peggyann B.
Hi........
I am 40 something and have been researching WLS for the last couple of years. I developed a weight problem in my late 20's.Every year adding a little more. I have gone to weight loss doctors and done the pills and every diet under the sky, only to gain more and more, after a small weight loss. How could I let this get so outta control. I had my thyroid checked, no problem there. My metabolism slowed down and the weight came on. My own stupidity, food was my friend and my stress reliever. I love food....
Sept 2005
I went to JFK Hospital Bariatric and Wellness Center. I was weighed in by Kendra. AKKK 325 lbs. My BMI 53. My first vist was with Dr. Jimenez, we went over the RYN surgery. I was hooked. He was very nice and patient, we asked lots of questions and he answered all of them.
I decided since I was speaking with a surgeon to get his oppinion on a lump i had just above my breast. I was told it was calcium a few years back, but it seemed to be growing and puckering my skin.
I ended up going to his office for this and having surgery scheduled to remove it.
Oct. 2005
I had to have new MG. and because my legs were so swollen I had an ultra sound done to see of I had any clots.
October 4th 2005
In preop i found out I had Diabetes. No wonder I couldnt stop going to the bathroom at night and my feet and ankles were so swollen and I was misrable, and my blood pressure was elevated.My cholesteral levels were fine. Well Well Well
It took 15 minutes to remove the lump. I have a one inch cut. I was benign so this went well for me.
My PCP wanted to see me because the blood tests went back to him. I had elevated liver enzymes, and he wanted to start me on Glybrid. I had to get more blood tests.
November 2005
I saw the Pysc. Doctor. After talking to him for over an hour he told me I was an excellent canidaite for WLS. I basically told him I am misrable,can barely do my job anymore.( I stand for 8 hours as a cashier) I feel i may fall asleep and never wake up. I want to change my life, and live it, like i was suppose to live it in the first place. I have had a lot of crap happen in my life, My 1st hubby commited suicide, my son was constantly getting in trouble, my dad had chirosis, my older bro just died from it also.My husband now is scared i will drop dead. My life needs an adjustment.
December 2005
I went to see the Dietician. My husband lost 50 lbs to Atkins diet and what she went over was the same low carbs high protein. I was also put on a machine to see how much calories I burned by breathing....
On the way home I stopped in to see my PCP to find out about my bloodtests... I was brought right in to a vacant room. I started getting scared. The nurse came in and told me they wanted me to go again for tests. I might have Hep C. I cried. I had never been a drug user. Only what Doc perscribed. I did have 2 transfusions one in 77 and one in 88. I went home feeling morbid. Im gonna die....
I retook tests and was positive.
I went to see a liver specialist. He had me do more blood tests. Now i really need to loose weight and now i need to rethink what surgery i need to do. He suggested Lap Band. He did not think i should rearrange my insides. He said reversible would be better choice. So i called The Bariatric Center.
January 2006
I was on the way to work and came down with excrusiating pains in my right kidney. Jan 12th to Feb 12th I was aflected with a kidney stone. Did you know that the EWL and Laser blaster travel up and down the turnpike to different hospitals. in Florida..I just missed them and had to wait for thier return.So that whole time I was very drugged out. 3 trips to outpatientsurgery for stints and blast and removal.
During this time I saw Dr.Larson at the Bariatric Center. I explained the illness I had. My liver doctor wants him to do a biopsy and get me vaccinated while i am in hospital for surgery. Then i have to do interferon treatments.I was lucky that my genotype is treatable.
Apparently some are not. I do not drink so my liver should be somewhat ok. Dr. Larson was great. He would do the biopsy. He expalined the surgery for Lap Banding.
I think I like this one . less invasive, life long, complications dont seem as bad as RYN. He wanted me to see a Pulminary Dr. because I told him I have to be intebated due to sleep apnea.
Febuary 2006
I went to a pulminary doctor. I had to do a breathing test and sleep study. I have 85% lung capacity. I smoke been smoking for 20 something years. I went home and begged my husband to quit. A few days later we both quit. Me cold turkey , him the patch.
I did Sleep study and have documented proof of my sleep apnea., over a hundred episodes an hour. I have been so tired the last few years. I can drink a pot of coffee and fall asleep, I have fallen asleep driving long trips and had to pull over and force my husband to drive. . How embarrassing.
March 2005
I got my CPAP machine, I had to get a full mask because I can only breathe through my mouth. Since I was a kid. I have been getting ansy left messages at the BARIATRIC CENTER. I finally spoke with Kendra, they were waiting on the sleep study. My doctor sent it to the office of the surgeon and so she had to have it faxed to her. Now its a waiting game. Will insurance take a long time or will it be awhile. Will they approve or do I have to go through appeals... Pray for me...How long will it be..........
Its April 13th and havent heard anything yet. I developed a pinched nerve, my right arm and neck are hurting pretty bad...I have been doing icy hot and ice but being i use my right arm /hand at work all the time, it just wont go away. Getting worse. Spent yesterday (my Birthday) with my arm propped on pillows and my day shot to hell. Man oh man it hurts.
Today is April 24th,2005... I have been going to a Chiropractor and out of work because of my pinched nerve since last Wednesday.. I went from a 10 to a 7 to a 5 in pain. I am going for an MRI to rule out if the pinch is from the spine and not the shoulder. Chiropractor thinks i might have carpel tunnel. I never had a problem before this pinched nerve so ...I hope to get this resolved soon.
I saw on the message board someone that goes to the same Bariatric Center as me. Same doctor too She got her approval today. I hope to get an answer this week. I've been so excited I keep calling over there Leslie said probably this week. I've been getting depressed with all my health issues. I have to call the doctor about my high blood pressure pills they make me cough.I think that is how I pinched a nerve.Go figure .... I am misrable and am getting tired of all my setbacks. I want to move forward its so hard to take it one day at a time.
May 2,2006, Well I got my mri and I have 4 herniated discs.I had to go to a pain management specialist so i could get back to work. I havenever been in so much pain uggg.......I do have good news I have been calling the Bariatric center every day and today decided to call the ins. Well i was approved yeepeee.......I called the bariatric center and Kendra told me she called yesterday and asked for a supervisor.This esculated it and viola approved. Now i have to wait till tommorrow to find out what date. I could have had it done on the 18th but my husband has to go out of town for a few days and it is the day my dad died 10 years ago. Bad karma.It will probably be end of month. I have to go to a pre op meeting, PCP for consent ,ekg,xrays and blood tests. Then I am ready. Oh and i have to contact work for my LOA. I am so happy. I started to cry when they told me...... I was running around last 2 days...The bariatric center called at 430. May 23rd, the pulminary doctor never sent approval and my PCPNEVER SENT HIS, i CALLED PULNINARY AND HE TOLD ME HE DINT DO CONSENTS FOR THESE SURGERIES.i WAS PISSED. i GOT HIS OFFICE FROM THE BARIATRIC CENTER. i TOLD HIM WHEN I WENT WHY I WAS COMING TO HIM. i TALKED HIM INTO IT SO HE FAXED A LETTER, THEN I CALLED PCP, THE ANSWERING SERVICE ANSWERED. I WQS READY TO CRY. THEY TOLD ME OFFICE WAS CLOSED I WAS LIKE I KNOW THEY ARE STILL IN THE OFFICE YOU HAVE TO CALL THEM AND GET THEM TO FAX INFO FOR MY SURGERY TOMORROW. THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE AKEN CARE OF LAST WEEK. NOW EVERYTHING IS DOWN TO DAY BEFORE. WELL THEY GOT THROUGH. I KNEW THEY WOULD AND EVERYTHING WAS FAXED. TALK ABOUT LAST MINUTE NERVOUS BREAK DOWN.MAY 24TH,2006 I have been running around all last week and finally the day is coming. Wednesday I will be a bandster. I check in at 8:30 am and around 10:30 or so I will be in surgery. It took so long to get here. I have been getting really worried about my liver enzymes and now finally i will see how my liver is doing and I will be able to lose weight and become a new me. lol. I am happy and scared and tipratous. Is that a real word. I feel it . haha. Pray for me...... June 30,2006, Hi well i made it . I had surgery and was surprised that Dr. Morehead our therepist was there. Preop went fine. I had to suck on a "peace pipe" it had stuff that went down throat and numbed it. They also coated my throat with lidocaine. I had to be intabated awake die to my turkey neck lol. Well it wasnt funny actually. By the time i got in operating room all that numbing stuff wore off and it took an hour to get scope and tube down my poor throat. I was in tears and gagging it was awful. They finally shoved it down ,i had a needle in my iv waiting for this moment and i was out. I woke up in or and was being wheeled back to recovery. I woke back up and vaguely remember talking to surgeon and therepist. There was a glitch and the room that i reserved had a patient in it who dint want to leave. I got to hospital at 830 am in or at 11 ( late) and back to recovery at 3pm. I dint get my room till 730, 8pm. which sucked. I didnt get to start walking till then. I was not allowed out of bed in recovery at all. Because they kept me in recovery so long they kept the cathritar in till i got to go to my room. I had the worst sore throat. I was on morphine so i slept alot and relaxed. The next morning my therepist was thier and had me up and walking the hallways. Boy was i sore. Later the surgeon Dr.Larson came in and we went over everything that i needed to know and do till saw him next. He sent me home with morphine. I could not do tylonol or aspirin or codiene. I had the xray done and drank the white stuff ugg.Everything was fine. I got my lunch of broth,sf jello,tea, and an italian ice. (full of sugar, i ate it all) I got stuck in the bed later in afternoon, I couldnt call out loud because of my throat. By the time a nurse came in i was on the floor. I couldnt reach the call button or telephone. I was helpless and stuck. I was able to wiggle until i fell out of bed and then i cried.I was helpless. Then my husband got their and we made arrangements and got discharged. Home.... I spent the week sleeping on our love seat sitting up. I ate broth,crystal light ,water andsf pops. Was sore but handled it.At night i did pain meds so i could sleep. The second week i was doing cream soups and pureed chicken and mushed up egg. I saw the doctor on the 6th. He told me everything was fine.I had a liver biopsy and as far as he saw it was pretty healthy, No chirrosis, I have a fatty liver but that will be taken ccare of with weight loss. and it was alittle yellow but that is from the Hepititus. So i was pretty happy. then i weighed in and from preop i lost 11 lbs but i actually lost over 40 from April weigh in. So that is good. I got ahead of myself with the food.But Dr.Larson said it was ok as long as i didnt vomit ar purge. I didnt at the time. I had one episode at work a few weeks later. I vomited pretty good. Chicken is hard to eat. It was strange feeling.Took about 20 minutes before i could leave bathroom. I couldnt go home but really wanted to. I also went to a chinese buffett what a mistake. i ate small but i guess i should have stopped when i had a tight feeling in chest.I didnt and wqas in agony all night.I couldnt sleep ahjathaaa I wont do that again. i havent got the fll thing down yet. I want more but cant.I am still learnng to not drink too. It is not easy. I gained 3 lbs as far as my gaeterologists scale goes. Which is pretty acurate since i bought a new scale and it is saying the same thing :( I know this time is to heal not to loss but hey i need to loss.... Dr. Horowitz my Gasterologist who specializes in livers. wants me to loss 30 to 35 % of my weight to star my treatments. He said if i start now they may not work due to the weight. I have to go back XXmas and if i loss all that he wants me to loss. Then i start 6 to 9 months of treatmnents. Which he said are very rough and i might not be able to work. This is very scary. I willbe fighting for a longer life.Supposedly if treatment works the hep will be gone. and i can live a normal life. God help me pLEASE. I always pray for others and now i gotta pray for me. He wants me to loss a hundred lbs in 6 months. How can i do this..... i STILL HAVE RESTRICTION SOMEWHAT IN AM. i CAN EAT ANYTHING NOW. MY FIRST FILL IS ON JUNE 6TH I HAVE A VG BAND SO I HOPE dR. LARSON IS A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN THE FILL. I CANT WAIT.......
June6th2006
Had my first fill. When Dr.LArson filled the band he asked me if i felt anything and i didnt. My husband was with me and he sad the DR. waas surprised i didnt feel anything. hmmmm. I did get a lump in my throat sipping the water.
I was good and did liquids than mushies for 4 days. I am now 3 weeks later and I can eat pretty good. I hqave been going up and down on the scale. My period doesnt help matters either. I was 302 2 weeks after fill. I than got my period and went up to 307 than back down to 304. I am alittle dissappointed.I hope bynext week i will be 299. I hope. I have been really trying to eat right but i am not getting the full signals like i was. .Plus my port area is sore. I do so much bending at work I think its from that. Ill have to discuss with DR> Larson.I also when i lay on my left side feel something its not painful but nagging pain. I can drink and eat fine so i dont think its slippage. My be my diaphram. Will have to ask. I hopenext fill will be agressive. I am tinking this VG band is tobig
the port i can feel aa lump and the port. It is a bit sore. I tend to hold the area when i bend down to protect it.I Guess. Well I did see my Liver Doctor he wants me to loss 35 to 45 percent of my body weight before i can do the treatments for Hepc I am so scared. I know i have ery elevated enzymes in the 8's. I just hope that i can loss and do these treatments before it does something to my liver. I thank God i never was a drinker ir drug abuser. I do have a fatty liver which i understand can change with the weight loss.I saw my PCP and he was very upbeat.So was I I m happy about getting the band. I just m afraid i could screw up. The stress at work is really taking a toll on me. I am exhausted and so afraid to lose my job. If I lose it , I will not be able to afford these treatments .My Dr. said they are about 20,000 a month and i am expected to be on them for 9 months. I dont even know if ill be able to work doing them. I feel so alone with these fears.This is like a diary for me. Thanks OH. I need to vent to myself. Before i start to cry.
I am excited I am going on vacation . Well up North to NJ to see mom and my son and brother. It will be nice to get away for a couple weeks. I miss Nj. I guess im lonely. I love my husband but sometimes you need other people. I dont have anyone anymore. sucks.
I had another fill on August 6th. They took 1.5 out and put in 2.5 so I am at 4cc's in my VG band. I was able to drink my water and I did soft food and liquids for a few days. I had a problem eating solids.Now i understand sliming. I ate and i felt tight in chest next thing i knew i was filling with saliva and then up it came. No pushing no violent vomiting. Just up and out. Plop. I went to mushies for a few days. Then we went to NJ for vacation. I tried to be normal in front of everyone. Well I guesws I wasnt chewing well or taking small bites. Every meal I was sliming and PBing.Then i would take my time and chew. I am home now 2 weeks later and 4 weeks into my fill. I can finally eat slow small and chew. WITHOUT SLIMING . I was worried that in NJ i would not lose any weight. Every scale was different 1 said i gained 7 lbs another said 4. I got home and my scale said i lost 6 lbs. so i am now at 297. I wish it were more but I can be happy with that. After all vacations can be rough. I see my PCP tommorrow and i have to vote. I get my second vaccination for Hep b. Cant get the one for A. I get so upset with this insurance. Hummmm I have to find out what is wrong with my heel. I cant put any weight on it. For 2 weeks now. I am so sick of being sick.
Its October 13th, 2006....Friday.......ok it s the 14th ....I had my 3rd fill on the 4the of Oct. I was fine till the next day. I got my period. Man i was in misery foro about 9 days. I had reflux and a lump in the back of my throat after every sip of water. Food well lets just say I was back to soft food and liquids during this time. I came close to getting a unfil but decided to wait out the period. Now i am fine. I can eat about a cup of food and drink is no problem.I still have reflux so i am taking Prilosec. I have dropped about 10 pounds but gained 2 back. I have been exercising too. I started taking Duffy for walks. He's getting old though. Some nights he just looks at me like " aw do i hav too ma" I need company so I drag him out. I also got my ab chair. Boy I forgot what muscles felt like ..Especially sore ones... I am faithful and every other night do my regimen. I also got a few weights that i have been lifting for my arms. I can get into my 26's. I tried the 24's and my belly still needs to go down. The leg and butt fit but belly is tight. I also decided if i have to stand at work and look stupid in front of register waiting for customers ..I might as well exercise. So i twist and i flap my arms and touch my toes. I probably look like an idiot but I dont care...Its exercise....I want firm.....its exercise......
I saw my PA he said I was doing good. I got my 2nd B shot. Next one is Febuary. Cant find trhe a shot.. I am down to 290 pounds. I have somuch to lose ..I am scared that while i cant lose fast enough the Hep C Virus is raging in me. I just hope my liver holds out health. I dont drink or do any drug without my doctors consent. I do vitimins and Milk Thistle. Which cleanses the liver..Suppose to bring the virul count down. I hope it is working. I want to live to an old age with my husband and enjoy retirement someday... And enjoy my life not worry. I am so stressed over my sickness it consumes me everyday. I guess it would help if I had someone to talk to besides my hubby about this. Life can be lonely. Oh well I cannot dwell on things that I dont have.
Wow we finally had a cold front blow through. I have lost a few more pounds. My scale reads 184.5 . I dont have a bariatric vist till Nov 6th. I hope to have gone down 20 pounds. I have 2 weeks to do it . I have been really good exercising. Poor Duffy (my dog) He used to get excited about walks.Now he just looks at me. He is getting old. I have to cut back when i take him. I'm afraid he'll have a heart attack. I can nly do 10 crunches on the ab chair but thats ok. I went bowling with work. I fell th efirst throw. Man i felt so embarrassed. I laughed it off. But i hurt my knees and elbows. I still managed to bowl 4 games. Now i am suffering.I am so sore . I had to take some aleve to aleveate the pain. lol. no pain no gain. right. I went to support meeting this month. I had popcorn "my wedding rings fit again" I really didnt talk this time .I just listened. I was really cold though so i had my arms crossed. Probably looked like i was closed up. I was just cold. I usually participate but there wasnt much to say this meeting from me.
I dint realize how long this is I am over being sore. I got my TOM and am still able to eat yeah... I was affraid I'd be miserable again. I was mad that I gained 6 pounds of water retention. I lost it 2 days later weighed in at 285. Man it floors me that I could go up and down like that. I have to start exercising and walking now that i am not sore. So Mnday i will do my routine. MAybe it will give me more weight loss this month.
Its been awhile since i last posted. I had a nic Christmas. My son sent me a bike. It must have cost him more to ship than it actually cost. I love him for it though. I hav ridden it 3 times so far. Not bad concidering i havent riden a bike in 26 years. I went to the clinic on the 2 nd of January I was down to 277. So i was down 22 pounds since my last visit. I had a manicure done for the first time and am having a hard time typing.lol.... I saw my liver doc and had more blood work done. My liver functions are better than they were. so the weight loss is working. I asked about treatments but he said not yet. I am still to heavy. He wantes me to be normal body weight and man thats wanting me to lose 100 pounds in 6 months time. I will try but doesnt seem feasible to me. It took 9 monthes to drop 70 pounds. It is nt easy. They dont tell you about the puking,reflux ete. I am learning now that 2 cups of food is never going to happen. I am lucky to keep a half of cup down without tossing my cookies. I am staying optomistic.. I had a tweek on my last visit. So am getting used to small amounts.I have 6.7 ccs in my VG Band now. I am not hungry in between at all . but I forgwt and eat to fast or 2 big and wammo. Then i sit back and try again. I will get it right. I just have to get away from this 2 cup thinking. I went to support tonight and everyone noticd my loss. I had to chirp that it is not easy . Every day is a struggle for me. I stay optimistic about it or it would eat me apart..... I still am obsessed with my scale but i dont take the fluctuations to heart. Today is january 15th 2007. I pray this yeaR I WILL B HEALTHIER THAN LAST YEAR. wHAT IS MY PURPOSE N LIFE? I AM ALMOST 50 AN HAVE NO CLUE ANYMORE.
