ModestoK
Here I go again!
Jun 17, 2010
THEN:I was initially referred to my insurance company's (Kaiser) baratric program in the summer of 2007, after my sleep apnea was confirmed and I was ordered a CPAP machine. I had already had documented co-morbidities of GERD and asthma. Also documented depression, hypothroidism, and pre-diabetic. My BMI at the time was around 44.
10/5/07 - appointment with psychologist to see if I should be referred for WLS.
Late October - accepted into the program and attended orientation in Fremont. Told I had to have a documented 10% weight loss; surgery weight at or below 250. Began severe dieting (Adkins plus low cal!) and working out to jump start loss.
12/28/07: Assorted appointments with staff at clinic plus meeting with assigned surgeon, Dr. Dennen. Since I weighed in within 5 pounds of my surgery weight goal, he said I would be scheduled ASAP. Since my options were RNY and lap-band, I decided on band. Although I'd been lurking on OH, I hadn't been duly dilligent in my research of all surgery types.
5/9/08- pre-surgery appointment: labs and EKG performed. At required surgery weight.
5/13/08: Drove to Fremont and had "last supper" with galpal before we went to hotel for night. Had to be at hospital the following day at 6:00 a.m. I was totally PMSing, so ate lots of salt. (Big mistake - see below)
5/14/08: Surgery day! Friend dropped me off at hospital as directed. Signed pre-op forms and checked in. Given gown to change into, had vital signs taken. I'd gained 10 pounds of water weight due to PMS since prior appointment. Given valium and was waiting on table at 7:30 when surgeon arrived.
Dr. Dennen came to speak with me - advised me he would not perform surgery because of weight gain. Didn't believe that I could gain that much in water weight so quickly. (hello - that's why it is called premenstral bloating! Plus a bariatric surgeon should realize 'bigger' girls have it to the extreme.) He said that my liver would be swollen because of binging (WTF) and that I'd have to wait until I'd lost the water weight before I would be placed back on the schedule pending a surgery date.
Thereafter - I cried for days. Once my period came, my weight dropped 6 pounds overnight and within 2 days of end of period I was back to 'goal' weight. But was told I'd start back at the bus, so to speak, for open surgery date when I called the bariatric program, despite what my surgeon had said about getting me back on the schedule ASAP. Soonest date - months outI spiraled downward in my mood and eating habits. Gained weight, stopped going to the gym, and got further discouraged. Eventually I had not called to checkin with Fremont, and was dropped from the program.
January 2009 - again tried Medifast. Strictly followed it for 3-4 weeks but most of the loss was water gain. Since I wasn't seeing impressive results, I decided to save my money and sanity by being more mindful about my eating.
Started gaining weight like gangbusters after I started eating real food again.
I did check back with the OH boards periodically, but mainly I was discouraged and sad about the options previously offered by my insurance company - RNY or band. Had real doubts about the band because research was becoming available about many patients being unsuccessful and having serious complications. Also with a band - refills for life no longer sounded like a good option. Essentially gave up and continued to gain weight even though I wasn't eating more than a typical normal person.
Summer 2009 - due to my doubts about my insurance permitted options, I decided to put forth renewed effort to lose on my own. Initiatially started eating 1200 calories or less a day. After a few months and pounds, decided that I would permit myself 1-2 free days per month and occassionally would eat up to 1500 calories. Kept my intake in check by using online tools such as FitDay and other tools that provided calorie information.
NOW:
Early 2010. I can't believe I've wasted more years of my life being morbidly obese. Started thinking about getting back on track in March after crazy-busy time; my consideration was on hold until then. I had looked up the current Kaiser bariatric patient booklet and it listed options as RNY, VSG, and Gastric Banding. Came here and did lots of research on these options and looked at published studies. The RNY scared me, especially given that I know several people that had total regain within 4 years and I'd witnessed dumping syndrome first hand. VSG - too new to have long term results. I had realized I DID NOT want gastric banding because of sucky upkeep, complications, and discouraging long term success rate. Didn't know what I wanted but knew I wouldn't be happy with my 3 surgery options. Dedided that the VSG looked better than others but again, worried about long term results; both the band and RNY had great short %EWL but after the honeymoon period major regain was frequent.
May 2010: Cosmic Bitchslap!
I saw an aquaintance at a party and complimented her on her cute outfit. She said it had come from Hot Topic, and my brain glitched hearing Torrid. When I told her she was far too tiny for Torrid, she laughed and said that it didn't use to be the case. I had NO IDEA she had WLS. I'd seen her eat like a "normal" person and thought she one of those blessed with thin genes.
She explained that she had the DS with Dr. Rablin in November of 2007 and had lost 195 pounds. AMAZING!
I told her my failed WLS story and that I'd looked back into Kaiser, but was limited to 3 less than ideal choices. She told me that I could get insurance to pay for the DS - she had successfully done so with Kaiser. She then explained about the DS, life after it, and I was utterly amazed.
After the party, I couldn't believe what I'd learned. I was in shock for a few days. WHY ARE PATIENS BEING PURPOSEFULLY MISLEAD ABOUT
WLS OPTIONS BY THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY???
Late May, 2010: finally joined OH instead of just lurking, partly in an attempt to reconnect with Ms.Kim since I forgot to get her number at the party. Continued researching ALL of my options, including DS. Short term results and people on the VSG board had incredible results, but the DS had excellent long term stats.Began to think it was a dream come true and decided that my guts could be rearranged if medically necessary. Obviously restriction alone was not working because I had lost 20 or so pounds despite low calorie dieting.
Now I'm ready to begin, again. I have an appointment with my PCP for 6/23. I know enough to ask for re-referral but not to mention the dreaded initials DS until I'm with a surgeon trying to work on a surgery date.
I want it done, now. I want to be happy, healthy, confident and 'normal'! I'm totally psyched knowing it can happen within a matter of months if I do get *switched*. I have to remind myself - I've been big my entire adult life. Even when I was at my lowest adult weight and active in sports, I was 170 pounds and considered obese for my 5'6" frame. It took me years to get here, I can get through the required hoops, appeals, etc. and be an improved version of myself by Dec. 21, 2012. Pretty cool to think about.
Kimmie
