Waiting....and waiting....and waiting

Oct 29, 2010

Have you ever felt like you were close yet so far away?    That's where I'm at now!  My surgeon's office has turned in my pre-cert for approval.  I found out that they (Aetna) is saying that they didn't receive any clinical data and so they've had to request it from the surgeon.  WTF?!  Why would you make me go through ALLLLL of the stuff I"ve been through and then not turn any of it in to the insurance company along with the request for approval?!  ANNNND....they turned me in for approval for a different hospital than I was told.  Grrr...fustration!  To make matters worse, they requested the materials on Monday and the program director was out of town all week.  NO one else responded to the request.  I hope this doesn't delay me another week!  I will be  if that's the case.

All of this and I'm schedule for surgery on November 15th!  2 weeks!  How in the heck will it be approved before then?  I'll be praying that it all works out in the end!  It just HAS to!
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I'm officially diabetic....

Oct 07, 2010

Well I was hoping this day didn't come before my surgery but, its here,  I am officially diabetic.  My HgA1C came back as 6.5.  I can only pray now that I don't have any cardiac issues so that I can have this surgery and be rid of all of these things....forever.
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Too many hands in the pot!

Oct 06, 2010

For Pete's sake...I'm falling apart!  I had my EGD yesterday and all went well.  They did biopsy one spot for h-pylori so we'll see how that returns.  I've been having pain in my left chest/lung that was bothersome.  Right before they put me under for the EGD, I finally coughed up some stuff that I could tell was in my lung but couldn't get up.  Grose..I know!  But I've never had PAIN there...well since my stabbing and resulting surgery.  So everyone is worried that it might be chest pain...as in heart issues.  So I go see my PCP after the EGD and first thing we notice is that I've got edema.  Its pitting...like memory foam!  She thinks I look puffy so she puts me on bp meds w/ a diuretic - Maxzide?  Something like that.  Anyhow, now I'm peeing up a storm.  In addition, my fasting blood sugar yesterday was 129...highest ever.  So she also ran a HgA1C to see if I"m diabetic.  I'm still waiting on the call.

So, concerning my chest pain, she suggests a cardiologist!  I saw him this morning and now i have to do a stress test.  Running on the treadmill kinda thing.  IF that comes back abby-normal then its off to the cardiac cath lab for me!  Possible stints placed and then Plavix.  The doc told me that means NO WLS SURGERY for at least a YEAR!!!!!!  I'm crapping my drawers!  I'm soooo close to getting my date!  This can't happen NOW!  I'm going to pray, pray, pray that everything turns out normal so I can still have WLS.  Pray for me too! 

Honestly, I don't think I have cardiac issues.  I've only had chest pains twice in my life and once was my gall bladder telling me it needed to be removed.  This time, I am telling you, its my lung!  Why couldn't I have found this all out AFTER surgery?!  The timing couldn't be worse.  I know I should be thankful that it would be one less complication if they do find out something but I've been so focused on doing the "laundry list" for surgery I just don't want anything getting in the way now.  Blah.  I'm bummed!
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Dinner with Jewels and Stormy!

Sep 30, 2010

I got to meet 2 successful DS'ers last night!  Julie and Darlene, aka Jewels and Stormy.  We met for dinner and then hung out at Darlene's place.  We had a lot of fun and laughs and I got many of my questions answered.  A good time was had by all and these two gals really know what it means to 'pay it forward.'  I aspire to be like them someday...they are my heros!

I've asked Julie to be my angel and I'm thrilled that she's accepted!  I think its pretty amazing that the people you meet become like family when you have something like the DS in common.  Julie and Darlene are the best of friends and all because they shared a common bond and a lot of information!  This place is good... 
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A new list of "stuff" to get done for Dr. Stewart....ugh!

Sep 23, 2010

 This is about how I am feeling right now.  I met with Dr. Stewart...genious, he is!  I am definitely moving forward with the DS and am so excited about it!  I left his office, however, with a whole NEW list of items to complete before surgery clearance.  I went and got oh....11 - 13 vials of blood drawn AND I've been scheduled for an endoscopy on October 5th.  Not to mention, I still have to do my psych eval (I really need one after all of this! LOL) and finish my diet...which is done and over with on October 13th.  I'm hoping that, at that time, they can submit my info and get my approval so I can finalize a surgery date.  Jeez...at the rate I'm going...I'll be lucky to have this thing by the end of the year!  I am keeping my fingers crossed that I'll have a quick approval process!
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FINALLY! I get to see Dr. Stewart next week!

Sep 13, 2010

  Woo hooo!  Finally I get to see Dr, Stewart next Tuesday!  I'm soooooo psyched for this!
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A little frustration, a LOT of fatness! Ugh.

Sep 13, 2010

 Ok so I'm a little frustrated with Dr. Stewart's office.  They lost my first packet of info so I had to re-fax.  Leah didn't bother to let me know for days that they never got it.  I faxed once more and asked her to call me and confirm that they've received it and ....nothing!  Grrr....will I have to call these people every day?  Jeesh...I hope its not this bad AFTER surgery!  So... STILL waiting on an appointment date.  The waiting is killing me....I swear!

Ok so I decided to do something mommy-son this weekend.  I took my son to Grapevine, TX to Great Wolf Lodge for an overnighter.  For those of you who don't know what it is, its a huge hotel with a huge indoor/outdoor waterpark in it PLUS a really neat magic quest for kids all throughout the hotel's 8 floors.  They have cool, themed rooms too!  Ours was the Wolf Den where the kids have their own little room inside of what looks like a cave.  There are bunk beds in there and their own TV where they can watch movies or play video games.  Totally cool! 

The uncool part was having to walk around in my swimsuit for most of our stay!  Oh and don't mention the number of floors we had to climb to get to the waterslides....ohhhh dear.  I'm lucky I didn't flat pass out trying to keep up with the kiddo on the not-so-crowded slides!    My legs don't work this morning and I'm just tired!  I did sleep with my CPAP all night, which I haven't for a while and that probably helped me sleep better for a change.  I hope I'll be able to get rid of that after WLS.  Its a pain even though I know it does do me a lot of good!

So overall an ok week.  The getaway was fun for Dane and I and I"m always looking for a way for us to have more bonding time.  Being a single working mother makes that difficult sometimes.  I think I'll call Leah to make sure she received my fax and get an appointment!
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Dr. Stewart Welcome Packet!!!

Sep 02, 2010

  Woooo...I'm stoked!  I got Dr. Stewart's new patient packet in the mail last night!!!  I spent the whole evening filling out the paperwork and watching his DVD.  Very informative!  Its funny to watch this stellar surgeon talk to a group of people sounding like a regular person.  I got a lot of good information from the video.  I took my "post test" and I'm ready to get the info to him so I can make an appointment!!!

I feel like I've done my research and am so ready to make this big change in my life.  Everyone here has been such a huge help and such a wealth of information.  I would definitely not be where I am right now in my decision-making process if it weren't for the people here at OH.  y'all are the bestest! 
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Making the Switch

Aug 29, 2010

Well....after thinking I KNEW what I wanted, I'm having a change of heart.  I've done lots of research on the DS and I think I'm headed in that direction now!  I have this obsession with getting rid of the threat of diabetes forever.  After watching 2 grandparents die of complications from diabetes and my mom go through kidney failure and transplant for the same reason, I feel like I need to do something because I'm now hyperglycemic if not diabetic.

I'm researching surgeons.  I am currently with Dr. Ganta in Austin who is an AWESOME lap band surgeon.  Not sure he's the best choice for DS but ONLY because he's so new at it.  I've met one patient of his who seems happy with what he's done for her.  She seems like a pretty amazing gal!  I've heard from a lot of Texans who prefer Dr. Stewart up in Denton.  I've contacted his office for information!

My insurance covers any of the WLS (yeah!) so I'm covered no matter which way I go.  I've heard the addage "think twice, cut once" a lot on here and that's just what I'm going to do!

This site has been a GODSEND!  The people on here are wonderful and the people I've met and had more indepth conversations with are SO helpful and willing to answer my million and one questions.  I wouldn't be where I'm at now without everyone's help and I'm glad I'm rethinking and learning more.
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Slimmer me...here I come!

Jul 22, 2010

So....I've decided to have the Lap Band procedure done.  My insurance covers it (thank GOD!!) and I"ve been contemplating this for a few years now.  I am a single mom, 42, who has gone from being a top state athlete to a big blob of fat.  I think my anxiety somehow contributes to my overeating but I'm not sure how to combat that yet.  My son is 5 years old and has ADHD.  You know he runs me ragged!  Some days its tough to keep up.  He's the biggest reason for this decision.  I want to be able to keep up with him...challenge him....be alive for him!

The second reason is for health purposes.  My mother has had a kidney transplant stemming from diabetes, my aunt has it, my grandma had it and everyone has heart problems.  I'M DOOMED!!!  Unless, that is, I do something about it NOW.  My blood pressure has gone up a bit and my cholesterol is high.  I have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea and I'm insulin resistant.  I'm really starting to get worried about what might happen!  Heck, my co-worker, only a year older than me, had a massive heart attack over the weekend and died.  I can't let myself go there.

I'm not "officially" morbidly obese.  My current weight is 232.  The last step to my being approved by insurance for this surgery is to do a medically supervised 3 month diet.  Can I just say that the D-word induces the worst kind of anxiety in me?!  Thoughts of restricting my intake make me want to stuff my face.  I think because I never feel "full."  My stomach just is...never hungry but never full.  Its something I'm going to have to re-learn.  I WANT and NEED to re-learn it.

It would be awesome to hear from some of you who've had the lap band procedure and to hear how you felt, how the surgery went, what you can't do now that you could before, etc.  I"ve seen pictures of some of you and I'm just astounded at how wonderful you all look!  This gives me loads of hope and I will continue to turn to this for inspiration when I need it most!

I can't wait to hear from you!
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About Me
Cedar Park, TX
Location
22.7
BMI
DS
Surgery
11/17/2010
Surgery Date
Jul 22, 2010
Member Since

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