Krissandra T.
I have been overweight since birth. If you don't believe me, I'll show you the quote my mother put in my baby book that says "She was the biggest baby in the nursery." I'm sure my mother had no idea that that comment was to accompany me my entire life.
Biggest kid in Pre-K, Kindergarten, elementary school, you name it.
I've tried all types of diets over the years. Pills, exercise, diet, or some combination thereof and after a couple months all that i have been able to lose is 20-30 lbs. As soon as I diversify my diet the weight comes back quicker than it left and brings a few friends.
I have been actively exercising for the last three years and get to the gym two-three times a week at minimum. It has been helping me tone my muscles but not to lose any weight.
I have been interested in surgical intervention for the last three years. However, I had a job with self funded insurance. I would have fought with them but they made me feel so insignificant every time i called for information that i just felt even worse. I hated my job so much that i would cry on the drive in just knowing what creeps i worked for. I finally asked my PCP for help. She prescribed me a anti-depressive to get by so that life didn't seem as bad. That really helped me a lot.
I also actively sought out new employment with companies with better benefits. I thought i had a job in January of this year only to find out that they didn't understand why i was leaving my old job. Like i was going to tell them "for surgery".
Anyway, i think God had another plan for me because not even a week later a better job posting came along close to home. The whole application process took awhile but i started that job in July.
I originally investigated the RNY surgery with Dr. Greene. (i met him when he operated on me in March 2005 for gallbladder surgery.) After doing more research, i decided that a DS would be a better option for me. Dr. Schweitzer in Baltimore is even in my new health plan. I have a consultation scheduled for October so i guess i'll just hang tight for a little while longer.
Update: consult finally completed... My original consult date was Oct 9th and had to be rescheduled due to Dr. S attending a conference. This in turn caused my Psych and nutrition evaluation to be pushed back a month though.....
I like Dr S., I just wish the waiting was over..... I'm technically in limbo to next month after the psych/nutritian appts and then my application can be sent in to insurance....
12/2/06 Another "No sleep" test completed for titration. I have moderate apnea. Think i got maybe two hours sleep this time.
12/06/06 Xmas has come early....I am approved for surgery... I was sweating it out awhile but it all worked out. Just need to talk to my boss about a date now. I would like to pick the 25th of January.
12/18/06 UGGGG just got back from vacation and Dr S is out of town on the date i want and now my boss is complaining about me needing time off. I haven't told him the real reason for surgery yet but i guess i might have to eventually.
12/21/06 Talked my boss into Feb 1 and got my authorization extended to that date. Only now that date is taken already.
So now i have another "official" date for February 8th. It can't come soon enough.
2/7/07 People who know about the surgery keep asking if i am scared. Nope. Maybe two years ago when i first started researching WLS but now it's just the beginning of a new start for me. See everyone on the other side.....
3/1/07 Ahh haa i made it......
Surgery and hospital stay fairly uneventful. After much bugging and insisting i got my private room late the day of my operation.
My only comment regarding Bayview is that you could really tell the some of the nurses must hate their jobs and project that into how helpful they might be(or not be)
i did get my DS done laproscopically. YAHHHHH!
i had two drains.... It was removed in the hospital when i was released. (i was operated on Thursday morning and discharged Sunday morning.) The second drain was removed 5 days later in the Bayview clinic by Pat. (and yes you can do your post-op visits there too. Bayview is an easier traffic drive for me for morning visits)
i just got back from my three week post- op and drum roll
dadadadadadadad 29.lbs gone Two-terville people......
(oh course without clothes it's really 31 but only my home scale knows that)
One more week of Lovenox shots. (Oh you were never told about shots...Me neither...) Pear shapes (you know us that carry our weight lower) have larger thighs so we get these lovely shots for four weeks post-op twice a day due to increased risk of blood clots.
One more week of pureed food too.... I just want something with texture or crunch so bad...a carrot, a stick, anything
8/5/07 I totally realize i need to update this profile. I will work on it.
Weighed myself this morning - Holy #@$% 257... Woo hoo 70 lbs down !!!!!!!!!!!!! Now my Driver's license is really a lie. Luckily i get a new one in October. I plan on waiting till the last day possible.
We went to lunch with some friends today. I enclosed a photo he took... Wow what a difference from last year. I really am starting to look my like myself again (and more similar to my thinner sis) instead of just a big potato head.
