Jill S.
2005
April 12, 2005-well I am set to go to a seminar on April 27th!! I'm excited and scared at the same time to learn about this surgery. I just turned 30 yesterday and have two young children ages 3 and 1 and I have finally gotten to the point where I can't live like this any longer and I have tried every diet and pill under the sun.
April 14, 2005-The more I research and read about others surgeries the more I am convinced I am looking into doing the right thing. I certainly have many questions and hope a great many will get answered at my meeting on the 27th!! It is scary to read of all the complications and to read of the people who have passed away, but if you research any surgery you are going to find those things. I am looking so forward to the future, I know my journey has just started, but I am just SO SO excited!!!
April 22, 2005-Well I have told many people now, mostly more family and so far everyone is supportive. Some are a little leary, but are supporting my decision. I feel so blessed to have the support of my family and friends and of course all of you here. Ever since I decided that this was what I am going to do, I have found that I am much happier just knowing that I am in the process of doing something about my weight problem. The only thing I am worried about is my husbands new insurance that we will be getting in June. I know it is BC/BS but I don't know if the company he works for as excluded WLS from the plan. I hope not, I hope it is something that is covered in the plan, otherwise I don't know what I will do. I will just keep praying that everything works out!!!!
April 27th 2005-Well I go to my surgeons info meeting today. I'm feeling a bit down, we found out come the end of the week my husband will probably no longer have a job, so we are going to have to get MA or UCare and I'm just hoping that they cover the surgery. This is the only area in which I am feeling discouraged. I have wonderful supportive friends and family including all of you here. I just hope that insurance issues don't stand in my way of getting this surgery. I will update again after my info meeting and when I find out about insurance.
Well, my journey is on hold for now as I am 2 months pregnant with baby #3. But, I will pick up where I left off after baby comes!!! I will keep checking in to see how you all are and of course to lend my support!!!
Hugs,
Jill
January 11, 2006:
Well, it has been quite awhile since I have updated here. I had baby #3 on December 23rd, her name is Ava Lily and she is perfect!!! I have already started up on the WLS journey again. I talked to the doctors nurse and she's sending me out the packet and gave me the go ahead to schedule my psych and dietician appointments. As I begin this process again, I am scared and excited all in one. I'm scared that my psych eval. won't go well as I suffered from severe post partum depression after my son was born. I'm better now, but am still on my medication. I hope this won't interfere with my WLS. I will try to keep up with my updates as my journey progresses.
1-29-06
Well, I have my psych eval set up for 2-27-06. I'm excited the this process is finally moving along, but I'm also nervous at the same time. I need to still set up my dietician appointment and then of course the all important insurance approval. I will continue with my updates as more things progress.
3-2-06
Well, I had my first psych appointment on Monday and it went really well. On the 9th I go back for my testing and then I have to see her until the end of March. But, she said I'm a great candidate but she just wants to meet with me a few times to get some eating issues straightened out. She says I don't eat enough and that because of that I've screwed up my metabolism and what not so she wants to make sure to get me on track so I can deal with eating after surgery. I meet with my surgeon on March 28th and my last psych appt. is on the 30th. Then I meet with the nutritionist and then the surgeon again and wait for insurance approval and then schedule surgery!!!! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. I'll keep updating as new things come up!!!
3-25-06
Well, I have been seeing my psychologist weekly now for 3 weeks and I completed my testing last Thursday the 23rd. God, that was SO boring. Anyway-she wants to keep seeing me until I am eating healthy. Let me explain, I have been keeping food logs for her and she's looking over them saying you don't eat enough?!?! WHAT!?! Then how come I'm not skinny?!?! So, I have to MORE...........good LORD I about died when she said that. So, I've been doing really good since Friday making sure I get in 3 balanced meals a day. I'm so busy with 3 kids, that I dont' think to sit down and eat. Anyway-hopefully I will get it better soon. I have started going to the gym hoping to get the habit of working out down now before surgery. I'm also practicing chewing my food, not drinking with meals and sipping. It's so hard for me to chew the food up really good, but I'm working on it. And, man is it ever hard to NOT drink with meals. I meet with my surgeon on March 28th ofr a consultation. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.
I'm so glad I have this board and all of you for support!!!!! Until next time...........Take care and God Bless!!!!
3-30-06
Today I got my psych test results back and I'm NOT crazy!!! WOO HOO She did tell me that the test revealed that I have high anxiety over my health. And, she thinks that many of my "ailments" could be due to stress since I hold my emotions in instead of let them out and my body reacts to it?!?! I guess I somewhat believe that, but I know there are certain things that are NOT due to stress. I have to keep seeing her until May 11th and then she will either approve me for surgery or I'll need to keep seeing her. I have my dietician appt. set for Monday at 8:30am. I've been working really hard on eating every 4-5 hours like I've been told to do and eating balanced meals. What is really difficulty for me is not drinking during meals. I never thought that would be so difficult to do. Anyway-I seem to be truckin along and will keep updating as I continue on my journey. Until next time, take care and God Bless.
5/3/06
Well, the psychologist I've been seeing won't see me anymore. The reason, because I had to cancel two appts. One was for sick kids and the other I was in the ER with Emily ALL day. She said I can call on the day I want to be seen and if they have a cancellation I can come in, but no scheduling in advance!! ARGH So, I'm having my test results and file sent over to Dr. Kearney and I see him on May 30th at 9am. This is so frustrating, but I know will be worth it in the end. The dietician and I are playing phone tag so as soon as we connect I can set up my appt. with her. I'm hoping that I can get a date for July!!!!
5/5/06
I had my appointment with my dietician yesterday and it went really well. She was very impressed with how much research I've been doing over the last year and loved that I have met with someone in person who has had the surgery!!! Thanks Gwen! There was a situation with my insurance company but I just got off the phone with them and everything is straightened out!!! So, I have my appt. with my psychologist on the 30th, I have already taken my MMPI so hopefully he will give me the go ahead to meet with my surgeon again and then it's submit to insurance for approval. So I am praying that I can have a date for beginning of July!!!! I'm so excited and I'm less and less nervous! Is that weird?!?! I just feel so at peace with the decision I have made to have this surgery!!! Until next time..........God Bless!
5/6/06
I just want to thank Gwen from St. Cloud for agreeing to be my angel!!!! Thank you so much, it means the world to me!!!
5-30-06
Well, I met with Dr. Kearney today, he is such a nice guy!!! I meet with him again on June 29th. He wants me to keep food logs for him, but he thinks after our next meeting I should be good to go. He is happy with all the changes I have made and thinks that I have done a great job researching and preparing myself for surgery. I won't get my end of June begininng of July surgery date, but hopefully before the summer is over. I have cut pop out, and am working on quitting the coffee, I only drink one maybe two a cups a day and he said he knows I can do it. I just need to keep working on eating my 3 meals a day which I've been doing well on, and he also wants me to switch to the chewable vitamins now. So, all in all I think I'm doing really well. Until next time....God Bless.
2006
6-3-06
Well, no new news to report, I've just been working on making the changes I need to before surgery and I think I'm doing really well. I have cut out pop and coffee in the morning. I have mainly been drinking crystal light and water. I have been practicing chewly thoroughly, spending at least 20 minutes a meal and NO drinking before or after meals. I'm not always "good" but I'm getting better and better. I went to my required support group for Dr. Glass's patients on Thursday and it was really good. I plan to just keep going because I think it will just be helpful before, during and after this process. I have been finding other activities to occupy my time when I feel like eating. Again, I'm not always perfect, but I think I'm doing really really well.
8-25-06
Well, I had my final pre-surgery appointment with Dr. Glass on the 15th of August and he gave me the go ahead...........so..........everything has now been submitted to insurance and the wait begins. My mom has tried talking me out of the surgery, but I've told her that I have researched and prepared myself and that this is what I'm going to do. She just feels that I can lose the weight by diet and exercise alone. I told her I've tried that for years and it's not working, so I need to do this or being overweight is going to take me from my family. I know she's just scared. I pray that my insurance approval will come through quickly!!!!
8-30-06
I"M APPROVED!!!!! I have two insurances, my primary insurance of BC/BS will have an answer on Tuesday the 6th for me, but my secondary MA approved me yesterday and even if BC/BS denies me, MA will cover the entire surgery 100%!!!!!!!!!!! So, I am approved now I just have to wait for the surgeons office to call me with a date!!!! I can't believe it, 1 week is all it took, I'm so excited, scared, all in one!!!!
9-1-06
I woke up this morning to a phone call from my surgeons office. What they told me was start your liquid diet today because your having surgery on September 15th!!! OMG I can't believe I got a date that fast and that soon!!!! I was hoping to be able to prepare a little more for the liquid diet and have one more big meal, but I guess this is the way it's suppose to go. This is the first day of the liquid diet and it is HARD!!!! I don't miss the food, I miss chewing, so I've been munching on gum all day (sugar free of course). I'm so glad that I truly took the time to mentally prepare for this as best I could and to reach out and talk to as many people as possible who have been through this surgery or I would have had unrealistic expectations of everything along the way. I thank God everyday that I have this chance to start over and live a healthy life.
9-8-06
I had my pre-op physical today and all went perfectly. Blood pressure was excellent at 108/63, heart and lungs were great and blood work was great!!! Everything is a go, 1 week until surgery. I'm so excited, typical nerves because it is surgery but more excited than anything!!! I also called my primary insurance of bc/bs of MN and asked about my approval. I was approved, so both my primary BC/BS of MN and my secondary MA approved me after my 1st letter!!!! WOO HOO
9-17-06
I had my surgery on Friday the 15th of September and everything went beautifully. I got up to my room around 4ish I think and took my first walk around 5:30. Drinking water and boost (what they had at the hospital) went great. I was really nervous about it hurting and stuff, but so far so good. I got up and walked as much as possible in the hospital, which is the best thing you can do truly, even if you don't feel like doing it, do it!!! I got home around 1pm on Sunday and have gone for two walks. Working on getting all my water in and am still doing good with my slim fast. I am SO tired though so I have to make sure I take the time to rest.
9-25-06
I had my two week follow up today, and I have lost 10 pounds since the day of surgery and 17 pounds all together with the pre-op diet. I'm so excited, Dr. Glass said I'm doing great and right on target with where he wants me to be. I told him it was hard not being able to eat food, and he said he knew, but this is the easy part it gets harder when you add the food in. I bought myself a head set today so that I can listen to music when I go for my walks, and my family and I are joining the YMCA so that hubby and I can go do our workouts while the kids are taken care of and then we can all go swim or something. I'm so glad that I have had this surgery, even though it is SO hard right now not to eat food, I would do this again in a heartbeat!!! Until next time, God Bless!!!
02-13-07
WOW! It has been awhile since I updated my profile, I must be better at doing this. I am just 2 days away from being 5 months out and I couldn't be happier. I am down 74 pounds, 30 1/2 and now 8 jean sizes!!! I have had a few bumps in the road, but I would still do this in a heartbeat. I LOVE having the energy to play with my 3 kids, and I actually enjoy going out and doing stuff, because I'm not embarrassed of how I look. I do need to be bit better about working out; other than that I think I'm doing pretty good. Until next time; everyone take care!!!
3-17-07
Wow! I can't believe it has already been 6 months since my life changing surgery. I am down a total of 80 pounds!!! I feel so good and full of energy. I'm back working part time so I can still stay home with my kids; but I LOVE being back at work. I actually look forward to going to work and going out and doing things because I am no longer embarrassed by how I look. I have been slacking in the water department so I MUST get back on track with that, but other than that things are going well. The pains I was having in my abdomen are no longer and I just feel really really good. Thanks everyone for your continued support and encouragement! Until next time!
8-14-07
I really must be better about posting here! It has been almost 1 year since my surgery and life has been wonderful! I have lost a total of 110 pounds and feel SO good. There were minor bumps in the road along the way--but nothing that has ever made me feel like I wish I didn't have the surgery. I do need to get back on track with drinking my water and getting more protein in, but other than that things are great. The hardest thing for me on this journey has been the emotions that have come with losing so much weight. They prepare you so much for how your going to have to eat and stuff but no one ever really talks to you about the emotions that are going to come along with it. Overall this has been the best decision I have ever made.
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