Hi. My name is K and I am 22 years old. I am meeting with my PCP tomarrow (6.20.05) about getting bariatric surgery done. I hope she will agree with me in that it would be very benificial for me. I have struggled with my weight for a while now and have tried numerous things in an attempt to loose weight. It seems I am always able to get maybe 10-15 pounds off but then they pack right back on. I have tried weight watchers and many diet regimines and nothing seems to work or help me in the way I would hope. Having this surgery would mean a better life for me and a better life for my little daughter. By saying that I mean that her mother will be around longer to watch her grow up. This surgery would also take what health problems I have now away and prevent new ones from forming. I will update after my appointment tomarrow.

6.20.05 I had a appointment to see my PCP, and all went very well. She thought it would be a good thing for me to have the surgery done and gave me the okay to call the surgeon. I was shocked to find out that I had gained almost 40 pounds in only 14 months. That is when I realized that I need to do something, and FAST.

6.24.05
I had a choice of 2 different surgeons. Dr Alan Posner and Joseph A Caruana. Well, I have chosen Dr Joseph A Caruana do be my surgeon for my surgery if all goes well and I am approved. I had called his office and the lady I spoke with told me what I needed to do before I was able to meet with the dr. She said I had to go to Sister's Hospital for a seminar or I could do it online. I chose to do it online and finished that up last night. I printed all the papers that I need to prints and am done filling them out. Now all I need to do is call my PCP on monday and get a support letter from her and 2 referrals. One for Dr Caruana and one for the psycologist I am going to see for my psyc evaluation. T

7.1.05 I mailed all the paperwork out to Dr Caruana this afternoon. Now all I need is the support letter from my PCP and a referral which I cant get until I have an appt date scheduled. I am however having a hard time getting the support letter from my PCP. I hope that when my PCP talks to the surgeon's office that my PCP will understand why I need the letter before I can see the surgeon. I went to a support group meeting for Bariatric Surgery pre and post-op patients. I am glad I went. It was great to talk to people who have had it done and to see how they have progressed through it all. Now, I feel a little more at ease with the whole surgery. I was able to get my referral for my Psyc eval, so thats a good thing. I will update more later.

7.6.05 Well, yesterday I called my PCP to state what the surgeons office told me. So hopefully my PCP will understand why I need the letter first. The secretary at my PCP's office said she would talk it over with the doctor and either call me back to tell me how they will handle it or call the surgeon's office and just handle it with them. Since I haven'r heard anything back from either of the office's, I am hoping that everything is straightened out and that I don't have to worry about anything. I will call just to make sure tomarrow.

9.26.05 WOW :-) It's been a while since I have updated my profile. I thought I would update and say what has been happening with my journey. Since my old PCP refused to write the letter for me, I have decided to switch my PCP. I found a great Medical Group not to far from where I live. My new PCP has in fact agreed to write the letter of support for me and I will pick it up this week. Since I work at BGH, where Posner's office is, it is easy for me to drop all my paperwork off to his office. It will be such a feeling of relief when all my paperwork is in and all I have to do is wait for the phone call to set up my initial consultation with Posner.

12.29.06
Man, it sure has been a while since I updated this thing! All is going well with me more the most part. I put the whole surgery thing on hold for a while, but now I am back in the swing of things. I ran into some health problems over the past 15 months and as per my PCP as well as the surgeon I have chosen for the surgery we all have agreed that it would be in my best interest to go ahead with the surgery. I met with Dr. Caruana on 12.19.06 for my initial consutation. Needless to say, it went GREAT! I couldnt be more pleased that I picked him as my surgeon. HIs staff was very pleasant and was able to answer any questions that I had regarding the surgery. Today I met with Paul, the trainer over at Caruana's office, for a mandatory Excersise class before surgery. It was fun! He is an excellent trainer and very supportive. The gym area is also very nice and can be used whenevr the center is open (which is nice). All in all, I am happy to say that I feel wonderful knowing that I have a surgeon who is so caring abotu his patients and so compassionate towards his patients. I wouldnt have it any other way.
 

1.8.07  Happy New Year!!  I called my surgeons office this afternoon, and guess what???????  She told me that I WAS APPROVED!!!!  My insurance company approved me after only 2.5 weeks!!  As shocked as I was, I swear it felt like I was gonna fall right outta my chair :-)  Needless to say, im THRILLED!  This is just another step closer to the big day.  My journey to a better life began a few months back, but now since I know I am approved it gives me a feeling of relief.  I am still somewhat in shock that I was approved so soon.   I have decided to have the surgery sometime in June 2007.  I know its 5 months away, but it will be here before I know it!!!!! 

2.20.07  I hope everyone out there is doing well.  I cant believe I am only 3.5 months away from a fresh start to a new life without this burden I have been carrying for the longest time now.  As the day gets closer, I tend to find myself getting nervous but I know everything will be alright.  I have the support I need from many friends and family members, which is very important in a situation like this.  I know in my heart that this is the right thing to do not only for myself but for my daughter.

5.12.07 WOW, how time has flown by!!  It has been almost 2 months since I have updtated this :-(  My surgery is scheduled for this coming Monday, the 14th at 12:30 pm.  Im not sure wether or not it has actually hit me about the whole surgery.  I mean I know I am having it, but in the same sense I dont???  I know I know, its confusing.  I know this is what I need to do for myself and my daughter who means the world to me.  I will continue to update as my journey continues. 

5.20.07 Well, it will be 1 week tomarrow since my surgery.  I must say, everything is going great!!  I fell good, I look good.  The only problem I am having right now is sleeping.  I cannot seem to find a comfortable position at night and it always seems like im up all night and sleepy during the day.  I keep telling myself it will all get better soon.  I was hospitalized for 4 days regarding the surgery.  The surgeon ended up having to ake out my Gallbladder because when he initially went in, there were a ton of stones found.  In saying that, I guess im happy it was taken out no rather than down the road and I would have had to go through a similar process all over again.  So, right now I am recovering from 2 surgeries at the same time.  The hostpial stay was nice though, the nurses and staff were great.  I even met a few other patients who had surgery last week along with me.  Tomarrow I can start adding more foods into my diet, I am a lil nervous but happy since I will be eating more than just water and popcicles!!!  I have my follow-up appointment with the surgeon on May 29th, and Im hoping he says everything is going well. 

5.29.07 Well, today was the moment of truth for me.  I had my first follow up appointment with Dr. C after my surgery.  I was nervous about stepping onto the scale this afternoon.  After I saw what the scale said, I wasnt so nervous anymore!!!!  According to the scale I have lost a total of 23 pounds :-)  At first I didnt believe it, but its true!!!!!!  I was thrilled when I saw that.  Also, Ive lost a total of 6" off my waist, 3" of my thighs and 3.5" off my hips so far.  I think im doing very well.  Im slowly bringing new foods back into my diet ans so far so good.  Im now on the road to happier and healthier life!!! 


6.26.07  Today I went to the Dr. C for my second post-op appointment.  Needless to say, all went very well.  I stepped on the scale  and I have lost another 15 pounds since I last saw him.  Which means it brings my total weight loss thus far to 38 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I couldnt be more thrilled, YAY :-)  Ive also lost another 1.5" off my waist, another 1" off my thigh and lastly another 3.5" off my hips.  Im very please with all my results this far.  I do have to say that my appetite has returned to a certain extent.  Like everyone tells me, just take it all day by day.  He scheduled me to come back in 6 wks from now, so we will see how that all turns out.

9.13.07 Well we have officially settled into our new home in Florida :-)  Minor unpacking still left to do, but otherwise everything is going fairly well.  Did I mention how HOT HOT HOT it is here!!!  Everything since surgery has been going very well.  I will 4 months post-op tomarrow :-)  I cant believe its already been 4 months, time sure flies!!  I have lost a total of just over 70 pounds and couldnt be happier.  This was the right decision for me and im proud of myself for making the dicision on having the surgery.  It certainly wasnt an easy one, but it has paid off. 

 1.3.09  Its been a while since I posted something, so I thought it was about time that I did.  Its been almost 20 months since my surgery and i couldnt be happier.  Althougth, it hasnt been an easy road I will say it was worth the journey.  Right now I fluctuate between 160-165 pounds.  Never in my life do I remeber being at this weight.  Needless to say it FEELS great!!  I can actually move around and do things without feeling like passing out.  Some people when they see, after not seeing me for a while, dont even recognize me.   All I can say is that I am healthier now than I was beforehand, my medical condtions have improved (which is great).  I feel better, look better and live much better than i believe I ever have!!!

 

 

About Me
Tonawanda, NY
Location
28.1
BMI
RNY
Surgery
05/14/2007
Surgery Date
Jun 17, 2005
Member Since

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