ObesityHelp

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I am 29 years old with a BMI of 53. I have been researching WLS for about the last year and I am confident in my decision to have the surgery. I have a 10 year old son that deserves a mom that can do things with him instead of one that is ashamed to go out in public. More than that he deserves one that is healthy and will live to see his children and his children's childern. I have my first consultation with my surgeon, Dr. Roll, in Fairfax, Virginia on April 10th. The long wait is going to be the hardest part! I spoke with Barbara in his office and through talking with her and contacting my insurance company, Anthem BC/BS PPO, everyone is positive I will have no problem with insurance covering the surgery. SO now all I can do it continue to research and wait.

3/4/03

Still awaiting my consult with my surgeon. I have found some busy work to do while I wait. I am getting my records from an old PCP and my GYN. I am also going to attend a support group on 3/17. I am excited about that it gives me something to look forward to before my April 10th appointment! I have been fortunate enough, through this website, to have emailed a couple of people who have answered my questions and offered support. I would like to especially thank MAUREEN in TX. She has been great! It is amazing how free I feel now that I can see that there is a way out of this body I feel so trapped in. I can't put it into words, but, I have been truly happier since scheduling my consultation appointment, just knowing I am on my way to a healthier life. I am looking forward to the little things, like, being able to run, or carry a load of laundry upstairs and not having to stop and catch my breath before I can put them away! Well, I will update again once I attend the support group.

3/18/03

Last night was the meeting of the support group. It was so interesting. It was great to be able to see people who have had the surgery and are doing great. Every story I heard was so inspiring. My mom went with me. I am glad she went. She is so supportive in my decision to do this and I wanted to give her the opportunity to learn more about it, and of course to see what awaits me! The next meeting is scheduled for 4/14 just 4 days after my first consultation. I am planning to attend that meeting as well. So, until then....keep smiling...

4/6/03

Well, I am just 4 days away from my consultation. I am so anxious I can't stand it! I am just worried something is going to go wrong and I won't be able to have the surgery. I am still remaining positive about the whole thing. I have made a few email buddies from this website and they offer such great information. I have found myself thinking about this surgery constantly. I catch myself daydreaming about how my life will be this time next year. How much healthier I will feel and all of the little things, that average size people take for granite, I will be able to do. Like wear my seatbelt, fit a seat at the movies, being able to walk up my stairs without having to rest at the top.....and the list goes on!!!!!!!! Well, that's about all for now. I will post again after my consultation.

4/14/03

IT"S OFFICIAL.....INSURANCE APPROVED THE SURGERY!!!!! I have a date!!! JUNE 17th! I am so happy. I actually cried, happy tears, when I got off the phone. I am now in the process of scheduling all the doctors appointments needed before the big day. Dr. Roll is fantastic, he answered all of my questions before I had a chance to ask any. I felt he was very thorough in his presentation of the surgery at the consultation. I feel he is extremely knowledgeable and experienced. The consultation went great. Back to the fact that I have a date!!! I have been waiting for the day I could type that! I HAVE A DATE!! I HAVE DATE!!!! I am doing the"I have date" dance!!! So, I have passed a few milestones in this journey, 1)making the appointment, 2)waiting for the consultation appointment to get here, 3)briefly waiting for insurance approval and date. So, now I am on my way to 4 and 5, pre-op appointments and then surgery.

4/16/03

Just wanted to note that today I recieved my approval letter in the mail from the insurance company. Everything is OFFICIAL and now I play that dreaded waiting game again! I am waiting for all of my apppointments that lead up to that surgery date...JUNE 17th!! I still cannot believe it is just a matter of months away. I think I need to pull out the calander and start my daily countdown. I also want to say thanks to the many people who took the time to email me and congratulate me and wish me luck with the rest of my journey. Thanks for all of the support.



4/29/03

Okay, I have, i think, 49 days, and counting, before my surgery. So far I have had my gall bladder sonogram and met with the "counselor". My next appointment is with the nutritionist. I meet with her this Saturday, May 3rd. Once I meet with her I will have the rest of my required appointments on June 5th, including all of the pre-op stuff. It is amazing how fast the time is flying by. I am so ready for this. I have started to slowly tell my friends that I have chosen to do this. I am still trying to avoid negative responses so I tell one person then wait a few weeks before I tell someone else. That is what works best for me I guess. So far everyone is supportive. My husband is supportive but I think a little worried about the person I will be afterwards. I told him I will be the same person I am now just healthier, happier! We will see...I am already sipping water, and trying to practice the whole chewing things a million times before swallowing, that is tough! Well, until next time........

5/21/03
27 DAYS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is absolutely amazing how fast the time has gone by since I had my initial consultation back in April. I can not believe I am getting so close. The last step I have before surgery will be the 4 appointments I have on June 5th. Just so they all go well I will be having my surgery June 17th at 7:30 am!! I am starting to let more family and friends in on my surgery. Mother's Day at my mother-in-law's house I talked to several family members about it and some were supportive some think I am officially crazy. I figure they will change their minds when the see how healthy and happy I am this time next year! I have started pureeing and freezing some foods for after surgery. I have also started eating on smaller plates and practicing my sipping and chewing food what seems like a million times before swallowing. That is definitely going to take some getting used to. Well, I will post again after June 5th!


6/5/03
Well, my pre-op day has finally arrived and as long as it took to get here is now over. Today was so inspiring and really brought it home for me. I realized today that this really going to happen and I am not going to live like this much longer. As for the pre-op stuff it was a piece of cake. Even the arterial blood gases that everyone says hurts so bad was painless, at least for me. I then had to have blood work, chest xray, EKG, give a urine sample. After that I met with my surgeon and he did a quick physical and said he would see me on the 17th, my surgery date!!!! JUST 11 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7/2/03

Okay, today I am 15 days post op. I am feeling great! I have had no complications, thus far. Surgery went well and I have already lost 21 lbs. I do miss taking a bite of food. But losing the weight it worth it.

7/30/03

Well, I am 6 weeks post-op and have lost 38 pounds!Yippppeeee!!! I feel great but just recently started having problems with food hurting my stomach. Hopefully it will pass.What is so great is that I now weigh under 300 pounds!!! What a great feeling that is!

9/28/03
WOW!!! I had no idea it had been so long since I have posted anything new on my profile!! Well, since my last post I am continuing to do well. Back in August I had a check up with Dr. Roll that went well. I am due to see him again October 13th. Now for the good stuff! I have lost 71 pounds so far!!!! I feel incredible. I have gone from a size 30-32 top to a size 22-24. As for my pants I went from a 26-28 to a 20-22. Not bad!! I am trying not to shop much but I have to dress up for work and it makes it difficult. I am able to eat and tolerate more and more everyday. I still can't believe its me when I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a window or when I see a picture of myself! This is the best thing I could have ever done for myself. I have no regrets!

11/22/03
It' been a while since I have updated my info. Well,yesterday I hit a major milestone. In just little over 5 months have hit the century club!!!!!!

1/27/04
Wow! It's amazing how time flies! Let's see, I went to see Dr. Roll back on Dec. 19th for my 6 month checkup. All went well. He wants to see me again in mid February. As of my last weigh in I have lost an incredible 115 pounds in 7 months. Words can not express how I feel. I feel like I am alive again, I am ready to live life instead of letting it pass me by. I do believe I have hit my first plateau. I haven't lost anything for about 3 weeks. I am starting a cardio-kickboxing class so hopefully that will jump start it again. I am now able to tolerate meat much better than I was. Anyway, I just wanted to update everyone on how I am doing and how alive I feel. I thank god for pointing me in the direction of this tool. It has made such wonderful changes in my life!

3/24/04
Okay, now I am just a little over 9 months post-op. How am I? Happier and healthier then I have ever been! I thank God that this tool was given to me. I feel like I am living instead of existing. I can not begin to put into words how I feel. Things that "normal" sized people take for granite I am just now experiencing. For example, a hug is so wonderful when the person you are hugging can wrap their arms completely around you! Or to be able to share your seat! Or to wear my husbands tee shirts as night shirts because they are too big! I just can't describe it. I have had a great experience with my surgery. I have no regrets and have yet to wonder why I did this.