L. Matteson

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I am really hoping to have gastric bypass surgery. I have researching this for years and I know a lot about it. I am tired of trying every fad diet on the planet and failing miserably at loosing weight. I feel this is the solution for me. My husbands insurance will kick in soon and when it does I will start the process. I haven't found a doctor yet, but I have some in mind. I will update later when I find out more.

Here is a little bit about me. I am 25 yrs old. I have been overweight all my adult life. The smallest Ive ever been as an adult was size 14 180 lbs. I am now over 270 lbs and I'm miserable. I can't walk to the mailbox without running out of breath. I can't get outside and run and play with my boys. I really hate that. I just want to be healthy.

11/2/05

I have decided on a surgeon. I've read great reviews about him from former patients, thanks to this web site. I have decided to go with Dr Mitchell in Pinehurst, NC. I've read a lot of comments about this man, and all have been positive.

I called his office today and I have to attend a siminar, I'm now waiting on an info packet to come in the mail with all the details. I'm getting a little excited here! YAY!

11/15/05

I haven't recieved my info packet yet, I think I might have to call and request another one.

I went to see my pcp today, and to my surprise he is very supportive. He basically told me if I needed him to do anything just call. So I'm excited about that. I really hope this happens for me.

11/22/05

I have to go to an information session Thursday Dec. 1 st. I am really excited about it. I am ready for my consultation already. I have my medical records ready. I also have all my dieting attempts, how much weight I lost each time and how long I kept it off. I am SO ready for this!!!

11/27/05

The closer Thursday gets the more anxious I get. I am ready

12/1/05

Well today is the day. I have my info session tonight. I am really excited and a little anxious about it. My mom is going with me, she is my support. I love her so much and I am glad she is so supportive!! I LOVE YOU MAMA!!

I'm back from the info session. It went great! I absolutly LOVE Dr. Mitchell! He is awesome! LOL! I learned a few things I didn't already know, but most of what he talked about I already knew....Thanks to this site!! I have a lot of things to do...Time to get started!! YAY!

12/3/05

I just found out some bad news. My husband said that his company is changing their insurance policy. He doesn't know if they are changing insurance companies or not, but it's a possibility!
I really hope that they don't!! BLAH!! I am pretty upset about it!

12/12/05

I think everything is going to be ok with the insurance. I think they are just redoing the policy. Rumor is that it is supposed to be better, but you know how that goes. They might just be saying that as to not upset anyone. We'll have to see. I don't care what they do to it as long as I can still have my surgery!

I guess I could use this time to say a little about my family. My husband is very supportive of my decision to have this surgery. He said that I better not get too skinny, because he likes his women THICK! HA HA HA that is so funny! He can kiss ma booty..I'll get as skinny as I please!

I have two beautiful boys! I love them so much! Its sad that they only know me as their "big mama". We can change that. Tyler is my oldest he is 6yrs old. His birthday is July 25th. He is the most hadsome first grader ever created, of courst I'm a little biased! LOL. He makes is making perfect grades. He got a "Spotlight on Excellence" award last report card time. He's reading and doing math on a 2nd grade level! I am VERY proud of him! Then there's my teeny tiny cutie pie! Jackson. Jackson is 21 months old and he is only 23 lbs. He is the absolute cutest little thing ever. I am also proud of Jackson, he is potty trained. He wears big boy underwear! No diapers or pull-ups here, he's a big boy!! I am very proud of both my boys! They are smart and beautiful and I love them more than anything! I thank God everyday for my family!

My brother is newly engaged. He just proposed to his honey sunday night, and she said yes. They want to get married barefoot on the beach in the spring or summer. I think that is totally awesome!! Anyway, I think thats enough for now. I'll update when I find out more about the insurance situation!

12/13/05

My husband (John) found out about the insurance today. They are switching from BCBS to Beech Street. I read what I could about them on this site and it looks like They'll cover it as long as it is medically necessary. So I'm good....I hope!

More later...

12/15/05

I told Tyler, my 6yr old, about the surgery today. I swear he is the sweetest thing ever. I told him I might be having surgery to make my tummy smaller so I wouldn't be able to eat as much, and that would help me loose weight. He said, "Will that be okay?" So cute.

I told him yes it would be ok, because it will help me get healthy and I would be able to go outside and run and play with him and his brother more, and that I would be able to ride roller coasters with him now. (I've never been able to get on one with him) My sweet baby started crying and he said, "That will be great"!! I love my sweetie so much!

12/16/05

Our insurance comes into effect on January 1st! I am very excited! I made an appointment with my PCP today so he can get my gallbladder ultrasound scheduled, so I can get a thyroid panel, and a bone density test scheduled. I'm also going to get him to go ahead and write my referral and letter of medical nessecity! I am SO ready for this. I think it's begining to sink in that this might actually be happening!

When I get all these things done I have to send the information packet back with $500.00 dollars, and all my medical records that document my weight over the past 5 years.

BTW--I didn't get the information packet in the mail....I got it at the information session.

12/19/05

Hey thinking about subscribing to OH magazine...haven't decided yet...it costs more than I thought it would.

Called my PCP's office today, I'm going in Jan 3rd for my Thyroid Panel, and he will order my Bone Density test and my Gallbladder ultrasound then. I can't wait. I'm ready to get this stuff done, so I can send my paperwork back in! Gettin a little excited here!

12/29/05

I'm ready to get these tests and things over with. As of right now I'm waiting for my insurance cards to come in the mail. I'm getting just a tad impatient!

2006

1/4/06

Happy New Year!

Well my insurance kicked in on the first. I had my thyroid panel done yesterday. They haven't called back with my appts for my gallbladder ultrasound and my bone density test. I am hoping to hear from them today. I weighed 285 yesterday. I must confess I've been eating like crazy over the holidays. I've eaten many "last meals".

I am now over that. I will only eat what I need. I'm going to try to loose about 10 or 15 lbs before I have surgery. I have cut out all sugar. I'm only drinking water. Basically I'm on Atkins again.

I'll update more later.

1/7/06

Yesterday I found out that my Dr. office can't schedule my gallbladder u/s and my bone density tests until I get my insurance cards. My husband said they are not sending them in the mail. He said they are giving them their cards with their checks next week. So it will be another week before I get those appts. I hate all this waiting..I wish I could get these things done a lot faster, unfortunatly the circumstances are beyond my control.

More later.....

1/7/06

I have an Angel!!! Kimberly Thompson! I'll be there for you the whole way girl!

1/13/06

Well John didn't get the insurance cards today, so we're still waiting.....not fun.....

When we finally get the cards I'm going to go ahead and send in my info packet. I'll wait and see if I need to get the gallbladder u/s or not. They'll tell me everything I need once they get the packet.
Well I do have some good news.

I met my angel, Kim, Tuesday night. She is awesome...we have SO much in common it isn't even funny. I also met her husband and her daughters. They are all really nice, and her daughters are totally cute.

I'll update more later....

1/19/06

I have some good news today. I went to the doctor today. I got my results from my thyroid panel. I also got my letter of medical necessity(sp?) and my referral! YAY!! Got the rest of my medical records. WOOHOOO! Oh yeah, I also lost 6 whole pounds!! Needless to say, I've been having a pretty good day!

We have yet to recieve our insurance cards. I do have a phone number for the insurance company, so I decided, thanks to my Angel Kim, that I would call the insurance company and ask about the surgery. Well I called and after waiting on hold for a little while, I finally got someone. I asked if they covered WLS, at first she said no, they didn't cover any kind of weight loss surgery. I felt my heart DROP. After a breif hesitation she says, "Unless you are morbidly obese, then we cover it. But you have to have documentation and it must be medically necessary." Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions!! I was devastated one second and the next I'm floating in the clouds! I am very happy about that!

No six month medically supervised diet!! YAY!

So still I'm in the same spot...I NEED my insurance cards!! Oh yeah I forgot to mention..the cards accidentally got shipped to CANADA!! That is where my husband's company's home office is. They got shipped there instead of the job site! BLAH! So they are supposedly on the way to the job site now!

OH and I even more good news. My son got perfect on his report card again....and another spotlight on excellence award. I am SO proud of him. That's my baby! He gets his smarts from his mama!

1/20/06

I have some really good news! My cousin is an aspiring photographer. He was recently contacted by the Chesterfield Visual Art Alliance. They are having an art show Sunday 29th. They asked him him if they could hang a couple of his photographs!!!!! I am so happy for him!!! YAY...GO Ron....

1/21/06

1/22/06

Ummm...The Panthers lost THAT SUCKS!! SO I guess I'll be pulling for the Seahawks in the Superbowl. Got to stick with NFC!!

1/24/06

My babies are sick..both of them! Tyler has two ear infections and Jackson has an upper respiratory infection!! Poor Babies!! They are getting better though. Tyler went to school today. He didn't go Friday or yesterday.

STILL no insurance cards! This is getting old!!

Thank You Myra G.!! My profile looks SO good!! I LOVE IT!!

1/26/06
I called PCL headquarters yesterday (My dh's parent company) I got a voice mail so I left a message. The lady called me back this morning. She said they have been holding all the cards there until they get everyone's cards. (some had mistakes on their paperwork-so it took longer to get their cards made) Then they are going to ship them out all together. She said they would be shipping them overnight tomorrow. They should be at the main office Monday. When they get to the main office they will be shipped out to the different job sites. SO basically I won't have my cards until next week! Now...why could HR where my husband is working do that.. It wasn't hard. I told my dn what the lady told me....so now he can let all his employees know whats going on! That wasn't my responsibility! Although It did make me feel good to relay important information!

1/27/06

I went to pay the deposit on Jackson's 2nd Birthday Party today at Chuck E. Cheese. OMG the line was backed up out the door. I swear there had to be 50 to 75 people in line waiting to get in. You think I stood in that long line just to pay a deposit? NO WAY!

I walked my fat booty right on in there and found the manager, paid my deposit and left. Didn't even take 5 minutes! The line was for people waiting to get in to eat anyway. He He He!

I want to say THANK YOU to Myra G. for fixing my profile! Sorry I messed it up to begin with!!

1/30/06
My Angel Kim is having her surgery Thursday. I'll be praying for you girly!! You'll be a loser VERY SOON!! YAY! My nickname for you is Skinny Minnie...That's what I'm going to call you from now on!

2/1/06
I cannot believe it is February already. Time really flies! My Angel is having surgery in the morning! I'm praying for you Kim! Love you girl!
As for my insurance cards. I haven't gotten them yet! "SOME" of them came in today...about half. My brother got his, and my dad (stepdad) got his. John didn't get his. You want to know what that is? BULLCRAP!! That's what it is!! John said he "should" get his Friday. We shall see....we shall see.....
I REALLY REALLY want my cards so I can get this whole thing going! This is really EXTREMELY fustrating!! REALLY REALLY!!
I mean it is REALLY fustrating!
For those of you out there that have been waiting and waiting for some miniscule little thing to happen before you can get your surgery...I feel your pain! I really do.
I guess I'll stop ranting now....

GOOD LUCK KIM!!!

2/2/06
Well today is the day...Kim is having surgery today. She called me this morning at 7:00am to let me know she was on her way. Her husband Bill is supposed to call me and let me know how she is doing and how her sugery went.

Kim's surgery went well....YAY!!

2/5/06
I went to see Kim in the hospital last night. She was doing very well. She was feeling pretty good. She is keeping food down good. She hasn't been sick. She had a migraine headache on surgery day, which unfortunatly she didn't get anything for until the next day. She is doing very well overall. I am so glad Kim....you're a LOSER!!! YAY!!
I am supposed to be getting my cards this week. So I will be sending my info packet in next week!! YAY!! I am hopefully going to be attending the Patient Education Class on Thursday Feb. 16th.
Can't wait! YAY!!

Ok...so after the Superbowl goes off, I get a phone call. It's my husband and he is REALLY excited. He says he just won a thousand dollars!!! OMG can you believe it. Three weeks ago he paid $20 to get on the board at work...he said the score would be 21-10, and he was right!!! I cannot believe he won $1000!!
Just had to share...

2/9/06
It actually snowed here this morning. When I got up to take Tyler to school it was snowing. The news said it would stop and it wouldn't even stick, so I took Tyler on to school. The snow just started coming down harder and faster and it started sticking, So I left to go sign him out around 10:30. When we got back home we chased each other around the yard throwing snowballs at each other. It was fun....except I COULDN'T breathe!!! I kept running out of breath! I HATE that. Maybe this time next year I won't have to worry about that. We only stayed out there about 5 minutes, because I couldn't catch my breath. Oh well we still had fun. Oh Yeah....about 30 mins after we got back inside the sun came out and melted all the snow. I didn't even have to sign him out. I figured it would accumilate since it was getting so bad. OOPS! LOL

2/10/06
No insurance cards today! I am so down. I hate this. Now I have to wait another week. I'm gonna go pout now.

2/13/06
WOOOHOOOO! I have good news!! We got our insurance cards today!! Finally!! I am so FREAKIN happy!!
Ok...so I was so mad Friday when the cards didn't come, I spent the $500 I had put back to send in with my info packet. I got a new Cell phone!! I needed one. It's not like I just went and bought one for no reason. I needed it. My old was was in BAD shape. SO now I have to wait until Friday to send my packet. BUT that's ok. I have my cards!!! Yay!!
Let's see. I have to get some things done now. I won't be able to go to the Patient Education Class Thursday. I'll have to wait until March 2nd..I think. I'll have to call and see. I need to get bone density scan. I will prob have to have a gall bladder ultrasound, so I'll probably go ahead and do that. So I'll have it done if I need it. When they get my info. I'll get my appointment for my psych eval. I am so happy I will finally be able to get the show on the road!!
I'll update more later!

2/16/06
I will be sending my information packet to the surgeons office soon, so I should be hearing from Chris sometime next week. Chris is Dr. Mitchell's Secretary. I have emailed her a couple of times and each time she emailed me back pretty fast. She has to be a busy person, so I think it was really nice that she did that.

2/28/06
I called my pcp's office yesterday to ask if they had scheduled my Gallbladder ultrasound or my bone density scan. She said my insurance company hasn't gotten back with them. They require precertification for stuff like that. She said it would probably be a couple of days.

3/3/06
Ok..FINALLY! I have to go to my Patient Education/Nutrition Class on Thursday February 16th!! WOOHOOO
Unfortunatly I haven't been able to send my info packet in. BLAH! I am sending my packet and $500 overnight in the morning. It should be there Monday. Chris should call me Tuesday to discuss my insurance benefits and let me know how much I will have to pay before surgery. She will also get my psych eval scheduled. After I go to my eval. and get my gallbladder u/s and bone density scan they will be able to submit for approval. YAY!
On an even better note, my Angel Kim is doing VERY well! I am so happy for you girl. She will be getting her tube removed next week. I know she will be happy about that! Kim I hope they pull that thing out VERY easily and painlessly!

3/4/06
It's official! My info packet is in the mail. I sent it overnight!! Hopefully I'll hear from them by Tuesday! WOOOHOOO!!

3/7/06
Chris emailed me yesterday, which was Monday, to let me know they recieved my info packet. I'll hopefully hear from them tomorrow. Until then.....

3/9/06
I talked to the lady at Dr. Mitchell's office today. They recieved my info packet and program fee ($500) Monday. I am scheduled for the Patient Education/Nutrition class on Thursday March 16th!! WOOOHOOO
I am so ready to be on the losers bench!!
Just have to get my psych evaluation scheduled now so they can submit all my paperwork to the ins co. for approval! I am READY!!!

3/10/06
Ok, I have updates. Chris called me back today. I have an appointment on Wednesday March 29th at 11:00am for my psychological evaluation.
She also informed me that I would need a Sleep apnea test and a cardiac evaluation. Didn't think I would need these!
My sleep study is also on the 29th, I have to be there at 8:45pm.
My cardiac evaluation is the next morning, the 30th, at 9:30am.
Chris did tell me that I do not have to have a gallbladder ultrasound. WOOHOO, one less thing to worry about.
I called my pcp's office to let them know. She told me she would call me Monday and let me know when my appt for my bone density scan would be.
WOW...the ball is in motion, and seems to be gaining momentum!! YAY!!

4/9/06
It has been a little while since I've updated my profile. Well I went to my psych evaluation. I had to take a 370 question test. It was simple. I have to go back for the results and answer or ask any needed questions. That is on the 13th. I also went to my sleep study. It wasn't as hard to fall asleep as I thought it would be. I kinda felt like a science experiment. That turned out good I think. I also went for my cardiac evaluation, unfortunatly they had to reschedule it, because the cardiologist I had to see was called to an emergency. I have to go back on the 18th. So after those results are in and the results from my bone density scan, which is on April 25th, They will be able to submit to my insurance company for approval. I hope I get approved...we'll see.

4/13/06
I am officially through with all the psych stuff. She said she would write a recomendation for the surgery for me. YAYYY!!!
I am happy about that! Now I have my cardiac evaluation next Wednesday and also an appt to go over my sleep study results! WOW! Its getting so close! I can't believe it!

4/25/06
I am finished with ALL my testing!! I have recomendations from all the doctors I have seen. So that is good!
I have mild sleep apnea, and an innocent heart murmer. Both those docs said that these would go away with weight loss. So they recomended WLS for me!!! YAY!!
Had my bone density scan today. The results will be faxed to my surgeons office tomorrow.
Now Its time to wait!! Sounds like fun I know!!

I'm gonna loose my frikin mind waiting on approval!!!

5/2/06
My info has been submitted!! I can't wait...PLEASE LORD LET ME BE APPROVED!!!!
WAITING WAITING WAITING..................................
I'll update when I find out if I've been approved or not, hopefully I won't have to wait too long!!

5/8/06

Well I just got off the phone with my insurance company. She said they recieved all my information Friday, and she said to call back Wednesday!! WOW if they actually have a dicision by then I will be surprised!! That will have been QUICK!!
Here's hoping they will have a dicision Wednesday, and of course that it's and APPROVAL!!!

5/15/06
I just got off the phone with my insurance company and I have been..................APPROVED!!! wwooooooohoooooooo!!! soooo happy!!!
oh yeah...I have lost 11 pounds! Was 285... not 274! Not too shabby!!

5/16/06
I have a date!! I can't believe it! June 6th 2006 I will officialy be a LOSER!!! I am so HAPPY!! I have my upper endoscopy in the morning! A little nervous about it!

5/22/06

My husband and I are no longert together. We are separated. It will take a while for me to adjust, but I'll be ok. We had been together 8 yrs.

9/28/06

Ok its been a while, I figured I would update this thing.
My husband and I are back together. We are happier than ever, doing very well! I didn't have surgery. They called to reschedule it for the 22nd and before the date could get there I found out I was pregnant. My due date is March 15th 2007. I am very happy. I have some bad news to add to this though. I am extremely high risk. Of course because of my size I have a lot of health problems. I have gestational diabetes, hypertension, and I might have kidney disease (won't know for sure until I get a biopsy, can't do that until after I deliver). My doc told me this needs to be my last baby. If I get pregnant again I would be risking my life. He said he doesn't expect me to make it to term. I am at risk for having a still born. He wants me to start coming in at 28 weeks to start having fetal stress tests every other week. I am going to a high risk specialist in 2 weeks and I will have a level 2 ultrasound while there.
Honestly I'm scared, but I'll be ok!

5/24/07

Ok...sue me! It's been a while yet again. My husband and I are still happy. We had ANOTHER beautiful baby boy on March 6th 2007. He is now 11 weeks old, and he is beautiful! I am very happy right now. I am STILL HUGE! I don't know if I want to start the process of gastric bypass again. I don't know if I will have to redo everything or not. I have thought of maybe getting the lap band procedure instead. I don't know. I just know I would rather be a skinny rail thin woman than what I am now. By no means do I want to be rail thin, it is just a better alternative to what I am now. Honestly, I would be happy if I were a size 12. That would be perfect! Anyway I'm going to add some pictures on here...enjoy!