Deborah_K.
Also Nov 7,'07
Nov 07, 2007
I have been taking Acidophilus. And I have been soooooo nauseous! Today I stopped it and I wasn't AS nasus as I have been. I am hoping this is the cause. I will see tomorrow.
Nov 7,2007 I am a perfect example
Nov 07, 2007
I am a perfect example of the insurance companies and doctors doing what they know and not what is the right thing to do for the patient.
I just had the Duodenal Switch on 9/20/07. I was a type ll diabetic for 14 years. I walked out of the hospital no longer a diabetic.
I had three family members that had stomach cancer and yet my insurance said I was a good candidate for the RnY weight loss surgery.
With the RnY I couldn't have had the remnant stomach that is moved over, never to be seen again, never to be checked accurately or clearly. Unless I wanted to do more surgery to check for cancer and I was told that by the time they would have checked it, it would have been to late to save my life.
My insurance doesn't do the DS but, they have paid for other people to have it. (All insurance companies have paid for out of service procedures, look in your insurance book.) They turned me down twice. So, I took it to the state board of health that oversees the insurance companies. The board of health overturned the denials and I got the DS.
The time line was: Ask insurance for the DS at local office ... 30 days to first denial.
Ask insurance for the DS at regional office ... 30 days to second denial.
Ask state board ... From the first day they received all paperwork, 30 days for the overturn. And I have paid nothing out of my pocket. The state made them pay for everything.
Things are changing but, it is slow. I actually had 5 of my insurance weight loss surgeons watching my DS. *Lol*
I just had the Duodenal Switch on 9/20/07. I was a type ll diabetic for 14 years. I walked out of the hospital no longer a diabetic.
I had three family members that had stomach cancer and yet my insurance said I was a good candidate for the RnY weight loss surgery.
With the RnY I couldn't have had the remnant stomach that is moved over, never to be seen again, never to be checked accurately or clearly. Unless I wanted to do more surgery to check for cancer and I was told that by the time they would have checked it, it would have been to late to save my life.
My insurance doesn't do the DS but, they have paid for other people to have it. (All insurance companies have paid for out of service procedures, look in your insurance book.) They turned me down twice. So, I took it to the state board of health that oversees the insurance companies. The board of health overturned the denials and I got the DS.
The time line was: Ask insurance for the DS at local office ... 30 days to first denial.
Ask insurance for the DS at regional office ... 30 days to second denial.
Ask state board ... From the first day they received all paperwork, 30 days for the overturn. And I have paid nothing out of my pocket. The state made them pay for everything.
Things are changing but, it is slow. I actually had 5 of my insurance weight loss surgeons watching my DS. *Lol*
November 5, 2007
Nov 05, 2007
I had a strange thing happen to me the other day, I was shocked. I got the DS to get rid of my type ll diabetes. I said as long as I could get rid of the diabetes, then I would be healthy and happy. It didn't matter whether I lost weight or not. I have been losing a pound or two every other day and I didn't think much of it, until I didn't lose anything for four days! I had to take a long look at my self. I DID CARE about the pounds coming off so easily! I had been in denial about caring and I didn't even know it! Life is funny!
November 1, 2007
Nov 01, 2007
I am doing better in the food/gas/nausea department. Not totally fixed but, doing better each day! I hope by my birthday, November 14th, I can say I'm well! THAT would be the best birthday present!
Oct 29, 2007
Oct 29, 2007
This is a note I sent to a friend:
I had my DS surgery and a belly button hernia on 9/20/07. I was in the hospital for 4 days and was released on the morning of the 5 day. My daughter was with me the whole time I was there in San Francisco.
How were the first few days after surgery?
I don't remember a lot in the first few weeks except they had a hard time in the hospital getting my pain meds right. I am sensitive to certain meds and get dizzy with others. My blood pressure was extremely high on most of them. Until they got it right and got me eating food, I had migraine headaches from the pure sugar IV. I am still having high blood pressure and am on 40 MG of LISINOPRIL (pressure med) I was on 10 a day before surgery.
How long did it take to feel better?
I am still waiting on that!!! Lol. I don't have pain with the surgery scares. (I did try to pick up a Walmart bag and put it right back down!)
It's with the nausea. I gag a lot! I stopped eating because EVERYTHING tasted terrible!!! Last week I talked with the PA at Dr Rabkins and she told me to take Pepcid AC and that helped, I also take Gas X.
I was eating salty things. But, I found chile powder on meats and BBQ sauce tastes all right. I eat sunflower seeds, almonds, tuna and mao, soups and corn chips and saltine crackers. Basically anything that doesn't want to come back up. Gas has been a challenge. Each bite has to be planed. When you get your food you take a bite and chew and swallow. Then when your food is cold and mushy and you would not have ever thought you would put something like it in your mouth... then it's time to take another bite. And you burp your self like a baby. My chest is so sore from pounding on it, I have moved to pounding on my shoulders to give my chest a break! I have thrown up twice from a gas bubble.
How have you adjusted to the switch part of the surgery?
If you mean the bathroom, I am in my 6th week and I go once or twice in the morning. I have had two times when I went three times in the morning and it was from to much fat and from BBQ potato chips.
Would you recommend Dr. Rabkin?
Dr Rabkin is really nice and an excellent surgeon. My daughter and my oldest brother are both getting the DS and they would have done it with Dr Rabkin but, they both have Blue Cross, so, they are going with Dr Gregg Jossart and Dr Paul Cirangle in San Francisco, actually the surgery will be done in San Jose, it's cheeper! The two doctors learned under both the Rabkins, Robert and John, then went out on their own.
I am doing better, but, it is slow!!! I am not sorry, just venting!
I am not on any diabetic or cholesterol meds now and that alone was worth it! I have lost 33 pounds since the surgery and 90 pounds from my highest weight of 335 pounds. I am hoping to get my blood pressure down when I start getting more exercise, after I feel better.
I had my DS surgery and a belly button hernia on 9/20/07. I was in the hospital for 4 days and was released on the morning of the 5 day. My daughter was with me the whole time I was there in San Francisco.
How were the first few days after surgery?
I don't remember a lot in the first few weeks except they had a hard time in the hospital getting my pain meds right. I am sensitive to certain meds and get dizzy with others. My blood pressure was extremely high on most of them. Until they got it right and got me eating food, I had migraine headaches from the pure sugar IV. I am still having high blood pressure and am on 40 MG of LISINOPRIL (pressure med) I was on 10 a day before surgery.
How long did it take to feel better?
I am still waiting on that!!! Lol. I don't have pain with the surgery scares. (I did try to pick up a Walmart bag and put it right back down!)
It's with the nausea. I gag a lot! I stopped eating because EVERYTHING tasted terrible!!! Last week I talked with the PA at Dr Rabkins and she told me to take Pepcid AC and that helped, I also take Gas X.
I was eating salty things. But, I found chile powder on meats and BBQ sauce tastes all right. I eat sunflower seeds, almonds, tuna and mao, soups and corn chips and saltine crackers. Basically anything that doesn't want to come back up. Gas has been a challenge. Each bite has to be planed. When you get your food you take a bite and chew and swallow. Then when your food is cold and mushy and you would not have ever thought you would put something like it in your mouth... then it's time to take another bite. And you burp your self like a baby. My chest is so sore from pounding on it, I have moved to pounding on my shoulders to give my chest a break! I have thrown up twice from a gas bubble.
How have you adjusted to the switch part of the surgery?
If you mean the bathroom, I am in my 6th week and I go once or twice in the morning. I have had two times when I went three times in the morning and it was from to much fat and from BBQ potato chips.
Would you recommend Dr. Rabkin?
Dr Rabkin is really nice and an excellent surgeon. My daughter and my oldest brother are both getting the DS and they would have done it with Dr Rabkin but, they both have Blue Cross, so, they are going with Dr Gregg Jossart and Dr Paul Cirangle in San Francisco, actually the surgery will be done in San Jose, it's cheeper! The two doctors learned under both the Rabkins, Robert and John, then went out on their own.
I am doing better, but, it is slow!!! I am not sorry, just venting!
I am not on any diabetic or cholesterol meds now and that alone was worth it! I have lost 33 pounds since the surgery and 90 pounds from my highest weight of 335 pounds. I am hoping to get my blood pressure down when I start getting more exercise, after I feel better.
October 6, 2007
Oct 06, 2007
I made it home!
PRAISE THE LORD!
Starting from day one ... I drove to Boise, ID on September 16, 2007 and caught a flight to Sacramento, CA to do two days of tests at Kaiser in Stockton. Then, I drove to San Francisco, CA on the 19 for more tests at the Kaiser there and the pre-op doctor appointment with Dr. Rabkin at Pacific Lap. and St. Mary's hospital for the next day's operation on September 20, 2007.
My daughter, Melissa, drove up from Ventura, CA to be with me. I don't think I could have done it without her. She was such a blessing to have with me. The care at the hospital was good, but, when you are scared and hurting, there is nothing to compare to having family with you. (She slept at the hospital with me, bless her heart.)
I had an audience at my operation. I think there were 5 Kaiser surgeons there to watch Dr Rabkin perform the DS on me. Maybe this is a sign they are going to finally start doing the right thing and give people the DS. I hope so.
I also had an "extra" to my operation, a hernia that Dr Rabkin repaired around my belly button that I didn't even know was there.
I had trouble with my meds in the hospital. The sugar bag they give you for an IV was sending my blood sugar count through the roof, so, they had me on insulin for the first few days. After they put me on half and half solution and I was eating more food, I was off all diabetic meds.
I stayed in the hospital a day longer than normal. The pain meds were a problem too, because they make me nauseous and sent my blood pressure really high and I swelled up like a balloon. After trying three kinds of meds, they had me on two shots of something that worked for pain and nausea. But, then I got out of the hospital and had only pills, no shots, and the swelling got bad again until I could get off the pain pills. Now the swelling is gone, the diabetes is gone and I am taking non aspirin for the pain. ( The hernia repair seems to be the biggest point of the pain now.)
I went in to the post-op appointment on September 27 and got a flight back to Boise, ID on September 28. My daughter drove home to Ventura on the 27th and flew out of LAX on the 28th and met me in Boise and drove us, three hours, to North Powder, OR.
The next few days we went gun hunting with her Dad and Uncles in the hills of Oregon for deer. My husband had gotten a 6 X 7 Bull Elk with a bow when I was in CA.
Now, I am home and the rest are off playing hide and seek with the deer.
I have lost 16 pounds since my operation. I am just concentrating on getting healed and I will think about the weight later. Life is good and I thank all of you who prayed for me.
This has been one heck of a ride, but, I wouldn't have missed it for the world!
PRAISE THE LORD!
Starting from day one ... I drove to Boise, ID on September 16, 2007 and caught a flight to Sacramento, CA to do two days of tests at Kaiser in Stockton. Then, I drove to San Francisco, CA on the 19 for more tests at the Kaiser there and the pre-op doctor appointment with Dr. Rabkin at Pacific Lap. and St. Mary's hospital for the next day's operation on September 20, 2007.
My daughter, Melissa, drove up from Ventura, CA to be with me. I don't think I could have done it without her. She was such a blessing to have with me. The care at the hospital was good, but, when you are scared and hurting, there is nothing to compare to having family with you. (She slept at the hospital with me, bless her heart.)
I had an audience at my operation. I think there were 5 Kaiser surgeons there to watch Dr Rabkin perform the DS on me. Maybe this is a sign they are going to finally start doing the right thing and give people the DS. I hope so.
I also had an "extra" to my operation, a hernia that Dr Rabkin repaired around my belly button that I didn't even know was there.
I had trouble with my meds in the hospital. The sugar bag they give you for an IV was sending my blood sugar count through the roof, so, they had me on insulin for the first few days. After they put me on half and half solution and I was eating more food, I was off all diabetic meds.
I stayed in the hospital a day longer than normal. The pain meds were a problem too, because they make me nauseous and sent my blood pressure really high and I swelled up like a balloon. After trying three kinds of meds, they had me on two shots of something that worked for pain and nausea. But, then I got out of the hospital and had only pills, no shots, and the swelling got bad again until I could get off the pain pills. Now the swelling is gone, the diabetes is gone and I am taking non aspirin for the pain. ( The hernia repair seems to be the biggest point of the pain now.)
I went in to the post-op appointment on September 27 and got a flight back to Boise, ID on September 28. My daughter drove home to Ventura on the 27th and flew out of LAX on the 28th and met me in Boise and drove us, three hours, to North Powder, OR.
The next few days we went gun hunting with her Dad and Uncles in the hills of Oregon for deer. My husband had gotten a 6 X 7 Bull Elk with a bow when I was in CA.
Now, I am home and the rest are off playing hide and seek with the deer.
I have lost 16 pounds since my operation. I am just concentrating on getting healed and I will think about the weight later. Life is good and I thank all of you who prayed for me.
This has been one heck of a ride, but, I wouldn't have missed it for the world!
Sept 15 again
Sep 15, 2007
The skys are safe once again!!! I got a flight on Sunday @ 11:35 am so I don't have to stay the night in Boise!!! I also got the rental car changed and it didn't cost any more! Thank you Lord. I am down to counting all my dollars!
Well, I am off to CA in the morning @ 5:00. Talk to you all later!
Well, I am off to CA in the morning @ 5:00. Talk to you all later!
Sept 15,2007
Sep 15, 2007
Well, they grounded my airplane! I will have to spend the night in Boise, ID because the flight they put me on now is at 5:30 Am. with an hour layover in Portland. God I HOPE you are in control!!!
Sept 12, 2007
Sep 12, 2007
I wish this site had a more user friendly search tool. I have been trying to figure out what the heck the flying chicken thing is all about!?! Also how to make the HTML editor keep my settings! Every time I write something I have to set it all again!
Sept 9
Sep 09, 2007
I think I have everything I need for the trip to the hospital. I keep looking on here to see if there is something I missed.
I am trying to keep myself from thinking too much about the surgery itself. I am finding some of my old insecurities have started to raise their ugly heads! I am not afraid to die, I don't think. I know if I don't make it I will be with the Lord. I am afraid to leave my husband and daughter alone. I have never been good at losing people I care about. I don't want them to be sad and unhappy if I don't make it through this surgery. My sweetheart held me this morning and said if I didn't want to go do the surgery it would be ok with him, he loves me just like I am. *I love him so much* (November 26th is our 29th Wedding Anniversary and our love feels stronger than our first!)
But, my health is going down hill fast and I know I wont be able to do the things I love to do anymore if I don't do something now to fix it.
I have never had a diary or journal so this is kind of nice to be able to vent my feeling and maybe shed a tear or two and not make anyone else feel bad. (Unless you are reading this! Lol.)
My babies are bugging me (four dogs) so, I will say a prayer for all of us going into surgery this month. May the Lord our loving God keep us safe in His hands and give us peace. Amen.
I am trying to keep myself from thinking too much about the surgery itself. I am finding some of my old insecurities have started to raise their ugly heads! I am not afraid to die, I don't think. I know if I don't make it I will be with the Lord. I am afraid to leave my husband and daughter alone. I have never been good at losing people I care about. I don't want them to be sad and unhappy if I don't make it through this surgery. My sweetheart held me this morning and said if I didn't want to go do the surgery it would be ok with him, he loves me just like I am. *I love him so much* (November 26th is our 29th Wedding Anniversary and our love feels stronger than our first!)
But, my health is going down hill fast and I know I wont be able to do the things I love to do anymore if I don't do something now to fix it.
I have never had a diary or journal so this is kind of nice to be able to vent my feeling and maybe shed a tear or two and not make anyone else feel bad. (Unless you are reading this! Lol.)
My babies are bugging me (four dogs) so, I will say a prayer for all of us going into surgery this month. May the Lord our loving God keep us safe in His hands and give us peace. Amen.
About Me
North Powder, OR
Location
26.9
BMI
Surgery
09/20/2007
Surgery Date
May 15, 2006
Member Since
