data is out there in cyberland on me. So I switched to a
NOM DE PLUME
Tomanip is a nickname derived from the combined "Jersey tomato".
(where I was born and grew up, New Jersey)
and Queen Arlies adoption of me as one of her "turnips".
Tomanip although strange sounded better than Turnato.
Turnato/turnatoe sounds like it would hurt!!!!
I KNOW MY HISTORY
Yes I'm a Yankee. Born to Yankee parents
Married to a true Southern Gentleman who was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida.
I've lived in the Escambia/Santa Rosa Counties , Florida for 37 of our 38 years of marriage.
We spent one year in Washington ,DC area while he was in the Air Force there, during the Vietman War.
As I said I was born in New Jersey in 1945, the oldest of 6 children.
I had to set an example to the younger ones which included cleaning my plate.
I was a skinny kid with nicknames of "Skinny Minny" "Boney Moroney" "long tall Sally" etc.
I played sports and burned calories.
In high school I weighed 140# at 5'10" that's skinny, ideal weight is 150#.
When I married in 1967 I weighed 160# that's when the weight problem started.
I no longer burned the calories I ate so I went on a diet see saw for the next 45 years.
Name it-I've probably tried it except the grapefruit diet only because I don't like grapefruit.
I lost weight just to regain it + more.
I've done Weight Watchers 3 times , Overeaters annon., LA Weight loss, joined gyms,exercise groups,tried diet pills (otc and Rx), they all worked FOR AWHILE.
I maxed out at 288# and realized that if I want to see my Grandgirls grow up, graduate, get married and see my great-grands something had to give.
I've been in the Nursing profession since 1966,
when I became an LPN so you'd think I would have known better.
I worked until I had our second child in 1972.
Then stayed home with the kids AND JUST ABOUT WENT CRAZY.
I love my children but it was not enough.
If you're old enough to remember the late 60's and early 70's, Barbara Friedman,
"Fear of Flying" ,women's equality, the N.O.W. ,
"The Total Woman"(remember the seran wrap and bow outfit), etc..
Well, I bought it all! What a fool, I was trying to run a household ,
going back to school and trying to be-all to everyone!!!!!!!!!
Well it took an almost breakdown for me to wise up. I was the TOTALED WOMAN!!!
I AM NOT SUPERWOMAN!!!!!!!!
Being a 70's woman with a 50's man didn't work, so we had to adjust.
I gave up "Superwoman" and he gave up "Lord of the Manor".
Marriage is not stagnant.
It continues to grow and needs nourishment and takes working at forever!
Ask any of the older women who've been married over 30 years.
I went back to school and became an RN in 1978(longer than some of you are old).
I weighed about 180 then.
I loved nursing and loved the work, having done hospital, home health, doctors office and drug research I found my niche in hospital work, especially medical.
Also liked pediatric work until time to start an IV.
I have no regrets for the type work I've done and lots of blessings
and new friends that still say Hi when they see me.
But I let it become my idenity and that was bad.
When I had to quit due to medical problems "Surprise, surprise" they could easily do without me and function just as they had before.
During this whole time I was getting heavier and heavier,
eating poorly ,drinking lots of coffee and eating fast food.
I had topped 250# when I started to stay home,
that quickly blossomed to 270# and at one time 288#.
I freaked, I cried, I pleaded with GOD.
I was miserable and made those around me miserable.
I got short of breath on exertion, any heat and I wilted.
I had to have 2 knees replaced due to my weight, 2 back surgeries and blood pressure problems that take 2 meds to control!
I was depressed. I was taking 6 meds a day just to stave off problems.
I became less and less active, more and more recluse, and more and more miserable.
I had heard about gastric bypass before.
I had even researched it, but DH had a co-worker who had died from it in the 80's.
So I let it go.
Then I realized that I had to do something
and talked to a surgeon who had repaired my hiatal hernia.
He was now doing gastric bypasses but would not do mine as it
was considered a revision, and he was not trained enough yet to attempt it.
I admire his honesty.
He recomended a surgeon in Atlanta,
who I notified and he returned a note saying to call his office at such-en-such a time.
I did to find out that he required $56,000.00 up front and our insurance would not cover any of it.
MAN what a let down. I don't have that kind of money!!!!!!!
So I looked for one that my insurance would cover
and found Dr. Ludwig in Biloxi and made an appointment.
I heard about Dr. Ludwig when I checked the Bariatric Surgeons association.
There are not to many docs out there that do revisions.
The LORD was with me and we ended up in Dr. Ludwigs office.
The staff is wonderful and he is great.
I checked out his credentials and those of the hospital
to find out thay rank up there at the top.
After the financial person talked to us
Dr. Ludwig talked to us about the surgery and answered questions.
Then the dietitian talked to us and laid out the restrictions(MOAN)
They then gave us time to talk and then we met privately with the Doctor and Psychologist.
Except me and a few others guesss it was too much for her for one day.
I was to come back to Biloxi on Aug 29th to do the Psych test and meet with the psychologist.
Then on the 30th I was to have the lab, ekg,anesthesia etc.
Hurricane Katrina changed all that
Family
My number one interest is my family.
I've been married for 38 almost 39 years.
Yes to the same man!
We have a son who will be 37 this coming up birthday.
He's married ,no children.
My daughter-in-law is a peach and we get along well.
Our daughter is soon 35 and is married to a great guy,
she has 2 girls(who are my heart).
One 14, a freshman cheerleader in high school , knows everything just ask her!!! We clash but I love her dearly.
The youngest one is 3, a busy bee, always doing something, usually what she's not suppose to. She has Nana and Poppa wrapped around her little finger.
My number one hobby is genealogy.
We were in Canada once
and stopped to eat in a small town to eat.
There was a small cemetery accross the street.
I said outloud "I wonder if I have any relatives in that cemetery?" as a joke.
Well when I got back to Florida, I found out I did!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guess the joke was on me!!!!!!!!!
Suggestions: how about a spell check on here.
Surgery was scheduled for Sept 6th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You know what happened next.
Class 5 to 4 hurricane Katrina hit Biloxi.
Widespread devastation, can't find Dr. Ludwig or the Liv-lite staff.
The hospital is severly damaged etc.What to do??????
Due to the Huricane Katrina my surgery has been canceled.
We're not even sure the office and even the hospital are standing,
They were between the train tracks and the beach.
I pray that they are all safe.
Sept. 7th 2005
Have an appointment with Dr. Hannon in Mobile tommorow.
Don't want to wait forever to have this done.
Continue to pray that Dr. Ludwig and staff are safe.
September 8, 2005
Met Dr. Hannon and his nurse ANN. Very pleasant and professional.
Office staff needs some help though.
Will have to have another UGI on the 22 of September. UGH!!!
Will meet again with Dr. Hannon
and Dr. Ceasar Agagan, a pulmonologist,
since I have sleep apnea and I'm on a C-Pap machine at night.
Look forward to getting rid of the "Elephant Face"
once I lose this weight!
The office staff keeps telling me I need to submit
a 5 year diet history!!!!
I keep telling them no ,I don't, my insurance does not require it.
I finally did one to get them off my back! Just to be told,
Oh we don't need this, your insurance doesn't require it!
GRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
Got a note on the Obesity Helps board that rumor has it:
the Biloxi Liv-lite office may be re-opening on the 19 of Sept.
I pray it's true and that all of them are safe and sound!!!!!!
September 15, 2005
Oh Man what a day!!!! Good thing my friend JoAnne went with me as I got lost in Mobile, not once, not twice but three times!!!
She is so calm and kept me calmer than I would have been on my own. We FINALLY got there and had the UGI and both doctor appointments. Even managed to eat, as I was starvin-Marvin since I had not eaten since before midnight. Dr Agagan was so nice and funny, he puts you at ease. I had blood work, pulmonary function test and an EKG. The EKG was abnormal. So they made me an appointment with a cardiologist for October 13th.
Another month bites the dust!!!!!!!!!
Cardiac consult is done and had Cardiac studies that call for a cardiac cath. Dr Hayes is so pleasant and informative. Cardiac cath will be done by another doc as Dr Hayes can't stand for long periods of time due to a leg broken in 5 places!!!!!!
Cardiac cath done by Dr. Francez( very cute)and it's ok. Whew, now I can breathe and get back to having the gastric bypass
I see Dr Hannon the 15 of December, and take the mandatory class. Things look bleak for getting surgery done this year. That means meeting another deductable! RATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My frustration level is sky high, and depression ,hah, I'm the poster child! Patience is a virtue that I don't have!
Dec 15, 2005
I passed the test and am cleared for Surgery. Hang on to your hats!!!
Surgery is Dec 20th at Mobile Infirmary, 1st case!!!!!
THANK YOU LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dec 21,2005 Mobile Infirmary, Mobile, Alabama
Surgery is over! It hurts and it takes all I have to get up and move. The nurses are all wonderful and I've had visitors, friends and other patients of Dr. Hannon come by to cheer me up. My Angel has called several times, she's in Mississippi and can't be here. Several of my Mississippi friends have called.
I keep saying to myself "This to shall pass!" and make myself walk and drink til I think I'm gonna drown!!!! The post op "leak test" is over and ok so they brought me Jello and juice! Whoopie!
The gas pains are horrible and the flatus smell is even worse! Good thing I brought air freshener.
I will be home for CHRISTmas unless there are problems. I did all my shopping early but still have to wrap some of the gifrs.
CHRISTmas is here and we had a get together at our daughters and I was not even tempted by the food. Probably because i knew it would hurt. Things don't smell the same and chocolate makes me nauseated just looking at it ,Hope that last. We had a great time and I drank my liquids like a good girl . I am loosing weight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Feb 2006
I have been having trouble with my blood pressure being high and have been to the doctor several times, the meds change has not done much.
I developed a headache and high anxiety, we called the doctors office and went to the ER. Outcome is that I've had a cranial bleed and my vision is affected. I see shadows and bright lights only. The eye doctor said it would resolve and that I "dodged the bullett" that people have died from bleeds(tell me something I don't know ,like when I can go home)
Getting the Dietitian to understand my diet was frustrating but we finally got it right. I am loosing and feel so much better except for the Blood pressure. I'm off the Lipitor and my labs are good.
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Member Interests:
Family & Friends - Love my 2 kids and their spouses and ADORE my grandgirls.
Dogs - 2 white Poodles, anyone know how to keep their eyes white?
Genealogy & Family History - it's like putting a puzzle together except you have to find the piece
Religion & Spirituality - Christian and not afraid to say it. I am tired of my rights being taken away.
Grandchildren - WARNING!!! I carry pictures.
Click here to see interests of other ObesityHelp members.
Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Jeffrey Hannon, M.D.
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