laurenskapolska

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Would I have ever imagined in my wildest dreams that I would lose 66 pounds in just under 4 months?  Never ever!!!!!!

In my wildest imagination would I think I would ever be under 200 pounds again (last time was when my 37 year old son was 4 I think).  Never!!

In my very wildest dreams would I ever think people would call me skinny?  That they would say they almost didn't recognize me?  That I look cute?  Would call me the incredible shrinking woman???    Never ever ever ever!!!!!!!!

Life is good.  I didn't say it wasn't hard, but it's good.   God is great!    Weight loss surgery is darn terrific too!!!!!!!!

If anyone ever thinks this surgery is the easy way out, they are crazy.  But it is the best thing to save your life.  Hard work exercising body parts that haven't seen exercise in years and eating very very sensibly, even when head hunger is looming, is sometimes difficult -- but well worth the effort.

I am so happy I finally did this.  I am so happy I no longer have diabetes.   I am so happy to have the support of friends, family, my physician & his team, and OBESITY HELP!

Can't wait to see everyone in New Orleans.  I am looking forward to WALKING and touring the city - oh and the conference :--)

Sing along with me...My body is a ONEDERLAND, oh no.....

Lauren


 

May 5th is the big day.  Can't believe it's here already and so much to do -- at work -- at home before surgery.   Will do it.  I work well under pressure and procrastination is my middle name.

The only hmmmm factor is the doctor said Friday that because of my three prior stomach surgeries, and problems during the last one with scar tissue, he does not know what he will find in my belly once he's in there.  Rather than have a 6 hour operation and put me under more risk, if there are any issues with the stomach/intestines, he will switch from an RNY to a VSG.   

Now I haven't been focusing on anything but gastric bypass, so this is a whole new area to research.  

Either way, it beats open surgery - which he (and his nurse reiterated later) likes to avoid.

I love my doctor - kind eyed Greek.

Well -- back to work for me!

Approved for surgery!!  Pre-op appointment with doctor on April 15th.    So guess looking at an early May surgery date.  I will use the next three weeks (instead of being impatient) to do a good spring cleaning.

Can't wait for my surgery -- how often do people say that????

Have a great weekend everyone.

Not a big deal, but I did hear from the insurance company last week.   They had tried to reach me the day before, but the number on caller ID was an internal number only for them.  I contacted care coordination and they couldn't find out anything about my case or who tried to call.  Next day, different number calling, I did hear from a nurse there.  Why she called, I am still confused about.  She asked some questions, I gave her all my smart, well educated about WLS answers, and never did get a feeling for why she called.   She said she would send me some brochures about "weight loss".  Not surgery mind you.  She asked me 'WHEN IS YOUR SURGERY DATE'.  Can you believe it?      I need pre-approval.   I have no date until somebody says "yipee skipee".   Come on folks, work with me here.

I did call the Doctor's office to see if they had gotten any calls asking for info, but they had not.  Suggested I try to call them again 2 weeks after submittal of paperwork, which will be this Thursday (and the story goes -- so I thought it was submitted a week earlier).  Oh well.

Home now to my jammies and a cup of tea.

Well, I thought that my paperwork had been submitted to  insurance about February 25th, but confirmed that it had only been sent on March 4th.  Annoying but ok.  I know where it is anyway.

Last week I had a stomach bug, which led right to a cold.  Had to take time off last week for a funeral, and sick time, and so had to play catch up at work over the weekend.  Today I am struggling to get through the day (and lots of work).

I had just been sick from December 26 for almost a whole month!  It turned into one of the worst cases of bronchitis I ever had.

Everyone keeps saying "why are you always sick??  what are you doing wrong??  you should take vitamins!   Are you stressed?   Take quercetin.  

I'm so sick of it.     I don't know why I'm always sick.  I don't know what I am doing wrong (yes, I wash my hands like a fiend).  I take all my bariatric vitamins already!!!  Stressed - aren't we all??   I take quercetin (which is good for your histamines).   I GIVE UP!!!!!!

All of my pre-op "stuff" has been done, paperwork all received by my surgeon's office, and hopefully (if they did it as scheduled), everything has been submitted to my insurance company.

Now the wait...the dreaded wait.   I really, really try hard to be patient, but it doesn't always work.   Waiting for approval from the insurance company will not be a pleasant experience I can tell.

Now the "what ifs" have set in.  "What if they don't approve me?"  "What if I die on the table?"  (Really, that doesn't worry me so much because I won't know if I do :--)   If they don't approve me, you will hear me screaming at them from Connecticut to wherever they are located.  I can hear it now: I have a BMI of 47!  I have comorbidities! What's wrong with you people!!!!

I am trying to stay positive and focused, taking care of what needs to be taken care of before surgery.   Rome wasn't built in a day, nor was my weight put in overnight.  Cool your jets Lauren!!  A little self-talk is sometimes necessary. 

I haven't been a "normal" weight since 1973.  That was about 155 pounds and a size 13.  Even at that weight, someone told me it was too bad I couldn't be skinnier.  Can I somehow, in my "twilight years" be healthy, somewhat thin, and get rid of these dreaded aches/pains, diabetes medicine, and others we just won't mention in these hallowed pages??   The answer is yes.   

But I am just so darned impatient!!  Knowing that my insurance company had sent me an email that said "Do you know you could take Alleve instead of Celebrex and get the same results?"    Now mind you, how many years did I take OTC's before I was put on an medication for arthritis?  The answer is many, many.   This is the same insurance company that will have to approve by RNY surgery.  

So....you could tell me not to be impatient....but I am.   My roommate is laid off for the winter and I told him that if he ever sees an envelope from "X" insurance company to please call me (so he can read it to me).   I'm already dreading a negative response.....