Donna Childress

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Guess it's time that I update my blog.....
I had my surgery a little over three weeks ago on May 21st.  RNY - I'm not sure if I had the medial or proximal.  I'm not sure which!  Rather stupid of me for not knowing.  It doesn't say on any of my hospital release papers...I briefly remember having a short conversation with Dr. Oh right before they gave me my knock out IV...If I remember correctly I asked him to do the most drastic he could - that I never wanted to be fat again. Dr. Oh laughed and said, "good for you."  I think he told me that my insurance pre-qualified me for the proximal - crap - here all along I thought I was going to receive a medial.  Looking back at all my paperwork - it doesn't specify proximal or medial.  So much for good communication - guess I flunked that course.  Wednesday, June 17th, is my 4 week check up.  I'm going to make sure I ASK and also get a copy of my surgery report/records then to bring home so I know exactly what was done.  It makes a big difference as to what/and how many vitamins you need to take and also for the protein shake amounts.  GOD I FEEL SO STUPID!

Onward I go with my true life story.  I checked into St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, Washington on May 21st at 10:00 (nervous and scared to death I might add).  My hubby drove me, helped me get checked in, and then he headed to work for numerous meetings at Boeing regarding more layoffs and cutbacks.  I went under the knife at approximately 2:30pm not knowing for sure if my husband would still have a job when he came back to see me that evening.  Hey they actually got the IV in me on the second poke!  I have collapsing, rolling, hidden, nasty little veins.  My all time record for pokes in one sitting is 13!  The hospital staff was very friendly and they put a nice heated blanket on my lap.

I woke up at around 6:15pm - very groggy and felt like I was more dead than alive.  Not much pain, but felt so naseauted.  I don't remember how long I was in the recovery room.  I do remember someone telling me that my surgery was over and that it went very well.  All I felt like doing was puking and trying to sleep.  The dry heaves were definitely not fun, but not quite as painful as I expected either.  My husband, and my younger daughter (daughter came up from Oregon) came to visit me around 8:00pm???  Again I just don't remember much - all I remember is I was happy to see familiar faces, but felt so sick I really didn't want any company and was trying so hard not to vomit.  After a short visit I sent them on their way.  I just wanted to be left alone - I felt so bad.  Not any real pain, just felt so sick.  The nurses were very nice and kept giving me anti-naseau meds in my IV - but unfortunately they didn't work.  It was a long, long, very miserable night of dry heaves and trying to get any water in by mouth - well it just came back up.  The nurses came quite quickly when I rang the button because I had to pee in the middle of the night a couple of times.  By the next morning I was able to get up on my own and make it to the bathroom.  I did have a roommate but she was very nice and quiet - I felt bad that she had to listen to my dry heaves.  It seemed as if the nurses were giving me more anti-naseau meds every hour - but it probably wasn't quite that often.  Time passes slowly and strangely when you feel more dead than alive.  I remember thinking over and over how could I have done this to myself.  To top off the naseau I also had a very severe case of restless leg syndrome - actually I would have to say it was more like RESTLESS BODY SYNDROME!!!  I've had this problem off and on for quite a few years.  But this was by far the very worst.  Perhaps it was brought on by all the meds????  I could not relax or lie still.  I felt like all my nerves were on fire and trying to jump out of my body.  I couldn't hold still for blood pressure, temperature checks, or anything.  When Dr. Oh and Hirai came to check on my I was literally writhing on the bed.  Think they thought I was nuts.  Given more meds to relax me.  Felt worse and dry heaves continued.  I was sent down for an CAT Scan.  They had to inject die into my IV. Vein collapsed and it took numerous tries to get one started.  My body squirms and discomfort were so bad I just wanted to scream!  They wanted to give up on the IV because I had been poked so many times, but I told them it had to be done.  Finally succeeded and my results came back good - no leakage.  Also had to drink awful stuff to have an ultrsound - I couldn't get it all in, but got enough in and ultrsound results were alright too.  Thank God!  Now if I could just quit with the dry heaves.  Wanted to go home so bad!  I was told because of my naseau and not getting enough liquids in I would have to stay an extra night.  Depression set in and my restless body problems continued.  I tried walking around the nurses station, puke pan in hand, trying to gain some relief - to no avail.

Tired and time to get a protein shake for dinner - so will continue tomorrow........????

Puke green print - that seems appropriate!  Last Thursday on May 14th I had all my pulmonary testing and CAT scans done through Dr. Chen Pulmonologist.  I was told I would have the results that afternoon.  They never called - so I called them twice.  I was told to have patience.  Friday I called again and was informed that the CAT scan results had not come back yet.  Dr. Chen then called me back and said he had faxed the results of my breathing test to Dr. Oh stating that I should be fine for surgery.  He also told me that my testing thus far showed my lung capacity at 67% and figured it was due to obesity. 

So then I figured hurrary things are fine and I'll get my surgery.  Dr. Oh's office called and told me that a "should" be fine for surgery is to vague - they need is cleared for surgery or is fine for surgery, not a should be fine.  So I called back Dr. Chen's office again and told them this.  I was told be patient these things take time, we are still waiting for results of CAT scan.  SHIT to be blunt!

All weekend I was on pins and needles so nervous about all this.  All I wanted to do was eat - but no can't do that, have to stick to starvation, unsatisfying liquid crap diet.  Felt depressed and awful.  Finally Sunday I started having bad stomach cramps.  Ran to bathroom and just sat there plugged.  Unusual for me - usually I'm loosey goosey.  With tears forming up I finally was able to unplug and the plug was followed by super, explosive loosey that smelled so bad - like super bad rotten vitamins - really grosely chemically stuff.  Hmmmmm, maybe that's giving me an idea of what after surgery will be like if I ever get there!

Here it is now Monday afternoon on the 18th of May.  Four days, three nights before my scheduled surgery day on Thursday the 21st.  Dr. Chen Pulmonologist just called me.  He informed me that he had faxed over more results to Dr. Oh including my just received CAT Scan.  Dr. Chen stated that he wrote that my lungs are clear for surgery.  Hurray!  Happy for about 1 second.  He followed it by saying that testing did show mild asthma (no big deal), but said it also showed I have Pulmonary Hypertension.  Not severe, but he said enough that he needed to inform Dr. Oh and see if Dr. Oh wants me to go in for an echocardiogram.  Here we go again.  Called Dr. Oh's office - they were out to lunch.  Crap!

I had a complete heart work-up done this past August/September because I was having heart palpitations.  I wore a halter device for a week, then a different one for a month, and they did a stress echo on me.  I was told I was fine to exercise and do whatever I want.  I just had minor heart palpitations which most people have - I'm just sensitive and can feel them more than most.  WHY DIDN'T THAT TESTING PICK THIS UP??!!!  I'M STARTING TO THINK ALL THESE CRAZY EXPENSIVE MEDICAL TESTS ARE A BUNCH OF CRAP!  My dad had a stress echo test and two days later had a heart attack!  He had a major artery 99% clogged and another one 88% clogged.  Thank God the emergency surgery saved him in time and my dads doing ok now.

So...to make a long story longer I just called my heart doctor's office - told them what was going on, and they are going to fax over my results of that stress echo to Dr. Oh late today or hopefully by next morning.  Who knows, doctors are busy and you're told one thing and another happens.  Problem with that stress test was they did not insert that nasty dye into my vein to get the best look because they couldn't find a darn vein in me.  And the heart doctor didn't feel the die was necessary because he didn't see enough on my other tests.  Guess I fooled him.  My advice to anyone reading this is:  Tell the doctor's to hire people that know how to find a damn vein!  But then again, they used the dye on my dad's stress echo and look what it didn't do for him - heart attack two days later!

So now here I'm sitting and waiting and stressing out more.  I just talked to Dr. Oh's staff, and they are trying to find the new information from Dr. Chen, and are pouring through my chart and history and previous information from heart doctor trying to make a determination to see if I'm good to go or whether they will demand more testing before surgery.  So now I'm getting upset that here I'm on day 12 of this awful liquid diet, I haven't cheated at all, (God I want too), and now I'm freaking out that they just might end up cancelling me for this week and make me do more tests which I'm starting to feel are worthless!!!  After my dads experience looks like you have to have that heart attack and then they find the problem and hopefully you survive.  Dr. Oh's staff said they would call me back soon as they know anything - busy office - will I hear by today, tomorrow, Wednesday or be sent home the day of my supossed to be surgery!!!  Perhaps I am blowing things way out of proportion.

Oh, Cripes this goes on and on.  Dr. Oh's staff just called back as I was writing this.  They said they received the fax from Dr. Chen and said that they now do need clearance on my heart.  I called heart doctor back at the Poly Clinic - he's in with a patient.  Talked to clerk and more explained the problem.  She informed me that computer notes showed that Dr. B (heart doctor) did fax over copies of my stress test back in September but the tests may be too old.  So now waiting for them to talk to Dr Oh who is very busy of course.  May need new ehco and other tests.

Cripes Dr. B's office just called.  They feel it's best for me to come in and get new stress echo.  They are getting me in at 11:15 tomorrow, then sit around have lunch (Ha Ha), and see Dr. B at 2:00.  If all goes well he will then fax note to Dr. Oh giving me clearance for Thursdays surgery.  So technically I'm still hanging in the air not knowing until perhaps tomorrow afternoon - IF I'M LUCKY.

The moral of this long story is:  To get through this whole process you have to do everything yourself, take the bull by the horns.  Don't expect Dr. offices or insurance to do everything for you.  You have to be pushy and do things for yourself.  Then if all goes well with a few prayers maybe me maybe you will reach that operating table.

Signing off for now - need to call Dr. Oh's office back and tell them the new news.

Donna/ragadolly - and boy am I feeling ragged!

GOD I AM SO STRESSED OUT!!!  I wrote this once and was so stressed out I forgot to save the DAMN thing!

Had my "Last supper" last night with my hubby.  Went out and had my last "full" sized meal at the Great Wall of China in Renton.  Had my favorite shrimp won ton soup, mu shoo pork, and chicken chow mein.  They were out of my favorite plum wine so I had sake instead.

When I got home there was an urgent message on the phone from Dr. Oh's office.  But it was too late to call - all night I thought perhaps I was lucky and was getting my surgery date moved up - since I had myself put on their move up list.

They called me back early this morning - I was still asleep - lazy me, and I found out my thyroid T4 was low (no big deal), but my breathing test was abnormal - my lungs are moderately-severely diminished with just 47% lung capacity!  The respritory therapist at St. Frances that did my testing told me I did great!  Why do they say that if they don't know what the HELL they are talking about!!!  Makes me want to go smack her upside the head!!!

So now I have to see a Pulmonary Specialist to hopefully get clearance so I can still have my surgery on the 21st of May - 2 weeks away.  Of course it always takes months to get in to see a darn specialist!  Dr. Oh's office did some calling and begging for me - Thank you Dr. Oh's office.  They were able to get me an appointment with Dr. Chawla in Tacoma on May 20th - the day before my scheduled surgery - talk about playing it close........Now more stress........if I don't pass the test - no surgery, if I do pass, I get my surgery.  I so thought now that my insurance had approved me this long maybe, maybe not, maybe, maybe not game was over - it's been going on for nearly a year.  But here I go again.  I just want to crawl under my blankets and cry!  And to top that off I have to start the tortureous liquid diet too - I hope that won't be all in vain..........

STRESS, STRESS, STRESS!!!!  I just want this all over and done with.

May 4th, 2009

Today has been a long day.  After attending the required nutritional counseling class, and going over my pre-op results with Dr. Haynes...I called my hubby and talked him into going to Merrilou and Dennis Gronholdts (EnjoyHealth.com) home to pick up my first supply of proteins, vitamins, and supplements.  Tasted about 8 different types and flavors of protein drinks.  I finally went with three different ones so I'd have some variety - chose a chocolate malt flavor, a berry blast, and a french vanilla.  Then I also got some Devron for "gas" and chose to go with the Isotonix for vitamins since I've heard that they are superior in digestability for RNY surgery people.  Now that i HAVE ALL THAT HOME AND SITTING ON MY TABLE REALITY IS REALLY STARTING TO KICK IN.  I'M HAPPY, SCARED, AND NERVOUS ALL AT THE SAME TIME!  And I'm actually starting to feel sick at the whole prospect and my upcoming May 21st surgery date.  Is this what I really want?  Yes, I still believe it's in my best interest.  But I am scared about how it will affect me mentally and emotionally - FOOD HAS BEEN MY BEST FRIEND FOR SO DAMN LONG!  I know I need to find something healthy to replace this long time friend with.....

And to top that reality is really kicking in about the tiny little meals I will have to eat for the rest of my life and also only eating foods that are high in protein and nutrition to be successful.  I now want to eat, eat, eat, and eat more all my favorite things.  I even talked my husband (well it was easy - he loves to eat too) in to taking me to Old Country Buffet for dinner because of the huge variety.  I am feeling like I'm on my last suppers!

May 4th, 2009

Had the review of my pre-op test results with Dr. Haynes today at 1:30.  My blood tests were all just fine and other tests received thus far looked great.  He did not have the results from my breathing tests - but the gal that took them on me said they were great - so I don't anticipate any problems.  Thus far all looks good to go for my WLS on May 21st!  The closer it gets, the more nervous I'm getting - reality is finally sinking in that this is really going to happen. 

May 4th, 2009,

Had my nutrition class (a requirement of Dr. Oh's) this morning from 9:00am to 12:30am at St. Francis outpatient conference room.  The class was very thorough and enjoyable.  I thought I pretty much new it all, but I didn't.  Learned that I'm going to have to have some med changes.  After surgery I won't be able to take any kind of extended release medications and also that I will have to be able to crush all my meds to powder form or get them in liquid form.  Also learned that gel-caps just plain won't work.  Also learned the importance of getting a med alert bracelet - if don't have one - in an emergency if they had to shove a tube down my throat into my stomach they could shove the tube right through my tiny little pouch - ykes that wouldn't be good!  Other people at the class got approved really fast for their surgery - no insurance problems or 6 mo. or more dieting for them.  Before, I would have thought that was great.  However, knowing what I know now I feel that's just too fast and most these people knew VERY LITTLE about the surgery and just were not mentally or physically prepared.  FOR THIS TYPE OF SURGERY I FEEL YOU HAD BETTER BE PREPARED BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A BIG LIFE TIME CHANGE!  And I haven't even had my surgery yet.  Most of these people knew very little about how this surgery will impact your body, didn't know about all the proteins and vitamin/mineral supplements you must take for life to stay healthy and they didn't even know about support groups.  I'M ACTUALLY THANKFUL I've had the extra six months to further prepare, read WLS books, make friends, attend support group meetings, find my supplier for WLS proteins and supplements - I feel so much more confident and prepared!  But yes, I will also be the first to admit that I'm still scared about the whole ordeal because it is such a big life time change.  I think I'm almost more worried about the "mental" changes I will be going through, than the physical changes.  This is a big, big step to take in life and definitely not one to be taken lightly.

May 1st - had the first of my pre-ops appointments for my rny medial surgery at St.Francis Hospital.  Starting at 8:45 check in at the out patient unit I had lots of breathing tests - seems like it took about an hour - having to breath and blow every which way til I thought I was going to pass out!  Then next I had gallons of blood sucked out - so it seemed - 11 vials!  Think that breaks a new record for me.  At least the blood sucker got me on the first stick - which is rare for me with my tiny, sneaky, collapsing, rolling veins that like to run and hide!  Next it was on to ultrasound - it felt like she was trying to reach the other side she was pushing that little wand down so hard!  Then finally on to a chest x-ray and EKG.  All went well and quite quickly.  I must say once you get approved for the surgery, Dr. Oh's office (Danny is wonderful and super efficient - Dr. Oh's coordinator) moves like a well oiled machine! 

Ya hoo!  I was hoping to hear back from Dr. Oh's office on April 22nd after I had called and told them the good news about my insurance finally approving me for RNY.  I got ancy and called Dr. Oh's office back on Friday morning and was able to talk to Danny directly - Dr. Oh's office coordinator - discovered calling at 9:00am is a good time to call and get through to her directly.  She had not received my approval information yet - however, I gave her the approval reference number over the phone - and she was able to set my surgery date with that!  May 21st (a Thursday) was the first she had available - so I grabbed that.  Danny is sending me a list of requirements with scheduled appointments for me to do before my surgery.  I have to have blood work done, meet with nutritionist, etc.  I should have the list by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.  Hurray - I'm on my way!

OK, I admit, I'm excited, nervous, and even scared all at the same time.  I even made my 10% weight loss requirement that Dr. Oh gave me.  Now that I've been approved for surgery - I'm having all sorts of nearly uncontrollable food cravings.  I feel like I'm on my last suppppppeeeerrrrrssss!  All I want to do is eat and eat all my favorite foods.  How dumb can that be.......  I even went over to my aunts today after my rheumatology appointment.  We went out to Chinese for lunch, then went shopping, and then went to Red Lobster for dinner.  Piggy, piggy, piggy....oink, oink, oink.

I'm finally jumping for joy. I called insurance and received a verbal approval on April 23rd, 2009! I haven't written in here for a long-long time because I was really in the pits since insurance denied me back in September because I didn't have the required 12 mo. doctor documented weight loss, and also didn't have my willingness to comply.  So I had Dr. Cote appeal this in October.  My willingness to comply was approved, but I still didn't have enough documentation of dieting!  So I started weighing and measuring with Dr. Cote, my family physician in October 2008.  In November 2008 I was informed that Boeing Traditional had now changed their one year/12 month weight loss requirement to 6 months.  Fantistico!  I turned more information in to my insurance because I figured I had 6 months dieting in the bag.  Not so.....really got pissed off.  Documentation was still too sketchy!  I did, however, have good documentation starting in October 2008.  So to make a long story hopefully a bit shorter.....I made October 16th, 2008 my 6 months doctor supervised diet plan starting date.  This time I made my own documentation dieting chart and had my doctor weigh me in monthly, I joined Weight Watchers online, and then also started attenting WW meetings.  I had Dr. Cote sign my diet plan - I did a diet plan for every other month because my insurance stipulated that I had to see my doctor for reviews at least three times in the six months - beginning, middle, and end.  (I did see Dr. Cote also monthly to really make sure I was covered).  On my created diet plan I had a section for weight, height, blood pressure, measurements.  Then I had a section for:  Exercise, Nutritional Plan I was following (including samples of what I was eating - I did weight watchers), and then another section for behaviorial changes I was making).  Dr. Cote reviewed the charts, added comments, and signed them.  I sent these along with my chart notes to the insurance company.  I also wrote up my starting exercise plan, with time increases and what exercises I had added in along the way, finally with what I was doing now - and pictures of my home exercise room and equipment.  I had Dr. Cote also sign the bottom of all this.  IT FINALLY FLEW AND I WAS OFFICIALLY APPROVED FOR RNY SURGERY ON 22 April, 2009.  Pretty fast this time around since I just had Dr. Cote's office fax it to my insurance at about 1:00 on May 16th.

October 27, 2008

Just finished yet another call to my insurance (Boeing Traditional) through Regence Blue Shield.  I asked them to send me a copy of every bit of information they had received from any doctor's office in regards to my pre-authorization for RoeunxY surgery.  I was told this request is in their system and that it would take a few days for them to gather all the information to send it to me and that they were working on it.  Hopefully I will have it by the end of this week if I'm lucky and I can then see for myself just where I need to proceed with all this mess. 

My advice to anyone trying to go through the insurance "Hell" is to get active, gather all you information, keep copies of every little thing and detail, hand carry yourself to doctor's when you can, and take care of the details yourself so you know personally/first hand where you stand.  Do not trust word of mouth - get everything in writing.

Got sick of Medifast trying to diet for insurance 12 month requirement and switched to Atkins last Friday.  At least I get to eat lots of meat, eggs and cheese.  Hope my chickens keep laying!  May have to get some artificial lights and heat lamps for them - looks like winter is coming fast this year.