orpannie's Blog

History

Oct 13, 2006

8/17/05
I've been lurking about here for around three months and finally decided to open up a bit. I'm a 58-year-old stepmom of 3 and grandmother of 11. I'm married and work as a Technical Writer/Editor (so watch your p's and q's). I've been researching and thinking about WLS for about a year and finally decided to do something about it 3 months ago.

I've done all the preliminary testing and other work I could find out about and have submitted my files to two bariatric surgery centers for consideration. Both have agreed to treat me (even though I'm too "old" by some standards--ARGH!). I attended a seminar at the Scottsdale Bariatric Center two weeks ago and I am scheduled to meet with a surgeon at the Texas Tech University Surgery Center in September. Either place and either surgeon would be wonderful.

Where I go depends on scheduling and my insurance. I have BCBS Federal and have not yet applied for approval. They do cover WLS if medically necessary. I have multiple co-morbidities (II diabetes, sleep apnea, asthma, high blood pressure, hyperlypidemia, etc., etc.) so approval should not be a problem (knock on wood).

I'm not afraid of the surgery or of the lifetime commitment to maintaining the WLS weight loss. What does scare me is the possibility that I won't get approval.

The hardest thing so far has been the waiting. The second hardest has been quiting smoking. Trying to quit smoking and lose weight at the same time has never worked for me. But, I've been off the cigs (except for a couple of puffs) for six weeks. I hope it gets easier!

8/27/05 - It is early on a quiet, cool Saturday morning. My husband and two of our three sons left on a Jeep trip yesterday so I have the house to myself (except for the puppies). YAHOO!

I am still waiting for a consult. Dr. Blackstone requires a urinalysis to prove I am nicotine-free before they will even set up a consult. I've been off cigarettes for over 3 months, but I slipped and puffed on a couple of small cigars about 3 weeks ago. I took the test earlier this week and hope it was OK. I will start bugging her office next week to schedule a consult. I have a consult scheduled with Dr. Frezza in Lubbock on September 21st.

I am not sure which doctor I would prefer since I have not met either of them. Lubbock would be better because my stepmom lives there and I could stay with her post-surgery, but I have heard so many good things about Dr. Blackstone and Scottsdale Bariatric that I am really confused. Boils down to schedule and insurance, I guess. I would like to get this done before the end of the year, if possible.

9/22/05 - The long-awaited day finally came yesterday, that is the interview with the surgeon (Dr. Frezza). I took a day and a half off work and flew from Albuquerque to Lubbock just to spend about 2-1/2 minutes with the surgeon and have him tell me he was hesitant to do the lap RNY because of my age (58) and comorbidities (I thought that was why I was having this done). My BMI was under 40 (though it isn't now after quiting smoking) and, aside from Type II diabetes and sleep apnea, I don't really have any life-threatening comorbidities. He said he might consider lap band surgery, but my insurance won't cover it. I am sooo disappointed and discouraged. I thought this was done to help people like me. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

I have an appointment with Dr. Blackstone in Scottsdale Tuesday, October 4. Hopefully, she will be a little more positive.

10/3/05
Tomorrow is my appointment with Dr. Blackstone at Scottsdale Bariatric. I am so apprehensive that she will think I'm too old and too sick for the RNY. I hope I can convince her otherwise. Wish me luck for tomorrow!

10/5/05
I spent the day (literally) at the Scottsdale Bariatric Center yesterday. After meeting with Finance (first, of course), I met with the nut and then with the surgeon (Dr. Amy Koler). I was really worried after my experience with the surgery consult in Lubbock; however, Dr. Koler spent quite a bit of time with me and made me feel so much better about myself and my decision to have RNY. There was no question that I would be able to have the surgery (assuming my insurance agrees). Even though my advanced years (58 BLECH!) and multiple co-morbidities gave me a somewhat elevated risk, the risk with not having the surgery is much greater.

I now have my marching orders and am just waiting to see what my insurance says.

you are the cute but psycho happy bunny. You
adorable, but a little out there. It's alright,
you might not have it all, but there are worse

which happy bunny are you?
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10/26/05 - Yipee! I'm approved. BC/BS federal is wonderful. It only took them 2 weeks and it happened on the first attempt. I should hear this afternoon about my date.

Later on 10/26/05
I have a date. December 19th. What a long wait; however, I chose the date so that I could take the minimum amount of time off work. My company shuts down between Christmas and New Year. Hopefully, if all goes well, I'll be ready to return to work with the rest of the crew on January 3. I can think of worse places to spend Christmas than Scottsdale, Arizona.

We will probably take our motor home to Scottsdale for the 10 days I need to be there. That way, we can also take our puppies and all the comforts of home. The only drawback to that is I have to drive it and I'm not sure if I'll feel like handling a big rig 10 days after surgery. There is plenty of time to make that decision.

There are still plenty of hoops to jump through; I have to get a few more tests, blood work, and doctor's releases to ensure my safety during and after the surgery. The big hoop (insurance approval) is over. I can handle the rest.

11/18/05 - Thirty-one days until the big date. Or, at least, I hope so. My mammogram showed a mass that will have to be investigated, so it is on to more tests and more waiting. I can't believe how I am reacting to this news. You would think I would be worried about breast cancer, but No, I am worried about my surgery being canceled. Oh well, I guess it won't do me any good to worry about either of them. I will have my answer next Tuesday and I will deal with whatever happens.

January 1, 2006 - Happy New Year! It has been a long while since I updated and much has happened. I had my surgery on December 20th (was scheduled for the 19th). Here is my long story.

I had a couple of complications that kept me in intensive care for 3 days and in the hospital for 9 days. The complications were not directly from the surgery, but they were indirectly related. On my first surgery attempt on Monday, they were not able to intubate me after they had put me under. Consequently, my oxygen sats dropped significantly and a portion of my left lung collapsed (pneumo thorax). They brought me out from under and sent me off to intensive care. On Tuesday, they were able to successfully intubate me and complete the surgery. By then, however, I had developed pneumonia in both lungs. So, it was off to intensive care again for Tuesday and Wednesday. I finally got to go to the 5th floor late on Wednesday and stayed there until I was released this past Tuesday. I also developed a bacterial colitus after the surgery (oh, what fun that is).

To add insult to injury, Marshall developed an infection in his elbow the day I was released from the hospital, so we spent the next two days in and out of the emergency room trying to get some relief for his pain.

To make a long story short, it has not been a wonderful two weeks.

As for the surgery, it was a piece of cake. I had very little pain and no nausea. I gained a bunch of weight in the hospital from pumping fluids into me; however, that weight and 11.5 pounds were gone by the time I left Scottsdale. I have not experienced any hunger (except head hunger). The biggest problem with the diet, so far, is making myself eat enough. Everything tastes like it's been boiled in a pot with dirty sweat socks. UGH! The docs tell me this is from ketosis and will pass when I eat more protein and drink more water.

It is about 5 am and I need to get my body moving. I'll write again later.

You're like me! The intelligent loner. You're shy
at times but friendly, and you are never weak
and always independent. You are incredibly
intelligent (wise beyond your years) and have a
talent for many things (sports, music, art).
You have a kind and warm personality and enjoy
the simple things. Like hanging out with
friends and watching movies at home. But you're
sometimes quiet nature makes you a bit of an
outcast and a mystery to people. No matter how
pretty you are or smart or athletic, you just
can't seem to break into the crowd and be
noticed. Don't worry, try to be more outgoing
and speak out when you have more to say. Don't
hide behind your books and sports and computer,
get out there and get noticed. You also have
deep desires in life and feel vunerable and
alone at times. Don't feel sad either, What
helps me to express feelings and dreams that I
can't say to people, is through my writting.
Maybe you should try.

What kind of girl are you? (with pix!)
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