ObesityHelp

I'M GOING THROUGH THE STEPS THAT MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS REQUESTED==ALL THE EVALUATIONS == AND THEN I'LL BE WAITNG FOR ( THE ) WORD FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY!
THIS IS WHAT I TOLD MY HUSBAND I WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS!

12-16-03==
ALL THE PAPER WORK HAS BEEN SENT IN TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY TODAY===SO NOW I START THE WAITING GAME ( OFFICIALLY )!! I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT I WOULD GET THIS FAR!
I MET THE SURGEON,DR.PETER L. HENDERSON AND HIS PARTNER, DR. KENT LAST NIGHT AT A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.MY PRECIOUS , SUPPORTIVE HUSBAND WAS THERE BESIDE ME, HOLDING MY HAND, HE'S SO SWEET!
WELL , THATS' WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW , I'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS THINGS MOVE ALONG==SPEEDILY, I PRAY!

7-11-04
well as of today i am down 85 lbs!!!! i also took my measurements a couple of days ago and compared them to the measurements i took 4 days before the surgery== and they are this=====
a loss of ===
8 in. in bust==
10 1\2 in waist==
11 in.in hips==
2 1\2 in upper arms==
2 in. in neck==
6 in. in thighs ==
3\4 in. in calves==
13 1\2 in. in stomach==
====for a total of === 54 1\2 in.!!!
i am so thrilled!!!! my mom came over last weekend and did some alterations on my clothes==i had some various sizes in my closet, so was able to make it up to now withuot buying anything==i did buy one pair of pants ==size womens 18== i was in a size 24-26==so thats a lot of progress =i think!!
its now been 6 months since my surgery===and i can now feel and see my collar bones again!!!
for anyone considering this surgery i say GO FOR IT!!!!
i'll be checking in periodically!!















1-9-04==
well i viewed my profile today and either i or someone who sets thes up did something wrong because i see the dates are not in order--soory but they are dated so you can follow along and see the progress as sit is made.
anyway here it is 9 days after my surgery and i'm really doing great!! i'm so thankful-no complications !!!
i feel so very blessed!!i know the circumstances cou;d have been so very different===but thank god they have been really great!
i feel so very blessed also to have met ( here on the internet )at obesity help. so many kind, encouraging, helpful people.such a blessing!!!!well i just wanted to drop by and slip in an update==tomorrow is my 1 week (well 9 day ) check up the dr will be removing the staples and the drain tube===i'm worried about that ==i'll be sure and take a pain pill before i go and pray it dosen't hurt much====pray for me!!!i'll let you know how it goes!!!



1-9-04==
WELL HERE I AM ON THE OTHER SIDE*** I HEARED OTHER WLS PEOPLE SAY THAT PRIOR TO MY SURGERY==AND NOW I KNOW WHAT THEY REALLY MEANT0---IT IS LIKE BEING ON ANOTHER SIDE TOTALLY AWAY FROM WHERE YOU WERE PRIOR TO SUGERY, A WHOLE NEW DIRECTION!
I ALSO CAN REPEAT OTHER WLS PATIENTS BY SAYING DON'T LET ANYONE SAY TO YOU "O YOU'RE JUST TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT"NOT SO===AND I REPEAT ==NOT SO!!!!!
I DID QUESTION MYSELF A COUPLE OF TIMES ( WHAT HAVE I DONE ) OR (DID I DO THE RIGHT THING)===BUT THESE QUESTIONS WERE ONLY FOR A FLEETING MOMENT!!!I KNOW I DID THE RIGHT THING!!! AND EVERY DAY TRULEY DOES GET BETTER!!!!!!!
I'M SORE , MOVING SLOWLY. AND CAN'T SIT HERE LONG IN THIS CHAIR AND TYPE , BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SMALL UPDATE!~
I HAVE LOST 10 LBS IN 5 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
I'LL BE BACK IN TOUCH AS I CAN SIT LONGER!!!!!
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRECIOUS EMAILS AND ALL YOUR ENCOURAGMENT!!!!
1-4-04==
WELL TOMORROW IS " THE " DAY!!!!!!!!I'M STILL NOT NERVOUS YET, I'M EXPECTING THAT TO HIT ME IN THE MORNING==BUT THEN AGAIN, I/M SOOOO READY FOR THIS , SO ANXIOUS!!!
I'VE BEEN CLEANING HOUSE ALL DAY==YOU KNOW WANTING THE HOUSE TO BE AS NEAT AND CLEAN AS POSSIBLE FOR ANY COMPANY THAT MAY COME TO VISIT WHEN I GET HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL--I'VE WASHED CLOTHES AND VACCUMED --JUST KEEPING BUSY--MAYBE THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF NERVOUSNESS SHOWING UP HUH??
I'VE WONDERED IF I SHOULD SIT DOWN AND WRITE LETTERS TO MY CHILDREN ( MY SON IS 22 AND MY DAUGHTER IS 26 ) YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN--JUST IN CASE SOMETHING GOES WRONG******* BUT I CAN'T BRING MYSEFL TO DO THAT---I WON'T LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.......RIGHT???? RIGHT!!!!!
WELL I GUESS THE NEXT TIME YOU HEAR FROM ME ==I'LL BE ON THE OTHER SIDE###### THE LOOSING SIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH I HAVE AN "ANGEL" I MET HER LAST NIGHT WHILE IN THE CHAT ROOM==MY ANGEL==ANNE---WE JUST SEEMED TO HAVE KINDRED SPIRITS.WE CHATTED AND SHE OFFERED TO BE MY ANGEL AND KEEP IN TOUCH.WHAT A BLESSING!!!! TALK TO YOU SOON!!!


1-02-04==
WELL I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO START A NEW YEAR!!WORKING ON A NEW ME!!
( THE ) DAY IS ALMOST HERE--2 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!THERE SO MUCH I NEED TO DO HERE AT HOME, CLEANING UP AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF.I HAVE WORK HALF A DAY TOMORROW, BUT THAT WILL BE MY LAST DAY AT WORK UNTIL I RETURN FROM MY MEDICAL LEAVE AFTER THE SURGERY.I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING OFF....BUT I GUESS NOW AS THE TIME GETS CLOSER I'M WONDERING WHAT THOSE DAYS OFF ARE GONNA BE LIKE????? WILL I BE IN PAIN??? WILL I BE SICK???? WILL I BE ABLE TO KEEP ANYTHING DOWN( EVEN THOUGH IT WILL ONLY BE LIQUID).
I GUESS ALL THESE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS ARE NORMAL==AND FEAR==WELL , I HAVEN'T EXPERIANCED THAT ----YET!!! I EXPECT THAT WILL COME MONDAY MORNING==I HAVE TO BE THERE AT 6 AM.
BUT I AM DREADING SUNDAY, I CAN ONLY HAVE A LIGHT BREAKFAST AND THEN NOTHING BUT CLEAR LIQUID AFTER 12 NOON BUT THE BIGGY IS I HAVE TO DRINK SOME SORT OF LAXITIVE( A HALF A BOTTLE) AND THEN NOTHING AT ALL AFTER 12 MIDNIGHT.I'LL PROBABLY BE STARVING ALL DAY SUNDAY AND MONDAY MORNING!!
WELL I JUST GLAD THE BIG DAY IS JUSTTTTT AROUND THE CORNER==THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT AND INSPIRATION, ANF MOST OF ALL --YOUR PRAYERS!!!!
TALK TO YOU ALL SOON!!!!

12-23-03 well today was my office visit with dr.henderson, to go over everthing before surgery--last minute questions and such.
my dear husband went with me ( he's so dear to me ) i couldn't do all this without his support and encouragement, i probably would have given up on myself a long time ago if it hadn't been for him! i am so blessed to have him as my husband and my very best friend!
the office visit went great, dr henderson said he see's no reason why we can't do the operation laproscopically and that my hyetial hernia should'nt be a problem. he also assured me that i wouldn't be waking up with the tube from the ventilator still down my throat ( which is one of my fears, the drain tube in my stomach, being the other),unless there were some sort of complications and i couldn't breath on my own.
after the dr's visit i went over to the hospital and pre regestered and they did some blood work and did a chest xray.
so---now i'm just counting the days==13 more to go!!!!!!
they gave me a sheet explaining what i am to do the day before surgery==eat a light breakfast and have nothing else to eat after 12 noon==only liquids==then that afternoon i have to drink some sort of laxitive and then NOTHING else after midnight.
the nurse at the dr's office took a (before ) picture of me and said they will take another in 6 months and then one at 1 year---and she said they expect i should be probably about 150lbs.by then and then at mt goal weight of 105lbs. in another 6 months after that.i can't imagine weighing 105lbs!!!!!i haven't weighed that since i was 15 years old!!! i mean i haven't seen the scales go below 200lbs.in 17 years!!!!its SO exciting to think about weighing ONLY 105---but it is also scary---can i reach that???is it really possible===for ME????
well we'll see====i know the lord didn't bring me this far to let me fail!!!
well i'll keep you updated!!!!thanks for everyones encouragment and most of all your prayers!!!!

12-18-03 I GOT APPROVED!!!!! I GOT APPROVED!!!!!!!!
THINGS HAVE MOVED SPEEDILLY !!!!!! MY CLINICAL WAS SENT IN TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY YESTERDAY ( 12-17-03 )== THEY WERE SOPPOSE TO BE FAXED ON THE 16TH, BUT THEY DIDN'T GET THEM THAT DAY ==I CALLED TO CONFIRM THEY HAD RECIEVED THEM AND THEY HAD NOT, SO I CALLED THE DR.'S OFFICE AND TOLD THEM AND GAVE THEM ANOTHER FAX # SO THEY RECIEVED THEM YESTERDAY AFTERNOON==I CALLED AROUND 10:30 THIS MORNING AND THEY HAD NOT REACHED A DECISION YET===SO I CALLED BACK 4 HOURS LATTER AND THE HEALTH ADVOCATE WHO ANSWERED THE PHONE SAID " YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS BUT I HAVE ALL YOUR PAPERWORK HERE IN FRONT OF ME AND YES YOU HAVE BEEN APPROVED!!!!" WOW!! THAT WAS FAST!! I EVEN HAVE A SUGERY DATE=== JAN. 5TH!!!!, ONLY 18 DAYS AWAY!!!!I AM SO EXCITED CAN YOU TELL?
I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SURGEON , DR. HENDERSON ON TUESDAY THE 23RD AT 10 AM , TO TALK OVER EVERYTHING AND THEN GO OVER TO THE HOSPITAL, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS FROM HIS OFFICE , AND GET ASLL THE PRE REGESTERING DONE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT --I'M REALLY ON MY WAY==I'M REALLY GONNA DO THIS!!! I'M NOT AFRAID (YET) THAT WILL COME AS THE DAYS GET CLOSER , RIGHT NOW , I'M JUST SOOOO EXCITED!!!I'M NOT GONNA BE FAT THE REST OF MY LIFE!!!
WELL I'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS TIME GOES BY!!!

1-16-04==
well i realized i'm the one who messed uo my proflil ==i'm not real compiter literate and i have the updates out of order==sorry!

anyway here i am 12 days post op. and really feeling great!!!
thank the lord--i realize so many things could have gone wrong==even small things -but praise the lord-none have!!!!!
i went to the dr. day before yesterday and had the staples and THE dreaded drain tube removed===i think i was more fearful of this part than the surgery itsself==but anyway i made it through it--it did hurt==but really was more uncomfortable than painful==as all things it depends i think on your tolerance to pain===mine not very good. but as with all of this surgery my dear ,precious, sweet husband was there with me holding my hand and as always as witty as he is he had somthing funny to say==" so, where do you want to go eat" --leave it to him==i know i couln't have come through this like i have if he had not been there for me ==he's truley my soul mate!!!!

i'm beginning to feel normal, i did'nt even take a pain pill all day yesterday and so far none today and i slept really well too --up only once!!
i have lost===are you ready for this----14 lbs!!!!!! i'm on my way=========== i'm on pureed food the dtr said begin more solid food as i feel i can==i don't think i'm ready yet==we'll see==maybe i'll get brave enough- i'm afraid i'll get sick and throw up==i hate to throw up!!

well if anyone is out there and reading this and questioning wether to kave the surgery i'd have to say ====YES YOU SHOULD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1-18-04

well here i am 13 days post op and i have now lost===wait==drum roll please======i have lost ====15.5 lbs!!!!!!!!
2 more lbs and i'll be below the 250 mark!!!!!woooooo hooooo!!!!!
its really evciting!!
i did have a little complication today--only minor, but the first complication--i had tuna with a dab of mayo and after about 3 bites it felt like it was stuck half way down==i wasn't choking--i could just feel a pressure==it hurt==i tried to make myself throw up--i've never been able to do that==so i just sippid on liquids, my husband is a paramedic( my very own in home paramedic!!) and he suggested something hot, so i got some soup, and eventually it worked its way down!!! boy i hope that dosen't happen again==its not good!
other than that i'm moving right along==feeling more and more normal daily!
well i'll be back and have an update soon ---hope to get a before pic in before long/

6-15-04
well i know it's been a long time since i've updated===sorry== besides working and not really feeling like doing a lot when i get home ---my computer has been down
but====anyway here i am 5 months and 10 days since my surgery==and i've lost================= 79 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the great news is i am below the 200 lb. mark ;;;;which i haven't seen in about 17 years!!!!!!!!!
i haven't bought any new clothes yet, i'm trying to wait as long as i can --but my clothes are really getting baggy!!!!!!!
i was in a size 26 pants and i tried on a pair o 18's and they fit==they were a little bit snug across the tummy but other than that thay fit!!!!! i now weigh 198!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i would recommend the surgery to anyone---i haven't regretted it one time!!!!!
well ==i'll update soon ( i won't be so bad and wait so long)!!

9-21-04
sorry its been sooooo long==no excuses!!
well last time i was here it was june since ===i am now at a total weight loss of =-==== (drum roll please!!!!!!!) 104& 1/2!!!
starting at 277 and now at 172 & 1/2!!!with a total lose in inches of ====64!!!!
i still have not regreted the surgery for an instant!!!it is the best thing i have ever done for myself!!
my hair is still thinning--but not AS much as it was, so hopefully its beginning to stop and starting to grow back some ==i have seen some really short hairs , new ones --thats a good sign!!
i still have about 45 more lbs. to go!!!and i know it will be a lot slower than the past 100 lbs have been == but thats ok==as long as i'm loosing!
i wish all of you who are planning to have the surgery the best!!i promise you won't regret it!!
i appreciate everyones prayers and words of encouragement!!
thanks----see you next time!!!