proteinprincess
WOW!! It's been over 2 years since I've posted anything.
Nov 21, 2009
I am 6 years and 9 months out from surgery. A lot has changed since having surgery.. a lot has changed since my last post.
I am no longer active on the boards, although I do post occasionally to the Alabama Board. I also am not active in my local support group. It's not that I do not think they are important, they are.. I just am not as supportive as I once was. My weight has continued to climb. I have gained about 95% of my weight back. My lab values are off and I feel that I have screwed up my health without the benefit of weight loss. I have an almost constant pain in my muscles which I attrribute to my labs. I do not fault the surgery, nor the surgeon, but it is not a cure all. In spite of what everyone may say or do, it works well for some but not for others.
For the moment, please do not message me for advise regarding maintaining your goal weight. If I knew the answers, I'd follow it myself.. thus I do not know.
0 comments
I am no longer active on the boards, although I do post occasionally to the Alabama Board. I also am not active in my local support group. It's not that I do not think they are important, they are.. I just am not as supportive as I once was. My weight has continued to climb. I have gained about 95% of my weight back. My lab values are off and I feel that I have screwed up my health without the benefit of weight loss. I have an almost constant pain in my muscles which I attrribute to my labs. I do not fault the surgery, nor the surgeon, but it is not a cure all. In spite of what everyone may say or do, it works well for some but not for others.
For the moment, please do not message me for advise regarding maintaining your goal weight. If I knew the answers, I'd follow it myself.. thus I do not know.
a recent picture
Sep 09, 2007
YIKES!!
Sep 09, 2007
I have fallen down on the job of posting. What can I say? I have many excuses but none that are really good.
Oh, I guess I can use this one... Money has been TIGHT and I had my DSL suspended for a while so that I could catch up on other bills.
Oh, I guess I can use this one... Money has been TIGHT and I had my DSL suspended for a while so that I could catch up on other bills.
I havent posted in a while...
Jun 10, 2007
Wow, I havent posted in a while.
I worked out with a trainer for several weeks.. a couple of months and I lost 8 pounds but I don't have the money to renew my contract so I'm on my own once again.
I'm continuing to weigh on a regular basis, trying to keep tabs on any fluctuation so I can correct it before a gain becomes permanent.
I worked out with a trainer for several weeks.. a couple of months and I lost 8 pounds but I don't have the money to renew my contract so I'm on my own once again.
I'm continuing to weigh on a regular basis, trying to keep tabs on any fluctuation so I can correct it before a gain becomes permanent.
Better than Expected
Apr 24, 2007
Since I've been posting about Julie's struggles, I wanted to share some good news with you.
Yesterday, Julie Campbell finally got her surgery. She went into surgery believing that she would have a very extensive and dangerous revision or possibly a reversal of her WLS but she was ready to do whatever was necessary to reclaim her health. The agony of waiting was finally over.
Hours passed before the surgeon came to talk to us. He was smiling. The news was good. In fact, it was better than good, it was AWESOME!! It exceeded what we had prayed for.
Julie's pouch was normal and all aspects of her previous WLS was still intact. She did not need a revision or a reversal. Her complications were due to SEVERE and MASSIVE amounts of adhesions (scar tissue). When the surgeon saw the massive adhesions, he expected to have difficulty in removing them because her liver was involved, however as he started seperating her organs they seperated with ease. The entire procedure was able to be completed lap. Julie's recovery time will therefore be much less than we had anticipated.
Her health has been declining since her WLS in January 2006 and this is the first good news she has heard since that time.
Praise God!!
Please continue to pray for Julie. Pray that as her body heals, the pain and nausea will subside and that she will be able to tolerate food and liquids.
Yesterday, Julie Campbell finally got her surgery. She went into surgery believing that she would have a very extensive and dangerous revision or possibly a reversal of her WLS but she was ready to do whatever was necessary to reclaim her health. The agony of waiting was finally over.
Hours passed before the surgeon came to talk to us. He was smiling. The news was good. In fact, it was better than good, it was AWESOME!! It exceeded what we had prayed for.
Julie's pouch was normal and all aspects of her previous WLS was still intact. She did not need a revision or a reversal. Her complications were due to SEVERE and MASSIVE amounts of adhesions (scar tissue). When the surgeon saw the massive adhesions, he expected to have difficulty in removing them because her liver was involved, however as he started seperating her organs they seperated with ease. The entire procedure was able to be completed lap. Julie's recovery time will therefore be much less than we had anticipated.
Her health has been declining since her WLS in January 2006 and this is the first good news she has heard since that time.
Praise God!!
Please continue to pray for Julie. Pray that as her body heals, the pain and nausea will subside and that she will be able to tolerate food and liquids.
Julie's got a date
Apr 18, 2007
For everyone who has been following Julie's struggle, she finally has a date. She will have a complete revision on Tuesday, April 24.
This is not a typical revision since it is not a revision from one surgery type to another but it's a complete redo of her RNY due to severe complications.
This is not a typical revision since it is not a revision from one surgery type to another but it's a complete redo of her RNY due to severe complications.
Update: Julie
Apr 12, 2007
I want to give you an update on Julie's situation. I have a lot to tell you about but I'm going to try to condense it.
As you already know, we have been collecting and continue to collect funds for Julie's revision. We are in need of $11,000 to reach the needed amount of $18,500.
The next planned benefit is scheduled for April 29 at the Gulf Shore (Alabama) United Methodist Church. They are having a silent auction and dinner theater. If you would like to donate to the silent auction, please contact the church. You are also invited to attend.
Recently, the lease on the apartment where Julie and her family lived expired and the apartment was put up for sale. Their rent was very high. Due to Julie's extended medical needs and bills, her husband's employer offered to let them buy his home at a much reduced price. (He's having a new home built). He is financing the home for them and the payments will be much lower than the rent they were paying. This is his way of helping them with the expense of keeping Julie alive.
They are presently staying in a house that her home health care nurse loaned them. The above mentioned house is not yet available and they were going to have to stay in a motel. They are scheduled to close on the house next week.
The last part of my post is the most important part (so far) concerning Julie's surgery. She received word today that her appeal is being expedited and that she should get an answer within 72 hours. An approval means that she can be scheduled for surgery but it does NOT mean that it will cover ALL of the surgery or expence that will be incurred but it will cover enough to get her through the door.
Y'all PLEASE pray for this to go through. Pray everyday for her to get an approval. At this point, her LIFE is literally in the hands of the insurance company. The 72 hours begins in the morning so we should have an answer by WEDNESDAY.
PLEASE pray for this. Julie's life depend on it.
As you already know, we have been collecting and continue to collect funds for Julie's revision. We are in need of $11,000 to reach the needed amount of $18,500.
The next planned benefit is scheduled for April 29 at the Gulf Shore (Alabama) United Methodist Church. They are having a silent auction and dinner theater. If you would like to donate to the silent auction, please contact the church. You are also invited to attend.
Recently, the lease on the apartment where Julie and her family lived expired and the apartment was put up for sale. Their rent was very high. Due to Julie's extended medical needs and bills, her husband's employer offered to let them buy his home at a much reduced price. (He's having a new home built). He is financing the home for them and the payments will be much lower than the rent they were paying. This is his way of helping them with the expense of keeping Julie alive.
They are presently staying in a house that her home health care nurse loaned them. The above mentioned house is not yet available and they were going to have to stay in a motel. They are scheduled to close on the house next week.
The last part of my post is the most important part (so far) concerning Julie's surgery. She received word today that her appeal is being expedited and that she should get an answer within 72 hours. An approval means that she can be scheduled for surgery but it does NOT mean that it will cover ALL of the surgery or expence that will be incurred but it will cover enough to get her through the door.
Y'all PLEASE pray for this to go through. Pray everyday for her to get an approval. At this point, her LIFE is literally in the hands of the insurance company. The 72 hours begins in the morning so we should have an answer by WEDNESDAY.
PLEASE pray for this. Julie's life depend on it.
To clarify my last post:
Mar 23, 2007
Yes, Julie is in serious condition and she will not improve without surgery. A revision is considered to be "elective" although it is deemed medically necessary to save her life. Because it is considered to be elective, the hospital does not have to admit her without the ability to pay. (You should be aware of the overuse of the term "elective" since WLS surgery is considered to be elective even though some of us would not be alive today had we not had this "elective surgery).
In her case the revision is not elective, it is necessary but that doesn't mean that the insurance company and hospital administrator, billing department, etc.. see it that way. It is a scheduled procedure, therefore it is considered as elective.
Everyday that passes, her health grows worse. As you are probably aware, it is better to go into surgery while you are healthy, not when you are almost dead. We cannot afford to wait until she is at the point of death and expect her to have a full recovery from surgery. Yes, at that point the hospital will have to admit her but the outcome may not be so good. She needs surgery before she reaches the point of no return.
I hope this clarifies the necessity of her revision and the reason why she has to have the money before she can be admitted.
Please Help
Mar 12, 2007
I posted this to the Alabama Board but if you are reading this, please help.
As most of you know, Julie Campbell has been very sick for a very long time. She is in constant pain, she is not able to take in enough food or water to support life, her esophagus is eroding from constant vomiting, her health is deteriorating, and she is in need of a revision of WLS. The surgeon who originally performed Julie's surgery is no longer able to manage her care and has referred her to Dr Freeman in Anniston. Dr Freeman has graciously agreed to treat Julie and to do the revision.
As most of you know, Julie Campbell has been very sick for a very long time. She is in constant pain, she is not able to take in enough food or water to support life, her esophagus is eroding from constant vomiting, her health is deteriorating, and she is in need of a revision of WLS. The surgeon who originally performed Julie's surgery is no longer able to manage her care and has referred her to Dr Freeman in Anniston. Dr Freeman has graciously agreed to treat Julie and to do the revision.
She has undergone numerous tests and it is certain that she cannot continue to live without surgery. Her anastomosis site is almost completely closed, there are abnormal kinks and twists in her intestines, and there is likely a large amount of adhesions.
Julie has never asked for anything except prayers. She is always faithful to her church and to this board. She has been supportive and encouraging to others while her health continues to decline but the time has come that she URGENTLY needs our help.
It was known from the beginning that her insurance would not cover the surgery but we thought it would cover her hospital stay. On Friday (March 9), her insurance denied any coverage. She must have 100% of the bill up front to even be admitted to the hospital. The estimated cost for an uncomplicated surgery with 5 admission days is $18,500 (eighteen thousand five hundred). This amount has been discounted for her and cannot be reduced any lower but can go higher. However, she can be admitted and have this life saving surgery if we can raise the $18,500.
Julie's life is at stake and everyday that passes is another day is another day that her health deteriorates even more, making it more difficult to for her to fully recover from surgery.
Julie's Home Health nurse reports that Julie's condition is GRAVE and requests that she try to live each day to the fullest. For this reason we ask that you do not PM or email her with questions regarding her health. You may PM either myself, Lindy, Carmen or Louise. We will gladly reply.
There are several ways you can make a donation. You can mail the a check directly to Julie, you can mail a check to Dr Freeman (for Julie Campbell's account), or you can use the paypal account that has been set up for this purpose.
Email or PM me for Julie's address.
Dr Bryan Freeman
(Julie Campbell's account)
822 Leighton Avenue
Anniston, AL 36207
Anniston, AL 36207
the paypal account is: [email protected]
Thank you for your help.
Gina
Rowley's Birthday
Mar 09, 2007
About Me
AL
Location
Surgery
02/17/2003
Surgery Date
Jan 21, 2003
Member Since
