mimi7191
Hi my name is Mia and I live in Fort Hood, Texas. Like so many others I have seen or talked to, I have been overweight for as long as I can remember. I have also tried many, many diets and plans and pills. My I currently take Phentermine to help control my cravings and although it does help, i do not want to have to take it for the rest of my life. In my opionon I shouldn't even have to be taking this medication, as I had a Lap-Band put in Nov of 2003. I have had nothing but problems with this and have had two additional surgeries since then to correct things from the first one. In all actuality I should probably weigh about 125lbs, because I throw up jsut about everything I eat, no matter what it is, how good I chewed it, etc...lol I have gained about 50 pounds since my last "revision" and am ready to get this out and have the Gastric By-Pass done, so I can get on with the rest of my life..I had assumed when I had the Lap-Band procedure as long as I followed Dr.s orders and did what I was supposed to do, I would already be where I want to be. Unfortunately working out is painful since the surgrey, so I can't even do it that way. It seems the only things that will stay down sometimes are the things that got me here in the first place. I have been trying since moving to Fort Hood to find a Doc that will remove the Band, but no one wants to touch me if they are not the ones that put it in. Well going back to the Doc that put it in is TOTALLY out of the question! I started reading on this site about a month or so ago, and once I started reading about Doc Warnock, and talking to people who have used him, for GB and other things, I knew he was the one for me..lol Finding out that he would do the revision I need was just icing on the cake. It may sound goofy, but the minute I found out he would do what I need, I felt a sense of "calm" come over me. I had been stressing pretty bad up to that point. I have gotten the initial referral that I needed for a consultation, and had to get a new one due to the wording, and the Upper GI I need as well, got the referal, wording wasn't right, have to get a new one. I will not give up though, I WILL have this surgery, and it WILL be done by Dr. Warnock. I am just praying alot, and I know that if it is in Gods plans for me than it will happen and it will be a success! I have been married to the Love of my life for 14 years and we have a son about to turn 13. My entire family and all of my friends are VERY supportive so I feel blessed going in. I am 33 years old and currently weigh 293lbs. When I re-started this process about a month and a half ago, I had gained up to 310lbs, but I guess all the stress (and the Phentermine) have taken me down a few. My heaviest wieght in the last three years was 350lbs, and my lowest was 254lbs. I really need to get it ALL off because, even though I have never really had bad health issues, I am starting to get them and I do not want them to get worse. I want to be around to watch my sone grow up, and I want to grow old and gray with my best friend, my husband. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I will update as soon as I have more progress. Good Luck to everyone on this site who has had the surgery, and to those who are in the process of!!
June 11, 2005
Hello everyone, I hope this finds you all Blessed and happy!! I am just giving a little update on my progress. I have read that writing in here is theraputic, and I am kinda feeling like they were right..lol I think I mentioned before that I had problems with the wording on my referrals. The one for the orginal consult needed to have "removal of Lap-Band AND Gastric By-Pass" clearly stated on it, well it didn't, all three times my PCP "fixed" it. So the insurance co. just suggested that I go to a different Doctor, tell them excatly what I need it to say, and ask them to write me a brand new referral. Done. NOT! After about 2 weeks, I called the insurance co. to find out the status of the new referral, and was told that it had been sent back to the Doctor, because it only said "removal of Lap-Band AND Gastric By-Pass" needed. WHAT?? Is this not what they wanted in the first place?? LOL!! I really am glad I still have a good sense of humor..NOW there is not enough info on the referral, it needs clinicals and more info..OK. Called the Dr.s office and he has been gone for 2 weeks, and will not be back until tomorrow, and then he has to go through 3 weeks of messages. Hopefully this can be done pretty soon (christmas maybe?). On the Upper GI, once the referral got to the hospital it was supposed to be done at, they call me for appointment, etc. The lady asks me if this is for a pending gastric by-pass, I tell her yes..She then tells me they can't do the upper gi then. According to her, the ins. co. will not pay them for it if that is why I need it..I am sooooo confused! BUT after running back and forth from Darnall Hospital, to the Referral Management Branch on the other side of the parking lot (any one from Fort Hood knows what I'm talking about, about a million times, one of the Ladies at the RMB took pity on me I guess..lol She took care of me and got me an appointment where I should have gotten it in the first place. So my Upper GI is scheduled for the 29th of June, WHEW! I am also going to 2 support group meetings at the end/beginning of the month, so I am feeling pretty good about it right now. Everything happens for a reason, and I am not going to let myself get stressed out over the setbacks.. GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING, AND I'M NOT ARGUING WITH GOD!!! Anyway, that is my HUGE little update, thanks for letting me vent! Good Luck to all who had surgery this Month, and all pre-ops and further post-ops!! You are all Winners in my book!!!
June 29, 2005
Hello everybody, I hope you are all doing fabulous! I just wanted to update a little since I haven't had much good news lately.. OK, first of all, I finally had the Upper GI this morning, got that out of the way. If you are wondering why that;s a big deal, it's because Dr. Warnock needed one because I am wanting to get a Lap-Band removed when/if I am graced with a GB. I was talking with a friend this afternoon when a guy from Tri-Care called me and told me he was the Manager of the Fort Hood Service Center (something like that), and apologised for all of the problems I have been having getting an auth for a consulation with Dr. Warnock. Just in case you are starting this now, I have basically gone through hell just to get a consultation appt, because the info was not correct on the three or so referrals that were sent in. He also told me that Tri-Care will not pay for the Lap-Band to be removed. Kinda troubling, but I think unless its the price of a new car, I am hoping we can work something out on the cost since it seems to be coming out of our pockets.. I DON"T CARE!!! LOL I finally have a consultation appt with Dr. Warnock!!!!! Even Better??? IT"S TUESDAY JULY 5TH!! I was like what???? Joanna said she had a cancellation so I could come in then if thre was no problem..Problem??? I THINK NOT!! I will take it..I cannot believe all of this happened in one day when I have been waiting for this I feel like my whole life..I really am grateful to God for this chance at a healthier life. OK, I just wanted to get this out of my system..lol My Hunny is in Iraq, so I won't be able to tell him until after 10pm tonight, provodong he can get on the computer. Thanks so much for listening/reading, even if no one reads this, I feel better having gotten it out of my system. Good Luck to Everyone on this journey..May God Bless You All!!
Oh, and BTW, for some reason I am still losing weight. I am down to 282 from 310 when I started a couple of months ago.
July 5th, 2005
Hello Everyone! I hope this finds you all happy and healthy. I FINALLY got to meet Dr. Warnock yesterday!! I must say, I totally see what all the hoopla is about with this man! I really, really enjoyed my visit with him..He was very imformative and I felt he was compleately sincere in everything he said to me. I am now waiting for the insurance lady at the office ( i forgot her name already) to send in my paperwork, and hopefully get an approval from Tricare! I am so psyched you guys!! She told me yesterday that we should hear something either way within 10 days, so I am keeping everything that crosses..crossed! Thanks to all for your support and for this website, I would be going nuts without it..My husband is in Iraq and he's kinda antsy now with whats going to happen, because he won;t be here to take care of me after surgery. I am sure he and I both will survive and be just fine..Gotta stay optimistic and have faith!! Good Luck to all pre and post ops, may God Bless you all in this journey!!!
July 23, 2005
I AM APPROVED!! I have wanted to say that for so long!! LOL I talked to Tricare yesterday and they gave me the news, I am on cloud nine right now. Unfortunately when I called the doctors office to see if they had gotten the auth, the people that set the dates I guess were already gone..Thats ok! I am so happy and I have waited this long, two more days are not gonna kill me..Just staying busy. I have been smoke free since the 6th of July and I am soooo ready to do this thing!! Sorry for the over abundance of enthusiasom (sp), I just can't believe it is finally REALLY on the way now..Thanks for listening, and good luck to everyone in the process of changing their lives!! I will be back hopefully on Monday to post a surgery date!! Have a great weekend!!!
July 26, 2005
I HAVE A DATE!!! I am having surgery on August 5th!! I cannot believe that it just happened like this..I am really nervous and excited and a jumble of nerves all at once. I would really love to get some feedback on things to look for and how long in general it seems to take everyone to get back on "track" after surgery and such..Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated right now..I don't like to ask for anything from anyone, but if you wouldn't mind...Could I get some Prayers from anyone that Prays?? Thank You and good luck to everyone out there on this journey!!
August 16, 2005
Hi Everyone! I made it to the other side!!! I am sorry for not keeping up on here, but if you have had surgery, you know why I haven't..lol It has just been a huge adjustment with everything. The surgrey went great, no problems with anything. I woke up completely the afternoon of, but I still don't remember alot of it. I do remember waking up the first time in excrutiating (sp) pain! I really did feel it let me tell you..lol I knew there was no way I was going to start healing right though if I let it overtake me, so I prayed alot and just started moving around. The staff at the hospital, at least my nurses, were all awesome!!! Every shift nurse were the nicest, most helpful ones I have ever had the pleasure of having in a hospital. I just really had a good experience in the hospital. On the third day after surgery, I went to the Rathegeber House and I was on my own. I was walking and taking care of myself and I really can't say my feelings on this. With my doctor if you live out of town from where he does the surgery, you have to stay so many extra days in case something happens right after. The staff at the house were all really nice, but it wasn't my family. I got really depressed because I was by myself, and if you know me, I am not a person used to being alone.lol My mom, who is awesome, came back to my house the day after my surgery and stayed with my son and furry children..I cried and holed up in my room for a couple of days before I made myself go outside and get fresh air. Anyway, I came home on the 11th, and I never want to leave my house again..lol It hasn't been too bad though, every day is better and better. I really thank God and my doctor for doing so good. I went for my week appointment before I came home and I had already lost 16 pounds in the first five days. I am going to assume that it wa alot of fluid going bye-bye..lol I am not going to stress over numbers with this because I find that only can lead to dissapointment alot of the time. I am leaving my fate in Gods hands, He did such a great job with surgery I figure why mess with a good thing? Anyway, evryone take care and good luck! Tomorrow is my baby's 13th birthday, so I have last minute stuff to take care of..Bye Bye!!!!!
March 29, 2006!!
WOW! It has been a really long time since I have updated. I feel as though I have been on a serious roller coaster ride..lol I am going to try and update as efficentially (sp) as possible since so much time has passed. I have to start by saying thank you to everyone who had contributed wonderful words of encouragement to my surgery page, it really meant ALOT to me.
OK, As you know the surgery went great, took a little getting used to at first, but I had no problems wanting food, that was the last thing that bothered me. I could not tolerate the Muscle Milk at all!! The Nectar was ok for a while, but then that started making me sick to my tummy as well. The only supplement that I can tolerate is the fruit punch flavored liquid protien from GNC. I get 18grams in three tablespoons. No sugar or anything, so I mix it in my Propel water and its really good. Otherwise its chicken, shrimp and occassionally red meat. The red meat is VERY seldom because most of the time I just feel like crap after consuming it. I have found that I don't dump ( DAMN!) like I was hoping I would. I can tolerate up to 8 or 9 grams of sugars at one time, but if I go overthat, or overeat I just get super nauseated. I don't get diarreah (sp), or throw up. Is that dumping still?? At any rate it is enough to make me never want to eat again..lol
I did get into a funk for a few months and slept ALL the time. If I wasn't asleep, I was sitting on the couch, PERIOD. My friends were always calling me to work out or go shopping, anything to get me out of the house. I have no idea what was going on. I knew I was only putting myself in danger by not moving around so soon after surgery, but for some reason I didn't even care. It took 5 months before I finally started moving around.
In November of 05', my husband came home from Iraq (YEAH!!), and it took him a little bit to pick our Son and me out of the crowd. It was really funny. Our Son grew ALOT since the last time he saw him, and I guess I shrunk a bit..lol We were holding signs with his name on them and he was like " who is that guy holding my sign, and where is my wife?"..lol I finally had to go to him, but it was a great feeling nontheless. I want to say I had lost about 40 or so pounds at that point. It seemed to go by pretty quick at first, but now I get really excited over a pound..lol
I started working out FINALLY almost two months ago, and am feeling so much better about alot of things. I started by going to aerobics three nights a week, and in the last couple of weeks I have added three mornings of weights to that. I have TREMENDOUS guilt if I even think about skipping any classes, so I don't! I do want to say that even with the months of I guess depression (never saw a doc or took meds for it), I have no regrets whatsoever about having this surgery. After meeting other people who have also had it, I can say that it is NOT for everyone. I would wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Warnock for anyone that has made up their minds for it. I do not think that I would have done so well had it not been for him doing my surgery. I thank God everyday that I found this site and found Dr. Warnock in the process. THANK YOU OH!!!
I am now down to 206 pounds from 299 in a little over 7 months. I wear a 14 (alot of loose skin) in bottoms, and between a 16-18 in tops, or a L-XL. I am extremely happy with my progress, though I think I would have progressed faster had I not been so depressed for so long. That is all water under the bridge now, and it can, and has, only get better!!
Gotta get ready for aerobics!! Thanks for listening!!! God Bless all of you who have had the surgery, or are going to!!!
June 2006
Hello everyone! Sorry I haven't posted in so long, it has been an amazing and eyeopening journey. I am down to 185lbs from a surgery day weight of 299. I have slowed down alot in the last few months on my weight loss. I kept wondering why when I am working out so much, I added spinning classes to the aerobics on alternate days. I have always been bad about calling Doctors when I feel anything different, but my Husband finally kicked my butt into gear and made me call mine because I still don't have the energy levels I feel I should have after losing so much weight. Turns out I am not getting enough protein, and besides slowing down my weight loss it's apparantly (sp) sending alot of stuff out of whack. I am so very pleased still though with what I have accomplished in the last 10 months. I am however still having a hard time "seeing" the "new" me. I think I am driving my Hubby nuts..lol I am really thinking about seeing a psychologist in the near future because I am really afraid of sabatoging (sp) myself. I never want to go backwards!!
On a brighter note, I am going to have to buy smaller pants again!! yeah!!!! My 14's are starting to bag out in the butt, and the waist is getting too loose. Darn, that upsets me..lol Anyway, just wanted to catch up!!
Thanks for reading, and God Bless all of you!!!
P.S.
We are moving to Fort Drum, New York in a month and a half, so it will probably be awhile before I update again. Take Care evreyone!!!
Sept 22,2006
Hello again, it's been awhile since I have written. We got to New York and my wonderful husband got deployed again! It took us by surprise that's for sure. After careful consideration, our son and I decided to come back to Texas to stay with my parents for the year. I think we made a good choice. As to my weight loss...I now weigh around 185!! I am a steady size 10, and lg shirts. I am perfectly happy with this size and don't see myself getting any lower at this point.
I am now due to have a hernia repair and tummy tuck on Oct 13th, so if anyone has any advice or wisdom, I will gladly listen!! Thanks for reading and I will check in after surgery..God Bless!!!
Febuary 2, 2007
Wow!! It has been a while since I posted. I wrote in Sept of 06' that I was due to have a Tummy Tuck in Oct 06'. Well I had my Tummy Tuck! It was a success as far as I am concerned. I was on my feet the next morning and raring to go. The Dr. also did a "mini" thigh and butt lift so that looks a little better too! I now weigh 160 pounds and wear a size 8 in bottoms and a medium shirt. I even wear my 14 year olds clothes now, lol. That was something I never DREAMED would happen. My husband ( who is in Iraq) came home about 2 months after the Tummy Tuck and was amazed yet again. I had the Gastric when he was in Iraq in 2004-05 and now this in the end of 06'. He said I have to stop because it gets confusing coming back to a different woman every time..lol Ok, I'm done. I don't want to lose any more wight now. From Sept of 06' to now I have lost another 25 pounds and have new loose skin where I had my Tuck..I feel really good though to have made it this far, and I will never forget all that my Dr. and my Family and Friends have done for me.
Good Luck to All of You out there!!!
August 6,2007
Ok, it has been 6 months since I last posted and I apologise! I have gotten settled in Upstate New York and am waiting on my WONDERFUL Husband to return to me from Iraq. He will be gone 15 months this time and we are ready for it to be over in November. Meanwhile, I saw that I wrote that I wasn't going to lose anymore weight when I hit 160. Well that didn't happen..lol I am now b/t 145-148lbs most days. I am wearing a size 4-6 in my clothes. My womens jeans are a 6 and junior is anywhere from a 5-7. I have NEVER dreamed that I could wear those sizes AND have them look good on me..lol I have had some issues lately, some health wise and some mental. No I'm not nuts, lol. Physically, I feel great, but I didn't have energy to do ANYTTHING. All I wanted to do was lay down and sleep. Got some blood tests done and found I am severly Iron deficient (sp). So we tried Iron supplimentsto no avail, it's not absorbing and constipates me SEVERLY. Finally found some pills that didn't constipate me, but they just didn't work. After a month there was no progress, jsut got wotse in fact. I have very heavy monthlies, so between that and the By-Pass, my body is refusing to absorb Iron. So, I have had to start Iron Infusions, and for those of you that haven't had to do that. it's not a fun time. You get an IV hook up and then bags of iron are SLOWLY put in your system. It takes roughly 3 hours a pop for each infusion. So far I have had to have two infusions a week apart. I will find out this month if I am going to need anymore anytime soon. I have also had to start seeing a Gyno for options on a Hystorectomy. That is this week, so hopefully that can be worked out. Between both of these procedures, I should be able to stop the iron loss and get it on a manageable level soon. As to the mental, I don't know whats soing on in there..lol I do not want to eat at all!!! I live on Propel water and Starbucks Doubleshots. I might get about 450-500 calories a day if im lucky. I am absolutely TERRIFIED of gaining any weight back. It doesn't help that I NEVER feel hungry. I am 2 years out now and I don't think my stomach has stretched at all. I figured it have grown some, but nope, don't think it has. When and if I do eat something, its a piece of fruit or something with protien in it. I don't eat anything but whole grain or VERY lean meats when I eatadn I am not able to drink any protien drinks because they gag me and make me want to throw up. This is something that I am having a very hard time with, and I know I need to get help for it, BUT , I am afraid that if I go talk to somebody that they will tell me what I already know. I need t eat to survive, and I do. I eat jsut enough to live, period. I need to know if anyone else out there has had this problem with being so scared about regaining all the weight. Please email me with anyhing you might have. I also can't bring myself to excersise since I've been in New York, but I think most of that is due to the lack of Iron and nutrients in my body. Anyway, thank you for reading! I would still do this all over again if I had to, nothing will change that. I am the happiest I have ever been with myself and I don't ever want to go back!
Good Luck to EVERYONE going through this Journey!!!!!