I am a 34 year old black female with 4 girls ages 16 1/2, 15, 13, and a new, unexpected, but very loved little girl born January 25, 2004. I also have a very loving fiance'. I have worked for the local government for 16 years. I have fought with obesity since having my 2nd daughter in 1989. I feel like an old woman right now. My health has been declining (high blood pressure, bad knees, high cholesterol) and something has to be done. Obesity runs in my family and I need to stop the cycle. Here is my story starting back in 2002.
MY HEALTH INSURER IS KAISER PERMANENTE. I HAVE WENT THROUGH MY P.C.P. AND HAD THE SLEEP APNEA TESTING, THE PSYCH EVALUATION, THYROID TESTING, AND OTHER BLOOD WORK DONE. THE LAST THING THAT I JUST FOUND OUT THAT I HAVE TO DO IS BE SEEN BY A NUTRITIONIST FOR 6 MONTHS. THIS IS THEIR NEW POLICY. I WAS TOLD THAT IF IT THIS IS NOT DONE, YOUR REQUEST FOR SURGERY IS AUTOMATICALLY DENIED. SO NOW MY REFERRAL TO THE SURGEON CANNOT BE TURNED IN ANY SOONER THAN OCTOBER 2002.
06/06/02
I went to my second nutritionist appointment today. I switched nutritionist because the first one that I went to just acted as if I was one more fat person that she had to deal with. God helped me to hold my tongue and not tell her what I really wanted to say. This new one is very good. She had a sheet typed up for criterias that had to be met for patients seeking WLS which is something that I never even received from my primary care physician! She told me that these appointments would be better for me because they would show me how to eat nutritionally after the surgery. She also instructed me to start taking my vitamins now and to start walking and doing water aerobics whenever possible. Hopefully I can lose a few pounds before I finally get to have my surgery.
06/24/02
I received an email a couple of weeks ago from a lady on AMOS that told me she had her surgery through Kaiser in April. She goes to the same center that I do here in Springfield, VA. She told me that she did not have to go through these 6 nutritionist appointments. What is this? Different rules for everyone? She told me who her PCP was so I made an appointment to see this doctor. I go on July 15. But just in case, I'm still going to the nutritionist appointments. My third appointment is on July 5th. I just can't wait to get this all completed. I'm wondering if they are going to make me do my psych eval and other tests, etc. over again because it's been some months now since I completed them. We'll see. I'll keep you all posted. I also would like to say that I have met some really nice people on this site as well as received some very good information. I know that everyone is different and everyone will take the surgery differently, but I will go into this thing with a whole lot of knowledge and I love all you guys for it. Thanks for taking the time to let us know things, good or bad. Also I hope that people will keep posting for years after their surgery so that we will still know how things are going.
Just wanted to come in and update my profile a little. I did not make my appointment to the nutritionist this month. So I rescheduled for August 2nd. I weighed in at the doctor for another reason on July 11th and was disgusted to see that I was up to 412 lbs. BUT, I went back to the doctor today and I am back down to 407 lbs.! 2 weeks ago I joined an online diet program call EDiets.com. I just wanted to be able to lose some weight while I'm waiting for my referral and approval. And I also wanted this nutritionist to see that I am serious about needing to lose this weight. I have been having a lot of problems over the last week with my asthma and allergies. I couldn't breath for anything. I went to the after hours care at Kaiser twice last week plus to the emergencies room Friday. Just as a precautionary measure, they tested my lungs, etc. while I was in the emergency room and my primary care referred me to the cardiologist for testing today. Peace of mind for me. But anyway, I still have 3 more appointments with the nutritionist and I should be on my way towards surgery. Pray for me! Love you all!
It's been a while since I've updated my profile. I had gotten so discourage that I discontinue my quest toward the surgery. My PCP just seem so determined not to help me have this surgery. But I'm back!!! Well, from July 2002 until January 2003, my life was a living hell. I started to experience really bad asthma attacks (2 visits to the ER), I developed GERD but I did not experience the food coming back up as much as very bad gas in my chest and my intestines. I still have not gotten a correct diagnosis. I have an appointment with the gastroenterologist on May 8th so they can decide if they are going to put that scope down my throat to see what's going on. Has anyone else experienced these symptoms or had this procedure performed? Please email me and let me know.
Then my husband just lost his mind and tried to stab me to death in January. He has since been diagnosed as being bipolar. Through all of the stress of him stalking me and threatening to kill me before he was finally arrested as well as not eating due to the gas discomfort, I started to lose weight. I have to date loss 37 lbs. I'm going to try my hardest to keep going. I also started to experience hair loss, coldness, dry skin, etc. and someone recommended that I see an endocrinologist for my thyroid. I went to that appointment today. Blood test were ordered and also the strangest thing happened. The doctor asked me if I have ever considered weight loss surgery. I told her how I have been fighting with my PCP for about 2 years now. She told me to finish my last few visits with the dietician and then she would write up my paperwork for the surgery and word it so they wouldn't deny me! I couldn't believe it. This woman was God sent. I will definitely keep everyone informed. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!!!!!!!!!!
I also have been reunited with the love of my life from 10 years ago. It's has to be a sign from God to bring him back in my life during this rough time. He told me that he would stick by me through it all. Let's hope so!
Hello everyone! Well, this morning I happened to call that nice Doctor who offered to put my referral into the surgeon for me. She told me that she submitted the paperwork in on 4/16 and it was DENIED on 04/21. She said that it was denied because I have not completed all of my nutritionist visits and because the nutritionist suggested in her notes that I redo my psych evaluation because it had been over a year since it was initially done. This was not my fault. They were the ones who changed the rules in the middle of everything and said that I had to have the 6 nutritionist visits!!! I'm so fed up with Kaiser, but I'm not giving up. The nice doctor told me to finish the visits, redo the psych eval, and then appeal their decision. So I have a nutrition class on 4/28, a psych evaluation on 5/27, and a nutritionist appointment on 6/9. After that I will be appealing. Wish me luck!!!
05/17/03
Well, I'm still here and still trying to get approved by Kaiser. I attended a second nutrition/weight loss class on 4/28/03 since I guess the original one that I went to was to long ago for Kaiser. I already have my appeal letter typed up to send to Kaiser. I'm just waiting until I finish these appointments before I send it in. My original denial letter did not say anything like I did not meet any other requirements or that my policy did not cover the surgery. All it said was that I needed to complete these Kaiser requirements for the surgery (nutritionist visits, class, etc.). So I am hoping that this first appeal letter will do the trick. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I want to have this surgery so badly that I can taste it! I'm tired of waiting to be on the other side....
05/27/03
I completed my second psych evaluation today. The therapist told me that she would inform my primary care physician that she recommends that I be allowed to have the surgery. I could have kissed her!!! She whole heartedly agreed with me that it was better for me to take charge of my weight now instead of waiting until things become even worst than they are.
Last week I happened to call Kaiser's member services again regarding my denial letter. The lady that I spoke to this time informed me that she could start my appeal process over the phone. She said that this would be a lot faster than sending in a letter. So she took all of my info that she needed and said that an appeals analyst would be calling me this week concerning the appeal. She told me that the appeal analyst would go over my medical history, make sure that I had completed all of the requirements and give me an answer then!!! Please keep your fingers crossed for me!!!!!!
Hello all! I'm still on my quest to have my surgery. I called Kaiser's Member Services about 5 times last week. I'm sure that they are about sick of me but "OH WELL!". I kept getting different stories from everyone about when someone was going to call me concerning my appeal. I finally was told that the appeals analyst had my file and would be calling me and that I could also type up an appeal letter and fax it to her as well. So, I did that on Friday 6/6. Well, lo and behold, on Saturday I received a letter stating that they had received my request for an appeal of their decision and that the appeal committee would be holding a hearing on July 3rd! They said that I could just let them hold the hearing on their own, come to the hearing personally, or do a telephone conference call with the committee. I will definitely be there in person! Please pray for me that I can get this decision overturned. I would love some input from anyone who has been through this process to help me with what I should take with me to this hearing. I plan on taking a copy of my appeal letter, a letter from the nice doctor who originally submitted the request for the surgery for me, a letter from my PCP, and one from my dietician (hopefully). I am also going to get copies of my medical records showing the diets, medications I'm on, echocardiogram results, sleep apnea study results, etc. Luckily, I have an aunt who works in Kaiser medical records who can help me to get all of these things in a timely manner. But like I said any help from any of you great people who have been through the appeals hearing process would be a great help. Thanks to you all and I'll update again soon.
My primary care physician called me today. I told her that I was calling because I needed a letter typed for my appeals hearing. She told me that she shouldn't have to do that! This woman is a trip!!! She told me that the nutritionist said that I need to be seen more so I need to call her back after my next appointment with the nutritionist next Monday. She just does not want me to have this surgery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
06/12/03
Hello everyone. I went to a doctor's appointment at Kaiser yesterday for my right knee because it has been bothering me for a couple of years. My PCP just wrote it off as deterioration of the cushioning between the bones a couple of years ago. The doctor that I went to today said that it was arthritis of the knee and he put me on an anti-inflammatory medication. He was so sweet. I told him about my quest for the surgery and he wished me luck. And I also discovered that I have gained 9 lbs. over the last couple of months and I'm up to 386 lbs.
After I left his office, I decided to go up to Member Services to try to get a copy of Kaisers official requirement, in writing, for the surgery. I was guided to a a member services reps office. I told him about what I was going through with my PCP. He looked through my records/appointments, etc. And said that from what he can see, I've met all of their requirements and shouldn't have been denied. He set me up an appointment with another doctor to have a 2nd opinion done and have a letter written to take to my appeals hearing. As far as the copy of the requirements, he let me read them but it stated in their system that should not be given to patients. Isn't that a trip! I appreciated all of his help anyway.
But the good news came later. I came back to work and had a phone message from the appeals analyst who is handling my appeal for the surgery. I have been trying to get in touch with her all week. I called her back. She wasn't in. Then she called me back. She was so sweet and helpful. I explain to her that I did not understand why my surgery was denied when I had met all of the requirements. She told me that she had went through my records and that I HAD met all the requirements. She told me that the reason that the Dr. that reviewed it probably denied it was because there was a gap between my fifth and sixth visits with the nutritionist. But when she received my written appeal letter last Friday, she read where I was not going to the nutritionist because I was pregnant but then I resumed after I had a miscarriage. If the information was put into my orginal referral I probably would not have been denied. She also told me that she sits on the weight loss committee board and she can just about guarantee that my request will not be denied again. That really made my day. She also told me that when I go to my nutritionist appointment on Monday, she wants me to tell her to submit my name to be discussed at some Gastric Bypass Meeting that the Kaiser doctors are having on June 24th. This woman is really trying to help me!! Instead of going to the hearing on July 3rd, I'm going to do the teleconference. She told me that it only lasts about 15 minutes and it would be a waste for me to drive all the way to Rockville, MD for that little bit of time. She said that after that, I should get my answer by that afternoon or the next day which is a holiday so I would have to wait until that following Monday. Please, please, please keep your fingers crossed for me and pray for me. Thanks to everyone for reading and going through this crazy ordeal with me.
Hello all! Sometimes I wonder is anyone reading my profile.... But anyway, I went to my nutritionist appointment yesterday and boy was that a mess. I've been going to another nutritionist at a different Kaiser Center because my center did not have a nutritionist. Well now they do so that's who I went to see yesterday. I gave her the message from my appeals analyst about submitting my name to the gastric bypass board for their meeting on June 24h. She started off by telling me how confused she was because there was no way that she could fill out the report that she was required to do for the bariatric surgery or submit my name to the board because she had never met with me before. She rambled on for a while and I was like, look, I'm just doing what I was told to do. I'm sure that you can look in the computer at the other nutritionist's notes and see my progress, etc. And if you have any other questions, feel free to ask me. Then she proceeded to tell me that she's usually gone by now (my appointment was at 4:15 PM), like that was my fault. I took the appointment that was given to me. Kaiser is for the birds!!!!! Well, this morning I left a message for my appeals analyst to call me so that I could tell her what was going on and see if it would have an affect on my appeals hearing. She finally called me back and told me that she couldn't understand why the nutritionist was acting as if it was such a big thing for her to fill out the report. She also told me that she had went ahead and submitted my name herself to be discussed at the gastric bypass boards meeting next Tuesday. She said that they could approve me at that meeting and I wouldn't have to wait until the appeals hearing on July 3rd. But she's going out of town following that meeting so I won't know their decision until she comes back on June 30th. I'm going crazy with waiting!!!! I bought that Six Week Body Makeover program and I'm going to start that tomorrow to try to lose some weight. I still want to have the surgery but I also want to lose some weight before that time. I'll let you know how I do. Pray for me!!!
4/14/04
Hello all! It's been a while since I've been on this site. I was just about approved for my surgery last year when lo and behold I became pregnant. I miscarried two months later and became pregnant again. I went through a hard pregnancy, a blood clot in my leg which forced me to take blood thinner shots in the stomach twice per day, high blood pressure on and off, and just plain sick. But in the end I ended up with a beautiful baby girl to add to my other brood of 3 girls (15, 14, & 13 y.o.). Now I'm beginning my quest for the surgery again. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow so that I can see where exactly I have to start at to get approved for the surgery again. I'll keep you informed.
Hello all! Long time, no posting. I've still been on my quest for the surgery. I went to a visit with the nutritionist in June and she tried to tell me that I had to start all over again with the process to have the surgery. I told her there was no way I would do that. I left her office and called the appeals analyst that I had talked to before that was helping me out. I told her my situation on her answering machine. When she finally called me back she told me that she had spoke to the doctor who is head of the approval board. He said that I did not have to start all over again with the process. YES!!!! He even emailed the nutritionist and told her that because of my unique situation (pregnancy and other health issues during the course of trying to get approved), all I had to do was attend the Gastric Bypass 2 class given by Kaiser and see her once more. IN HER FACE!!!! She (the nutritionist) had the nerve to say to me, "They're sure jumping through some hoops for you." I could have just smacked her. She also told me that it is still up to her when to submit my paperwork and she wants me to lose some more weight. Grrrrrr!!!!! I've attended the class and I have an appointment to see the dreaded nutritionist again on 8/25. Wish me luck!
8/31/04
Hello all. Just wanted to update what's been going on. I went to my appointment with the nutritionist and she was extra bitchy. She started off by trying to tell me that I didn't give her my food logs, which I had. After looking through some stacks of papers that she had, she finally asked, "Oh, are these yours?" She had never looked at them since I gave them to her a month ago! Then she criticized everything that I ate and complained about how long it had been since I had completed my psych eval, etc., etc. I finally just snapped on her. I told her that I was sick of every time that I came to see her she gave me something different to do. She complained about everything and was not being fair to me for some reason. I told her that I wanted my paperwork submitted. She was not thrilled about doing it but finally said that she would. I called her that following Friday to make sure and she told me that she had done it that same night. Then today I wrote up my own letter explaining my whole situation and what had been going on with the nutritionist. I faxed it to the head of the board as well as the lady in the appeals office who had been helping me out since last year. I also called and left her a message. Well, she called me back today and told me that she was going into a meeting with the board in the next 15 minutes and she was going to take my paperwork/letter in with her. I thanked her and she said that she would get back with me. So, I'm waiting to hear something. Pray for me.
Someone must have prayed for me!!!! I got a phone call back from the appeals analyst and she told me that the board decided that I had to keep my food log from today until the end of this month, see the nutritionist once more with the logs at the end of this month and I am approved! Thank you Jesus!!!!! I can't believe after all of this hard work something is finally looking up for me. THANK YOU, GOD!!!
Hello everyone! Well, I received an official letter in the mail today from Kaiser's Appeal Committee saying that they are requiring me to see the nutritionist one last time at the end of this month and take her a food log for the month and then I should be approved. I am so happy!!! I hate to go and see this woman again but a sisters got to do what a sisters got to do.
I spent the Labor Day weekend at Kings Dominion with my kids. They wore me out. It was so packed. There were so many people there that came up from Florida to get away from the hurricane. My knees are killing me right now. I can't wait to have the surgery so that they will be trying to keep up with me!
11/26/04 Hello All! Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. Sorry for taking so long to update. Well, after my last appointment I was told that the appeals board wanted me to keep my logs for one more month before being approved. Well the nutritionist had no appointments available until November 10th!! I went to the appointment and everything seem to have went fine. She submitted everything to the board again for their approval. They were to meet again on November 23rd. We left for Las Vegas on November 20th for vacation before the holidays. I had a good time. Didn't win a big jackpot, but hey. (smile) I checked my messages at home while I was gone and the nutritionist had left me a message. She said that the head doctor on the approval committee, Dr. Alexander, had left her an email and said that he was not going to be at the meeting on the 23rd, but it appeared that I had met all of the board's requirements. She said that I should take that as an unofficial APPROVAL! I will know officially by Monday, the 29th,when everyone is back off of vacation. I can't believe after all of this hard work that it is finally going to happen!!!!!!!
11/29/04 Hey Everyone! I can now say that I am officially APPROVED!!!! I received a call from the very nice lady, Ms. Janne Cummings, in Kaiser's Appeals Office and she officially confirmed it for me. I am so happy!!!!! I can't wait until I have a date and it is officially here. I just want to be on the losing side and no longer "the FAT lady". I have a long list of things that I want to list that I want to be able to do again after surgery, but I think I'll wait until I'm closer to the actual date.
12/14/04 Well, I went to my consult with the surgeon, Dr. Brody, at GWU today. I got lost going over there and was 40 minutes late for my appointment but I was able to see him, thank goodness. I had a notebook full of questions for him, but he answered them all before I had a chance to ask! I was very impressed with him. And guess what? I HAVE A DATE!!!!!!!! February 10, 2005 I will be on the losing side!!!!! I am so happy!!!!!! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/PrettieScorpio/bb0hojvk.jpg">
12/23/04 Hey All! Been busy trying to finish my Christmas shopping and trying to keep the surgery off my mind. I can't wait to get rid of this weight. I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how I'm going to be able to do some things though. I don't know how I will get the baby from the babysitter everyday, because my fiance' is a delivery driver and does not get off on any set time. She's too heavy for me to lift after surgery also. Also, my fiance' won't be able to take a full week off at the time of my surgery and my teenagers will be in school so I won't have any help at all for a while. I don't know how this is going to work, but I know the Lord will make a way for me to see through these obstacles. I have received some very encouraging words from other AMOS members and have truly felt blessed. It is nice to know that so many strangers can care. Now if only I can find an angel...... Well, I have to get ready for a Christmas/Congratulations TO ME Party that I am having at my house tonight with some of my very dear friends and family. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/PrettieScorpio/baskets-gift_1810_6710327.gif" style="FILTER: alpha(style=3, Opacity=100, finishopacity=0, starty=0, finishx=100, starty=0, finishy=100)">
12/27/04 Hello All! Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas! Mine was nice. I always enjoy seeing my girls happy and this being the baby's first Christmas made it even better. Me and my boyfriend, who I always referred to as fiance' anyway, became officially engaged with a ring. We've decided not to have a big wedding but we will have a big reception sometime next Fall.
I was blessed to find an Angel. Her name is Annette Moore and she is the sweetest lady. She is from Winchester, VA which is about 1 hr. from me, but she had the same surgeon that I will be using. I feel very blessed to have her as my Angel and also as a new friend. I am waiting on my scheduled call from pre-admissions at GWU Hospital. That will be another small task completed. I have ordered some unjury protein powder and a hair, skin, and nail supplement from Quixtar that I have heard works very well. Well, nothing much to report here. Just waiting. Talk to you again soon!
1/3/05 Hey!!! Happy New Year!!!! I didn't do a lot. Just had some family/friends over. I've been able to keep the surgery off of my mind for a while but now it comes up more and more. I can't lie, I'm just like the average pre-op, SCARED AS EVER!!!! But I remember some of the inspiration that my angel Annette gave me after she surprised me with a phone call. I'm not going to let the devil steal my JOY! I'm claiming my new life after surgery. I'm going to be able to hang out with my older girls and have everyone think that I'm their sister (nice wishing, huh?) and I'm going to be able to run around and play with my soon-to-be 1 year old. I have so many pre-op appointments coming up until it is not funny. I'm off work on Mondays and I don't have a free one from now until right before surgery. Check out this list:
1/10/05 - 9:30 AM - Stress Test - Kaiser Penderbrooke (Fairfax) 2:30 PM - Gall Bladder U/S - Kaiser (Springfield, VA)
Luckily I already had my EGD done so my surgeon already has a copy of that. I also was recently tested for H-Pylori and those results were negative. It seems like a lot but I know that this is something that has to be done to make sure everything is okay before having surgery. I also have an unrelated OB/GYN appointment on 1/18 because for some unknown reason I have had long, but light menstrual cycles for the past two months. I usually go 3 days and its over. Not now. I have been on since 12/28. hopefully its just my hormones acting up or something.
I'm having my baby's b-day party on 1/22/05. Probably just a small friends/family thing at the house. We're also preparing to, right after my surgery, put my house on the market and by a SF home in Maryland. More for the money. I have lived in Alexandria, VA my whole 34 1/2 years of life and the cost of living here is out the roof! I bought my townhouse here in 1997 for $121,500. Their selling for $400,000+ now. Ridiculous. But good for me considering the nice piece of change that I will walk away with. Of course some will go down on the new house. I have found SF homes in Maryland for as low as $270,000 for a 5 BR/3 1/2 BA. That may be high to some people in different states, but everyone in this area knows that is GREAT!!! In Alexandria, a house that size would run for $650K or more. Sorry, but I've got to move on. My kids don't want to change schools due to basketball and cheerleading, plus the oldest graduates next year, so I won't make them. They can use my sister's address. Plus I prefer VA's schools anyway. Well, enough rambling for now. TTFN!
1/11/05 Hey All!!! I have unfortunately been in the hospital for 5 days. I went because I was not feeling right. Stomach was achy and I had been have bleeding for 10 days. Well they ruled out gallbladder, kidneys., etc. but after taking a stomach catscan (and having a terrible allergic reaction to the contrast dye) they found that my colon was inflamed. I was told that it could be many things including a small chance of being cancer. I cried almost every day. I was put on strong antibiotics by I.V. 4 times per day and a 2nd catscan was done on the 4th day. The inflamation had went down. PRAISE GOD!!!! They believe it was Colitis or Diverticulosous. I have to take antibiotics by mouth for 7 more days and still eventually have a colonoscopy done for peace of mind. I still, unfortunately, have the light menstrual bleeding. I go to the doctor tomorrow to check on that. I felt worse when I left the hospital then when I went in!!! I have been on light foods like soup, eggs, salad, and plenty of liquids so hopefully it will help me lose some weight before surgery next month! I was happy to see when I went in that I hadn't gained any weight over the last 3 months!!! Woohoo!! Thanks to everyone on this site that sent well wishes and called. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/PrettieScorpio/ba1curxd.jpg">
1/20/05 Hey All! Still here just waiting for my BIG DAY!!!! I had to change a couple of my appointments around due to being in the hospital but I'm getting it all done. I went to the cardiologist today to have a stress test done, but when I got there the doctor said that he had pulled a recent echocardiogram that I had done and went by my stress test from 5/03 so I didn't have to repeat it. He also did a current EKG which saves me from going to my PCP to get it done. All in all he said my heart is fine, I'm young and shouldn't have any problems. He was concerned about blood clots since I had one in 2003 but I told him that I was having the filter installed. He was happy to hear that. He talked very highly of the surgery and wished me the best of luck. I was very surprised! I have to do my preop bloodwork next Wednesday, 1/26 at Kaiser. Someone at GWU Hospital messed up and scheduled me on 1/17 to do the one blood test that has to be done there. They were closed for MLK Day!!! Luckily I called first. So now this is resheduled for February 7th. I had an upper G.I. scheduled for today, but that was rescheduled until 1/31. I'm getting there. I wanted to do like so many others and list some things that I can't wait to do once I lose weight, not particularly in this order.
1. Cross my legs and look "crute". LOL 2. Be able to sit in a booth at a restaurant. 3. Be able to get on the floor and play with my baby girl. 4. Be able to hang around my oldest daughter, who is a T.C. Williams Titans Varsity cheerleader, and not feel like the "FAT" mom. 5. Be able to play basketball with my 14 year old daughter who is a Varsity basketball player fot T.C. Williams (Remember The Titans). 6. Be able to walk anywhere without having to stop periodically because my back is hurting. 7. Be able to climb stairs without gasping for air. 8. Be able to have sex any way and any where that I want. 9. Be able to shop at any clothing/shoe store and buy anything that I like. 10. Be able to build up my self esteem. 11. Be able to enjoy LIFE to the fullest with my family!!!!!!!! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/PrettieScorpio/baskets-gift_1810_5742047.gif" style="FILTER: alpha(style=3, Opacity=100, finishopacity=0, starty=0, finishx=100, starty=0, finishy=100)">
2/3/05 Hey All! Well, I have 7 days left and my nerves are up. But I ready. I think that the Lord has a plan for me and he would not have let me get this far to have something happen to me. I went to the hospital last Monday (1/31/) and had my IVC Filter for the blood clot prevention put in. Everything went fine except for a backache that I still have from laying on that stretcher for so long. I arrived at 7:00 AM and registered and I was also able to pre-register for the actual surgery next week which was good. Also, there was one pre-op blood test that HAD to be done at the hospital that I was scheduled to do on 2/7. The ladies at registration made it possible for me to do it then while I was there, which was a blessing. I was in the same prep area for the IVC filter placement that I will be in for the actual WLS surgery next week, so I was glad that I was able to have a preview of everything. Everyone at the hospital was so nice and they were praising me for having this surgery and trying to better my health. I'm a ball of nerves but yet I'm ready to start my life as a loser.
3/27/05 Happy Easter Everyone! I know that it has been a long time since I've updated but I've been depressed and just couldn't bring myself to do it. I was scheduled to have surgery on 2/10 but the week before I developed a boil of all things. I went to my PCP who proceeded to SQUEEZE it. (Can you say OWWWWWW!!!!!) I went home and all of a sudden I developed chills, a fever that kept going up even with Tyelenol, nausea, and just all over ickiness. I couldn't take it after about 4 hours and I had to call an ambulance. The EMT's thought I had a bad case of the flu. I took blood tests at the hospital and after laying around for hours I was sent home with a diagnoses of the flu. I was still feeling bad 2 days later when I received a call from Kaiser saying that the hospital had contacted them and said that the blood that was taken 2 days before was showing bacteria growth. I was told to come to Kaiser's aftercare center and redo the blood cultures and then I had to receive a dose of strong I.V. antibiotics, in that order mind you (this is important later in my story). 4 days later, on the scheduled day of my gastric bypass surgery (2/10), I receive another call from Kaiser saying that I had to be admitted to the hospital because my blood culture showed that I had a staph infection and it could have already affected my heart. Now mind you, I was already depressed about not having my surgery and then I hear this!!! I was a mess after that. I had to wait for a phone call to let me know what hospital to go to once they found a bed. That took 5 hours!!! I checked into the hospital at 6:00 PM scared as ever. My fiance' came straight from work and met me there. The doctor comes in and around 11:30 PM and tells me that apparently I had developed the staph infection when my PCP squeezed the boil. She should have lanced it and let it drain. Infections in the blood like to go straight to the heart so I had to have an echocardiogram to make sure that it hadn't already done that. He then says, your body seems to be resistant to the antibiotics that they gave you 4 days ago because your blood cultures came back positive again. That's why we admitted you. I asked him if he was informed that the bloodwork was taken before the antibiotics were even given. DUH!!! You should have seen the look on his face. Basically, I wouldn't have had to be admitted if he knew that. But he kept me anyway. I stayed for 4 1/2 days. I had the echo done which came back negative for infection at my heart. WOOHOO!!! And then I basically stayed the rest of the time waiting for the results of my blood cultures to come back. I was given Vacomyacin antibiotics by I.V. twice a day. What a pain. Then I was informed that I had to have a PICC line put in and administer the meds myself at home. My blood cultures finally came back negative and I got to go home with a PICC line and home health care help for 28 days of I.V. meds. Just great!!!!! Not even a week after getting out of the hospital, I had to go back to Kaiser and DEMAND that the picc line be taken out. I was having chest pains, spasms up the back of my neck. I couldn't even turn over in bed without being in pain. They finally took it out and told me that I would have to get a Hep Lock I.V. put in every 3 days. I went through hell with those things. Some didn't last 3 days and then it kept getting harded and harder to find a vein. I was black and blue with bruises. But now it's over. I redid my blood cultures last week and they are still negative. I saw Dr. Brody last Friday and my surgery is rescheduled for May 16TH!!!!!!!!
Oh and while going through all of this, I managed to sell my house and sign a contract on a new one. I go to closing on my old house tomorrow and then we have to rent back because I don't close on the new one until April 26th. I'm determined to keep pushing forward because I know that the LORD is not going to give me more than I can bear. HUGS!!!!! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/PrettieScorpio/bk1ca57y.jpg" style="FILTER: alpha(style=3, Opacity=100, finishopacity=0, starty=0, finishx=100, starty=0, finishy=100)">
04/26/05 I went to closing on my new house yesterday and we moved in. Now that was HELL! I hate moving. Glad it is over! But at least there wasn't a lot of furniture to take because I'm buying everything brand new. New house and new furniture for my future new body (SMILE).
05/09/05 Just wanted to update everyone on the latest drama with my surgery. I was rescheduled for May 16th. I heard from friends of mine who are going through the procedure to have the surgery that Kaiser no longer was using Dr. Brody. I called member services and they said yes we are. Then I heard it again from another friend that they were not using Dr. Brody. I called the nutritionist at Kaiser who submits your paperwork for surgery approval and she said that she was sent an updated guideline on the surgery from the approval board and Dr. Brody was no longer listed as one of Kaiser's approved surgeons. So as far as she knew, patients were no longer sent to him. I then called the lady in the appeals office who I worked closely with when I was trying to get approved and who is on the gastric bypass approval board. She told me that they were no longer using Dr. Brody because they were not happy with his aftercare services. She said that they preferred that I go to Dr. Lin instead. I asked her when they were ever going to contact me and let me know what was going on. I'm still waiting on an answer. LOL So I made an appointment with Dr. Lin (May 11th), but I never cancelled with Dr. Brody.
GWU Hospital called me last week to go over surgery details for the 16th. I told the lady what was going on with Kaiser and how they didn't use Dr. Brody anymore, etc. She told me that she would call his office and tell them. Dr. Brody's office had no idea that Kaiser had dropped them!!!! Sherry, one of Dr. Brody's office assistants, called me Friday and said that they had a 3:00 PM phone conference meeting with Kaiser and she would call me back to let me know the outcome. She called back and said that the lady who they spoke with said that the head Dr. who was suppose to meet with them (Dr. Alexander - Head of the approval board) never came to her office for the teleconference meeting (what professionalism, huh?) The lady couldn't answer many of their questions but she did confirm the part about not being happy with his aftercare service. They are suppose to "meet" again today at 2:00 PM. She told me that Dr. Brody told the lady that they would have to call and cancel all of his surgeries that were already scheduled but he told them that he would still do mine. (That was nice of him) So we'll see. Sherry said that they heard from an inside source that Dr. Alexander is good friends with Dr. Lin so it's like he's trying to push more business his way which is just causing more of a backup then anything because after the consultation with Dr. Lin, a surgery date will usually be a month or 2 later. Uggghhhhh!!!!!!!!!
5/13/05 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! 35 today, and feeling every damn bit of it!!!! Well, I went and met Dr. Lin the other day. I LOVE him. I had to watch a video of him explaining his whole process of the surgery and then I met with him. Very personable and caring. He tells you up front that he does what's best for the patient. But get this, he told me that the head doctor from the approval committee, Dr. Alexander, had called him and told him about everything that I had been through so he knew my story and would try to get me in as soon as possible. YES!!!! So, my new date is 6/10/05. This is it. I will finally have my day and join the losers!!!!!
5/16/05 Just checking in. Nothing new to report. Me and my fiance' went to Atlantic City for the weekend for my birthday. Had a nice time. Actually won some money at the Blacjack tables! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/PrettieScorpio/bk1dmnlj.jpg">
5/23/05 Hey Everyone! Had my 2nd appointment with my surgeon today. The only complaint that I have is that you are there FOREVER for an appointment. He is so thorough that he takes his time with each patient which means appointments get backed up. But anyway, me, my fiance', and the baby went and I met with Dr. Lin's assistant Denise first. She is a sweetheart! She went over more things that I should know about the surgery, etc. and she gave me my prescriptions for Actigall in case they don't take my gallbladder out, Tylenol 3, and Percoset. She also gave me prescriptions for 3 antibiotics that are taken the night before surgery and for the magnesium citrate to clean the "pipes" out the day before. That should be just nice.... Yeah right! I talked to Dr. Lin about my hiatal hernia which he said is taken care of during the surgery. I'm ready! Come on June 10th!!!!!!!!
I had to rush out of the doctors office because my "Hawaiian Punch" leather sectional FINALLY showed up today after waiting a month for it. I'm on cloud 9 now! I can sit my big butt down in my living room comfortably now.
05/25/05 16 days to go - AND I CAN'T WAIT!!!! I have very little fear right now. Of course I'm nervous. I've never had surgery before. But I'm ready. Ready to be thin and healthy. Ready to be able to run around with my baby and play all day long (smile). I went to Kaiser today and I did my pre-op bloodwork. My pre-op exam and EKG are scheduled for 5/31/05. I also talked to the nurse at the hospital today and went over all of my medications, what to take and not to take on the morning of surgery. Almost there!
5/27/05 Here's a post that I put on the BAF board this morning:
Ok, I've been through hell trying to have my surgery. I have been scheduled 3 times this year. I have been keeping quiet and lurking on the BAF board because I don't want to jinks myself. I'm surprisingly not scared at all. I am anxious though. I believe that the Lord had a reason for me waiting until this time to have surgery and he will not give me more than what he thinks that I can handle. I have taken this time to TRUELY relect on my reasonings for wanting this surgery - other than wanting to be the fly azz DIVA that I know I can be (hehe) I want my life back. I want to get rid of this FAT to be able to enjoy life the way it is intended to be enjoyed. I have read some post-op posts and it just gives me goose bumps to think of all the fun in life that I have missed over the past 18 years due to being a glutton. I can't blame anyone for this but myself. I never learned a better way to deal with any issues that I may have had. BUT, not being the one to have pity parties, my REBIRTH DAY is arriving. As of June 10th 2005, I will become a new roll model for myself, and most importantly for my 4 girls, my #2 main reason for having this surgery. The loves of my life that I need to show that they should ALWAYS consider themselves #1. Never use food as a crutch. Talk out their feelings with someone, even a professional if need be. There's nothing wrong with that. You only have one life and you should live it to the fullest.
Forgive me for rambling on but I'm sitting here watching my baby girl (16 months old) sleep and I feel these emotions building up and I just want to HOLLA that I'm about to have a new start on life and I am SOOOOOOO happy. No one is going to hold me back this time!
06/01/2005 Hey everyone! I'm at work trying to recoup from my long holiday weekend. 4 1/2 days off and LOTS of fun and partying! I had a cookout on Sunday. We had 3 bushels of crabs, some shrimp, steak, hamburgers, hotdogs, halfsmokes, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, deviled egges, and much more that I can't even name. We had so much food that we had another cookout on Monday. I had a ball. We played volleyball and of course spades. Can't have a cookout without the card games. Monday we played Taboo, men against the women. Of course, the ladies kicked azz!!! I guess I was trying to get my last big eat on and have me a few drinks before surgery. I'm nervous, but ot scared. I really can't wait for my day to get here. Come on June 10th!!!! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/PrettieScorpio/bi0z5vyp.jpg" style="FILTER: alpha(style=3, Opacity=100, finishopacity=0, starty=0, finishx=100, starty=0, finishy=100)">
06/03/2005 Hey All! I went to Oxon Hill yesterday and met with 3 of the ladies off of the BAF board. My two angels Cassandra (Ms. Praise) and Tonya (Mrs. Tee) and also Madame Rodriquez. They had just got their workout on at Olympus gym. Cassandra and Tonya asked me to join them but I was not taking any chances pulling any muscles or hurting anything on this fat body that would hender my surgery next week. :-) No way, no how. Cassandra, Tonya, and I talked for a good while. They are so down to earth. The type of people that I like. I HATE a fake person who pretends to be your friend and talk about you as soon as you walk away. I can see me now after surgery working it out with them. I have gotten a lot of questions answered by these 2 and I really appreciate them a lot for it. Here's to my 2 new WLS friends for life!!!!!!
On a down note, we came out this morning and found that someone had broken into our car overnight. The back vent window was broken out and they had went through the console and the glove compartment but nothing was taken. Someone was just looking for money. They didn't steal the stero or try to steal the car so. We have an alarm on it, but it wasn't set. I had to get on my fiance' about that. But, being that I work for the City Maintenance Shop and that's part of the things that we do, getting windows replaced in City vehicles, body work, etc. I called the company that we use and he is only charging me $60 to replace the window. It's normally $200 plus labor. No complaints from me.
7 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
06/09/05 Okay, day before surgery and I am not as scared as I thought I would be. Probably because of the great time that I had with my 2 angels last night, Cassandra (Ms. Praise) and Tonya (Mrs. Tee). They were over for close to 5 hours and we talked, joked, and laughed. I took the dreaded magnesium citrate this morning and just as I was thinking it wasn't going to work, it hit me. OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! Didn't know you could be so full of shit!!!!! LMAO!!! My mom is coming to spend the night tonight so that she can go to the hospital with me and Jay. I didn't expect her to go, but I'm glad that she is. My sister is suppose to come up too. Well, see you on the losing side!!!!
6/24/05 Sorry that it has been so long since I have update. Surgery went perfectly! My mother, Jay, and I arrived at 6:45 AM for 8:45 AM surgery. I was taken back to prep at about 7:45 AM. I changed into the gown and footies and got into bed. I had a very sweet nurse who talked to me about about everything and kept me laughing. She told me how I had the best surgeon at the hospital and how he had performed one of her surgeries and she fell "in love" with him while she was drugged up. LOL My mom and Jay were allowed to come back. After about 1 hour we were told that Dr. Lin was behind due to emergency surgery. This just made my nerves even worse and I began to cry. Jay was right there for me, hugging me, kissing me, and telling me that everything would be alright. I finally was given my "happy juice" at about 10:30 AM and I was taken to the operating room. Boy was I feeling good then! I remember sliding over to the operating table and having the oxygen mask put over my nose and mouth and then that was it. When I woke up I remember vaguely seeing someone standing near me and the first thing that I said was "Was it done open or lap?" She said "LAP". Thank you, Jesus!!!! I was wondering to myself where the pain was that everyone described. I had a slight soreness on my left side but that was it. I drifted in and out of sleep and then after a while I realized that my left eye was hurting/burning. I told the nurse and she looked at it and said that she did see something in it. Another nurse looked and said that she was going to call opthamology. After awhile, an opthamologist came and looked in my eye and said that my cornea had abrasions on it. This apparently happened during surgery while under anesthesia. Your eye is constantly moving and my eye must have been partially opened and my eye scratched against my eyelid or eyelashes. Who knows. All I knew was it hurt. I was given antibiotic eyedrops to use 4 times/day. So, I was finally taken to ICU at 7:00 PM because there were no regular rooms. That was hell. I did get to see my family, my angel Cassandra, and my new good friend Ebonie. My other Angel, Mrs. Tee (Tonya) was there all day too, but she had to leave to get her kids. Thanks Tee!!! In ICU they wouldn't let me walk, I got no mouth swabs until my fiance' raised hell. The nurse I had was just a plain asshole. She just did not care. Then someone came in with a C-Pap machine that they wanted me to sleep with. I tried for a few but it was causing me to panic, so I refused to wear it.
My second day in the hospital was the sweetest ever. My fiance' gave me an engagement ring and proposed to me again, right in ICU. He was so scared because everyone was in the room. He is such a sweetheart and I love him to death!!!!
I got the best nurse in the world on this day also. He was so nice! He explained everything that he was doing, talked to all of my visitors and had us all laughing. Visiting hour was over at 8:00 PM but he allowed me to have visitors until about 11:00 PM. I was finally moved to a regular room at about midnight. The nurses and CA's there were all very nice.
On the third day, I started walking around the floors and the nurses would just cheer me on. I had a little gas, but nothing too significant. I was getting bored then and was ready to go home. I was able to drink some water. I was so glad.
On the fourth day, I was given jello, juice, and glucerna. I drank some and it was heaven. I walked some more with Jay and my drain tube was taken out. It didn't hurt, just felt weird. I was finally discharged at about 4:00 PM.
Once home, I had a hard time sleeping in my bed the first night. I was fine after that. Getting the liquids and protein in has been hard. I had to go to the surgeons office on Friday, June 17th, to receive fluids. I have been doing fine since.
I went to my first official follow up visit was Tuesday (6/21). Everything was fine, I was upgraded to pureed food for a week and then the following week I can try crackers with tuna or chicken salad or some other crispies items. Yes!!! I am down 22 lbs. in 8 days (since coming home from surgery)!
06/30/05 Hey All! I've been feeling a little better as far as the shortness of breath, etc. I still get a little tired easily. I've been going to the swimming pool with the kids a lot getting my exercise on there. Can't beat it. Indoor pool too?!?! Too hot outside for me. LOL I need to stay off of that scale everyday though because I have stayed the same weight for 3 days and it is driving me crazy. I've been trying really hard to drink my fluids but the protein drinks are soooo hard. The taste is so disgusting. The only one that I've found that I can truely tolerate is Extreme Smoothie Chocolate. That's it. I need to restock today. I have to make myself remember to eat. I did try eggs and cheese the other day with no problem. I haven't had problems with any food yet. I did throw up last night (well dry heaved mostly) and I believe that was because I ate too much at one time trying to make up for not eating the majority of the day. Can't be doing that. Well I'm down 28 lbs. as of today. Pray it starts moving again. On a good note, I went to court on Monday and I'm finally divorced from that crazy lunatic who tried to stab me 2 years ago. Thank goodness!!!! I hated the fact of having this wonderful man in my life but still being "attached" on paper to that fool. But now I'm free!!!!!
07/15/05 Well, a little has when on during the last couple of weeks. I lost 28 lbs. my first 2 weeks after surgery but then for the next week I lost NADA, ZIP, ZERO... Of course I was a little upset. There's nothing like seeing that scale move. Then it happened. I went to sleep extremely nauseous on 7/2. I was throwing up nothing but clear spit. When I woke up the next morning, it was still going on. The nausea was the worse. I called my surgeons on-call resident and he recommended that I come in to make sure that I wasn't dehydrated. I had my fiance' drop me off at the GWU Hospital E.R. because I knew it would take a minute and I could call him when I was ready. Well, I was in the E.R. from 11 AM to 11 PM until they decided to keep me for observation. There went my 4th of July. I was tested for blockages, strictures, etc. Nothing was found. I was given I.V. fluids continuely while I was there. Everything got better on it's on and I was released 3 days later. I was horrified when I got home to find that I had gained 15 lbs. in fluids!!! Over the last 9 days I have lost those 15 lbs. + 4 more. I just feel like the weight is dropping slowly for me, but at the same time, I know that the inches are dropping because I went clothes shopping (just a little) last week and I was able to buy some 26's and 24's at the Avenue. I was wearing 28's before surgery.
I started back to work last week. I worked my normal 10 hour days without getting tired. I've been getting in more protein and liquids but I still don't think it's enough. I have moved up to any type of food that I can tolerate. YES!!!! I was
