MaryCinFL

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It's been a week today since the surgery. It was not a horrible experience. Surgery day went as scheduled; the only thing that freaked me out was putting the mask over my nose and mouth. That took me a couple of tries, but everything else went as expected. I don't remember much of it. I woke up in recovery and I was quite sore but it wasn't unbearable pain. They kept me as comfortable as possible.
My hospital stay went well. The staff was organized and caring, they kept me comfortable and helped me a lot. I was released to go home late on Tuesday. We had a 3-hour drive. I was a little uncomfortable but I was looking forward to getting home. 
Since then, everyday is an improvement of the day before. I think most of the pain I've had is associated with gas from the surgery. It felt like bad gas anyway. I have been following all of my paper work from the doctor and his staff and I haven't had any problems. Walking often helps. It was five days before I could sleep in my bed or sleep lying flat, but I was able to make myself comfortable either way.
I found that wearing a camisole under my clothes keeps anything from tugging on the g-tube or staples.
I will be going back to the doctor's on Wednesday to get my staples removed and then hopefully I will be back to work on Thursday. I am looking forward to getting back to my day-to-day activiites.

I can't fathom that I am finally at this point. I went to Dr. Jawad's office yesterday for a full staff briefing on ABSOLUTLY EVERYTHING there is to know and I hope I remember at least half of it. Fortunatly, they put everything on a DVD so I can review the info again... and again... etc. (very organized, very thorough and I am very grateful).
Next, we went to Ocala RMC for registration, preop blood work and xrays. Also, very organized and thorough. The whole process made me feel relieved and comforted.
I have so much to do before now and Monday that I hardly have time to dwell on the surgery - except when I should be trying to sleep. That's when all the doubts seem to show up. So far, I am still not having any real fear or panicky feelings and after listening to Dr. Jawad, I feel pretty good about this.
It's sobering and I don't take this lightly by any means, but I think - again - I am in the right place at the right time. Thank you God.

08-25-2007 - I found out Thursday that I was approved for surgery. I am scheduled for October 1st. Woooo Hoooo!!

6-13-2007 I was denied for the final time with my last insurance (CIGNA), but I am so fortunate that we got a new insurance company (United Health Care) in Jan 2007. I called an confirmed that the surgery is covered so I jumped back into the process.
I started out by going back to the Cleveland Clinic in January for the RNY. I went through the orientation, paid $$ for the dietitian consult and their Psych eval but the Psychologist denied me. She felt I was too depressed to take care of myself after the surgery.
So, next I went back to a doctor in town who does the LapBand. I paid for the dietitian locally and went to the orientation only to find out they charge $3700 program fee that isn't covered by insurance. It has to be paid before the surgery. I didn't have the money. I pretty much had given up again when finally, I went to the Obesity Help seminar in Orlando. I got to listen to Dr. Muhammad Jawad from Ocala. I was impressed. I talked to his staff and found out that their fee was easily affordable! YAY! I went to their orientation in May 2007 and I am hoping to have the RNY (if all goes well) in July or August.
It's hard for me to get excited over this because I've been here before only to be denied. It's going on five years of trying to have the surgery. During that time I went back to Weight Watchers (twice), stayed with it for six months (twice), lost ten pounds (twice), and put it back on. I've gained a few more pounds and dropped them again and I am still at the same weight (244) as when I started. I tried a few new products like Hoodia (no effect) and others that I can't think of right now - no positive results. So far there is still nothing new on the market. This is the only 'treatment' that is considered a cure. I need a cure.
Anywayz, that's all for now. I will post again when I have something more to tell.

3-18-2006 As you can tell, I haven't updated my profile in a LONG time. I've been really bummed out about being denied by my insurance. I've tried a couple more times to diet and loose weight but no success. I now have diabetes, but the good news is I have another chance at getting approved. I am trying to get approval for the LapBand now instead of the bypass. I'm not getting my hopes up, but maybe it'll happen. If I can't get approval, I will probably go out of the country somewhere because the cost in the US is too high for me to pay out of pocket.
I'm now 46 years old and heavier than ever. And just like the TV commercial says, my weight is always on my mind. I hate it! I've added an updated picture so that I have an accurate 'Before' pic.

10-21-2003 Back to waiting. Surgery was canceled 2 days prior because insurance rejected the facility and doctor. I was out of area for my insurance. The insurance people told me to have my PCP submit the request, so I didn't actually get denied. My PCP (and his staff) are wonderful!! They are doing everything they can to help me out. So, at this point in time, I am waiting. If I get approved, then I have to work with insurance to select a doctor and facility. I may still get to go to the doctor of my choice and that's what my hope is because I feel very confident in the WLS doctor I had chosen. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. TTFN

06-02-2003 I finally have a surgery date. September 15, 2003. The cardiologist cleared me last week. I hope there are no showstoppers coming up. I was getting so bummed out the last couple of months just waiting and trying to keep this thing moving. I got pretty discouraged and began to think this wasn't going to happen for me. But, like having a baby, one more push and there ya go! Thank you God.

04-17-2003  AAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! I am so tired of waiting with no word from my doctor’s office about a surgery date. I did all my pre-op tests. As far as I know, my insurance is a go but I am waiting for the nurse at my doctor’s office to review my file and set up a date. It’s been three weeks and I’ve called 2 maybe 3 times and they tell me they will get to me. I know they have a BAHZILLION things to do everyday and I know they will get to me when they can but the waiting is soooo hard! I hope the waiting is not an indication of problems with insurance or worse. I’m trying hard to remain calm and take it in stride but every now and then I just want to tear my hair out… ok, not all of it but some. Anywayz, I guess I’m done venting. Thanks for letting me share my whine.

01-2003
I am a 43 year old single Mom & Nana. I have 2 grown daughters, one of which is married and I have 3 amazing grandchildren. We’re very close and I enjoy their company so I would like to stick around for a while longer. I’m looking into WLS because I feel that my health is on the line. I’ve been on meds for HBP for a few years and had some experience with Angina (what fun) and I was diagnosed with CAD a couple of years ago. Other than that, I’m pretty healthy. I tried once again to diet after the diagnosis but failed and finally just quit trying. Since then I put on another 20lbs. Great recovery plan, huh?
I have been overweight since I was a teenager but I didn’t become obese until after having children. I tried almost every diet or dieting gimmick available, including subliminal weight loss tapes. I had some small successes but the weight always came back in abundance.
I guess what got me interested in WLS is that I finally have come to terms with obesity and after 25 years of attempts, I figured out that I need some help. I’m looking to WLS as a tool to help me get control of my body. Yes, it is a radical choice but I feel like it is a life-saving choice.
I have decided to allow myself no fear concerning WLS. I am relying on my faith in God to direct me and so far He hasn’t failed. I am going into this process as I would any other life-altering choice: inform, investigate and initiate. I am informing myself with as much information as I can find, this website being the first place I look. I am investigating all my options, all my decisions. And when I am comfortable, I initiate (stop talking about it and just do it).
I am so grateful to have stumbled onto this website. It has been a saving grace for me. I found my doctor through this site and I am even more grateful for that. The information available, the research links, the personal stories have all help me form my decision.
I started out looking into the LapBand and have now opted for the Lap RNY because I think I will be more successful with it. I can’t say I am looking forward to the surgery but I am looking forward to life long improvement in my health. I know there will be a lot of work to do but at least I will have the physical and emotional strength to do it.
But right now, I just think I am too young to be feeling this old.