pkque
Im 37 years old, married for 12 years, with 3 small children. Alexis, Grant, and Ethan. 8-6-2. I have a great family, and they are the reason for all of this. Almost 20 years ago, I played college football in Tennessee. Since that time, marriage, kids, mortgage, bills, and an extra large/ super duty recliner, has put 160lbs on me. Until about 6 months ago, I didnt give a damn. Then, the docs kept talking me DYING, and that got me up outta the recliner. Ive been told I need to update my file. Im doing so now.
I will bring you up to speed on my "journey". Initially I couldnt figure out why everybody kept calling it a journey. 6 months later, and several nights lying awake, and I now know. Back in October 05, my wife and I went to a Gastric bypass seminar. I didnt think it was for me, but then I got on the scales at the seminar, and was HUUUUUUUGE! It really shocked me! Only fat people out there will understand this next statement, so skinny people skip down the page.
I didnt realize I was THAT big!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Needless to say, I listened to the surgeon, who seemed like a super sharp guy. Got alll the info stuff, and left BURNING up to do my own research. He made the statement "In the next few months, you will learn SO much about this surgery".
I dont think even HE knew how much I was listening.
Ive done, lets see, in the last six months,,, Hmmmmmmm,, I will be conservative. There are 4320 hours, in six months. Ive spent at LEAST 500 of those hours, studying, reading, researching, and talking about wls. AT least. And guys, trust me,, thats a conservative number. In total, Ive talked to about 150 people, who have had wls. RNY, DS, Lap Band, and even biliopancreatic whatever.
Heres where I am today, 4-29-06. EVERYONE of them, scares the SHIT outta me, other than that lap band.
I know, I know, I know. Ive heard it from MANY rny'ers. Ive heard all the cliches. "Its more dangerous NOT having the surgery" "take back your life" "I would have it again in a New York Minute". I know,, Ive heard em.
But for ole Steve-O, the shit keeps me awake at night. I just CANNOT be at ease with it.
Ive heard its a personal decision. And youre damn right, it is. I think, well, I KNOW, Im going with the band.
Now, theres one more important thing. MONEY. Blue Cross, blue shield, says you can have the band, you just need a LOAN also. They wont cover. I all ready know. Ive been given guidelines on how to fight, and I will. But, I know 2 things in six months.
1. I HAVE to do something.
2. I cant sleep agreeing to the rny.
So, Wednesday, after numerous calls and stalls, Ive gotten an appt. with the surgeon. I will post after that meeting.
5-4-06--My consult was cancelled, then postponed to Friday(tomorrow) at 11:am. Mitchell wont be there, but his PA will. I have some questions to shoot by him. I want to see his attitude towards me having the band. Really dont wanna talk about how much better the rny would be for me. How good can it be if I cant fucking sleep?
5-18-06--I have an update. Mitchell's office screwed me around yet again. They called me, said that office time was precious,, or rather too precious to schedule a meeting with me. Im really getting to the point where its not so beneficial to go thru Mitchell. Im lap band, and his are the highest in the state. Ive looked into other surgeons, who are much cheaper, more experienced with the band, and office staff seems MUCH more communicable. I will look into those surgeons, and make an assessment. I went BACK to another "info session" for Mitchell, and met Carmen. She was much more informative than the others have been. Even said she would get all my info to me, in case I decided to go elsewhere. She will, however, check Moore Regional, to see if I can get the band cheaper. She was very helpful. Im still working out, but have not lost a pound. Its depressing. I will keep on keeping on, and hopefully somethng will happen quick, WHICHEVER surgeon I use. Going to Raleigh tomorrow(I think) and will check out Enochs and Moran.
Thru this whole ordeal, anyone researching wls, I would tell them, that it is soooooooooo tiring and bullshitty. I started this in Oct, and here I am in May, with no surgery. Pitiful, but not my fault. Out
6-6-06--so I have updates. I got in to see Mitchell. Told him that his staff was basically shitty. But he answered all my questions about his lap band patients. I finally was able to get a response from Carolyn about self pay costs. I got a fax for 19600.00. Which is no drop in the bucket. But, it is a price Im willing to pay. I told Mitchell, who was good about returning calls to me from his cell phone, that I wanted to have my packet at least submitted for insurance approval, and I didnt want to make a 19600.00 mistake! He agreed, and I talked to Chris today and she is supposedly sending in my packet today. I will continue to check with BCBS to see if they got my packet. Now, I must wait and see what they say. In the meantime, I have gone to my Credit Union, and will take out an equity loan on my house if the insurance doesnt pay.
6-8-06---got the call about 200 today. I was DENIED for coverage of the lap band!!! RNY was covered, but not the band. Whats up with THAT? I think Im off to the bank in the morning.
11-3-06---Yes,, it 5 months later. A world of shit has happened. I got approved for lap band surgery!!! I fought like a badboy for this surgery. 2 insurance denials, 50 letters to BCBS, endless nights worrying, hiring a NY atty who will scare the hell outta you, money to pay for kidney and liver tests, just a full time JOB. But its here. Thanks to God, Gary Viscio, Lusious LAvergne, and thanks to ME!!! I give credit where credit is due, and I deserve to be thanked. Should get my date by the 7-8th of Nov. Hope I can do this in 06. OUT
11-14-06-- I went in and saw Mitchell and Brett(PA) today. Endoscopy scheduled for Nov 17-06. Then final exam is 12-6-06, and surgery 12-12-06. Thats what Im talking bout. Mitchell tells me he has NEVER seen anyone approved for lapband thru BCBS. So, they will be watching me, to monitor my progress. The pressure is on, and I plan on responding positively to it. And LOSE weight!!
12-4-06---Well how about THIS? Its the night, before my surgery!! They moved it up, and I took the appt. I just drank the phospho soda they have you drink. Im also starving due to the clear liquids only diet Ive been on all day. Funny though, its amazing how much you can NOT eat, when you know you will get a new chance in this "diet" struggle. Im ready to go. Im taking God at HIS word,,, when I prayed that if this was for me, let me have it. He gave it to me, so Im taking it. Thank you Lord Jesus. Laverne got on my ass for not staying in touch. Just been so busy. Work, kids, Christmas time, outta town. All that doesnt leave much for chatting and lurking on the boards. Im ret ta go. Roo to the Good Ques.
12-6-06--Im HOME AND BANDED!!! Yall dont know how good it is to be able to type that. LONG time coming. Im sore as HELL. Not hurting, but sore. Im on the clear liquid diet for 4 weeks. Now, normally I would have DIED before trying a diet like this. But, truth be told, I havent had any REAL food for 3 days now. Somehow the liquid diet doesnt scare me. Im not hungry. Well, I will say Im not STARVING. Mitchell was cool, Brett was cool, and I was up walking 30 minutes after surgery. Honestly, the worst thing about it was the nurses waking me up all nite. Small price to pay. Ok,, Im on the loser's side. To anybody reading my profile, know that Im an on the level guy. This surgery was not too difficult, and Im loving the speedy recovery time. Im back to work tomorrow. Mind you, all I do is sit on my ass. OUT
12-28-06--Ok,,, so Im 3 weeks preop. Have lost like 19lbs, and Im happy. The first 2 weeks was easy. I never got hungry, and didnt want a whole lotta food. This 3rd week, I find myself needed more food with substance, to get full. Eating a lotta chicken noodle soup(broth is flat nasty) and find myself nibbling off the kids foods. Nothing like I used to, but nibbling that is NOT a part of Lapband diet. I will stop that. I have been packing in the protein and exercising though. Isopure Alpine Punch is my shit. Real easy to drink. I actually look forward to it. I havent contacted Laverne in a minute, so I will do that now. I have a doc appt on 1-3-07,, so I will update after that.
1-3-07-- Ok,, just got back from my visit with Mitchell. Down another 7.5lbs!! And got on the body composition scale, and 4.5lbs of that was fat. Not all water. Start on pureed diet for 2 weeks, and go back to the doc on 1-17-07. Im trying to put this ticker on here. Hope it works.
So, 1-3-07--here is how it looks.
1-17-07--Ok,,I went for my 6 week checkup today. Down another 6 lbs in 2 weeks since my last appt. Thats the good news. The bad news is my surgeon did not think it was time for a fill. Due to my weight loss progress, and % of fat loss, he wants me to start on solids(which I have been basically doing ANYWAYS) for a week. He will reevaluate me for a 1 cc fill next Wednesday. Needless to say: I love my band. Here it is as of 1-17-07
IMP
3-6-07--Ok,,, lots has occured. I went to the surgeon today,,, and I was losing at a rate that they would not give me a fill. Seems as though I am losing lots of fat, but gaining muscle and water. I talked to Dr. Mitchell, and he and I both agreed that the band was the best choice for me. He also talked about the number of Lapband procedures increasing due to better insurance coverage. I just found out that BCBS is now covering the band. After they put me thru 13 months of bullshit. I go back to see the surgeon on 4-18-07. Im 318 today. Cannot wait until Im under 300.
6-29-07---Ok,, I havent updated in months. I went for my 6 month checkup. Downn 46 lbs. But to be honest, it could have been better. I have gotten a lil lacksidasical in my year plan, and plan to get RIGHT BACK on schedule. Ive found that after these "big" check ups with the doc,, I get lazy. I havent been drinking my water correctly, and have been back snacking(nothing huge, but grazing a lot more every day, especially nights). Im getting BACK on the grind!!! I also went on vacation, which never helps. But, while on vacation, I did walk, and I did work out, but my eating was waaaay off. I was mindful of it though. So much so, I bought Khaliah Ali's Lapband book, and have read almost half of it. I just read Laverne's updates on her profile, and she feels she is at a standstill too. It was good to see that she has gone thru some of the same stuff I have. Today, Im going in for a colonoscopy. Hopefully its just preventive. Ok, until next time. I STILL cannot wait until Im under 300.
