I am a 46 yr. old mom of 3 children ages 8 thru 16 yrs. I have been married for 18 yrs. I probably have been overweight since the birth of my 1st child. I have done the usual yo yo dieting. However, as most of you probably know, it comes back on fast, furious and even more than where you started. Two yrs ago I finally said I am calling a truce with dieting. If this is where my body wants to be, than so be it. WRONG!!!!! I not only added the most weight with that thinking, I also added major health issues to boot. After 1 yr. of testing for what the Drs. probably thought was M.S. I have come to find out they don't know what is wrong with me. I have taken more steroids and seizure medicines that Carter has pills. I am finally off of those, and I now see my health problems due to my obesity. Finally, so does my Dr. She finally recommended WLS. After researching and researching, I do believe this is the answer for me. What a great tool to help me maintain a healthy life style. And hopefully live to see my children get married. (which my doc. has informed if I didn't get the weight off that would be a reality). So I had my 1st consult with Dr. Burhop. I am a candidate, now it is just getting the insurance approval. I pray that it does go thru quick and there are no delays
as I have read on this forum. I just want to add, I love this forum and glad I found it. It is the most useful website on WLS I have ever seen. Good luck to all and May God Bless You.

NOV. 1ST. 2005

Well I have all my appts. set. I am so excited. I meet with the dietician on 11/3 and on Monday 11/7 I will be having all my labs and test run. WOW...Than a week later its my pysch. eval. I see a therapist for various other reasons, and I feel I just lucked out with this. He was on the list of therapists who do the eval. So he got me in right away. I hope everything else runs as smooth from here on out. Today has been just an exciting day all around. I received my results back from my sleep apnea, and it appears I have that. So Friday I am getting fitted with a cpap machine. I am looking forward to a good nites rest. But this also means one more thing to add to the list of health issues from obesity. Now when all this is done its off to the insurance company for approval. I have no patience when it comes to the waiting game. I finally have the courage to want to go ahead with the surgery, and now getting all the tests done and getting everything submitted seems so surreal. I just want my courage to stay where it is at. I am sure that there are people out there who have probably gone thru the same emotions. But, this board is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. Just a place of hope and encouragement and friendship. Well thats all for now. I will keep you all in my daily prayers.

Nov. 5th.

Well I am on a cpap. Boy, is thing hard to get used to. I took it off half way thru the night. To confining. Though my DH said I snored for the remainder of the night. On Thursday, I went to the dietician. I really enjoyed this class. I learned all about lifestyle changes and what to expect my diet will be prior to and after surgery. It is easy to hear what to do, but the challenge will be to follow it. I am sure we are all faced with the same thing. The hardest will be for me to chew slowly. I am a horribly fast eater. I don't know who I am racing with, but I can tell you I always win...lol.
The dietician told us to practice this. So far it hasn't been going so well. Then I learned about this dumping syndrome. I tell you it scared the hell out of me. I don't think I want to experience that. The good thing is I am really not a sweet eater. But every now and again, chocolate is good. Well thats all for now, my little guy just got up and its time to play mommy.

Nov7th

Just got back from having lab work, physical therapy, pulmonary testing. All went well. Wednesday it is off to pysch. eval. The testing was pretty easy. Though my veins have a tendency to roll or collapse so I had to be stuck 3 times. The results of all the testing will be sent to Drs. by friday, then they send in for approval, so it seems the waiting game is yet to come.
I have been trying to eat slow. I seem to be chewing forever. It certainly keeps my family in stitches. Glad I can be the dinner entertainment. I am aslo trying not to drink 1/2 hr before or after meals, as well as not drinking with the meal....this to is a challenge.
Well today is another day to get it right. Wish me luck.

Nov. 15th

I had the pysch. test last Wednesday. It went pretty well. When I left, the therapist said "Good Luck with surgery" I pray that means I passed. Tomorrow I go in to the required meeting my Dr. has at the hospital. After that, everything gets submitted to insurance.
I don't know if I mentioned this b/4, but I had not told anyone in my family except my dh about me wanting WLS. I just didn't want to hear all the negative remarks. Well I finally told my mom!!!! Well, she did start in a bit. I just told her, "Please no comments, or I won't tell you anything ever again". Naturally she is worried. But after I explained to her the benefits, I believe she is truly happy for me. I am glad that I am able to share with her my journey. She even visits OH to get info on WLS. Just today we talked about the surgery and I was able to express to her how important this is to me. What a great support she has become. I love you MOM! Well that is all for now. I guess the next time I post will be when I hear from the insurance or Doc's. God Bless.

Jan. 10, 2006

I can't believe how long it has been since I last updated. But the good news is I have been approved. I received the call from Lynn at Dr. Burhop's office and when she told me I started to cry. I have wanted this for such a long time. Now it is off to the Cardiologist to make sure I check out okay for surgery, then a date will be set. I feel so blessed that this has not been a long and drawn out procedure. I want to thank all the people at Dr. Burhop's office for helping me with my insurance filing and doing such a great job in helping me to get approved. They're the BEST!

Jan. 23, 2006

I have a date...I have a date. YEAH!!!!!! I will be having my surgery on February 16th. and 7:30 a.m. Praise God. This was such a quick and easy process for me. I am just filled with so many different emotions. Happy, nervous, scared, thrilled and excited. Finally I will know what it feels like to be thin.

Feb. 9 ,2006

Today is such a better day, Yesterday I had so much anxiety and self doubt. I was so shaken and just kept thinking is this really what I want to do. YES YES YES. Thanks to all the people on the Christianity board for your support and prayers. Today is going great. I am now on my 2nd day of liquids. I am not as hungry today as I was yesterday. Though I am starting to smell all my favorite foods. HEAD HUNGER. Thats when jello and ice pops come in handy. I saw my Dr. on Tuesday to go over last minute things about surgery. He is a very confident I will do well. My surgery will be at 7:30 am on the 16th of Feb. so that means I have to get there around 6:00 am. I am not a morning person. I just pray they give me something for nerves as I feel I will need it.
Funny thing is I have had so many elective surgeries b/4 and I don't why this one scares me so. But I am in God's gracious hands and He will take care of me. GOD IS GOOD.

Feb. 13th.

Okay it is only 3 full days to go. I am going strong on liquids. though I have come to hate jello and ice pops. Broth is good though. Since my husband is cooking challenged, I am still preparing meals for my family. That is the hardest part. I find my anxities (sp) are leaving me and I am feeling ready. Tomorrow I start only clear liquids for 2 days than its off to being a loser. lol. Until next time...God Bless you all.

Feb. 15th

It is the night b/4 my surgery and I am going thru all crazy emotions. Sometimes nervous, than anxious , excited, etc. I have to be at the hospital by 5:15 a.m. Thank God it is only about 20 mins. from my house. I just want to get the show on the road. I have lost 14# since doing the liquid dieting. That is definietly keeping me going. If I didn't lose any weight I think I would probably feel like a failure. I have been blessed with many well wishers from this site and for that I am so thankful. All the prayers mean so much to me. I couldn't get through this without Jesus Christ by my side and well as my husband and family and all my fellow christians. Your support is amazing. I guess the next time I post I will be a loser. lol. Until next time...God Bless.

Feb.19th.
Well I am home from the hospital as of yesterday. Per the drs. the surgery was a piece of cake, less than 2 hrs. But, I have to admit for a while while recovering I thought to myself, what the hell did I do. While I found I have a high tolerance for pain, I have a low, extremely low tolerance for nausea. And boy was I nauseated. Thank GOD that lasted for only 2 days. I find myself not very hungry, difficult to get in all my liquids. Bloated, I just want to pass gas. lol. I also noticed I have a keen sense of smell. Everything is nasty smelling. Hopefully that passes quick too. I want to share my experience of surgery with you but right now it all seems like a fog. So I quess after a few days when the meds are cut back I will be able to recount my experience. Thanks again for all your prayers and suppport. God Bless.

June 6th

Has it been 3 1/2 months already!!!!! Wow time has sure flown. I know it has been such a loooonnnng time since I updated. I am doing great. I am down 64 lbs. WOO HOO. I am wearing a very loose 12 and sometimes (depending on the brand) a nice fitting 10. I am loving life so much. I am so grateful to God for allowing me to have this surgery. I have had no problems whatsoever. While all foods don't agree with me, I am still able to eat a large variety of foods. My energy level is so high, I feel like I am twenty one again. YEAH!!!!!!! My relationship with my husband is great. I know it is because of the way I feel about myself. I really use to hate me. I felt like I disappointed him because of my weight and I was ashamed to be around our friends because of the way I looked. There is not a day that goes by now when he doesn't call me skinny or hello you beautiful goddess. (I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder!) I love you with all my heart my wonderful husband. Can life get any better? I have 44 more lbs. to go. I have reached little plateaus here and there, but nothing major to date. I do find I can eat a little bit more than a month ago. Still hard trying to get all the protein in. I just keep plugging away. I am flabby and know I need to workout a little harder. Now that the nice weather has hit Wisconsin, I am doing my walking outside. I definitely need a tummy tuck. New boobs would be nice too. (tee hee) Man those things sure went south. Did I metion that WLS is the next best thing to...... uhhh lets see.....nothing!!!!!! Okay maybe sex! I will try to update alot sooner next time. Until then, I am just loving life.

August 14th. 2006,
I am now 6 months post op and down 75 lbs. I have kicked up my workout regiment. Too much loose skin. I do hate to workout but I
I hate the flab more. The weight is coming off much slower than in the beginning but still coming off. I started back on protein shakes in hopes that will help me with hair loss. It is ever thinning. But the good thing is I used to have curly hair and now it is somewhat straight. I Love it. My family and I went on a family vacation and I thought it would be the hardest thing for me to eat out. I really didn't have a problem. My husband and kids were kind enough to let me pick the places to eat. No fast food restaurants here. I didn't lose any weight on vacation but didn't gain any either. So I am happy. I did discover sugar free chocolates. I also discovered they can make you dump too! Just not worth it. When I do crave something sweet I just grab a piece of fruit.
I just wanted to mention that I thank God each and everyday for this oportunity to have weight loss surgery. I think I am one of the most blessed people ever.
Until next time.


About Me
Hartland, WI
Location
23.9
BMI
RNY
Surgery
02/16/2006
Surgery Date
Oct 22, 2005
Member Since

Friends 1

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