Kathleen H.
Kathleen's W.L.S. Journey
The Beginning - 9/6/06
4 Months Out: -52#
Before 9/6/06
4 Mo. Out - 1/6/07
05/12/06
I’ve been overweight all my life but I’d done WW and worked out hard, rode my bike back and forth to work (in PHX in 114 degrees!) and lost 160 pounds and was a size 8/10. I was always active hiking, swimming, skiing, scuba diving, etc. but over the years it’s all slipped away and today I had my first appointment with Dr. Terry Simpson today regarding the Lap Band. I never thought I would find myself back on this side of the scale but I am and no it‘s time to deal with it!!
Dr. Simpson is a very straight forward and caring doctor. I hear that he holds support meetings, nutritional meetings, and even hosts Surgery Angel dinners with all of his patients and any other GB, RNY, or DS patients as well as Lap Banders. He has a great reputation of open communication before and after your surgery and if you send him an e-mail it goes directly to his blackberry and he responds right away, he’s even been known to answer e-mails during the down time in between surgeries.
Our meeting went well. I had recently had blood work done and all of my labs came back amazingly at or below their suggested normal ranges! I thought my LDL would be off but it’s very low and even my Triglycerides are under what they should be. So Dr. Simpson says I’m an excellent candidate for the lap band and expects that I could be at goal fairly quickly if I, of course, follow the rules and exercise.
So, now I go do my psych eval and get my letter of necessity from the doctor to submit to insurance. Wish me luck!
05/18/06
Had my appt with Dr. Sellers to get my letter! What a great doctor he is, very supportive and is looking forward to me getting back into my sports! I also had my appt for my psych eval and that went very well. Now I wait for the results and send them into Dr. Simpson.
06/09/06
Hard to believe but it’s been 5 years with Ron! He has been my greatest love and my rock through so many personal challenges. We are having so much fun together that the time has flown by! He is truly the love of my life and I couldn't imagine who or where I'd be without him! Here‘s us in the Venetian last year. (8/05)??
06/15/06
It appears that I have once again fooled the psychology profession! The Dr. said that I was “Normal” and that I am cleared mentally. Funny thing is he said I had one section in my personality that was high on their scales and that was the fact that I enjoy typically more masculine type social activities! That’s funny! Probably has to do with the fact that I love to shoot archery and hunt with Ron! Ha ha
Now we submit to the United Health Care…
Now we W….A….I….T….
06/30/06
The insurance officially has my package as of 06/28/06. They had it in the appeal office instead of the new office so had I not called that would have added more time. I’m hoping to get my approval and surgery soon so that I’m done and healed and back on solids before we go to Florida to visit my parents. Keeping my fingers crossed.
07/14/06
I called to get a status of my package from the insurance company and they didn’t have one yet. They reminded me that they have 30 days…blah blah blah. I’ll check back next week.
07/21/06
I called to get a status United and they still didn’t have one yet. They reminded me that they have 30 days…blah blah blah. Don’t they know???? OK, I’ll be patient! It’s too late in the game to get the surgery before my Florida trip in August anyways so I’ll just let God take care of it.
07/26/06
I called United again and I'M APPROVED!!! I couldn't believe it and I'm soooo happy! I thank God for his hand in this effort! Now I set a date and then I become a LOSER!!
07/31/06
Just got off the phone with the Doctor's Office and got my Date!! On 09/06/06 I will officially become a Bandster!!!
09/05/06
Well tomorrow is my BIG Day!! By 9:00 tomorrow morning I'll be a BIG LOSER!! Wahoo! The past 10 days with the liquid protein diet has been hard but I know the end result will be an easier surgery! See you Losers later!!
09/12/06
Well, I have been banded for 1 week now! I LOVE IT!! My surgery lasted all of 35 minutes. I went under around 9:00 and was heading home around 4:00. Not a lot of soreness left now and the swelling has started to go down. Saturday I get to start eating mushy foods until the doc says I can have solids. Did I mention I LOVE IT?? Oh yeah...
09/29/06
Coming up on my 1 month bandiversary. I can feel the changes already in my clothes being loser. I've started going back to the gym and I'm doing good there. I went to my doc's support meeting last night and weighed in and found out I'd lost another 4.5 pounds since last week! 21.5 in total. WOW!
01/01/07
I can't believe it is 2007! Wow how the time flies! And this weekend will be 4 months since surgery. Unbelievable. Things are going great and I have ZERO complaints. I'm losing steadily and still haven't needed a fill yet. I'm down 50 pounds as of my 12/19/06 doctor's appointment.
01/14/07
Today is my Birthday and I'm now 41. Feel like I am getting a new lease on life. I managed to make it through the holidays without gaining. Down a total of 52#.
More posts later…..
