Tiff's On a Mission

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

  style="margin:0; border:0; padding:0;">  style="margin:0; border:0; padding:0;">  style="margin:0; border:0; padding:0;">

  style="margin:0; border:0; padding:0;">

10/14/2004 - I saw my primary care physician today and advised him of my interest in going through WLS. He was very straight forward with me about the risks however he was happy that I was looking into doing something about my weight before I developed life threatening conditions. I asked him specifically to do my referral to Dr. Storey in Houston so that I do not have to see a military physician for this procedure.

11/02/2004 - My referral was finally approved to go to a civilian physician (Dr. Storey) and I am scheduled to go to his 1st seminar on 11/15/04. He requires that his patients go to a nutrition and his surgery seminar prior to having a one on one office visit with him. I understand his reasoning behind this, he wants to make sure that his patients know what they are getting into however, it is rough when you have to drive 4+ hours each way to get there. I am also required to get a psych eval as part of the approval process for the surgery. I wonder what that is all about.

11/15/04 - I was late for the nutrition seminar. Oh my goodness, Houston has some horrible traffic. The actual drive to Houston was only 3 hours. I spent an additional 2 hours in rush hour traffic trying to make to Dr. Storey's location. The nutritionist was very nice and informative. She took the time out to actually go over the seminar with me one on one since I told her I came up from Corpus Christi. I am glad she did since the next nutrition seminar isn't scheduled until 12/21/04. I scheduled my psych eval for 11/17/04 and I will be attending Dr. Storey's Surgery seminar on 12/06/04. This is moving along fairly okay.

11/17/04 - Well I saw Dr. Dubois today and it went fairly well however he mentioned that I may have to take this 500 question personality test before he submits his final review to Dr. Storey. That sucks! He said that I have a wonderful support system and excellent goals however the test is just something he likes to do because it gives data -v- just his assessment. Translation something else for him to get paid for.

12/06/04 - I went to Dr. Storey's seminar tonight and it was very informative as well. I did not know that there were so many different types of surgeries. He was very straight forward and had a good sense of humor. I feel comfortable with him being my physician. After the seminar we discussed my progress and he was happy to hear that I had done everything required by him and he advised me to go ahead and schedule my appointment to see him. He also gave me some startling news as well. He advised me that Tricare no longer wanted to pay for Lap and that I may have to have the surgery open. He stated that open requires more healing time. I pray that all goes well with getting Lap approved for me.

12/10/04 - I found out that Dr. Storey got everything squared away with getting surgery approvals.

12/20/04 - (299)I had my individual appointment with Dr. Storey today and I feel that it went extrememly well. He did not need additional testing done and he stated that he would submit my surgery for approval as soon as he got my psych eval report. We did go ahead and schedule a tentative date though since he does not feel it will be an issue getting my approval. Soooooooo, I am scheduled for pre-op on 1/17/05 and surgery on 1/18/05. Pray for me everyone.

12/23/04 - Dr. Storey's Office finally received my psych eval and thank God they are finally sending my request for authorization.

01/7/05 - Well people I am starting liquids tomorrow in preperation of my 1/18/04 surgery. Pray for me.

01/12/05 - Man I am hungry, I know that I have cheated a couple of times on this liquid diet but I am trying hard. It is real hard when your family is eating normally and you are drinking a boost. Man does it suck when the coworkers are heating up lunch too. But I am trying to be strong.

1/14/05 - Today was my last day at work. I am going to miss my co-workers but I will not miss this extra 150lbs that I am lugging around. On a brighter note, I bought a new car today. I figured the new me needed a new ride. I was driving an old Ford Taurus. I now have a Mitsubishi Eclipse. Yay me!

1/16/05 - Nervousness is creaping in. I have never had surgery before and I do but I don't know what to expect. I know that with any surgery there is going to be pain afterwards but I don't know what that is like. When I had my son, it was a natural birth. Therefore, when he was out it was over. This will linger for a while. Nonetheless, pray for me everybody.

1/17/05 - (285) I had my pre-op appointment today and man did they abuse my tiny veins. None of them wanted to give blood and finally they took it from my right wrist (OUCH!)I was however pleased to find out that I had lost 14lbs from being on my liquid diet. Tomorrow is my big day.

1/21/05 - Well I am finally out of the hospital and I have to admit that it was not as bad as I expected. I am concerned about not having had a "BM" since the morning of the surgery but otherwise, all is well. My surgeon and the hospital staff were great and I feel blessed to have had a smooth experience.

1/23/05 - I can't believe I am saying this, but I am ready to go back to work. I hate this idleness.

1/26/05 - (273) I had my post-op follow-up appointment today. I was shocked to find out that I had lost 12 lbs already. My surgeon put me on full liquids and I will start pure next Monday. I am on my way.....Wooo Hoooo!

2/2/05 - (265) Well everybody, I have returned to work and I have to tell you that it has not been that bad. I really thought that I was going to be tired since I have to drive 40 miles each way. The girls were happy to see that I was back and it has just been a positive experience.

- I did my measuements today - eeeewwwwwww!!!!

- Bust  47

- Waist 42.5

- Hips  56

2/16/05 - (260) I had my one month follow-up appointment today and it went great. He was happy about my weight loss and he has cleared me for regular foods. He was concerned about my excessive exhaustion but he advised me that taking the right vitamins will help me with that. As always it was a pleasure seeing him today and I look forward to seeing where my path takes me.

3/22/05 - (244) I went to my two month follow-up appointment yesterday and I believe that Dr. Storey was pleased with my progress. He stated that I can work on my abs but I am still not allowed the full range of a work-out yet. Thank God! I have passed the exhaustion phase and I am now able to clean my house the way that I want to. Well, that's all for now everyone.

5/18/05 - (217) Okay, I know it has been a while since I updated this thing but a lot has been going on in my life. I recently developed Peripheral Neuropathy. This is a common complication for people that are diabetic, I however am not a diabetic. Mine was brought on by a severe B12 deficiency. I was advised in the beginning about WLS patients becoming B12 deficient but they did not expect it to be this soon. I pray that with them giving me B12 shots the condition with correct itself. With this condition I have nerve damage in my feet that causes severe pain at the slightest touch. The medication that the Neurologist prescribed has truly been a blessing as far as lessening the pain however, it keeps me sleepy. Well that is it for now and I will keep you updated.

6/09/05 - (212) Hey everybody! Well, it has been 4 months and 3 weeks since I had surgery and I have to admit that I am doing pretty okay. I took a couple of pictures yesterday and decided that I would post some before and after shots. I hope that you like them and thank you so much for visiting my page.

 

 

Discover your Zodiac Personality @ Quiz Me

 

7/14/05 - (205) Update! I am almost at the century mark and I have to admit that I am feeling pretty good about the tool I have been given. We just returned from Missisippi; attending my husbands family reunion. What a reality check, I guess wince I see myself everyday the change does not seem as dramatic as it does to others. My own Auntie walked right past me and then screamed when she realized it was me. I tell you I left Mississippi 10lbs heavier because of my swolen head. None the less I still have a long way to go.

 

08/06/05 - (199)

 

 

CENTURY MARK!!!!! Hello All, I remember feeling so limited 6 months ago; when the only places we could shop for nice clothes were places like Lane Bryant, Avenue, Ashley Stewarts, and WALMART!!! Today, I decided to go bargain shopping at Ross and automatically went to the Plus section. I found this gorgeous size 16 dress and decided I would try to squeeze into it. Who would have thought that it would turn out to be too BIG!!!! I actually ended up buying all size 14's. It was then that I realized that if I wented to shop at The Gap, Express, or The Rave; I actually could. I was nearly in tears and grins over the reality of how well I have used this tool given to me. I pray that each and every person that reads gets the opportunity to feel as elated as I do over the new me. Below is a link to my picture trail of my weight loss over the past 6.5 months. I hope you enjoy. My Picture Trail

 

8/19/05 - (193) Plateau is finally over!!!! I have been sitting at 199lbs for the past month. Just last week I weighed myself and still the scale said 199!!! Today I weighed myself and I am at 193lbs. 6lbs may not be a lot to some people but it sure made my day. I just wanted to share this with my BAF family.

 

9/15/05 - (189) Thank God the scale is still moving, it is going much slower but slow is better than not at all. I have lost four pounds this month and I still have 14lbs to go. God willing I will be at my personal goal by Christmas. I would love to get there by this time next month in time for the Navy Ball but I really do not think that is going to happen. Pray for me.... Tiffany

 

10/23/05 - (182) It moved again, I have lost another 7 pounds and thank goodness I have not plateaued again like last time. I am actually quite content with the way my weight loss is turning out and I am seriously considering slowing it down once I hit 165lbs. I am pleased with the way I look now and I do not necessarily want to become "skinny".

 

The Navy Ball turned out well, I had a wonderful time and as soon as I get the photos we took at the ball I will upload them. In the meanwhile here are some pictures that my son took of me when I was heading out.

I can not believe that I actually was able to get my hair to stay like this. I sistah got talent!

 

I also wanted to take a moment out to make a dedication to the wonderful men in my life that have supported me. My excellent husband and my handsome son. I love the both of you and Melvin (my son) I pray that you feel better. He just now for the first time got chickenpox at the age of 14. My little man is miserable but he is a trooper and I love him. ~~Tiffany~~

  

 

 

12/10/05 - (175) I MADE IT!!!!!! I am finally at my personal goal! For many 175lbs is still too heavy, but for me it is an accomplishment. I started out heavier than a lot of people and I feel that 175lbs is what works for me. I feel great about my progress and the success I have had with this tool.  Below are my latest pictures and I hope that you enjoy them.

 

   

 

12/16/05 - (175) Well it looks like congrats are in order. I recently found out that I am pregnant with my second child. I am extremely nervous. I have not had a baby in my house in over 14 years and this is going to feel like a brand new experience for me. I will keep everyone posted with my progress. Love you all. ~Tiff~

 

02/06/06 - (178) Well it is update time, I went to my monthly appointment today and my OB/Gyn stated that all my blood work looked great and then gave me the wonderful news that I needed to do more blood work. It was just the routine labs to make sure that the baby does not have spina bifida or downs syndrome.

 

He did tell me that the babies' heart sounded great and was at about 169 beats. He also stated that his only concern was that the babies' placenta was in close proximity to my cervix and he scheduled another sonogram for March 20th to see if it migrates away from my cervix. He further stated that hopefully we will know what the sex of the baby is at that sonogram as well.

 

I am anxious to find out the results of todays blood work just to make sure that my little one is healthy also I am looking forward to knowing if I am on the blue or pink team.

 

03/20/06 - (192) I received happy HAPPY news today. I had my second ultrasound and my baby looks very healthy and active but best of all, it's a little GIRL! I am so happy and excited about the arrival of our daughter Alyssa Danielle Patterson.

 

04/12/06 - (202) I just got back from my Monthly OB appointment and it was very depressing for me. It was nothing that my doctor did because he is wonderful. It was that damn lying SCALE! Now I have been dealing with the fact that everyone else is gaining little or no weight during pregnancy where as I have been doing a steady 3lbs every month. This is quite normal. However, this month I gained 10 yes count them 10 POUNDS! I have not done anything different this month and all of my vitals were perfect so I was like WTH ... I was ready to rumble with that scale

 

Okay, deep breath ((((sigh)))) So doc comes in gives me a hug and assures me that I am fine but he wants me to watch it and he is giving me the Glucose test at my next appointment. He then goes on to tell me that after reviewing my last Sonogram, he noticed that my placenta was still very low and if it does not migrate I am going to have to have a C-Section. I had my son natural and I was really hoping to have my daughter natural as well. Let's pray that something changes.

 

So I leave the office for the sonogram lab and it had migrated and it looked like everything was going smoothly. I enjoyed seeing my active little girl playing and it only made me more anxious for her arrival. That is all for now.

 

05/05/06 - (205) Happy Cinco De Mayo .... Today I had my 7th month pregnancy appointment and all looks good. I gained another 3lbs but according to my OB I am doing great and the weight should come off very easily. Below is a pic of my prego belly and I am happy to say that I really do look good to be 205lbs. Truth be told I am just happy to be having a healthy baby God willing.

 

07/28/06 - (195) - Hello Everyone, I gave birth to my precious angel Alyssa Danielle on 7/17/06 and I am truly enjoying her. She was a tiny 5lbs 5ozs 18inches long but a healthy baby. She rated 9/9 on her Apgar and is thriving. On the day that I gave birth I weighed 210lbs and thus far I have lost 15lbs. Once I lose 15-20lbs I will be a happy lady. I like how curvy I am right now but I want to tone up and get back to the size I was before I got pregnant.

 

Below is a picture of my sweet baby, I hope you enjoy.