Staci D.
I am 37 yrs and weigh 315 lbs, I have tried so many diets and exercise programs, and of course to no avail. My weight has caused so many of my current health problems, I just want to be healthy again.
Dec 31,2003
Talked to my PCP yesterday, he thinks that the Gastric Bypass surgery is a great idea. He said he would be willing to go what ever it took to get the ball rolling. He was going to get started on the first letter yesterday afternoon.
Jan. 15, 2004
My PCP wrote a recommendation letter and gave me a referral.
Feb. 2, 2004
I have spoke to the surgeon about my interest in the surgery. He is definitatly willing to work with me.
March 4, 2004
After a long and very courageous fight my sweet mother passed away at 5:20pm, with her family by her side. Oh how we will miss her.
March 25, 2004
Just got home from the hospital on Monday, Congestive Heart Failure. Had a Heart cath friday and my heart is in great shape, cause of CHF is due to Obstructive Sleep Apnea, complicated by my weight. I have lost 57 lbs of fluid. The Cardiologist at Roanoke Va, STRONGLY suggests I have Gastric Bypass Surgery. He sat me up a consultation with Dr. Roxeanne Davenport, around the first of April. And the journey begins,
FINALLY!!!!!!!! THANK YOU LORD.
May 4, 2004
Due to traveling conflicts I had to change my appointment to May 13, 2004, I am kinda Anxious to see what she has to say.
May 14, 2004
I went to have my consultation with Dr. Davenport. She was soooo nice and really caring. It wasn't like I was on her time, she was on mine. I felt comfortable the minute I walked into her office. She is willing to help me in any way that she can. She is getting the ball rolling, writing a letter to insurance and she is going to set up an appointment for me to see a Nutritionist. I am excited about this, I know it is not a cure all. But I just want to be healthy and be able to live again. PRAISE THE LORD...
July 5, 2004
The dietician called me the other day. Our first meeting is July 22, 2004 at 2:00pm. Her name is Kay Clatterbuck, and just the short time we talked, she seems very nice and very willing to work with me.
July 21, 2004
Had to change my appointment with Kay to July 29th at 2:00. Due to transportation conflicts.
August 13, 2004
Had to cancel my appointment with Kay, Had some CHF, just really not feeling well. Called back the following Thursday to reschedule, and Kay advised me that our appointment was going to have to be put on hold, Dr. Davenport wanted to talk to my cardiologist first. I had a Heart Cath back in March, I was told that my heart is in great shape that the Sleep Apnea is the cause of the CHF, it was then that Dr. Savage recommended me for gastric bypass surgery.
September 19,2004
Everything seems to be on hold for the time being, due to the recurrent CHF. Though not to brag have lost approximately 15 pounds of fluid. It's a good start. PLEASE pray that I don't build up a tolerance to the diuretic, this has happened so many times. Dr. Davenport was going to check with my cardiologist before proceeding. I called and advised Shannon they may also want to get a hold of my cardiologist in Roanoke, since he was the one that performed the heart cath back in march, he's the one who suggested I have this surgery.
October 14,2004
I think I have finally got a bit of good news toward the surgery. Received a call from my allergy asthma specialist, stating that he had written a letter of strong recommendation for this surgery. He was going to fax the letter immediately to Dr. Davenports office.
March 30, 2005
Sorry it has been so long since I have updated. Since 10-2004 I have been in the hospital with CHF again and have had it twice since then. Last week I had to go to the new surgeon(local)to get a new order to have my port a cath flushed[monthly], I also needed him to look at my belly button. I had a umbilical hernia removed about 3 years ago, and the doctor is kinda thinking that is might be returning and when I do have the Gastric Bypass Surgery it would be taken care of then. A interesting note he has worked with Dr. Davenport. He strongly suggests that I have the surgery. I am finally getting the recommendation letter from my cardiologist [local] stating that my heart is ok to go through with the surgery.
On a lighter note I have met my Best Friend, my companion and Love for life, he is wonderful. I Love him from the VERY DEPTH OF MY HEART....
July 3, 2005
Well my surgery may not be to far off now. I have another umbilical hernia(the 2nd in 2 years), that is getting pretty painful. My local surgeon wants it took care of at the same time that I have the Gastric Bypass Surgery(this is so, I don't have to go thru 2 separate surgeries). Well as for the recommendation letter from the local cardiologist still has not came as of Wednesday. So I called and got an appointment Thursday to see him. Where it had been a while since he had seen me he wanted to do 24 hr Holter monitoring, a carotid sonogram of the veins and arteries in my neck to make sure they are all clear. Now he said the last 3-D Echo was normal. I go back this Thrusday to get the results. He said that if the results are ok, he will write the letter I need and stay in constant contact with Dr. Davenport. I called Dr. Davenports office to make an appointment and they were out of the office, Friday, I left a message for them to call me back. But I will call them back first thing Tuesday morning. This has been way too long in coming, I just want it over with... I am praying that it will be soon... Please Keep me in you prayers...
July 21, 2005
I went to the cardiologist today for a check up, after being hospitalized again for having CHF again (they removed 54 lbs of fluid in 4 days). Today a week later I have already gained back 42 lbs of fluid) Lasix was upped yet again from 160 mg's a day to 240 mg's a day. And still not getting rid of it like I should. However doctor gave me the ok to have the surgery. He thinks it will help tremendously once I start loosing weight, with the fluid.
July 21, 2005
I went to the cardiologist today for a check up, after being hospitalized again for having CHF again (they removed 54 lbs of fluid in 4 days). Today a week later I have already gained back 42 lbs of fluid) Lasix was upped yet again from 160 mg's a day to 240 mg's a day. And still not getting rid of it like I should. However doctor gave me the ok to have the surgery. He thinks it will help tremendously once I start loosing weight, with the fluid.
July 26, 2005
Went to see Dr. Davenport today. I Love her sunny disposition. She just lights up the room when she walks in... She truly cares about her patients... I went to see her about my umbilical hernia, she says it is definitely back when she laid me down on the table you could definitely see it, very well. We also discussed the gastric bypass surgery... When I called to make the appointment, I was told that I would have to ask her if she would be willing to do the gastric bypass surgery, because as of the first of the year she was no longer doing the procedure, and where she had not seen me for over a year. After discussion, SHE SAID SHE WOULD DO MY SURGERY... WOOHOO!!! PRAISE GOD!!! We still may be at least 6 months away though, I have to have at least 6 months of Physician documented Diet history. Insurance Requires it. Hopefully it won't be as long as it has been... Lord Willing... Please continue to keep me in your prayers.
October 17, 2005
Well I am about 3 months into my diet history. Though I'm not a diabetic the Doctor has me on 1800 cal ADA, Very Low sodium and Low cholesterol diet. I have not been able to loose more than about 10 lbs, due to the CHF. I am waiting to hear from the Dietician. Though it is hard at times to not get discouraged, I am trying to be very optimistic.
December 5,2005
Tues. 29th of November got a call from Kay Clatterbuck, we have a meeting Dec. 15th. Woo Hoo....
December 15, 2005
Was unable to keep my appointment with Kay due to the weather, Ice and snow. We have rescheduled for Jan 5th. Please pray that the weather will hold up so I can go... Wishing every one a very Happy and Blessed Holiday Season.
Jan 6, 2006
FINALLY, got to meet with Kay Clatterbuck yesterday. She is very friendly. She gave me alot a informative information about the diet and gastric bypass surgery. I learned alot. So hopefully it won't be long now. Just want it over... Thanks Kay...
Feb. 14, 2006
My local cardiologist faxed my supervised weight and diet charts to Dr. Davenports office Jan 30, 2006. With our crazy weather here blue cold one day, then up near 60 degrees the next, and then back down in the teens to 30's 2 or 3 days later. I am keeping CHF all the time now, and a couple of weeks ago I came down with pneumonia and still trying to get over that. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY.
March 23,2006
I just got a call from Shannon from Dr. Davenport's office. I have finally met the criteria to get insurance approval for the surgery.(WOOHOO!!!!!)
But unfortunately, they are not going to be able to do my surgery. :(( Shannon told me that my insurance (Medicare) starting the 1st of April will only pay for the surgery if I go to what the ASBS (American Society for Bariatric Surgeons) considers, the centers of excellence. Roanoke Memorial is not considered in the centers of excellence. They are applying to get on the list, but Shannon says it could take months even years to get on that list. I was given the option to wait and see if they get on the list or to find another doctor at one of these centers of excellence.
Roanoke is only less then 2 hrs away from where I live. That was one of the reasons I chose it. I'm going to continue to pray about it, and talk to my family about it. And try to figure out what I should do. I would love to be able to wait and see, but with my health, I don't know if waiting is the best option. I just hate the thoughts of finding another doctor, I LIKE Dr. DAVENPORT. I trust her. She is a wonderful surgeon. She won my confidence quicker than any doctor ever has. Plus I am familiar with Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
May 2, 2006
Though things are on hold right now, I am looking into another surgeon. But though I had met the insurance criteria before, Unfortunately I have more requirements to meet. The last two years though I have been told time and time and time again that this surgery would be a life saving procedure, it has been a game of nothing more than hurry up an wait. The Congestive Heart Failure is constant now, but all I am told is that once I start loosing weight it will correct its self.
Due to the excess fluid and weight it is struggle for me to climb steps. Where I live there are steep hills such my driveway it is very steep and just to get into my house there are 16 steps to climb in/out. I am lucky if I can get out of the house 2-3 times a month. I feel so confined. I still try to move around as much as I can, but in a small two bedroom home there is only so much that I can do.
It is so hard to keep from getting discouraged, but this is in the Lord's hands.
June 8, 2006
I had to go yesterday, and get my monthly port flush. When they took my blood pressure, in the left arm it was 202/88 and then they took it in the right arm, it was 188/87. Needless to say both of the nurses were very concerned. Plus I have alot of extra fluid, before I ever had fliud problems, My shoe size was 6.5-7, now I am up to a tight 10.5. I have tried to call the cardiologist this morning, and the line has been busy. The search goes on for a surgeon, I am having problems finding one that will accept all of my insurance instead of just parts. It is so hard to keep from getting discouraged. I am trusting the Lord that He will open the doors, and give me peace of mind.
July 18, 2006
My legs are soooo swollen now that they feel like they are going to burst any second. I am staying smothery all the time now, and with the heat and humidity it is awful. It is soooo hard for me to walk now, and most especially climb steps. As far as the CHF, the oral medication is not working at all now. They are blaming the fluid solely on my weight, they say the only thing that will cure it is, having the surgery. Doors keep "slamming in my face". The hunt for a surgeon is still ongoing. I still totally want Dr. Davenport to do the surgery. But Roanoke Memorial Hospital is still not on the list of Centers of Excellence. My BIG problem is, is that the hospitals that are on the list is any where from 3-9 hrs away from where I live. With the type of surgery I have been told I will have to have (Open RNY), it would be very very very difficult to travel any lenghthy distance after having any type of open surgery. Well any surgery period. Roanoke Memorial is only about 1.5 -2 hours away, it would still be a long ride, but not near as long it would be to ride to these other hospitals. I have written everyone I can possibly think of, trying to help Roanoke memorial get the approval to get on the list. I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired all the time. I don't want to die, I want to live.... I have so much to live for.
It is hard to not to be depressed about the whole situation. some of the folks on OH who have already had their surgeries have told me that it should be no problem at all finding another surgeon. That it just what they think, finding a doctor that accepts all my insurance, it took me two years to get to the point meeting the requirements for insurance approval. And every doctor that I have talked to, says that they will take the information already gathered but that I would have to meet their requirements as well, and that they could not promise it would not take another year or two, to meet their requirements as well. The way I look at it is, the ones who told me this has already had their surgeries and are healthy and doing very well. I know that each had their own trials to deal with, but they get to choose who did their surgery, the hospital for which it was done, and travel time for which they wanted to travel, etc. I am VERY discouraged, The first thing that all docs mention is that if I was doing it for vanity reasons to think again. I just want to be healthy, I want to Live.... Lord, Please help me though this entire process....
July 27, 2006
Well things are finally looking up for me. In checking for updates on the list of "Centers of Excellence", I found a Surgeon.... He deals with high risk patients like me. He is located in my home state which helps a bunch. His name is Dr. D. Blaine Nease of Huntington WV. I emailed him monday morning and by 2:00PM, Kim the patient liaison from Cabell Huntington Hospital was calling me. She seems soooo nice. After talking with her a few minutes, she set me up to attend his seminar Sept 21, 2006. And sent me one of their patient information packets. As I figured I will have to meet a whole new set of requirements, But not as many as I first figured. Hopefully I will have the surgery before the end of the year. I am sooooo cautiously excited!!!
September 22, 2006
I attended the required seminar and found it to be very informative. Dr. Nease was very knowledgeable about each type of surgery. I learned alot.
November 16, 2006
I recv'd a call today from Jackie of Dr. Nease's Office. I have a scheduled appointment to see Dr. Nease November 28th, @ 10am. Thankfully another step forward. I have been on cloud nine all day. WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 28, 2006
I came down with a bad cold, Thanksgiving, so Dr. Nease's office rescheduled the appointment for Dec. 8, @ 9 am.
November 30, 2006
I am very sad and broken hearted today. I just found out that my family doctor passed away late last nite. Dr. Hunter was not only my doctor, but a good friend. He was only 52 years old.
December 17, 2006
Again I had to cancel my appointment for December. Dad could not get the time off from work and also, plus when the day came I was snowbound, the weather got really bad really quick. It has been rescheduled for Jan. 16, 2007 @ 10am
May 24, 2007
Sorry it has taken me so long to update, but there has not been much new to report.
I did end up finding a new surgeon. So now I am back in Roanoke. I was referred to Dr. T. Lucktong. I am finally able to make my appointment with him, when I recv'd my package from his office it plainly said you could only miss two appointments, otherwise I would have to find another surgeon. And where I live in the winter months the snow is very unpredictable.
I had to go see my local cardiologist, a couple of weeks ago, he has all but given up on me until after the surgery. I have CHF all the time now, to the point I can't even lay in bed no more. I have to sit straight up in the chair with pillows behind my back and my feet elevated. My legs and feet are sooooo swollen now that they look like they are literally going to pop. I have weeping venous stasis ulcers to the point I have been referred to the Open Wound Clinic. A new problem has come up, coming out of my cardiologist office I fell, could not get up myself, of course no one was around, I had to call on my cell phone for help. When I first got up everything seemed okay nothing hurt except for my pride. After getting home I found a bruise and a knot on my left elbow and another bruise the size of a salad plate in another location. A few days later I went to get up out of the chair and could hardly get up to my feet. It is still very difficult to get up out of a chair, and walking is getting more difficult.
I hope that surgery will come sooner than later. I want so much to feel good again.
June 7th 2007
I finally I have found a PCP that I can get a referral and a letter of medical necessity from for the surgery. Actually it is a Internal Medicine Doctor. I was told by the Family doctor that took care of my mom, I would be better suited for for the medical needs I have to go to a Internal Medicine. I have a weeping venous stasis ulcer on my right leg, and it is very infected. As far as my local cardiologist. Two weeks prior I weighed 338 lbs. Then went to my appointment last thursday, they weighed me again and I weighed 350+ . The oral Diruetics have apparently completely stopped working for me. But he did not offer any other course of treatment.
June 11, 2007
I went to the Open Wound Clinic. Of course I had been trying to keep it as clean as I could being that it was hard for me to reach all of it. But even with that, I just did not realize just how BIG the ulcer actually was. When they measured it, it was 9"x10", and they had to make a picture for my chart. Seeing that just totally devestated me. I have another on the other side of the same leg but it is much smaller, it only measured 1 1/2"x1". The surgeon that looked at it said that it was not infected thankfully, but there is not much he can do until I get rid of the majority of the fluid, if it can be gotten rid of. He said that it would take a LONG LONG time to heal. That was another devestating blow. He said that my answer is GB Surgery. I am very frustrated and aggravated. I just want so much for the surgery to be over, and to be on the better side of it.
August 5, 2007
My walking is soooo bad now I could not go on vacation with my family. My bariatric wheelchair and walker are on order, but have not come in yet. Bariatric equipment is almost unheard of in our area. I have not been able to fit in a regular wheelchair for about 4 years. In our local hospital when they come to take you for tests or something they always without fail bring the standard small wheelchair, there are only 2 bariatric wheelchairs in the whole hospital, 1 stays in the volunteer office only available Mon- Sat 9a-5p otherwise locked up. The other stays in outpatient surgery only available during their operation hours M_F 5:30 a-6:00p. If an employee has to go looking for one they act like it is the death of them to do so. Steps are next to impossible for me to do, and there is 16 steps in and out of our house. I would like to find me an apartment or trailer that is on level ground, no steps or anything, I dont have enough income to live on my own. Just climbimg into a car is a total nightmare for me where I am soooo swollen I cant hardly lift my leg into the car, then once I am seated I cant hardly pull the door closed. Being that just regular closing the door, just bounces off my legs so it has to be slammed, I scream, it is QUITE painful!!!!! Aug 16 will be my 3rd weigh in, I have lost 10 lbs. so far. Please Keep Praying... 
Feb 24, 2008
Sorry it has been so long since I last updated you. So much has gone on. I was admitted to Bluefield Regional Medical Center October 12, 2007 Soooo sick I had Pulmonary Edema, and unable to walk and in fact just about died. I was literally drowning in my own fluids. Upon admission I weighed 457 Lbs. After spending a week there I was transferred to Healthsouth Rehablilitation Hospital, in Princeton WV where they helped me to walk again, But while I was there I became Very Anemic, and was given 2 pints of blood. I was there for 3 1/2 Wks. They they discharged me to go home. Was home for less then 24 hrs and my doctor called to tell me I was being admitted to Princeton Community Hospital with an infection in my blood and needed iv antibotics immediately. Come to find out I had MERSA. I was told that I would have to have iv antibotics for at least 6wks. After spending10 days there I was then sent to Bland County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Bland VA. 9 Days later I found my self in Princeton Community Hospital again having to have 2 more pints of blood. I was finally able to come home on December 5th. My weight got down to 326lbs. I was home for Christmas, I was just not well though. It was hard to breath hard to walk. I was admitted back to Princeton Community Hospital, in CHF in January. By the time I was discharged in Feb., I weighed 236lbs. I have lost a total of 221 lbs. The surgery must not have been meant to be for me. Praise the Lord. I have decided not to persue the surgery no more. My appetite has decreased by 3/4. I don't eat near what I used to eat. I have gone from a very tight 5x to 1x and 2x Shirts and 2x pants. I have to complete 2 more weeks of Physical Therapy. How are things going for you? Well got to go for now, will try to update you more often.
July 19, 2008
It has been a very long few months. I have been in and out of the hospitals since October 2008.
I am now 207 lbs, just 57 lbs to go to get to my goal. I am now in a size 16-18, to a 1x just depends on the make. I realized that no one around here was trying to give me a chance. They were either giving up on me, or had already given up on me. They were dwelling on what I could not do, as opposed to what I could do. I was giving up on myself.
I was finally referred to Raleigh Center in Ghent WV. The love, care and Concern shown to me during my stay, gave me the strength and determination to do just what I had to to get to where I am at today. Hopefully will post soon.
