Stacie Z.
I have been overweight all my life. In fact, I can't remember a time when I wasn't. I am now 36 yrs old and I feel like I have lost control of my life. Food now is in control. I have been thinking of this surgery for a long time but now I feel that God is leading me in this direction. I go to my PCP on Thursday May 2, 2002. I don't know if he will be for or against it but I am going in there with the attitude that he will approve it and give my a refferal one way or another. I know I need this surgery. I am a single mom with 4 kids to support. I need to be there for them.
I can't wait to have this done. I think the waiting is the hardest part. Once you have made up your mind to do this, impaitence sets in. I am hoping that my insurance will approve me quickly. I would like to have this done by the end of June or beginning of July. I just need to give it all to God and know that He is in control.
***May 3, 2002
I went to see my PCP yesterday. He was all for the surgery. He was going to fax my info to my insurance to get the referral approved. He said I should hear in about 3 working days. He is going to send me to Loma Linda Hospital. Great place. I had my first daughter there. He said not to be surprised if my insurance denies the first time. I am going to believe that they won't. I will update more later.
***May 13, 2002
My insurance did not deny me. I was approved the first time. I just called the surgery center at Loma Linda Hospital and they referred me to another place. It is a doctor who specalizes in WLS. I go to his seminar in Ontario, CA on Thursay 5/16. Hopefully this won't take long. I am way too impatient.
***May 20, 2002
The seminar was great. They said it takes 6-12 weeks for surgery from the seminar date. They already took my insurance info. They gave orders for test to be done. I already have they scheduled for 5/22/02. I have to have an upper GI, ultrasound, and blood test. Once the dr's office recieves results from these and my Medical History Questionare, they will give my a date to have the physc elvaluation, and see the nurtionist. Then, I will finally get to see the surgeon. I am hoping to get a date sometime in early July. I am going to pray and push for this.
***May 24, 2002
I had most of my testing done on 5/22. The upper GI went off without a hitch. It was very gross though. Drinking that stuff that was the consistency of soft mud was very yuckky. I did that in the morning. In the afternoon, I went to my PCP to have the ultrasound and blood work done. After not eating all day and waiting for the US, I was getting cranky. The office staff also told me to drink alot of water before hand so I had to go pee. Now, I have only had US when I was pregnant with my kids so I thought this was the norm. The US tech was confused when I told her I was having to holding my pee when I was having a US of my gallbladder. Needless to say, I got to go pee. I love my PCP but his office staff are a bunch of idiots sometimes. The US tech couldn't do my US because she didn't have equipment good enough for MO people. She couldn't find my gallbladder. Now I have an appointment with the hospital to do my US on 5/31. More waiting..UUHHGG. My PCP couldn't do the bloodwork either so I had to go to the lab. That was an experience. I had not eaten all day and this was 4:30 and she took 6 viles of blood. I was a little weak-kneed after that. Had to run and put something in my stomach. I still have one more blood test to do. It is one that has to be done and 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. so I will have to figure out how to do that with work. I will get it done one day next week. I feel like I'm taking baby steps towards surgurey. Maybe God is teaching me patience. Ya Think. I am a very impatient person.
June 10, 2002***
It's been a little bit since I have updated. I am done with all the testing. I am just waiting for my psych evaluation on June 28th and then I will see the surgeon and get a date. I spoke with Lori at Surgical Solutions and she said she would be setting my date for around the beginning of August. Not as soon as I would like but it will do. My kids go back to school the last week in August so I just need to be healed by then so I can take them back and forth. With 4 kids going to 3 different schools, that is alot of running around. I will update more when I get a date.
July 16, 2002***
Still no date to speak of. I am getting a little disappointed. When I think I have all my paperwork in order, I am told I need more. I thought after the phsyc elvaluation, I would get a date to see the doctor. Lori still needed a letter from my pcp stating medical clearence. Got that but now she needs a referral to see the surgeon. I wish she would tell me everything at once. I feel like it is going to be September before I get a date. On a better note, I had my birthday on July 4th. I am now offically 37. I am really hoping that I will be much healthier by my next birthday. We went to a BBq at a friends house with my church. I would have loved to get in the pool but I wouldn't dare get on a bathing suit. I might scare everyone. Maybe next year.
July 23, 2002***
I finally got a referral to see the surgeon. I called his office yesterday and they told me they were going to send out a packet for me to fill out. When I got that filled out and they looked at it, they would call me with a date to see the Dr. I wish they would have done this sooner. I thought that was why I was going to Surgical Solutions. I feel like this is never going to happen sometimes. It is taking longer than I wanted. I know God is in control and it is in His timing. I need to rely on that.
I went to the World Conference for my church(Praise Chapel) last night. It was so good. Very uplifting. It will be going on all week. I wish I could stay out there all week but, I need to work. I plan on taking off a month from work for this surgery so I cannot afford to take off more time. I was sitting in the congragation last night thinking that when the next conference comes up in 2 years, no one will recongnise me. I hope to have lost all my weight by then.
August 1, 2002***
Got my paperwork from the surgeon on Monday. I filled it out Monday night and on Tuesday, I called the Dr.'s office to see if I should fax it or mail it in. Dawn said to just mail it and when they got it, the Dr. would look at it and call me for an appointment sometime next year. I about lost it. I told her that Lori at Surgical Solutions said that I would be having surgery in August and now they are saying that I won't even get to see the Dr until next year. NO WAY. I told her everything that Lori told me and she said to fax my paperwork over and when Lori came in that afternoon, they would look at it and talk it over. It is now Thursday. I am going to give them until tomorrow to call me back and then I am going to start calling them. My referral is only good until October 17, 2002. UUUGGGHH. I am not a happy camper today.
August 13, 2002***
Well, things are looking up. I got a call from Dr. Sanderfers office on Friday. I finally (YEAH) have an appointment to see him on August 20th. I am so excited. I now feel like this may finally happen. I had my doubts there for a while. I feel like this is one big roller coaster ride. It's up and then its down and you never know what is around the next bend. Praise God....I'm on my way!!!!! I'll update after my Dr.s appt.
August 16, 2002***
This week is draging by. I thought I would write a list of the things I want to accomplish after surgery
1. Be healthy
2. Play on the floor with my son
3. Run
5. Fit in a booth
6. Ride a roller coaster
7. By clothes in any store.
8. Sing and not get winded
9. Go on a overseas mission trip with my pastor
10.Not be afraid of the camera
11.Be more bold when I talk to people I don't know
12.Go on a date
13.Wear cute undies and bras
14.Go for a hike
15.Cross my legs
16.Not be stared at because I am the bigest person in the room
17.Sing Keraoke
18.Buckle the seat belt in my car comfortalbly - DONE!!
Those are just a few of the things. I know there is more and I will probably think of them later but it is a start. It is always good to have something to look forward to.
August 19, 2002***
Tomorrow is the day that I finally get to meet Dr. Sanderfer. I am so excited!! He is also having a support group meeting tomorrow night. I have a friend that had her sugery with Dr. Sanderfer a couple of years ago and she told me about the meeting. I am really looking forward to meeting people who have had this done. I'll up date more on Wednesday on how my appt went. Hopefully, I'll have a date soon.
August 21, 2002***
Well, I went to Dr. Sanderfers office yesterday. What a disappointing day it was. I had trouble from the get go. I left my office and went home to get my kids and they had not done their chores so I had to do a sink full of dishes (I hate to leave them in the sink when I leave). Then, my car battery is dead and I have to get a friend to jump it. Of course, it takes 20 minutes to start because it is really dead. So now I am late. Then there is traffic on the way. I drop the kids off and hit more traffic. UGHHH!! I was 15 min late and the girl at the desk said that she didn't know if the dr. could see me but I could watch the movie and they would see what they could do. The dr. had to get out of there at a certain time because of the support group meeting that night. So I watch the movie and they put me in an exam room. I think great, they are going to get me in. I sat in there probably 20 min when they come in and tell me they have to reschedule my appointment. I guess the girl who scheduled my appointment, wasn't supposed to schedule consults on that day. She said that the dr. would be gone all next week so she would call me in a couple of weeks to reschedule my consult appt. Needless to say, I walked out of the office and got in my car and the tears flooded in. I know that My God is in control of all things but it was still very hard and very disappointing. I had so look forward to this day. I feel like this thing is never going to happen. That I am destined to remain in this prison of fat for my whole life. I was born this way and I will die this way. Just really pray for me because I am feeling a little defeated right now.
September 4,2002
More disappointments. Maybe this is surgery not supposed to happen for me. I feel like I can't get a straight answer. When I was at the dr.s two weeks ago, they said that the dr would review my file and I would get a call this week for another appt. Well, I got impatient and called today. Dr is in surgery all week so they said he probably wouldn't even review my file till next week and now they are saying I probably won't even see the dr until January. I really don't know what to do. I could see another dr but it probably would take just as long. I want to have a distal rny and dr. sanderfer does them. I guess I have to wait it out and try not to get discouraged.
September 18, 2002***
I've decided to back off of writing in my journal for now. It is too hard to visit this site and know that I cannot even think about having surgery until next year. I called the Dr.'s office today and that is what I was told. They only take so many Medi-Cal patients a year and right now, they are not taking anymore until next year. Why I was not told this when I turned in my packet in July I don't know. I was not told this a month ago when I went in for my so called consult. I am very down now and I don't want to discourage anyone else so I will come back when I have better news. It sounds like that won't be until next year.
October 8, 2002***
I got sick and tired of waiting for the Dr's office to call me so I got on Sugical Solutions web site and sent them an email to find out if they had another Dr. besides Dr. Sanderfer that could do my surgery. I got a quick response telling me that he was their primary dr. They wanted to know if I had had an unpleasent experience with Dr. Sanderfer and if I did, they could refer me somewhere else. Well, I email him back and told him my story. They emailed me right back stating that they would be looking into why it was taking so long. He said that he was the president of Kindred Hospital. That was back on Sept. 19th. I hadn't heard anything so I decided to email them again. I waited a week and when I didn't hear anything, I decided to email them again yesterday. Finally yesterday afternoon, I got an email back that said "I'm sorry for not getting back with you. We've been trying to find an opening with Dr. Sanderfer for you but so far no luck. I will try and call you later this week. Sorry." I feel like I have been getting the run around so much I don't know if I should be happy or worried. I'll let you know more when I find out.
October 14, 2002***
I had the worst gallbladder attack on Friday night. If I don't hear back from my surgeon soon, I will need to find another Dr. to take out my gallbladder. I hate the prospect of having to do 2 surgeries but I cannot stand the pain from these attacks much more. I sent another email to Kindred Hospital and told them of this attack. He was supposed to get ahold of me last week but that didn't happen. Maybe this will speed them up.
October 18, 2002***
I am going to keep this quick today. I got a reply from Kindred after I sent a 2nd email to them. He told me to call Dr. Sanderfers office and tell them about my attacks. Well, I got the nerve up to call them. I had a hard time doing it because I didn't want to be dissapointed again. The girl I spoke with, Victoria, told me that they were calling Medi-Cal patients for appts in January and wanted to know if someone had called me yet. I told her no. She said my name sounded familier and wanted to know if they had a chart on me. She went looking for my chart and said it was on the Dr.'s desk. That may be a good thing. Maybe, just maybe I will get in soon. I don't want to get my hopes up. She said that the office manager was not in so she did not know why my chart was on his desk but she told me to call back on Monday at 11:00 and she would find out for me. I'll let you know. I also told her about my gallbladder attack and she said it won't get me in quicker and I would need to see my PCP for that. Oh well. Back on my knees to pray harder.
P.S. - I went with some of the ladies in my church last night to go see Joyce Meyer. Awsome woman of God. Lifted my spirits. If you have a chance to see her, you should go.
November 20, 2002***
Whew...what a long wait. I finally have a consult date. It is on Tuesday December 10. I will not make the same mistake. I will be early this time, not late. I hope to have this surgery done by Feb/March. I hope I don't get my hopes up too much for this to happen this soon.
December 10, 2002***
Well, I got that dreded call. I have been rescheduled for my consult. More waiting. now it is scheduled for next Thursday, December 19. Oh well. Only 9 days away.
december 20, 2002***
Finally got to see someone. I saw the PA yesterday. Good news is I am on my way. He said he was putting me on the top of the list for the Sugical Solutions patience waiting for surgery. Bad news is I have to do all my test again. I believe Sugical Solutions was a waste of my time. If I had gone through the dr's office originally, I probablly would be done with this process already. My advice to anyone reading this is if you are concidering Dr Sanderfer, don't go through Surgical Solutions. Other good news is I should have surgery in 10-12 weeks. Not that far away. Maybe end of Feb beginging of March. So much to do to prepare. YIPEEEEEEE!!!!! Bad news...I gained weight between my last appt and now. I can't wait until I can say I am losing weight.
12/31/02***
Great way to end the year, my insurance denied me. Well, the battle is on. I keep running into bumps in this road but I will overcome. I AM AN OVERCOMER!!! My insurance said I should get a letter in a couple of days. My PCP office said they wanted 3-6 months of medical evidence of a dr. supervised diet. I just don't have that. I have been on more diets then I can count. Only a few have been supervised by a dr. My current PCP had me on Phentermine twice but it was a long time ago. I had to quit that because my insurance doesn't pay for it and it was too much for me to continur. Last couple of years, I have going through a painful separation and divorce so dieting has been the last thing on my mind. PCP seems to think I need to go through 3-6 months of dieting with them then apply for approval. Tell me, how am I supposed to be monitered by a dr that can't even weigh me on his scale. I passed his scale 35 pounds ago. UGH!!! I am so frustrated. I am going to start writing appeal letters so if any of you have any advice or are wonderful with words, email me and let me know. In the mean time, I am going to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. That should be my first line of defence.
1/14/03***
I have sent away all the info for my appeal. Now I am just waiting until they approve me (I am staying positive). They got my diet history from me and my doctor. I also wrote them a letter about me so they can make a more informed decision. Hopefull I'll hear soon.
1/16/03***
YAHOOOOOO!!!!! I AM APPROVED!!!! I can't believe it. It is finally here. I got the letter in the mail today. Now I am just waiting for a surgery date. I just have to get a couple of tests done and then I will get a date!!
2/10/03***
Still no date. I called the dr.'s office and I don't think I will ever get this surgery. I am on a waiting list because of my insurance. I hate being poor and not able to afford regular insurance. Because of that, I feel like I am treated like a second class citizen. She said it will probably be several months before I can get a date. It is so not fair. I wish for once something would go my way. It has been 9 months since I went to my seminar and I am still waiting. I get so discouraged seeing people getting their dates and having surgery and I am still waiting. There are so many people who have started their process after me and have already had their surgery and I am still waiting just for a date. I am so sad. I am crying as I write this. I get so disappointed over this whole process. I don't know what to do. I guess I will cry some more. :-(
March 13, 2003***
Still waiting for a date. I called last week and they said they didn't know when I would have a date. It has been 2 months since my approval. So Frustrating. I have to keep remembering "God is in control. God is in control. God is in control." Not my timing Lord but Yours. I will keep you updated. I hope this happens before summer.
April 9, 2003***
I am still waiting. Will it ever end. I think they have drug this enough. It will be almost a year soon. I can't believe it has taken and still taking this long. They really are stressing me out. I can't wait to start losing. My back and knees are hurting all the time. I am also having alot of shortness of breath. In fact, it is hard to breath right now just sitting here.
April 17, 2003***
Still waiting. I have updated my profile with a picture. It was taken about 3 years ago. I have since gained weight but at least you can put a face with all this. I called the doctors office yesterday. She said Debi is working on scheduling. I just read someone elses profile from Dr. Sanderfer and she was approved today and already has a date. It gets really discouraging when I read that
May 6, 2003***
Still waiting. Man this sucks. It has now been a year in this journey. I never thought it would take this long. I know God has a perfect plan for my life and all things happen in His timing but it is so hard to wait when you know this is something so benificial to living a healthier and happier life. A life wher I can run, walk, dance, sing, and generally live easier. I am tired of being sick and tired. How much longer do I have to wait. I wish the people at Dr. Sanderfers office knew what I am going through. Others can get a date the same day as their approval but I have to wait months. Sorry if this is so depressing but it is the truth and it is how I feel at this moment in time. I feel like my whole life is on hold until I get this done. I will call later today when I get the courage up. It is so hard to call because I know what the answer is going to be. "We are working on it." It is the same answer I get every time.
May 15, 2003***
Good news, bad news today. Bad news is I have to change surgeons. I called Dr. Sanderfers yesterday to check surgery status and they are saying my surgery was denied and they don’t have my approval letter. I have been suffering, calling and waiting for nothing, I was sent my approval in January. So disgusted with everything at this moment. I have been lied to since January. I was told my file was in “the surgery pile”, that they were working on it, I would be getting a call or a letter, time and time again and all that was just a put off. Pissed me off to the point of tears yesterday. They don’t even have my test results. They didn’t even know that I had them done. I told them I have the approval letter and they said if they got it today, it would be 6 to 12 months before they could get me in. Can you believe it, 6 to 12 months. I have been waiting a year already. OK…breathe, breathe. I am trying not to get worked up.
Good news. After all of this yesterday, I called my insurance and was referred to a new surgeon, Crown Bariatrics. I called them and they recently (last week) signed a contract with my insurance. All I need to do is get copies of my test results, a new referral from my PCP and as long as everything is in order, they will put me on the surgery schedule right away. How awesome is that!!!! I actually contacted another woman on this site that lives in my town and she told me about these people first and my insurance just confirmed it. I have already contacted my PCP and have gotten the ball rolling for a new referral and I will be going to the hospital today to get copies of my test results. I may have to take the tests again because it has been almost a year since I have had them done. That is okay because I think I can get them done fast. Maybe I will still get this done in June like I want. I received more positive feedback in one phone call to Crown Bariatrics then I have in a year with Dr. Sanderfer’s office. I have always said a Dr. is only as good as his staff. Dr. Sanderfer’s staff leaves a lot to be desired with me right now. I feel they really dropped the ball with my whole surgery. It wasn’t for lack of me calling too. I just let them give me the standard answer and didn’t dig any further. (Note to self…next time dig, dig, push, push, don’t get run over)
I will keep you all up to date. I am starting my journey all over again. My advice to all of you reading this is to keep track of your tests and stay on your surgeons office staff. Make sure they have everything and don’t take it for granted that they do. I did and look where it got me.
May 23, 2003***
I just got a call from Dr. Suh's office. I am set for my consult on June 5, 2003. So fast. I love them already. They are e-mailing me with all the test that I need to redo so I can have them done before then. Maybe I will get a date quicker.
2nd update today....I called my PCP and I am going in there this afternoon to try and get some of these tests out of the way and to get scrips for the ones that they can't do. I hope I don't have to go back and get another Physc elvaluation. They put that on the list of things to do but when I go, I will try and use the one I arlready have. IEHP doesn't like to pay for them.
May 30, 2003***
I finished all of my tests yesterday. The Upper GI almost made me gag. YUCK!! I think it was worse this time. Also, the US tech really hurt me. It felt like I would walk away with bruses. I was so glad when he was finished. I will be going to Dr. Suh's support group on Monday. (Thanks for the advice Cynthia). I was told it is a requirement before they will schedule surgery so I want to get this out of the way also. I will update again soon.
What do you think of my new profile....Pretty isn't it!!! I LOVE IT!!!
June 3, 2003***
I went to my first support group meeting last night. What a wonderful group of people. There were more people there than I expected. I will definatly be back. 2 more days until my consult. I can't wait!!!!
June 5, 2003***
Just got back from my consult. Dr. Suh was great. I watched the same video that I saw at Dr. Sanderfers. Got weighed...Yuck...gained again. Dr. Suh said I was a canidate for having the surgery done Lap which is great news. I should only be out of work about 3 weeks instead of 6 with the open. He thought I should be able to have surgery Sometime in early July. I just need to get a copy of my Physc evaluation. I am trying to get ahold of the dr. that did my physc exam and see if he can write me a new letter . I also need to get a new medical clearence letter from my PCP. Dr. Suh also wants me on a protien diet until surgery. I am going to start that tomorrow.
June 18, 2003***
I just got a call from my Physcologist's office and they had to reschedule my appt from tomorrow to Friday. Only one day but I hate being rescheduled when you are so looking forward to getting something done. This is all we are waiting on and they will resubmit to insurance and they a date. I will not get excited until I have a date in my hand. I have been talking to anohter lady online that had the same run around problem with Dr. Sanderfer. At least I know it wasn't only me. My PCP office said others are having the same problem with them too. I think that Dr. Sanderfers office just wants to give Medi-cal patients enough run around until they get tired and switch Dr. That is so illeagl. We are supposed to be treated the same as someone with regualr insurance. It makes me so mad. If I could sue, I would. Gotta let it go.
June20, 2003***
Just finished psyc consult. Got my letter and faxed it to crown. Now the next wait begins.....hurry and wait, hurry and wait. That seems to be the theme here.
June 25, 2003***
Talked to Mo on Monday and she was putting my file on Dr. Suh's desk for appoval. Hopefully going to insurance today. Maybe I'll know something soon. YEAH
July 7, 2003***
Well, it finally happened...I HAVE A DATE!!!!! July 18, 2003. Can you believe it. It is only 11 days away. I am so excited. I have so much to do. I am going to the support group meeting tonight and Mo will be giving me all the details then. GOD IS SO GOOD. What a great birthday present. I turned 38 on July 4th. Next year, I will be alot thiner and healthier for my birthday. Maybe by the 40th birthday, I will look and feel good enought that I won't mind turning 40...LOL
July 11, 2003
Only one more week to go!!! I did my pre-op yesterday. All I have left to do is get my last blood work done. Possibly Monday if I can find a ride. My car broke down and the altenator is goona set me back a couple of hundred if I take it to the shop or 95 if I have a friend do it. Oh well, the money will come from somewhere.
July 17, 2003***
Tomorrow is the big day. The day I have been waiting for for over a year. I am not scared. I just want to do this and get it over with. I will not be able to update for about a week or two because my computer is at work. I will try to get to a computer earlier if I can. Keep me in prayer.
July 24, 2003***
Just a real quick up date....I made it to the other side. Surgery went well. Went in on Friday and home on Sunday. I will be off of work for 3 weeks. Right now, I am getting ready to go to my one week post op visit. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks for all the encouraging emails. The support from this site rocks.
August 11, 2003***
I am back at work now. I am a little over 3 weeks post-op and as of 17 days post op (last time I weighed) I was down 29 lbs. At a week post op, I caught a very bad case of broncitus. I am still fighting the cough but I am back at work and pluging away. My hospital experience was great. I had to go into ICU overnight but that was wonderful. Great hospital if you have to stay in one. Dr. Suh is the greatest. I am so glad that I found him. I am still on soft foods but I get to graduate the end of the week. This is totally a new way of eating.
October 7, 2003***
I am so bad. I am on this site almost everyday but I never update my file. I am now 11 weeks post op and I weighed last night at my support group and I am down 52 lbs. 2 more pounds and I can weigh on my PCP's scale. I bought a smaller size of pants last week. I was so excited. I danced around the livingroom. That made everything worth it. I can eat just about anything, just in small amounts. I almost feel like a normal person with normal eating habits. This is definatly the best thing that I ever did for myself. The only problem I am having right now is my back. I went several weeks with no back pain but in the last 2 weeks, it has come back with a vengance. I am trying to get a refill on my darvocet from my PCP but it is taking forever. Hopefully, when I lose some more weight, my back will feel better.
October 24, 2003***
Just a quick update. I had my 3 month check up. Everything is going great. I am down 61 pounds. I am so excited that it is actually coming off. I really want to make my goal of losing 100 pounds by 5 months. I just need to keep up with the protien and water. I have to lose 20 pounds a month. Not too much to ask for. I cannot see the weight loss at all. Some people say they can see it in my face but that is not where I want it to go first.
November 11, 2003***
My best friend bought me a scale and I had to have my daughter hide it from me by the third day because I could not stay off of it...LOL. I knew once I got a scale that I would be on it all the time. Everything is going good. I have had some kind of stomach bug for the last 3 days so I have not been getting in my vitamins or protien like I should. Just the thought of that sweet chocolaty drink makes me want to gag. Yuck. I will get back on it hopefully tomorrow. I will be going to the doctor today to get something for this. What I thought would be a 24 hour bug has turned into 3 days. I better have lost some more weight out of this.
December 2, 2003***
I made it through my first major eating holiday. Thanksgiving was great. I still ate all my favorites, just a little bit. Turkey, dressing (a couple of bites), potates, gravey, surgar free pumkin pie and sugar free cranberry sauce. It was all yummy. I know I will make it through Christmas now. I am now down 80 pounds. I would like to be down 100 by the New Year or even Christmas. What a wonderful Christmas present to myself.
January 15, 2004***
Well, I didn't make my goal of 100 by new years. I went to my PCP today for my blood work for my 6 week check up and by their scale, I am down 114 lbs. That puts me under 300!!!! I am very excited about that. It has been a long time since I have been in the 200's. I will be seeing my surgeon soon so hopefully, his scale is the same as my PCP. Everything else is going good. I am having a hard time remebering to take my vites and I know that will show up in my blood work. I will try and be better with that. I am doing 2 or 3 protien shakes a day. I have finally gotten to the point where I like them. Food is good to. I haven't had too much trouble with anything except for Chinese food, bread or flour tortillas. All of those will send me to the bathroom quick. I also am now an offical member of the YMCA. I love the water arobics. I don't even get worn out. I can do the whole hour. It feels good.
Feb 27, 2003***
Scratch the last weight loss. My PCP's scale must have been in its own little world. According to Dr. Suh's scale, I am now 299 which gives me a loss of 105 pounds. Not exactly what I wanted but I will take what I can get. I haven't been feeling well lately and went to my PCP and he thought I had a stomach virus but when it didn't get better, I went to my surgeon and he said I have an ulcer. I am not surprised. He asked if I was under alot of stress....Ya think. I am a single mom of four with no help whatsoever from my ex. I am stressed most of the time. He put me on prilocet (sp?) and mylanta. It helps some but my stomach is upset all the time. It makes it hard to eat. I don't enjoy eating at all. It is more of a chore but I know if I don't, my body will start eating my muscle and I don't want that to happen. I am trying to do at least 2 protein shakes a day to get some protein in and a little bit of food. Hopefully this will clear up soon and I will feel better. I feel really blah right now.
April 12, 2004***
WOW...time flys when your having fun. Ulcer is all better as long as I take my meds every day. I stopped for a week and had a flare up. Never again. Weight loss wise, I was on a plateu for a month...playing with the same 2 lbs going up and down. Whe I went to the Y on saturday, I lost 5 pounds!!! Makes 119 pounds down. I have never put my start weight but I think I can now. I started this journey at a whopping 404 lbs but on Saturday, I am down to 285. I am very proud of myself. I have never lost this much weight before. I really want to be successufl. I'd love to get rid of my hanging panni. I drives me crazy. It looks like I have this awful tire hanging around my mid section. It really sucks!! I'll look into plastics early next year. I am just going to have to deal with it for now.
June 7, 2004**
Just a quick update today. I have now lost 133 pounds. It is starting to move again. I am happy about that. I got put back on prozac because the mood swings and stress were just too much. It is really helping. I thought it might make me gain weight but it didn't. Things are going real good. I am not having any food problems. Sometimes, meat is real heavy and I can only eat about 2 or 3 oz of it but that is good. If I eat that first, I barely eat anything else. I do at least 3 proteins shakes a day sometimes 4. I love the pro-rated protein that I get from Costco. I mix it with a sugar free mocha cappachino mix and a dallop of whipped cream and sometimes, a little bit of instant coffee. Yum. It tastes like a Mocha Frappachino from starbucks. I'll update again around the 18th of July which is my one year anniversary. I can't believe how far I have come. Still have far to go but I will get there. Slow and steady wins the race. God Bless!!!
September 4, 2004
I missed my 1 year anniversary update. It is now 14.5 months out and I have lost 160 lbs. I am doing great. No problems. Last month, I was in the hospital for 5 days with pancreatitis. The dr says it was from a stone stuck in my common bile duct. They think that it finally released on its own and I did not have to have surgery. There was a dr there that tried to do an endoscopy to try and find the bile duct but because he was not familiar with a rny anatomy so he could not find it. It was a very painful experience and I never want to have to go through that again. My next goal is at 202 which will make me exactly half of myself. only 42 to go till then. I will try and update sooner next time.
April 14, 2005***
Been a long time since I have updated. Not much to say. I have been at a standstill for last last several months. Really sucks. I am currently looking into getting some plastic surgery. My belly hangs very low...like to my thighs. Not a pretty sight. My arms and thights are pretty bad too but I know that insurance won't pay for that. I would love to get the girls (my boobs) put back into place but I don't know if that will work either. I am going to try and get my insurance to pay for what they will but I will be very happy just to get the belly taken care of.
I see Dr. Suh next week for my 18 month check up(late). My blood work came back ok. Nothing really out of normal. I did up my protein, calcium and B complex because they were on the lowest end of normal. Hopefully that will help.
I will try and update sooner next time.
September 26, 2005
I know it has been long. I am on this site almost everyday but I just don't make it here to update. Everything with me is good. I got a new job about 6 weeks ago. I really love it. I work for a company that runs several group homes for girls and boys in San Bernardino county. I work in the admin office. I like it. I have not lost anymore weight. I think my body likes it here which sucks. I saw a plastic surgeon about a month ago and she would like me to lose some more weight before I have surgery. I will see what happens around Feb or march.
This site lost a wonderful member last week. Mr. John Ott died on Thursday September 22rd. He was a wonderful man. Very caring and kind. He did not die during his surgery but from a heart attack after it. It was so tragic because he tried for years to get this surgery but was jerked around by his insurance company. If they had done the surgery earlier, he would probably still be here. It is just not fair.
Rest in peace dear John.
December 15, 2005***
I have begun the process to get a revision on my surgery. I will be going to a distal RNY from a proximal. I am 2.5 years out and at my lowest weight, I lost 160 pounds but in the last several months, I have gained 10 pounds. I have seen my PCP and they are starting the paperwork for a referral to see Dr. Coon in Riverside. He does distals and hopefull he will do my revision. I still have a BMI of 42 down from 73. I still want to lose another 120 lbs and hopefully this will do it. I will try and update as this process goes along.
August 25, 2006
I can not believe I wait so long to update. I am terrible. I am here almost every day but forget to do this. Not much to update. Still waiting for that revision. My PCP basically has dropped the ball and my life is so busy that I haven't pushed the issue. I just found out I am going to be a grandma. My 16 yr old daughter is going to have a baby around March/April. We don't know when for sure yet. Dr. appt is on 9/11/06. It was hard to take at first but I am getting used to the idea. I know everything will be fine and God is in control of all things. After I get moved, I will push the revision issue again with my PCP. I would love to lose some more weight and be closer to normal and then get some plastics. I have come a long way but I feel as if I have so far to go still.
