Michele Peck (Warwick now)
This is the original text I typed on my profile when I first stared it. They canged the format so it didn't fit. I didn't want to change anything because it was my step by step process to the new me. I have just copied it directly over on to here so you can read it just like I wrote it.
Weight loss chart.
date weight loss
08/08/03 325lbs
09/08/03 295lbs -30lbs
09/24/03 290lbs -35lbs
10/10/03 280lbs -45lbs
11/11/03 265lbs -60lbs
12/11/03 250lbs -75lbs
01/12/04 242lbs -83lbs
02/12/04 230lbs -95lbs
04/06/04 220lbs -105lbs
07/15/04 210lbs -115lbs
11/14/04 203lbs -122lbs
12/04/04 199lbs -126lbs
01/16/05 195lbs -130lbs
AboutMe? I am 34 year old mother of 4. I have been heavy all of my life and I am ready to change that. I have just recently separated from my husband, who I have been with for almost 11 years, and I am trying to start a new life. It would be wonderful if I could do that without the weight. I have many health problems that are weight related and take way to much medication. I want to live to be around for my children and someday my grandchildren, and I want to get off as many meds as posible. WLS is the answer to my prayers. Now I just have to get it going.
I am serching to find a Dr who will accept medi-cal. I have made up my mind to have the surgery and have been to an orientation here in my town. They just started doing the surgeries here in Redding, CA and have only completed 6 so far. They are starting slowly and the wait may be long. I am searching the surrounding areas to try to find somewhere that will accept Medi-cal and not have such a long wait. My Dr is trying to help me as well but I would be greatful for any information anyone could give me.
1/21/03 I got an e-mail from the the consultant that works for the obesity sugery center here in town. She is setting up a date for us to meet to discuss things I can do to help me along before I meet with the surgon. The hardest part is the waiting. I know I want the surgery and trying to get things started is frustrating. Lets hope I will get more information from my meeting and can get the ball rolling.
1/24/03 The consultant, Dianne, contacted me today and set up a time for us to meet. I am meeting with her Tuesday Jan. 28th. I'm trying so hard not to get my hopes up too much. I'm hoping that the surgeons will be doing more surgeries soon and I will not have to wait too long. I'm looking into traveling somewhere to have it done, but I would really like to stay here in town if possible. My kids really need me close to home. AMOS has been a god send to me and continues to give me hope. Thank you for your support.
1/29/03 I met with Dianne yesterday and she was very helpful. If I want to get the surgery done here I have to get my BMI under 50 and hope that the Dr. will be impressed enough with me to accept my Medi-Cal. I have a list of everything I need to give her, I go to the sleep lab next week and I have my physic. evaluation in April. The rest of the tests I needed I just have to get copies of the results from my Drs. I'm still also looking into going out of town for the surgery. There's alot of work that has to be done but I'm willing to do what ever it takes. But the wait is killing me!!!!!!!
1/30/03 I was told I need to lose weight to get my BMI down and now I feel like I'm starving. Go figure. Heeeeellllp
3/25/03 I'm now 35. It's been a while since I updated but not much has happened until last Friday. I sent my information away to another Dr. out of town to see if I can get anything to happen faster and low and behold the contacted me right away and want me come down on April 4th and if all goes well I will meet with the Dr very shortly after that. I was told since I have most of my stuff done I should be able to have my surgery in 3-4 months. The best thing is that I don't have to worry about the 5 stupid pounds. It's worth traveling for.
Also I did find out that I have sleep apnia and they got me hooked up with a c-pap. The problem is I have a hard time keeping it on. I seen to throw it off when I'm sleeping. A lot of good that does me huh? Oh well hopfully that will go away when I get the surgery done.
5/5/03 I now have my first appointment set up with the surgeon. I go down to meet with him on May 20th and I'm so excited. I haven't been writing much because the wait is killing me. I hope it doesn't take long for my insurance aproval after I meet with the surgeon. I will write again after my apppointment.
5/29/03 I met with my surgeon Dr. Coates. He was absolutly wonderful, and so very understanding. He explained everything in detail to me and said the only thing left that I need to get authorization is my nutritional consult and I'm doing that today. He told me that once he recieve the consult from the nutritionist the will apply for authorization. He said it should only take 4-5 weeks. The way things look he said I should be able to have my sugery by the end of July. I'm sooooo excited. It seems as though I'm finally getting somewhere. Going out of town really worked for me.
6/23/03 I'm going crazy now. I have everything turned in and they should have sent off my letter to the insurance co. The problem is that I can't get a hold of anyone in the office to find out if they have done it. I have called and left messages but I have not gotten a call back. I try to call when I can but I keep missing someone in the office because of my work hours. I can't stand the waiting. If it takes too much longer I may not be able to get my surgery done in July. Kristen a friend I met here on this site was having problems with the same Dr.'s office getting her stuff done so she went to another Dr. I'm too far away to do that so I'm stuck waiting. I have worked so hard to get this done. I pray they will do there job and get me taken care of soon. This waiting is soooo hard.
6/24/03 Ok I am really stressed out now. I called Dr. Coates office yesterday to check if they sent my letter off and Vanessa said they couldn't find my chart. She said she would call my at 4:30 yesterday but of course she never called. I called her at 4:45 only to be told she was busy and would call me back. So once again I never recieved a call. I'm going crazy!!!!! Now I have to try to call again today and I have almost used up my cell phone minutes for the month. I can't believe how hard just getting the authorization to my insurance co is!!!! I'm ready to cry. :( my ankles and legs are so swollen from setting at work I just don't know how much longer I can take it. I have tried everything but I can't keep from swelling at work. Even the lasix isn't working. Ok I know one day at a time and I will make it (I hope).
7/2/03 Thanks to others here at Obesityhelp.com I found out who to speak with at Dr. Coates' office and I actually got somewhere. Jessica that took over the insurance auth's is great. Once I got ahold of her she went and found my information and called me right back. I was unavailable when she did but she left a message saying my information had been sent and they had not recieved authorization yet. I still don't know what day they sent it but a least I know it's been done. She says it usually takes 30 days so i figured I'll call back in 2 weeks from when I spoke to her. I still feel awefull and my Dr tried taking me off work for a week but I told her I couldn't afford to take just a week off, so she increased my med's to see if it helps. This really sucks, I can't wait to have my surgery. Once again, "One day at a time". :)
7/9/03 WOO HOO!! I'M SOOOOOOO HAPPY I CAN'T HELP BUT SHOUT. I'VE BEEN APPROVED FOR MY SURGERY !!!!! I am definately doing the happy dance. :) Jesica called and left a message for me to call her. I had just called her yesterday so I just thought she was getting back to me, but when she answered she said she had good news. She said when she opened the mail today there was my authorization!!! I just can't believe it's actually happening. It only took 2 weeks from when they sent it out. She said Vanessa will get it set up with the Dr. and the hospital and call me with my date. She said I could call tomarrow if she didn't get back to me today. I really want to thank Donna George for e-mailing me to tell me to talk to Jessica. Jessica is absolutely wonderful!!!
7/11/03 I HAVE A DATE !!!!! My surgery is set for AUGUST 4TH @ 1:30pm @ Dr's Hospital of Mantica. I just can't believe it. 23 days and counting. I'm so very very happy!!!! :)
8/5/03 I can't believe all my posts inbetween the 7/11 and now are not showing. I know they were on here because I read them last time I was on. I don't know. Anyway my surgery has been postponed until August 8th @ 7:30 am. Today is my last day at work until after my surgery. Only 3 more days to go. It's soooo hard to believe. The anxiety is really setting in. Yesterday I had to take a zanix because I had such a big anxiety attack. I'm better today so far. It's getting hard to go to sleep though, so many things going through my mind.
8/22/03 I'm back. I had surgery on Friday 8/8/03. I haven't been able to set long at the computer yet so I haven't got to update my profile.
My surgery went pretty well the only problem I had with the surgery itself is that they made me wake up with the ventilator in. I paniced. I wanted to scream but I couldn't. Other than that I was ok. It didn't hurt too bad. I had a problem with the pain meds in the PCA pump so they had to take me off. It made me itch sooo bad. I went without pain meds for quite a while. They took me for my leak test with no pain meds that was a little tough but I made it. The leak test was aweful. The radiologest had never done a test on someone with my surgery and panic when nothing would pass. He got me all upset too. The barium was so nasty and no where to go so of course I had to throw it up "OUCH". My astomosis was swollen and would not let anything pass so I had to keep having x-rays all night until it finally passed. This ment I couldn't have anything except ice chips until it opened up so I was a day behind most. I didn't get water, broth or jello until Sunday. When I finally got to have then the broth was too salty the jello was too sweet so basicly I just had water until I got home. I got out Monday afternoon. My Dad came to get me for the 3.5 hour drive home. It wasn't too bad. My hospital stay was ok mostly thanks to my son who stayed with me the whole time. I was the only bariatric patient in the hospital that weekend so it kind of sucked. Nicole Butts came to see me though and brought me a wonderful stuffed bunny in a robe and slippers. We had a great visit.
Now for the weight loss. As of Tuesday 8/19/03 I had lost 18lbs by the Drs. scales. I hope I can keep it up. I can actually eat now. I don't really have a problem with any food I have tried. I do feel sick when I'm not eating or drinking. I hope this feeling goes away soon. I'm trying to find other things to drink besides water. When I first started eating I could actually eat more than I can now. Well I will write more later.
8/25/03 I'm so scared. I'm only 17 days out and I can eat very easily. I haven't had a problem with hardly anything I have eaten. I can't eat a whole lot but it seems that I can eat more that most. Depending on the food I can eat up to 1/2 cup. I feel sick most of the time except when I eat. And I feel hungry. I try to stick to mostly protein foods but I can hardly drink water cause it makes me feel sick so I drink decaf green tea to get in my liquids. I'm still so tired that I haven't been able to walk a lot yet and I have stopped losing weight. I lost 18 lbs in the first 11 days and I haven't lost any more. I can't believe I went through all this just to fail. :( I'm going to call the Dr tomarrow about feeling sick all the time but I feel like such a failure cause its so easy for me to eat. I'm just so lost I hope somehow I can get this figured out.
9/8/03 1 month today! It's been awhile but I thought I needed to post for those who may be following my progress and for those who are still waiting to have surgery. I went to the Dr. today. My total weight loss so far is 30 lbs. I was so excited. As for being able to eat very much that has changed drasticly. I can hardly eat much at one time now. I started taking my Nexium again and I don't feel so sick any more. I can eat most foods. Some make me feel sick to my stomach but I hang in pretty good. I try real hard to make sure 50% of my meal is protien and my bloodwork shows my protien levels are great. My diabeties is gone and my blood pressure is finally under control. I still have a little problem with drinking enough but that is getting better. I can drink a lot more at one time now instead of just sips. I will go to my first support group this Saturday and I'm looking forward to it. I have talked to others who have had the surgery and they said everything I am going though is normal and it will get better.
9/24/03 As of Monday my total weight loss was 35 lbs. I only lost 5lbs in 2 weeks. That sucks. I started back to work yesterday and boy am I tired. I hope now that I'm getting back on a schedule I can speed up my weight loss. I need to make myself drink more but its soooo hard. I have been getting sick a lot lately when I eat so I'm trying to be careful. If I get upset at all around the time I eat I can't keep my food down so I try to make sure things are calm when I eat. I just hope my weight loss picks up.
10/7/03 My weight loss is between 40-43lbs. I'll know the actual total when I go to the Dr on Thursday. I have started drinking protien drinks even though my Dr. doesn't believe in them. I lost 4 lbs the day after drinking my 1st one. I'm hoping I can speed up my weight loss. I hate losing so slow. I will be 2 months out tomarrow. I was really hoping to be down 50 lbs but I guess I can't complain to much. Before surgery I couldn't lose at all. As for my life right now things are kind of hectic. My husband finally found his own place so he's out of my house for good now. My kids are having a little bit of a hard time adjusting but it should get easier as time goes on. Also I think they will enjoy getting to go spend every other weekend with him. I hope this way they will get some quality time. Well I will post again after my appt. Thursday.
10/10/03 I went to the Dr. yesterday and my weight loss total so far is 45lbs. My lab work was great! Everyone has really been noticing lately. I can see it and feel it too. I can pretty much eat most foods except chicken now. It's funny how things change as you go. I used to be able to eat it but now I throw up from even 1 bite. It's so weird to that once my period started I stopped feeling hungry. I even forgot to eat yesterday. I know better than to not eat though cause I do not want my weight loss to go any slower. I ordered some of the Nectar protien drink. I can't wait for it to come. I tried the Unjury chocolate protien powder it was GREAT but the milk I mixed it in made my stomach hurt and it went right through me. I'm going to try the vanilla in my coffee. I will post agian later good luck to you all!
11/13/03 As of Tuesday 11/11/03 I had lost a total of 60 lbs. I'm down to 265lbs from 325lbs. All my clothes are huge on me now. I had to go and buy new underware cause I just couldn't stand the way mine hung on me. I feel really good and everyone keeps telling me how good I look. I'm hoping to increase my exercise more and I'm trying hard to get in all my water. I was on a plateau most of the month and then right after I started my period I lost 10 lbs. I guess I'm going to be one of those that loses most around that time of month. I don't really care as long as I keep losing. I hope I can lose 100 lbs in 6 months. I'm hoping to start working harder at losing so I can make that goal. I guess we'll see. The Nectar drink I ordered was absolutly aweful. I got the very chery berry. I almost threw up from just one drink. It was the worst thing I have ever tasted. What a waste of money I didn't have. As of right now I guess I will stick to just eating my protien. I started taking biotin pills and I hope it helps. My hair just started falling out and I have really thin hair as it is. I know it grows back but if I lose very much I will be partially bald. I hope that doesn't happen. I am so glad I had this surgery. I wish the best of luck to all.
12/15/03 I was 4 months out on 12/8/03. I went to the Dr on Thursday 12/11 and I had lost a total of 75 lbs. Things are going pretty good for me. My hair is still falling out some but slower now that I'm taking the biotin. Everyone is really noticing my weight loss now. I get comments everywhere I go. People I know have passed me by not even recognizing me. My son's friend Tara brought over some size 22 pants she had just bought at Fashon Bug and I tried them on. It was so awesome, they fit good even some were a lttle loose. I think after the holidays are over I will have to buy at least one pair of new pants. I felt so good in those pants. It seemed my weight loss really sped up last month with eating all the turkey so I made another turkey yesterday. I'm hoping to lose 100lbs by 6 months. I am working out to Richard Simmons sweatin with the oldies, 3-5 times per week. Tara had her surgery a week after me and she has lost 71lbs. She comes over and we work out together. It's so nice to have someone else to go through it with. Well I wish the best of luck to everyone wherever they are on their journey.
2/16/04 Well so much has happened since the last time I updated. I am so close to being in the century club I think I'm going to go crazy. I had my 6 month check up at Dr. Coates office Thursday February 12. I was so hoping to be down 100 lbs but I just wasn't quite there. I was officially in the white area on the BMI chart it was so awesome. Dr. coates assistant said I was doing so well that I did not have to come back for a year. The only problem I have had is that my potassium level dropped really low and they had to put me back on potassium pills twice a day. Dr. Coates' assistant said I should be able to go off those soon he hopes. My PCP regulates my meds though so basicly its up to her. I lost even more weight over the weekend but I'm still not quite down 100 lbs yet. I am now wearing a size 18 pants and an extra large shirt. It's the best feeling to be able to pick something off the rack in the regular size departments. I bought my first matching bra and panty set last month and it made me feel so good. I'm wearing a 38D bra and just XL or size 8 underwear. I am officially the smallest I have ever been as an adult. I even bought some thong underware. My 2 very close friend both had surgery on Friday the 13th, last week. I scheduled my 6 month postop appt. the day before the surgeries so that I could be there for them when the had surgery. Boy, was that a very stressful, busy day. They both did very well and we all came home together Sunday. I'm so happy they are on the lighter side with me now and I have faith they'll both do very well. They didn't have to have a drain or do the leak test. Dr. Coates and Dr. Corin no longer do either. It made there recovery so much faster. While I was in Modesto my friend Debra took me down and got me a tatoo. It's my fist one ever. It's so cool and it symbolizes my starting my new life. It's a rose with a butterfly on it and I had it put on my ankle. I hope that me keeping up on my profile helps those of you who are thinking about having surgery.
I wanted to make sure that those of you who read my profile know that I have no problem with you e-mailing me to ask questions. If it wasn't for others on this site who helped me I may not be where I am today. So feel free to e-mail me if you want. I hope I can give as much, or more, back as others gave me. Good luck to all of you. No matter what part of your journey your at I wish you the best.
04/06/04 I just thought I would update since it's been awhile. I finally made the century club bust it really took some time. My weight loss has really slowed down and I'm hoping to work at speeding it up again. I'm trying to find some better means of working out but my life has been so hectic it's been hard. I have been doing 300 crunches and 200leg lifts every day to 2 days and it has really helped with some toneing but I need to get more of an arobic work out more often. My size 18's are getting big on me know and I have bought some 16's. Good luck to you all.
07/15/04 Sorry it's been so long since I have updated. I have been so busy. My middle son has been diagnosed as bipolar/ADHD and I have had so many problems with him that I can't even work any longer. I'm so busy I hardley have any time. Things are so different for me now that I have lost the weight. I had a 26 year old boyfriend for a while and it was good while it lasted but I learned a lot from it. My soon to be ex husband freaked out and decided he wanted me back durring it all and it was such a mess. After my boyfriend and I broke up my husband and I were going to try to work it out but that hasen't gone very well either. I guess I still just need to find out who I am. I never realized that losing all this weight would change things so much but it really has. It's weird how different people treat me now. Women are not as nice to me anymore. I get dirty looks now instead of smiles. I guess I'm more of a threat now. At least thats what my friends say. I will say I am so happy with my weight loss though. I have been losing very slow. I gain up some and then lose that plus a little more but I'm so afraid it will stop before I'm ready for it too. I'm trying to get back to basics but I'm having problems with my exercise part. It's so hot and I have so little time. I did buy a new bike and I have been trying to ride when it's cooler. I haven't ridden a bike since I was 15. It's awesome to get on and just ride. I'm doing really well with most foods, the only thing I can not have at all is milk or ice cream. I do dump! Thank God. So I have to be careful if I have to much junk. I can have a little but my body limits me. I do want to warn everyone to be careful of the alcohol. I usually only drink a little but the other night I had just a little bit to much and it was sooooo scary. I can't even remember what happened. I just know that I passed out and thankfully another weight loss friend found me and made me eat some protien to help keep me from alcohol poisoning. I have never in my life been that drunk that I forgot things. I forgot the whole second half of the Reba McEntire concert I paid so much to go to. I am only telling this to hopfully prevent this from happening to someone else. Be very careful if you are going to drink at all. Well good luck to you all. I will try not to take so long in between my posts.
11/14/04 I know I said I wasn't going to take so long between posts but I've been real busy and frustrated with my weight loss. After my last post I lost 5 more pounds over the next 2 months then I stopped losing. I kept going up and down between 205 and 210. I was so upset no matter what I did it just wouldn't go down any more. My only real goal was to finally be under 200 lbs. I thought for sure I had stopped losing and I was never going to make it. Well hopefully I was wrong because I weighed myself yesterday and I have finally lost 3 more lbs. I pray to God this means that I'm able to lose again and that I can get under 200. I got my tounge pierced 2 days ago and I'm hoping it will help me with one of my problems (which is oral gratification) I noticed sometimes I was eating just to have something in my mouth. Now there is always something in my mouth. (haha) I went back to my original hair color which is brown and I'm hoping to get a good picture taken of me soon which shows my weight loss better than the ones on my profile. I will write again as soon as I can. Lets hope and pray its to say I finally got under 200lbs.
12/04/04 Yeah! I finally did it. Last week I stepped on the scale and I was 198.5 lbs. I cried. My weight loss finally started again and I hope I can keep it up. Thank God for tounge rings (LOL). Last night I went to a christmas party for where I use to work (Budget Truck call center). I left there almost a year a go. Almost no one could recognize me. Most of them did finally by my smile or when I talked. It felt so good. The dress I bought to wear to the party was a size 10. It was a stretchy 10 but a 10 none the less. I bought a size 14 jeans the other day and it felt so good. I hope I can loss more I am really trying to work on it.
1/16/05 Just a quick update. I'm so glad that I have not stopped losing weight. I lost another 3.5 lbs. It's great to really be under 200 lbs now. My excess skin is really bothering me now though. I'm starting to look for a plastic surgeon who will take medi-cal. I have heard they will pay for the panny removal. I'm still working at losing though. Having been so big for so long I look small at 195 lbs. Without all the extra skin I would look great. I can't complain though. I'm so happy just to be healthy and to be able to move and do things. I finally found my original before pictures (that were taken the day of surgery) and I just got back my after pictures. I'm hoping to get these new pictures on here soon. Best of luck to you all.
