LisaS
My Journey
Apr 06, 2008
1/31/06 ~ I am just starting on the journey again. I looked into the surgery 3 years ago and then we moved and the insurance I had would not cover the surgery (St John's/Mercy).
So here I am again with new insurance and better equipped with co-morbidities and all. I have my consultation with Dr. Gorospe on the same day as my seminar (2/10/06) since I don't live in Oklahoma. I hope that I will have all the information I need to have insurance sent in to be approved. I am ready to get this show on the road! :)
2/3/06 ~ I have been getting all the stuff together for my initial consultation. My goal is to have everything there so they can submit a request for insurance approval right away and not have to wait for something. I finally got my recommendation letter from my Ear Nose and Throat Dr, that diagnosed me with severe obstructive sleep apnea. YEA!!! Now I just got to get all of my medical records and I will be good to go (already have referral from my PCP). Only 7 more days to my initial consultation! YEA!
2/7/06 ~ Okay, I am in the home stretch of this mini goal to get my initial consultation done and insurance approval going. I have a friend who is also interested in the surgery, so her and her mom are coming with me to Tulsa. We decided to make a mini trip out of it, so we are going down on Thursday afternoon, visit the casino and stay at the Hilton (thank you Priceline.com) for $60! The seminar is at the Radisson (says my appt sheet), but when I called the hotel, they said it was at the Renissance. The Renissance said that it was at the Crown Plaza. It was frustrating there for a while. So, we finally found the number for Dr. Gorospe and verified that it is at the Radisson like my paper said. So, I guess we have the seminar in the lobby if the Radisson is not expecting us! LOL. Well, wish me luck on my initial consultation and pray that I have all the information they need to get insurance approval going.
TTFN - Lisa
2/12/06 ~ Well, that was fun! No seriously, I had a good time. We (my friend and her mother) went down to Tulsa on Thursday afternoon, checked into the hotel and hit the casino! Patty (my friend's mom) found a wonderful 3 cent machine that kept paying out and before we knew it, Cynthia (my friend) had gotten up to $150! Then she cashed out and left me have a crack at it and in 20 minutes, I was up to $150 after puting my $41.00 ticket in there! Then Patty came back and just kept bouncing back and forth. All in all, I walked out of there is $97 (I just had to try another machine!) and Cynthia walked out of there with $90. It was great! The casino paid for all but $30.00 of my trip!
Anyway, it was about 4:30AM before I went to bed and we had to be at the seminar at 8:45AM! Needless to say, I was a bit tired, but I made it! Only Cynthia and I went to the seminar (she is also interested). It was long (3 hours) but very informative.
My initial consultation was at 1:00PM, but we got lost and I didn't get there until 1:30PM. I waited until 2:30 before I was seen which was fine since I had tons of papers to fill out. It kinda frustrated me because they have this whole online registration thing that took me TWO HOURS to fill out at home, but they said that it was not up and running yet. *sigh* So ink stains and 2 hand cramps later, It was all filled out and my name was called.
My Dr. is Dr. Gorospe and I REALLY like him! He is very down to earth and funny. He also does something in the surgery that I have not heard of during my other six (yes that is 6 other seminars) seminars and that is that he puts a metal ring around the connection between your new pouch and intestines. This prevents this connection from stretching and food emptying out of the stomach faster. So, I will feel fuller longer, even ten years down the road, and should help me not gain weight later. Of course, I really hope that behavior modification will prevent that anyway, but it sure is nice to know it is there. From what I hear, it is about the size of an M & M (and NOT the peanut kind either!). So best advice, CHEW, CHEW, CHEW!!!
I took all of my medical records, results from my sleep study, and both recommendation letters with me. My case worker, Nycole said 'WOW, you really came prepared!'. She will be sending in my pre-determination letter this week, so hopefully I will hear something soon! My BMI is 40.
TTFN - Lisa
2/15/06 ~ I have been on the boards for Oklahoma WLSers and sent a message to Kendall. He and his wife are will be having their surgeries with Dr. Gorospe too. They were able to go to the support group on the 13th, so I wanted to get the scoop on what happened. Anyway, he told me and then asked me about what happened on the 10th. Well, I wrote him a book on what the seminar and Dr.'s office visit was like, so I thought I would post it here in case anyone else is interested in what the day of seminar and initial consultation is like in Dr. Gorospe's office:
... I know that we have to have all these tests and stuff done before the surgery, and I wondered about doing them right now as opposed to later, but what if insurance doesn't cover the surgery? There is no way I can afford this surgery on my own. Also, one word of caution, in the seminar, they said that they have their own specialists that we have to use to get the tests done. I suggest that if you haven't done so already, call Dr Gorospe's office and get a list of the Dr's that they want you to use. If you don't use one of theirs, they may still make you go to theirs and you will have paid your co-pay to the other Dr for duplicate work. Insurance may not like having to pay for the same thing twice... Also, Dr. Gorospe owns a portion of some of the places that we go to. He does this so his patients get 'block time' and get in faster. He has a scheduler that does all the scheduling from the pre-op testing to the surgery date.
Have you already had your initial consultation with him? Although you have to go to the seminar before you have the surgery, I didn't hear anything about having to go to the seminar before scheduling the initial consultation.
Okay, here is what happened on Feb 10th.
The seminar started at 9:00AM SHARP. We had to sign in and they gave us a packet containing our registration papers, the packet that corresponded with the power point presentation and included an area for notes. There were about 150 to 200 people there. They had set up tables so that we could all take notes in relative comfort. I say relative because the tables were not spaced too generously apart (if you know what I mean) with three people to a table. My suggestion, get there early and take an end seat! LOL! I sat in the front row because that was where there was room by the time I got there.
It started off with the head nurse for Southcreast Hospital talking about their bariactric wing. Just about the beds and nurses and stuff. Kinda made it sound like she was talking about the ammenities of a nice hotel LOL.
Then Dr. Gorospe's office manager got up and talked for about an hour and a half. She used the power point presentation thing to talk about herself (she is also a patient, post op 2 years I think) and her experience with the surgery. Her husband had the surgery first. She talked about insurance alot which I thought was nice. I have been to 7 seminars including this one and this is the first one that spent more than 2 minutes on insurance issues. I'm sorry, I don't recall what she said about Cigna, I just kept listening for 'United Healthcare'. She also talked about the waiting time at the office. She said 'bring a good book, because you WILL be waiting 2 to 3 hours'. Apparently Dr. Gorospe ONLY does office visits on Fridays. The other four days he is in surgery. He does 16 surgeries a week (or maybe it was only 8), I can't really remember if he did 2 a day or 4 a day. I wrote it down but my stuff is in my car.
Everyone had note pads that they were to write their questions on and she picked them up right after the break so they could go through them and answer them at the end.
We then had a VERY short break and went back in to hear Dr. Gorospe talk. He talked in great detail about all of the different surgeries (even ones that they don't do anymore). He then talked about how he does the ring at the connection between the stomach and intestines so it does not stretch out. He had put one on a post op patient that was not losing weight anymore (a man) and the guy lost another 50 lbs! I found Dr. Gorospe to be un-intimidating, witty and personable. At the end he goes over the complications of the surgery and his stats. In his stats he talks about the two patients that have died under his care. One (a man) had a heart attack due to the weight and Dr. G couldn't save him. The other story was very touching and shows you how much he cares. He had a patient (a woman) that did not disclose before surgery that she had been taking blood thinners and something was nicked and she needed blood. Well, another thing she neglected to tell him was that she was of a religion that did not allow blood transfusions. He literally had to let her die even though he could have saved her. He said that he had trouble sleeping for weeks after she died. He spoke with a rabbi or priest of that religion and he found out that if the patient was agreeable, the religion would allow them to recyle the blood of the patient through a machine to give back to them should it be needed. If the patient is not willing to have the machine hooked up (that has that religion) he will NOT do the surgery on them. He said that he will never go through that (loss, grief) again. It was very touching and made his very human to me. I know, sounds silly, but that is all I can think of as far as how I felt when he told us that story.
So anyway, after that they weent over about 5 questions (we were running over by 25 minutes!) One of my questions was asked (What is the difference between Distal and Proximal RNYs). They we were dismissed.
My appt to see the Dr. was at 1pm but I got lost (since I don't know Tulsa AT ALL) and didn't get there until 1:30p. I had filled out the online registration thing several weeks ago, but apparently they are not able to access it yet so I still had to fill out the packet. I got in to see the Dr at 2:30 (the waiting room was packed!) and met Nycole, my case worker. She will handle all of the insurance stuff and also help with appeals, if needed. I took ALL of my records. My Dr. records since 1999, my sleep study results, WLS recommendation letters from my PCP and Ear Nose and Throat Dr. (who did my surgery for sleep apnea) and my PCP, and an Excell spreadsheet that had all of my diet history since I was 12 (to the best of my recollection). And that recollection must have been pretty good, because I came out within 5 lbs of my current weight! Amazing. I really thought I was going to have to 'pad' it but when it was all said and done, I had a whole paper to show for my diet history! I printed out several copies because it seems that all of the Dr.'s want to see it and I would get hand and brain cramps trying to remember and write it all down! LOL!
Well, I then saw Dr. Gorospe and asked him if he was going to require that I lose wt before surgery and he looked at my chart and said no. Thank goodness!!! I was pretty worried about that! And I asked him about my smoking. I smoke about 1/2 a pk a day and am just starting Wellbutrin to try to quit. But I wanted to make sure that he would still do the surgery if I was unsuccessfull at quiting. He said that as long as the Pulminologist (sp?) said my lungs were clear he would do the surgery! YEAH!!! That was my other big fear. Whew! So now I am just waiting to get the approval for the surgery so we can start scheduling the pre-op tests.
I realize now that I have written a book in response to your very simple question! LOL! Sorry about that.....
END OF THAT STORY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN'T WANT TO READ ALL THE DETAILED STUFF!
So anyway, it is 2/15 and of course there has been no word of insurance approval. To tell the truth, I don't even know when Nycole will be sending in the pre-determination letter. I am going to send her an e-mail just asking when she did or will do that. Nothing intrusive, just a 'let me know when you can' kinda thing. Well, that's about it. Valentines day was pretty much just another day around here. I really hope that next year will be MUCH different with me lookin good for my hubby!
SWAK!
Lisa
2/18/06 ~ I got a call yesterday from Lisa the scheduler from Dr. G's office. She was calling to set up my sleep study. Apparently, your CPAP pressure should be checked every once in a while. Since I have not done a sleep study since I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in August of 2004, it is time. She said that I can schedule one here in Springfield and just have the results sent to them. This is the only test that I will be doing without first getting approval for surgery. Lisa said that my paperwork has been submitted to the insurance company, so I am now just waiting for approval!
I called Dr. Highfill's office (my sleep Dr.) and left a message with the nurse to see if he can just order the study without me having to see Dr. Highfill. I hope I don't have to see him. He is a great guy and all, but the fewer co-pays I gotta pay, the better. Insurance will cover 90% of the study. My last study was done under a different insurance which paid 100%, so I have no idea how much 10% of t; he study will cost. *sigh* I am sure I will find out soon enough! : )
Hopefully the next time I update, I will have approval!
Till next time, Lisa
2/20/06 ~ Okay, it is the next time I am updating and guess what??? I HAVE APPROVAL from United Healthcare!!! I am thrilled! There was a niggling fear that they might not approve me or it would be some drug out process. But no, 10 days to the date I first visited Dr. G's office and I, me, Lisa Sherrill, am APPROVED for this surgery. Can you tell I am excited??
Okay, so now what happens is my file is given to Lisa (you remember, the scheduler) and she will call me to set up all my pre-op testing and SCHEUDLE THE SURGERY!!!! Will write when I have more to tell about the surgery date.
TTFN - Lisa
2/21/06 ~ Well, I am positively STUNNED! I got a call today from Lisa and she says thatthey can schedule the surgery date for the earliest date of MARCH 2nd, or March 6th through the 9th is open too. I could not speak I was so shocked. I mean, people on this site have their surgeries scheduled as far out as August! And here I am given the option of 9 DAYS from today!
Okay, so reality set in and I realize that there is no way I can get everything ready by the 2nd. You know, SIL to come visit and take care of my children, FMLA/STD approval from work, the $$$$ that I need to pay upfront, all the pre-op testing, etc.
Well, I still have yet to do my sleep testing and the first available for that is the 6th. If I do that then, we are looking at a surgery date in the 13th to 16th week, which works well for me in so many ways. So, I will talk to my DH and MIL, SIL, DM and DD and friends. OMG! I just realized that my children are going to be in CA from the 11th to the 18th! Now I really have to be thinking about timing here. My mind is swirling, I gotta go. I will write back later.
TTFN - Lisa
Okay, things are a bit calmer now. I have a game plan AND I HAVE A DATE!!!! I will be having surgery on 3/15/06. Can you believe it??? She first offered me 3/2, 3/6, 3/7, 3/8 3/9 and I about fell over! There was no way I was going to be able to get all my stuff together by then, not to mention that I still have not had my sleep study yet. I have decided to do that in Tulsa when I go to get my other testing done. 21 DAYS!!!
My SIL will be coming in on the 15th and driving me home from the hospital. My husband has to go to Kansas City to pick up my girls on Friday, then he will just go on home. Maybe I'll beat him there depending on how things go in the hospital.
So much to do, letters, tests, living will and all that good stuff. I go to my PCP tomorrow to have my hands checked out (they are in major pain, I feel like I have old lady hands - I can't even open a jar without help!) and my yearly that I haven't had since March 2003...
Well, I will talk to you soon!
Lisa
3/1/06 ~ Well, only 14 days left!I have been in the calm before the storm. I have tons of test to do before surgery day, I don't think I will have time to worry! Here is my schedule up to surgery:
3/6/06 ~ Tulsa
10AM to 1PM Cardiologist
2PM to 2:45PM Sleep study office visit
3PM Nutritionist
3/7/06 ~ Tulsa
9AM to 1:30PM Registration and Orientation at Southcrest
6PM to 7PM Psych Eval
9:30PM Sleep study
3/8/06 ~ Tulsa then back to Springfield/Nixa
Free until I pick up my sister in law (she is coming early due to some issues at home) at the airport at 11:30AM then drive home, drop her off, then get to work by 3:30pm and work until 7pm.
3/9/06 ~ Get my girls packed for their fun filled spring break with their grandparents and great grandparents, Nanna and Pappy. (They were going on vacation anyway, it just happened that the dates worked out! : ) Oh, and I guess I had better get myself ready too, cuz there won't be time later!
3/10/06 ~ 1PM - EGD (IN Springfiled thank goodness!)
Out for the rest of the day
3/11/06 ~ Drive my girls to Kansas City and put them on a plane all by themselves *sniff* (I'm the teary one, they are so excited they can't see straight!)
3/12/06 ~ Work a 10 hr day until 7pm
3/13/06 ~ BACK TO TULSA
11AM to 12PM Pulmonologist
6PM Support Group (will you be going?)
DRIVE BACK TO SPRINGFIELD!
3/14/06 ~ Work a 10 hr day until 7pm
3/15/06 ~ BACK TO TULSA
SURGERY!!! (Don't know what time yet, will update later)
WHEW!! I am tired just looking at that! The trip from Springfield to Tulsa is 2.5hrs by the way....Good thing this stuff is tax deductible!
Catch you later! TTFN - Lisa
3/20/06 ~ Wow! Things have gone so fast! I followed my schedule listed above and have put about 3000 miles on my car. But It was worth it! I had my surgery at 1:30pm on Wednesday, March 15th. I was out of surgery by 4pm and up walking by 9! The little booties that they put on your feet were killer and drove my restless leg syndrome through the roof! I couldn't wait to take them off. I drank the nesty swallow stuff to check for leaks and everything was fine so I finally got the wonderful ice chips.
Well, I got to see Dr. Gorospe on Thursday morning and he said everything looks wonderful and I can go home that afternoon! WOW! By 5:30pm on Thursday we were checked out. We decided to stay in a hotel in Tulsa (just in case...) but everything was fine and we drove home on Friday. My DH went and picked up our children in KC and brought them home on Friday too.
So far I have done well. No vomiting or feeling sick. I am of course still on a clear liquid diet which is difficult because I am not having any problem tollerating anything, but I am sticking with it! still have not met my goals in the water (close though) or protein goal. Only getting in about 40 g of protein. Will double my efforts tomorrow.
I have started having crazy dreams about forgetting that I have had the surgery and I ate one of those small hershy kisses that are candy coated and freaked out! Very concerned and relieved when I woke up and knew that I had not really done it.
As far as being in pain, I will admit that I take one to two Percocet a day. I only have one inscision that hurts on my left side. It feels fine while I am sitting, but when I stand up or twist a little, it pulls. It is getting better and certainly not intollerable. I have yet to have the "why did I do this?" feelings and hope to not have any. I do miss eating, but I am looking at long term, not short term.
I started out at 266 the week before surgery, I am down to 260 as of this morning!!!!
More To come!! Lisa
3/27/06 ~ Okay, I figure it is time for an update on how things are going. Still having crazy dreams about food (I expect that to happen for a while) and STILL on the liquid diet! YUK YUK YUK! I cannot wait to be able to start getting some of my protein from food instead of protein drinks. I got my order of samples in the mail today and tried the Fuzzy Navel. Nope, won't order that one (but I did finish it!) On to the next one. I like the Proti 15 Wildberry Passion, but it only has 15g of protein. When I make it with skim milk, I boost the protein to 23g, which works for me!
I cannot wait until Wednesday!! That is when I am off liquids only and get to have soft solids! YAY!!! I don't know if I am going to try soft scrambled egg and cheese or pintos and cheese, but I will be trying something!
I bought a new scale that weighs and gives you your body fat. I started out at 266, as of this morning, I am down to 245!!!! It has been about 4 years since I have been below 250. It has been 11 years since I have been below 200. That number doesn't seem so far away now. I will get there!!! I am still waiting to make sure that the surgery will work for me, he he : )
I meet with the Dr on Friday and I will post the official weight loss. I am scared that my scale is wrong and I will get there and they will say, you only lost 11 pounds! We shall see!
TTFN! Lisa
4/6/05 ~ Well, I met with Dr. G on Friday and he had my starting weight as 270 and my weight on Friday, March 31st was 247. So according to him, my weightloss was 23 lbs. My scale at home has been stuck between 244 and 243. I have been stuck there for a week. I am so frustrated right now I can't stand it. I know the reason that I am having trouble is because I am having trouble drinking my water and getting in my protein. Every day I tell myself I am making a concentrated effort but my 32oz bottle of water rarely gets halfway gone, let alone gone and a second one gone too. Today I went for a walk with my girls around the neighborhood. It was about 3/4 mi. Tomorrow, I will be walking my normal route again twice and get things moving. Something has to happen, I didn't go through all this just to lose 23 lbs! Maybe this won't work for me!!! (My deepest fear) I can't write anymore right now, I am too depressed. Lisa
4/17/06 ~ Okay, things are much better. For the last 3 weeks, I have been fighting the pain of a seroma. It is going away and I am feeling much better. I will start my walking regimine (was not able to do that with the seroma) tomorrow. I am looking forward to it.
I was at 244 for what seemed like forever, but it was really about 2 weeks. I am now at 235 as of this morning, I have been between 236 and 235 for the last 3 days. I think walking will help the weight come off.
I will be going back to work tomorrow. I am ready for it. I think being on a schedule will also help. Will update later!
TTFN
Lisa
THANK YOU JAIME FOR MAKING MY PROFILE BEAUTIFUL!!!!
04/23/06
Well, work has been good. It has been nice getting out of the house and getting on a regular schedule. I am down to 231 as of this morning, but I don't believe that the weight is correct unless I see it two days in a row! My seroma is almost completely gone and I am feeling good and sassy! I am now ready to go on vacation...I work ten hour days and they are killers. Sittin on my butt all day typing on a computer does nothing much for my backside. I will be walking tonight to see it I can do something to make it better.
I am eating okay now. I get sick sometimes, but mainly I can keep down what I eat. I tried shrimp yesterday and it was yummy! I am worried that I am getting too many carbs... I crave crunchy things like chips and would love a sandwhich! But it is not worth it. So far I haven't dumped; I have gotten sick, but nothing like what other people have described as dumping. I am worried that I may not dump on anything! I am doing my best to eat good things and not push any limits. I want to be afraid of dumping, keep me from eating things that I shouldn't!
Gotta go!
Lisa
May 2, 2006
Okay, I am back in the exercise business! I worked out at Curves yesterday (first time since surgery) and worked my butt off! Then tonight, I walked two miles. Tomorrow it is back to Curves, then Thursday I will try for two and a half miles. My legs are sore, my arms are sore, but I feel good. I got weighed and measured at Curves and from April 1st to May 1st I lost 13.5# (8.5 body fat #) and 7.5 inches (on 5 places on my body). Today I got into a pair of capri sweatpants, size 18/20!!! I tried these on last October and couldn't even get them over my thighs! I am wearing dresses that I had altered 2 years ago and then I couldn't wear them anymore I have worn both and I must say, I look pretty good in them!
I know that I have accomplished a lot, but sometimes it is hard to be patient. I want to wake up and look like my 'After' picture! Yeah, yeah, I know, it didn't get on your body overnight, the fat won't go away overnight either. I know that intellectually, but it doesn't help me from feeling that way. Every time I don't loose weight for a little while (3+ days) I panic about 'What if this is all I am going to lose???' And then, I start losing again and things are great. I had become something of a scale whore, so I had my husband hide it from me. I only get to weigh once a week (wednesdays). It is one of those scales that weighs to the .2 of a pound and it was stressing me out. So tomorrow, I will get to see if I am still at 228 or not. Wish me luck!!!
TTFN, Lisa
May 15, 2006
Well, I had a great Mother's day yesterday aside from the fact that I had to work (10 hrs) My family cleaned the whole house including mopping the floors! I was very excited.
Also, I have lost a total of 48 lbs!!! Only two more pounds before I have hit the half century mark. I am pretty excited. I officially weigh 1 lbs less than when I got married almost 11 years ago. I gotta tell you, I feel much sexier this time around at 222lbs than when I did the first time! I will be going to work out at Curves in a few minutes.
I have started a listing of things that I think would be fun for my support group to do. I want to spend more time with them, the meeting once a month just isn't enough. I love my Tulsa support group, they are always doing something fun. I wish I was there so I could attend their stuff. But, the next best thing is to get more involved with the support group here. It is very small and needs some energy mixed in! There are lots of great people that I have met there and I want to do more. I will be submitting my list of activities to Cathy tonight to see what St John's says about them. Not sure if I like going to a group that is moderated by the hospital...Talk to you later!
:0)
Lisa
May 23, 2006
Well, I made it to the 50 lbs gone mark on Friday the 26th!! As of today, I am 218.6!!
THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS FEMALE CONTENT< PLEASE SKIP THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT "FEMALE" THINGS>
It is funny how much your body changes. Back in 2002 (September), I started my period and didn't stop. In April of 2003, I had an Endometrial Abolation (burning of the blood vessels in my uterus) which stopped my bleeding...for good. I have not had a period since the day I went in for surgery. UNTIL TODAY!! I woke up this morning with a terrible headache and cramps. It was awful! Since I figured I would not have a period again, I have absolutely nothing in the house to use. YUCK!! I can't believe this! I don't need this at all. I had my tubes tied 4 weeks after my second child was born. No more kids for me!! So now I am worried, has losing 52 lbs started my reproductive stuff again? Do I need to worry about getting pregnant again? Did I get my tubes tied or tied, cut AND burned for good measure? I don't remember! I will have to call my old OB/GYN to see what he did in there and if I need to worry again. The whole point of the abolation was to prevent the bleeding, but the added benefit was if I did get pregnant, my body would abort it before I even knew it was there. There would be nowhere for the baby to attach as no viable blood vessels remained. *sigh* I hate worrying over somehting that is really nothing.
OKAY, ON TO OTHER SUBJECTS
I had a WOW moment last night. I was throwing away some papers in the trash, and my wedding ring fell off! Right into the trash because it was so loose! I dug it out of the garbage and put it in my jewelry box. I had to tell my DH that I won't be wearing it for awhile because it was too loose and he wanted to make sure that I had a replacement. Well, I am not one for much jewelry so I had a choice of an old engagement ring to a former fiance or a ring my dad gave me when I turned 13, my very first semi-precious stone (opal for my birthstone). Well, of course the engagement ring was out, so I tried on the ring my dad gave me....AND IT FIT!!! I couldn't believe it! YIPPEEEEE!!! What a ride this has been.
TTFN
Lisa
June 2, 2006
Good Morning! (It is 1:59AM)
I weighed myself this morning and am at 215!! I can't believe it! I am only 16 lbs away from being in the one hundreds!!! Is this really happening?
Life is looking pretty good right now. It is summer, the weather is such that I can put on a pretty top that I bought the other day (size 18 BTW - Non-stretchy) and some oh so cute shorts that I also bought. I promised myself that I would not go shopping until I was down into a size 14/16, but I just couldn't help myself. WOW, did I just say that I couldn't help myself from buying clothes???? Aliens must have snatched my brain because I NEVER like shopping for clothes, NEVER. My mom can attest to that fact. I usually rank clothes shopping right up there with going to work or the dentist! NOT ANYMORE!!! I had so much fun with my friend Laura. She is also a size 18 but shaped totally different from me. I would try on a pair of shorts that looked great on me but awful on her (where did her butt go?). As we were leaving, our eyes caught sight of a really cute shirt. So I go to try it on and about fell out of the dressing room laughing. I go out and show her and proclaimed 'This looks hideous! Get in here and try it on!!' Sure enough, it looked fabulous on her and she ended up buying it. I can't remember ever having laughed so much while shopping. (We even laughed through the bathing suit try-ons, and no we weren't drunk!) It was just fun. I actually got to buy some things that I felt cute and sexy in and didn't feel like I was settling just so I would have something to cover the rolls. My husband has never feared that me going clothes shopping would break the bank and would usually encourage me to go if I mentioned it. For the first time in almost 11 years, he may have reason to be worried!
:0)
Lisa
June 19th, 2006
Well, as of yesterday morning, I weighed 203!! This is the same weight I was after giving birth to my second daughter, Kailen. Pregnancy always was the best diet for me! Technically, I haven't been here (weight wise) in 6 1/2 years. Anything less than this weight and we're talkin' 12 years ago.
So far this summer, I have gone out on the boat 2 times, tubed once, gone to Silver Dollar City and Celebration City, and Whitewater! I bought me and my girls season passes as a gift for birthdays and christmas this year. I couldn't help it. One of these days we may be able to get out of debt, but it doesn't look like that will happen this year. *sigh* Such is life. Which is much more fun than it has been in a long time.
I am still obsessed with collar bones (haven't found mine yet). That is a total non-scale goal that I can't wait to meet! I can feel them, but you can't see them unless I lift my shoulders while taking a deep breath. I'll get there!
:0) Lisa
July 24, 2006
Wow, what a ride this has been! Okay, so my last update I was at 203, where I stayed until July 9th!! The LONGEST plateau I have had on this journey. I was getting worried let me tell you! I could not believe that it was taking so long, so of course, I start doubting that I will reach my goal weight and start with the insecurities. Don't get me wrong, 68 lbs is a lot to loose, but I want to loose 115 lbs by the time I get to my goal weight and it isn't gonna happen if I am stuck on a plateau! So! I finally broke my and hit 199 on July 9th. WHAT A FEELING to see a one in front of my weight. I was estatic! The last time I was in the 100's was 12 years ago.
As of today (drumroll please) I am 192. I have lost a total of 78 lbs since March 15th. I can wear size 16 comfortably and am seriously running out of clothes that will stay on. I have not been in a size 16 since I was a sophmore in high school! I don't count the 3 months that I was in a size 12 when I worked at a camp and it lasted like a SECOND LOL. I am only 22 lbs from my Dr's goal weight of 170. My personal goal is 155, so I am only 42 lbs from that. It is funny that I say 'only'. If someone had told me that I only needed to lose 42 lbs before surgery, I would have laughed in their face, it seems like an insurmountable goal. HOWEVER, since I have my pouch to help me, I know I can do this. The weight loss is really starting to slow down, which is frustrating, however, I realize that I am getting to my goal weight and that the body will naturally slow down. I had no idea that I would be so close to goal at just over 4 months out. Which is also why i was having a cow when I hit that plateau!
My prealbumin (sp) was low on the last check, so I am upping my protein again (to what it should have been all along, it is difficult to get it all in!). I bought some New Whey protein in Fruit Punch. While it is not be best tasting stuff (gotta have a chaser of something or it is all over the counter) it does allow me to get in 25g of protein in only 2.9oz. I love it just for that. I have one in the morning for breakfast because I am not a morning eater. They are not cheap, I got mine off of a sports nutrition website and for the shipping ($6 something) and 12 bottles, I paid $31. So I only use one a day and get the rest of my protein from food. Liquid intake is better, just barely squeeking by with about 64oz give or take a couple of ounces from day to day.
Today is my wedding anniversary. I have been married for 11 years to my wonderful husband. We celebrated last Saturday and went out to watch a friend of mine play in a band. We actually got up and danced to two slow songs (my hubby does not do fast dancing) and I got up and danced to two fast songs. It was great! I felt beautiful, which is amazing after all these years of feeling frumpy and fat.
I still exercise at least 3 times a week. Usually at Curves, but sometimes I will switch a day with doing something active with my kids like going to an amusement park and doing the 30 min dance party at the end of the night, That will get your blood pumping! I had no idea I could do the maccarena or the electric slide! Well, not since early high school anyway!
I do not regret having this surgery for one millisecond. If I had to do it every two months, I would do it. I have missed enough opportunities in my life, I don't want to miss any more.
TTFN :0)
Lisa
August 12, 2006
Well, I did it! I am down to 190! I have lost 80 lbs! What at trip!
Last weekend I went to a family reunion in Bellevue, Nebraska. It was the first time that I had seen my Dad since January (2 mo pre-op). He was floored! He said that he was prepared for my body changes, but didn't expect my face to be so young. He said I look like I was 16 again! We had a wonderful time and got to visit for a couple of days. Still in a size 16, but I am feeling pre-tty gooooood!
School for my kids starts soon! We will see how different this year is compared to last year!
TTFN! Lisa
September 17, 2006
Good Afternoon!
It is a Sunday and I am at work. We are doing a system conversion so we will have nothing to do until 4pm, so let me tell you about what has been going on with me!
Last weekend my cousin Amy got married near Omaha, Nebraska. Although it rained the entire time (it was an outdoors wedding), we had a great time and it was a beautiful ceremony. Amy was so beautiful in her dress, she was glowing. I got a great compliment at the wedding, one of Amy's friends said that she could see the family resemblence in us cousins. Something that NOBODY would have ever said before surgery.
The day before the wedding, I got to see my Mom for the first time since surgery. She cried when she first saw me and said that I look fabulous! I truly believe that this will have been the first time since my children have been born that my Mom was more (a tiny bit) excited to see me than the children! Other than my cousin's wedding, it was MY weekend! Before I had surgery, my Mom told me that when I lost the weight, she would replace my wardrobe from the skin out. Well, things are getting a little scarce in my closet nowadays, so on Friday we went on a shopping spree! IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!! As a die-hard shopping hater, I can't believe that I am now saying the shopping for clothes is fun, but it was! NEVER have I been able to shop in the same stores as my Mom. (My Mom is a beautiful size 4, always has been). I am in a size *drumroll please* 14! Now that is a 14 regular, not a 14 womens. We went shopping at Chicos (my Mom's favorite store) and got half my wardrobe and then went to Dillards. Later we went to the GAP!! NEVER have I shopped at the GAP, what a trip! I will never shop there again because their prices are outrageous, but I can say that I got me a pair of jeans from the GAP and am very proud of that!
My husband is now worried that I will bankrupt us with shopping fever! I love him, he is too good to me!
TTFN! Lisa
October 18, 2006
Okay, so my weight loss is still going good, I have lost more weight and am down to 175, ALMOST to the 100lb loss mark! However, I am looking around at my life and am frustrated as ever with my job. I so much want to leave, but I can't! I have been priced out of the market because I have been with the bank for so long, it will be 10 years in December 2006. Because of my tenure, I am making more money than I could ever make at a similar job somewhere else. Of course, why would I want a similar job? Okay, so I want to get a different type of job, but then that will put me at entry level again and I still won't be making even close to what I am making now, and I just can't make any less because of what we have going on the financial burners.
Lisa
October 2006
Okay, so you want to know what I have done lately to crawl out of my shell??
Well, the support group that I belong to here in Springfield, MO put on a symposium for people like us or those that are our moral support for people like us. It was a blast, there were guest speakers to talk to us about hair and skin after surgery and hair and make-up artists to do our hair and makeup and a massage therapist and lunch was brought in by the Healthyweightsupermarket.com people that was really good. Okay, so the BEST part?? We had a fashion show! And I was a model!! Can you believe that?? Dillards sponsored the fashion show and I got to pick out 2 outfits, one casual and one dressy. So I picked out a *drumroll* size 12 pair of black pants and a sleeveless red knit top. And to top it all off I chose a buttery black leather jacket! Yum-o as Rachel Ray would say. I thought I looked pretty good if I do say so myself! And then I got to pick out a dress and I wore a black sleeveless dress that was knee length and was also a size 12! What an amazing day. There were only 4 of us that were willing to model, so the change of clothing was really quick and hectic. It was such a rush to see people clapping for me and what I have become. Amazing.
The symposium was a lot of fun, but I wish more people came. Linda worked so hard on it but it was just not publicized enough. I think they are going to do it next year, at least I hope they do. If so, I have some definite ideas about the fashion show, like before pics on a screen when we are walking the runway and some music! There was no music and it felt kinda funny to walk down to silence. I don't know. We will see. But however the day turned out, I felt like a million bucks walking down that 'runway' and am VERY glad that I had the courage to go through with it. It was probably the biggest non-scale WOW moment for me to date! What a RUSH!!
TTFN!!
Lisa
December 23, 2006
TONIGHT, I MADE IT!! Made what you ask? Well, for several months I have been trying to get into my homecoming dress that I wore to our Homecoming Banquet in the beginning of my sophmore year of high school. Yes, I managed to keep it after all this time (13 years) and was using it as my 'Goal Dress'. Well, as of December 1st, I was able to put that dress on and zip it myself with room to spare (not much, but I didn't have trouble breathing or look like a sausage!). So I was talking to my beautiful Mom on the phone (she lives in Phoenix, AZ) and told her that I was able to fit into the dress. She was so excited that she said that when her and Roger come for Christmas, that they will take me and Dustin out to a fancy restraunt so that I can wear my dress out! I couldn't wait. She said for me to find the place and we will go there.
After much searching, I found the perfect place called The Candlestick Inn down in Branson (about 30minutes from Nixa). It is up on a bluff overlooking Table Rock Lake and the new Branson Landing across the water. What a place! Low lighting, soft guitar music played by a live person, candlelight, waiter come sommlier and a utterly gorgeous view of the water and landing. But I am getting ahead of myself.
I got a babysitter to be here at 5pm for our reservations at 6pm. As I got ready and had my hair in rollers and was putting on my make-up, I was feeling nervous! What if the dress didn't fit this time? I had not tried it on since the 1st and I hadn't lost any more of my 159 lbs (goal of 155 remember, weight loss has stalled a little), what if it didn't fit and we couldn't go??? Deep breath, I called for my Mom to help me finish up with my hair and then went in to dress. Into my dress I go and the zipper slides smoothly into place up my back. IT FITS!! On goes my high heeled shoes, grab my bag and in comes my oldest. She just kind of stood there and said, 'Wow, you look beautiful! Wait till Daddy sees you!'. (My husband and Roger were waiting in the other room.) Ahh, my daughter does a mother proud!
I head out into the living room and my Mom is already out there, Dustin is on the far side of the room and Roger is over there too. My gaze zeros in on my husband for his reaction and he looks....like a fish! His mouth is hanging open a little and kind of moving like he is trying to say something. Then a big smile breaks on his face and he is grinning like a fool. Roger is saying that I look beautiful and I thank him with a little blush, still looking at Dustin. I walk over to him and he just keeps on looking and says that I look stunning. What a wow moment for me. I don't think my husband has ever looked at me like that before. Then again, I don't think I have ever looked like that for him before. (I weighed 220 when we got married at the Justice of the Peace and wore a white sack dress). I felt truly beautiful, if it would not have ruined my makeup I would have cried a little for the enormity of that moment for me.
So off we go to our wonderful and delicious dinner and then head on over to the Branson landing to shop at Chico's. The dinner was beautiful and romantic and I felt so special that my Mom and Roger would do this for me. What a lucky girl I am. I am so thankful that this surgery has given me this wow moment...
:0)
Lisa
PS - I will be putting a picture of me in my 'Goal Dress' as my 'after' photo shot.
January 1, 2007
Wow! I can't believe how long it has been since I have updated!
*I have recieved several complaints, so I am updating tonight for several months. I have backdated some of my high points so this blog goes in chronological order. *
September 26, 2007
Okay. Now I really feel bad about not updating this blog. I remember telling myself that No Matter How BUSY I get, I will keep this updated for those that would like to see what my journey has been like. I guess I just had no idea HOW busy my life would get!
Ok, for my latest WOW moment *DRUMROLL PLEASE* Well, let me give you some history first.
When I first went into Dr G's office for my first visit, I saw a calendar there while I was waiting for him to come see me. I looked at EVERY month. Everyone in the calendar was a post op patient of Dr G's. I tell you I REALLY wanted in that calendar. I decided that one of my non-scale goals would be to be a model in the calendar. So In July I made an appointment with the Dr with the intention to ask him to be in the calendar. Well, after waiting 2 hours to see him, he walks into the room and says, "WOW, YOU ARE GORGEOUS, ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, WILL YOU BE IN MY CALENDAR????' I was stunned! OF COURSE!! The then spent the next 10 minutes telling me how good I looked and asked if I was experiencing any trouble. I am not and I am good, thank you, etc.
SO! I was called about 3 weeks ago by Dr G's wife to schedule a time to meet the photographer. I did it! Last Thurs I went down to Tulsa and met with the photographer and creative director of the photo shoot. It was amazing! There were 4 to be photographed that day, but 1 of us was not coming until after 4pm. So the first guy (4years out) gets on a pontoon boat and pretends he is fishing (in the dock area) and then more pics on the dock. What a fun guy, we laughed and had a really good time.
The next pics were taken of Kelly (she stayed inside in the AC while we played on the docks) and we went to the other side of the lake and she took pics with a black lab on the beach. She looked great! She was also 4 years out. Then it was my turn! The other people left after their pics so it was just the three of us, me, the photo director, Matthew and Scott the photographer. What a couple of fun guys. We get to get into this speedboat and go out into the lake past the no wake zone and take pics out by an inlet with a neat rock formation. Then we get some pics out in the open water. It was amazing. The camera is clicking like crazy, scott is telling me that I'm doing great, beautiful, that's it (I can't believe that photographers really talk like that) It was a BLAST! AND, because we still had 1/2 hour before the other girls was to come, we sped around the lake in the boat for a while after I didn't have to worry about what my hair looked like. It was the highlight of my year so far! I will load a pic on here from the photo shoot when I get it. The day was all about us, absolutely amazing. I tell my husband he is now married to a CALENDAR GIRL!! No, I don't know what month I will be....
Okay, so I reached my goal of 145 in February and then proceeded to lose another 7 pounds and I have maintained at 138-139 for the last 7 months. I was a little worried because I was not doing anything special to continue to lose (quite the opposite actually) but I have evened out so I guess this is where I need to be. I actually looked better at 145 (not so much skin stuff), but I am not complaining!
Now that it is late September, I am exactly 8 days away from my first trip to Hawaii!!! I am so excited I can't stand myself. I am taking 3 bathing suits and 2 pair of shorts and 2 shirts and that's it! We are staying in a condo with my Mom and Roger (their timeshare) and they have a washer and dryer so I don't have to worry about taking too many clothes. Our whole family is going and it should be serious fun!
