Jennie S.
I am a 33 year old stay @ home Mom of 2 boys (14 & 5) My greatest accomplishment and hardest job! I'm like most people. Except the for fact that I have *never* lost weight. I firmed up once. Before my wedding and looked great. But as far as any other diet. NEVER! Just gained. Maybe I'd gain 2-3 lbs per diet and then without trying I'd lose a few lbs. But never enough for me to keep trying. So, I coasted through life. First son, I gained 80 lbs. maybe lost 50 lbs. Second son, gained 40 lost 30. Quit smoking (a few times) and gained 10 lbs. everytime I quit. Diagnosed with Graves' (most ppl lose weight) I gained 50 AND lost muscle mass. Which brings me to today. It's time to quit coasting and gaining. I want to live! And what I'm doing now CANNOT be considered living. I have the most beautiful sons and a husband who is supportive, compassionate, attentive and way sexy! I want to give them the women they deserve. Shoot! I want to be the women I deserve! To be playful, giving, sexy and spontaneous. And being 270 lbs. ain't workin'!!!
1/31/05 Had my consultation with Dr. Vaughn at the Barix in Belvidere. My Cheerleaders went with me, husband and my Mom. Wow! Everybody was great! Not sure what the name of the nurse was. She was very nice. She was all business, but nice. She took my vitals and then my medical history. Then we met with Dr. Vaughn. He started off like it was a rehearsed speech. But when we started asking questions, he was very attentive, courteous and knowledgeable. Every answer was to the point and precise. At one point his cell phone went off, and I was sure our private time would be over with him. But he excused himself went in the hall. A minute or so went by and he came back, apologized and sat back down. And we picked up where we left off. Then a girl named Tracy came in and she told us about her surgery, she had WLS 3 years ago and had lost about 125lbs. Can you imagine??? I can't wait until I'm able to say that! Well, with her we talked about icky stuff :) Stuff we didn't talk to Dr. Vaughn about like stinky farts and being 270 lbs. and peeing yourself. We laughed the whole time. She was so cool! I told her I was worried about my insurance. And she told me that if Barix thought I would have a problem I wouldn't be sitting there. Hmm, I hope she was right!
Now I wait... and wait....and....
P.S. ~ Thanks Dawn!!! I'll update when I know more!
2-14-05 Happy V- Day! Talked to Barix today and found out that it looks very good! I should have more news by the end of this week. BTW - My new skinny on-line friend has reached Dr. Vaughn's goal for her. 160 lbs.!!! YEAH DAWN! She started out the same weight as I am and made her goal in LESS than 8 months. She's my inspiration. Less than 8 months! I can't imagine myself at 160 lbs. Shoot, I was in 5th grade at that weight! LOL!
2-24-05 **UPDATE** As of 2-22-05 I received my pre-approval letter from the Ins Co. YEE-HAWW!! I called Barix and after a little game of phone tag I was asked if I had gotten "clearance" from my Endocrinologist, for my Graves' Disease? Hmm, didn't know I needed it. Makes perfect sense why I should. But when they asked me for his phone # at my consult. I *assumed* someone from Barix was going to get the much needed clearance. So I got the approval letter on Tuesday and here I sit on Thursday still waiting....and waiting... I think us obese people are such *instant gratification* kinda people. That's why we ALL hate waiting! So, let go, and let GOD, right? I pray every night for the ability to do that. I also pray every night for all the people having surgery. I'm trying to get in the habit of signing *surgery pages*. I'm sure everybody enjoys a few kind and encouraging words. Last night in the midst of my insomnia I was thinking about the depression that ppl suffer from after WLS. And here's my profound thought of the day. I'm sure everybody has heard the theory on how cells carry emotions. And since most of us have packed on fat cells with depression, anger, loneness or some other negitive emotion. I wonder if that's the reason for the depression? The burning of the depressed cells causes us to re-hash the reason we stuffed the down in the first place. Just a thought... I'll update soon, Hopefully I'll have a date by then :)
2-24-05 9:50pm I've been reading some post and I thought I would tell myself now why I'm going to do this to myself. And here's what I came up with
Gain Health Lose weight!
Cross my legs
Carried over the threshold by Mark
Chase the boys
Play in the snow
Play in the leaves
Play in the rain
Play!
Fit in a swing
Fit in a rollercoaster
Fit in a airplaine seat
Fit on a slide
Fit in a booth
Fit in a tub
Not piss on myself
Roll over in bed w/o waking up Mark
Sleep through the night
No back pains
No knee pains
No foot pains
No ankle pains
No leg pains
Shop at Victoria's Secrets
Shop ANYWHERE!
Swim in front of non-family members
Look in a mirror, and like it
Be able to crawl around in the van.
Hear "Jen you look great"
Jog with Cindy Belle (my dog)
Clean more than one room a day
SEX!
Dance!
Hike during family vacations
Take family vacations
Do a marathon
Avon 3 Day Walk for Breast Cancer ...
I will continue to add to this list everytime I think of something else.
3-19-05 I have a DATE! March 30th. Yikes! I go for my PAT's on thursday
3-24-05 I'm so excited!!!
3-29-05 Well, here I am 24 hours away from surgery. More like 24 hours away from recovery! It's 2 in the afternoon. I am to arrive at the hospital 10 am and then surgery will be probably 2 hours after that! Whew! Pretty exciting! All things considered, I'm pretty calm. I have been on the phone for the majority of the day. Mom and Beckie. I tried to call Kim, but her life is in more turmoil than mine. My first phone call was from my Angel, Dawn. She's soooo sweet! She's coming to the hospital on friday for her 1 year check up and to visit me. We have so much going on right now with the sale of our house, buying a new one and surgery. Like I need more on my plate. I never do anything half-assed! I am on clear liquids from noon on. I had lunch at 10:30am. I had a grilled cheese & a glass of milk. For dessert I had a Hershey bar. I'm ready to get the surgery out of the way and get on with my life on the losing side. So, I'm off to the losing side....
6-27-05 WOW! Here I am, like what?... 12 weeks out and I have lost a total of 58 pounds! Can you believe it? Gone forever! Sorry I haven't updated. I had surgery on March 31st and we closed and moved to a new house on May 25th. We've been in the new house for a month now. And I love it! Also we are having Chris' 8th Grade Grad party on the 9th of July. Ahh, no rest for the wicked, as they say :) I have a million things to do today. I will try to update more and I'll also try to give you a "play by play" of my surgery day. Although it was pretty uneventful. Everything went according to plan.
PS. I love you Dr. Vaughn!!!
Hospital Reviews (Belvidere, IL) -
Barix Clinics (NW Suburban Com. Hospital)
Member Interests: Travel Quilting Parenting Walking Cooking & Baking Religion & Spirituality
Surgeon Info: Surgeon: Eric T. Vaughn, M.D., F.A.C.S. 1st Meeting w/ Dr. Vaughn, he was very knowledgeable, to the point, precise just and all around great guy! Can't say enough great things about him! Insurer Info: United Health Care, Choice Plus