I am a 35yr. old single parent. I feel like this is my last option,i'm not downing the fact that i need to have this surgery, rather i am so very thankful that i live in an age where this kind of help is even in existance and more than that available to me. WOW.i have seen my pcp and was pretty nervous, but he was wonderful he absolutely says yes. So he's getting labs done and am getting referral on Jan.2nd. will let you know how it goes.
1/1/03
hi everybody just thought i'd let you know that i have an appointment to see my pcp tomorrow to pick up the results of my lab work and to get the referral to send in along with my application packet to send in to Dr. Alexander. I am soooooo excited i can't wait to just be able to hold it in my hands. So wish me luck. Or rather say a prayer for me.YOu just don't know how much i thank GOD as everyday passes by and i am here to spend it with my 2 beautiful girls. There is nothing i want more than to have this done. I am so greatful to have a pcp who believes in this wls and who is totally supportive.Well it's getting kinda late here so i'll let you know how it goes tomorrow
1/2/03
well all went as planned at the pcp's office.got all the paper work i need i think. so i am off to the post office first thing in the morning to mail in my surgical candidate packet.I am so excited i feel like i am soooo much closer to having this really happen like this really is reality. i know its gonna take some time but Lord willing i will have all the time that i need.I did find out that my cholesterol is too high which concerns me a little so i will try and keep an eye on that from now on.So now all we do is wait until Nancy sends me out an appointment date to see dr.Alexander she says i'll receive the date within two weeks after she receives my packet so that means by the end of the month i'll at least have a date to have my first consult.Let you know what happens and when the date is.
1/11/03
Hi well got a letter in the mail on the 6th from the surgeons office that says my initial consultation will be in about 14 weeks and my actual surgery date can happen in July. WOW. how cool is that . my kids and best friends know already but i hadn't told my brothers anything. So i told my oldest brother in friday and to my surprise, he seemed pretty cool. I think that he supports or at least respects my decision.He asked me all sorts of questions about it Like he was really interested, and so that made me feel at ease because i know i'll have his support.One down and one to go ,right? Today however went noticeably different when i told my younger brother,he was like,oh no not the surgery. I must admit he sounded more than a little and even more disappointed.and so my heart sank just a little bit.But then i remembered that The Lord said in all things Pray. and so i dropped to my knees(didn't know i could still do that) didn't get stuck either.He says he'll get back to me on it. You see we are a praying family and my brother has to pray first, and then we'll be able to speak about it.I am praying that God gives him peace of mind and eases his spirit,so that he will be alright with it also. well gotta run,
1/12/03
I had a conversation with my older brother a couple days ago and confessed to him that in my 35yrs. I honestly cannot ever remember being able to tuck my, any shirt into my pants can you imagine never having been able to tuck in a simple white cotton t-shirt into a pair of jeans,and so i said to him to him that maybe it was just in my mind but i remember definately being smaller but ALWAYS having this "pouch". And he said the sweetest thing. He said yeah, it must be in your head cause apparently he remembers me with the pouch. Wish I could.One thing i have to say for my family is that they NEVER,EVER even in our darkest hours and worst arguments did they not a one call me fat It amazing,the love and support that my brothers have given me.I think that even in this early in my journey,am i being made aware just how truely wonderful and unconditional the love from those 2 have been all my life.Don't get my wrong i'm not sugar coating things here we have had our share of disagreements and arguments,but even in the midst of it all i have always had their love.I am so thankful and amazed by the amount of love that we all share.I just pray that once my younger brother has prayed on it that he is able to be supportive and that i have his blessing also
I am so thankful to God for all that he has done and for all he has shown me over these last few weeks.My best friend was having problems getting a referral from her pcp and today he finally gave his OK.So maybe we will be able to have our surgeries about the same time. wouldn't that be great.I'd love that.I still haven't talked to my younger about the surgery again,but i am going to keep on truckin.I believe and pray that God will set his mind at ease and bring him peace.God just works that way.Man do I love to see Him at work in our lives.So I am continually praising Him for ALL that He is and ALL that He does.and let the choir say.....Amen
Hello AMOS friends, I was just taking a stroll down memory lane,and thought i'd invite you along. I am sitting here looking at the outfit i chose to wear to wear to the ent. dr. today and first thought to myself,whose clothes are these,how long have i been dressing like this,not even my mom wore clothes like this. Man i mean i am only 35yrs.old and i now wear clothes that cover up everything,i mean if it weren't for the neck and arm holes you'd never know i even had arms and a head. Ladies remember back in our thinner days,or should i say slimmer,cause i personally never was thin.but i digress. anyway think hard to remember the one body part that we are all told we had was our best feature and were only too proud to play up. for me it was my 2 best friends(my breasts),thats right me and my girls were best friends.I mean we were tight(and so were my blouses by the way). Anyway remember how much pride we took in those days and how we took the time to accentuate the positive in those body parts.whether it was your beautiful legs,your small waist(i'm rolling my eyes at you girls),:). or those of us who had "buns of steel"(can't roll my eyes hard enough at you.).Ahh, those were the good ole days weren't they,Well, am i the only one who hasn't seen that body part except for the daily shower(ever wish you could shower with the lights off). Suddenly i had on of Oprah's lightbulb moments the reason everybody always says that us "big girls"( come on i said it with love) are always being told that we have pretty face but..... is maybe because thats all we show anymore. Well just thought i'd share my strange sense of humor
Well,it's 2/08 and i go the first of what i hope to be all Positive phone calls from my surgeons office on Tuesday afternoon. they had originally sent me out a letter last month sayin it would be 14 weeks til i could have my initial consultation.And WOW it has only been 5 weeks since i have gotten that letter,and my appointment is on Feb.24th at 10:15am. my best friend Erma is goin to go with me. She also hopes, to have him be her surgeon.She is really more like a sister to me and for that i thank God. I am so excited,so that means i have 15 days and a wake up and boy oh boy you'd better believe i am compiling my questions.The funny thing before i found this website i had like a billion questions and now that i've been on here for a few months i feel just so much more educated,that i probably have only about a hundred HA HA. well gotta run. luv ya
2/15/03
Hello my lovelies, well you know my intial consult is the 24th.hey,ever notice how much medical terminology we've picked up since we've started our journeys.we sound very professional,don't we. anyway it is the 15th and I was just thinking that seeing as Feb. doesn't have 30 or 31 days,we don't really have to consider it an "official" month. You know, like how Washington D.C. isn't really even a state. I mean heck every other yr. we either add or subtract a day,right.Now, taking all that into account,I was thinking (and it's just my personal opinion)umm, We don't really even need days 16-23 do we.Come on people,work with a sista here.If D.C. is just as much a part of the U.S. without being a state,then couldn't Feb. be just as much a part of the calander with out days 16-23.AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH,you follow me now,pretty cool isn't it. :)
2/27/03
I know that i should have written sooner,but i've just had all of this information swimming around in my head since i saw dr. Alexander on monday. He's so cool,really self assured.I mean he really knows his #@*&. :) I feel so much more at ease.I was glad to hear that he does so much to try to prevent blood clots. He uses the pressure cuffs and heprin injections along with some kind of circulation thigh high panty hose. man won't Iook a sight in that get up. girl you know i gotta get a pic of myself in that. i have to get clearance from a pulmonologist because of my astma and sleep apnea. then must the regular battery of pre op tests. But in the mean time I am just sitting and waiting,waiting for what you might ask, well for God to show out thats what because I know that He can and He will.God has always been So good to me even when I wasn't looking. well off to feed the kids. luv ya
3/6/03
First let me start by thanking God for His loving kindness, His tenderness and love. For ALL of His blessings, those seen and those done in secret,for His power and strength. I am so thankful right now. Finally my sister inlaw (although she's more like a sister)what's up girl?.......anyway. she was finally ready to talk about my surgery today yeeaahhhhhh.. I truely believe that now she is just like she said, 100% behind me. I think everyone thinks that I want this done for cosmetic reasons..you know just to look better.... well let me be totally frank with you..Yes, I do want to look better.although I'm already cute.but let me tell you this AIN'T NOTHING COSMETIC BOUT A 276LB WOMAN... OK...... but at this stage in the game it is more about my health than anything else. I want to be able to read a book to my children with getting out of breath constantly. I want to be able to walk from my livingroom to my bedroom without having to catch my breath. I wanna be able to stand up on my feet long enough to be able to wash my own dishes instead of sittin in a chair or avoiding it all together by buying paper products. I wanna be able to wipe myself without having to do acrobatics..I wanna be able to move from a sitting position to a standing one without my knees feeling like they are about to give out...I wanna start participating in my own life again.. I wanna be more active with my kids and family.... I wanna stop being so ashamed and disappointed in myself that i stop spend time with my loved ones...I know thats something that I have to allow the holy spirit to work with me on.... but this is hard for me..... I wanna get off all this medication, nebulizers, inhailors, and oxygen machines......So to be honest if they had a surgery that would make all my health problems go away,but still wouldn't be able to lose the weight I'd still be the first in line...the way I feel thsi 276lbs might as well be 276,000lbs. Pray for me.
3/14/03 Ok people I had a little scare and saw my pcp this morning who says it is my acid reflux.(haven't been takin it correctly). so he gave me some powdered samples which i happen to like kinda taste like cherry koolaid. so decongestants and such. but i was scared. I didn't sleep at all last night. (hey wasn't that a song). well I also found out that i lost three, thats 3lbs. since i saw him last. very cool. said he was gonna note it on my chart. for insurance purposes guess so he can say I am still on supervised diet. yeah, who was supervising my puttin them chips in my mouth today. But I have decided to make every effort to lose at least 10 pounds by surgery. The doc. was so cute,he was against wls at first, but now he's on board with my other doc. he came in my room and said. what happened,aren't you surposed to be skinny by now. and i was like YEP!!!!!!! says he was thinkin about me the other night when he was watchin tv. somethin about wls. and he spoke with a friend of his who does wls. in california and now he seems to be all for it. YEAHHHHHH. well, i'm kinda tired (in addition to the usually big girl tired syndrome). ever notice how there are different kinds of tired. like being physically tired, tired because of health reasons, then there's the kids on your last nerve SICK AND TIRED, the worst of all there is the kind of tired that only other big girls can understand. well gotta run. thanks for stoppin by. drop me a line sometime . Oh yeah, I dedided that when i go in for surgery I'm gonna put a sticker on my belly for the surgical team to read. I'M OPEN TO ANY SUGGESTIONS SO DROP ME A LINE.
3/19/03
WELL spoke with dr.K yesterday and found out that I am a borderline diabetic. He says he doesn't wanna put me on pills, so instead he's mailing me a referral to see a dietician at the Drake center who can counsel me on the ins and outs of a diebetic diet, and he wants me to take me sugar levels and write them down for him so he can keep track of them. boy won't that be fun. I am not liking this.Now ordinarily I would say that this SUCKS however seeing as how my ins. co. is supposed to not approve wls to easily this one is definately in my favor as it is another co morbid that can be gotten rid of with the wls. so i had pcp's office fax over a copy of results to dr.A's office today so I know that it is in time to go in my letter of medical necessity cause i called ins. today and know that they haven't sent out the request for approval YET. Man this waiting game really makes you wanna KILL somebody.well maybe the word kill is a little harsh.....but I honey let me tell you I sure could mame somebody and not give it a second thought. yeah, that's better.maming sounds good to me.
4/5/03 Sup yall. well by now i had totally expected to be bringing you a surgery date. and well the Lord has his own time and He ain't wearing no quartz.PLEASE DON'T GET ME WRONG I AM SO VERY AWARE THAT THE TIME HE HAS ALOTTED US IS PRECIOUS. BUT U KNOW THAT WHEN YOU WANT SOMETHING AS BAD AS WE WANT THIS SURGERY THAT OUR HUMAN NATURE WANTS IT NOW EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW THAT EVERYTHING IS IN THE LORDS TIME AND I REALLY AM FINE WITH THAT. Sometimes it is VERY frustrating TO HAVE TO WAIT.BUT I AM PREPARING . Don't get me wrong THERE IS NO OTHER LOVE THAT COULD EVER COMPARE TO THE LOVE I SHARE WITH THE LORD. But I am definately learning a lesson in patience. My surgeons office STILL HASN'T SUBMITTED MY PAPERWORK TO MY INS. CO. YET IT WILL BE 6 FRICKIN WEEKS ON MONDAY SINCE I HAVE SEEN HIM. AND NOTHING. IF HE DOESNT' SUBMIT IT IN THE NEXT 2 WEEKS. I'M NOT GIVING HIM A HUG THE NEXT TIME I SEE HIM. YEAH RIGHT LIKE THAT'LL SHOW HIM. ANY WAY I'VE BEEN THINKIN ABOUT JEFF FOXWORTHY LATELY.YEAH THATS RIGHT I SAID 'JEFF FOXWORTHY NOT JAMIE FOX.SOME SISTAS DO LIKE JEFF YOU KNOW. ANYWHO I DECIDED TO I LIKE HIS YOU MIGHT BE A REDNECK'IF' THAT I'D START MY OWN YOU MIGHT BE A BIG GIRL'IF' IF YOU ARE AS WIDE AS YOU ARE TALL YOU MIGHT BE A 'BIG GIRL', IF YOU HAVE EVER GONE TO A DRIVE THRU AND ORDERED ENOUGH FOR A SMALL FAMILY AND YOU AIN'T GOT NO FAMILY 'YOU MIGHT BE A BIG GIRL' AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE IF YOUR WORDROBE CONSISTS OF ONLY' STRETCHABLE 'ITEMS 'YOU MIGHT A BIG GIRL'IF YOU HAVE TO ROLL FORWARD IN JUST TO TIE YOUR SHOE WELL LADIES SORRY TO TELL YOU BUT YOU TOO 'MIGHT BE A BIG GIRL'. NOW DON'T GET ALL BENT OUT OF SHAPE I'M AM BY NO MEANS BIG GIRL BASHING BUT RATHER I AM EMBRACING THE BIGNESS WHICH IS ME. CAUSE EVEN THOUGH I AM A 'BIG GIRL' I AM CUTE AS HELL.(hmm. just how cute is hell anyway). OK since I obviously DON'T know how to cuss properly. I here by promise not to use that word again.feel better. ok group HUG. WELL, FEEL FREE TO SEND ME ANY 'YOU MIGHT BE A BIG GIRL IFS' LUV YAL
4/20/03 Sup yall couldn't stand it anylonger so i finally called the pre cert office and found out that my request for approval was sent in on 3/25. after calling the insurance company and i mean PDQ i found out that they have until wed to say one way or the other. when you are 34yrs. old and you have arthritis, adcid reflux, obstructive sleep apnea, and now borderline diabetes(love that finger prick).not to mention THE GOOD LORD ABOVE. iF I ain't got medical necessity who does. ok i gotta get back to sleep.see yall wednesday.
5/1/03 Ok guys so i have made some progress well i guess the bad news first I found out last week that the ins.co. never received my paperwork so it had to be refaxed. NEVER COULD GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PRECERT OFFICE. i did however call the ins.co. a few times last week WELL I GUESS I GOT ON THEIR nerves SO MUCH that the ins.co. call my surgeons office and asked them to fax them my info. GO GOD GO. again i couldn't wait even tough i said i would wait for 2 weeks before i called. well it has been exactly ONE week and after calling ins. i was notified that my paperwork has been sent to someone for FINAL approval.... can you say H.O.T. D.A.M.N. so now all i try to do is be PATIENT...which you all can see i have plenty of NOT
FUTURE UPDATE
5/5/03 Sup yall my spirit is floating on a cloud right now (so I guess you could say that my spirit is doin the big girl happy dance without all the rumbling ) :) I've been praying soooooo hard to the Lord to give my brother peace about my having surgery. Although it's my life I'm not really sure if I would have been able to find peace if he were not able to support me. Please don't email me about this cause although I am independent I don't want to do something if we all can't all be in one accord. guess i'd have waited til he was more comfortable with the idea. any way The Lord must given him some peace about it cause he FINALLY asked me about it. and i'm glad we talked about it face to face instead over the phone. I'm not gonna ask him but i wish he would come up for the surgery. He's sooo busy now with his music career and church and all. Soo instead I think I will just make it a point to call him before I leave for the hostpital so that we can pray..... I have now told and discussed this with everyone that I want to support me. Now it's just a matter of HURRY UP. DANG. FUTURE UPDATE
5/6/03 It is about 2pm and i've been online since about 10am. I thought about sending in a pic so i looked around for one and I only found 2 and only one of them resembles the woman i am today(cause I'm not hiding behind one of my kids ) it's at my brothers wedding now even though i broke rule # 34 in the big girl book of codes and regulations you remember rule #34 THOU SHALT NOT WEAR PURPLE (CURSE THAT DARN BARNEY) like you never thought about barney when you saw yourself or another big girl wear purple...(for those of you who didn't receive your membership booklet, don't fret, we'll be discussing that through out the rest of the journal..k..) so like i was saying before i so rudely interrupted myself.. I was looking at this picture and I noticed something I don't know how I missed it all this time (probably distracted by all the purple) but.....I AM CUTE. big hair even bigger boobs and all...I've come to the conclusion that when you stop taking pics and even more devastating stop looking at them you begin to buy into the LIE that a big girls can't be attractive(and i'm cute as $^%@&) but then again i should have known better cause I don't know if you've been paying attention but umm THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF BIG BABY MOMA'S OUT THERE.. SO SOMEBODY SOME WHERE LOVE THEM SO BIG GIRLS... ain't that a revalation... well gotta run but if you wanna add rule #35 to the big girl rules and regulations hand book drop me a line...PEACE.
5/8/03 spoke with ins.today they said the doc. was reviewing it and to call next week if I don't get a letter So i wait.. I have a couple of things to keep me preoccupied until then.... OK I just gotta share this with someone and since I know you can keep a secret i might as well tell you.. . My thirteen yr. old daughter is doing a market research product study on tampons(which she'd never tried by the way) anyway so it's the appropriate time to use the product ok and we read all the instructions together and the first question she asks me is and I quote "you mean there's a hole down there?" well being the tactful sensitive person I am man i laughed so hard and so long that i was literally crying. Once we got past the initial shock of "yes dear there is a hole sown there". I asked her if she wanted me to come with her to make sure if everything went ok..of course she says no cause eww its her body right.. well let me tell you 5 minutes later she comes running in the room (and so i'm panicing cause she's running ) and then she proceeds to tell me "I think I put it in the WRONG hole" well again after I wiped the tears from my eyes(and picked myself up off the floor I am happy to say that she has completed the study
5/25/03 Good morning everybody,NO i didn't get approved yet the way this thing is going don't even act like you expected it. Spoke with ins. early in the week who says they requested additional info on APRIL 30TH(now excuse my yelling, NO WAY should i just be finding this out) so i contact dr.a's office(at this point he no longer deserves a capital A. in his name)and after 4 days of tryin to reach the pre cert girl(i think she's hidin out in costa rico) i finally called Nancy who says i hat your file right here i thought you were approved(remind me to smack her in the back of the head later) after lookin at my file she says let me ask kimberly a question.. she comes back in like 2 minutes and says oh yeah, she highlighted some questions that i need to ask you.. after answering the 2 questions she proceeds to ask me to call my doc and ask him to fax over a letter of clearance and how he's treating my asthma..so i'm thinkin to myself (what does kimberly do for a livin while I"M requesting additional information) i sure wish i had the ins.co's fax # i'd have faxed it myself.. on a lighter note.. my youngest daughter(who is 5)... went to the circus (i ain't talkin about ringling brothers) it's call UNIVERSOUL CIRCUS and it must have been great cause my daughters teacher called my that evening to say that kayla didn't sit in her seat at all she stood up and danced the entire time... the ring master who is the famous comedian SHUCKY DUCKY spotted her right off and pulled her down in the center ring they were playin the old song JUNGLE BOOGY and so they're dancing together and when it gets to the part when it says "get down get down" her teacher said honey she GOT DOWN...i'm not surprised cause my friends say that this is a kid who dances like she had a pole and a spotlight in her crib.. so if she said kayla got down i'm sure she meant down to the floor.LET ME GO ON RECORD SAYING THAT WE ARE NOT MUSIC VIDEO WATHCERS WE DO NOT LISTED TO THE RADIO IN THIS HOUSE AND NEITHER MYSELF OR MY 13YR OLD DANCE LIKE THIS(honey i don't know where this comes from) all i know is i better get her into praise dancing at church see the way i figure it is if she's gonna be SHAKIN IT UP it might as well be for The Lord.. right...later
FUTURE UPDATE
8/1/03WELL WELL WELL, so much has happened since the last time we spoke. First let me stary by saying that GOD is better than good.He has been SO attentive,so patient,so kind and gentle,and so very understanding.. He has truely moved mountains for me in this process.I truely know that if He brings you to it He'll bring you thru it.Last you heard i was still waiting for all my paperwork to be submitted well it was Finally submitted on july 15th by JACKIE at my pcp's office she called it in and i was approved on july 17thWOW. was waiting for a surgery date. had been outta town for about 3 weeks or so and when i came home i skimmed thru my mail I've been home for about a week. Yesterday THANK GOD i finally looked some bulk mail from my ins.co. and it was a memo stating that as of aug.31st my surgeon and the hospital he operates out of will NO LONGER be in my network.so after i said a little prayer i called them. i was told to have surgeons office call to get it covered out of network. Kimberly (his ins.gal) says if i have it done outta network then i will have to pay the remainder of the balance after ins. pays.she checks into a few things and calls me back and says that she didn't think i should have to suffer for something that's NOT my fault. so she talked to the gal that does scheduling Nancy and Nancy(my new best friend lol) gave me a surgery date of ........AUGUST 13th.YAAAAAAAAAAY... I told dave(my little brother) who lives in Nashville but was out of town on business..(you have no idea how HAPPY i am for him) and he said he is going to try to come up WOW. I told him if he couldn't don't worry about it just make sure he was up extra early so i could call him and we could pray before they take me into surgery.. but he said he wants to be there with me so we could pray(oh great now i'm starting to cry) I wasn't gonna ask him to come up but LORD knows that my heart is ten feet taller knowing that he is..Those of you who have been here before and not just read my latest update know how important it was for me to have both my brothers in agreement with me on this. It made the difference in my going for it or not(do not email me about this because this is how I feel).. I HAVE SEEN GOD MOVE MOUNTAINS ON MY BEHALF.IT SAYS TO PUT HIM THROUGH THE TEST. well honey let me tell you this I have yet to meet a person whose word hasn't broken their word to me at some point and time(myself included) But i know it says thatHis word Never comes back void..AND NOW GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS I KNOW THAT I HAVE NOW EXPERIENCED IT FOR MYSELF.. HIS WORD WILL NEVER COME BACK VOID.gotta go sending you lots of big girl hugs and all that jazz.. make sure you send some back K.
10/12/03 Ok homies I'm back I know I know long no see and i apologize for not keepin you filled in,but life has be hectic... where to begin, hmm lets see Had surgery,Dave wasn't able to come up for it but thats OK cause before I put my gown on i went out in in the hallway and used the phone to call him, he had me call him on his cellphone and then he called his wife (TJ)on his three way at home,(mind you he too was at home).So we could all pray together.It would have brought tears to your eyes(if you like that kinda spiritual uplifting prayer covering kinda stuff)lol..after that i went in my room and got but (in a big girls case i guess its more like BUTTS )naked. layed on the bed and asked the nurse when she came in for goofy juice.My best friend becky was with me the whole time..Honey I don't know what the $$%% she gave me but i'm telling you now I'd have her baby for just one more hit of that. after the goofy juice the next thing I remember was waking up in recovery,girl if it wasn't for the scare down my belly i wouldn't have believed i even had surgery... My eyes weren't even opened and the nurse was putting my pain pump button in my hand..a tip to all you pre ops they tell you to push the button when you feel pain or discomfort. but what they don't tell you is that YOU CAN PUSH THE BUTTON AS SOON AS EVERY 7 MINUTES.PUSH THE BUTTON. I was NEVER in any REAL pain. I had open rny. I was only in discomfort from having the incision down my mid section.you once i trained myself to move my body differently how to sit and lay and get up from sitting and laying positions once i got that together it was gravy..I had a great time in the hosp. my nurse and her aid (Andre)boy did we all have a GREAT time i felt like we were old friends. i went in on a weds. and came home on a fri. I slept ,well lived in a chair with an ottoman for the first couple of weeks. it wasn't too bad.. only threw up once cause like a dummy I tried to eat some steak at 4 weeks out.STAY AWAY FROM STEAK.it is evil...
gotta go i promise i will write back later today and finish getting you caught up .
10/14/03
Alright bubba I'm back today is my daughter Kayla's birthday and thanks to her i have gotten my daily walking in between catching busses and walking to and from her school and my house.Thanks kiddo. I am doing not so bad. I am wearing mainly 24's and 22's and even can wear a pair of 20's.I haven't seen a 20 since i was 20. It has been a constant struggle this month to get in all my protein and liquids. I am however getting better at this exercise thing I bought an exercise bike..ah, i thought to myself that this would be the lazy mans exercise of choice.WRONG...I know it wasn't invented by a big girl cause a big girl would have put a back rest on that sucker. Some days I am still in shock and can't believe that i even had surgery. I have found that I am in love with the late Dr. Atkins.. what a fabulous website.. love his products and all the recipes...my children and family have been GREAT thru everything...I could not do this with their support...I am going to the grocery store on sat(jungle jims) and I will weigh myself then and let you know what i weigh
10/19/03
Sup yall.. Its pretty darn early in the morning and I just wanted to tell you guys that at 2 months out I have gone from a size 30/32 to a 22/24 and cane wear some 20's too... I've gone from 276 to 228 since my rny on 8/13/03... I just went grocery shopping yesterday and bought a wide variety of luncheon meats or as i call em coldcuts. I have a relative who thinks its hilarious when i call it coldcuts, but the way i see it is that it's not really luncheon meats cause you don't only eat it at lunch.. but it is cuts of cold meat hence the coldcuts.. anywho... You guys have gotta try the Boars Head brand, they are very lo fat and little to NO carbs at all and Very High protein Like 11gms per 2 slices... And you've gotta check out the Atkins diet website.GREAT SITE we can use most of the recipes..great Protein content and you can modify it to be lo fat.Its not that i get hungry cause i don't but if I gotta eat I want to have some tasty options.gotta
2/14/04 Hello my lovilies. well it's valentines day and i ain't got no stinking valentine.. but thats cool cause i ain't ready for one anyway. I am now 6 months out and weigh 194 pounds, thats down from 276. Saw dr. A yesterday. and he says he is very happy with my loss so far. my bmi is 34 i think and he says it'll get into the 20's.
4/25/04
Yeah I know long time no hear from. I am 8 1/2 months out now and am 185 down from 278. Life is so much better. I am goin with my best friend Erma who just had wls 4/2/04 to get a membership to workout in the morning. So I'll finish this when I get back.
5/6/04 Hello boys and girls I now weigh 184. that sucks I feel like my weight loss is at a stand still. this is Not a good thing people I am still between a 16/18 and Still feel fat. Now I don't mean to be ungreatful. but um dare I say again THIS SUCKS. don't get me wrong i'm still cute as #(#*& but this cant' be it.. gotta run put the kids to bed I'll write more tomorrow
WELL ITS BEEN A WHILE. I AM AT ABOUT 180LBS. AND have been out of comission foe about 3 weeks now due to being EXTREMELY anemic, I was darn near passing out everytime i stood up,and eventually even when i was sitting. I am on iron now and feeling a little better. I'd say another week or two and i should be good as new. and be able to start working out again..Went to a post op nutrition class and was VERY pleased to hear the nutritionist say that i was doing everything right when it comes to my eating.. Just gotta up my calories up by a 100 or 2...
Update Here11/13/04 Sup it's been along time I'm in the process of appealing my denial for a panniculectomy. I actually plan to over night my appeal on monday and ask that it be expidited so i'll know something by friday.... will finish this update after the kids go to bed
4/19/05 4/19/05 long time no hear from I know I know. Lets go back a little first that way the good news will really seem like good news. My girls are good. My 7yr. old who is enrolled in a foreign language school so she's fully submerged in Spanish all day long. She's in the 1st grade and smart as a whip, as a matter of fact I've gotta bone up on my Spanish this summer. Because she can speak spanish about as well as I speak english.. My older daughter (the one who had the tampon incident). I doing ok she has a couple of surgeries comming up this summer but The Lord has always shown her favor so I don't worry. She's a big girl now she'll be starting high school next year. We have an appointment to see a lady about an assistance dog for her later this month... If all goes well she'll be getting a dog and he or she will be with her 24 hours a day.. She's really looking forward to it...
Lets see At my 1yr. check up my dr. informed me that it was time for reconstructive surgery so he sent in a request for panniculectomy and it was denied.. due to ' NO FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT TO BE RESTORED BY THE PROCEDURE". that was in aug. So I got letters of support from my pcp, chiropractor and gynocologist along with additional pics and my own appeal letter. Sent it to them in November and I was again denied due to "NO DR.'S NOTES/NO FAILED ATTEMPTS AT CONSERVATIVE MEASURES OF TREARMENT. Thank God my pcp was 100% behind me. He had me come in once a month to document my misery. RASHES, ODOR, BACK PAIN,SEXUAL DISCOMFORT(I have been celebit for going on 7 yrs. now ) so sex is not an issue for me but because of rashes,back pain, not to mention odor sex would no doubtedly be uncomfortable.. There are times when it is painful to hug my children my pannus is about 10-15 pounds so that coupled together with the weight of another person pressing on me is unbearable even holding my children... So from Dec. to Feb. he documented my issues and the last of Feb. (I had 90 days to file to file for a state hearing) So I saw him 3 times in that time period. He'd given me scripts for rashes and my back pain and I also saw my dermotologist who also perscribed meds. for my rashes. The last week in Jan. I filed for my state (my ins.co. only allows for 1 appeal, then you have to request a state hearing). My hearing date was March 4th. The hearing officer asked my ins.co. who was there via phone what they considered medical necessity and they said having used over the counter meds to reach rashes and back pain. Then I asked if I could read a prepared statement and I was allowed I told how my pannus affected my life the meds that I have been on since my last denial, and that I had additional letters of support from my pcp and dermotologist as well as both of their chart notes. Immediately after reading my statement the ins. co. told me to have my dr. resubmit my info again including the additional info. and put in for a brand new request for approval... I had my pcp do just that on the same day the 4th which was a friday. On 7th mon. I called to verify that they received it and lo and behold they had no record of it... So on the 8th I mailed an identical copy return receipt requested. well they signed for it onthe 10th but couldn't find it any where until April 7th.. when we both received a copy of the state hearing decision which stated that they should recend the denial and I should resubmit for new approval... So the next day they magicly found my paper work and in the mean time I was diagnosed with an incisional hernia, so I had my surgeon fax over a copy of that info to add to the paperwork I had already sent in.. And thank God I received a call that I was approved. Their dr. got my info on the 8th and my approval went out on the 11th... God is sooo good. Now I got the word today that my surgery date is on May 11th. My ins. co is paying for a panniculectomy and hernia repair but my dr. is also doing muscle tightening and pubic lift... He says it just looks my appealing ... I love that man... well gotta run my soaps are on . i'll write more later. If anyone needs any Info on state hearings please don't hesitate to email me... I'm here for yah....
Altighty it is Sat may 14 2005 and I am now 3 days out from my tummy tuck and pubic lift. I was also supposed to get a heria repair but turns out i didnt have any afterallI guess GOD took care of that directly... I stayed in the hospital for 2 days cause i could't to pee pee on my own after they took my catherter out.. as soon as I could they let me go I went straight to my dr.s office to have my 2 drains drained i went home with both and was told to mark the amount in each day by day and come back to see him on mon...kinda looks one might be done but the other one is still nice and juicy.. they don't hurt just a little annoying I'll be glad to get them out. I am soo flat I look good already and its only been 3 days. I can't wait til all the swelling goes down, gotta get me a compression garment for when this binder comes off. I'm still taking my percocet about every 3 hrs. although I dont' really need em like that but i take them because if not i know i'll over due it. SO take them i will.I really wanna get up and out and move around, so thank God my best friend Becky is here and won't let me do such things. I haven't really had anything to eat since surgery, but i'm just not in the mood. I am so looking forward to going shopping, gotta run. I'll write later.
Update Here
5/21/05 Ok ladies and gentlemen here are my helpful hints on getting RECONSTRUCTIVE PLASTIC SURGERY following weightloss surgery.. First off ANYTIME you have an issue post op no matter how small TELL YOUR DOCTOR. Most insurance companies want to see documentation for a period of 3 to 6 months.. So that means start your paper trail AS EARLY AS YOU CAN. Most doctors I have found will tell you not to worry about it that you'll discuss it when your about a year out.. well if you don't already have any documentation by that time then i'm sorry to say that you're probably in for a long wait for approval. The actuall best time to start your documentation is at about the six month mark or sooner as I have found that is when most of us start to notice some not so pleasent side effects of weightloss. So that means that when and if you begin to have lower backaches, when the excess skin on your legs and stomach begin to get in the way or make it difficult to do ANYTHING: walking, exercising,sex, bending,stretching,climbing stairs,standing, sitting,ect. ect. If you get rashes,boils, infections and yes even an odor, If the excess skin makes it difficult to wash yourself properly if your skin peels,tares or flakes GO TELL YOUR PCP..AND FOR GOODNESS SAKE GET A PRESCRIPTION FOR IT. If your legs rub together and causes rashes and chaffing or blisters or boils or even infections, If your upper back hurts or your side fat is giving you woes, if you have shoulder dents from your bra straps digging into your skin.. If you sweat under your breasts(gentlement this includes you too),if you get boils,blisters,infections, rashes or the like.GO TELL YOUR PCP. Lets be honest between you, me, your dr. and the insurance company WE ALL KNOW that most of us will at some point have suffer from some or ALL of the previous issues. However The insurance industry assumes that if you didn't bring you to you doctor then it ain't bothering you all that much,meaning it is not causing you any functional impairments which is just a fancy way of saying that if your not complaining to your pcp that it's not interfering with you day to day living.. So AS soon as you begin to have any of the above issues take youself to your pcp and don't for get to take pics or all of your glorious rashes, blisters, boils and the like let them see what we have to live with on a daily basis. Once you have 3-6 months of documented functional impairments it's time to get a copy of your doctors chart notes and get that referral to the Plastic surgeon.. ON SECOND THOUGHT DON'T JUST TELL YOUR PCP TELL ANY KIND OF DOCTOR THAT HAS CHART NOTES ON YOU AND THAT IS WILLING TO LISTEN. If you are having issues in you gential area tell you pcp and gyno. If your back is hurting tell you pcp and start seeing a chiropractor or physical therapist if the case warrents it. If your legs are the issue tell your pcp and orthropedics doc. if you have one..GET A COPY OF YOUR CHART NOTES FROM ALL THESE DOCS. AND A LETTER OF SUPPORT (stating that you have been treated by them and any and all meds that you've been prescribed by them and that although they can treat the symptoms the best thing of course to do is to remove the cause YOUR EXCESS SKIN). Once you have all these things you are ready to have that consult with the intended PS of your choice...In case i've haven't made it clear already your mission should you choose to accept it is have a well documented paper trail of failed attempts of conservative measures of treatment. WHICH MEANS YOU'VE TRIED OVER THE COUNTER ITMES(keep your receipts) AS WELL AS PRESCRIBED MEDS AND OR THERAPIES. You are still suffering. So have as much as you can already documented by the time your doctor says it's time for reconstructive measures to be taken.. if you do YOUR PS JOURNEY WILL PROBABLY BE A MUCH SMOOTHER AND SHORTER RIDE. I decided to put this in my journal because when I was going thru the approval process I couldnt' find this in anybody elses, that doesn't mean nobody else has is in theirs, I just couldnt' find it... so take what you need and leave the rest for someone else...I myself am 10 days post op from TT and pubic lift.. I had to take my case all the way to a state hearing which had I known what was needed cause my ins.co. sure wasn't gonna tell what they were looking for. I would have had surgery last yr. BUt everything is in GOD"S timing... So I wish you all well, drop me a line if you like... Tracy LET ME ADD THAT IF YOU HAVE HAD YOUR REQUEST FOR APPROVAL SUBMITTED ALREADY AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY DOCUMENTATION CHART NOTES INCLUDED ITS NOT TOO LATE TO START YOUR PAPER TRAIL NOW INCASE YOU HAVE TO APPEAL. THATS WHAT I HAD TO DO I HAD BEEN DENIED TWICE AND HAD 3 MONTHS TO FILE FOR MY STATE HEARING SO I TOOK THAT TIME TO SEE MY PCP ONCE A MONTH TO FINALLY GET DOCUMENTED WHAT I HAD BEEN TOO PROUD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT TOOK THAT INFO TO MY STATE HEARING AND WON...
Update Here
Surgeon Info: Surgeon:J. Wesley Alexander, M.D.
My first impression of him was that he was somehow bigger and younger looking than i had imagined for some reason.His office staff is so caring and compassionate,very helpful and up front about the entire process.There wasn't anything that i didn't like about him.well,kinda wish he'd told a couple of jokes.but thats just me.You should know that he really knows his *$@#. Do your research and write your questions down before you go in its alot of info to take in and also have to remember what questions to ask.He doesn't really have an established aftercare program,I kinda wish he did,but on the other hand they explain everything so well and give you so much written info that between that and your own research and questions you should be fine.They were VERY honest about the risks.One thing you will be able to say about him is that he doesn't sugar coat ANYTHING.Overall I think I'd rate him a 10. I think that surgicaql compitance is better thatn bedside manner.both would be nice.but i personally would rather have a surgeon who knows his stuff and not alot of extra conversation. than one who makes me laugh but didn't have much experience.He doesn't have a waiting list for nothin ladies and gents.He really is the go to guy for wls.5/17/05 Dr.A just did my Tummy Tuck on may 11th and he is still the man... I look great already I can't wait for the swelling to go complelely down to see the new me... He is an exellent surgeon. Insurer Info:
CARESOURCE
AFTER MANY MIS HAPS MY INFO WAS FINALLY SENT IN ON 7/15/03 I CALLED ON 7/22/03 AND FOUND OUT I WAS APPROVED AND HAD A SURGERY DATE OF 9/29/03.CARESOURCE HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH AND EXTREMELY HELPFUL. MAKE SURE YOU GET ALL YOUR EVALS DONE UP FRONT SO ALL PAPERWORK CAN BE SUBMITTED AT THE SAME TIME. NEED PSYCH EVAL AND SLEEP STUDY DONE BEFORE APPROVAL. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ANYTIME. I had a panniculectomy performed by my weightloss surgeon May 11,05. This procedure was also covered by caresource... don't give up...
