Doshia M.
I have been struggling with my weight since kindergarten and I am now 28 years old. I have pictures of me in on my elementary field trips and the class pictures show a chubby little girl in the front row of the pictures. That was me. All throughout my school years, everyone thought I was older than what I really was. I have decided to make a change. I am tired of not being able to walk the mall without having to sit down every 30 minutes, always having to ask for a seatbelt extender when I fly, and never being able to roll around and play with my god kids. I have tons of friends and family that support me. Due to insurance reasons, I have not been able to have it done earlier. I now have a job where the insurance does not exclude morbid obesity as a disease and does cover the surgery. I made my first appointment to meet with Laparoscopic Weight Loss Surgery Center on 3/9/07 for my initial consult. 3/9/07 3/13/07 3/14/07 4/11/07 4/18/2007 4/25/2007 4/26/2007
I went to my initial consult and I felt comfortable with the staff. They were very friendly and made sure I knew the steps of this process. I spoke to one of the staff members who said that she would submit a pre-approval to UHC because they always have trouble out of them. She told me that if they requested more information like five year history that I was sure to be approved. She gave me the information about the seminar and requested I attend.
I attended my first seminar with Dr. Webb last night and it went well. I thought he was a very straightforward doctor. He says what he has to say. Everyone I have met at the weight loss center is super nice. They will go out of their way to help you. He emphasizes aftercare and being compliant with the program. The follow-up care is very structured and you are given a booklet with tons of information that is easy to read. There is a checklist with dates and "Things to do next." I would rate him overall as a 10. I have not one complaint thus far.
I got a call today from Jared at Lap WLS, he said that he called to check up on my insurance and they are requesting my medical history for five years. YEA!!!!!!! I was so excited. He said that UHC also said that they will call and verify with my doctor if need be. He said that out of the many times of dealing with UHC that has never happened. I was shocked. So now I can go ahead with my pre-op training and testing. My next appointment is scheduled for 3/23/07. I can not wait.
My first appointment went well. I thought I was not going to have the deposit but I did because God is good all the time. My first appointment was like the education session. They make sure you know all the benefits and risks of the surgery and give you tons of information so you know what the steps are and what is needed to prepare you for a surgery date. The bariatric coordinator is the sweetest person ever. As a matter of fact, the entire office staff is awesome. I was told I needed to loose some weight at my first consult. I had to lose about 70 lbs. to be exact because my surgeon does not accept patients with a BMI over 60. So I started on my diet. I have been on it and working out five times a week since like the second week in March. I am happy to say that I have lost 17 lbs.. I am so excited. I have 43 more to go. I have my appointment for the dietician and psych evaluation the same day on April 25th. I also found out that I am H Pylori positive and I have to have a endoscopy done. That appointment is scheduled for April 26th. I was happy to get a lot scheduled around the same time. After that I get to have my surgeon visit to get scheduled for surgery. I am too excited. In the meantime, I am working out as much as possible to lose as much weight as quick as I can.
Hello Everybody. I have officially bugged the employees of the Care Coordination dept at UHC. I have called everyday since my claim was submitted on last Friday. I figured it shouldn't take that long because the pre-approval didn't take that long. I called this morning and was told that I was APPROVED for surgery on yesterday and I should receive a letter in the mail and the doctor's office will be notified. I was too excited. Now I am really going to be busting my butt to lose the weight needed. I have my first surgeon visit scheduled for May 15th. I figured that was great because that will give me more time to get some weight off. Be blessed everyone.
What's happening everyone... today was a pretty good day. I had my nutrition appt and psych eval today. Both went well and I am moving right along. I found out I lost three more pounds which I was excited about. I am just trying to get as much off as possible before my first surgeon visit on May 15th. I have my endoscopy tomorrow morning and can not wait until it is over. I am a little scared about it but to GOD be the glory. He brought me to it and he WILL bring me through it. I will update tomorrow to let you guys know how it went.
I made it....it was a long process but I made it. I had my endoscopy today and it was tough. It took five nurses and about 20 sticks for them to find a vein. They had the nerve to offer the "no anesthesia" option. I was like are you joking me. I am not going to do this with no drugs. Finally they found one and I was off. I remember waking up in recovery and asking to go to the bathroom. It wasn't painful at all with the exception of the 20 sticks. I was told I may have a sore throat for a couple of days but I don't now. The doctor said that there is an irritated area of the stomach so he did a biopsy and the results should be back in about 10 days. He said that other than that, everything looked okay and clear for surgery. Another appointment down and who knows how many more. LOL
10/19/2007
I am ashamed that it has been so long since I have updated my profile. Well ya'll, I am having major issues. I recently got of the hopsital. I had a staph infection in my leg. Come to find out, I also have lymphdema in both legs. You talking about someone who was crying so hard......it is so confusing and frustrating. Whenever I think I am two steps ahead, I get knocked five steps back. I have been out of the hospital since Sept 28 but still home. I developed open wounds that drain lymph fluid so there is a nurse that comes daily. I have picc lines in my arn because they still have me on IV antibiotics. I went today for my appointment thinking everything is clear and I get these lines out of me but nooooo....they said now that there is a fungus growing in the wound and some other kind of bacteria now. So I just don't know anymore. I am praying I can go back to work on the 29th because I am trying to save some of my FMLA time for my surgery. I finally got my program fee paid and ALL clearances are in except for the infectious disease doctor. I can not wait for this to be over and my body to heal. I so ready for surgery that I can taste it. So many problems and only one solution. I will keep you posted though.
11/07/2007
I am back family. I celebrated my 29th birthday on November 2nd. It was not my usual celebration due to sickness but I can not complain because the Lord spared my life another day. I started back to work on Monday. I am finally cleared of my infection and got clearance for surgery. I got the phone call yesterday from the surgeon's nurse that I have been waiting for a long time. I was finally given my surgery information. My renewed life begins on November 27, 2007 checking in at 8:15. I am SOOO EXCITED. My diet begins on November 13th and I have my last doctors appointment on November 20th. That was one of the best days of my life in a long time. Thank you everyone for all your prayers.
11/13/2007
God is so good I can not stop praising him. Without him I am nothing. Hello OH Family, I started my diet today and I am feeling great. I can do this. I have two weeks/14 days until my life is renewed. I am so excited. Great is HIs Mercy towards me.
11/20/2007
Today was a long day and it is almost over. I am still at work for another 55 minutes. I had my pre op appt with Dr. Webb and my pre op testing at the hospital. Dr. Webb was cool, he gave me my prescriptions and answered all the questions I had about the surgery. I went on the hospital which was about an hour and half long visit. I had to have bloodwork, ekg and chest xray done. They gave me a special soap that I have to bath in the night before and day of to help prevent infections. I also have to get some type of nasal spray (bactroban) I also found out that they moved my time up. I have to be to the hosptial by 5:30 and surgery is going to be at 7:30. That is exciting. I wanted to be able to get in and get done and start healing. Happy Holidays OH Family.
11/23/07
Thanksgiving is finally over and I have three more days til surgery. I am so happy. I made it through Turkey day. I actually stayed at home by myself in my sugarless house. I wanted to avoid all temptations. I want to avoid any reasons for the surgeon not to do my surgery. If I have made it this far, I am sure I can finish this race. I had to go back to the hospital for more preop tests. Actually, they said that I needed to speak to the anesthesiologist beforehand. He was pretty cool and went over the risks and what to expect as far as pain and the effects of the anesthia. I am so excited. My best friend it coming up from Ocala to be with me for the first week. I am happy for that. Other than her, I am in this by myself. I am strong though so I know I will make it thorough. That is all for now, will update soon.
12/4/07
Hello OH family. I am back in action and can finally say THANK GOD, I have made it to the losing side. YEAH!!! My life is renewed and so happy and ready for the change. Okay so today, I am officially out a week. To rewind, let's talk about surgery. I arrived to the hospital at 5:30 and prepped for surgery. I had to put on the anti-embolism stockings, get the IV started and yada yada. I was able to see my best friend before being wheeled to the OR. When I got there I had to maneuver my big body on this little table. The anesthiologist said everything would be fine and put a mask over my face and said take two big breaths. That was the end of that I remember waking up in the recovery area and seeing what looking like Jason (the guy who started my IV.) I was then taken to my room and slept on and off until 5 when a nurse asked if I was ready to start walking. I reluctantly said yes. I knew I felt pain but nothing compared to what I have read from others so I did not want it to get any worse. I walked a half of lap was pooped. I had a morphine pump but it didn't seem to do anything. So the next morning I went for the usual testing. The radiologist said that my liquids were getting stuck as they entered the stomach but that was due to swelling and nothing to be alarmed about but everything looked good. So I was set to start my liquids. I love the popcicles and they loved me. I didn't want or care for anything else. Dr. Webb said that I was not getting in as much liquids as he wanted me to so I was kept an extra day. I was released on Friday. I am doing great though. I had friends in town for the weekend and they could not believe that I just had major surgery. They kept saying that I don't look sick. I was like THANKS. I am not sick, just sore. I took them out for dinner and one of the best bistro in town and sat and watch them eat. They said I do not see how you do it. I can not sit and watch someone else eat and knowing I love this kind of food. I was like after you have been through what I have, yes you will. We went to the flea markets, shopping centers and even drove to Tallahassee. I got up on Sunday and went to church and went back to bistro with the girls for dinner. I missed my friends so much and I was so not ready for them to leave. Everyone had different opinions about me going to work so soon. I started back on Monday. I am fine though. I bought a heating pad to help with the soreness and so happy I did. I have my first appointment Thurs and will update then. Take Care.
12/12/07
Okay so I had my one week appointment on 12/6/07 and everything looks good. I started having some stomach spasms last week which was not cool. Those things hurt like hell. The heating pad really made a difference. I research the cause of them and found out that not enough water can cause them. So you know what I did......increase my water intake right. I would do anything not to get those pains. At the weigh in I only lost a pound from my surgery date so I am 407. What was interesting though was that I weighed in on 12/04/06 and was 414. So in two days I lost seven pounds. That was amazing.
I went to check out gyms this weekend and went to PF Saturday. I decided to get on their scale since it went up to 450. I had lost another pound and down to 406. I went today 12/12/07 to my surgeons office just to check and see how I am doing and I am down to 393.3. In five days I am down thirteen pounds. Unbelievable. I am not sure if that is two much or what. I am excited though. I can not see a difference though. Maybe soon I will. Until later.
12/21/07
Hello my OH family. Well it has not been a month yet but I have been through yet another surgery. I had oral surgery last Friday and underwent another anesthesia procedure. The surgeon and nurses could not believe I was back so soon after just going under for my sleeve. I was like I am ready to go. I had seven teeth pulled. The four wisdom and three from the bottom left and right sides. Nothing visible though. I had been having spasms off and on and that was one day there were on and popping. The nurse was like as soon as you get your anesthesia you won't feel a thing. I was like good, let's go. It actually did not hurt. The only thing that hurt was my tongue. The doc said that he accidentally nicked my tongue with the broken tooth but he stitched it. I was like nicks usually do not require stitches, it sounds like you CUT/SLICED my tongue. LOL. Overall it was not that bad. I am still healing from that. I feel great though as far as the sleeve is concerned. I feel like I am eating tooo much though. It may be in my head though but I do get some bad hunger pangs. I am down now to 390 as of Monday or Tuesday of this week. I am not going to weigh again until my one month mark. I am airming for a 25 lost for the month. I am going home for the holidays so I hope to have some updated pictures when I return. Happy Holidays to everyone. Until later.
1/25/08
I told myself that I would not be like others and wait fifty years to update my profile. Here I am off to the wrong start. I got to do better. LOL. I hope everyone is doing great. Nothing much here on my end. I am down 68 lbs. I starting stalling and the scales were not being so nice to me but I am coming down slowly but surely. I am doing a lot of traveling now which is great because it has been a long time coming. I just came from ATL this weekend and had a blast. I could actually walk around without dying to find a chair to sit and rest. I thank God for this opportunity to experience life. Take care everyone.
2/13/08
Hello Family. I am now happy to annouce that I am down to 364.4 as of this morning. I am not doing what I know I supposed to be doing but I am blessed anyways. I am going to start back on my workout regime. I keep saying that to amp myself back up. I need to do it. The weight is moving slowly which some say is good but all in all I am happy, which that counts the most. I have been doing a lot more travelling and actually planning to move to Orlando soon. I love change and this will be a great opportunity for me. Just wanted to stop in and update the family on my new changes. Love ya all. Till next time.
3/07/08
As of this morning I am 354.2, this is one decision in my life that I have no regrets and happy each day I made. God bless you all.
