Ella Nchanted
I am 32 years old,and wear a size 26 and I'm only 5ft4, I have Lymph edema in my legs and it causes me to look like a freak and it hurts all the time,the condition causes painful swelling ,disfigurement ,and leads to amputation ,infection and death. I am finnally getting the medicaid that ive been fighting for for 4 years,I am also getting the ssi disability that ive fought for for 2 years. I was planning to have surgury in mexico,but now that I have medicaid and since medicaid is soposed to cover lap band ,im haveing the surgury in new orleans,I dont have exact name of doctor,there is a group there,im on there waiting list..its probably going to take several months before I accually have the surgury. I went to Dr Speigals simminare,2 of them,and I waited 3 months for his clinic visit and I traveled there and paid 200 for the consultaion.He SPENT A TOTAL OF 10 MINITS WITH ME,AND HIS OFFICE STAFF ARE NOT UPFRONT ABOUT COST,I FOUND THE STAFF VERY DISHONEST. This surgury is a matter of life or death for me,so I need a doctor that cares about me,not about the money.
2004 12/04/04 Ok,im finally updating this.I am waiting on a call saying im approved,it will happen,it has to! Dr daniell Scott is my dr,he is in new orleans. Right now im dealing with alot ,been thru alot of stress ,my hair is falling out ,its so thin you can see my scalp,I had eye and facial surgury last month,and it was pretty traumatic,plus was diagnosed recently with diabetis. AND I had a horrible phyc eval experiance, he was so rude to me!!!! So basically its been rough.My Mom says im to dramatic,just to relax,I wish it was that easy!!! Well I have an angel,her name is Frances Spencer,im so excited!!! But tired from new years festivities and stress 2005
01/22/05 Since I last updated alot has happened,MY Mom went to mexico and had lap band surgury,lol..Didnt tell anyone she was doing it,but thankfully it turned out ok.Shes doing really great,shes lost 15 # she had it done the week before new years.I went to new orleans,had a class ,met the dr,got my surgury consult scedualed,had a bunch more test ran, they had to redo some blood work ,and do a pulmonary and blood gases test,which isnt fun.Ive learned that life is pain,the alternative isnt an option for me,so I just deal with it.I got an awsome angel,(big sister) Frances Spencer,she is way to kool,and im looking forward to meeting her in person,I think this is the begining of a true friendship . The local tv news is doing a story on me,about my lymph edema,and my lap band,they are comeing to my house for the interview monday morning ,im soooo nervous ! Earlier today I FELL down the front steps,fell from the second step,the house is on peirs ,about 4 feet up,my mom freaked out cause she was behind me and thought id hit my face on the metal stake that is around the landscaping around the porch,(we have stakes up with tarps to keep the plants from frezzing)..but I had grabed the stake with my hand and only hit my face on my hand,so its just sore ,no permanent damage.I did twist my left ankle,my left hip ,hurt my thigh ,and left front calf..not a good thing for my lymph edema. On a positive note,we watched a funny movie while ago..its called without a paddle...I laughed my booty off (NOT)!!!! If only it was so easy !!!
3/7/05 Things have been crazy around here,I went to new orleans again on the 25 th of feb ,they did an ultrasound of my legs and groin and I dont have any clots now,but im at increased risk of getting them,because of my legs. So I have to go back to new orleans on the 9th,to see a vascular doctor,hes going to put a vena cava filter ,called a greenfield filter in me, they will run a catheder into the main artery in my neck and then feed a metal filter into it ,when they take out the catheder the filter will stay and will attach itself to the walls of the vessal.The purpose of this is to protect me in case I develope a blood clot ,the filter will catch the clot and prevent it from traveling to my heart and lungs and killing me.I was really angry about this when the dr told me,because I felt and still feel like I should have beeen told that he does this on people,now finding out he likes to do it on almost everyone,so it should have been discussed in paperwork,or simminare at least,and no one on this board has ever mentioned it until I posted about it,I was releaved to know that others have had it and are doing ok with it.I was also aggravated because Dr Scott started off saying I had a choice on doing it,then when I told him I didnt think it sounded like something I wanted He says ,well if you choose not to have it then I wont do any surgury on you. He knows I cant go to another dr,so im stuck,and without any chance to research the procedure I felt that it wasnt for me. I realize now that I need the filter,im affraid,but made my mind up to do it,I have been thru worst,and I made it ,Ill always make it,im not about to give up. I go tuesday to see a new eye surguon,hopefully he can fix the upper lids that are making me have vision trouble,and causeing problems,The eye clinic that did the first part of my eye surgury wont return my calls,and never answer the phone in person,so I left alot of messages. I will see him tuesday and go to new orleans wensday,Im hopeing that they will get the filter procedure done and over with soon,and be able to scedual my lap band really soon,im waiting for a letter to come from medicaid approveing the surgury. The dr office didnt submit anything untill the 25th of feb,they are so annoying ! I wish my hubby had a way to get the lap band to,hes overweight ,and has a bad hip,he has a hard time getting around because of the hip,and hes put on weight because of it,he cant work and has been turned down for disability,hes waiting on an appeal,as soon as my surgury happens ,im gonna start gettting in there face(s.s.office) about his disability,and whats taking so long.When he finnally gets it he will be able to get medicare,im not sure how long they take to give it to him though. He can get it and I can get it through him,right now im getting medicaid.He needs a hip replacement done,but he has to get the weight off ,and plus he has to get either medicaid or medicare ,cause the charity hospitals wont do it for him .
03/10/05 On the 8th I went and saw a new eye doctor,and decided id keep on after the eye dr in shreveport about doing the rest of the surgury I need on my eyes.After eye appointment I went on to Baton Rouge and my hubby and I stayed at my angel Frances's house,she makes the best fried chicken and sweet potatoes. The next morning we headed over to new orleans to see the vascular dr at Tulane,and he didnt seemed so set on me absolutly needing the filter done. Mostly I think he was wanting me to be sure I really wanted it. He said he could do it in about a week,sooo after the long trip home and alot of thought ,I decided YES id do it ,I called them just a few min ago,and im set up to go in on the 17th of march to have it done,they said they will possibly keep me overnite ,because of my legs,and that it will be later in day when its done,because I go at 8 that morning and sign consent and speak to anestesia. I still have not gotten anything from medicaid regarding approval,maybe it will come soon.
3/18/05 We had a great time visiting with Frances and her family agian,they are so kool,and we just get along so well,shes an awsome cook,she is like us and likes to make down home food.We had alot of fun taking pictures after the guys went to bed,we posed silly for the camera.And got some great shots of our progress.The next morning hubby and I got up very early and headed to new orleans,its just an hour and half from Frances house,so it wasnt to bad a drive.I forgot to mention that Frances is really great at web design,and she taught me some codeing and stuff I never knew,so now im haveing fun playing with my profile.Taking pain pills and messing with my profile.The vena cava procedure went really bad,I was told by the dr that the procedure had virtually no complications involved,that he'd done thousands of them with zero problems,well he lied. So I got turtured bassically,the anestesia wasnt enough ,I couldnt tell they had given me anything ,and they didnt listen to me,so I could feel wayyy to much,and they had to cut it with a scaple and puncture it in many places,I feel like theres a 500 # weight on my neck,and Im haveing strangelating type pain,and pain when I swallow,But apparently God didnt want this to be done,so it didnt work,the surgeon says I should be fine and since I have no past history of blood clots the lap band will go well.Its kinda hard to believe him after everything that happened.
Recipes
Breakfast Tostadas 1 egg,1/2 morning star breakfast sausage patty,1/8 a cup shredded chedder cheese,1 mission white corn tortilla,butter flavored no stick cooking spray,great value brand,1/2 green onion,chopped put sausage in microwave for 1 min,til done,then chop in small pieces cook tortilla in frying pan useing butter no stick spray, cook on both sides till slightly crisp,blot on paper towel. wisk one egg ,salt ,pepper,green onion,sausage peices,then spray skillet with cooking spray , and scramble the egg mix in skillet till done top tortilla with egg mix,then top with cheese ( may also serve with salsa) one serveing has ,calorie 230 fat 8 grams carbs 25 grams its very yummy,but has high carb content so dont eat often!
Tortilla Soup 2 # ground beef,6 green onions,chopped. 1 small yellow onion,chopped partially brown ground beef ,then drain,add onions and beef to pot and continue to brown/ 1 can golden hominy,1 can sweet corn,2 can chili beans(ranch will work) 3 cans mexican style diced tomatoes,2 pkg taco seasoning add the vegetables to the meat and onions then stir in taco seasoning ,salt and pepper to taste,cook on low for about 2 min stirring often 4 white corn torttillas,cut into strips & fryed in coconut oil till crisp,then drain on paper towel serve soup in bowels or large cups, garnish with fryed tortilla strips ,also good with shredded chedder cheese,and sour cream,and raw chopped onion serves 8 people
No Beans about it Chili 3 # browned ground beef ,cooked&,drained,1 jar salsa ,2 pkg chili seasoning,1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeano peppers,3 cans chopped chili style tomatoes,1 large onion chopped,add all ingredients to the pot,cook on low 45 min stirring often . Serve with fritoes corn chips,sour cream,shredded cheese,and chopped onions
my black bean chili 1 # ground beef,browned and drained,3 cans black beans,3 cans chili beans,1 jar salsa,mild,2 pkg chili seasoning,mild,1 tablespoon jalapeno peppers ,finely chopped, 2 cans chopped chili style tommatoes,one large onion,chopped, 8 ounce shredded chedder cheese,sour cream,fritoes corn chips/ add cooked drained beef to large pot,then add beans,tomatoes,seasoning,1/2 onion,salsa, jalapeanos. salt and pepper to taste ,cook on low for 45 min,stiring often,careful not to burn bottom. serve with fritoes and toped with cheese and sour cream
3/21/05 The past few days have been filled with pain,my chest is bruised very badly,and I still have a hard time turning my head or lifting my arms,but the punture and incision spots are almost completly healed,ive had them covered with a really large bandaid bandage,to let it dry and to keep infection out ,hopefully the scars wont be visible. Today I looked at the mail that came yesterday,I had a jury duty summons, Its annoying to have to worry about this now,so now I have to call My PCP to get a letter from him about my condition.I feel guilty because ill have to get excused,and someone else will have to do it.
3/23/05 well I got some really bad news,I talked to monica,and asked her if they had any news about my approval,I told her that I wait everyday for it,its been almost 30 days,why hasnt it come yet? Well she says ,it hasnt been 30 days,we just mailed it off,I said WHAT! when,why? She says that she couldnt send it on 25th like they had said ,she gave me a bunch of reasons that made no sense,then she says it was soposed to be sent to the insurance department on the 7th ,but that she was sent to emergency room,she is haveing trouble with her pregnancy(please everyone pray for her baby,shes having a girl,and is only 7 months),I say well I was told that it was being sent on 25th and have been waiting ,and waiting ,and I thought you handled the insurance,but thats not the case,there is another woman in a different department that the paperwork has to go through ,well while she was out all the paperwork that was already soposed to be sent long before she got ill was left sitting on her desk for 2 weeks .She claimes that it was sent to the insurance department on the 21st,but I have serious trouble believing anything they say at this point.And with her haveing pregnancy troubles I had to be all nice and understanding about it all. But I am stressed,im 32 years old and I struggle to walk,cannot work,live on a very small fixed income,and am a burden to my family,and I AM BASICALLY GONNA DIE IN THIS BODY! I want children ,and health,but I am stuck waiting to have this surgury to get well ,and to be well enough to live normally ,and have kids,so its very hard for me not to be really angry,and sad right now.
3/24/05 This is so kool,im APPROVED!Can you believe it?I cant.I spoke to Nicola ,the woman that accually handels insurance issues at tulane,she did get the paperwork sent in on 18th,said she has no no clue why Monica said what she said,hmmmmm. And she said she would call medicaid and ask them to please rush things,well that was at 4 pm,I got a voice message from her within an hour that she spoke to medicaid ,and its approved,but that I have to wait for the letter to come,then fax them a copy of it before the surgery date can be set.She did say earlier that if it was approved before this month is up that the dr would have to do the surgery before the end of may! One weird thing is that she said on machine that I was approved for my gastric bypass,lol...I left her a message saying wow ,im excited ,but I wana make sure I get my band,no bypass,lol,Dad says not to worry that they will do the band,cause its cheaper,hmm,im not so sure,but I will make sure its all straight before I sign consent.
3/30/05 I finnally got a surgury date,May 5th,Im so happy!!!!!
4/1/05 Well on the day I got my surgury date,yesterday ,I also got a letter from social security saying they might be stopping my ssi and medicaid benefits,talk about stress.I think the devil really enjoys causeing people misery and drama,he sits back and laughs at everyones pain. But I dont give up so easy,I called the case worker this morning and I do have to do a bunch of paperwork ,and they might cut my benefit checks,meaning I have zero income,but she said most likely they wont do anything ,and its very unlikely that my medicaid will be cut. So im TRYing to stay focused and positive,as much as posible.
5-1-05 Today is sunday the 1st,I leave monday morning to go spend the day with Frances,We will have some fun visiting.Then I head on to new orleans to do the preop stuff on tuesday...surgury on thursday the 5th.Right now I have a cold,and im worried that it will mess up my surgury,I just got over a mango rash that I was so stressed about ,and now this cold,its so frustrating! Yesterday I spent the entire day with my 10 year old god daughter,we went shopping and put all her stuff for camp on layaway,she is going to summer camp in arkansas in june,and I wont be up to much shopping because of surgury on the 5th and I also have eye lid surgury scedualed for the 18th,so I wanted to get all her stuff together,shes excited about camp,but I think im even more excited for her,I spent many summers at the same camp as a child,and I know it will enrich her life in so many ways.Today we are gonna hit the grocery store and get the stuff to make chili,then head home and spend some time together cooking the chili,she really loves chili,so I want her to learn how to make it for when she isnt with me,shes so grownup for 10,she loves to cook,she helped me make cookies last nite.
5/3/05 Today I had my preop with dr scott,and he postponed my surgury until the 19th because I have a head cold,im very discouraged.
5/17/05 Today is tuesday,my surgury is thursday the 19th,so im just 2 days away! Im excited. Still thinking something might go wrong and my surgury not happen,trying to be positive though!
05/18/05 Im one day away,im excited,my husband and Mom are going to New Orleans with me,we are heading out this afternoon,its 4 hours away.Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful comments on my support page,im running out of klenex though ( :
05/25/05 This is my first "postop" profile update,its not going to be anything like id planed it to be,everything has changed.My surgury was on the 19th,this past thursday,I have 5 laproscopic inscisions,when he started he found that my liver is "diseased" he said it is huge,so big it filled the abdominal cavity.So he couldnt place my band,the entire experiance was sureal,like a bad dream.But it is very real,reality sucks!He asked me what my plans where as far as where to go next,I said hmmm,well ill have to think,but they wont be here at tulane..I feel that why didnt they realize my liver was so big,he also did a biopsy,and says it looked like it has cirosis.I was soposed to get results by today ,but now I find out that they wont give them to me,he wants me to go see him on the 3rd and get results then,he told me that I could folow up with my primary care doc if I didnt want to go back to new orleans,so I wasnt planing to go back.I saw my primary care doc today,I start takeing insulin tonight,ill take 2 shots a day ,I have to get the biopsy results before I can see the specialist for my liver.This morning I had an email from Marcy at dr chungs office in lake charles,Dr chung read my post and wants to try to help me,I called her,im soposed to go to a siminare on the 3rd for his program,the only bad thing is is that he promotes gastric bypass,and doesnt think the band is right for me.He does the bands,but is sort of new at it,hes been doing them for maybe 6 months or so,and says the band patients dont do as well.I told her that I know a ton who has done well and im only wanting the band that ive done a year and a half of solid research,dailey research ,so im definatly stil set on the band,basically band or nothing.I had pretty much gave up the idea of haveing my band,because I cant let them cut me again,I feel that they are incompeted(sp?)So if God decides this surgury is for me then he will send me some angels,and Ill get the band.
"God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him.When I got my act together,he gave me a fresh start....God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes." ***PSALM 18:20-24
"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."
***PSALM 37:4
"He stood me up on a wide-opened field;I stood there saved...surprised to be loved!" ***PSALM 18:19
6/14/05 my new surgury date is July 12th,My new dr is dr chung,in lake charles louisiana
7/9/05 MY SURGURY has been postponed again,apparently there was some problem with the medicaid approval being transfered to the new facility and doctor.Ive been very depressed..the only good thing is that I wasnt loseing before,I was doing everything right ..just wouldnt budge...but I accually lost 6 pounds,I knew it would come off,but was taking its time..im working hard at it so that my liver will be in good condition when the surgury does happen.
7/18/05 The 4th time had better be the charm! My new surgury date is thursday july 21st,Im so happy!I lost my sweet Uncle Fred on the 12th,so I know God let everything fall into place ,so that Id have time to mourn
8/1/05 My surgury went really great,it was the easiest surgury ive ever had! Mine only lasted about 45 min,and I accually was able to go home the same day,I had very little pain,and didnt take but a few pain pills,the best part is ive lost 27 lbs.im now weighing 310,the day of surgury I was 337.
10/13/05 Life has been difficult,Ive been under alot of strees because my husband and me has been going through classes to be certified to adopt we have gone thru 6 weeks of classes.Then hurricaine KATRINA came,and the stress just piled on,being new orleans is so closs to my hometown,it was just scary.Then RITA hit us in southwest louisiana and my world was litterly turned upside down,we had to evacuate,the entire parish I live in had to evacuate.My family evacuated to sabine parish at a camp on the lake,there where no hotel rooms anywheres,and thousands on the road trying to get out.We had 13 people cramed into the camp on that thursday,then the next day the power went off,rita hit us in sabine parish,tore up some camps around us,I have never been so affraid,the temperature stayed around 110 degees,it was hard to rest,hard to eat..and considering id had my second fill just a week or so before it was hard.I was throwing up everyday,staying sick..not getting much more in me besides water,we had very litle ice,we had water that the national gaurd gave out ,but of course it was warm...but wet.I sweated alot,and prolly was dehydrated,I lost from 310 pounds before rita hit to 297 pounds.We where haveing to eat MRES FROM THE NATIONAL GAURD AND caned stuff,I could not even get tuna down ...my mom and sister did try to make me eat broth,but it was hard to heat it up...I did get some down though.My husband And I FINNALLY LOCATED A HOTEL IN SHREVEPORT we went there on the 2nd of October,It was so nice to be somewhere with ac,and get out of that terrible HEAT.I was able to start eating alittle again,and slowely stoped vommiting.The Hotel,or I like to call "refugee camp" WAS NASTY,there was piles upon piles of cig butts and garbage,the staff would not clean,people would just wander around with no rules,cops where there everyday.Thank God we found another place to move to on Saterday..we have been here the last 6 days,its so clean,and compared to the other place a palace.oUR hOUSE HAS SOME DAMAGE,AND HAS BEEN WITHOUT POWER since the storm hit.All of our animals survived except our fish,they had no air..and to much heat.The roof needs repaires,and the new additions are all messed up..lots of uprooted and twisted trees,really big trees,huge holes where they once was.Horse barns are destroyed,dog kennals destroyed,messed up fences.But we are lucky compared to others...so many are homeless now,many friends and relatives lost everything. The bad thing is I did gain a few pounds back that id lost,M&Ms go down so easy when real food wont ,yall all know how it is...I litterally could not eat for so long,and I was concerned with geting anything down...but no big deal,It is only a couple pounds,and will be gone before I know it..being under 300 is such a big deal to me,I feel so good about myself..cant wait to see under 200 now! Thanks to all of yal for your prayers and support,they are always needed.We found out right before Rita hit that we would not be certified to adopt at this time due to our health..MY HUBBY NEEDS A HIP replacement,and they said to finish the classes,5 more weeks and to reaply again after his surgury..well we just saw the doctors here in shreveport ,it so happened that he already was scedualed to see them before Rita came along..they are not doing his surgury anytime soon...they want him to lose weight,no certain amount..but his appointment isnt for 6 more months,im ticked of course...Im gonna have a serious talk with my caseworker,they really have no bussiness turning us down due to our health,they said it wasnt just my husband but me to,something about lots of doctor appointments..I dont see the doctor very often,not anymore,duh...how can they do this..its not right,they knew all about our health before we spent 6 weeks in classes..Thats what screening is for.Im gonna get letters from our doctors and bring it to there attention..cause my husband might need to lose weight,and walks with a bad limp and uses a cane,but so do alot of other people,otherwise his health is good,my lymphedema is never gonna go away completly,sleep apnea is almost non existant,and diabetis is completly under control...I take 2 pills a day..total..really I think my health is great,compared to where ive been...So please yall keep praying for me...I really need it.We are going home in morning ,soposed to have power on...the engineers are soposed to be comeing to blue tarp our roof,we are on a list like everyone else....
11/16/05 Hello EVERYONE! nice to be updateing again,Ive been home for awhile now,still dealing wih Ritas aftermath,had my computer crash,so I have been offline awhile.Missed the support and contact.I recently bite the bullet and threw away all my mold infested massage therapy text books,and related stuff,very stressfull,im attempting to rebuild my library for reference use,but im broke as usual,lol...Ebay wants way to much for books..mostly to much shipping so far..ill keep looking though.My weight is down to 296,still haveing to many puke days,need to get a fluro to see whats going on in there,maybe after the holidays ill do that. Future Update 2006 Jan 23rd,2006 Things are wild,thats how life is sometimes isnt it? My weight is down to 289,im working out every weekday at curves,and useing my gazelle a few times a week,and just started doing modified crunches at home everyday,I am doing 50 a day,im so sore,but I know it will be worth it to look good .My husband is still trying to get his disability,I am constantly working on his case.Making calls,writing letters.Ive spoken to a couple of politicians that say they will help.Im not holding my breath.My husband ,Wilbert is trying to lose weight,he was told that he would have to before they would replace his hip,he will see the doctors again next month,hes gone from 310 at his last visit to 295.He wants to have lap band surgury,but he has no medicaid,no anything.Kinda a lost cause,unless a doctor will do it for free its not happening.I AM bassically his only support right now,he doesnt get online,so its just me helping him.His hip has gone from bad to worse,hes not walking much,to much pain,useing a cane all the time.All yalls prayers are so appreciated. Future Update 01/26/06 I had another fill yesterday,im at 2 cc now,im feeling restriction again,so its good I had gotten down to 289,but yesterday at the doctor it was 303,which really sucked.It was so time for an adjustment.Also I got measured at curves and ive gained 1/2 an inch in my waist,but lost 1/2 an inch in my arms,and upper thighs.Ive been wanting to eat alot more than normal like craveing junk ,I blamed it all on my hormones,I blamed it on all that and extra fluid retention during that time,but after a while Im like no,this has got to stop!I talked to Marcie at dr chungs about my husband,Wilbert getting lap band,and how I was agravated cause he is haveing a hard time getting medicaid,she was helpful,and im praying that dr chung can do his surgury if he gets the medicaid,Im getting on the phone in morning about the medicaid.Wilbert has been really doing good with his diet so far.Today I got my curves workout shoes in,they are cute,my mom and sister each ordered a pair from me,got a new scale to from avon,it measures body fat weight ,bone density and hydration levels.So cool! 2/2/06 Found out Wilbert cannot get medicaiduntil his disability case is won,and that might never happen,this is the 2nd appeal,hes is sooo much pain,and has got to get this weight off,he can have a hip replacement done in shreveport at the LSU hospital,but before they will do it he will need to weigh around 200 #hes weighing 295,they might even expect him to get down to 180 before they will do the hip surgury,he really wants the lap band.Maybe if we all pray really hard something good will happen! Future Update 05/18/06 Last time I updated I was at 2 cc and had had 2 adjustments and my weight was bouncing from 287 to 303 ,well its still doing that,very ,very agravating.Its all my own fault ,I have not been working hard enough,so things will be changing.My only defense is that I do have lymphedema and my swelling fluctuates alot,plus ive had some serious female issues.On the 19th of last month I had to have a laproscopic surgury to remove a 10 centimeter ovarian cyst ,some fluid in the abdominal cavity and my right folopian tube that was damaged and infected.I then had to deal with the loss of the tube,I want children badley and still hold on to hope that I will have some.I have made an appointment with a fertility specialist . I had to go in an have an unfill since ive updated ,was haveing 2 much restriction,vomiting,my tummy was inflamed,I believe it was mostly from the ovarian mass causeing pressure on everything,now Its been a month since my surgury to remove it and ive had no restriction after haveing the fluid removed from my band,I am not lossing weight and still going up and down,so I thought I really need to get some fluid back in my band,Im thinking an unfilled band is pointless really,so this puts me at accually haveing a needle in my port 4 times ,Its possible that Im wrong,but isnt that pretty normal? I called today and went in Im now back to 1.6,I did only have .6 in my band,which is nothing,well 1.6 isnt much either...I really hope it will give me some restriction,not enough to make me sick ,but just enough to help me.The bad thing is that Dr chung was really upset at me for the weight gain,and he acted like I have been in there alot for fills,and said he dosent want to be giveing me more fills because its not good for my port and he said my port is hard to hit,which it is not at all painfull for me,just uncomfortable really...this time was the longest it took him,usually I thought it was an easy hit.Im now worried that if this 1.6 fill is not enough that He is gonna not want to put more in.Anyways I hope this has updated yall,I am also gonna be going back to workout ,just got reasleased to go back,so hopefully someweight will start coming off again. 06/9/06 as some of you know he has been struggling with a bad hip,he has been on many trips to out of town doctors to just get the run around,well yesterday he was givin test results from a chemical stress test ,the test shows some blockages.The doctor said that when his heart is under stress that it does not get proper blood flow,and he could have a stroke or heart attack from any stress,so not only is he not haveing the hip replaced any time soon,but now he is haveing to WAIT to see a different doc to address the heart issues.He has an appointmet in july,but this appointment is not the cardiologist,it is only a primary care doc,and he will have to refer him to all others,the cardiology dept told me when I called that they are booking appointment now for late september,by july it will be november or december.My big concern is this,he is in major pain,which is stressful,he could have a heart attack during this time that he is expected to just wait.Im really upset.He has no insurance and is fighting right now to win his social security disability,which would give him medicaid,and then medicare..so please pray that he wins this very very soon,God can change things ,I know he can.My husband is 41 years old. 07/23/06 Well I hit my one year mark on the 21st,ive lost from 337 to 283 dureing this time! I think its great! I am trying very hard to get down to 250.I know I can do it,Right now im very restricted,I have to think about everything I eat or drink,and cannot eat anything till afternoon ever,plus cannot drink much till afternoon.I only have 1.6 cc of fill,so im affraid to go get any removed even a slight amount.Its hard not to be able to eat.But I know the weight will move better this way.Right now we are waiting to hear the dicision on my husbands disability and medicaid.They are gonna be letting us know soon.He has a lawyer finnally helping.Plus we are waiting on his heart cath procedure so he can be cleared to have his hip replaced.Im shooting for october,or november to get the hip done,because the heart procedure is end of september.They scedualed him like this and are not concerned enough to do differently.I of course am still freaked out because we where told by 2 specialist at LSU SHREVEPORT that he has decreased blood flow in some areas of his heart and stres is dangerous for him,could cause stroke or heart attack.Hes only 41 years old,they should have done the procedure and fixed whatever is causeing this already!
08/24/07 I havent writen in a long time because ive had alot of health issues and have been very discouraged and have not felt like a role model or a 2 year lap bander..I kind of stoped lossing weight altogether ,and noticed that I was pretty tired .
Well I was going between like the 287 and the 270 range,I was really trying to eat right during this time and excercise,maybe not enough though.
I continued to be very busy and active liveing life,seeing clients,taking care of my husband,and helping out when I could with my brother in law.Well we went with him and my sister to galveston and then houston tex,I had been haveing some lower leg swelling ,which had pretty much not been a issue in a while.I also noticed that I was hungry alot and although I was not out eating constantly like I felt like doing I was eating more often than usual for me,like I was hungry every hour or so.
Also I was haveing more blured vision,and some skin issues.Well then in like june I was up to 280,was very stressed about it,well I really got concerned when over a time of like 4 days i GOT UP TO 330 and both my legs where swollen, bottoms and tops some,my abdoman was also very large and "swollen" I had a hard time with clothing,the tissue in tummy and legs where very painful,there was redness and warmth as well.
So I went to ER and was admitted on a friday and stayed in hospital till the following monday.I was on iv lasics,lost 26 pounds before I got home,thank god I had a catheder.
Well I also had disbetis again,it was reversed but was back again more stubborn than ever.Ive struggled to get it under control,still working on that,im doing 3 insulin shots a day and im noyt managed still at this point.I was told I needed a specilist for my legs,so I found one in Baton Rouge,and I started seeing her,at the Baton Rouge general.I was diagnosed with lipoedema in addition to the lymphedema.The diference is on is just lymph tissue,other is lipids that build up.
These lipids are sort of like lose fat that kind of floats,this is how it was explained to me,in a normal person the lymphatic system would work to carry this fat out of your body,we need the lipids but the excess ones are soposed to be flushed out in the lymph fluids and system,but builds up insted,it builds up in inner or outer thigh pockets,abdomin and sometimes buttucks,the difernce between this fat diposits is that it is painful to the touch and is in odd proportion with the body .It is also extreemly resistant to diet or excersise.People with this can loose weight but will generally loose in areas not effected by the condition,and not much at all in area with lipoedema.
I had lost weight in my upper body and upper thighs,but where left with fat pockets,not skin,but fat pockets,that hurt and my stomach has a odd amount of fat .It was dificult to be diagnosed before my weight loss surgury because of my overall obesity.I have to go to Baton Rouge 2 or 3 days a week to have treatments,I have complete decongestive therapy done by a licensed professional.I am waiting now for some compression garments to get in.
The trips are not easy(WE ARE right at 3 hours from BR ),it cost so much to have to go ther and stay,we have to get a hotel every week,very hard on the budget.
I did alot of research on the lipoedema and found that the condition does seem to respond well to liposuction done with a vibtration technique,I need to have that on areas along with skin removal on lower stomach,its very painful right now,could not sleep again last night.I am very depressed about this all and feel like a failure,my mom keeps asking me if I have told dr chung about all this,and im like no,he will probably think im crazy and trying to make excusses for my failure.
6/9/08 Hi everyone.iT HAS BEEN SO LONG SINCE IVE UPDATED AS USUAL.Alot has happened,my weight went back up to324,Im back to 318 today.
I had a miscarriage in march,The miscarraige was very painfull both physically and emotionally.
my uncle died this past saterday,my moms dog killed my baby kitten sunday,she loved it to death literly,picked it up in her mouth and bite his throught,I didnt deal well with it well.Ii had bottle fed this kiten the first week of its life and lost the brother and sister the momma cat had,they where born premature as far as I could tell.He was 4 weeks today if he would of lived he was gorgeous,he had huge blue eyes and was fluffy and was a white color with grey undertones,his legs where sriped,I named him gus,he was just a alley cat but his grandmother was full siamese,and his dad was a huge striped tom cat that lives in the woods.The miscarraige was very painfull boh physically and emotionally
I was already very emotianally drained from the sudden death of my uncle.So this one incident was like the last straw,sometimes I wonder what it takes for a person to finally loose there mind.
My husband has medicare now and in order to have his hip replaced is going to get the lap band done in lafayete.In morning I will be calling around and getting referals and appointments for all his approval packet for medicare.We will atend the required simminar tommarrow night the 10th.
I am wihout a fill still,since my pouch dilation.I am gonna get a flouro done o verifiey my pouch is ok and hen ge a fill,it cost so freakin much to get he fill and worry that it will be to much.If I get it and have anymore issues like he cant access the port ect I will likely try for a rny revision,I wont ry to get a new port or band ,id do RNY because wih my diabetis I have to loose this weight.I still only have medicaid it is extreemly frustrating ,if I had medicare id have no trouble at all getting my band removed and rny done but now I would have to just hope dr chung would help me out ,he excepted my medicaid for lap band but he doesnt do this normally,medicaid dosnt pay enough and they refuse to pay for fills at all ,which is just stupid.He wanted me to have RNY to begin with and I insisted on the band,I was wrong ,for me RNY would have gotten me to goal,and would have reversed my diabetis.I say all this but at same time think the band is right for my husband its just a matter of each persons different sittuation,no surgury is right for everyone,I know that now,I learned this with experiance.
Well ill let yall know in a few days what happens
