akindofmagick
18 Months & 75 Lost Pounds Later!
Dec 05, 2016
I guess Life Happened, but I find it amazing to read this blog and realize I haven't posted anything in almost 18 months - not since 3 days after my procedure. In the interim I've lost over 75 pounds. Feel fantastic. Co-morbidities resolved. Look pretty darn good!! The kids are very very happy about their new, more active Mom. Still have about 20 pounds to go, and have set a goal to Be There by 1 March 2016.
My whole family eventually came on board and now supports my decision to have WLS. Not the first time they've done this to me, I should note: they were not in favor of either of my adoptions, but I went through with them anyhow, and they eventually came around: "We were wrong. You did a good thing."
Maybe I need to listen harder to what my heart is telling me about the next phase of my life: where I and my daughters should be heading. I'll be turning 60 next June - eeekk!!! I truly do not want to be where I am... but my whole family freaks out if I mention my dreams. Yet, I've proven them wrong multiple times in the past - in diamonds (not spades - who wants spades?!)!
Oh, and my sister hasn't spoken to me since the end of March 2016. Seriously, Shaun? Is this the sort of karma you want to go to your grave with?
One of these days I'm going to walk the Camino de Santiago, and unlike my sister, I have faith I'll be able to actually LIVE the lessons learned thereon.
Them's the breaks...
Dec 27, 2009
So, today is the day I had planned to go to Dr. Aceves in Mexicali... I decided to have the procedure back in August... I had booked the first slot on the surgery schedule for tomorrow morning, and was sooo excited. My brother in Nevada agreed to watch my girls whilst I was away. Then in October my sister let the cat out of the bag to my parents, who are in very poor health, and all &^%$ broke loose. Turned out my brother was also very anti-procedure and hadn't told me. It was ugly, to say the least. Sis and I are still not on good terms...
In my head, I was already a sleeved person, minus the tool. My mother is in such bad shape, health-wise, and only 20 years older than I am. Dad is not a whole lot better. I DON'T WANT TO GROW OLD AND BE LIKE THEM!!!
I floundered for a month, then regrouped, and decided to move forward with my desire to ensure my long-term physical health is maximized.
I can't go to Mexico - can't take the 4-5 days away from my girls. Nina and the other people on Dr. Aceves' staff were sooo supportive; they tried to come up with alternatives and a way I could bring my girls with me, but I can't do that to them - can't have them see me immediately post-op, even with a nanny.... they're only 5 and 7 years old.
So, I'm going to pay more than twice as much $$ for a procedure in the USA, at Johns Hopkins.
I meet the surgeon on 11 January, and plan to have the procedure on Good Friday, if he's operating that day. The girls have the whole next week off, so I won't have to worry about getting them to/from school, etc. My BFF will stay with the girls in our home that weekend.
And as it turns out, my brother in Nevada was just diagnosed with a large skin cancer on his chest (basal carcinoma) which he's having removed on Tuesday - they're putting him under and anticipate he'll be 2-4 hours in surgery.
So - it's just as well he's not got my two to look after this week on top of his own three.
Funny how things work out!!
One thing I've realized, during our Christmas visit to Nevada, is that I don't need to worry about my family finding me here on OH. So - I'm coming back out of the closet, as it were. Not sure how long it'll take my avatar to change back, tho - several days, from previous experience.
Sorry this got so long - but just wanted to say: I am sooo glad I found this oh-so-supportive group!! And, I'm looking forward to joining y'all on the loser's bench in early April.
In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the occasional glass of chardonnay and diet coke... and try hard to wean myself off the latter!!
:)
1 comment
In my head, I was already a sleeved person, minus the tool. My mother is in such bad shape, health-wise, and only 20 years older than I am. Dad is not a whole lot better. I DON'T WANT TO GROW OLD AND BE LIKE THEM!!!
I floundered for a month, then regrouped, and decided to move forward with my desire to ensure my long-term physical health is maximized.
I can't go to Mexico - can't take the 4-5 days away from my girls. Nina and the other people on Dr. Aceves' staff were sooo supportive; they tried to come up with alternatives and a way I could bring my girls with me, but I can't do that to them - can't have them see me immediately post-op, even with a nanny.... they're only 5 and 7 years old.
So, I'm going to pay more than twice as much $$ for a procedure in the USA, at Johns Hopkins.
I meet the surgeon on 11 January, and plan to have the procedure on Good Friday, if he's operating that day. The girls have the whole next week off, so I won't have to worry about getting them to/from school, etc. My BFF will stay with the girls in our home that weekend.
And as it turns out, my brother in Nevada was just diagnosed with a large skin cancer on his chest (basal carcinoma) which he's having removed on Tuesday - they're putting him under and anticipate he'll be 2-4 hours in surgery.
So - it's just as well he's not got my two to look after this week on top of his own three.
Funny how things work out!!
One thing I've realized, during our Christmas visit to Nevada, is that I don't need to worry about my family finding me here on OH. So - I'm coming back out of the closet, as it were. Not sure how long it'll take my avatar to change back, tho - several days, from previous experience.
Sorry this got so long - but just wanted to say: I am sooo glad I found this oh-so-supportive group!! And, I'm looking forward to joining y'all on the loser's bench in early April.
In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the occasional glass of chardonnay and diet coke... and try hard to wean myself off the latter!!
:)
Tricare Prime??
Dec 11, 2009
So today I called Phyllis at Bethesda again, and she answered the phone - yay! I asked her if I had to have a Tricare Prime PCP write my referral - and she said NO. Wow - I hope this is true!! I've been stalled a solid week, trying to figure out how to find a new PCP. I asked her several other questions; she still has no firm reading on the sleep apnea test requirement, but said she'd check. The next orientation meeting has been moved to 14 Jan, and she'll contact me next week to confirm. The doc who is experienced with VSGs will be back from his 6 month deployment by then, and should attend the meeting. In our previous conversation she indicated that if they're too over-subscribed, she'll refer me to Johns Hopkins Bayview Center for Bariatric Surgery (JHBCBS) for the procedure - they take Tricare Prime. Altho there's some question as to whether Tricare covers VSGs performed at non-military hospitals... maybe by January, with all the expected changes in VSG coverage by insurance agencies, this will have been hammered out. So - perhaps it's best if I reschedule my appt with the JH Bayview doc for one week later (or 2 - they're closed on MLK day, 18 Jan - he only does introductory meetings on Mondays)
Called my PCP's office and they were already closed, so will get the ball rolling on Monday to get the referral. Oh - and must get a colonoscopy scheduled ASAP.
Essentially, I'm pursuing this simultaneously from two fronts: self-pay and Tricare Prime. I'll have to join TP - but the costs will be substantially less than the $20K quoted for self-pay at JHBCBS. I have no intentions of dropping my company's insurance program, as I love my PCP and she doesn't take Tricare Prime!! Nor does our pediatrician - and I'm not about to stop using him, unless there's no other option.
If I have to take the $$ out of my 401k - I will - but obviously I'd rather not if there's a way around it.
Whichever way works out - I plan to have the VSG hopefully on Good Friday - or Easter Monday (second choice).
I wish I'd had the procedure yesterday... or better yet, 18 months ago when I first learned of it.
I wish I'd never told my family - but in all honesty, I didn't expect the incredible push-back they laid on me, and to go to Dr Aceves, I needed them to look after my girls for 4 days.
Dr Aceves' office staff has offered up a nanny and an adjoining room in the hospital for the girls to stay in - and I'm tempted - but I'm just plain reluctant to put them thru that - thru seeing me unconscious and uncomfortable. That's option 3, tho - should I be deemed not quite fat enough for the procedure. I'm so psyched about this life-changing surgery that I've been eating better and exercising.. with the result that I'm borderline - and my co-morbidities are minimal... although increasing from month to month.
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Called my PCP's office and they were already closed, so will get the ball rolling on Monday to get the referral. Oh - and must get a colonoscopy scheduled ASAP.
Essentially, I'm pursuing this simultaneously from two fronts: self-pay and Tricare Prime. I'll have to join TP - but the costs will be substantially less than the $20K quoted for self-pay at JHBCBS. I have no intentions of dropping my company's insurance program, as I love my PCP and she doesn't take Tricare Prime!! Nor does our pediatrician - and I'm not about to stop using him, unless there's no other option.
If I have to take the $$ out of my 401k - I will - but obviously I'd rather not if there's a way around it.
Whichever way works out - I plan to have the VSG hopefully on Good Friday - or Easter Monday (second choice).
I wish I'd had the procedure yesterday... or better yet, 18 months ago when I first learned of it.
I wish I'd never told my family - but in all honesty, I didn't expect the incredible push-back they laid on me, and to go to Dr Aceves, I needed them to look after my girls for 4 days.
Dr Aceves' office staff has offered up a nanny and an adjoining room in the hospital for the girls to stay in - and I'm tempted - but I'm just plain reluctant to put them thru that - thru seeing me unconscious and uncomfortable. That's option 3, tho - should I be deemed not quite fat enough for the procedure. I'm so psyched about this life-changing surgery that I've been eating better and exercising.. with the result that I'm borderline - and my co-morbidities are minimal... although increasing from month to month.
Informational meeting
Dec 09, 2009
Tonight I'm going to an information meeting for Johns Hopkins' Bayview Medical Center's Bariatric Center. I think I know which doc I want to use there.
It gives me great heartache, tho. I really REALLY want to go to Dr. Aceves in Mexicali. After many months of research, I'm convinced he's the surgeon I feel most comfortable with.
But - because my extended family (parents and siblings) utterly wigged out over the thought of me having WLS, let alone in Mexicali, I'm now faced with the difficult choice of sneaking around behind their backs to use a local surgeon with (1) less experience, (2) less post-op care, (3) at more than double the cost.
On the up side, I expect to spend only one night in hospital, and my best friend will stay with my girls.
On the down side, I expect to spend only one night in hospital, so my girls will see me uncomfortable and dragging for several days.
Also - instead of having the procedure on 28 December 2009, as I had planned, I will have to wait until Good Friday, 2 April 2010, when the girls will be out of school for a week, so we can veg out at home whilst I recover.
I'm also very concerned that, even tho I'm self-pay, the doctors at JHBC won't think I'm "fat enough" for the procedure.
My one-on-one is scheduled for 11 Jan - but I'm thinking of pushing it up to next week....
And then there's my company - announcing they're switching our 401k, with a blackout period of 24 Dec - 15 Feb. No loans during that time.... ugh.
0 comments
It gives me great heartache, tho. I really REALLY want to go to Dr. Aceves in Mexicali. After many months of research, I'm convinced he's the surgeon I feel most comfortable with.
But - because my extended family (parents and siblings) utterly wigged out over the thought of me having WLS, let alone in Mexicali, I'm now faced with the difficult choice of sneaking around behind their backs to use a local surgeon with (1) less experience, (2) less post-op care, (3) at more than double the cost.
On the up side, I expect to spend only one night in hospital, and my best friend will stay with my girls.
On the down side, I expect to spend only one night in hospital, so my girls will see me uncomfortable and dragging for several days.
Also - instead of having the procedure on 28 December 2009, as I had planned, I will have to wait until Good Friday, 2 April 2010, when the girls will be out of school for a week, so we can veg out at home whilst I recover.
I'm also very concerned that, even tho I'm self-pay, the doctors at JHBC won't think I'm "fat enough" for the procedure.
My one-on-one is scheduled for 11 Jan - but I'm thinking of pushing it up to next week....
And then there's my company - announcing they're switching our 401k, with a blackout period of 24 Dec - 15 Feb. No loans during that time.... ugh.
Setback.
Nov 29, 2009
Not to go into too many details, but my parents found out from my sister that I was planning WLS in Mexico and they went totally orthongonal. It was beyond awful. Truly.
I've moved past it... somewhat... but it's been a difficult 5 weeks.
Plan B is in effect.
0 comments
I've moved past it... somewhat... but it's been a difficult 5 weeks.
Plan B is in effect.
Links to threads I don't want to lose
Oct 18, 2009
This entry will be updated on an ongoing basis, with links to threads I particularly like.
Suggestions for protein shake samples:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/4044903/Protein-Shake-Samples-info-requested/
Need puree/mushie suggestions!
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/4078958/Need-puree-mushie-suggestions/
Nectar flavors
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/4081629/nectar/
Calcium citrate
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/4086732/Calcium-citrate/
Hot Chocolate w/ protein
http://www.nashuanutrition.com/store/index.php?target=categories&category_id=11
Questions for the surgeon
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/4079644/Compiled-Questions-for-the-surgeon-pre-op-meeting/
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/4089969/First-appointment-with-surgeon-tomorrow-questions-to-ask/
VITAMINS:
Flintstones:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/4089737/For-those-that-take-Flinstones-vitamins/
Received Go Ahead from cardiologist!
Oct 02, 2009
Finally heard from the cardiologist's office this morning - turned out he was away for training the entire month of September so couldn't review my ECG and blood test results, and the receptionist didn't pass that info to me - his head nurse was quite irritated.
She read his note to me: the echocardiogram showed my "heart muscle and valves are superb", as is my cholesterol - both LDL and HDL - in both the basic and more in-depth blood tests he ordered. YEAH!! I've been eating oatmeal 4-5x a week (at work) and severely cut back on my salt intake for 10 months now - my BP has dropped, too, after 3 years of being slightly elevated - my PCP is very happy.
If I weren't self-pay, I'd be tempted to be irritated at my lack of co-morbidities... except my company's new insurance policy has an exclusion for WLS entirely, curse them.
So.. now I can reschedule the colonoscopy appt that triggered the whole cardiology visit in the first place (minor arrythmia discovered during pre-op EKG - which I've known about since I was 24 years old. No biggie - rarely found by any of my docs over the years).
And - I'm good to go for the VSG. YAY!!!
0 comments
She read his note to me: the echocardiogram showed my "heart muscle and valves are superb", as is my cholesterol - both LDL and HDL - in both the basic and more in-depth blood tests he ordered. YEAH!! I've been eating oatmeal 4-5x a week (at work) and severely cut back on my salt intake for 10 months now - my BP has dropped, too, after 3 years of being slightly elevated - my PCP is very happy.
If I weren't self-pay, I'd be tempted to be irritated at my lack of co-morbidities... except my company's new insurance policy has an exclusion for WLS entirely, curse them.
So.. now I can reschedule the colonoscopy appt that triggered the whole cardiology visit in the first place (minor arrythmia discovered during pre-op EKG - which I've known about since I was 24 years old. No biggie - rarely found by any of my docs over the years).
And - I'm good to go for the VSG. YAY!!!
Scheduled my VSG appointment!!!
Sep 28, 2009
28 September 2009
I did it!! I booked my surgery in Mexico!!! I'm so excited!!! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!
THREE MONTHS FROM TODAY I'LL BE SLEEVED!!!!!!!
Last Friday, 25 Sep 2009, I just flat gave up on the idea of fighting my company for a waiver to their insurance exclusion for WLS coverage, when HR informed me that (1) the Maryland WLS law didn't apply to them cuz the policy was written in Virginia (even tho our office is in Maryland, and I live and work in Maryland), and (2) the Virginia law on WLS applies to insurance companies (they must OFFER WLS), but not to employers (who can decline or "exclude" the offer of coverage - which my employer did in their brand new policy; which just went into place on 1 June 2009). I further worried that fighting with my company might cause me to lose my job - Maryland being an "at will" State.
(Note: I'd emailed the team at http://obesitylaw.com twice, but never received any response - which annoys me no end. I don't know what experiences others have had, but I simply cannot recommend them at all.)
Even if they granted me a waiver, the bottom line is I barely fall into the "35 BMI with co-morbidity" range of eligiblilty. My BP had been quite elevated for the past several years - about 10 months ago I stopped adding salt to anything whatsoever, cut out eating pre-salted stuff almost entirely, and started eating a bowl of oatmeal 5 days a week (at work). Results: my BP and cholesterol have dropped significantly. My docs are very happy. My weight increased a bit (5 pounds), but since I started researching WLS, I've dropped back down - this morning I was at 199. So while I have minor co-morbids... nothing that is truly over the top.
The fact that my family's history of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, and etc. is downright scary to me... no doubt would do little or nothing to sway an insurance adjuster to approve me for the procedure.
The fact that I've been on every diet under the sun, have lost hundreds of pounds, have been an aerobics instructor, have spent tens of thousands of dollars on product and equipment and classes, have struggled every dam' day with that inner "I'm sooo hungry, feed me NOW!!!" voice since my early teens... none of that would sway an adjuster, either, I'm quite certain.
If I've larnt one thang in the past 35 years it is: Diets. Don't. Work.
And so: self-pay. We have tickets to Nevada for Christmas - my girls will stay with my family there. On 27 Dec 2009 I head for Mexico. Not sure who will come with me - I'm fine going alone, but suspect that won't fly with my Mom. Surgery is 28 December!!! Back to USA on 30 December!!! Then, home on 1 January. Thanks goodness I booked non-stops across the country. I plan to be back to work on 4 January.
After 7 straight weeks of research on physicians and insurance and law, I'm moving on to the preparation mode: taste-testing various protein drinks and powders, updating my will and guardianship papers, finding a pet sitter for 12 days, and selling stuff on eBay to offset some of the costs of the procedure!! Drinking water. Taking measurements. yada yada.
Wheeee!!!!!!!! Can't WAIT!!!
Sheri
0 comments
I did it!! I booked my surgery in Mexico!!! I'm so excited!!! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!
THREE MONTHS FROM TODAY I'LL BE SLEEVED!!!!!!!
Last Friday, 25 Sep 2009, I just flat gave up on the idea of fighting my company for a waiver to their insurance exclusion for WLS coverage, when HR informed me that (1) the Maryland WLS law didn't apply to them cuz the policy was written in Virginia (even tho our office is in Maryland, and I live and work in Maryland), and (2) the Virginia law on WLS applies to insurance companies (they must OFFER WLS), but not to employers (who can decline or "exclude" the offer of coverage - which my employer did in their brand new policy; which just went into place on 1 June 2009). I further worried that fighting with my company might cause me to lose my job - Maryland being an "at will" State.
(Note: I'd emailed the team at http://obesitylaw.com twice, but never received any response - which annoys me no end. I don't know what experiences others have had, but I simply cannot recommend them at all.)
Even if they granted me a waiver, the bottom line is I barely fall into the "35 BMI with co-morbidity" range of eligiblilty. My BP had been quite elevated for the past several years - about 10 months ago I stopped adding salt to anything whatsoever, cut out eating pre-salted stuff almost entirely, and started eating a bowl of oatmeal 5 days a week (at work). Results: my BP and cholesterol have dropped significantly. My docs are very happy. My weight increased a bit (5 pounds), but since I started researching WLS, I've dropped back down - this morning I was at 199. So while I have minor co-morbids... nothing that is truly over the top.
The fact that my family's history of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, and etc. is downright scary to me... no doubt would do little or nothing to sway an insurance adjuster to approve me for the procedure.
The fact that I've been on every diet under the sun, have lost hundreds of pounds, have been an aerobics instructor, have spent tens of thousands of dollars on product and equipment and classes, have struggled every dam' day with that inner "I'm sooo hungry, feed me NOW!!!" voice since my early teens... none of that would sway an adjuster, either, I'm quite certain.
If I've larnt one thang in the past 35 years it is: Diets. Don't. Work.
And so: self-pay. We have tickets to Nevada for Christmas - my girls will stay with my family there. On 27 Dec 2009 I head for Mexico. Not sure who will come with me - I'm fine going alone, but suspect that won't fly with my Mom. Surgery is 28 December!!! Back to USA on 30 December!!! Then, home on 1 January. Thanks goodness I booked non-stops across the country. I plan to be back to work on 4 January.
After 7 straight weeks of research on physicians and insurance and law, I'm moving on to the preparation mode: taste-testing various protein drinks and powders, updating my will and guardianship papers, finding a pet sitter for 12 days, and selling stuff on eBay to offset some of the costs of the procedure!! Drinking water. Taking measurements. yada yada.
Wheeee!!!!!!!! Can't WAIT!!!
Sheri
