Chris G.
All Things A Go
Jul 16, 2007
Everybody at work now knows that I'm having surgery and that I'll be off and everything is cool. No one knows what kind of surgery I'm having and it's fine. No one is asking and I'm not telling. I imagine that I will end up telling the girls that I work with after it's all over and I'm fully recovered. They're going to figure something out when I shrink, shrink, shrink.
My best friend came over tonight and we sat and talked for a long time about the surgery. She had a lot of questions (she really knew nothing at all about it) so it was interesting to educate her. She's such a good friend, she sort of thinks I'm crazy for doing this, but at the same time she's supportive and excited for me. She's promised to come visit me in the hospital and volunteered to help with my daughters if I need it. I love her.
Apparently I have been quite the topic of conversation among our social circle. I can only imagine what people have been saying! I think most people find the idea of surgery shocking and extreme. The thing is, out of all of our friends there are probably only two people who are as fat as I am. None of the thinner people understand what it's like to be the fat Mom. They don't get the physical part or the emotional part. So I don't expect them to understand why I'm doing this. However, I do admit that a year from now when I run into one of them and they have to pick their jaw up off the floor, it's going to be sweetly satisfying.
Under Goal
Jul 10, 2007
This morning's weight? 263.6!
I did it! I lost the ten pounds required by the doctor. I'm going to keep working on getting more off in the next three weeks too. The week of my pre-ops will be the same week as my period so I'm sure to be up a couple of pounds that week. I'd really like to hit 260 before that week.
I did it! I lost the ten pounds required by the doctor. I'm going to keep working on getting more off in the next three weeks too. The week of my pre-ops will be the same week as my period so I'm sure to be up a couple of pounds that week. I'd really like to hit 260 before that week.
That was easy!
Jul 09, 2007
So, I told the woman who handles our insurance stuff at work that I'm having surgery. I didn't tell her what kind, I just said it was embarassing and I'd rather not tell people about it. She was great. She said, "I understand and I respect your privacy" She even gave me the short term disability paperwork and told me that she'd fill in her part without me taking it to the doctor first so that she wouldn't see anything about the doctor. So cool.
Now when my boss returns from vacation on Monday I'll tell him and that will be that.
I feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders now that I've faced that hurdle.
Now when my boss returns from vacation on Monday I'll tell him and that will be that.
I feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders now that I've faced that hurdle.
Official Letter Arrived
Jul 07, 2007
So my official letter of approval arrived today. I thought that it was very interesting that this paragraph was included:
"You should be aware that an expected outcome of successful bariatric surgery is redundant/excessive skin, and surgery to remove this skin is generally not considered medically necessary and therefore not covered."
Very nice that they make sure to put that right out there like that. I don't care. I'm not that huge and there's only three places that I can tell for sure that my skin is stretched to it's full elasticity; my lower belly, my upper arms, and the very top of my inner thighs. I would love not to have batwings, but I'm resigned to it. My thighs, I don't care about, no one ever sees them but the hubby. My stomach may be a problem if it hangs there and captures sweat and ick under it. I may have trouble with yeast if that happens, but if it does I'll deal with it.
When I talked to Joanne she said she'd be sending me a packet with all my pre-op appointments and my instructions in it. Once I get that packet I'm going to tell work what dates I'll be off and get the temporary disability paperwork from them. I dread having to talk about this to anyone there and I still haven't decided what I am willing to say. I would like to just say it's private and leave it at that. Hopefully that will work and people will respect my privacy.
Well it's a gorgeous day and I've got a couple pounds to lose, so I think I'll go for a walk or a bike ride.
"You should be aware that an expected outcome of successful bariatric surgery is redundant/excessive skin, and surgery to remove this skin is generally not considered medically necessary and therefore not covered."
Very nice that they make sure to put that right out there like that. I don't care. I'm not that huge and there's only three places that I can tell for sure that my skin is stretched to it's full elasticity; my lower belly, my upper arms, and the very top of my inner thighs. I would love not to have batwings, but I'm resigned to it. My thighs, I don't care about, no one ever sees them but the hubby. My stomach may be a problem if it hangs there and captures sweat and ick under it. I may have trouble with yeast if that happens, but if it does I'll deal with it.
When I talked to Joanne she said she'd be sending me a packet with all my pre-op appointments and my instructions in it. Once I get that packet I'm going to tell work what dates I'll be off and get the temporary disability paperwork from them. I dread having to talk about this to anyone there and I still haven't decided what I am willing to say. I would like to just say it's private and leave it at that. Hopefully that will work and people will respect my privacy.
Well it's a gorgeous day and I've got a couple pounds to lose, so I think I'll go for a walk or a bike ride.
I've Got A Date!
Jul 05, 2007
August 6th, 2007 I'll be having surgery!
Approved!!!!!
Jul 05, 2007
I wasn't home all day today, but when I got home there was a message on my machine from my surgeon's office. I am approved!!!!!
I'll call tomorrow and get a date. Ohmyfreakingawd I am beside myself!
I'll call tomorrow and get a date. Ohmyfreakingawd I am beside myself!
Another Step Down
Jun 25, 2007
I found out that my psych eval arrived at Dr. Moon's office today. If they get that sent in this week, I could have a final answer from insurance within ten days or so.
There's no way that surgery is going to happen on the 2nd, and I'm okay with that. Now that I'm this close I'm in no real hurry. I just know that it's going to happen and when it does, it does. I feel very at ease with the whole thing.
I'm still trying to drop a few pounds and now I'll have a few more weeks to do it. I know I can make it happen, I'm determined. I'm down 7 and I'd like to lose at least another seven, or eight. I just want that liver to be small!
I think I'm going to tell my employer either this week or next week. I still haven't decided if I want to tell them what I'm having done, of I just want to say that it's surgery and it's personal and I'd rather not discuss it. The men in the office won't care at all, but the two women are going to go apeshit if I won't tell them what's being done. They're going to think all sorts of things and it's going to be awkward. I sort of want to tell them, but at the same time I don't. It's such a dilemma.
There's no way that surgery is going to happen on the 2nd, and I'm okay with that. Now that I'm this close I'm in no real hurry. I just know that it's going to happen and when it does, it does. I feel very at ease with the whole thing.
I'm still trying to drop a few pounds and now I'll have a few more weeks to do it. I know I can make it happen, I'm determined. I'm down 7 and I'd like to lose at least another seven, or eight. I just want that liver to be small!
I think I'm going to tell my employer either this week or next week. I still haven't decided if I want to tell them what I'm having done, of I just want to say that it's surgery and it's personal and I'd rather not discuss it. The men in the office won't care at all, but the two women are going to go apeshit if I won't tell them what's being done. They're going to think all sorts of things and it's going to be awkward. I sort of want to tell them, but at the same time I don't. It's such a dilemma.
July 2nd Might Be D-Day
Jun 11, 2007
I found out that my office is going to be shut down for the entire week of July 2nd, so I called my surgeon's office to ask if I could possibly be penciled in for surgery on Monday July 2nd. The scheduler told me that she would put my name down and as long as we got the final approval before then, it would be a go.
Today is June 11th...that means if everything comes in on time, in four weeks I'll have surgery. Holy shite! I can't believe it.
Today is June 11th...that means if everything comes in on time, in four weeks I'll have surgery. Holy shite! I can't believe it.
I'm Actually Dieting Weight Off!
Jun 09, 2007
This morning's weight? 265.3
I'm down seven pounds since I started! Yay! I can't believe I'm actually doing it.
I've been walking almost every day and it's really making a difference. I'm also not eating any more take out lunches mid-day. I was eating crap every single day, but now I'm taking lunch from home and making sure it's nothing super bad. Mostly sandwiches or Lean Cuisines.
I do find that I'm much more hungry at dinner time that I used to be because I'm not eating so much at lunch and I'm exercising during the day. I walk on my lunch break, so by the time dinner rolls around I'm actually quite hungry. It's okay though because we eat dinner at home and we eat pretty healthy. My husband does Weight Watchers and he does the cooking...so dinners are fine.
I just can't tell you how good it felt to see that scale had gone down again this morning. When you're as big as I am seven pounds doesn't make a bit of difference, but when you see that number go down...well it's all the proof I need!
I'm down seven pounds since I started! Yay! I can't believe I'm actually doing it.
I've been walking almost every day and it's really making a difference. I'm also not eating any more take out lunches mid-day. I was eating crap every single day, but now I'm taking lunch from home and making sure it's nothing super bad. Mostly sandwiches or Lean Cuisines.
I do find that I'm much more hungry at dinner time that I used to be because I'm not eating so much at lunch and I'm exercising during the day. I walk on my lunch break, so by the time dinner rolls around I'm actually quite hungry. It's okay though because we eat dinner at home and we eat pretty healthy. My husband does Weight Watchers and he does the cooking...so dinners are fine.
I just can't tell you how good it felt to see that scale had gone down again this morning. When you're as big as I am seven pounds doesn't make a bit of difference, but when you see that number go down...well it's all the proof I need!
Success
Jun 05, 2007
I love my "shrink". He's just such a nice guy and he makes me feel good about myself everytime I see him.
We talked for about a half hour and he said, "I think you'll do very well and the only thing I ask is that you send me a note and let me know how the surgery goes...and a year from now send me a picture so I can see the results".
I love that.
He said he'd get his report in within a week or two and that he fully expected them to approve me based on his recommendation. Sweet.
So...I'm just chugging away trying to lose some weight. I've lost a little over four pounds so far. Gotta get another ten or so off and KEEP it off until I see Dr. Moon for the final check.
I'm getting excited again. I really hope this happens in July. I'm ready.
We talked for about a half hour and he said, "I think you'll do very well and the only thing I ask is that you send me a note and let me know how the surgery goes...and a year from now send me a picture so I can see the results".
I love that.
He said he'd get his report in within a week or two and that he fully expected them to approve me based on his recommendation. Sweet.
So...I'm just chugging away trying to lose some weight. I've lost a little over four pounds so far. Gotta get another ten or so off and KEEP it off until I see Dr. Moon for the final check.
I'm getting excited again. I really hope this happens in July. I'm ready.
About Me
Upstate, NY
Location
28.5
BMI
Surgery
08/06/2007
Surgery Date
Jul 05, 2006
Member Since
