Amy H.
Okay, I have had to totally restart "my story" because in the past year, my life has totally changed. When I joined OH, there were three of us "hoping to have surgery". Of those three starting our journeys were myself, my husband, and my big sister. At the present time, I am hoping to have surgery, my husband will start all preop preparations next, and my big sister has now become my little sister after losing >150 pounds after her gastric bypass surgery!
I have been thinking about WLS for 8 years, since 6 months after my son (my youngest child) was born. I was working at the hospital, and saw my PCP making rounds through my unit. I greeted him in the hallway, and said. "Hey, I want gastric bypass". He chuckled, and compassionately told me how I didn't need it at that time. (This was 6 months after an ugly bout of pancreatitis, gallstones - cholecystectomy @ 35 weeks pregnant - and transverse+classical C-section). I think the OR + ME = somewhere he didnt want to be anytime soon.
Soon after that I began to try all of the over the counter diets. Xenadrine, Stackers (2 & 3's - I do have a favorite), Mini-thins, Yellow jackets, etc. etc. Most of these diets ended up with my having lots of clean laundry & a very clean toilet (from the fake energy I had) and pounding palpatations. My PCP did prescribe me Xenacal one time, but I didn't even consume enough fat for that stuff to do it's job or something, that wasn't my Rx of choice.
I went to the "fat doctor" as my husband and I call him, and got the HCG shots and Phentermine. I lost 40 LBS, was on high protien low carb, and loving life. I came off of the phentermine. cheated a couple too many times on the protien diet, and here I am, weighing more than I did one year ago, before I even entered the door of the fat doc. dang it.
I have been treated for depression and OCD for the past 9 years. I was diagnosed when my daughter (middle child) was 10 months old.
I am a mom of 4 great kids. NOT perfect kids, I said great kids. They have lots of energy and personality. I like that. They are busy, in soccer, dance, and cheerleading. 6 days out of 7, they have activities I them to. My husband works full time as a Territorial manager, plays tournament paintball, and works auto stereo sound/alarm on the side. I am a nurse on a post-surgicl unit which just so happens to be a Bariatric Center of Excellence, so I get a little experience taking care of bariatric patients. My home is lived in, not spotless - but I can usually tell you where that blue and green sock is that you lost 3 weeks ago- the one you must have for your blue and green shirt that you must wear tonight - YES, I HAVE TEENAGE GIRLS ALSO. . . . HERE IS MY POINT OF ALL OF THAT RAMBLING. . .
I want a lap band. I want this tool. I need this for me. I want something of my own to work on- and to work for. I want to feel good about the way I look in mom clothes. I want to look as successful as I am. I want to feel like doing everything that I do. I want to borrow my daughter's jeans. I want to buy a shirt ANYWHERE.
Okay, so here goes . . .
6/12/08 I have finished all 6 consecutive MD appointments required by Cigna, I've had a sleep study, I have had all of my preop labwork drawn,, upper GI,and have had my psych eval. I have attended the lap band seminar at my surgeon's office, I have had my consult with my surgeon, and have spoken with Cigna and do have coverage for this surgery. Also, I have also observed a lap band surgery (one of the perks to working with surgeons I presume). Today I will see the Nutritionist, which is the last step before my surgeon's office will submit to insurance.
Diagnoses:
1. Obesity
2. Depression
3. Urge Incontinence
4. Hyperlipidemia
5. Sleep Apnea
Photos
 245 lbs Pre surgical consult |
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 Pre surgical consult |
