Abagaile Clinkenbeard

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First of all, I'm sorry for not keeping in touch and updating any of you on my situation. I do however update my weigh periodically on the health tracker. Well, today I woke up and realized that it has been 3 months since I've had my surgery. I have lost a total of 58.0 lbs. since the first day of my pre-op diet, exactly one month before my surgery date of 04/24/09!!! I know, that's awesome, right? I just thought that it would be a little more noticeable, I mean nobody really comments on how much weight I've lost. I feel like I'm always the one bringing up the fact that I now fit into a size 16 without a problem and I used to wear a 22 (Not even 3 months ago!!!). LOL I don't know, it's just funny. But honestly, I can really see a difference in myself. My hip bones and collar bones are sticking out like crazy. I no longer have a double chin, I can now see my crotch again. LOL All of my old bras and underwear are falling off as well as my pants and shirts. It's insane. My energy level has also sky rocketed. I went to the park with my husband and our daughter this past Tuesday and I actually played with my daughter on the junglejim. I mean I went down the slide and everything!!! I was climbing ladders, and running right along side her. It was awesome. I feel fabulous and can't begin to express how grateful I am to have gotten this second chance at life. Well, I would love to write more and I'll try my best to update y'all more regularly but I've been super busy. I just started the RT program here in Modesto and I'm already swamped with homework every night. I better get going. Ta ta for now people.
Ciao!
Abby

It's true, I'm one week post-op and in the last 30 days I've managed to lose a whopping 25.20 lbs. Woo-hoo! That rocks. Surgery was a piece of cake. No issues whatsoever. I've been off pain meds. for the last two days... I've been having a bit of trouble with head hunger. A really big issue. I need some help actually. I think I'm gonna attend the next support group meeting. I don't want to end up stretching my new pouch!!! Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do to get my mind off of food and eating this early on. I can't exercise. At least not very much exercise. Ahhh. It just sucks because as of right now, my husband has taken it upon himself to eat absolutely everything that I could ever want and crave right in front of me. LOL I don't think that he's doing this to spite me or anything. And he just thinks that whole situation is kind of funny, but it isn't. LOL This is actually hard for me to talk about, almost embarrassing. :( I just don't know what to do.
Ugh.
Abby

Well, today I had my Pre-Op Appt. at Dr. Coirin's office. Notice that I didn't say Pre-Op Appt. with Dr. Coirin, and that's because he wasn't there... Ugh. So I guess that I'll finally meet the man 10 minutes before he starts poking holes in my body. Niiiiice! LOL Oh well! From what I've read he's a wonderful surgeon with an exceptional bedside manner. So yeah... At 7:30AM on 04/13 I'll be checking in at Memorial Hospital here in Modesto, CA and by 9:00AM I'll be in surgery. From what the nurse said, my surgery will take approximately an hour and half... Afterward I'll be in recovery for guess what, an hour and a half and then I'll be allowed to visit with family. Wow! This is still all so surreal. I'm still waiting for the dream to end, ya know. Anyway, I just thought that I would update y'all on what's going on with me... Thanks for your support. I'm looking forward to joining you on the loser's bench.
Ciao!
Abby

I received a letter in the mail from Dr. Coirin's office detailing where I'm to go from here...

- I'm to begin my pre-op diet on 03/30/09.
- My pre-op appointment w/ Dr. Coirin is on 04/07/09 at 9:00AM.
- Following that I'm to get my pre-op lab work done as well as register at Memorial Medical Center.
- I'm to eat easily digested foods two days prior to the surgery.
- The day before surgery I'm to simply eat a light breakfast followed by only clear liquids. 
- Ans in addition to the modified diet I'm to take a bowel prep solution as well and to halt all intake beginning at midnight.
- Finally, on 04/13/09 I am scheduled to have surgery. (The hospital has yet to advise me as to when to arrive.)
- My one week post-op appointment is scheduled for 04/20/09 at 8:45AM.

Currently I'm unable to think about anything but surgery. I still need to buy vitamins, a food scale, as well as a food processor and many other odds and end items. Hopefully I'm able to get everything needed before surgery day... Once again wish me luck, I need it.

Sincerely,

Abagaile

Ahhh!!!   This rocks! Honestly, I have never worked so hard for anything, besides my daughter, in my entire life. I finally got a call from Sherry at Dr. Coirin's office at 8:15 this morning telling me that I was approved for surgery and my date would be April 13th! Wow, so soon... I can't believe just how close that really is. One month and two days away... Yikes! I have so much to do from now until then. It's scary. Anyway, my journey so far has certainly had it's ups and downs, but I'm positive that this is just the beginning. There will be many more ups and downs to come...  

So a quick overview of the events that have led up until this point...

- WLS Seminar - 11/05/08
- Psych. Eval. 01/08/09 (Had been rescheduled due to my doctor relocating his office.)
- EKG - 01/12/09
- Pre-Op Ed. Class - 01/13/09
- TSH Level Lab Work - 01/19/09
- Nutrition Eval. - 01/23/09
- Echo. - 02/02/09
- PCP Clearance - 02/10/09 (Had been rescheduled until medically cleared by Cardiologist.)
- Dr. Coirin Received Surgical Clearance - 02/18/09
- Dropped Off Med. Records W/ Dr. Coirin - 02/19/09
- Surgery Info. Submitted To Blue Cross For Approval - 02/23/09
- Approved By Blue Cross - 02/25/2009
- Notified Of Approval And Given A Surgery Date - 03/11/09

Ugh. For me, the hardest part throughout the whole process was definitely the waiting... Ugh. I mean from 02/23/09 to today I was waiting to hear back from Sherry. But something always seemed to be in the way of me getting approved. In fact I was actually approved by Blue Cross two days after my info. was submitted to them. That's unheard of. I mean they worked fast! But according to my surgeon's office they didn't receive and authorization until this morning. LOL IDK about that because I have been checking back in twice a week since my info. was submitted and the story remained that same. But two days ago I decided to take matters into my own hands by phoning Blue Cross on my own to see what was taking so long. Ha! They told me that I had been approved since 02/25/09 and that the only thing that they were waiting for was a surgery date from my surgeon. Ahhh! I was so upset. But I remained calm and politely asked if my approval could be faxed over to my surgeon's office. Uh-Uhhh. Not a chance, because Blue Cross had already faxed over my approval and a request had to be made through the surgeon's office in order for them to re-fax my approval. Ahhh! So again, I called my surgeon's office explaining the situation and requesting that they call Blue Cross and have my approval faxed to them, and not one day later... I'M APPROVED WITH A SURGERY DATE!!!  Well, thanks to everyone who wished me a speedy approval, I appreciate your support!

Sincerely,

Abby

Hooray! I just recieved surgical clearance from my PCP and will be turning in the remaining documents needed from my surgeon's office bright and early tomorrow morning. Woo-Hoo! After that, all that's left is for Dr. Coirin's office to submit for approval through Blue Cross.  Wish me luck for a speedy approval. Sorry to cut this so short but I've got to run to work.

SIncerely,

Abby

The waiting game really sucks. I have called Dr. Coirin's office twice this week since my PCP Appt. to verify that they have everything that they need in order to submit for approval through Blue Cross but of course they don't have what they need. My PCP assured me that Dr. Coirin's office would have what they needed by today for sure and yet, THEY DON'T!!! AHHH! So I stormed down to my PCP's office and got copies of my medical records and as it stands today I have to wait until Tuesday for my PCP to have my clearance dictated. Whatever that means. SHITE! LOL In any case, I'm getting my clearance on Tuesday and personally delivering that and my medical records to Dr. Coirin. Wish me luck for a smooth week with as few bumps in the road as possible.

Ciao!

Abby

PS For those of you who haven't checked out my Youtube video's yet, drop by and take a peek. My vid.'s could use a little love!

Check Out My First Video...

BTW My last PCP Appt. is tomorrow, so wish me luck! I need PCP clearance! Once I've gotten that all that's left is for Dr. Coirin's office to submit for approval through Blue Cross...

AHHH! I am so nervous...

Abby

Age: 24
Weight: 251 lbs.
Height: 5'4" & 1/2
Clothing Sizes: 1XL Or 2XL & 20 Or 22
Shoe Size: 8 1/2 Or 9
Panties:10 Or 11
Bra: 42 DD Or 44 DD

Alright, so I went to the nutritionist yesterday and while I was there I was asked to step on a Tanita scale which provided an extremely detailed body composition analysis – weight, impedance, body fat %, body mass index, fat mass, fat-free mass and more. So as of yesterday my weight was 251.0, my body fat percentage was 49.5 (Yuck! I'm composed of fifty percent fat!), and I'm carrying approximately 123 pounds of pure fat on my body. LOL At least that's what I gathered from that whole mortifying experience.  Ugh!

So after stepping of the scale I followed Mrs. Kraft into her office where we began to analyze my daily eating habits and discussed changes that needed to be made both before and after WLS. All in all I believe that this is completely "do-able" and look forward to beginning my weight loss journey as soon as possible.

I've only got a couple of appointments left and then we'll submit my info. to Anthem Blue Cross for approval! Yikes. I am so nervous. I have studied and researched this procedure daily for the past few months and followed through with every request and requirement. I need this surgery. Cross your fingers and pray for me people. I need all the positive and encouraging energy I can get at this point!

Abby