ScrapHappy
I’m excited about the thought of having a life without boundaries. I’ve started to limit myself and family due to my weight.
The kids begged all summer long to go to White Water but just the thought of me getting in a swimsuit in public would make me sick, the kids wanted to go to the amusement park but since we have not been in a few years, I’m afraid I may not fit on the rides…and just this past year my husband and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary, we were supposed to go to Maui but since I did not lose the weight I had intended I cancelled the trip. Who wants to go to Maui fat! Living this life of boundaries is just not me! I've always been a happy person or maybe the smile was hiding so much.
I started thinking about a surgical weight loss option about a year ago…and to be honest the thought of surgery was like I was failing in some way. Like I was not strong enough to do this on my own. I have tried many diets and I’ve lost 20 pounds over and over again. But once I would stop the diet I would always gain the 20 pounds back and she would bring mean friends…so I got to the point in the last year that I decided I was not going to diet anymore. I had to find another solution.
My mom actually initiated the whole process. She shares in my battle! One day at the beauty shop she noticed a girl that had lost a significant amount of weight and in a short period of time so she asked her just what she was doing, because she looked so great. Well, she just had lap-band and just gushed about how happy she was and about her surgeon and his staff. So Mom passed the info along to me and we began to research everything we could find out about the different surgery options and surgeons.
I decided to go with WeightWise of Oklahoma over all the others not just because Dr. Walton is a qualified surgeon but because of the staff and facility. I like the idea that everything I may need before and after surgery is all in one location. And after surgery you just don’t walk out never to return…WeightWise wants you to return and often, for support groups, seminars, to work out in the fitness center, shop in the health store or just to show off your results!
Cost?! Wow, I was blown away. But my husband and I talked about it and decided we would take the plunge. I knew my insurance would not pay from the get go and I think that is the best way to approach it so that you don't get your hopes up! Sure enough they would not pay!
$14,500 - but that includes:
all your pre-op visits like the consultation with the surgeon, psychologist, fitness and dietician
surgeon's fee, drugs and hospital facilities
and get this...follow-up for one year post-op
YEP! This includes a few visits to the psychologist, dietician and surgeon!!
Not bad I don't think!!
OKay - now the goodies!! First visit - 313!! Wow!
Dr. Walton wanted me to lose 25 pounds! Can you believe that? I walk in, desperate and needing help and he says lose 25! I have been trying to lose 25 pounds for years! But he explained why...to make more room for him to perform the surgery and something about a fatty liver and now I too understand why. The pre-op weight loss is to teach me how my post-op life is going to be. The dietician is working with me on the correct foods to eat and what to avoid and portions. Especially about water intake and when and when NOT to drink water!
Of course the first few weeks I just dropped the weight pretty quick, I think I lost 7 pounds in the first 2 weeks then weeks 3 thru 5 I lost 11 more then I stalled out. By week 6 I was slipping fast and begged to hurry up and let's get this surgery done. Week 8 visit...I gained 3 1/2 pounds. I was crushed and wondered how I was ever going to make it any further! Dr. Walton was not worried and we set a surgery date...just don't gain anymore!! I talked with my dietician and we started a more agressive diet of shakes and protein. I'm working on that now, the scales yesterday said 293 so I am just 5 pounds away from my 25 pound pre-op goal. I have the weekend. Monday I start my clear liquid only diet. Tuesday I arrive at 5:45 for surgery!!!
I am so excited and starting to get anxious. Our local news station is wanting to do my story...I have agreed so I guess Monday they will show up to do a pre-op interview then on Tuesday take some footage in the op room of the monitors only. I am a bit worried about the interview just because I have only told my immediate family and my closest friends. So I guess I better get on the phone to make some calls. I just did not want anyone to know for awhile. I know they will notice the weight drop but...again it goes back to admitting failure!
