My journey to being banded
Oct 17, 2006
12-19-05
I have been overweight almost all of my life, off and on. I was looking into weight loss surgery about 3 years ago and decided I wasnt quite ready for it at that time. But we have since had a son and I think I may be ready now. I am still researching it and have alot of questions. I have a consult appt in Jan. with Dr. Thomas Brown in Denver. So hopefully I will get my questions answered and go from there.
2-17-06
My have things changed. I had breast reduction surgery on 12-27-05 and have also lost 17 lbs through curves. I have decided not to have the surgery now and try with all my might one more time. The reduction surgery changed my life. I went from a DDD to a small C cup and couldnt be happier. I feel like a new person and think it may have given me what I need to do this on my own. We shall see. I just don't feel like I am desperate enough right now to risk my life for the surgery. I still think it is right for some people and it may be for me later, but not now. So I guess I will write later with an update on my progress.
6-5-06
Ok so I have changed my mind again. I gained all of the weight back that I lost at curves. Now I am doing Weight Watchers and it isn't going very well. I have been researching the Lap band and think that may be right for me. I don't want to do the drastic RNY and the band sounds like it might me the right thing to do. I can't take the risks involved in the other WLS. I have called a DR. and am waiting to hear back from him about what to do next.
I will update later with more when something happens.
7-10-06
Well I went to the seminar that Dr Snyder has and have made an appt. for the consult and now am trying to make appts for the pulmonary and psyc. evaluations. Hopefully I can get that done before my consult so I can get the ball rolling.
9-5-06
I had my consult with Dr. Snyder, psych consult, pulmonary consult. I was just waiting to hear about my insurance when I found out that I am pregnant. AHHHH. I quess God has something else planned for us. I still have not heard from Dr. Snyders office after 2 calls to Dolly( insurance lady) 3 emails to her and 1 to Dr. Snyder. This was all before I found out I was pregnant. I have not told them yet, being as they never return calls or emails. I am very dissappointed in them and am not sure if I will still get the surgery through them after the baby. Everyone I talk to has nothing but good things to say about them and I really liked Dr. Snyder, but maybe they are getting too busy. So I will update in the future. Take care,
Chrissy
9-12-06
Well some sad news, we found out this last week that I had a miscarriage. Just when we were getting used to the idea of another baby. I am not sure what to do about the surgery now and figure I will just wait to see about insurance and get to feeling better and then make up my mind.
Chrissy
9-25-06
The wait is driving me nuts! I am still waiting to hear about my insurance. I want to know now! I need to see a hemotologist because I found out that I have a blood clotting issue and need to get an ok from him before I have the surgery. Hopefully that goes ok also.
10-3-06
Just found out that I was denied. I am so mad. I will be appealing it and hopefully get approved this next time.
11-6-06
I can't believe another month has gone and I still don't know if I will get the band. I am trying to see all of my doctors and get the notes about how my weight is causing problems. I still don't know if I will get a lawyer or not. I am still trying to deal with Dolly at the the Surgeons office. She is not the best about returning calls or emails. I am also worried about the whole blood clotting issue. But I am just waiting to see on alot of stuff and if it comes down to it, I will figure out a way to self pay.
11-15-06
Well tomorrow I see a new hematologist, the first one said never to have a elective surgery. I need to loose weight but not the surgery way. I really didn't like this Dr. so I am going to get a second opinion. I cant wait to see what the new one says. I am getting so jealous of all the people getting the band on the boards and want it too! I have been learning so much and getting inspired by everyone. I finally got my records from Dolly. Suprise suprise. I finally caught her answering the phone so she couldn't avoid me. I have been getting the run around with her for along time. I think I will stick with Dr. Snyder because everyone seems to love him and I really like him. Just not Dolly. Well I will update tomorrow after I see the doctor. Hopefully I will get good news.
11-17-06
Well I saw the new hematologist and my new pcp. They both think I should do this and will help me fight the insurance. I am going to get a sleep study done and see if I have sleep apnea. Then we will go from there. I am going to wait on the lawyer, the pcp thinks we can do it, he has never had anyone not get approved with my insurance. Oh I hope this works and I get approved. Say a prayer!
12-04-06
I just got a call from my Pcp's office. My pulse oxygens levels showed I have mild sleep apnea! Whoo hoo. So now I need to have a overnight sleep study done. I am alittle worried about that but am so happy that I have one more medical problem documented. Then hopefully I will be able to file my appeal and get going on this process.
Maybe I will be able to get the surgery in the beginning of the year. I want it so bad!
1-2-06
Well it has been another month and this process is so slow. I am going to have my sleep study done on the 8th. Then hopefully I can resubmit my appeal. I can't believe how long it takes to get this stuff done. I am excited about the new year and I think it is going to be a great year with alot of changes.
1-8-07
I go in for my sleep study tonight. I have been waiting so long for tonight. I won't know what to do with my extra time when I don't have to waste it thinking about trying to get the surgery. I know this surgery will change my life and my families lives for the better, once I get it done. I will check in with my results hopefully tomorrow.
1-9-07
So I had my sleep study last night. It wasn't too bad. I had tons of wires hooked up to me and wire things in my nose to measure my breaths. Then I was able to try to go to sleep, that was hard. It was even harder when I woke up 1.5 hrs later. I couldn't go back to sleep. It took about 2 hours, then slept another 1.5 hours. Then the tech woke me up and put the oxygen mask and machine on me. It felt like someone was covering up my mouth and I thought it would be really hard to get back to sleep, but I drifted off again really quick. Then slept for 2.5 hours. I actually felt really good this morning, but and feeling crappy this evening. The Tech told me that I didn't actually have any apnea, but my oxygen levels got pretty low. Mid 80's I think. So he is going to put in the orders to the machine people and send in the results to the pulmonary dr. Then hopefully I will see my pcp and get this dang appeal sent in.
All in all I thought it would be much worse, but the tech was great and the hardest part was not being able to fall asleep. But totally worth it if it will make me feel better and help get approved for the surgery.
Will update when something new comes up.
1-16-07
Well I got my c pap machine last week. Boy was it a pain in the butt to deal with. The first night I felt like it was blowing my sinuses up, then the next night I was swallowing the air and getting awful pains in my stomach. Then the next night I just couldn't deal with it. So I called my Tech guy and he was able to get the dr. to lower my machine levels down to 12 from 15. I guess 15 is a really high rate so I just got the machine back and I will try it out tonight. I really want to start using it and feeling better. We bought a ellipital machine and get to pick it up this weekend. That should be fun! I have a appt. with my pcp this week so hopefully I can get my appeal ready to send in.
2-2-07
I have finally gotten all of my letters from doctors to submit to the insurance for the appeal. I also have written my letter and just need to go over it again to make sure I didn't mess up on anything. Hopefully I will fax it in on Mon. I don't know why but I am stalling on sending it in. I guess I am just scared they will give me another denial. But I may be scared that they will approve me and then I will finally get the band and I am nervous about that. Either way, I just need to do it and get it over with. I am still fighting the cpap machine and taking the mask off sometime at night. But I will keep trying to get used to it, because I think it does make a difference in how I feel.
I will let you all know when I hear something.
2-9-07
I'm approved, I'm approved, I'm approved!!!!!!!!
I would scream if our son wasn't sleeping. I just can't believe it!
I am still too shocked to write anymore, so I will update more when I am not in a trance.
2-12-07
Ok, so now I have some free time to write. I haven't received my written letter of approval yet, but the insurance company is going to call the surgeons office today. So it sounds like I will be good to go. I guess my written letter of appeal, my pcp, ob-gyn, and foot doctor along with my sleep apnea dx, got the job done. I am so glad I decided to give it one try on my own before I hired a lawyer. I am sure they help out alot of people and are worth the money if you need to, I just figured I would give it a shot, and if I was denied again I would hire one. Hopefully today I will hear from the surgeons office on when I might get the surgery done.
2-14-07
Happy Valentines Day!
Well I have my date. March 13th. I can't believe it is less than a month away. I have so much to do. Need to buy a magic bullet for my drinks and mushy food stages. Hopefully it will get here before the surgery so I can make some margaritta's before the surgery. I need to start stocking up on food that I will be able to eat. I am sure I will get burnt out on that stuff really quick.
I can't believe I am actually going to go through with this. It has been so long in the making. Alot has happened since I started this whole process. I go in for my pre-op testing on Mar. 7th. I have been exercising alot on our elliptical machine so hopefully I can lose some of the weight I put on since the initial consult.
3-2-07
11 more days until surgery! I started a low carb diet to shrink my liver yesterday. It is going ok, I just realize now how much I have been eating. I got my magic bullet 2 days ago and love it. Next week I have my pre op appts, so that will make it seem more real. I am pretty excited and alittle nervouse. But I am sure that is normal. Will update after my pre op stuff.
3-12-07
Well tomorrow is the Day! I have lost 7.8 lbs so far on my preop diet. So that is alittle bit of a head start. I think I am ready to do this, it just doesn't seem real yet. I will write more later, after I get back. Wish me luck!
3-17-07
Well I am banded!
I am feeling pretty good today. I am hungry already, but think I will feel much better after I start eating a few regular foods. Here is kind of a quick version of my surgery day and stay at hospital.
I checked in at 5:30 am on Tues, they got my IV in after 3 tries and a few lovely bruises. They we just hung out until about 10:30 I think. Then they wheeled me into the OR room and talked alittle about my son and camping and then I was out. I remember waking up in alot of pain, then sleeping some more. Then a nurse said I would have to roll over so they could get the blanket from under me, I wanted to choke her. It hurt! Then after awhile I was wheeled to my room and my husband met me there. I slept some more and then I had to get my upper GI thing done. This is where they ticked me off. I was wheeled down to the x-ray area and was wanting to pass out. They left me in the hall forever and then I had to stand in the xray machine, drink some crap that I thouht I was going to throw up, and then kept having to get up and sit down. All the while the dumb and dumber techs kept messing up the plates and measurments. Finally I was done and then they left me in the hall again. I was so weak and crappy feeling,so I finally yelled that my husband can take me back to my room if they were too busy to do it. They did it.
Then got back to my room and threw up, got meds for that and slept some more. I was pretty crappy feeling and walked some. Then our great friends came and visited and I was so drugged up I don't remember alot. They left, tried to throw up some more, got more drugs and slept.
The next morning I had to get more oxygen to take home and they did a ultrasound on my legs to make sure there werent any clots. After my shower, met with the dr and got all my stuff we were out of there. I felt pretty crappy still and made it home that night.
I am doing better everyday and can't wait to feel normal again.
Will update more later, nap time!
3-26-07
Well I am feeling much better now. I am almost back to normal, it still hurts to bend over and pick stuff up, and my energy level isn't quite back to what it used to be.
I am on the puree stage of eating. Mostly living on tuna fish, pudding, yogury, cottage cheese, string cheese, protein shakes and a few other pureed things. Just cant get over pureeing meat, so I am not doing that. I have lost 23.6 pounds so far! Very happy about that. I am very happy with the decision to do this surgery and can't wait to loose alot more weight.
4-10-07
Well I am 4 weeks out today, and am down 31 lbs. I had a bit of a scare 2 weekends ago. I found a blood clot in my arm, so I was having to go to the hospital 2x's a day for Lovenox shots. And taking coumidin 1x a day. It was pretty horrible for awhile but that is all better now. I am still on coumidin, but was able to stop the shots.
I am exercising every day and trying to make good food choices. I have had a horrible time with Easter Candy and finally threw it all out in the bottom of the trash can today. I just can not have it around me without eating it.
I also have been increasing my water that I drink to atleast 80oz a day, if not more.
I was able to go to solid food this last weekend and that has been nice, but more difficult to eat than mushy food. I have to learn to slow down and chew like crazy. This has been quite the learning time!
I get my fill in 2 more weeks, so hopefully that will help with the hunger alittle.
4-25-07
Well I had my first fill yesterday, 1 cc in my band. I really don't feel much different than before. But hopefully I will get some restriction in the next few fills. I wanted to go on the smaller side of the fill options since I live so far away. I don't want to be over filled and have to go back. The weather was horrible, so I was late. But they were great and got me in. The fill wasn't painful, just kind of weird feeling.
I am happy with my weight loss so far, and was re-motivated after my appt.
I am able to fit into some capri pants that I haven't worn in 2 years, so that is fun.
This whole journey is so worth all the time it took to get here.
5-15-07
I am slowly still losing weight. I need to go in for another fill next week. I never did get any restriction from my last fill. But that is to be expected.
I don't know if I have lost much since the first fill but we will see.
I am exercising at least 20-30 minutes 5 days a week. I have alot more energy than before. I haven't had any hearburn since my surgery, my arthritis is alot better and I can only imagine what another 100lbs will do for me.
6-11-07
It has been awhile since I last updated my profile. I am down about 46 lbs total so far. I have pretty good restriction from my last fill. I am up to 2cc's in my 4cc band. I am not able to eat bread, pasta, rice, etc.. But that is ok with me, it is easier to stick with mostly protein when I know those types of carbs will cause me major pain.
I still exercise about 5 times a week and feel pretty good about that!
I am so glad I did this for me, and feel so much better already.
I have my 3 month check up in 2 weeks, so I will decide then if I need a little more of a fill.
7-24-07
I am alittle over 4 months out, and down about 54 lbs. The weightloss has really slowed down, but I am also not eating perfect like I was before. I am going in next week for my 4th fill, just a tiny one this time. I have started to notice alot of things that I couldn't do before the surgery, that I am now able to do. My goal is to lose 80 lbs total by the end of Nov. Not sure if that is possible with the weightloss slowing down, but I will really try.
8-21-07
Well, my last fill was alittle too much and I had a horrible time. I couldn't even drink coffee! So I went back to Denver for a unfill of my last fill, much better! I am about 5 months and 1 week post op and am down 61 lbs. I am exercising more now, getting up before the sun to walk and it feels really good. I am able to eat 5 little meals a day and not get hungry until it is time to eat again. It is wonderful not to be starving all the time.
10-16-07
I am alittle over 7 months out and am down about 68 lbs. The weightloss has really, really slowed down. It is all my doing and I started over today. I will start exercising and not grazing. The grazing is my downfall! I still would love to make it to my goal of 80lbs down by the end of Nov. I have got to kick it into high gear to make it though. I had a fill last month, but may need another one. I am getting hungry a hour or so after I eat. This is the wonderful thing about the band, it is always adjustable and you can start over at any time.
I am very happy with it still and would do it over again in a heartbeat!
1-09-08
I am almost 10 months out. I have lost about 80 lbs, I go up and down a few lbs every week and then drop several pounds at once. I wanted to lose 100lbs by my one year date but don't think that will be happening.
We are busy moving into our new house and thought that would help the weightloss but it hasn't.
I go for another fill and check up at the end of the month, I feel like I need it.
I was having stomach problems, I thought it was my gallbadder but it wasn't but they did find some lesions on my liver and a few hernia's. So they will do ultrasounds every 3 months for 2 years to keep on eye on the lesions and they arent going to worry about the hernia's until they cause me pain. That is fine with me, I don't have time for more surgeries.
I am really trying to lose 40 more lbs and then we are going to start trying for another kiddo, then I will try to get to goal. I have about 60lbs to go for that.
Still loving my band!!!
4-8-08
Wow, it has been along time since I have updated my profile.
I am almost 13 months out from surgery, and am down about 92 lbs. I have great restrictions since my last fill and think it will last for awhile.
My repeat CT-Scan on my liver lesions came back that they are fine and not cancerous, thank God!
The weightloss is really slowing down, but it is bound to happen when you are getting lower in weight. I know I will still get to goal, it is just taking longer than I thought it would.
But I am wearing a size 18 now, down from a very tight 30-32, ack!
I can't remember how many inches I have lost, but it is alot!
All in all, everything is going great and can't wait to see what all happens in the next year!
