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6 months ago today, I was barely able to walk.  I had high blood pressure, diabetes, an autoimmune disorder which made me have 5 times the normal inflammation in my body, GERDs, asthma, arthritis and pain in every joint in my body at all times.  I was a ticking time bomb just waiting for my life to end.  I was 44 years old and felt like I was 90.  I wanted to walk, dance, play, but all I could do was feel pain all over my body, every day of my life which limited not only my movements but my spirit. 

At that time, if someone had told me give me 6 months and I will change your life, I would have thought they were a quack.  I would have asked what kind of magic wand they had or more importantly, what kind of drugs they were taking.  However, this is just what Dr. Boe and Barix Clinic have done.  Today, on my six month surgiversary, I have lost 102 pounds (85 from the date of surgery, 17 from the pre-surgery liquid diet), 118 1/2 inches over my body, and most importantly I have lost all my health problems and pain.  I am like a new woman. I walk, dance, sing, and totally enjoy life.  I am living now, not just surviving. 

While I still have 28 pounds to lose and various areas of my body to tighten up, I thank Dr. Boe, Barix and of course GOD for turning my life around and making it worth living again.  The best part of this journey has been all the incredible friends I have made.  They are always right by my side cheering me on, encouraging me when I am down and picking me up if I fall.  I couldn't have done any of this without all of them and my family. 

So, thank you all for sharing my journey.  What a wild ride it has been and will continue to be, but I would not change it for the world.

I had my two week checkup yesterday.  I am amazed at how wonderful I feel.  I was down 14 pounds since surgery and 31 pounds since the start of my liquid diet.  Dr. Boe asked if I had any problems with pain, gas, constipation, nausea, vomiting, or depression and the answer was "no".  I told him that if my stomach did not cramp when I drank cold water, I would have thought he really did not do the surgery.  He said sometimes it just works real well and that is what it is doing for me.  He also said a lot of success is determined by the person's motivation and I have been motivated since he met me.  He cleared me to go on to 1 week of pureed and 2 weeks of soft foods.  I am so happy I can finally eat something that is not sweet.  He also said I can lift light weights for my arms, play the Wii, and try crunches on the ball as tolerated.  I told him I wanted to try to avoid plastics if at all possible and he said that a plastic surgeon told him that a binder or girdle or something that is tight in the stomach helps with this since it pulls the ligaments and tissue tight when it wants to sag.  I will give it a try!!!!

I  brought a sandwich tray to the floor to say thanks, and they were all so happy to see me.  They said I was the patient that asked Dr. Boe to clone.  I am just so happy for all they have done for me.  I have my life back now and I am going to truly live it to the fullest!!!!!  Thank you God, Dr. Boe and Barix for this second lease on life!!!!!

Well, I finally had surgery on April 29th as scheduled.  I was to be at Barix at 9:30 am for an 11:00 am surgery.  One of the assistant pastors from my church came at 9:30 to pray for me.  It was amazing.  After his prayers, all fear and anxiety left me.  I guess I knew I was in God's hands, and he would bring me through this successfully.  

My husband had a moment after Pastor Joel left and began to cry.  He hugged me and said you better come back to me you hear.  I told him to stop crying because I wasn't even scared now.  

I was delayed a bit before surgery as someone before me took longer than anticipated.  Surgery took place at approximately 1:15 pm and I was back in my room by 4:30 that evening.  I was totally out of it.  Anesthesia had thrown me for a loop.  My respirations were quite low (6) and my pulse was something like 48.  The nurse, my husband, my mother, mother and father-in-law and several friends were right by my side.  I love you all for your support and apologize for being so out of it.  By about 1:30 in the morning, I felt alert and began to look at my flowers, balloons and cards.

After that first day, everything has been awesome.  My second day in the hospital I was walking the halls like it was nothing.  Many friends, family  and my support group all came to visit and made my day.  I was discharged on May 1st feeling great, but had gained 13 pounds of the 17 pounds I had lost on liquid diet back due to IV fluids.  I was a bit upset, but the first day home, I lost 9 pounds.  The second day home, I lost 6.5 pounds.  

I am now one week out from surgery and have lost 20.5 pounds since I left the hospital (13 gained and 7.5 to the good).  I am walking every day several times a day.  I am eating much better than when discharged.  I could only eat out of a medicine cup.  Now I can eat 3-4 ounces at a time.  My new favorite food is yogurt.  Not to sweet, not to sour, just right!!!!  

My new life is beginning and I thank God, Dr. Boe and Barix for this new lease on life!!!!!!!

Well I have experienced another snag in my road to weight loss surgery.  This time, 6 days into my liquid diet, and 5 days until surgery, I received a call from Eileen from Barix stating that they needed to postpone my surgery for one week.  Apparently surgeries at Barix were taking longer than usual and it pushes everyone back.  I was very bummed out, but what can I do.

I will go back to eating food for 1 1/2 days and then begin10 more days of liquid diet.  Initially when I went on liquid diet which consists of 3 clear protein shakes (Nectar brand) a day, and unlimited broth, sf jello, sf popsicles and non-caloric drinks, I thought I was going to die.  I was hungry all the time.  When I slept, I dreamed of chocolate cake, pizza and all kinds of food.  It felt like everywhere I turned there was either food, talk of food or those rotten TV commercials showing all kind of lucious food.  Even if you turn your head, you hear things like "I want to go to Friendly's yeah, yeah.....where icecream makes the meal."  After the first 3 days on the diet, it got easier.  I think my body realized I was going to starve it and it didn't have a choice.  The great thing about the liquid diet was that I had more energy and started to even take walks with my husband at night.  In addition, I lost 8 pounds in 5 days.  You can't beat that.

So Saturday, 4/19/08, I will start the liquid diet again for 10 more days and hopefully, barring no other problems and God willing, I will be on the loser's bench at some point on Tuesday, 4/29/08!!!!!  I am looking on the bright side.....things don't happen unless God allows them to.  So, for whatever reason, I was not meant to have surgery on the 22nd.  God gives us only what he knows we can handle, and he must think I am quite strong!!!!

I had my PAT yesterday and thank God, I was cleared for surgery.  Barix is a well oiled machine and the process went very smoothly.  The appointment went as follows:
1.  Blood work was done;
2.  Chest x-ray was done;
3.  Ultrasound of liver, gallbladder and pancreas was done;
4.  Met with the PAT nurse who explained about Advanced Directives, pain control after surgery, fall prevention, what to expect on the unit and diet prior to surgery;
5.  Met with the Nutritionist who gave me my Barix Bible and allowed me to try some protein shakes to see what I liked;
6.  Met with respiratory who gave me a pulmonary function test which showed I have mild restrictive airway disease, and did a pulse ox which was 96%.  They gave me my incentive spirometer and explained how to use it.  They also reviewed how to bathe before surgery using this special sponge;
7. Met Dr. Koganski who was very nice and cleared me for surgery.  However, he wanted an EKG to be done as the copies on the file were poor quality; and
8.  Finally, I had an EKG done which was normal and was allowed to leave.
It took about 3 1/2 hours but everything went very smoothly.  

I have to begin my liquid diet on 4/12/08 which consists of 76 grams of protein from protein shakes and clear liquid diet for the rest.  

Surgery is on 4/22/08 and I can't wait!!!!!!

 

I read a post last night which noted that Dr. Boe may have had emergency surgery this weekend himself.  Needless to say, I was quite upset since he is my surgeon.  I thought.....oh no......I am never going to have this surgery now.  

This afternoon, I received a message from my angel, co-pilot saying that this was true about Dr. Boe and directing me to call someone at Barix about my date.  She recommended that I explain the situation to them and say that my file is complete and I am just waiting for a date.  Since she had given me such wonderful advice throughout this whole process, I did what she said.  15 minutes later, I heard from Eileen, Barix's scheduler, who by the way is so nice.  When she told me who she was, I said I am so excited I could just hit the ceiling.  She then asked if I wanted her to wait (Ha-Ha).

I explained that I had heard about Dr. Boe and that I thought I would not have surgery until I was 70 years old.  She laughed and said it is not that bad.......and then told me my surgery would be scheduled for April 22nd and my PAT would be on April 2nd.  Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before the PAT and bring all medications I am taking with me.  She did tell me to take my blood pressure med with a sip of water that morning since she did not want my blood pressure to be high.

I am so excited.  Just to have a date makes you realize this is going to happen.  It will be here before I know it.  I am going to spend this time reading more, doing cardio and weights and watching somewhat what I eat so that surgery will be easier.  I also know I have the 10 day liquid diet facing me, and while that will be tough, I know it can be done because others have done it before me.  

YEAH FOR ME!!!!!  I AM GOING TO BE A LOSER SOON!!!!!  I am doing the happy dance.

  

Last Tuesday, March 4th, I received a call from Toni, Dr. Boe's assistant, telling me that Keystone had approved me for surgery in the computer.  She said we needed the official letter so my file could go to the scheduler.  I called Keystone on Friday to see if they could fax it but they said it automatically generates from the computer so they could not.  They also said it generates 48 hours after approval.  

Friday night, I started running a 103 degree fever with shortness of breath.  I went to the ER since I would never make it to Monday to see my PCP, and I was diagnosed with the flu.  This stinks as I know I will be hearing about my PAT soon.  

On Saturday, March 8th, I received the letter in the mail.  Since I was sick, my husband agreed to fax the letter to Barix on Monday.  Toni called on Monday (at 8:19 a.m.)  and said she had the letter  and my file is going to the scheduler and I should hear either Monday or Tuesday.  

I can't wait!!!!!!  I am so excited.  I jump every time the phone rings.  I have a pad of paper and a pen with me at all times.  OH, IT WILL BE SO GREAT TO FINALLY KNOW WHEN MY DATE WILL BE!!!!!!  

I got an e-mail yesterday letting me know that my file was out in Michigan and assigned to an insurance representative to submit it to Keystone for approval. The e-mail said she will keep calling until she gets a response but it could take 4-6 weeks for that.  I hope it does not.  I am so ready for this surgery.  Other people who have Keystone Health Plan East appear to be getting their approvals very quick so hopefully I will be one of those people.  Anyway, it is so nice that Barix lets you know every step of the way what is going on with your file.  I am sooooooo glad I made the switch back to Barix and Dr. Boe. 

I went today for my consultation with Dr. Boe.  He is a super man with a great personality.  He is humorous, kind, sincere and talented.  What more could you ask for in a surgeon.  His assistant Toni is also wonderful.  She was so kind and caring.  She took all of my information and gave it to Dr. Boe.

Dr. Boe came in, after reviewing my records, and said that I had really been through a lot.  He felt bad but said that he had to have me have a venous doppler ultrasound of my legs like the hematologist had requested.  I told him that was already done and it was negative.  I told him I would get the report for him.  He then explained that due to my history of a pulmonary embolism, I would have to be on blood thinners for a week after surgery.  I told him that was fine.  I am actually relieved that he is being cautious.  He said once the report was received, he would sign off on the file and it would be sent for insurance approval.  I asked him, because I have been waiting for so long, if I could take a cancellation to get my surgery done quicker.  He said absolutely.  He also said that if this happened, he would waive whatever portion of the liquid diet I would not have time to complete.  

On my way home, I called the hematologist's office and they said they would fax the report right away.  I then called Toni and left a message that it was on its way and if she did not receive it by tomorrow to call me in work so I could call the hematologist's office again.  When I got home from Barix, Toni had left me a message saying that she did not want me to worry so she thought she would call and tell me that they received the report and Dr. Boe has signed off on my file.  It is now going on for insurance approval.  

I can't believe it......I am finally going to have this surgery!!!!  I think someone better pinch me because I am not sure this is real.

After waiting for three weeks for my psych evaluation report to come in, on February 15th, I phoned in to see what was going on (this was my weekly activity) and was informed that the psych evaluation report was in fact in my file and it was being given to the Physician's Assistant to review and then would be sent for insurance approval.  

A week later, on February 22nd, I phoned in and was told by the office staff that my file was not complete.  They told me they needed a mammogram and cardiology report which both had been provided during my initial consultation.  Carmen, the office manager, said she would have the Physician's Assistant call me back.  When I heard from Linda, the PA, she found the cardiology report but not the mammogram report and then said I needed another EKG as the one from the cardiologist was over 6 months old now.   It was not initially when I went to see them, but since so much time has passed, it now is.  This was not what they said at my initial consultation.  I told her I was very upset and this was not acceptable.  She said if my PCP could do an EKG and compare it to the cardiologist's EKG and give a report comparing the two, that would be okay but otherwise I would have to see the cardiologist again and possibly have a stress test.  (By way of background, the cardiologist cleared me for surgery and said there were no cardiac issues). I asked the PA why she did not tell me this when I had been calling in every week.  She said she had been trying to call me but did not get me.  I have caller ID at home so I told her point blank that she was a liar and that for the last 4-5 weeks, I had been checking caller ID every day for a call from Einstein and no call was obtained.  

While all of this was going on, I received an e-mail from a person which I will call my angel telling me that she had a great deal of problems with Einstein also and that they had lost her file first and then her lab work which she had to have repeated.  She encouraged me to call Barix and gave me the numbers.  She said she transferred to Barix and they fast tracked her file and she had surgery in 3 weeks from the time she first saw Dr. Boe.  After much contemplation, I called Barix, and spoke to Theresa in Patient Relations who scheduled me for an appointment with Dr. Boe on Tuesday, Febraury 26th.  I am to bring all my records and they will fast track my file right to insurance approval and then a surgery date.  

I have all reports other than the psych evaluation from Einstein.  I sent a Medical Release requesting that I pick this report up on Monday, February 25th.  Einstein called back and said they could not give me the reports I requested as they had other requests in front of mine.  I asked to be put through to Dr. Dallal's voicemail and was told he does not have one.  I then asked for someone who I could talk to about this problem and I was put in contact with Carmen, the office manager.  She assures me that she will fax the report to Barix before my appointment tomorrow.  I am praying and fasting so that this report arrives at Barix in time for my appointment.  

I had prayed for the Lord to direct my steps when I was having problems with Einstein.  I believe he has answered my prayers and is sending me to Barix.  I can't wait to meet Dr. Boe and his staff!!!!