Daises
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My Name is Candaises Williams..I live in Philadelphia I'm 35 Y.O and I'm ready to make a major change... I can honestly say that I have been "overweight" for most of my life. I have a 10 y.o. son who is my world. I also decided to start my part time "hustle" with my business called "Daises Designs". I decided to look into having the surgery because I beleive that I am at the end of my rope. I've tried everything, Slim Fast, counting calories, going to the gym (I did manage to lose some weight, but it came back". So now I'm here.. I've told everyone within my "little" circle, and I do have their support, although some of my "family" are scared for me, I just told them to pray. I'm hoping to have my inital consultation during the week that I'm on vacation (7/17-7/21). Iam looking forward to this journey in which I am about to embark upon, although it won't be easy, I'm ready for the challenge. I will keep you updated
Ok.. Today is July 3rd.. I went to a pocketbook demo over the weekend. I saw my cousine there, (She had the surgery last winter @ The Barix Center in Langhorne) She looks great!!!!. While she was eating, I've notice that she only took about 3-5 bites and then commented about how FULL she was.. All I could do was think to myself, "I can't wait until I'm able to say that".
July 5th 2006.. I realized that I've had a real heart-to-heart talk to everyone about the surgery accept for my 10 y.o. So I decided to do just that. I told him about the journey that I am about to embark upon, and asked him if he was alright with it.. I told him that the surgery is a "tool" to help me lose weight.. He turned to me and said that he was alright with it, and that no matter if I'm heavy or thin, I'm still cute. (Awwwww.. he's a sweetie)
Also, I rec'd a call from Faith today @ the Barix Center. I recently (last week) corresponded with her via email. She was telling me that she had an appointment opening during the week of July 5th, I told her that that I was interested in having an appointment during the week of July 17th-21.. Well, I rec'd good news from her today, She says that there is a opening on July 19th.. All I can do is SMILE!!!!! (Woooo-Hooooooo) Faith said that I am a very LUCKY lady because she was trying to find an appt avail during that week. So I'm on my way!!!!
July 13th 2006. Less than a week away.. Right now I'm feeling very excited... And I can't wait until next week... I wonder what is going to be done and said.. I'm so excited.. Taking baby steps towards the new me.
Today is July 24th!!! I just came back to work after being on vacation for a week.. anywhooo. I went to my consultation appt that was scheduled for July 19th.. BOOOYYY!!!! was that a long ride on the bus... I was late 30-45 mins Lol anyway, I must say that I have to agrre with everyone in regards to the facility... It is absolutley beautiful, and the people there are nice... Well to make a long story short, I was unable to meet with the Dr. because the Dr. that I was to meet with only does open procedures, and I wanted my procedure to be done Lap.. :( Now I have to be rescheduled to August 19th.. Boy I tell you, talk about a set back.. But I must understand that ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD!!!!!...
August 15th 2006.. In Less than 24 hours I will be at the Barix Center for my first official consultation, and my mother and my son has decided to go to the consultation with me. My mother asked me if I was scared of having the surgery, I said to her that I wasn't. I guess that's because I "know" what to expect.
August 17th 2006. Well I was already to get myself together to attend my group consultation on yesterday, and then.... I received a phone call... "Ummm Ms Daises, I'm Ms. So-n-So from Dr Brader's office, and I'm very sorry, but, we're going to have to reschedule your appt. to some time next week" I was like WHHHHAAATTTTTTT!!!!!!, OMG, you have to be joking... I wanted to say to the person that I was talking to; "Lady, do you know how much preparation I had to do to set this appt up??? My disabled mother who arranged for Paratransit transportation now has to cancel her ride, which will NOW count against her." All I could do is shake my head.. I was so digusted that I didn't even wash the conditioner out of my hair until THIS A.M. So I decided to chose another facility. So my initial "group" consultation is set up for September 6th @ 6:30 pm. My mom was asking me as to why wasn't my second choice my first choice, I simply told her that it was because I work there.. Now, don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful hospital, but it wasn't my first choice because I wanted to handle this in a very private matter, and I didn't want EVERYONE at work to know what it was that I am about to do.
August 29th 2006.. Ok so far, so good. I've recieved my package in the mail explaining paperwork, creating a food journal, insurance info, etc..etc... Beside the fact that I will have to pay $200.00 for my consult with the Dietician and $200.00 for my psych eval, I feel confident that I've chose the right place. I also read that I must make 2 support group sessions, therefore I'm going to my first session this evening.
September 2, 2006. Well I attended the Support Group (@ Pa Hospital) on Tuesday night, and I ,ust say, I found it to be really informative. To be quite honest by attending the session, I beleive that it put someof us Pre-ops at ease by hearing the post op patients telling of their experience(s). I'm really starting to get excited. I will be attending my consultation on Wednesday evening, I have some questions that I want to ask....
September 6th 2006. Well I will be attending my consultation this evening @ PA Hospital with Dr Wersing.. I just read on the board about the new MANDATORY 6 month thingy, If this is true I really have a lot of questions to ask.... This whole thing is starting to discourage me, I mean it seems as if I get but soooo close and then *POOF* something ELSE goes wrong.. I'm trying to keep the face, but you know what they say about beating a dead horse.... Well, I will be updating you on tomorrow.
September 8th 2006. Well I have attended my consultation. It was an informational consultation and NOT a consultation with Dr. Wernsing (lol). I recieved my inforamation binder, so I'm pretty much on my way. The consultation was conducted by Jim who is the Dietician for the Bariatrics Program @ Penn, and I believe her name is Jupreet who is the program coordinator. They explained in great details about the surgery and afterwards allowed us to ask any question that we may have. The binder that we recieved was excellent. I look forward to meeting with Dr. Wernsing on the 20th.
September 12, 2006
November 1, 2006. MY MY MY.. where has the time gone... Ok, here's my update. I went to my surgical consult with Dr. Wernsing aand I must say, he was straight forward and to the point, the office staff were very nice, and I LOVED the chairs... :) Well, when I got on the scale, I noticed that I gained some weight. I must admit, I beleieve that I was going thru the "LAST SUPPER SYNDROME. Dr. Wernsing informed me that he would like for me to lose @ least 20lbs vefore the surgery... Afterwards I was informed by his office to sched an appointment to see my M.D.. So I did so... When I got on the scale @ my M.D. office I noticed that I've lost some weight :) And you know what my M.D. was joking with me. Lol he said to me as soon as I seen him, "I know why you are here". He futher explain to me to always remember that the procedure is a TOOL, and he also told me that I must follow up with him more often. He agreed to do the proper paperwork so that the ball can get rolling :) However, he told me that if I do not get approved for the surgery, than he and I will work on a 3 month regimen, I agreed. So right now, I am sched for my Psych eval on Nov. 10th.
December 12th 2006.. Well I've been APPROVED!!!!!!!! OOOhh what a feeling.... I was told by my surgeon's office that all I have to do is get an abdominal us & have a pulmonary test.. My surgery will be sched for late January.. Talk about starting the new year off right...
December 28th 2006 Ok, My DATE has offcially set.. FEBRUARY 8th is my rebirthday.... My abd us has been completed, and as I suspected, I do have gallstones.. My Pulmonary test is sched for January 10th.. Nutrition Classes is January 22nd & P.A.T. and Final Pre-op Consult January 31.. And guess what.. I just recently found out that my son's god-mother had the surgery done 9 month's ago; she's 110 lbs lighter... When I told her that I too am having the surgery she told me that she had a dream about me loosing weight.. and NOW she knows why she had the dream.. BOY does God works in MYSTERIOUS WAYS...
January 10th 2007. Well, first off.. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!Today I have a Pulmonary Appt.. The appt is at 2:00 p.m. and the current time is 1:02.. So I'm killing a little time (sidebar.. I'm still at work, and my appt is across the street). Well, I can honestly say, that I've told EVERYONE that needed to know about me having the surgery.. The only thing I can about the rest of the people, I'll tell them when I see them... As I sit here and type these words, all I can say is WOOOWW.. look how far I've came.. my surgery is little less than a month away, and I admit I am getting pretty excited... I hear people say that the surgery is going to change me.. and change who I am... I can believe that to a certain point, howoever, I DO NOT WANT TO LOSE MY HUMBLENESS.. I hear that a lot of people lose that.. My prayer for me is NOT to lose my humble spirit.. I want to be as kind and as considerate 6-9 months down as I am today.... That is my prayer.. My mother often jokes with me saying that I'm going to kick her to the curb.. but that's not true.. I don't see it happening... The only thing I can see is me going out more.. (Not that I haven't done that already). I forecast a GREAT summer in 2007. I can remember a time when I use to hate it when spring and summer would come; for me it meant, "Off with the big over coat", I don't see that happening this spring/summer.. Lol.... Well, that's all I have to say...
January 26th 2007... Well boys and girls, I am less than 2 weeks away from my new life.... I have so much to say I just hope that I have enought time to say it.. Well, over the weekend I attended my first M&G (Meet & Greet). The attendees of the M&G were those from the BAF Board of OH. I must say I really enjoyed myself. I had the opportunity to mingle with other sisters who were going through the same thing that I am about to embark upon, we really had a good time, and I look forward to many more M&G's in the future.. ( OH YEAH, SHOUT OUT TO IHAVECATEYEZ for allowing for giving me the inspiration to start experimenting with cooking with SPLENDA (My mom and son & I all agree, that pie was the BOMB!!!!!!) OK, now lemme talk about my new fam BAF... Well, what can I say.. THEY'RE C-R-A-Z-Y!!!, Lol I enjoy coming on the board to see(LURK) what's going on. Well On Monday, I attended my nutrition class along with my Pre-OP testing.. Now While I was having the Pre-ops done I met with a CRNA. While she was asking me questions , she kept saying that I am going to do GREAT with the surgery, and she also expressed how happy she is for me...I told her that I'm happy for me also..At this time I'm not nervous yet, just excited Oh yeah, I almost forgot, my Pulmonary test went very well.. I rec'd the OK for the Pulmonologist.. Well, that all I have to say for now..
February 1, 2007 (One Week Away From My Rebirth)
Where should I began.. On Tuesday night, I attended support group, the topic was very interesting; it was about how some people tend to loose their focus after the surgery.. Well, I don NOT plan on doing that. I went to see Dr. Wernsing yesterday, I got weighed in, and I am happy to announce that I lost 15 pounds!!!! WOOOOHOOOOO... Dr Wernsing could do nothing but shake my hand.. I also signed all of the necessary paperwork for my big day. Dr. Wernsing asked me if I had any questions, the only thing that I could ask him was about the tube that goes donw in the nose.. I asked him will I have to get that done?? And all he could do is laugh at me and say that PA Hospital hasn'y done that in years.. (boy was that a relief). Anywhoo, my last day at work will be Tuesday Feb 6, 2007... I have a lot of things that I need to do by next Wednesday... Well that all I have to say...
My last post before my big day...
February 6th 2007 Well, well...well... What can I say, this is really it... I'm really about to do it.. You know, a lot of people asked me if I was nervous, and I said to them, "no". I guess it really didn't hit me yet... To day is my last day of work, I will be out for about 6 weeks (my choice), I can't beleive that it really haven't hit me yet... right now I'm just going to say that I am excited. By next Thurday, I should have my internet connection up, so that I can share my thoughts and feeling on my big day.. WOW..,I was just thinking that the next time that I will be typing on the OH site, I will OFFICIALLY be a LOSER!!!!
Well, That's all for now..
March 27th 2007.. First Day Back To Work. BOY O' BOY.. I just want to take this time out to say THANKS TO EVERYONE who signed my support page, held my name in prayer, and had me in their thoughts.. I am happy to report that I am OFFICIALLY A LOSER!!!!!!!!! I thank GOD that he brought me through. I was in the hospital for 2 days. I was supposed to have the procedure done laparascopically, however, it ended up being an open procedure. Along with that, the doctor informed me that I had a hernia (I believe that he repaired it) and he also removed my gallbladder. When I woke up from surgery the first words that came out of my mouth was THANK YOU JESUS!!!!, now the second set of words was "OH MY GOODNESS, SHE'S DEAD!!!" (referring to Anna Nicole Smith.) Well after my surgery, I had a lot of adjusting to do, and on top of that, my taste buds has changed quite a bit.. Ok, I gotta continue this late, my lunch break is over.
March 28th 2007.. Ok, I'm back.. what can I say... I know, let's talk about the adjusting to the new eating lifestyle, and how my tastebuds ha totally changed.. I have to admit that there were times when I was being a tad bit hard-headed, you know, not eating what I'm suppose to be eating, when I must tell you that everytime I ate something bad, it didn't stay in my body toooo long, and I am thankful for that. I am currently 7weeks outs and I am down 33 lbs not to mention the 15 pounds that I lost prior to the surgery. I can truly say that I am SOOOOO glad that I have the surgery, and if I could do it all over again I would... When I returned to work on yesterday, everyone was saying that I look totally different, of course I can't see it.. yet... My energy level finally picked up after 1 month. I must admit that at first I didn't have a taste for anything but water, I mean I didn't really want to eat, but that change. I can also remember at one time questioning as to whether or not Dr. Wernsing even did the surgery, but I soon found out when my little pouch was so easily getting full soooooo fast.. I AM SOOOOO GLAD I HAD THIS SURGERY!!!! Until next time.
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October 2007
