ObesityHelp

wow, I can not belive it has been so long since I came here. I have lost well over 200 pounds and am happy as can be. I hope to be able to help anyone who might need some information about this stuff. Readers Diegest has an awsome story about it in the Oct 2002 issue. Please email me if you would like an ear to bend.

Jan. 2nd 2001....back again. I had a wonderful holiday and I sure hope you all did as well. I bought a new dress and as it turned out it was almost two sizes too big, but I wore it anyway and loved it. I can not belive how much better I feel now, and it has only been 7 months!!!!!
December 14th Here I am again! I have been bad about updates and I hope to get here once a week at least now. From my all time hight weight I have lost almost 160lbs and over 90 inches. I have very few problems and most of them I don't consider bad lol. From the day I had it done I have lost 110 and now that I have started to walk walk walk whenever I can it seems to be going better. Thanksgiving was funny for me. I filled my plate like I WANTED to, and just nibbled at everything so I could enjoy the family and friends at dinner time. I ate very little but felt like it was a normal meal. Then I just broke what I had left into three small divided freezer plates and put them away for another time. I will do the same for the Christmas dinner. One of my problems is that the family gets upset (not mad mind you, just kind of pity like....*is that ALL you are going to eat?* or they worry that what we are having is something I can not eat. This tatic is more for them than for me. I don't eat red meat or pork, small amounts of chicken, fish and lots of soups with beans in it work best for me. I surely and not wasting away. I take the vitimens like I should and feel wonderful. I had a brief time where I was losing hair, but after I cut off three feet of it, it did not seem so bad. I never got a bald spot and it has since stopped falling out and is coming back nicely. E mail me if I can be of any help to you. Happy holidays and good luck to all.

Sept 24th...once agin I am sorry not to be able to get this updated as often as I want to...but I went for my check up and have lost 95 pounds from May 1st to now. I could not be happier about it. I still have some trouble with throwing up and not being able to stand anything some days but it gets better all the time.

August 3rd----I am so sorry I have not been able to update
this, but I am here now. I am just over 3 months post op
and have lost over 60 pounds and 50 inches!!!!!!! I still have
some learning to do and now I need to work on excersize, but I feel great and am very very happy. I hope to hear from some of you with questions...I will do my best to get right back to you.


May 12 2000- I had my staples out yesterday and at 11 days post op I have lost 18 pounds. I am very happy with this progress so far, and I got the ok to take the meds for my gout so I can get up and walk around more. Mom and I are joining the gym monday...no weights but plenty of other stuff to do! Wish me well...J
May 9 2000-It is getting better every day, thank goodness. Of course just my luck we are having the warmest weather ever for this time of year and we live on the 2nd floor of the building. It will get cooler tomorrow and should make for a more comfortable time. I finaly slept more than two hours in my bed, I can lie somewhat one my side but I do have to reposition from time to time. My wound is healing well, I have the staples out Thursday, my only real discomfort is the bout of gout in my right foot all of a sudden. And of course I can not take the anit inflammatory right now. If anyone has a home remedy for gout they would like to pass on to me, I would be most grateful!!!! I have no idea what my weight loss is at this point, just that there has been some. People have commented and I notice it in my face.
May 6th 2000, Ok Ok so I did not make it online last night when I got home...to tell the truth this has been a tough week for me and I was simply not up to it last night. I am doing well...the problem with not being able to breath deep is much better and I am able to stay up longer and longer. I had visions of walking around the apartment much easier than I am able to....oh well..small steps will have to do. Thanks to my angel and other online friend who stoped by to see me in the hospital and all the nice notes I got while Iwas away. I need to go rest now


Well, tomorrow is the big day, and I think I am all ready. I hope to be in the chat room friday night at 6 est. Thanks to all who have wished me well and said a prayer for me. I will be back as soon as I get home.-Judy

April 29th. Just 1 and 1/2 days to go! I am not worried
or concerned, but I am excited about this. We are going out
tonight (YES FOR DINNER!) one of my favorite dishes is Calimari scampi at a local place, so we are going out with my mom, my son and some friends to eat drink and be merry. We don't really drink, but a glass of wine won't kill me. Tomorrow we are going to get some last minute stuff done around the house (both girls are gone for the week and hubby is going to be alone!) For the most part we are going to stay home and quiet, Monday he will bring me and mom to the hospital (then go to work...new job and all) and he will come back to see me and pick up mom later in the day. Dr said I will be in OR about 3 hours, then recovery for 2 hours..then up to my room to finish waking up. Mom should have a blast with me then... She's great...taking the day off of work to be with me so I won't be alone when I wake up. She is a CNA also, and will be able to understand a lot of the stuff they tell me that I won't have a clue about. She's pretty supportive (as is the rest of the family) she even thought about this for herself due to some medical problems she has, but the office told her she had to be 100 pounds overwieght...so she said she has to start eating...lol.

April 27th-just a few more days and we will be on our way!
My husband and mom went with me to the support meeting Tuesday
night and although it was hot and crowded I am glad we went. The next day I had to go for a blood draw and preop class (which I found helpful) and to met the DR for pain managment. It takes a lot of time to get there and a lot of walking and waiting, but the next time I go will be Monday the 1st of May. I am the first surgery scheduled for that day so I have to be there at 5:45 a.m. Good thing is I am a morning person...bad thing is I am a COFFEE person. lol. I'll swap 100+ pounds of fat for coffee any day

April 12, 2000----well I am less than three weeks for my date, and getting my world in order. Whew. Glad I will have some time to rest after!!! One bad thing, Hubby starts a new job, and with having to close our busniess, he really should not take the time off to take me and stay there the first day. I will have to be alone at the hospital. He said he would take it off, but I don't really see why he would HAVE to be there. I'll miss him and I am sure I will wish he was there...but he will be in later in the week to see me. The hospital is a long long ride from home, and we still have two girls to contend with also. One of them will be in Seattle for the week, but he still needs to be here if they need him. I have been at this site for at least an hour after work every day, I learn sooooo much each time. I am very excited about doing this!!! Think some good thoughts for me, and email if you like. I answer each and every one.

Feb. 27, 2000....I have given it some thought, and I think I will
start to put my updates at the TOP of this so that if someone is
watching over me and keeping up with the changes, they don't have to scroll down to see it. I put way way too much in here to have to keep re reading.
I have a date, May 1st. I was glad that I was able to tell them when I wanted to do this, for more than one reason. Not the least of which is my peace of mind. I will be able to cook dinners for the family to have while I am in the hospital, and to be able to set things up here well in advance to make it as easy as possible for us while I am gone, and easier still for all of us when it is time for my return. Then my job....I work for my best friend in the entire world, she owns a busniess that does tax returns (as well as many other tasks that keep her busy year 'round) and to leave work before the end of tax season would be a terrible thing to do. So, I will have a week of post tax season to get things in order at work (as much as is possible Miss Linda...lol) at home, and in my mind. I have decided to tell friends and family alike about what I am doing and how it is progressing. Much to my surprise, I am getting some positive reaction and concerned questions about what will happen, the effects on my life for the long term and really no negitive input. My long time friend Amy was the first to ask me what my ideal weight would be, and what I expected out of all of this. She was (and has always been) very point blank and open, so it was great to talk to her about it with my husband there. She was wondering about the rate of weight loss and the excess skin. She also offered to walk with me when I was ready to get moving. I can't wait. My friends and family are the best.

August 4th 1999:
I was finaly able to get an appointment with Dr Carlos Barba in Hartford. It is the end of September and although I may have been able to get one sooner, I had asked for it during that time. His office has been pretty good to work with so far.

I did ask another Doctor (online) about the insurance I have
(PHS Medicade) and he said "no, they do not cover that procedure". I got the impression from the Dr's office that there may be some hoops to jump through, but yes, they have used this program before. I would sure like to hear from any of you who may have had dealings with this type of insurance before.

August 13, 1999:
I talked to my insurance company yesterday morning...I decided I might as well take a pro-active stance with this, as I might have a tough road ahead. To my surprise, I was told that they (PHS Medicade) DOES cover it when it is necessary but not as a means of weight control for someone who just wants to lose weight. I doubt I will have any trouble getting approved (although I won't count out being denied until I am POST OP lol). Then I spoke with the Dr's office and was told a little more about the program. I go to see the Dr. first, she said this appointment will be 2 to 3 hours long. I have to see several other people for interviews and such. Then, I have one more appointment with Dr Barba, sort of a "go over things". The next month (they only meet once a month) they put my chart in front of a "steering committee" to see if I NEED to have this done. If they decide to go ahead, the next step is a surgery date. All in all it is about a three to four month process. I can wait. I Have waited this long. I have been looking into this for the better part of two years, I have found a lot of information and support here on this site, and I hope to hear from anyone of you at anytime. Take care. J

August 14, 1999:
One of the Dr's I used to go to is giving me a hard time about iving me my records!!! Why on earth would I NOT have access to them?

September 23, 1999:
Well, not only did I get all my records, I had my appointment with the Dr. today and I am happy to say he was human after all.....I had been so fearful that this person who could very well hold my future in his hands would be......condisending? (I am sure I spelled it wrong) SO many people have told me this is too radical to think about doing and all I have to do is DIET...stick with it...rah rah rah. He was very open about this not being a magic cure, it would be hard work and would be something I have to commit to long term, the rest of my life. He never made me feel the questions I had were silly ( I had thought they were, but I did not know the answer to them.) he was very warm and caring. I heard him as he greeted many of the people who were there to see him that day and he was wonderful with all of them. I have a ton of testing coming up the first week of October...so cross my fingers for a January date!!!!!!

October 13, 1999:
Well, I am going for the third day of testing, not all at once but two days last week one day this week and I know I have at least one more day, on the 28th of this month. Some of it seems to be unnecessary, but I am sure it is. THe Dr has his patients go through all of this testing and then, once a month they put them in front of a steering commitee to see who is a god prospect for this. I am still hoping for January thus far. I check into this site as often as I can, and I have written to many people I find on this site. Belive it or not, I like the fact that not all the stories I get are picture perfect, not that it makes me happy that some of these folks ran into trouble, no matter how minor.....but it reminds me that this is NOT a miricle cure that will simply run it's own course and make me healthy. I have to work at it, stick with the program and be careful for the rest of my life...or I may NOT HAVE A LIFE.

Still, I am preparing for this, stocking up on Boost Plus, sugar and fat free pudding, carnation instant breakfast and making music tapes of songs that are more condusive to getting me moving so I can be up and around as soon as possible. My goal weight for the first year is 100 lbs less than my hospital starting weight...whatever that may be.

I have started to keep track of what I eat and stay within a 1500 calorie eating plan in the hopes of losing some weight before hand, and the nutrionist said they look for the commitment of an eating plan before surgery (but wieght loss is NOT a factor...some people will loose...some will not) so they can be sure we will stay on track AFTER. It's hard, but not impossible. I don't miss snacks or sweets, they were never a big part of my day....I miss cream in my coffee and the once a day muffin that was just LOADED with fat and calories....well...keep me in your thoughts....


NOW I AM LESS THAN HOPEFUL...IT SEEMED I DID NOT JUMP THROUGH ENOUGH HOOPS, OR SPEND ENOUGH TIME DRIVING AROUND FROM DR TO DR FOR TESTING THAT I CAN ONLY SAY PROVED THAT OTHER THAN MY WEIGHT I AM IN GOOD SHAPE....BUT ONE OF THEM NEEDED TO SEE ME ONE MORE TIME TO "SHOW HER THAT I WAS WILLING TO STICK TO THE PLAN" AFTER SURGERY. WITH ALL THE TIME I MISSED AND ALL, OPENING UP A NEW BUSNIESS, THREE KIDS, A HOUSEHOLD TO RUN AND ANOTHER FULL TIME JOB TO BOOT. ONE OF THE GIRLS GOT SICK (THE YOUNGEST) AND HAD TO GO TO THE DR. I THEN HAD TO CANCEL THE APPOINTMENT AND I KNOW IT WILL GIVE ME THE THUMBS DOWN AT THE STEERING COMMITEE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. I DID ALL I COULD DO, AND STILL IT WAS NOT ENOUGH. I AM MOST UPSET, TIRED OF TRYING TO BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE AND STILL TAKE CARE OF ME AT THE SAME TIME. I LEFT IT IN THE HANDS OF THE COMMITEE, BUT IT DOES NOT FEEL GOOD TO ME AT THIS POINT. MY THOUGHTS WILL STILL BE WITH THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GOING THRU THIS PROCESS AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND GOOD HEALTH. I WILL CALL THE OFFICE NEXT WEEK TO BE SURE ABOUT THE OUTCOME AND WILL POST MY LAST COMMENTS THEN

December 11, 1999:
Dr's office is making wonderful effort to re route me back into the system of things. I worked out some of the bugs I had in my personal life to make sure I could keep appointments that we set. THIS IS GOING TO WORK! Thanks to those who kept in touch. PLEASE WRITE TO ME!!!!

January 16, 2000:
I went to the Dr again last Wed for the last meeting with the nutrition people, and I lost almost 10 pounds!!! That made me happy and I guess they were pleased as well. Even though I am not having any trouble sleeping, I have to go for the overnight sleep study. And even though my heart test was good, I have to go for a stress test. I can't help but wonder why about the sleep study, I can understand the stress test, when it comes to the heart you can't take any chances.
My new job is going well, and I will be able to work out time off for the DR appointments and all. The sleep study will not interfere with my job at all, and the stress test will not take all that long. Just two more hoops to jump and then I can find out if the steering commitee will accept me for this to be done, then we put it before the insurance company. I am looking forward to this a great deal even with some of the negitaive things I see and hear. Keep the faith I suppose!

January 24th 2000 (it is sooooo weird to write that year) anyway, I have the appointment with the sleep study place, I have been there once before, for the
initial visit. It is a beautiful building in a lovely setting about an hour and 45 minutes from here.
I am not wild about 1) having someone watch me sleep 2) being away from home all night...alone 3) having to get up and go to work with out seing the girls and my husband. But this is one of the two things I have left to do
before I can go to the steering commettee and I have to do it. I look online more and more, and I see wonderful stories, some not so
wonderful stories, and the photos!!!!! The one huge change I see in the
after pics of most of them......the grin on their faces, a change in their life
that is sooooo much for the good. I hope I have the chance to have the
same grin on my face in a few months.

E-mail if you like. I try to answer as soon as I get them. I hear from a lot of you, I can not
belive how many of us share the same story. Good luck to all!!!!

If any of you are interested in starting a support group in the area I live in....please call me!!! I
have the resourses to do so and would LOVE to help in any way I can. I live in Plainfield and
own a coffee shop here as well that would be a perfect place to meet.

Let me know!