Rachel82
12/2/05
I am a young adult that has suffered with obesity my whole life. I have been married to my wonderful husband who is extremely supportive for three years now. We have a 8 month old little boy. I have always been the girl that people said , she would be so pretty if she were skinny, or the back handed compliment... what a pretty face. I have so many emotional scares from being the fat kid and I have come to a place in life for that all to be over. I am very interested in what this surgery can do for me. I have tried so many fadd diets with some weight loss result that just immediatly piles back on. If any of you have any advise on this please e-mail me. I could use some support in this from others going through the same thing. Although my husband is supportive, he is fit and trim with a great body. I would love advise from young people like me going down this journey. I have recently set up for the weight loss seminar in January. Hopefully I will get some answeres there.
Thank you!
Rachel
12/12/05
I am still waiting for the paperwork. They said it would take about a month to recieve it. I don't understand why I have to wait so long just to get paperwork. :-( I am very excited about the seminar in January. I am worried I will not be a canidate because I am right at that 40 BMI. Well, I will continue to wait.................................................................
12/17/05
Today I recieved the information from my surgeon!!! Yea.. I am so excited , but at the same time I am still so nervouse. The information in the packet I recieved gives a list of complications that are kind of scary. But with every surgery there are complications. I finaly feel like I am headed down a path. The information packet gives specific instructions on what to do next. I have to fill out the information sheets. Schedule appt's with the psychiatrist and the Nutritionist and write those dates on the information sheets to be returned to the surgeon before my seminar on January 26, 2006. I also have to call my Insurance company to find out the steps needed to qualify for coverage of the bypass surgery. The journey begins...............
12/20/05
Yesterday I spoke with my Insurance Company Blue Cross Blue Shield. They advised me that the requirements would be a 40 BMI, clearance from psych. & nutritionist with one visit and a letter of neccesity from my doctor and that is all that is needed for approval. I was so relieved to hear that news. I now fell like it is going to be smooth sailing from here on out....hopefully..... well, only a few short weeks until it's time for my seminar I can't wait!
12/30/05
Today I finaly finished the paperwork! I have my dates for the nutritionist(2/15/06) and the psychiatrist(3/6/06). I have told a few people besides my family that I am on this journey. The responce is differed. Most express a sincere concern for the side effects. I too am concerned about this. I do feel however at this point any side effect besides death of course is worth pursuing this avenue. I am so excited as the prospect of being a normal sized person for the first time in my life! Well only a few short weeks till January 26th, my seminar......
1/5/06
Today I went to visit my primary because of a sore throat. I told him my agenda. I had been avoiding telling him because I was affraid he would not support me. I was shocked to hear he is behind me 110%. He advised that he thought that this was a very good solution to my weight problem and that he would back me up any way he could. This is so much relief for me! I was so worried. Now that I know I have the support of my Doctor and my Husband I know this is going to happen. Well only like 2 1/2 weeks till the seminar, time has gone by so fast.
1/27/05
So.... I went to the seminar.... I have never been so excited for something in my whole life. Any person that is like me and has been overweight thier whole life will be able to relate when I say. For the first time I realy felt like there is hope for me to be a normal person. The seminar was very informative and Dr. o'malley really knows his stuff. He is a little on the cold side, but I am not here to be his friend , he is going to be my doctor and all I care about is his knowledge and expierience! After the seminar I feel very confident in my decision. I know this is right for me. It was a good feeling to see other people just like me feeling those same feelings. My husband and friends are very supportive. I feel I am ready to make this life change and journey now. I have my nutritian consult in 2 weeks. Two weeks later I meet with the psych. Things are rolling now. I hope to have my surgery in the begining of may. But in this process you really have to tell yourself, just take it one step at a time.
2/21/06
It has been a while since I have updated my profile. I have seen the nutrionist and she advised me I need two more visits for approval. I am bummed because she is booking 6-8 weeks in between bacause she is so busy, this pushes my surgery out even more, but I am sticking with it. I see the psych on 3/6/06 and the nutr. on 4/17/06 so hopefull the psych tells me I don't need any further appointments... This process is very long and can be depressing but everone I have talked with tells me how happy they were that they stuck with it. I am going to do the same.
3/6/06
I saw the psych today! She advised me she thought I was a good candidate for the surgery and she did not feel I needed any more visits. I am so excited about this. I was super nervous and am so glad that she approved me. My doctor wrote his approval last week. The psych has now writen thier approval, now All I need is nutrit. April seems so far away, but I guess it will be here soon enough. I am thinking I will probably have my surgery end of July. I am going to my local support group next week. I am very excited to meet other people going through the same thing.
4/14/06
Wow.. It has been awhile since I have updated you all. I have my next nutrition appt on monday and I am also having an ultrasound for my Gallbladder that day too. I hope this is my last nutrition appt. I have been trying so hard to be good and fallow the rules, I have lost a few pounds..which is definatly great! I have been to two Gastric Bypass support group meeting since the last time I updated, they were great. I love talking to other people and hearing all about thier expieriences. I also baught the book " The real skinney on weight loss surgery", it has been a great educational tool for me, I highly suggest getting this book! I am getting twords the end of my journey and I am so escited. I am so ready for this life change! I will update after my nutrition visit on monday... I hope I have good news to share with you.
4/20/06
Well, I have good news and not so good news. I lost 4 pounds!!! That is the good news, the not so good news is that I have to come back for one more visit next month. I am so bummed. I am getting so ansy! I just wish I were done with all the visits and surgery day is here. I also had an ultrasound and found out that I have a bunch of Gull Stones! So, I will have to have my Gallbladder out at the surgery, that is no biggy, alot of people have it done. So, I meet with the nutritionist again 5/22. If all goes well, I am hopeing to have the surgery 6 weeks later. I can only hope and pray everything goes smooth until that point. I will update again after that visit.
5/22/06
Wow, that month went by fast! Between vacation and life in general the month was over in a blink. Good news everyone! The nutritionist approved me today! I am so excited! I am one step closer to being on the loosing side. I have to say I am ready by this point, I feel this has been a long journey and I am sure ready for the change! The next step is to wait a week or so to hear from my surgeons office and then set up my appointment with Dr. O'malley. After that I will have pre- op testing. Then a few weeks later I should have my surgery! I will keep you all updated!
6/02/06
Well I met with Dr. O'malley and I have a Date! I am so excited! He seemed to be more friendly this time. Things were pretty straight forward. I will have the Lapriscopic Gastric Bypass procedure with my Gall bladder removed. I am not that nervouse about the surgery. I am nervouse about after. I am reading as much as I can to be prepared and I have a close friend who is a month out and is doing well. I will let you all know when my Insurance goes through, I have a Blue, so I am not that worried about it.
6/18/06
It has been awhile since I have updated. My date has been moved up due to a complication with my Gall bladder that is very painful. June 26th is the big day. I was approved by my Insurance last week. It took two weeks. Dr. O'malley's office was great about everything. Dawn, who handles that stuff was so nice! She even called me on my cell phone to tell me I was approved, because she knew how nervouse I was about the whole thing. I am excited for the surgery now for two reasons. One is of course to become healthy and the other is to get this Gallbladder out that has been causeing me so much pain! So next monday is the day! I will update you all again when I come home from the hospital.
6/30/06
Well, I am going on my 5th day post op. I had a horrible time in the hospital. I had comlications with my gallbladder. Dr. O'malley said that my anatomy inside was an abnormal. My ducts around the gallbladder were the size of a small childs ducts and My gallbladder was connected to ducts that it shouldn't have been. Dr. O'malley also told me I had 100+ gallstones in my gallbladder some bigger than marbles. They started with the Lapriscopic RNY gastric bypass, that went great. When they moved to the gallbladder and realized the situation they had to open me up. I have a 6 inch incision on my right side. So, when I woke up and found all this out it was very overwhelming. I was happy to be OK. So, I was in the hospital for 4 days with great care besides one very pregnant crabby nurse. I had alot of nausea and dry heaving, but no real vomiting. I am home now and on a liquid diet. Suprisingly I have NO appetite. I am forcing myself to eat. I was sent home with two drains. I should get one out next wednesday at my post op visit and the other will come out in 6 weeks. I have to have the one for 6 weeks due to the complications with my gall bladder. Everyday I feel a little better. I am tired and very sore. I wish I could play with my son, that bothers me more than anything. But I am on the road to recovery! I hope I start to feel like my old self soon. ohh, and also I have lost 9 pounds in 5 days! I can't wait to pass the 200 mark!
7/3/06
Well, I am finaly starting to feel better. This has been some very tuff weeks for me. I still have both drains in I hope one comes out on wednesday along with the staples. I am excited to tell you I have lost a total of 14lbs my first week! Wow! I am now down to 236. Today I drove. I know that is a big no no at this point, but I couldn't resist. I felt like a caged animal. It was so nice to get out! I went to the grocery store with my husband. I thought I would be deprest, but I wasn't. I am just so happy to be feeling better. Tonight I played with my son a little bit. That was great. I am sure in another week I will feel twice as good.
8/8/06
Wow it feels like forever since I have updated my profile! I am doing great! I still have the t-tube in and will have a cholangiogram on thursday and then have it removed that same day in the afternoon. I am 6 weeks post op and have lost 34 pounds so far! I feel so good. All my clothes are loose. I don't miss food, because I still eat it, just small portions and healthier choices. I do not regret having the surgery even with all the complications I had. I am so happy with the weight loss so far and it will only increase. I am back to work full time. I am still tired sometimes but I know with time that too will get better.
8/27/06
It has been two months since my surgery. I have lost a total of 42 pounds. I am feeling GREAT! I had the t-tube removed two weeks ago, that made a huge difference! I can move around with out feeling uncomfortable or having any pain. I am doing well with all foods. I have to watch my sugar intake though because I get a little tummy ache if I have too much. I have had no dumping, no vomiting. I am feeling the great health effects of loosing weight. I am able to move around faster up stairs and chasing my son around. I get out of a chair faster too. I am just starting to feel like a healthy person. My wedding anniversary is on this coming thursday and I am 3 pounds away from weighing what I did on my wedding day. I know I will have lost three pounds by then. I also started going to the gym. I just do weights. I walk almost every night with my family after dinner so for right now I am just trying to tone. I am starting to see some sagging skin, I hope because I am in my twenties it will bounce back somewhat. I am still feeling so great about my decision to get my life under controll.
9/30/06
I am now 12 weeks post -op. So, in 3 months I have lost a total of 60 pounds! I am so thrilled with how I have been feelingt. I have so much energy. I am moving around so quickly. Life has been changing dramaticly. I feel wonderful. I can;t believe I feel this good and I am only out 3 months. I am definitly seeing some sagging skin, but I am also seeing muscles I didn't even know I had. I am going to start going to the gym regularly to tone up. I will check back in in a month or so.
10/15/06
It has been two weeks since I last posted. I am down 65 pounds now. I am currently wearing a size 16 now. It feels great! I am so happy I had this surgery. I truely feel it has saved my life!
11/27/06
Well, it has been 5 months now. I am down 75 pounds! I feel great! I am wearing a size 14 and I can get into a 12 but I can't breathe.. Life hs been so good since I got the surgery. I started regularly excersicing. I was very very sore at first but now I run on the treadmill and do push ups and situps 3 times a week. Instead of hurting and being tired after a work out I feel great! People look at me for me now and not for how large I am. I have 35 pounds to go till my goal.. The weight loss has started to slow down and I am loosing some hair, but not enough for anyone to notice but me. All in all I am feeling like a milion bucks!
12/25/06
Merry Christmas! The Holidays have difinitly posed a challange for me. I only lost 4 pounds this month. But hey at least I didn't gain any weight. I know these next few months will bring slow weight loss. At this point I am going to have to step it up a bit, but I am ready! I can breath in a 12 now, but it just doesn't look right. I am shooting for wearing a 12 in a month.... It is funny the little things that make you happy now. I never imagined wearing a 12 now I am debating how I look in a 12.. this has been a wild ride the past 6 months. My hair is definitly thinning. I hope it stops soon. I am eating pretty much anything, but making healthy choices and of course eating like a bird, which seems so natural for me now.
3/27/07
I can't believe it has been so long since my last post. I am doing well. I am fitting comfortably in a size 10 now. I am hopeing that I will ultimatly be a size 8. I would like to loose another 20 pounds. I now weigh 155. I have lost 95 pounds and am 9 months post-op. My hair is slowly growing back in thicker. I feel great! I take my b12 and Iron twice day and a vitamin once a day. I am finaly starting to feel like a normal person. Gastric bypass has changed my life! I feel like this is all a dream and I will wake up and be very overweight again. I am so blessed to have had this medical intervention , it saved my life. I will post again before my one year mark. I have only lost 2 lbs this month, I have 3 months left and 20 pounds to go!
