Mechelle J
July 2009
After having my band for three and a half years, I started having severe esopheageal spasms, which I did not know existed, but are the most painful things I have ever experienced. Long story short...I lost my band and wanted the sleeve, but insurance won't approve it.
2004
I have some wonderful news to share that is totally off topic, my Mom has been healed of a life-threatening lung/breathing problem. She was on oxygen 24 hours a day, is now oxygen free. PRAISE THE LORD. Also, my mom's brother who had cancer is doing much better and has lived to see his beautiful twin grandchildren!
September 28, 2006
Okay, I guess I am finally ready to put it all into writing.
I have been overweight all my life. I was the chunky kid in grade school and the fat girl in high school. I did manage to lose a lot of weight my junior/senior year in which I got down to 135 pounds and did not do it the healthy way. Needless to say it was short lived. I met and married my husband during my senior year. In two years, I had my daughter and 60 more pounds!
Then later came Phen-Fen and I lost 60 pounds on that. Again, gained it all back and with interest!
Later came Weight Watchers and I lost about 20 pounds on that. Not even enough that anyone noticed. It is so bad to be so heavy that you literally have to lose 50 pounds before someone finally says, "Are you losing weight?" Yeah, fifty pounds now, thanks for finally noticing, is what your really thinking!
Late in 2004, I had had enough. I had state insurance (Bluegrass Family Health, I think) and lots of people were getting approved for the RNY. So, I did all the tests, jumped through all the hoops and was denied. I was devastated. I had gained even more weight while waiting on a decision. This was not intentionally, I was eating anything I wanted cause I thought I wouldn't be able to eat normal when I had the surgery, so I just enjoyed the eating. (Anybody been there?)
At the first of the year (2005), we (State) switched insurance companies and I now had CHA. So I tried again to get the RNY. Again, I was denied. I really didn't have a lot of major health problems, I was borderline everything. I was borderline diabetic, borderline high blood pressure, borderline sleep apnea, had terrible aches and pains in all my joints, especially in my back, legs, knees and hips. I could not understand why they didn't see where I was headed, I was borderline, but well on my way. This led to more emotional eating. I thought if I can't have the surgery, then I may as well eat anything I want, cause theres no way I can lose it anyway. So that is what I did for a while. But after a while you come to your senses and realize that is ridiculous too. So back to watching every bite and counting every point with Weight Watchers again. (Which I consider a great program, it just takes discipline, and lets face it, we did not get obese by having discipline!)
Then again in 2006 we (State) switched insurance again, this time to Humana. By this time, the Lap-Band was becoming more talked about and I was seeing commercials and reading about it on Obesity Help. I decided that the Lord had a plan for my life, I always knew He did, but I realized that it was not His will for me to be approved for the RNY so I could have the Lap Band. So, I tried again. Jumping trough all the insurance procedures again. I was denied, but then appealed and was APPROVED. The insurance called me at work and said, "Mrs. Johnson, we have decided to approve your appeal and pay for your Lap Band procedure." I will never forget that phone call. My first response was, "Thank the Lord."
On March 15th, 2006, I had Lap Band in Georgetown, Kentucky. Dr. Oldham did the surgery. I went home the same day. I was doing my student teaching this semester and went back to work (secretary for a District Judge in Manchester) and back to school student teaching in third grade on Monday. I was still a little sore and I remember one little girl noticing me holding my left side when I would get up, she said, "Mrs. Mechelle, are you feeling okay?" (so sweet!)
There have been ups and downs along the way and if I am honest, there have been days that I would have undone it if I could have. But the truth is there is more ups than downs now. I started at 242 pounds (I think) and today, I sit here, in my daughters outfit! yeah! weighing 197 and in a size 16 or extra large. Praise the Lord. Praise Him for me being denied and praise Hime for making the way for me to be banded. For anyone reading this, please be assured that our way is not always His way. It took me almost three years to get this and I was not patient, but I truly wanted His will.
I am a member of a gym now and enjoy going there to work on me. I enjoy trying on clothes now and still find myself in the plus sizes looking. Old habits are hard to break. I have not been perfect, in fact, far from it. I probably could have been to goal by now, but this is not a race, it is all about lifestyle changes and it is taking me time, but thats okay, I am enjoying the ride!
Love to all, Mechelle
